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Biomedical subjects

M Scala

Publications and source records attributed to M Scala.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effects of simulated microgravity on male gametophyte of Prunus, Pyrus, and Brassica species.

In this study we evaluated the effect of simulated microgravity on pollen germination of both herbaceous and woody species in order to investigate the possibility of applying gametophytic selection for plant growth in the space environment. The behaviour of gametophytes exposed to the stress of clinostat rotation could be used to screen the degree of tolerance of the sporophyte to simulated microgravity. The use of male gametophyte selection overcomes the problems generally encountered by sporophytic selection in space especially for woody plants: the large size of plants and their long juvenile phase. In this experiment, pollen collected from just bloomed flowers of Prunus persica, P. avium, P. domestica, Pyrus communis, and Brassica rapa was subjected to tests assessing its viability by techniques such as fluorochromatic reaction. Once pollen viability was ascertained by fluorescence microscopy, pollen was placed on the growth medium in petri dishes both at 1 g and on the clinostat. After incubating for 1 day at room temperature, pollen was observed under a light microscope in order to detect parameters such as the percentage of germination and the growth direction. Then histochemical analyses were performed in order to verify the presence and distribution of nuclei, cytoplasm, and storage substances. Moreover, the presence, size, and morphology of callose plugs were observed. Results showed that the response of gametophytes to simulated microgravity is dependent on the species, some showing altered metabolism, others being unaffected.

Brassica↗
PubMed2006

Effects of relative humidity and temperature conditions on pollen fluorochromatic reaction of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae).

Mediterranean ecosystems are characterized by seasonal and annual fluctuations in humidity and temperature which are considered limiting factors for plant growth and might have played a key role in the selection of species that compose the present vegetation. After anther release, pollen is generally exposed to various changes of temperature and humidity conditions, therefore its viability and consequently successful fruit set are strongly affected by these environmental parameters. The aim of this research was to study the effect of different combinations of humidity and temperature on pollen membrane integrity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. in order to investigate possible relations between pollen features and climatic conditions during flowering. This species is an evergreen perennial shrub, occurring among the sclerophyllous vegetation of Mediterranean maquis. In many areas of Southern Italy, it shows a flowering period starting from the beginning of winter and spreading throughout spring months. The analysis of data showed that duration of pollen viability of R. officinalis is enhanced by the co-occurrence of low temperature and high humidity. Moreover, these conditions are able to newly raise the viability of pollen kept at higher temperatures and lower humidity. These observations indicate that reactivation of the pollen membrane depends on low temperature apart from high humidity. Therefore "vernalization" of rosemary pollen enhances its viability, supporting that pollen behavior is adapted to winter condition and allows flowering in winter and early spring.

Humidity↗
PubMed2001

The role of the PROs.

Peer review organizations (PROs) play a critical part in the Medicare program, yet their efforts on behalf of beneficiaries are not well-known. In this brief we explore the role of the PROs, focusing specifically on quality improvement, appeals, and beneficiary education.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗
PubMed2001

Medicare preventive services.

Preventive services, such as mammograms and colorectal cancer screenings, can save lives. Since 1997, Medicare has had a renewed emphasis on wellness through its expanded preventive health benefits. In this brief we discuss the importance of screenings and prevention, focusing specifically on Medicare coverage of these benefits. Finally we spotlight the National Diabetes Education Program, an awareness campaign that you and your organization can be part of.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed2000

Micronucleus frequencies in exfoliated buccal cells in normal mucosa, precancerous lesions and squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of micronuclei in the characterization of precancerous lesions of the oral cavity with reference to their likelihood of progressing to malignant lesions. STUDY DESIGN: The frequency of micronuclei was determined in exfoliated cells from normal oral mucosa, a preneoplastic condition (leukoplakia) and precancerous lesions with and without dysplasia, squamous cell carcinomas and sites of previous carcinomas that had been removed. RESULTS: Average micronucleus frequencies were increased in precancerous lesions as compared to normal mucosa and further increased in carcinomas, suggesting that micronuclei are a biomarker of neoplastic progression in this type of cancer. With all samples, micronucleus frequencies were systematically higher when cells were collected by vigorous than by light scraping, suggesting a decreasing gradient from basal to superficial layers of mucosa. The micronucleus frequency did not vary with the sex or age of patients, while it did vary with the anatomic site of the lesions. CONCLUSION: Although the gradual increase in micronucleus counts from normal mucosa to precancerous lesions to carcinomas suggests a link of this biomarker with neoplastic progression, the large overlapping of data prevents its use as a predictor of progression of precancerous lesions to malignancy in individual patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Malignant phyllodes tumor with liposarcomatous differentiation. Description of a clinical case].

Sarcoma of the breast are a rare group of neoplasms representing less than 5% of Soft Tissue Sarcomas (STS). Between 1980 and 1995 in the National Institute foe Cancer Research (IST) of Genoa, 2188 patients were submitted to surgery for breast cancer. Seven of them were found to be affected by sarcoma, confirmed by histologic diagnosis. All the patients were between 39 and 87 years-old. Surgical treatments were: wide excision (1 case), total mastectomy (2 cases), radical mastectomy following Halsted (4 cases). A case of a 53 year-old woman with a phyllodes tumor initially transforming in to liposarcoma is reported. The patient was submitted to surgery (total mastectomy) and nowadays is alive and free of disease after 29 months. All authors agree that the treatment for sarcoma of the breast is early and complete surgical excision of the mass. The role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is still uncertain. Outcome is based on histologic type, degree of differentiation and tumor size.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Diagnostic protocol of thyroid nodules used in a surgical case series (409 cases)].

BACKGROUND: The introduction of ultrasonography and fine needle biopsy (FNB) has changed the approach towards thyroid pathology. At the Division of Surgical Oncology of the National Institute for Cancer Research in Genoa we use a complex diagnostic system for the selection of patients affected by thyroid pathologies. Our aim is to analyze this methodology and find the best diagnostic procedure for the individual patient. METHODS: Between January 1982 and June 1997, 2500 patients (pts) were found to be affected by thyroid pathologies. The diagnostic procedures for thyroid pathologies are: physical examination and anamnesis, scintigraphy, ultrasonography, fine needle biopsy, blood dosages, radiography of trachea and aesophagus; some cases require Computerized Tomography of the neck and Magnetic Nuclear Resonance. At the end of the examinations 409 pts underwent surgery; we will be evaluating the diagnostic system of these patients. RESULTS: We found from our data, that the group with the highest incidence of malignant tumors is characterized by a large number of instrumental examinations. In fact, 55/73 pts underwent all the instrumental exams, and in 21.1% a malignant tumor was found. These data are interesting, but more important is that only 409 patients out of 2500 underwent surgery 16.3%. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that one single instrumental examination is not enough to detect the characteristic of a thyroid nodule; the three most important examinations, scintigraphy, ultrasonography and cytology, would make it possible to select those cases which need a surgical approach. We believe that the 20% incidence in these cases can be considered good result, considering that the incidence of malignant tumors in thyroid pathologies is about 5% and that in these cases although the tumors were not malignant, they were operated on for functional or mechanical disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Pidotimod in the management of vulvar papillomatosis: double-blind clinical trial versus placebo.

To investigate whether the immune system improvement induced by pidotimod increases the rate of spontaneous disappearance of vulvar papillomatous lesions, a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was performed. Forty-nine patients (23 in the pidotimod group and 26 in the placebo group) with first diagnosis of vulvar papillomatosis as shown by clinical and histological findings underwent 90-day treatment with oral 800-mg pidotimod once a day or identical placebo. The main outcome measure was the difference between vulvar papillomatous infected area before and after treatment judged by the following: complete regression (complete disappearance of all papillomatous lesions); partial regression (a decrease of at least 75% of the infected area); no response (a decrease of less than 75% of the infected area or new viral lesions not present at baseline). Forty patients completed the trial according to the study protocol and were entered in the "per protocol" analysis of efficacy. Complete regression was observed in 12 of 18 patients (66.7%) receiving pidotimod compared with 7 of 22 patients (31.8%) receiving placebo. The total infected surface area at the end of treatment was 10.1 +/- 18.5 mm2 (mean +/- SD) in the pidotimod arm and 198.3 +/- 399.2 mm2 in the placebo arm (p < 0.05 between treatment). Notwithstanding the fact that better results were obtained in the pidotimod group, more data are needed to confirm our encouraging results.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

[Precancerous lesions of the oral cavity: review of the literature and an analysis of cases].

146 patients with precancerous lesions of the oral cavity were observed in our institute between 1988 and 1995. Out of a total of 188 lesions, 110 were single and 36 were multifocal. Histologically 164 lesions were classified as keratosis, 14 as dysplasia, and 10 as lichen ruber planus. 76 patients were treated by cryosurgery, 20 received medical treatment and 3 underwent surgery. Only 47 patients eliminated such risk factors as smoking and alcohol consumption from their daily life-styles. Complete response was 99%, 20.8% and 29.8%, respectively, for cryosurgery, medical treatment and preventive measures. Only 2 patients (1.4%) developed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Of these, 1 had had keratosis of the tongue, treated with cryosurgery, while the other had had a medically treated dysplasia of the floor of the mouth. There were 8 precancerous lesion recurrences after cryosurgery and 2 after medical treatment. After cryosurgery 18 new lesions appeared in a site other than the primary site, 4 occurred after medical treatment, 1 after surgery and 2 in patients who had eliminated tobacco and alcohol consumption. Since precancerous lesions constitute a general apparatus disease, a systemic treatment is required which can stimulate cell differentiation and/or suppress the mechanisms inducing carcinogenesis. This may prevent the occurrence of new lesions. For this reason the authors believe that the initial treatment for patients with precancerous lesions should be medical. Loco-regional therapy should be reserved for those cases which do not respond to medical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[The role of the general practitioner and dentist in the early diagnosis of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the oral cavity].

Early detection of oral cancer allows for a 90% 5-year survival rate. Unfortunately, nowadays 60% of these tumors are detected in advanced stages with a 5-year survival of about 20%. Therefore, early diagnosis is of the greatest importance. Both the GP and the dentist have a primary role in early diagnosis and are also responsible for informing the population regarding the risk factors in oral cancer. GPs and dentists should systematically check the oral cavity mucous membranes in heavy smokers and/or drinkers above all when over 40. Lesions become suspicious when they persist for more than two weeks after detection. The high-risk pts and suspicious lesions should undergo the following diagnostic procedures: micronucleus test, vital staining, scraping and biopsy for cytological and histological examination. The above mentioned methods will increase the early diagnosis of tumours and improve its prognosis.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1997

[The surgery of breast carcinoma. 10 years of activity].

From 1981 to 1990, 1003 stage I-II breast cancers underwent surgery at the Division of Surgical Oncology of National Institute for Cancer Research of Genoa. This study described the clinical and pathologic features of these breast cancers. Radical mastectomy was performed in 73.8% of cases and conservative surgery in 26.2% of cases. In the last years the number of conservative treatment has increased. Related to size of tumour, in 1991 80.4% of pT1 performed a conservative surgery. The choice of type of surgery for pT2 tumours depended on the choice of patient and the ratio breast size and tumour size. The five-year overall survival was 85.8% in the group of conservative surgery and 65.3% in the group of radical surgery. The overall survival and relapse free survival have been calculated by Kaplan-Meyer method. Actuarial survival curves were computed according to type of surgery, tumor size, nodal status, hormonal receptors. In our experience the size of tumour was an important prognostic factor. The five years, overall survival was 80.7% in pT1 tumours and 67% in pT2-pT3 tumours (p = 10(-6)). The five-year overall survival in negative nodes patients was 80.5%. Conversely in patients with more than ten nodal metastases was 29.5%. The data reported in the present study were no different as in previous studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Staining of micronuclei in squamous epithelial cells of human oral mucosa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of methodologic variables, staining method and sampling, on the frequency of micronuclei scored in squamous epithelial cells of oral mucosa. Micronuclei were used as biomarkers of structural and numerical chromosome damage. STUDY DESIGN: Feulgen and Giemsa stain and fluorescent dyes Hoechst 33258 and propidium iodide were used for micronucleus staining. Cells were collected by either light or vigorous scraping of oral mucosa. RESULTS: Staining of micronuclei by Hoechst 33258 proved more handly, less time consuming and at least equally reliable to the more widely used Feulgen staining. Results with Giemsa stain and propidium iodide were unsatisfactory. Micronuclei were less frequent in superficial layers of the oral mucosa. CONCLUSION: Hoechst 33258 can be recommended for micronucleus staining in squamous epithelial cells of oral mucosa. Differences in scraping may affect the measurement of micronucleus frequency; scraping should therefore be carefully standardized in each laboratory.

Epithelial Cells↗
PubMed1996

Cell kinetics and tumor regression during radiotherapy in head and neck squamous-cell carcinomas.

Head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HN-SCC) patient management is mainly based on TNM classification and needs be improved by considering other potentially useful prognostic factors. We examined the pre-radiotherapy tumor potential doubling time (Tpot) evaluated after in vivo infusion of bromodeoxyuridine and flow-cytometric analysis and the early clinical tumor regression after 40 Gy (40 Gy-TR). Tpot values and clinical 40 Gy-TR classes (minor and major) were available for 82 HN-SCC patients. Radiation therapy completion was done either with 1 dose per day (conventional regimen) or 2 doses per day (accelerated regimen). Local control was also available for follow-up times above 4 years. We found that major 40 Gy-TR was strongly correlated with fast tumor growth, characterized by Tpot values below 5 days, and that patients with major 40 Gy-TR showed better local control than those with minor 40 Gy-TR, independently from the radiotherapy regimen type. We also found that treatment completion with accelerated radiotherapy gave better local control for patients with major 40 Gy-TR and fast tumor growth than conventional radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis, performed on all patients, assigned an independent prognostic value to Tpot, tumor classification and 40 Gy-TR.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Combined craniofacial approach to facial tumours involving the anterior skull base.

The authors report their experience on six male patients and one female patient (age range: 58-76 years, median: 67) with facial tumours involving the anterior skull base, undergoing craniofacial resection between January 1992 and May 1994 at the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Tumor Institute, Genoa. Three patients had squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the nasal fossa; two patients had squamous carcinoma rT4NO and adenocarcinoma rT4NO1 of the maxillary sinus; one patient had squamous carcinoma of the eyelid, and another had squamous carcinoma of the internal chantus. Four patients had had previous radiotherapy, another underwent pre-operative chemoradiotherapy, and only two patients had not been treated before. A proper craniofacial tumour resection was performed in three patients; one patient had a left maxillectomy with ethmoidectomy and orbital exenteration; one patient underwent maxillectomy, resection of the medial and inferior wall of the orbit, ethmoidectomy, and orbital exenteration; one patient underwent maxillectomy, ethmoidectomy, and mucosectomy of the sphenoidal sinus, and one patient had total ethmoidectomy. As for reconstruction procedures of the anterior skull base, lyophilized dura with galeal pericranial flap was commonly used. A myocutaneous flap transposition (transverse rectus abdominis and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap) was used in two patients for the reconstruction of the resected tissues and bones of maxillary and orbital regions. Post-operative complications included intraoperative liquorrhea in one patient; one case of early and serious pneumocephalus; flap necrosis occurred following transposition of latissimus dorsi. Median hospital stay was 34 days. After a median follow-up of 18 months (range: 3 to 34 months) five of seven patients (71.4%) are alive and disease-free at 15, 17, 18, 30 and 34 months from surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

[Early stages of laryngeal cancer (I-II stage) and therapeutic options: case report and review of literature].

Between 1987 and 1993, 36 patients with early squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (I-II stage) were treated with radiotherapy, at the National Institute for Cancer Research of Genoa; 25 patients were stage I (5 T1N0 of supraglottic larynx, 15 T1aN0 and 5 T1bN0 of glottic larynx) and 11 patients stage II (7 T2N0 of supraglottic larynx and 4 T2N0 of glottic larynx); there were 32 males (89%) and 4 females (11%), ages ranging from 34 to 83 years (mean age 61 years). The radiotherapy was performed utilizing the X-ray of a 6 MV linear accelerator, with a daily conventional fractionation and a dose of 66-70 Gy/33-35 fr./7 weeks, with co-axial latero-lateral beams including cervical lymph-nodes, except for T1N0 glottic cancer. The median follow-up was 51 months (range 8-84 months). The local control rate of all the patients was 80.5% at 51 months. According to the stage and tumor subsite, it was 80% for stage I a-b of the glottic site, 60% for the stage I of supraglottic site, 91% for stage II of supraglottic and glottic site. Only 6 patients (18%) underwent the salvage surgery and in all the patients the illness was under control. The overall survival rate was 83.3% at 51 months (4 patients died of a second tumor (11%) and 2 from heart disease (5.5%)). The only complication we observed was a glottic edema. The analysis of our results demonstrates that radiotherapy seems to be more appropriate in the T1a-b glottic cancer. These results are in agreement with those obtained by other studies. On the contrary, the results obtained with radiotherapy, in the T2N0 glottic cancer, are not satisfactory, with regard to local control, as those obtained with surgery, but offers best functional results. In most T2N0 tumors, after the failure of radiotherapy, a reconstructive laryngectomy is still possible. We also obtained good results with the supraglottic lesions. The small number of cases we treated does not allow us to achieve final conclusions and other studies are necessary to confirm our results.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Non-toxic nodular goiter: treatment and follow-up].

Between 1982 and 1993, 224 patients (196 females and 28 males) with benign lesion of the thyroid underwent surgery. This group included: 1) 210 pts with p multinodular goiter or solitary nodule with normal serum levels of T3, T4, FT3, FT4, TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone; 2) 14 pts with a hyper-functioning goiter; 3) 12 pts with recurrent nodules following surgery which had been carried out in another hospital. In this study only those pts with solid cold (hypofunctioning) nodules which had not been treated previously were evaluated. The minimal follow-up was 18 months. It consisted of serologic studies (86 cases), ultrasonography (70 cases) and ultrasonography and scintigraphy (5 cases). We performed isthmusectomy in 2 cases, total lobectomy in 42 cases and subtotal thyroidectomy in 42 cases. Out of the 86 pts evaluated, 70 (81.3%) were treated with post-surgical hormone suppressive therapy (Levothyroxin 100 gamma daily). The endogenous thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was suppressed in 50 cases (71%), while 20 pts (28.5%) remained within the norm. Thyroid ultrasonography demonstrated recurrent nodules in 14 out of the 86 evaluated (16.2%). All these pts received thyroxine therapy. Among the 50 pts who had been treated with an adequate dose of thyroid hormone, 5 had recurrences (10%), as compared to 3 out of the 20 cases (15%) who had been administered thyroxine dosage not high enough to suppress THS and to 6 pts out of the 16 (33.5%) who had not been administered thyroid hormone. One out of the 20 pts (5%) who had undergone total lobectomy and post-surgical suppressive hormone therapy developed recurrence as compared to 6 out of the 24 pts (25%) who had under gone lobectomy and had been administered a hormone dosage which was not high enough to suppress TSH. Four out of the cases (13.3%) who had under gone subtotal thyroidectomy and post-surgical suppressive hormone therapy had recurrence as compared to 3 out of the 12 (25%) who had undergone subtotal thyroidectomy without TSH suppression. We conclude that treatment with thyroid hormone decreases the risk of benign recurrences only when undergone a long thyroxine therapy in doses high enough to suppress endogenous TSH.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Primary site as predictive factor of local control in advanced head and neck tumors treated by concomitant boost accelerated radiotherapy.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The purpose of this phase II study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of an accelerated radiotherapy schedule with the concomitant boost technique in the management of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HN-SCC) of various primary sites. METHODS: From May 1989 to December 1992 45 patients were scheduled to receive a total dose of 75 Gy in 40 fractions over 40 days. The boost encompassing the macroscopic disease was given as a second daily dose during the last 2 weeks of the basic treatment. RESULTS: Severe mucositis was recorded in 27 (60%) patients. Late side effect occurred in 2. As regards local control the primary tumor site was the most significant prognostic factor: at a median follow-up of 24 months (range 12-52 months) the actuarial local control rate was 79%, 48% and 15% for oronasopharyngeal, laryngohypopharyngeal and oral cavity primary sites, respectively (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This high dose concomitant boost regimen appears feasible in advanced HN-SCC. However, our results indicate the primary tumor site as a major prognostic factor even with an accelerated treatment schedule.

Adult↗