Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Quadrupled Semitendinosus Graft or Synthetic Ligament: Knee Stability and Clinical Outcomes at Three Years Follow-Up.

The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgeries is increasing and graft choice is important for a rapid return to activity, especially in patients older than 30 years. The aim of this study is to compare in term of quality of life and knee stability of patients who undergone ACLR using quadrupled semitendinosus (ST4) graft against patients who undergone ACLR with synthetic ligaments. Thirty-nine patients undergoing ACLR were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups: ACLR with synthetic ligaments-LARS (group A) and ACLR with quadrupled semitendinosus graft ST4 (group B).

Role of CT angiography in detecting acute pulmonary embolism associated with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Purpose: Recently coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused a global pandemic, characterized by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aim of our study was to detect pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with severe form of COVID-19 infection using pulmonary CT angiography, and its associations with clinical and laboratory parameters.

Methods: From March to December 2020, we performed a prospective monocentric study collecting data from 374 consecutive patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction (rRT-PCR) assay of nasopharyngeal swab specimens.

Extended-Wear Hearing Technology: The Nonimplantables.

A new category of hearing technology has emerged that comprises devices inserted deep into the ear canal. Although not implanted, they represent an extension of what is expected of a traditional hearing aid. There are advantages to these devices, but they are not suited for all individuals with hearing loss.

Doctor-patient communication tricks. Oncological study at Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome.

Objective: Doctor-patient relationship is a very important variable in the oncological clinical consultation.

Methods: We have analyzed 100 outpatients oncological visits (first visits and follow up visits). We conducted an observational study of the extra verbal communication (non-verbal and para-verbal) with a structured observation grid.

Compliance with the Surgical Safety Checklist Results of an Audit in a Teaching Hospital in Italy.

Aim: We carried out an audit to verify compliance to Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC), as we have become aware that compliance across different teams and by individual surgeons has not been optimal.

Material Of Study: 100 SSC records from October-December 2014 and 100 from March-June 2015 were inspected to verify correct . 44 surgeons and 34 scrub nurses were asked to complete a questionnaire to know surgeons' compliance to the different stages of the Checklist and the compliance of each surgical team.

[Pemetrexed monotherapy in previously treated patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer; differences by histology. Our experience].

Emerging data suggest pemetrexed is active in patients with adenocarcinoma of lung compared to those with squamous cell carcinoma. We retrospectively reviewed advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients previously treated, analysing efficacy on histologic characteristics. From January 2007 to December 2010, 25 patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC (17 with adenocarcinoma and 8 with squamous cell carcinoma), who had previously failed on platinum-based chemotherapy, received pemetrexed 500 mg/mq every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities.

Long-term survival of metastatic melanoma to the ileum with evidence of primary cutaneous disease after 15 years of follow-up: a case report.

The small bowel is the most common site of gastrointestinal metastasis from cutaneous melanoma. Malignant melanoma has a poor prognosis, especially if distant metastases appear. Although rare primary melanoma of the small bowel has been described, more frequently these lesions originate from unknown cutaneous melanoma.

Pretreatment quality of life and functional status assessment significantly predict survival of elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer receiving chemotherapy: a prognostic analysis of the multicenter Italian lung cancer in the elderly study.

Purpose: To study the prognostic value for overall survival of baseline assessment of functional status, comorbidity, and quality of life (QoL) in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Data from 566 patients enrolled onto the phase III randomized Multicenter Italian Lung Cancer in the Elderly Study (MILES) study were analyzed. Functional status was measured as activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL).

Characterization of tumoral lesions of the breast: preliminary experience with multislice spiral CT.

The aim of the present study was to validate low dose Multislice Spiral Computed Tomography (MSCT) in the diagnosis of breast lesions. Fourteen patients with mammographic and ultrasound findings suspect of malignant neoplasm underwent dynamic MSCT of the breast under basal conditions and 1, 3, and 6 minutes after intravenous injection of iodinated contrast medium. Both enhancement of the lesion >100% without further increase after 6 minutes, and irregular margins of the lesion were considered signs of malignancy.

Epoetin alfa 40000 U once weekly and intravenous iron supply in solid tumor patients: early increase of hemoglobin level during chemotherapy.

The objective of this observational study was the early evaluation of the impact, a week after the first administration of epoetin alfa 40000 U once weekly and i.v. dose of 62.

A randomised factorial trial of sequential doxorubicin and CMF vs CMF and chemotherapy alone vs chemotherapy followed by goserelin plus tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast cancer.

The sequential doxorubicin --> CMF (CMF=cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil) regimen has never been compared to CMF in a randomised trial. The role of adding goserelin and tamoxifen after chemotherapy is unclear. In all, 466 premenopausal node-positive patients were randomised to: (a) CMF x 6 cycles (CMF); (b) doxorubicin x 4 cycles followed by CMF x 6 cycles (A --> CMF); (c) CMF x 6 cycles followed by goserelin plus tamoxifen x 2 years (CMF --> GT); and (d) doxorubicin x 4 cycles followed by CMF x 6 cycles followed by goserelin plus tamoxifen x 2 years (A --> CMF --> GT).

[High-dose chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer].

In ninety's breast cancer was first in Europe for the use of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in solid tumors in adults. Some phase II trials of high-dose chemotherapy showed high response rates and prolonged progression free survival in selected metastastic breast cancer patients. Few large, powerful randomized phase III studies comparing this approach with conventional chemotherapy have been completed: some studies showed a better progression free survival in favor of high dose chemotherapy, but no statistically significant difference in overall survival was observed.

Carboplatin, doxorubicin and etoposide in the treatment of tumours of unknown primary site.

The aim of this study was to assess the activity and toxicity of a platinum-based treatment on a group of patients with unknown primary tumours (UPTs). Patients with a diagnosis of UPT underwent a standard diagnostic procedure. Treatment was started within 2 weeks from diagnosis and consisted of carboplatin 400 mg m(-2) day 1, doxorubicin 50 mg m(-2) day 1, etoposide 100 mg m(-2) days 1-3, every 21 days.

[Collateral effects of intraoperative hyperthermic chemotherapy in peritoneal carcinomatosis].

The association between chemotherapy and hypertermia produces a synergic effect. In this study the Authors present their experience, by the analysis of the results. From 1993 to 2000, 17 patients have been treated with surgery associated with hypertermic chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis.

[Diagnosis and treatment of distal bile duct carcinoma: our experience].

Bile duct carcinomas are known to be difficult to cure, due to frequent locoregional recurrence even after radical resection. The Authors analyze their experience in a study about 53 patients treated between October 1991-January 2002.

Rationale for the use of gemcitabine in breast cancer (Review).

Many active cytotoxic drugs and several regimens exist for breast cancer therapy. However, these conventional treatments have not changed the outcome of patients with locally advanced and metastatic disease. As a consequence, the dynamic balance between chemotherapy-induced side effects and benefits attributable to relief of cancer-related symptoms must be carefully considered in this setting.

[Magnetic resonance of the knee: possibility and current indications].

MRI is a multiparametric, multiplanar, non-invasive largely employed tool for assessing osseous, ligamentous and tendineous injuries, inflammatory and degenerative changes of the knee. Although its wider availability and the lack of ionizing radiations MRI should be used only if clinically useful in patient management, in a appropriate diagnostic iter including plain film and/or ultrasound examination. The aim of our work is to review possibilities, limits and current indications for MRI assessment of diseases of the knee.

Supportive care in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

The present study describes supportive care (SC) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), evaluating whether it is affected by concomitant chemotherapy, patient's performance status (PS) and age. Data of patients enrolled in three randomised trials of first-line chemotherapy, conducted between 1996 and 2001, were pooled. The analysis was limited to the first three cycles of treatment.

Breast cancer metastatic to the choroid in a male patient: case report.

Choroidal metastases have been observed in about 8% of patients with metastatic breast cancer, even if their true incidence is likely to be higher, as they are not routinely investigated in the absence of symptoms. Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for symptom palliation. The prognosis is traditionally poor, with a reported average survival of one year.

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma of the thoracic wall.

The authors report the CT features of a very rare case of Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma of the thoracic wall, one of a few malignant primary bone tumors which rarely originate from soft tissues.