Novel Cytotoxic Chemotherapies in Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the deadliest thoracic neoplasms, in part due to its fast doubling time and early metastatic spread. Historically, cytotoxic chemotherapy consisting of platinum-etoposide or anthracycline-based regimens has demonstrated a high response rate, but early chemoresistance leads to a poor prognosis in advanced SCLC. Only a fraction of patients with limited-disease can be cured by chemo-radiotherapy.

[Next generation biobanking: the challenge of data].

Human biological samples are key resources in unravelling physiopathological factors underlying diseases and influencing their outcome. By making use of these resources, genomics, proteomics and molecular imaging techniques have achieved unprecedented progress in the past decade. The development of genomics platforms, molecular imaging as well as bioinformatics allowed a significant development of the biomarkers field thus realizing significant advances towards personalized medicine.

Liquid dynamic medicine and N-of-1 clinical trials: a change of perspective in oncology research.

The increasing use of genomics to define the pattern of actionable mutations and to test and validate new therapies for individual cancer patients, and the growing application of liquid biopsy to dynamically track tumor evolution and to adapt molecularly targeted therapy according to the emergence of tumor clonal variants is shaping modern medical oncology., In order to better describe this new therapeutic paradigm we propose the term "Liquid dynamic medicine" in the place of "Personalized or Precision medicine". Clinical validation of the "Liquid dynamic medicine" approach is best captured by N-of-1 trials where each patient acts as tester and control of truly personalized therapies.

Infusion of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide toxin in rats produces an early and severe impairment of baroreflex function in absence of blood pressure changes.

The assessment of baroreflex function since the first appearance of endotoxemia is important because the arterial baroreflex should exert a protective role during sepsis. Nevertheless, contrasting results were previously reported. This could be due to the hemodynamic instability characterizing this condition that may per se interfere with reflex cardiovascular adjustments.

Targeting reactive astrogliosis by novel biotechnological strategies.

Neuroglial cells are fundamental for control of brain homeostasis and synaptic plasticity. Decades of pathological and physiological studies have focused on neurons in neurodegenerative disorders, but it is becoming increasingly evident that glial cells play an irreplaceable part in brain homeostasis and synaptic plasticity. Animal models of brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases have largely contributed to current understanding of astrocyte-specific mechanisms participating in brain function and neurodegeneration.

Clinical and genetic familial study of a large cohort of Italian children with idiopathic epilepsy.

Epilepsies are characterized by genetic heterogeneity and by the possible coexistence of different phenotypes in one family. Moreover, in different epilepsies, mutations in the same gene have been reported. We aimed to collect data in a large Italian cohort of 81 families with children affected by partial or generalized epilepsies and to evaluate the prevalence of several ion channel mutations.

Inflammatory activation during coronary artery surgery and its dose-dependent modulation by statin/ACE-inhibitor combination.

Background: On-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery triggers an inflammatory response (IR) which may impair revascularization. The study aimed at (1) characterizing the temporal profile of the IR by assaying appropriate markers in both systemic and coronary blood, and (2) determining whether (and which doses of) cardiovascular drugs known to have antiinflammatory properties, namely statins and ACE-inhibitors (ACEI), inhibit the response.

Methods And Results: Patients scheduled for CABG (n=22) were randomized to statin/ACEI combination treatment at standard doses (STD, ramipril 2.

An international opinion poll of well-educated people regarding awareness and feelings about organ donation for transplantation.

Despite repeated campaigns promoting transplantation, the high donation refusal rate remains unchanged. We targeted a well-educated population to assess the impact of our current transplantation promoting programs and personal feelings toward new approaches to organ donation. A questionnaire was proposed in five universities to students and university staffs that would have been likely to benefit from previous information campaigns in two South American and three European countries.

Regulation of cell size and contractile function by AKT in cardiomyocytes.

AKT is a serine-threonine kinase involved in several different cellular functions, including the control of cell size and the regulation of survival and metabolism. Many studies have demonstrated that AKT also plays a critical role in the homeostasis of the cardiomyocyte. In these cells, AKT is activated by upstream molecules such as beta-adrenergic receptor, insulin-like growth factor-1 or insulin receptor, through PI3K alpha; whereas its activation is inhibited by the PTEN molecule.