Observational study on the QUality of life of Italian Axial SpondyloARthritis patients (QUASAR): baseline data.

Objectives: To describe the baseline characteristics of the patients enrolled in the QUality of life in patients with Axial SpondyloARthritis (QUASAR) study in terms of quality of life (QoL), disease activity, therapy adherence, and work ability in a real-world setting.

Methods: QUASAR is an Italian multicentre, prospective 12-month observational study, including consecutive adult patients classified as axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society criteria for axSpA.

Results: Of 512 patients enrolled in 23 rheumatology centres, 80.

Ultrasonographic and Clinical Assessment of Peripheral Enthesitis in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis, Psoriasis, and Fibromyalgia Syndrome: The ULISSE Study.

Objective: The purpose of the ULISSE study was to evaluate the prevalence of clinical and ultrasonographic (US) entheseal involvement in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), psoriasis, and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Methods: In this cross-sectional multicenter study, patients with PsA and psoriasis (not taking systemic therapy) and FMS underwent a clinical evaluation of the entheses, and a B-mode and power Doppler examination of 6 pairs of entheses.

Results: The study analyzed 140 patients with PsA, 51 with psoriasis, and 51 with FMS.

Sunitinib: bridging present and future cancer treatment.

Tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs) are a heterogeneous group of transmembrane proteins involved in signal transduction. These receptors are expressed in many different cells and regulate cellular growth, differentiation and angiogenesis. Overexpression and/or the structural alteration of different RTKs classes are generally associated to cancer and, when RTKs-mediated signal transduction pathways are abnormally activated, generate cancer growth, angiogenesis and metastatization.

Circadian optimisation of irinotecan and oxaliplatin efficacy in mice with Glasgow osteosarcoma.

The relevance of circadian rhythms in irinotecan and oxaliplatin tolerability was investigated with regard to antitumour activity. Mice bearing Glasgow osteosarcoma (GOS) received single agent irinotecan (50 or 60 mg kg(-1) per day) or oxaliplatin (4 or 5.25 mg kg(-1) per day) at one of six dosing times expressed in hours after light onset (3, 7, 11, 15, 19 or 23 hours after light onset).

Experimental chronotherapy of mouse mammary adenocarcinoma MA13/C with docetaxel and doxorubicin as single agents and in combination.

The therapeutic index of docetaxel, doxorubicin and their combination may be improved by an adequate selection of the circadian time of administration. The present study constitutes a prerequisite to testing the clinical relevance of chronotherapy in human breast cancer. Three experiments were performed in C3H/HeN mice.

Irinotecan and chronomodulated infusion of 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid in the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma: a phase I study.

Background: Irinotecan (CPT-11) is an active drug in the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. The infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) according to circadian rhythms was used previously to decrease toxicity and to increase its therapeutic efficacy. The objective of this study was to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of CPT-11 together with a chronomodulated infusion of 5-FU and the l-form of folinic acid (FA).

Weekly schedule of vinorelbine in pretreated breast cancer patients.

Purpose: In this phase II study, we explored tolerability and activity of vinorelbine administered according to a dose-dense weekly schedule with hematopoietic growth factor support in pretreated, advanced breast cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: From January 1994 to March 1996, 40 patients with metastatic breast cancer, pretreated with at least one prior anthracycline-containing regimen, were entered into the study.

Patient Characteristics: median age 53 years (range 32-70); ECOG performance status 0-1: 34 patients, 2: 6 patients; dominant visceral metastatic disease: 15 patients, dominant non-visceral: 25; anthracycline-refractory/resistant: 2 patients, sensitive: 38 patients.