Day -1 CD34+ Cells and Platelet Count Predict the Number of Apheresis in Poor-Mobilizer Patients Rescued by Plerixafor.

Plerixafor is widely used as up-front treatment with G-CSF to enhance peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell output in patients failing previous mobilizations. Less frequently, plerixafor is used to rescue an unsatisfactory mobilization following chemotherapy (CT) and G-CSF. This study investigates if pre-collection factors affect the CD34+ cell harvest in chemotherapy and G-CSF mobilizations rescued by plerixafor.

Umbilical cord blood: Current uses for transfusion and regenerative medicine.

The past 20 years of experience with umbilical cord blood transplantation have demonstrated that cord blood is effective in the treatment of a spectrum of diseases, including hematological malignancies, bone marrow failure, hemoglobinopathies, and inborn errors of metabolism. However, only a few number of umbilical cord blood units collected have a cell content adequate for an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In the meanwhile, there is an increasing interest in exploiting cord blood derivatives in different fields.

Cardiac troponin T and NT-proBNP as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of primary cardiac involvement and disease severity in systemic sclerosis: A prospective study.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to define the role of high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and NT-proBNP in identifying Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients with cardiac involvement and at higher risk of cardiac death.

Methods: Plasma hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP concentrations were measured in 245 SSc-patients.

Results: hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP levels were higher in SSc-patients than in healthy controls.

Tumour-associated antigens in systemic sclerosis patients with interstitial lung disease: association with lung involvement and cancer risk.

Objective: To evaluate the serum levels of tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) in patients with SSc and interstitial lung disease (ILD) and to define whether their levels mirror the severity and the progression of lung damage.

Methods: Data from 80 SSc patients with ILD were collected at baseline and after 2 years as well as from 40 SSc controls without ILD. The occurrence of any malignancy was recorded.

Faecal calprotectin assay after induction with anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor α agents in inflammatory bowel disease: Prediction of clinical response and mucosal healing at one year.

Background: Faecal calprotectin levels correlate with inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease. We evaluated the role of faecal calprotectin after anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor α induction in inflammatory bowel disease patients to predict therapeutic effect at one year.

Methods: Faecal calprotectin levels were measured in stools of 63 patients before and after induction of anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor α therapy.

Regression of endothelial dysfunction in patients with endometriosis after surgical treatment: a 2-year follow-up study.

Study Question: How does endothelial function change in women with endometriosis after surgical treatment?

Summary Answer: Surgical treatment of endometriosis leads to endothelial function improvement, resulting in reduction of cardiovascular risk.

What Is Known Already: Some recent studies have demonstrated that in young women with endometriosis, even if structural alterations are absent, endothelial dysfunction, expressed as flow-mediated dilation (FMD) impairment, can nevertheless occur. However, there are no data about changes of endothelial function in women with endometriosis after surgical treatment of endometriosis.

Multiple tumor marker elevation in androgen ablation-refractory prostate cancer with long-term response to metronomic chemotherapy: a case report.

Outcomes in hormone-refractory prostate cancer are very poor. The time from progression to death is only 12-19 months. We present the case of a 69-year-old man with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and bone metastases treated with metronomic chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide based).

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen in patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma undergoing preoperative radiochemotherapy: association with pathological response to treatment and clinical outcome.

Objective: We investigated the role of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at presentation (pre-SCC) and after treatment (post-SCC) as predictor of pathological response and outcome in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients undergoing preoperative chemoradiation.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-three consecutive LACC patients underwent preoperative chemoradiation including cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil plus external radiotherapy to the whole pelvic region. Clinical responders underwent radical surgery.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen in follow-up of cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy: evaluation of cost-effectiveness.

Purpose: The squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen is still considered the most accurate serologic tumor marker in cervical carcinoma. We assessed the contribution of the SCC assay to the detection of recurrences in patients treated with radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: The pattern of recurrence and follow-up data were prospectively recorded for 135 patients.

Biological factors and therapeutic modulation in pancreatic carcinoma radiotherapy.

The prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma is dismal. Its main reason can be attributed to the difficult early diagnosis. In fact, at diagnosis most patients show advanced disease.

Chemoradiation of unresectable pancreatic carcinoma: impact of pretreatment hemoglobin level on patterns of failure.

Aim: To evaluate, in patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma undergoing concomitant chemoradiation, the impact of pretreatment hemoglobin (Hb) concentration on the outcome in terms of clinical response, local control, metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival.

Patients And Methods: 30 patients undergoing concomitant chemoradiation (5-fluorouracil [5-FU], 1,000 mg/m(2)/day, continuous i.v.