IFN-beta partially counteracts inhibition of natural killer activity induced by some antitumor agents.

We investigated whether recombinant human (rHu-IFN-beta) (IFN-beta) could counteract the inhibition of natural killer (NK) activity caused by antitumor agents. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were incubated with different antitumor agents alone or in combination with IFN-beta for 3 days and then tested in a cytotoxicity assay against the K562 cell line. The following drugs were used, all of which caused a dose-dependent inhibition of NK activity: etoposide, camptothecin, doxorubicin, cis-DDP, tallimustine, and L-PAM.

[Role of human papilloma virus in precancerous and cancerous lesions of the oral cavity. Review of the literature].

The authors review the literature on the role of human papilloma virus in premalignant and malignant oral tumours. They describe the biomolecular mechanisms of action and report the data of other authors regarding the incidence of the DNA of HPV in both normal mucosa of healthy subjects and in patients affected by disease, in tissues taken from benign and malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Having commented on these findings, they discuss the possible interference of analysis techniques, various kits and clinical conditions may have on the final results.

[Fibrous dysplasia of the maxillofacial bones. Clinical considerations].

Objective: After a wide survey of the literature, the results of a clinical-statistic study carried out on twelve cases of maxillo-facial bones fibrous dysplasia, diagnosed and treated at the Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery Department of the II University of Naples, are reported. EXPERIMENTAL ASSAY: Retrospective study.

Materials And Methods: All the patients examined showed fibro-osseus lesions involving the mandible in eight cases, the maxilla in three cases and the frontal bone in one case.

[Experience with a rigid fixation device in maxillofacial surgery using shape-memory clips].

Background: A device of alloy with shape-memorising effect (SME) was utilized in the surgical correction of maxillo-facial fractures. Nitinol, an alloy of equal atomic parts nickel and titanium, is a metal with the unusual property of shape memory. This alloy may be easily bent when cooled in its lower temperature phase and it resumes its original shape when heated in its higher temperature phase.

Effect of G:C-->A:T transition, potentially arising from O6-guanine alkylation, in the transcription regulation of c-fos serum response element.

O6-meGs, if not repaired before cell undergo DNA synthesis, can cause erroneous pairing of thymine resulting in a G:C-->A:T transition, after the next DNA replication. It is known that the presence of O6-meG in promoter sequences inhibits the specific binding of transcription factors. Little is known on the effect of G:C-->A:T transitions on this binding.

Left thoracic approach for cancer of cardia: early and late results.

Background: The surgical treatment of cancer of the cardia is controversial and results are often disappointing. Concern exists not only with regards to the surgical approach but also to the extent of the resection. The authors analyze their experience over a 20-year period adopting almost exclusively a "limited" esophagogastrectomy with a wide regional lymphadenectomy through a left thoracotomy.

Hepatic adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia: diagnosis and criteria for treatment.

Unlabelled: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and adenoma are rare benign hepatic tumors, and the standards for diagnosis and treatment still remain controversial. Usually adenoma is an indication for resection, due to its tendency to bleed and to degenerate; FNH, on the contrary, may be treated conservatively. Preoperation differential diagnosis is, however, difficult, often impossible.

Lactate blood levels in the perioperative period of orthotopic liver transplantation.

To investigate whether early postoperative changes in blood lactate concentration indicate the functional recovery of the newly grafted liver, changes in oxygen supply, oxygen consumption, acid-base equilibrium, and blood lactate concentrations were prospectively studied in a group of 53 postnecrotic cirrhotic patients during the various phases of orthotopic liver transplantation (preanhepatic, anhepatic, neohepatic) and for the first 48 h following reperfusion. The patients were divided into two groups according to the quality of the early graft function, as indicated by alanine aminotransferase, bile flow, and prothrombin activity: group A (49 patients), good immediate graft function and group B (4 patients), immediate graft non-function. Lactate levels rose in the same manner during the preanhepatic and anhepatic stages and peaked after revascularization of the graft.

[The departmental concept in the therapy of facial dysmorphisms. A preliminary note on the psychological aspects].

The authors describe the work carried out with the intention of map and border in simple and repeatable way the risk of dissatisfaction in the patient candidates to cosmetic and oro-maxillo-facial surgery. It represent the first of a series of notes which propose to characterize patients with problems tied to the organization of the individuality in which, the discrepancy among expectations and obtained result, lead in the more serious cases, to a real crisis of identity or a depressed state of varied entity.

Characterization of a protein recognizing minor groove binders-damaged DNA.

By using electromobility shift assay (EMSA), we have identified a protein able to recognize the DNA only if it was previously reacted with minor groove binders. This protein binds with very high affinity AT containing DNA treated with minor groove binders such as distamycin A, Hoechst 33258 and 33342, CC-1065 and ethidium bromide minor groove intercalator, but not with major groove binders such as quinacrine mustard, cisplatin or melphalan, or with topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin or topoisomerase II inhibitor doxorubicin. This protein was found to be present in different extracts of human, murine and hamster cells, with the human protein which appears to have a molecular weight slightly lower than that of the other species.

[The functional therapy of fractures of the mandibular condyle. Our experience].

This work dealt with clinical experience since 1992, in management by functional therapy of mandibular condyle fractures, of the Institute of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery in the I Policlinico of Naples. In this work from 87 treated patients, only a group of 8 has been considered because it expresses the heterogeneity of all cases about the age, the sex, the kind and the level of fracture and the association with other fracture of the skull. The results obtained show that the functional therapy must be considered the first opinion in the mandibular condylar fractures at least there are specific conditions.

[Clinical use of resorbable polymer mini-plates in mandibular fractures: a one-year experience].

The authors describe their experience in rigid fixation of maxillo-facial fractures with resorbable plates made from poly-L-lactic acid. Seven cases are presented, with a one-year follow-up or longer. Plate resorption was evaluated by means of echographic examination, repeated every three months.

[Aphthosis of the oral cavity: therapeutic prospectives].

After analysing of recurrent aphthous stomatitis the clinical and morphological aspects, the authors consider various therapeutic possibilities. They underline the relationship between therapy and clinical aspects of the pathology.

Is the use of marginal donors justified in liver transplantation? Analysis of results and proposal of modern criteria.

A discrepancy exists worldwide between the number of suitable liver donors and the increasing demand for transplantation. Thus many centers have considered widening their liver donor acceptance criteria and this may increase the incidence of primary dysfunction (PD) with negative effect on the results of transplantation. In order to reduce the incidence of PD and improve patient and graft survival it becomes important to identify those risk factors associated with its occurrence.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: prognostic factors associated long-term survival.

Between December 1985 and February 1995, 260 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLTX) were performed on 238 patients at Niguarda Hospital. Sixty-three patients had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); in 13 of the patients HCC was incidental. All patients had negative lymph nodes.

[Calcifying odontogenic cyst. A clinical case].

The calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is a rare lesion that involves the jaws which, at times, may evolve into a solid, benign, tumor-like mass. There is no significant sex predilection, but it is probably more common in later life. The diagnosis is base only on histologic examination that represents, in the best of cases, the only way to differentiate the COC from other pathologies.

[Iatrogenic lesions of the facial nerve during parotid surgery for pleomorphic adenoma].

The authors, after a survey of the literature, describe the injuries of the facial nerve during parotid surgery for pleomorphic adenoma. The facial nerve damages are often transient with total resolution, except where one or more branches are deliberately sacrificed for malignant tumors or recurrence.

[Metastatic tumors of the mandible. Review of the literature].

Every cancer can produce bone metastases. Metastatic tumors to the maxillo-facial bones are rare, mandible is the most frequent place of these bones. Often metastases represent the first symptom of malignant tumors.

[The current therapeutic trends in rhabdomyosarcoma of the cervicofacial area. A review of the topic].

The authors describe the most common clinical characteristics and main parameters of classification of rhabdomyosarcoma in the maxillo-facial area. They draw the most actual therapeutic iter with particular reference to surgical directions, and they examine different prospects of applicability and of prognostic result.

[The therapy of leukoplakia of the oral cavity. A review of the literature].

The authors examine the different therapeutic approaches that can be used to treat the leukoplakia of the oral cavity by examining the literature and doing a critical evaluation. Great importance is attached to methods like CO2 laser therapy, to the treatments with natural or synthetic retinoids, and at last, but not least traditional surgery. These seem to be the most efficient treatments.

[The malignant transformation of leukoplakia of the oral cavity. A review of the literature and clinical case reports].

After considering the leukoplakia as defined by the WHO, the authors examine the quantitative, qualitative, histopathologic and clinical aspects of leukoplastic lesions. Afterwards, the data concerning the incidence of the malignant evolution of leukoplakia are shown. Data that have been collected and shown during years of study and that are often discordant.

[Use of safety catheter after removal of Kehr's tube in liver transplant patients].

The authors report on the use of a safety catheter when removing the T-tube in the patients with choledocho-choledochal biliary reconstruction after liver transplantation. After T-tube removal, bile may leak into the peritoneal cavity through the catheter insertion site in the biliary wall. Biliary peritonitis, bilomas, subhepatic collections may develop, which are difficult to treat in immunodepressed patients.