Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: experience with 14 cases.

Dermatofibrosarcoma is a rare, low-grade malignant skin tumour that can be considered the equivalent of malignant non-cutaneous soft tissue fibrohistiocytoma. The high rate of recurrence of this tumour is correlated with poor surgical management because lesions, often smaller than 2 cm in diameter, may be confused with dermatofibroma or keloid. Our findings confirm the importance of accurate diagnosis of primary lesions and the need for aggressive surgical treatment (excision of 5 cm of surrounding tissue) to lower the incidence of local relapse.

Preparation and evaluation of the in vitro erythroid differentiation induction properties of some esters of methyl 3,4-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-galactopyranoside and 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-mannofuranose.

Two series of glycide esters of short fatty acids, designed for avoiding intramolecular transesterification, were prepared and tested for in vitro erythroid differentiation induction activities using the K562 cell line as experimental system. The 6-O-isobutiryl and pivaloyl derivatives of methyl 3,4-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-galactopyranosides as well the same 1-O-esters of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha- and beta-D-mannofuranose exhibit biological activities much higher that the corresponding acids and could be proposed as possible agents to modulate production of embryo-fetal hemoglobins by human erythroid cells.

Extracorporeal septoplasty with paramarginal incision.

To reconstruct the airways in the case of serious nasoseptal deviation it is preferable to remove the cartilaginous septum, reshape it, and put it back. This may be done through an open rhinoplasty approach with a transcolumellar scar resulting in wide visual access to the septal structures. As the transcolumellar scar may give problems in some cases, it might be helpful to use an extended paramarginal incision.

Ultrastructural anatomy of contracted capsules around textured implants in augmented breasts.

The development of a capsule around an implant is part of the physiological response to a foreign body. Capsular contracture is the most specific and frustrating complication of augmentation mammaplasty, and a lot of studies have been devoted to it. The aim of the current study is to examine the fine architecture of the contracted capsule around textured implants in humans.

Alpha2-macroglobulin polymorphisms in Italian sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease.

A 5-bp deletion and a Val1000 polymorphism at the alpha(2)-macroglobulin (A2M) gene have recently been reported to be associated with late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). As recently it has been suggested that the effect of the A2M gene on AD susceptibility may be limited to certain populations or families, we analyzed the segregation of A2M and apolipoprotein E polymorphisms in Italian sporadic and familial AD. We analyzed the two polymorphisms in a total of 346 subjects including 98 controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Selective deprotection of 2',6'-di-O-benzyl-2,3:5,6:3',4'-tri-O-isopropylidenelactose dimethyl acetal.

The reactivity order of O-deisopropylidenation of the three isopropylidene protecting groups of 2',6'-di-O-benzyl-2,3:5,6:3',4'-tri-O-isopropylidenelactose dimethyl acetal (2) with various reagents was established. The 5,6-acetal group was, although to a limited extent, more reactive as compared with the 3',4' group, while the 2,3-O-isopropylidene group was definitely less reactive. Conditions were determined for the direct preparation of the 5,6,3',4'-tetraol 5 (60% aqueous acetic acid, room temperature, 48 h, 73% yield) and the 5,6-diol 4 (propylene glycol and p-toluenesulphonic acid in dichloromethane, 46% yield).

Postoperative enteral immunonutrition in head and neck cancer patients.

Aims: to determine if postoperative feeding of head and neck cancer patients, using an enteral diet supplemented with arginine, improves immunological and nutritional status, and clinical outcome, i.e., reduces postoperative infectious/wound complications and length of stay, when compared with an isocaloric, isonitrogenous control diet.

Induction of erythroid differentiation of human K562 cells by 3-O-acyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose derivatives.

In this paper we report the synthesis of twelve 3-O-acyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose derivatives and the results obtained on their effects in inducing erythroid differentiation of human leukemic K562 cells. The data obtained demonstrate that two of the newly synthetized compounds are able to induce erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. In addition, these same compounds potentiate K562 erythroid differentiation induced by cytosine arabinoside, retinoic acid and mithramycin.

[Lip carcinoma. Various therapeutic options].

Lip carcinoma is a relatively unique malignant disease because the lip is a junctional structure. The lip is bounded externally by the facial skin and it is in continuity with the buccal mucosa of the oral cavity. The lymphatic drainage of the upper and lower lips is primarily directed to the mandibular group of lymph nodes.

Randomized placebo-controlled trial of mitoxantrone in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: 24-month clinical and MRI outcome.

We designed a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial involving 51 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients to determine the clinical efficacy of mitoxantrone treatment over 2 years. Patients were allocated either to the mitoxantrone group (27 patients receiving I.V.

[Traumatism of the orbital-eyelid area].

The anatomical characteristics of the orbital-eyelid region are responsible for many traumas of different kinds, like road, domestic and sports accidents, especially in the last years. Therefore different kinds of lesion of the soft and hard tissues in the orbital region and the diagnoses and the therapeutics according to plastic and maxillo-facial surgery are examined.

[Rare localization of melanoma in a case of pharyngeal cancer].

The authors report a rare case of pharyngeal malignant melanoma, underlining the necessity of early diagnosis, in order to achieve the best possible prognosis preventing metastatic spreading. Unusual locations of MM are discussed, with emphasis on those that do not allow an early detection of the disease.

4,6-O-benzylidene-D-glucopyranose and its sodium salt: new data on their preparation and properties.

An improved method for the preparation of 4,6-O-benzylidene-D-glucopyranose (BG), and new or correlated data on its 1H and 13C NMR spectra, specific rotations, and tautomeric equilibria, and on those of its anomeric sodium salt (BGNa), are reported. Evidence is presented in favour of the hypothesis that crystalline BGNa exists entirely in its beta-anomeric form and that it can be useful in the access to beta-glucosides in reactions with strong electrophiles under strictly heterogeneous conditions.

New syntheses of D-tagatose and of 1,5-anhydro-D-tagatose from D-galactose derivatives.

3,4-O-Isopropylidene-D-lyxo-hexopyranosid-2-ulose derivatives, obtained by oxidation of 3,4,6-protected D-galactopyranosides, can be alkylated in their anionic 2,6-pyranose forms to produce bis-glycosides containing the 2,5-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring system.

[A sustained response in chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon].

We analyzed 27 subjects with long-term response, from a group of 110 interferon treated patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis and serum anti-HCV antibodies. The following variables were assessed as potential predictors: sex, age, ALT level before the therapy was started, liver structure, type of interferon, total amount of interferon. Total amount of administered interferon statistically correlated with long-term response by univariate analysis.

A controlled trial of mitoxantrone in multiple sclerosis: serial MRI evaluation at one year.

We present the results of a randomized double-blinded placebo controlled, multicenter trial, of low-dose mitoxantrone (MX), after one year, in 25 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, who had serial enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment groups were balanced for age, gender, duration of illness and neurological disability. Five of the 13 MX patients and 10 of the 12 placebo patients had exacerbations during treatment (p < 0.

Attraction of Chironomus salinarius (Diptera: Chironomidae) to artificial light on an island in the saltwater lagoon of Venice, Italy.

The attraction of adult Chironomus salinarius to incandescent 3-W lamps of 7 different colors used in CDC traps was studied on a small island in the lagoon of Venice, Italy. An ANOVA indicated that the lamp type was a highly significant (P < 0.01) factor associated with differences in light trap catch (28% of total variation), as well as catch per lux (18% of total variation).