[Mixed cryoglobulinemia in HCV mono-infected and HCV/HIV co-infected patients].

The aim of our study was to compare the prevalence of mixed cryoglobulinemia in a group of HCV positive/HIV- negative patients with respect to a group of HCV/HIV co-infected subjects. Between September 2002 and May 2003, 58 patients with proven HCV infection and 67 subjects with HIV/HCV co-infection were enrolled. Serum was assessed for detectable cryoglobulins, liver enzymes, HCV viral load and HCV genotypes.

Concomitant versus sequential administration of epirubicin and paclitaxel as first-line therapy in metastatic breast carcinoma: results for the Gruppo Oncologico Nord Ovest randomized trial.

Background: The authors performed a randomized trial comprising patients with metastatic breast carcinoma (MBC). They used a noninferiority design to evaluate whether the results of sequential administration of epirubicin and paclitaxel were not markedly worse than the concomitant administration in terms of objective response rates (ORRs). Toxicity profile, quality of life (QOL), and pharmacoeconomic evaluations were evaluated as well.

HER2 overexpression as a prognostic factor in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell support.

We retrospectively evaluated the predictive and prognostic role of HER2 expression in 44 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients treated with high-dose consolidation chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell support after induction chemotherapy (IC) with six courses of epirubicin+paclitaxel (22 patients) or gemcitabine+epirubicin+paclitaxel (22 patients). HER2 expression was evaluated by an immunohistochemical method (Herceptest, Dako). A total of 13 patients (29.

Multicenter randomized phase III trial of epirubicin plus paclitaxel vs epirubicin followed by paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer patients: focus on cardiac safety.

The aim of the study was to evaluate cardiac safety of two different schedules of Epirubicin and Paclitaxel in advanced breast cancer patients enrolled into a multicenter randomized phase III trial. Patients received Epirubicin 90 mg m(-2) plus Paclitaxel 200 mg m(-2) (3-h infusion) on day 1 every 3 weeks for eight courses (arm A), or Epirubicin 120 mg m(-2) on day 1 every 3 weeks for four courses followed by four courses of Paclitaxel 250 mg m(-2) on day 1 every 3 weeks (arm B). Left ventricular ejection fraction was evaluated by bidimesional echocardiography at baseline, after four and eight courses of chemotherapy and every 4 months during follow-up.

Randomised controlled trial comparing single agent paclitaxel vs epidoxorubicin plus paclitaxel in patients with advanced ovarian cancer in early progression after platinum-based chemotherapy: an Italian Collaborative Study from the Mario Negri Institute, Milan, G.O.N.O. (Gruppo Oncologico Nord Ovest) group and I.O.R. (Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo) group.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of epidoxorubicin plus paclitaxel combination (ET) vs single agent paclitaxel (T), as second-line chemotherapy treatment in advanced ovarian cancer patients in early progression within 12 months after platinum-based chemotherapy. From October 1994 up to June 1999, 234 patients from 34 Italian hospitals were randomised to receive: (A) epidoxorubicin (E) 80 mg m(-2) + paclitaxel (T) 175 mg m(-2) (3 h infusion), every 21 days for 4-6 cycles. (B) Paclitaxel 175 mg m(-2) (3 h infusion) every 21 days for 4-6 cycles.

The curability of breast cancer and the treatment of advanced disease.

Breast cancer represents a major health problem, with more than 1,000,000 new cases and 370,000 deaths yearly worldwide. In the last decade, in spite of an increasing incidence, breast cancer mortality has been declining in the majority of developed countries. This is the combined result of better education, widespread screening programmes and more efficacious adjuvant treatments.

[Meningitis with direct negative bacteriological examination. Prospective assessment of a decision making tree].

Objective: Elaboration of a decision-making tree for differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis, when initial Gram's staining is negative. Method One-Year prospective study in an adult emergency department. Comparison with the immediately-preceding period.

Activity of first-line epirubicin and paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer is independent of type of adjuvant therapy.

To evaluate the impact of prior adjuvant chemotherapy on response rate (RR), progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with epirubicin/paclitaxel (ET) regimens. In all, 291 patients enrolled in five studies in metastatic breast cancer were analysed: 101 (35%) were chemonaive, 109 (37%) had received adjuvant CMF and 81 (28%) adjuvant anthracyclines. Response rate to ET was 66%.

Noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure in elderly cardiogenic pulmonary edema patients.

Objective: To compare the physiological effects and the clinical efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) vs standard medical treatment in elderly patients (> or =75 years) with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure related to cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Design: A prospective, randomized, concealed, and unblinded study of 89 consecutive patients who were admitted to the emergency departments of one general, and three teaching, hospitals.

Intervention: Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard medical treatment alone ( n=46) or standard medical treatment plus CPAP ( n=43).

Chemotherapy with epirubicin and paclitaxel for breast cancer during pregnancy: case report and review of the literature.

Background: Breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is a challenging clinical situation. Little data are currently available about chemotherapy in pregnant women with this malignancy.

Case Report: We report the case of a 36-year-old pregnant woman with a T2N1M0 breast cancer who received sequential chemotherapy including epirubicin (120 mg/m2 every three weeks for four cycles) and paclitaxel (175 mg/m2 every three weeks for three cycles) from the 14th to the 32nd week of gestation.

5-fluorouracil administered as a 48-hour semiintermittent infusion in combination with leucovorin, cisplatin and epirubicin: phase II study in advanced gastric cancer patients.

The main objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and the antitumor activity of a chemotherapy regimen with a 48-hour infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (LV), cisplatin (CDDP), and epirubicin (EPIDX) administered every 3 weeks in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer. Thirty-three patients received CDDP 60 mg/m2 over 30 minutes followed by 1-LV 250 mg/m2 over 2 hours followed by EPIDX 60 mg/m2 over 5 minutes (bolus) and followed by 5-FU 3,800 mg/m2 as a 48-hour semiintermittent continuous infusion, with 67% of total daily dose administered between 4 pm and midnight. Four patients had a locally advanced disease and 29 had metastatic disease.

Multicentric phase II trial of gemcitabine plus epirubicin plus paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer.

In this phase II, multicentre trial, patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) were treated with a combination of gemcitabine, epirubicin and paclitaxel (GET). The primary objective of this study was to determine the tolerability and activity in terms of complete responce (CR) and overall response rate of the GET combination in this patient population. Patients with no prior treatment for MBC, and at least one bidimensionally measurable lesion received gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) intravenously (i.

Is pretreatment hemoglobin level a predictor of complete response to salvage chemotherapy for recurrent platinum-pretreated ovarian carcinoma?

Purpose Of Investigation: The aim of this retrospective study was to correlate some patient characteristics at relapse, including also baseline hemoglobin levels, with complete response rate and survival following second-line chemotherapy for recurrent platinum-pretreated ovarian carcinoma.

Methods: The investigation was conducted on 63 patients who received salvage chemotherapy with different agents for clinically detectable recurrent ovarian carcinoma following initial surgery and first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Some patient characteristics at relapse (patient age, serum CA 125 level, baseline hemoglobin level, number of recurrence sites, ascites, platinum-free interval, and treatment-free interval) were related to complete response rate to salvage chemotherapy and survival after recurrence.

Temperament and stress response in children with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome.

Objective: To examine temperament, stress response, child psychological adjustment, family environment, pain sensitivity, and stress response differences between children and adolescents with juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFMS), children with arthritis, and healthy controls. Parental psychological adjustment was also measured.

Methods: Subjects included 16 children with JPFMS, 16 children with arthritis, and 16 healthy controls.

Efficacy of alteplase thrombolysis for ED treatment of pulmonary embolism with shock.

Our objective was to assess efficacy and tolerance of thrombolysis using 0.6 mg/kg of Alteplase in patients with massive pulmonary embolism defined as the association of a pulmonary embolism with shock. We retrospectively included 21 patients presenting with a massive pulmonary embolism confirmed by either scintigraphy or spiral computed tomography.

Adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of colon cancer: randomized multicenter trial of the Italian National Intergroup of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer (INTACC).

Background: To determine whether the addition of leucovorin to the combination 5-fluorouracil plus levamisole prolongs disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with radically resected colon cancer (Dukes' B(2-3) and C).

Patients And Methods: Patients (1703) were accrued between March 1992 and February 1995 in a large-scale clinical trial within five Italian cooperative groups. After stratification for center, patients were randomized as follows: arm A, 5-fluorouracil [450 mg/m(2) intravenous (i.

First-line chemotherapy with epidoxorubicin, paclitaxel, and carboplatin for the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

Objective: A combination of carboplatin (CBDCA) and paclitaxel (TAX) is the standard treatment in advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) patients. Epidoxorubicin (EDX) is an active treatment in AOC and exhibits nonoverlapping toxicities with CBDCA and TAX; moreover, when added to platinum-based chemotherapy, it improves long-term survival. We have therefore conducted a phase II study to evaluate the tolerability and antitumor activity of an EDX/TAX/CBDCA (ETC) triplet in AOC patients.

Efficacy and toxicity of the angiogenesis inhibitor SU5416 as a single agent in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and soft tissue sarcoma.

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator in angiogenesis. Preclinical and clinical data support the role of VEGF and angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), melanoma (M), and soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU5416 is a potent inhibitor of the VEGF receptors 1 and 2.

Potential availability of heavy metals to phytoextraction from contaminated soils induced by exogenous humic substances.

Effective phytoremediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals depends on their availability to plant uptake that, in turn, may be influenced by either the existing soil humus or an exogenous humic matter. We amended an organic and a mineral soil with an exogenous humic acid (HA) in order to enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) content by 1% and 2%. The treated soils were further enriched with heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni) to a concentration of 0, 10, 20, and 40 microg/g for each metal and allowed to age at room temperature for 1 and 2 months.

Using the expected survival to explain differences between the results of randomized trials: a case in advanced ovarian cancer.

Purpose: A meta-analysis of randomized trials in advanced ovarian cancer showed a longer survival with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (CAP) than with cyclophosphamide and cisplatin (CP; P =.009). In contrast, the results of the large International Collaborative Ovarian Neoplasm Study (ICON2) showed no survival difference between CAP and carboplatin (P =.

High-dose consolidation chemotherapy with Idarubicin and alkylating agents following induction with gemcitabine-epirubicin-paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer: a dose finding study.

Preliminary randomized studies have failed to show a survival benefit of high-dose chemotherapy with alkylators in advanced breast cancer. Idarubicin is an active agent in breast cancer and is suitable for dose escalation. We designed a dose finding study with escalating high-dose idarubicin (HD-Ida) followed by fixed high-dose thiotepa+melphalan (HD-TM) with peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) in MBC patients with stable disease or in partial response after six courses of induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) days 1 and 4, epirubicin 90 mg/m(2) day 1, taxol 175 mg/m(2) day 1 (GET).

Severe 5-fluorouracil toxicity associated with a marked alteration of pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil and its catabolite 5-fluoro-5,6-dihydrouracil: a case report.

Objective: To describe the altered pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and its major catabolite 5-fluoro-5,6-dihydrouracil (5-FDHU) in a 52-year-old woman affected by a severe 5-FU toxicity.

Methods: Toxicities were rated according to World Health Organization. 5-FU and 5-FDHU plasma concentrations and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured by HPLC analysis.

Accelerated versus standard cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and 5-fluorouracil or cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil: a randomized phase III trial in locally advanced breast cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a dose-dense primary chemotherapy on pathological response rate (pCR) in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) treated with combined modality therapy.

Patients And Methods: Stage IIIA/IIIB patients received three courses of induction chemotherapy (ICT) with cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and 5-fluorouracil (CEF) followed by local therapy (total mastectomy or segmental mastectomy with axillary nodes dissection) and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) with three courses of CEF alternated with three courses of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF). Patients were randomized to receive ICT and ACT every 3 weeks (arm A, 'standard treatment') or every 2 weeks with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) support (arm B, 'dose-dense treatment').

Weekly docetaxel/paclitaxel in pretreated metastatic breast cancer.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of weekly docetaxel/paclitaxel in pretreated advanced breast cancer patients. Twenty-six patients with metastatic breast cancer were included in this study. Three different schedules of treatment were administered.