PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

V Saba

Publications and source records attributed to V Saba.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Preoperative APACHE II and ASA scores in patients having major general surgical operations: prognostic value and potential clinical applications.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of the APACHE II score and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification system in preoperative evaluation of patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Italy. SUBJECTS: 187 consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency major general surgical operations. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were evaluated preoperatively using both indices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity and mortality within 30 days. RESULTS: Logistic regression and ROC curve analyses showed that the APACHE II score predicted morbidity and mortality well; it was superior to the ASA system in predicting outcome (area under the curve 0.894 for the APACHE II index, 0.777 for the ASA system; p < 0.001). The APACHE II score without its age points (area 0.888) had the same prognostic value as the complete score (area 0.894; p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The APACHE II score may help clinicians to evaluate preoperatively the risk of postoperative morbidity and death after major general surgical operations. Age does not seem to have a specific weight.

APACHE↗
PubMed1997

Inhibition of tumor cell kinetics and serum insulin growth factor I levels by octreotide in colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Octreotide was shown to inhibit the growth of colon cancer and to reduce serum concentrations of tumor growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in vitro and in animal models. Effects of octreotide on tumor cell kinetics and serum concentration of IGF-I and EGF in patients with colorectal cancer were evaluated. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with colorectal cancer were randomized to receive octreotide (200 micrograms daily) in the 2 weeks before surgery or the usual medications. Samples of tumor tissue were taken at endoscopy and at surgery. [3H]Thymidine labeling index and flow cytometry were used to assess the S-phase fraction. In octreotide-treated patients, plasma levels of IGF-I, EGF, and growth hormone were assessed before and after treatment. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean percentage of the S-phase fraction as a result of octreotide treatment measured by both [3H]thymidine labeling index (P = 0.001) and flow cytometry (P = 0.001). No reduction in the percentage of the S-phase fraction was observed in the control group patients. Serum values of IGF-I were significantly reduced by octreotide, whereas EGF and growth hormone levels were not affected. CONCLUSIONS: Octreotide reduces the proliferative activity of tumor cells and the serum IGF-I levels in patients with colorectal cancer. This activity may have a role in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Glyoxalase II and glutathione levels in rat liver mitochondria during cold storage in Euro-Collins and University of Wisconsin solutions.

Glutathione and glyoxalase II levels were evaluated in cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments of rat liver after 7 and 24 hr of cold storage in University of Wisconsin (UW) and Euro-Collins solutions. 1-4 A similar time-dependent depletion of cytosolic glutathione up to about 60% of control values was observed in both Euro-Collins and UW solutions. Cytosolic glyoxalase II showed activity oscillations in livers stored in Euro-Collins but not in UW. Mitochondrial glutathione and glyoxalase II were severely depleted soon after 7 hr of cold storage in Euro-Collins, whereas the same parameters did not change in liver stored in UW after 24 hr. UW is confirmed to be the most suitable solution for liver cold storage and we conclude that mitochondrial glutathione and glyoxalase II can be important parameters in assessing mitochondrial and cell function.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1994

A pilot clinical trial of surgical adjuvant treatment with high-dose 6S-leucovorin/5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy for high-risk rectal carcinoma.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of combining leucovorin (LV) with 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and radiation therapy as adjuvant treatment for high-risk rectal carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the rectum, at high-risk of recurrence after potentially curative resection (T3 NO, T and N1-2; MO), received 5FU (370 mg/m2) and 6S-LV (100 mg/m2) on days 1-5, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. On treatment day 64, radiotherapy on the pelvis (50 Gy) was initiated. Finally, three further courses of 5FU/LV were given at intervals of 4 weeks beginning 28 days after the completion of radiotherapy. RESULTS: The treatment was generally well tolerated. We observed only 2 cases of grade III toxicity (diarrhea) during the third cycle of chemotherapy. No severe complications were recorded following the use of radiotherapy. The mean overall 5FU dose intensity was 92%. After a median follow-up of 24 months, 4 patients had relapsed (liver, lung, and pelvis, 2 cases). CONCLUSIONS: The association of LV to 5FU and radiation therapy seems to be feasible, with acceptable toxicity. The advantage of this combination, in terms of recurrence rate and survival with respect to 5FU/radiotherapy alone, will have to be evaluated in randomized trials.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Cytokinetic effects of interferon in colorectal cancer tumors: implications in the design of the interferon/5-fluorouracil combinations.

Interferon (IFN) has been shown to enhance the cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorouracil (5FUra) in colorectal cancer, and clinical trials with this combination resulted in higher response rate with respect to 5FUra alone. IFN is generally administered s.c. three times a week. This prolonged exposure could determine a block of tumor cells in the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle, thus rendering tumor cells insensitive to 5FUra, an S-phase specific agent. In order to verify the presence of this block, 21 operable colorectal cancer patients were treated with IFN-alpha 2b at the dose of 3 megaunits every other day in the week before operation, while another 22 represented the control group. Samples of tumor tissue were taken at endoscopy and operation. [3H]Thymidine labeling index and flow cytometry were used to assess the S-phase fraction. In IFN treated patients, we found a significant statistical difference between the mean percentage of S-phase fractions evaluated either by labeling index (P = 0.00001) or by flow cytometry (P < 0.001). On the contrary, this difference was not present in the control group: labeling index, P = 0.06; flow cytometry, P = 0.08. Furthermore a significant increase in the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle was found after IFN administration (P < 0.001) but not in the control group. Our results suggest that IFN reduces the S-phase fraction in colorectal cancer tumors. This action should be considered in the design of the 5FUra/IFN combination because it could decrease 5FUra activity, leading to a loss or a decrease in the advantage of 5FUra modulation by IFN.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Spermatic-saphenous vein bypass in the treatment of essential varicocele].

A new technique for surgical treatment of idiopathic varicocele is described. This technique consists of internal spermatic vein ligature and its resection and microvascular anastomosis between proximal tract of the internal spermatic and saphenous vein. In this way a communication is established between a high regimen pressure with a lower one. Fourteen idiopathic varicoceles are successfully operated with this new technique.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Heterotopic homograft of the rat stomach: microsurgical technic].

More than by a practical viewpoint, the experimental graft of stomach is very useful like model for the study of gastrointestinal physiopathology. Starting from these considerations the AA. have set up a new method for the execution of stomach heterotopic homograft in rat and they have studied the secretory activity without immuno-suppressed therapy. Not inbred rats have been used; their middle survival has been of 9,3 days. The secretion has been regular up to 5th-6th day; in the same time the AA. have made histopathologic studies on the transplanted stomachs of animals that had been sacrificed at programmed intervals of time, which have outlined the progressive growth of a reaction of intense immunological rejection.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[Orthotopic homograft of the rat stomach: microsurgical technic].

The principal aim of this study is to set up a new microsurgical technique that can be reproducible easily for the execution of orthotopic homograft of stomach in rat. The vascularization of homograft is given, for arterial district by a termino-terminal anastomosis between celiac artery of donor and right renal artery of receiving, and, for venous district, by a termino-lateral anastomosis between portal vein of donor and vena cava of receiving. The middle survival of rats that were had a graft, in this first stage of research, has been of 3 days, therefore it hasn't't been possible to look into the function of graft.

Animals↗