[Volume CT: recent advances in acquired abnormalities of the trachea].

Objectives: To show the recent improvements in CT imaging of the trachea due to the introduction of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Material And Methods: MDCT technology, which was introduced in the early 00's, allows acquiring the entire airways within few seconds while using low dose parameters thanks to the natural high contrast of the airways.

Results: Volume acquisition with isotropic voxels offers an excellent anatomical resolution in all directions, improving the quality of multiplanar reformations and 3D reconstructions, including virtual bronchoscopy.

[Multidetector CT evaluation of airway metallic stents].

Introduction: Stenting is accepted in managing patients with inoperable obstruction of the upper airways. The choice of the type as well as the dimensions of stents are crucial as it impacts on the success of the procedure and potential complications which must be diagnosed non-invasively.

State Of The Art: The goal of this review is to present our multidisciplinary experience using multidetector CT as a minimally invasive technique for detecting airway obstructions, for evaluating preoperatively local anatomic conditions useful to determinate the type and size of metallic stents to be used, and following non-invasively the stent in order to detect various complications.

Clinical evaluation of the use of exemestane as further hormonal therapy after nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer patients.

Objectives: The aromatase inhibitors Anastrozole, Letrozole (type 2 nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors: n-SAI) and Exemestane (type 1 steroidal aromatase inactivator) are used respectively as first- and second-line hormonal therapy in postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer women. Few clinical data are published on the sequential use of different classes of aromatase inhibitors.

Methods: We report an analysis on 30 postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer women treated between January 2000 and May 2002 in 2 Italian Oncology Institutions with the hormonal sequence n-SAI (Anastrozole, Letrozole) --> Exemestane.

Excretion profile of boldenone and its metabolites after oral administration to veal calves.

The residue profiles of boldenone (17beta-Bol), its epimer (17alpha-Bol) and the related compound androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD), were investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in urine of male calves orally treated with boldenone, boldenone esters, and/or ADD. In all the experiments with the administered steroids residues of 17alpha-Bol decreased rapidly after end of treatment; detectable amounts of 17alpha-Bol were however noticed along the withdrawal observation period after end of treatment. Differently, residues of 17beta-Bol were detectable only shortly after administration.

[Serious complication of radiofrequency treatment of inoperable bronchial carcinoma].

Introduction: Surgery remains the only curative treatment for primary non-small cell bronchial carcinoma. It is mainly appropriate for small, localised tumours. Some patients have contra-indications to surgery and radiofrequency offers a minimally invasive alternative with few complications.

Excretion profile of boldenone in urine of veal calves fed two different milk replacers.

The residue profiles of 17alpha-/17beta-boldenone conjugated (17alpha/beta-Bol) and ADD were investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in urine of male veal calves fed two commercial milk replacers, with different content of cholesterol and phytosterols. The urine samples were collected within 4 h after feeding and further from all the animals. Detectable amounts of 17alpha-Bol conjugated were measured in urine collected from all calves, but the concentrations of 17alpha-Bol were higher in urine from calves receiving the milk replacer with the greater amount of phytosterols.

Non-conform diagnostic management of pulmonary embolism suspected patients is responsible for a higher risk of thrombotic event occurrence.

The aim of this 3-month follow-up prospective pragmatic study was to evaluate the implementation of a pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnostic strategy in clinical practice. One thousand and one hundred thirty-four consecutive in- and outpatients with clinically suspected PE were enrolled into a sequential diagnostic algorithm in which vascular medical unit plays a pivotal role in advising physicians and suggesting the most appropriate tests according to the diagnostic algorithm. In this observational study, patients that followed the proposed work-up were attributed to a so-called "conform group".

[Imaging findings in Lemierre syndrome].

Lemierre syndrome is a septic thrombosis of the internal jugular vein with pulmonary abscesses secondary to untreated pharyngotonsillitis due to anaerobic bacteria. It occurs in young, previously healthy patients and leads to life-threatening consequences if not treated. We illustrate the value of imaging and particularly cervical and thoracic CT in a report of three recent cases.

A small molecule Smac mimic potentiates TRAIL-mediated cell death of ovarian cancer cells.

Objectives: Ovarian cancer remains a leading cause of death in women and development of new therapies is essential. Second mitochondria derived activator of caspase (Smac) has been described to sensitize for apoptosis. We have explored the proapoptotic activity of a small molecule mimic of Smac/DIABLO on ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780 cells and its chemoresistant derivatives A2780/ADR and A2780/DDP), cancer cell lines and in primary ovarian cancer cells.

Proteasome inhibitors sensitize ovarian cancer cells to TRAIL induced apoptosis.

In the present study we have explored the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to TRAIL and proteasome inhibitors. Particularly, we have explored the capacity of proteasome inhibitors to bypass TRAIL resistance of ovarian cancer cells. For these studies we have used the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line and its chemoresistant derivatives A2780/DDP and A2780/ADR, providing evidence that: (i) the three cell lines are either scarcely sensitive (A2780 and A2780/ADR) or moderately sensitive (A2780/DDP) to the cytotoxic effects of TRAIL; (ii) the elevated c-FLIP expression observed in ovarian cancer cells is a major determinant of TRAIL resistance of these cells; (iii) proteasome inhibitors (PS-341 or MG132) are able to exert a significant pro-apoptotic effect and to greatly enhance the sensitivity of both chemosensitive and chemoresistant A2780 cells to TRAIL; (iv) proteasome inhibitors damage mitochondria through stabilization of BH3-only proteins, Bax and caspase activation and significantly enhance TRAIL-R2 expression; (v) TRAIL-R2, but not TRAIL-R1, mediates the apoptotic effects of TRAIL on ovarian cancer cells.

Early assessment of visual information processing and neurological outcome in preterm infants.

Psychological tests based on visual information processing have shown to be promising in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome in infants at risk. In the present study we prospectively investigated the early development in a group of 20 high-risk preterm infants by means of i) the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence at 7, 9, and 12 months postterm and ii) a detailed battery for the early assessment of visual functions at 6 and 10 months postterm. The results were then correlated to the Griffiths development scales at two years.

HER2/neu role in breast cancer: from a prognostic foe to a predictive friend.

Purpose Of Review: The principal effort of this review was to elucidate the role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu expression in breast cancer, either as an independent prognostic factor or a predictive marker of response to antineoplastic therapy, in light of the most recent results obtained with the use of trastuzumab, in either the metastatic or the adjuvant setting.

Recent Findings: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressing breast cancer is known to be associated with particularly aggressive disease and poor prognosis. On the other hand, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu overexpression may predict response to endocrine therapy or chemotherapy.

Is recurrent venous thromboembolism after therapy reduced by low-molecular-weight heparin compared with oral anticoagulants?

Purposes: To evaluate whether the incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) events after therapy differs for patients treated with long-term low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) or oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT).

Methods: All randomized studies were searched through computerized queries of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, the American Society of Hematology abstract database, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology abstract database.

Results: Eleven studies including 2,907 patients were identified.

Troponin-T and myoglobin plus echocardiographic evaluation for monitoring early cardiotoxicity of weekly epirubicin-paclitaxel in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Increased serum level of troponin-T and myoglobin has been recently reported to be related to cumulative anthracycline exposure. Left ventricular ejection fraction seems accurate in monitoring systolic function according to the latest version of Toxicity Criteria by chemotherapeutics 3.0.