Pixantrone (BBR 2778) has reduced cardiotoxic potential in mice pretreated with doxorubicin: comparative studies against doxorubicin and mitoxantrone.

Anthracyclines and anthracenediones are important oncotherapeutics; however, their use is associated with irreversible and cumulative cardiotoxicity. A novel aza-anthracenedione, pixantrone (BBR 2778), was developed to reduce treatment-related cardiotoxicity while retaining efficacy. This study evaluates the cumulative cardiotoxic potential of pixantrone compared with equiactive doses of doxorubicin and mitoxantrone in both doxorubicin-pretreated and doxorubicin-naïve mice.

Bbr 2778, an aza-anthracenedione endowed with preclinical anticancer activity and lack of delayed cardiotoxicity.

With the aim to provide second-generation anthracenedione analogues endowed with reduced side effects and a wider spectrum of action than mitoxantrone and doxorubicin, a large number of new molecules bearing nitrogen atoms in the chromophore was synthesized and screened in vitro and in vivo. From this screening, BBR 2778 (6,9-bis[(2-aminoethyl)amino] benzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione dimaleate) emerged as the most interesting compound. BBR 2778 was tested in vitro on several murine and human tumor cell lines and showed cytotoxic potency lower than that of mitoxantrone and doxorubicin.

Can laparoscopic cholecystectomy be a day surgery procedure?

Background/aims: Gallbladder surgery by videolaparoscopy (VL) is now able to obtain the same goals as traditional surgery, and is associated with comparable or better results both in terms of positive surgical outcome and patient satisfaction. With public health spending under growing social and administrative pressure, and continuous efforts focusing on enhancing the efficiency of both surgical instruments and operating procedures, it is a most attractive, albeit initially challenging, prospect to regard video-laparoscopic surgery as day-case surgery. Herein, the authors assess the outpatient treatment option, due to recent technical developments and relevant major organizational and professional implications, and consider the feasibility of day-case surgery projects which should soon be implemented.

[New polypropylene hernia prosthesis].

Since the first true hernioplasty performed by Edoardo Bassini more than 100 years ago (1884) all surgical reconstruction techniques have shared a common defect i.e. tension on suture line.

[Recurrent inguinal hernia. Propositions of classification and surgical strategy].

We reviewed 1005 cases of groin hernia in 932 patients including 113 recurrent hernias. Eighty-seven percent of the patients were seen again one year after surgery for an evaluation of technique, results and complications. The data obtained was used to propose a simple anatomoclinical classification into three types which could be used to orient surgical strategy.