In vivo and in vitro allergy diagnostics: it's time to re-appraise the costs.

Background: The in vivo skin prick test (SPT) is widely considered less expensive than in vitro gamma-immunoglobulin E (IgE) determination in the diagnosis of allergy. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the relevance of component-resolved in vitro diagnosis in comparison to extract-based diagnosis and the relative global costs in relation to clinical outcomes.

Methods: For 50 individuals with suspected seasonal allergic rhinitis, we compared the costs of skin testing with those of specific IgE antibody measurement.

Insight into the treatment of cancer in older patients: developments in the last decade.

In the last decades there has been an increased interest in the treatment of elderly cancer patients and a change in attitude of both clinicians and their patients has occurred. Drugs are now available that might be considered "elderly-friendly" and the enormous advances in surgical procedures and supportive treatments over the recent years have enabled adverse effects to be minimized. A Geriatric Assessment is increasingly used as a tool to define those patients who are more suitable for aggressive chemotherapy or, on the contrary, palliative treatment.

Mammographic and ultrasonographic comparison between intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and conventional external radiotherapy (RT) in limited-stage breast cancer, conservatively treated.

Objective: Assess mammographic and echographic modifications in mild cases of breast cancer (suitable for conservative surgery) after intraoperatory radio treatment (IORT) as opposed to conventional post-operative radiotherapy (RT).

Materials And Methods: We report data from 45 patients in each group (IORT and RT). All patients were examined using the same mammographic and ecographic equipment at 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment.

Phenylalanine 90 and 93 are localized within the phenol binding site of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A10 as determined by photoaffinity labeling, mass spectrometry, and site-directed mutagenesis.

4-Azido-2-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-AzHBA), a novel photoactive benzoic acid derivative, has been synthesized and used as a photoprobe to identify the phenol binding site of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Analysis of recombinant His-tag UGTs from the 1A family for their ability to glucuronidate p-nitrophenol (pNP) and 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) revealed that UGT1A10 shows high activity toward phenols and phenol derivatives. Purified UGT1A10 was photolabeled with 4-AzHBA, digested with trypsin, and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-mass spectrometry.

Synthesis and evaluation of an N-acylated photoactivatable analogue of glutathione as probe for glutathione-utilizing enzymes.

The first synthesis of an N-acylated photoactivatable analogue of reduced glutathione is described. N-(4-Benzoylbenzoyl)glutathione (8) was found to be an inhibitor and a photoaffinity probe of purified rat liver glutathione S-transferases.

[Customer satisfaction analysis in women attending an organized mammographic screening. Pilot study at Trento].

Present paper reports on the results of a pilot customer satisfaction study carried out on 1.720 consecutive women (18.7 with spontaneous access) attended senology department (Trento and Borgo) in the context of a organized mammography screening programme, started in October 2000.

Efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy in the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma at first presentation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the accuracy and reliability of CT-guided percutaneous biopsy as an alternative to surgical biopsy in a selected population of patients without superficial enlarged lymph nodes and a final diagnosis of malignant lymphoma at first presentation.

Methods: The results of 145 CT-guided needle biopsies in 137 patients with malignant lymphoma at its first presentation and without superficial enlarged lymph nodes were analyzed retrospectively. Biopsies were performed in 24 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 113 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Treatment of head and neck cancer in elderly patients: state of the art and guidelines.

Although the majority of head and neck cancers occur between the fifth and sixth decade, their onset in patients older than 60 years is not a rare event. A peculiar characteristic of almost all case series is the lower prevalence of radical treatments among elderly as compared to younger patients, in particular surgery and combined treatment of surgery plus radiation therapy or chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Radiotherapy is a feasible treatment in elderly patients, also in very advanced age groups and, in the era of organ preservation, chemotherapy combined with RT has a paramount importance.

Advantages and limits of percutaneous breast core biopsy with Mammotome and stereotactic equipment in upright seated patient.

Purpose: To confirm the diagnostic accuracy of percutaneous core breast biopsy with Mammotome and stereotactic equipment in upright seated patients, and to compare results from this method with those obtained using the dedicated unit with prone table.

Materials And Methods: We analysed 72 microbioptic samples from 69 upright seated patients. These samples were obtained in the course of mammographies assisted by digital stereotactic equipment (Diamond Delta32 General Electric Medical System/Instrumen-tarium), and further equipped with a lateral arm to support the Mammotone probe.

European experiences on aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in elderly patients.

This review focused on the main aspects of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) in the population aged 65 years or older. In parallel with the increase of the elderly in the populations of western countries, there has been a steady increase in incidence and mortality rates of NHL in industrialised countries. This pattern has been particularly marked among the older segment of the population.

Salvage chemotherapy with temozolomide in primary CNS lymphomas: preliminary results of a phase II trial.

Temozolomide is a well-tolerated alkylating agent, that is able to permeate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and has additive cytotoxicity when given with radiotherapy (RT). A phase II trial assessing temozolomide 150 mg/m(2)/day, for 5 days every 28 days in primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL) patients with negative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serology, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS)<4, previously treated with high-dose methotrexate-containing (HD-MTX) chemotherapy and/or RT was started. Twenty-three patients were enrolled.

Requirements for improving quality in the measurement of bone markers.

Background: A number of biochemical assays readily detect molecules released from the bone matrix and collagen degradation in both serum and urine specimens. The variability of bone biochemical markers is still an issue of practical concern limiting their wider clinical use, and compromising the management of the individual patient. The aim of the present study was to define quality specifications of bone markers measurement in the total testing process.

Mitoxantrone, vinorelbine and prednisone (MVD) in the treatment of metastatic hormonoresistant prostate cancer--a phase II trial.

A total of 28 patients were treated with mitoxantrone, vinorelbine and prednisone every 3 weeks. In all, 11 patients (46%) had a significant prostate-specific antigen decline for a median duration of 11.4 months.

Serum human cartilage glycoprotein 39 as a marker of arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Common blood markers of arthritis are difficult to interpret in arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) owing to the coexistence of two inflammatory events. No specific serological disease marker is available for IBD.

Objective: To determine a value of serum human cartilage glycoprotein 39 (HC gp39) as a marker of arthritis associated with IBD.

Improvement of systemic human immunodeficiency virus-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma outcome in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

To assess the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the outcome of systemic human immunodeficiency virus-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HIV-NHL), we retrospectively analyzed 235 patients in whom HIV-NHL was diagnosed from April 1988 through December 1999. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Complete remission occurred in 49% of patients, and the 3-year rates of OS, PFS, and DFS were 19%, 49%, and 73%, respectively.