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Biomedical subjects

M Belli

Publications and source records attributed to M Belli.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1974

[Determination of bacteria count by enumeration of microcolonies with an electronic counter apparatus (author's transl)].

In this paper a method is described to determine the bacteria count of samples by enumerating the microcolonies with the aid of a "Coulter Counter" automatic apparatus. Samples of bacterial cultures were incubated in a suitable medium at 32 degrees C for 12 h, then passed through a Coulter Counter aperture of 200 mu diameter to count the microcolonies. Microcolonies from cultures grown in similar conditions were also enumerated by the classical plate method. Comparison showed a good correction between the two sets of results after logarithmic transformation. Some advantages and limitations of this automatic technique are discussed, in view of its routine employment in food analysis.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Weekly low dose epirubicin in elderly cancer patients.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The treatment of elderly patients with metastatic solid tumours is still a debated problem. Patients over 75 years are generally excluded from combination chemotherapy trials because of higher toxicity. Several clinical studies have shown that weekly low dose epirubicin is a well tolerated and effective treatment for elderly cancer patients (breast, prostate, lung). METHODS: We report a study of patients aged between 75 and 85 years affected by metastatic anthracyclines-sensible carcinomas, to assess the tolerance of epirubicin given weekly at a dose of 25 mg/m2. RESULTS: 25 patients (13 males, 12 females; ECOG P.S. 0-2) entered the study and were evaluable for side effects. One-hundred and ninety-six cycles of therapy have been administered. Side effects were never severe. Mucositis (9 patients), leucopenia (7 patients), anemia (5 patients) were usually of grade 1 or 2. Grade 1 cardiotoxicity (tachycardia) was observed in only one case. Grade 3 toxicity consisted in anemia (1 patient) and mucositis (1 patient), while grade 4 toxicity never occurred. Nineteen patients were evaluable for response: 0 CR, 4 PR (1 lung, 3 breast), 8 SD (3 lung, 3 breast, 2 prostate) have been observed. Compliance was encouraging and the majority of patients showed a decrease in symptoms and an improvement in performance status. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly low-dose epirubicin is a very well tolerated treatment in elderly cancer patients. In view of the negligible toxicity encountered, it could be of utility to test this regimen in patients aged 75 years or older, affected by anthracyclines-sensible metastatic tumors, also to assess activity.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of vindesine and lonidamine in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase III randomized FONICAP trial. Italian Lung Cancer Task Force.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and treatment compliance in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of two chemotherapeutic agents with mild toxicity, 153 previously untreated patients aged over 70 years were randomized to receive lonidamine (450 mg daily p.o. until progression), vindesine (3 mg/m2/daily i.v. weekly for 4 weeks and then every 2 weeks until progression), the combination of the two drugs at the same dose and schedule, or supportive therapy only in a four-arm factorial randomized trial. METHODS: 126 patients were included in the final analysis. Their median age was 75 years. Forty percent had stage IV disease and 60% stage III. Most patients were males (85%) and the majority had squamous histology (68%). RESULTS: Among 104 patients evaluable for response there were only 3 PRs (1/30 in the lonidamine arm and 2/33 in the lonidamine + vindesine arm). Overall, 8.7% and 9.5% of the patients, respectively, progressed or died early, before response evaluation; another 9.4% refused treatment continuation because of poor compliance with the study protocol. Eighty-five patients were fully evaluable for toxicity, which was generally mild. Leukopenia grade 1-3 was found in less than 30% of patients treated with vindesine or vindesine + lonidamine. The most common complaints associated with lonidamine treatment were myalgia (70% of patients), fatigue (55% and 83% of patients treated with lonidamine or lonidamine + vindesine, respectively) and testicular pain in nearly 40% of cases. The overall median survival was 170 days, with no significant impact on survival of either lonidamine or vindesine. CONCLUSIONS: The low response rate and survival together with the poor treatment compliance, even in the presence of mild toxicity, do not support the usefulness of these "gentle" chemotherapies in elderly NSCLC patients. The standard management of advanced NSCLC in elderly patients remains to be defined. Specifically designed studies to address this issue are warranted.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Determination of the cercarial lipids and relations with superficial human cutaneous lipids (author's transl)].

The lipid class composition of cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni and skin surface has been examined by thin lager chromatography. Free sterols, sterol esters, triglycerides, phospholipids were major components of cercarial lipids, triglycerides, wax esters, free fatty acids, squalen were major components of skin surface lipids. An examination of fatty acids of total cercarial and skin surface lipids revealed that C16, C18, C18=, C16=, C18= were major components.

Chromatography, Gas↗
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[Enamel pearls: the ultrastructural aspects and morphogenesis hypotheses].

Five enamel pearls were examined by scanning electron microscope. Some external pearls presented a bare enamel surface, others were covered by a thin layer of cementum. The enamel pearls showed irregular dystrophic enamel surface or a thin layer without structure, rows of irregular Tome's processes pits, enamel caps and focal holes. Some enamel pearls revealed little areas of enamel surface resorption like-resorbing lacunae with, in some cases, areas of tissue repair.

Dental Enamel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[In vivo and in vitro biocompatibility tests of endodontic cements].

The major goal endodontic therapy has been achieved by condensing filling materials into the root canal. It's not uncommon to find excess material into the periapical tissue. It therefore becomes obligatory to use fillings materials that have acceptable biocompatibility. The purpose of this investigation was to obtain a "toxicity profile" of some endodontics materials and to compare our observations to results present in literature. The gutta-percha and five endodontic filling cements were tested "in vivo" and "in vitro". The in vivo biocompatibility involved the placement of the test material in 10 mm. Teflon tubes with an outer diameter of 1.3 mm which were implanted subcutaneously into rats. The implants were left in situ for periods of 30 and 90 days. The "hemolysis test" is designed for "in vitro" evaluations. The histological examination showed different intensity and extent cellular responses. In some cases severe infiltration of inflammatory cell and areas with necrotic were seen. At conclusion, the endodontics material evaluated showed slight, moderate and severe reactions; therefore a different pattern in tissue response.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A study on the behaviour of 7 serological parameters in many subjects affected by acute viral hepatitis (author's transl)].

The AA. have studied the behaviour of 7 serological parameters in 32 subjects affected by acute viral hapatitis, by means of 4 samples of blood performes at the distance of 12 days for the first and of 15 days for the others. The results are alike to these formerly knows, exception made for alkaline phosphatase, gamma Gt and immunoglobulines G and M.

Acute Disease↗
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Cis-platin-Mecy as salvage chemotherapy in recurrent advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Cis-platin (DDP) has proved to be highly active in the treatment of ovarian adenocarcinoma. The Authors have treated 12 patients with istologically proven advanced ovarian carcinoma with a type of alternating regimen consisting of four weekly DDP courses (1 mg/kg b.w./week) followed by monthly courses high-dose methotrexate (750 mg/mq i.v.) plus cyclophosphamide (250 mg/mq for 5 days) (Mecy). The alternating regimen DDP + Mecy proved to have significant activity as a salvace chemiotherapy regimen for patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The importance of man, mouse and rat skin surface lipid fractions on the "in vitro" penetration of "Schistosoma mansoni" cercariae (author's transl)].

The AA. have studied in this research, the rôle explicated in vitro from the lipids contained in a man's skin, in a rat of the Wistar experimental group and in a mouse of the Swiss one. They have seen that some lipids fractions, as triglycerides, waxes and squalenes explicate an action that favours the penetration of the cercariae in vitro on a plate of agar and that such an action is due to the unsaturation in the above said fractions of sebaceous origin. On the contrary the lipids of skin origin as sterols and their esters inhibit the penetration.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Experimental amebiasis: effect of PGE1 on rats infested with Entamoeba histolytica].

The authors have studied the effects of PGE1 on rats (Wistar strain) infected with Entamoeba histolytica, and inoculated with PGE1 either in massive dosage and killed after 3-5 and 7 days, or with daily minimum quantity of PGE1 and killed on days 7 and 15 after inoculation. The results show an inhibition effect of PGE1 on development and survival of amoebae in the coecum of rats inoculated with the two modalities described above. The fractionated dosage gives better results and less side effects.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative study of 3 different prophylactic programs in hemophiliac children].

Prophylaxis continues to be an area for discussion in the therapy of the hemophilic child. In fact, standard parameters are still not used in the evaluation of the efficacy of this treatment. At the Milan University Pediatric Clinic we have begun three different prophylactic programs with 52 children with ages ranging from 12 months to 14 years 7 months. We have evaluated the efficacy of these regimes comparing the data obtained in the 12 months following the start of the program with those obtained in the 12 months prior to it. Our data, even though they pertain to a limited number of children, show that continuous prophylaxis is truly efficacious if it is begun early before the onset of an arthopathy. Therapeutic prophylaxis however for the stabilizing of a target joint is usually better accepted by the children and their parents. The high cost of the prophylactic programs can nevertheless be justified by the better quality of life of the patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Home care for the hemophilic child: experience of 4 training courses for the parents].

Much has already been written about training courses for home care of the hemophiliac held both in Italy and abroad. The advantages of home care are unquestionable. On one hand, the disorder becomes less hospital-dependent, and on the ofter, trough greater partecipation both the infusor and family become more responsible and competent on dealing with it. Hemophilia is a disease which puts the heaving burden on the pediatrics years. A specialized pediatric center is undoubtedly ideal for providing "global" assistance to the hemophilic child and his family so as to prevent any physical consequence of the disorder. There is a natural setting for training courses for home care for parents where they receive proper instruction with respect to problems that are often solely pediatric. The purpose of the course is not just to teach how to reconstitute and infuse freeze-dried concentrate, a practice which is, in itself, fairly easy, but also to give the parents through explanation, and a chance to meet with other parents to exchange ideas and experience.

Adult↗