Parsimonious modeling with information filtering networks.

We introduce a methodology to construct parsimonious probabilistic models. This method makes use of information filtering networks to produce a robust estimate of the global sparse inverse covariance from a simple sum of local inverse covariances computed on small subparts of the network. Being based on local and low-dimensional inversions, this method is computationally very efficient and statistically robust, even for the estimation of inverse covariance of high-dimensional, noisy, and short time series.

Adjuvant treatment for elderly patients with colon cancer. An observational study.

Background: Adjuvant 5-fluoruracil-based chemotherapy significantly reduces mortality in patients with stage II-III colon cancer, but is less prescribed with rising age. In this study we were interested in the pattern of adjuvant treatment and possible effects on survival among elderly patients.

Patients And Methods: From January to December 2004, 63 questionnaires on the management of stage II-III resected colon cancer patients aged over 70 years, collected from 10 Italian Centres, were retrospectively examined.

Palliative treatment for elderly patients with colon cancer in ten Italian medical oncology units.

Background: Palliative chemotherapy significantly reduces mortality in patients with stage IV colon cancer, but is less prescribed with rising age. In this paper, we highlight the pattern of palliative treatment and possible effects on survival among elderly patients.

Patients And Methods: From January to December 2004, 78 files on the management of stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) patients over 70 years, collected from 10 Italian Centres, were retrospectively examined.

Colorectal cancer treatment in elderly patients: results of a retrospective analysis addressed to the chiefs of medical oncology units in Italy.

Background: The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the differences of 1-year treatment and chemotherapy related-toxicity in elderly colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in different Italian medical oncology units.

Patients And Methods: An open questionnaire on the management of CRC patients over 70 years of age, from January to December 2004, was sent to Italian centres. One hundred and seventy-five files from 10 centres were analysed.

A comparative assessment of psychological and psychosocial characteristics of cancer patients and their caregivers.

We recruited 50 cancer patients and their caregivers with the aim of extending our knowledge of emotional, personality and psychosocial variables, and comparing their reciprocal experience of the disease. The patients and caregivers were administered four of the questionnaires included in the Cognitive Behavioral Assessment 2.0, the Family Strain Questionnaire and the Satisfaction with Life Scale.

Combined modality treatment with a weekly brief chemotherapy (ACOP-B) followed by locoregional radiotherapy in localized-stage intermediate- to high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Background: A cooperative study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a very brief course of chemotherapy followed by locoregional radiotherapy in patients with localized-stage intermediate- to high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Patients And Method: From January 1988 to November 1994, 84 patients with localized stages IA and IIA intermediate- to high-grade NHL underwent a combined modality treatment. All patients underwent a six-week chemotherapy regimen, ACOP-B (doxorubicin 50 mg/sqm and cyclophosphamide 350 mg/sqm on weeks 1, 3, 5; vincristine 1.

[Reactions caused by Hymenoptera: a first aid problem].

The incidence of reactions to insect bites both local (erythema, pemphigus, oedema, itching) and systemic (urticaria, angioedema, anaphylactic shock) in Borgomanero (NO) National Health Clinic 54 was assessed. The high incidence of medical treatments for this pathology encountered reflects the fact that in the summer and in a rural area a great many people are exposed to this type of emergency. The importance of careful diagnosis (anamnesis, skin allergy tests, RAST is emphasised as a means of identifying cases at allergic risk and providing the appropriate immunotherapy.

[Determination of fibrinogen-fibrin degradation factors in neoplasms].

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and Primary Fibrinolysis (PF) are frequently reported in the literature as occurring in a wide variety of tumours whether subjected to chemotherapy or not and triggering a thrombohemorrhagic mechanism that is often fatal. It was therefore decided to assess the extent of the Fibrinogen-Fibrin Degradation Products (FDP) in a group of cancer patients in order to identify the primary, asymptomatic clinical expressions of these syndromes with a view to ascertaining the possibility of preventing more severe forms. The data confirm the presence of circulating FDP in a small percentage of the patients (26.

[Primary extra-lymph node localization of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Considerations on a clinical case].

The location on first diagnosis of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NH lymphoma) in the respiratory structures (bronchi, pleura, pulmonary parenchyma) is rather rare (2-4%) in the absence of mediastinic and/or hilar adenopathy. In any event diagnosis is extremely difficult, often impossible even with the aid of a properly conducted biopsy since the biopsy does not provide suitable material. The case is presented of a 72 year old woman with intermittent hyperpyrexia and multiple alveolar masses, the aetiology of which was only identified 8 months after the onset of the symptoms with the appearance of latero-cervical lymphadenopathy where biopsy revealed the presence of an N.

[Hepatic cirrhosis caused by alcohol: normalization of the functional parameters after prolonged abstinence].

It has often been noted that total abstention from alcohol will lead to the normalisation of modest liver lesions. For this reason the possibility of regression of more severe lesions was studied. To this end five patients with clinically diagnosed cirrhosis of the liver (bioptically confirmed in 2 cases) were followed up for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 years, demonstrating the total reversibility of clinical and laboratory signs after total abstention for an average 15 months.

[Angioimmunoblastic lymphoadenopathy with dysproteinemia. A doubtful clinical case].

After a brief description of the clinical and laboratory picture of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with Dysproteinaemia (AILD), the case of a 49 year old woman is described. The woman died of haematemesis and with a clinical picture that originated 14 years earlier with Sjogren's syndrome that developed with modest systemic lymphadenopathy, splenohepatomegaly, autoimmune anaemia (Coombs direct positive). Histological examination of the parotid, certain lymph glands, the liver and the spleen suggested a diagnosis of proliferative lymphopathy that might have been either AIDL or low malignity NH lymphoma.

[Occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus in personnel of the S.S. Trinità Hospital in Borgomanero].

369 workers at the S.S. Trinità Hospital, Borgomanero - Health Unit 54 were screened for H.

[Para-albuminemia and alloalbuminemia: 1st case report of a VR/VR B genetic variant in the Novara area].

The 12th case of alloalbuminaemia in Piedmont, and the 1st in the Novara area, coded NO/PN, are reported. Although alloalbuminaemia is at present purely a clinically asymptomatic scientific curiosity, future investigations could link it to other genetic marks with consequent practical advantages. It is also important to distinguish this form from acquired para-albuminaemia, often the only sign of pancreatic fistulisation.

[Proposal for a program in the early diagnosis of breast cancer].

Systematic examination of the breasts of women admitted to a medical ward for apparently non-breast-related pathologies revealed 22 cases of isolated nodules (2.06%) of which 9 (40.9%) were carcinomatous.

[Essential thrombocythemia. Clinical case report].

Essential thrombocythemia is a rare form of proliferative myelopathy and should not be confused with secondary thrombocythemia. In view of the frequency with which an increased platelet count is recorded with the automatic hemochromogen recorder, the fundamental parameters necessary for an accurate diagnosis are summarised on the basis of a typical clinical case observed for two years.

[Behavior of blood composition in chronic liver diseases].

On the basis of data from hospitalised patients with chronic liver pathology, the relationship between the type and severity of the disease and the nature and extent of changes in blood composition was studied. It is concluded that a direct relationship exists between liver pathology and haemopathy which can be attributed to various aetiopathogenetic factors. The severity of the liver pathology is the main factor, independently of its aetiology.

[Syndrome of clinical pseudohypoglycemia].

Four cases of coma, clinically typed as hypoglycaemic but without low blood sugar levels are presented. The clinical picture was rapidly normalised by immediate infusion with hypertonic glucosate. A tentative pathogenetic hypothesis is proposed and the Yager and Young "non-hypoglycaemia" syndrome is once more discussed.

Parity and breast cancer: confirmed evidence of an effect on age at diagnosis.

An evaluation is made of the hypothesis of Woods et al. (1) that the number of full-term pregnancies constitutes a factor of growth acceleration in breast cancer. Our results confirm, at least in part, the effect of parity on age at diagnosis of breast cancer.

Usefulness of breast self-examination for an early detection of breast cancer results of a study on 500 breast cancer patients and 652 controls.

The knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) was investigated among 500 women with operable breast tumors between 35 and 64 years of age (all successively operated) and 652 healthy women, matched with the previous group for 5-year age groups from 35 to 54 years. Only 39.9% of breast cancer women and 34.