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Biomedical subjects

R Simoni

Publications and source records attributed to R Simoni.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Calcium phosphate materials containing alumina: Raman spectroscopical, histological, and ultrastructural study.

Variable alumina quantities were added to two types of calcium phosphate materials-hydroxyapatite ceramics with Ca/P = 1.67 and calcium metaphosphate glass with Ca/P = 1--in order to increase their mechanical properties. Raman spectroscopy shows that alumina interacts with the phosphate group of these materials, while thermomechanical analysis shows that their elastic modulus has a value similar to that of bone. Histological sections demonstrate that the surface in close contact with ceramic materials shows a good integration between bone and biomaterial. All ceramic specimens are penetrated by well-stained, presumably glycoprotein, matrix, that consistently forms a thin network in close contact with the implant. After 6 weeks bone growing on both ceramic and glass shows signs of maturation with a lamellar structure and an apparently normal mineralization. In the case of the glass, inside this newly formed bone, were often observed two layers, the internal one showing a well defined lamellar structure.

Aluminum Oxide

Is interferon alpha in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma a treatment of choice?

This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of recombinant interferon alpha-2a (rIFN alfa-2a) given as initial systemic therapy in untreated mycosis fungoides and/or Sezary's syndrome patients, at a slowly escalating schedule up to the maximal tolerated dose. At the same time this schedule was administered in patients who had relapsed or were refractory to previous treatment; 28 newly diagnosed and 15 previously treated patients entered the study. IFN was given daily with dose escalation from 3 to 18 MU. The last follow-up in June 1990 indicates that 90% of previously untreated patients who obtained a complete remission remain in continuous complete remission after 18 to 40 months and that 75% of previously untreated patients who obtained partial remission remain in partial remission after 20-44 months. The event-free survival projected, calculated using the Kaplan and Meier product limit technique, was 21% of all patients at 54.7 months (40% in the previously untreated groups and 14% in the previously treated group: P = 0.12). In conclusion, interferon is very effective as a single agent in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.

Adult

Interferon alpha-2a in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

23 newly diagnosed patients affected by cutaneous T-cell lymphoma were treated with sub-cutaneous interferon alpha-2a to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and the toxicity of this agent. IFN was administered daily with dose escalation from 3 to 18 million units for 12 weeks; thereafter, patients induced into complete (CR) or partial (PR) remission were given IFN at maximal tolerated dose 3 times weekly for 6 or 9 months. The objective tumor response was observed in 17 patients (74%): 8 (35%) were CR and 9 (39%) were PR. A 74-yr-old patient died because of neutropenia and sepsis at the end of induction phase, while receiving IFN at dose of 18 million units. Disease stage is the initial feature predictive of response to IFN therapy. The dose schedule of this study was well tolerated: only 3 patients developed liver toxicity, while leukopenia was evident in 6 patients. Only 2 CR patients have relapsed, 18 and 24 months from response; the remaining 6 CR patients are in continuous complete remission with a median follow-up of 41.8 months. 6 PR patients have progressed from 8 to 17 months after response, and in the 3 PR patients not yet progressed the response duration ranges from 20 to 24 months. In conclusion, interferon alpha-2a is a very effective agent in therapy of untreated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with an overall response rate of 74%.

Adult

Epithelioid sarcoma.

Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor of the soft tissues with particular clinical and anatomicopathological characteristics. Histologically it is characterized by the presence of particular epithelioid cells. After a description of a recently observed case, the authors present a synthesis of the literature on the subject, paying particular attention to the clinical and histological aspects which facilitate an early and correct diagnosis.

Adolescent

Recombinant leukocyte interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of mycosis fungoides.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of recombinant leukocyte interferon alfa-2a (Hoffmann-LaRoche) as single agent in patients with histologically confirmed Mycosis Fungoides. The protocol consisted of a 12 week induction with subcutaneous interferon, escalating from 3 up to 18 million units daily, and a 6 or 9 month maintenance phase for complete or partial responses, respectively, with 18 million units 3 times weekly. 12 patients are evaluable: 5 are in complete remissions, 6 are partial remissions, and one had disease progression. Alfa-2a interferon was well tolerated: only 3 patients had WHO grade IV organ toxicity. Our study documents that recombinant leukocyte alfa 2a is a highly active agent in untreated patients with Mycosis Fungoides. Finally, the dose schedule chosen in this study allows alfa-2a interferon administration on an outpatient basis.

Adult