Assessing the heterogeneity of the impact of COVID-19 incidence on all-cause excess mortality among healthcare districts in Lombardy, Italy, to evaluate the local response to the pandemic: an ecological study.

Objectives: The fragmentation of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic at national, regional and local levels is a possible source of variability in the impact of the pandemic on society. This study aims to assess how much of this variability affected the burden of COVID-19, measured in terms of all-cause 2020 excess mortality.

Design: Ecological retrospective study.

Strategies to convert hospital beds for COVID-19 patients to minimize emergency department overcrowding.

The shortage of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients has been one critical cause of Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding. We aimed at elaborating a strategy of conversion of hospital beds, from non-COVID-19 to COVID-19 care, minimizing both ED overcrowding and the number of beds eventually converted. Observational retrospective study.

Prognostic value of respiratory parameters for COVID-19 patients in the emergency department: results from the EC-COVID study.

While several studies have evaluated the prognostic weight of respiratory parameters in patients with COVID-19, few have focused on patients' clinical conditions at the first emergency department (ED) assessment. We analyzed a large cohort of ED patients recruited within the EC-COVID study over the year 2020, and assessed the association between key bedside respiratory parameters measured in room air (pO, pCO, pH, and respiratory rate [RR]) and hospital mortality, after adjusting for key confounding factors. Analyses were based on a multivariable logistic Generalized Additive Model (GAM).

Utility of hospitalization for elderly individuals affected by COVID-19.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of individuals needing hospital admission has sometimes exceeded the availability of hospital beds. Since hospitalization can have detrimental effects on older individuals, preference has been given to younger patients. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of hospitalization for elderly affected by COVID-19.

A bibliometric analysis of scientific production in mesothelioma research.

This study aims at comparing scientific production in malignant mesothelioma (MM) among countries and evaluating publication trends and impact factor (IF). The PubMed database was searched with a strategy combining keywords listed in the Medical Subject Headings and free-text search. Publications numbers and IF were evaluated both as absolute values and after standardization by population and gross domestic product (GDP).

Osteopontin is not a specific marker in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Background And Aims: Osteopontin (OPN) is an integrin-binding protein recently shown to be related to tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis in different experimental models of malignancy. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a fatal disease in which the prognosis remains very poor and the knowledge of predictive factors for outcome is insufficient. The identification of new molecules involved in cancer initiation and development is a fundamental step for improving the curability of this kind of tumor.

The CREST biorepository: a tool for molecular epidemiology and translational studies on malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other respiratory tract diseases.

Objectives: The Cancer of RESpiratory Tract (CREST) biorepository was established to investigate biological mechanisms and to develop tools and strategies for primary and secondary prevention of respiratory tract cancer. The CREST biorepository is focused on pleural malignant mesothelioma, a rare and severe cancer linked to asbestos exposure whose incidence is particularly high in the Ligurian region.

Methods: The CREST biorepository includes biological specimens from (a) patients with pleural malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, (b) patients with nonneoplastic respiratory conditions, and (c) control subjects.

Predictive and prognostic significance of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The predictive and prognostic role of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still under debate.

Patients And Methods: To study these aspects, serum NSE was prospectively measured at baseline of first-line chemotherapy treatment and tested for correlation with clinical outcome in 129 advanced NSCLC patients.

Results: An objective response was achieved in 27 out of 65 (41.

Natural agents targeting the alpha7-nicotinic-receptor in NSCLC: a promising prospective in anti-cancer drug development.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are expressed on normal bronchial epithelial and nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and are involved in cell growth regulation. Nicotine induced cell proliferation. The purpose of this study was to determine if interruption of autocrine nicotinic cholinergic signaling might inhibit A549 NSCLC cell growth.

Clinical significance of serum mesothelin in patients with mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Purpose: High levels of serum-soluble mesothelin family proteins (SMRP) have been found to be associated with malignant mesothelioma (MM), but not lung cancer (LC). To verify the clinical role of this marker for both these tumors, we tested serum SMRP in the largest population of thoracic cancers ever assembled.

Experimental Design: SMRP blood concentrations were measured in 107 patients with MM, 215 patients with LC, 130 patients with benign respiratory diseases (BRD), and 262 controls.

Decline in serum carcinoembryonic antigen and cytokeratin 19 fragment during chemotherapy predicts objective response and survival in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Background: The authors assessed the predictive and prognostic role of decline in the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) during chemotherapy in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Changes in serum levels of CEA and CYFRA 21-1 during first-line, conventional chemotherapy were studied prospectively with an immunometric assay at baseline and every 2 courses in 117 patients with advanced NSCLC. Data were correlated with radiologic objective response (OR) and survival.

Functional analysis of c-Met/hepatocyte growth factor pathway in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) has not been extensively studied in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In this study, c-Met was overexpressed and activated in most of the mesothelioma cell lines tested. Expression in MPM tissues by immunohistochemistry was increased (82%) in MPM in general compared with normal.

Serum PDGF-AB in pleural mesothelioma.

Overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been observed in lung and pleural tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of serum PDGF in pleural mesothelioma (PM). Four groups of subjects were studied: 93 malignant PM patients, 33 primary non small cell lung cancer patients, 51 subjects exposed to asbestos, defined as high-risk controls, and 24 healthy controls.

Effect of the synthetic retinoid fenretinide on circulating free prostate-specific antigen, insulin-like growth factor-I, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 levels in men with superficial bladder cancer.

Purpose: Fenretinide (4-HPR) is a synthetic retinoid that has shown a preventive activity in prostate cancer animal models.

Experimental Design: We measured the changes in total and free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and its association with insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGFBP-3 levels after 1 year of treatment in 24 subjects given 4-HPR and 24 control subjects enrolled in a randomized bladder cancer prevention trial.

Results: No significant effect of 4-HPR was observed on total and free fraction of PSA levels.

Prognostic role of serum sialyl Lewisx (CD15s) in colorectal cancer.

Objective: Sialyl Lewis(x) (sLe(x)) is one ligand for E selectin (CD62E), a glycoprotein that is expressed on activated endothelial cells. Adhesion mediated by endothelial E selectin and sLe(x) expressed on human tumor cells could be relevant for the development of metastases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not a correlation exists between pre-operative levels of ganglioside serum sLe(x) and disease-free interval and survival in colorectal cancer patients.

Serum anti-p53 autoantibodies in pleural malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer and non-neoplastic lung diseases.

Alterations of the p53 gene may lead to the production of detectable autoantibodies (p53-Abs) in cancer patients. In order to evaluate the association of p53-Abs with pleuropulmonary diseases, four groups of subjects were analyzed by ELISA for serum p53-Abs, in the framework of a molecular epidemiologic study. Two of 30 pleural malignant mesothelioma patients (MM; 6.

c-erbB-2 protein in serum of primary lung cancer patients.

We determined c-erbB-2 protein level in serum of 86 primary lung cancer patients (78 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC), 3 small cell carcinomas, 5 not histologically defined) and in 61 controls. Aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of c-erbB-2 as marker for lung cancer diagnosis. The protein was measured with a commercially available sandwich enzyme immunoassay.

Study of pretreatment serum levels of HER-2/neu oncoprotein as a prognostic and predictive factor in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.

Background: HER-2/neu tissue overexpression is found in nearly 15% of patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and is reported to affect prognosis adversely in surgical series. However, the prognostic role of serum HER-2/neu oncoprotein, particularly in patients with advanced lung carcinoma, remains unknown. This study was designed to assess the potential value of measuring serum levels of HER-2/neu oncoprotein in predicting response to treatment and survival in patients with locally advanced and metastatic nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.

Enantiomeric separation of hydroxy acids and carboxylic acids by diamino-beta-cyclodextrins (AB,AC,AD) in capillary electrophoresis.

Selectively modified 6,6'-dideoxy-6,6'-L-diamino-beta-cyclodextrins (AB, AC, AD) were successfully used as chiral selectors for the enantiomeric separation of hydroxy acids and carboxylic acids (in particular, phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides) in capillary electrophoresis (CE). Chiral separations were obtained at a low selector concentration (1 mM) with good enantioselectivity and resolution factors. Separations were optimized as a function of pH.

Diagnostic value of CYFRA 21-1 tumor marker and CEA in pleural effusion due to mesothelioma.

Study Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the clinical value of CYFRA 21-1 tumor marker and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as diagnostic tools that are complementary to cytology in the diagnosis of malignant mesotheliomas.

Patients: We measured CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in the pleural effusions (PEs) and serum of 106 patients (benign lung disease, 34 patients; bronchogenic and metastatic carcinoma, 40 patients; mesothelioma, 32 patients).

Methods: CEA and CYFRA 21--1 levels were determined by means of two commercial enzyme immunoassays.

Endocrinological and clinical evaluation of two depot formulations of leuprolide acetate in pre- and perimenopausal breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the endocrinological and clinical activity of a new slow-release formulation of leuprolide acetate in breast cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 50 pre- or perimenopausal patients with early- or late-stage breast cancer who were candidates for endocrine treatment were included in the study and randomly allocated to receive either 3.75 mg of leuprolide acetate every month or 11.

Increased serum levels of soluble CD44 standard, but not of variant isoforms v5 and v6, in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The CD44 cell surface proteoglycan participates in a variety of functions including lymphohematopoiesis, lymphocyte homing and tumor metastasis. In addition to the standard form (CD44st), a large family of variant isoforms (CD44v) is generated by alternative splicing of a single gene. Certain CD44v (v5 and V6) are upregulated in the course of neoplastic progression and reflect the metastatic potential of tumor cells.

Evaluation of cathepsin D as prognostic predictor in breast cancer.

Cathepsin D is an acidic lysosomal protease expressed in all cells. Some studies have shown correlations between high levels of tissue cathepsin D and poor prognosis. This paper deals with 158 cases of breast cancer in which tissue concentrations in cathepsin D, age, estrogen and progesterone receptor content, and pathological characteristics of the tumor were investigated.

Genotypic, phenotypic and biological characterization of a novel human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (LC 89).

A cell line termed LC 89 was established from a peritracheal lymph node metastasis removed from a 54-year-old patient who underwent surgery for pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Chromosomal analyses demonstrated structural and numerical aberrations, with a mode of 54 chromosomes per cell and several nonrandom abnormalities. The localization of intermediate filament antigens, low-molecular-weight (LMW) cytokeratins and vimentin, demonstrated a switch from LMW cytokeratins, predominantly expressed in primary tumor cells, to vimentin detected in LC 89 cells that were grown in vitro or transplanted into nude mice.