PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Francisco

Publications and source records attributed to M Francisco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Combined interferon-alfa, 13-cis-retinoic acid, and alpha-tocopherol in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: novel bioadjuvant phase II trial.

PURPOSE: Retinoids and interferons (IFNs) have single-agent and synergistic combined effects in modulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in vitro and clinical activity in vivo in the head and neck and other sites. Alpha-tocopherol has chemopreventive activity in the head and neck and may decrease 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cRA) toxicity. We designed the present phase II adjuvant trial to prevent recurrence or second primary tumors (SPTs) using 13-cRA, IFN-alpha, and alpha-tocopherol in locally advanced-stage head and neck cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After definitive local treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, or both, patients with locally advanced SCCHN were treated with 13-cRA (50 mg/m(2)/d, orally, daily), IFN-alpha (3 x 10(6) IU/m(2), subcutaneous injection, three times a week), and alpha-tocopherol (1,200 IU/d, orally, daily) for 12 months, with a dose modification. Screening for recurrence or SPTs was performed every 3 months. RESULTS: Tumors of 11 (24%) of the 45 treated patients were stage III, and 34 (76%) were stage IV. Thirty-eight (86%) of 44 patients completed the full 12-month treatment (doses modified as needed). Toxicity generally was consistent with previous IFN and 13-cRA reports and included mild to moderate mucocutaneous and flu-like symptoms; occasional significant fatigue (grade 3 in 7% of patients), mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia in 30% of patients who continued treatment along with antilipid therapy, and mild hematologic side effects. Six patients did not complete the planned treatment because of intolerable toxicity or social problems. At a median 24-months of follow-up, our clinical end point rates were 9% for local/regional recurrence (four patients), 5% for local/regional recurrence and distant metastases (two patients), and 2% for SPT (one patient), which was acute promyelocytic leukemia (ie, not of the upper aerodigestive tract). Median 1- and 2-year rates of overall survival were 98% and 91%, respectively, and of disease-free survival were 91% and 84%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The novel biologic agent combination of IFN-alpha, 13-cRA, and alpha-tocopherol was generally well tolerated and promising as adjuvant therapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. We are currently conducting a phase III randomized study of this combination (v no treatment) to confirm these phase II study results.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Percutaneous renal biopsy with a semi-automate device].

BACKGROUND: The percutaneous renal biopsy is a fundamental investigation in the diagnostic procedure for renal diseases. The introduction of the kidney localisation by real-time ultrasounds made the procedure more effective and safe. The use of semi-automated and automated biopsy devices seems to go in the same way. METHODS: In this paper a retrospective investigation is made on 118 renal biopsies performed at our Nephrology Unit from 1990 to 1999 with the semi-automated device Biopty Bard and with direct ultrasounds guidance. The number of post-biopsy complications have been evaluated. RESULTS: Any major complications (as surgical interventions and deaths) have been observed. The number of minor complications was low and in agreement with the literature data (post-biopsy macrohematuria = 6.8%, hemoglobin loss =/>20% = 0.8%, hematoma = 5.1%, lumbar pain 0.8%). The 98.4% of renal biopsies were diagnostic and 91.4% had a number of glomeruli =/>5. CONCLUSIONS: The automated ultrasound-guided procedure is a feasible and reliable technique for percutaneous renal biopsy. It gives a greater yield of diagnostic tissue without increasing the rate of clinical complications, even in Nephrology Units, such as ours, that perform a small number of biopsies every years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Photosynthesis and water relations of savanna tree species differing in leaf phenology.

Godmania macrocarpa Hemsley, a deciduous tree characteristic of fire protected areas of the savanna region of central Venezuela, was more drought tolerant, allocated more N to leaves and had consistently higher photosynthetic rates than Curatella americana L., a ubiquitous species growing successfully within the grasslands of tropical American savannas. Godmania macrocarpa maintained higher leaf conductance and photosynthesized at higher xylem water tensions than C. americana. As the dry season progressed, G. macrocarpa was more affected by water stress than C. americana, which may explain why G. macrocarpa shed its leaves before forming new leaves. For both species, leaf sap osmolality was strongly correlated with, but not completely accounted for by, soluble sugars. Integrated water-use efficiency, as measured by delta(13)C, was similar for both species, but young leaves were more efficient than old leaves. Water-use efficiency of adult leaves was similar in both species as a result of higher photosynthetic rates in G. macrocarpa and lower leaf conductances in C. americana. Compared to G. macrocarpa, instantaneous photosynthetic N-use efficiency was higher in C. americana despite its lower maximum photosynthetic rates. The absence of G. macrocarpa trees from open grasslands, despite their high productive capacity, is possibly the result of unfavorable conditions for germination, poor survival of seedlings, and lack of resistance against fire.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

The early stage of the recurrent cholera epidemic in Luanda, Angola.

The recurrent cholera epidemic in Angola has been occurring in the rainy hot season since 1987. About 350 cases were registered in the Luanda province in the first quarter of 1992. Out of 110 analysed cases, 13 were positive for V. parahaemolyticus and 57 were positive for multiresistant V. cholerae O1. Such strains were also isolated in the Bengo river, which feeds the Luanda water supply.

Angola↗
PubMed1985

The activity of ceftazidime compared with those of aztreonam, newer cephalosporins and Sch 29482 against nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli.

The activity of ceftazidime was compared with those of aztreonam, newer cephalosporins and Sch 29482 against nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli. Ceftazidime was consistently more active (MIC less than or equal to 8 micrograms) against the nonfermenters. Only Flavobacterium odoratum, F. spp., Pseudomonas alcaligenes, P. maltophilia and P. stutzeri demonstrated substantial resistance (MIC90 greater than or equal to 64 micrograms) to ceftazidime. Sch 29482 and ceftriaxone also exhibited good activity (MIC90 less than or equal to 8 micrograms) against many of the nonfermenters. The broad activity of ceftazidime, however, makes it a potentially more useful therapeutic agent against these microorganisms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1984

Activity of cefsulodin, other beta-lactams, and aminoglycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Cefsulodin was the most active of the cephalosporins and exhibited 4-16 times more activity than carbenicillin or ticarcillin against 50 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Azlocillin and piperacillin showed good activity, while tobramycin was the most effective aminoglycoside. The activity of cefsulodin was unaltered by increases in inocula, but resistance was induced easily. When combined with gentamicin, no synergistic or antagonistic activity was observed against multiply resistant isolates.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1983

In vitro antimicrobial activity of ceftizoxime.

The antimicrobial activity of ceftizoxime was compared to cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cephalothin, and lamoxactam (moxalactam) against 549 bacteria. It had activity similar to cefotaxime and lamoxactam against most members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Ceftizoxime should prove useful against gram-negative bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1982

Rapid detection of simulated bacteremia by centrifugation and filtration.

A centrifugation-filtration procedure was developed to expedite the recovery of microorganisms from blood. Fresh whole human blood was inoculated with various aerobic and facultatively anaerobic microorganisms (3 to 18 per ml). The seeded blood was carefully overlaid on a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient (density, 1.114 g/ml) and centrifuged (400 x g) for 45 min at ambient temperature. The entire gradient (plasma, leukocytes, and Ficoll-Hypaque) was removed and filtered through a 0.22-micrometer membrane filter. The filters were then placed on chocolate agar and incubated at 35 degrees C in humidified air containing 5% CO2. No statistically significant differences were detected between the numbers of microorganisms recovered by filtration and by direct culture of the original inoculum. Most microorganisms were detected within 18 h after filtration. This system has excellent sensitivity and negligible toxicity.

Blood↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Anti-HCV in patients undergoing dialysis in Piedmont and in Valle d'Aosta].

Special questionnaires were distributed in order to assess the current incidence of anti-HCV antibodies in Dialysis Centres in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley. The analysis of findings showed an overall positivity of 23.9%, with higher values in those cases treated with extracorporal methods and lower values in those patients treated with peritoneal dialysis. The data also confirmed the correlations between anti-HCV antibodies and the number of transfusions performed, and suggested the possible influence of previous operations, high risk manual occupation, or more than one of these factors, in addition to environmental conditions. Lastly, the paper reports the prophylactic measures currently in use for patients and medical staff in the various centres in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley.

Comorbidity↗