Analysis of genotyping data reveals the unique genetic diversity represented by the breeds of sheep native to the United Kingdom.

Background: Sheep breeds native to the United Kingdom exhibit a striking diversity of different traits. Some of these traits are highly sustainable, such as seasonal wool shedding in the Wiltshire Horn, and are likely to become more important as pressures on sheep production increase in coming decades. Despite their clear importance to the future of sheep farming, the genetic diversity of native UK sheep breeds is poorly characterised.

PONDx: real-life utilization and decision impact of the 21-gene assay on clinical practice in Italy.

Clinicopathological prognostic features have limited value to identify with precision newly diagnosed patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (BC), who would benefit from chemotherapy (CT) in addition to adjuvant hormonal therapy (HT). The 21-gene Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score (RS) assay has been demonstrated to predict CT benefit, hence supporting personalized decisions on adjuvant CT. The multicenter, prospective, observational study PONDx investigated the real-life use of RS results in Italy and its impact on treatment decisions.

Impact of BMI on HER2+ metastatic breast cancer patients treated with pertuzumab and/or trastuzumab emtansine. Real-world evidence.

Body mass index (BMI) is a main indicator of obesity and its association with breast cancer is well established. However, little is known in the metastatic setting, especially in HER2-positive patients. We assessed the influence of BMI on clinical outcomes of patients treated with pertuzumab and/or trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) for HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (mBC).

Distinct HR expression patterns significantly affect the clinical behavior of metastatic HER2+ breast cancer and degree of benefit from novel anti-HER2 agents in the real world setting.

We analyzed data from 738 HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mbc) patients treated with pertuzumab-based regimens and/or T-DM1 at 45 Italian centers. Outcomes were explored in relation to tumor subtype assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The median progression-free survival at first-line (mPFS1) was 12 months.

Palbociclib plus endocrine therapy in HER2 negative, hormonal receptor-positive, advanced breast cancer: A real-world experience.

Data from 423 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-), hormone receptor-positive (HR+) advanced breast cancer (aBC) patients treated with palbociclib and endocrine therapy (ET) were provided by 35 Italian cancer centers and analyzed for treatment outcomes. Overall, 158 patients were treated in first line and 265 in second/later lines. We observed 19 complete responses and 112 partial responses.

A multicenter REtrospective observational study of first-line treatment with PERtuzumab, trastuzumab and taxanes for advanced HER2 positive breast cancer patients. RePer Study.

We carried out a retrospective observational study of 264 HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (ABC) patients to explore the efficacy of first-line treatment with pertuzumab/trastuzumab/taxane in real-world setting. Survival data were analyzed by Kaplan Meier curves and log rank test. Median follow-up, length of pertuzumab/trastuzumab/taxane treatment and of pertuzumab, trastuzumab maintenance were 21, 4 and 15 months, respectively.

A retrospective multicentric observational study of trastuzumab emtansine in HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer: a real-world experience.

We addressed trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) efficacy in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer patients treated in real-world practice, and its activity in pertuzumab-pretreated patients. We conducted a retrospective, observational study involving 23 cancer centres, and 250 patients. Survival data were analyzed by Kaplan Meier curves and log rank test.

Fasting glucose and body mass index as predictors of activity in breast cancer patients treated with everolimus-exemestane: The EverExt study.

Evidence on everolimus in breast cancer has placed hyperglycemia among the most common high grade adverse events. Anthropometrics and biomarkers of glucose metabolism were investigated in a observational study of 102 postmenopausal, HR + HER2- metastatic breast cancer patients treated with everolimus-exemestane in first and subsequent lines. Best overall response (BR) and clinical benefit rate (CBR) were assessed across subgroups defined upon fasting glucose (FG) and body mass index (BMI).

"Triple positive" early breast cancer: an observational multicenter retrospective analysis of outcome.

We recently found that trastuzumab benefit may be lower in a small subset of early breast cancer (BC) patients (pts) with tumors expressing high levels of both hormonal receptors (HRs), i.e. triple positive (TP).

Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural group therapy for inpatients.

Objective: To measure the effectiveness of manualized cognitive-behavioural group therapy (CBGT) when it is integrated into the routine care on a general hospital psychiatric inpatient unit.

Methods: A pre-post design is used to measure the "process", "results" and "outcome" indicators in the year before CBGT was introduced (2001) in contrast to the subsequent two years (2002, 2003). Readmission to hospital, compulsory admissions, ward atmosphere (i.

Personality disorders in bipolar and depressive disorders.

The association of mood disorders with personality disorders (PDs) is relevant from a clinical, therapeutic and prognostic point of view. To examine this issue, we compared the prevalence of DSM-III-R personality disorders assessed with SCID-II in patients with depressive (n = 117) and bipolar (n = 71) disorders both recovered from a major depressive index episode that needed hospital admission. PDs prevalence and comorbidity with axis I were calculated.

[Personality disorders prevalence study among inpatients with mood disorders, psychoactive use disorders and anxiety disorders].

Objective: The aim of this study was to asses type and prevalence of Personality Disorders (PDs) and their patterns of comorbidity with Axis I disorders in a sample of psychiatric inpatients.

Setting: The sample consisted of 300 subjects admitted to a psychiatric unit on a voluntary bases for an index episode. The study was conducted over a period of 12 months, from 1.

[The use of the Italian version of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) in a clinical sample and in a student group: an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis study].

Objective: The aim of this study was to verify the construct validity of the Italian version of Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) a questionnaire which estimates the parental style as reported by the son or daughter.

Method: The questionnaire was administered to a group of 102 students (62 males and 40 females) attending University of L'Aquila and to a sample of 128 patients (76 males and 52 females) consecutively admitted to a psychiatric unit for an index episode. We compared the means of the two factors (care, protection) separately for each parent in the two groups using a t-test for independent samples.

Patterns of comorbidity among DSM-III-R personality disorders.

The aim of this study was to examine patterns of comorbidity among personality disorders (PDs) in a sample of 156 psychiatric inpatients. PDs were assessed with Semistructured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders. To determine significant co-occurrence among axis II diagnoses, odds ratio and the percent of co-occurrence of pairs of disorders were calculated.

Ifosfamide, cisplatin and etoposide combination in locally advanced inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer: a phase II study.

From March 1993 to February 1997, 43 eligible patients with inoperable stage IIIA (ten patients) and stage IIIB (33 patients), histologically confirmed NSCLC received 3 courses of the ICE combination (ifosfamide 1.5 g m(-2) and mesna 750 mg m(-2) two times a day, cisplatin 25 mg m(-2) and etoposide 100 mg m(-2), all administered intravenously (i.v.

Mitomycin C plus vindesine plus etoposide (MEV) versus mitomycin C plus vindesine plus cisplatin (MVP) in stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer: A phase III multicentre randomised trial. The "Gruppo Oncologico Centro-Sud-Isole' (G.O.C.S.I.).

Purpose: To compare mitomycin C plus vindesine plus etoposide (MEV) vs. mitomycin C plus vindesine plus cisplatin (MVP) in the treatment of stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

Patients And Methods: 204 patients were entered in a phase III multicentre randomised trial from June 1990 to December 1994 and stratified according to the ECOG performance status (0-1 vs.

Accelerated chemotherapy with high-dose epirubicin and cyclophosphamide plus r-met-HUG-CSF in locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer.

Background: This study evaluated the toxicity of high-dose epirubicin and cyclophosphamide plus r-met-HUG-CSF (G-CSF) given every 2 weeks and compared the dose-intensity achieved with this schedule with that obtained in a previous study we conducted in which the same regimen was given every 3 weeks without G-SCF (EC 21). The secondary objective was to explore the activity of this regimen.

Patients And Methods: Between December 1991 and March 1994, 41 patients (pts), 19 with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and 22 with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), were given high-dose epirubicin (Hd-Epi) (120 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (CTX) (600 mg/m2) on day 1 every 14 days (EC 14) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (5 mcg/kg/d s.

Prognostic value of lymph node metastases after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for large-sized operable carcinoma of the breast.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery or radiation therapy, or both, has become the treatment of choice for patients with large-sized resectable carcinoma of the breast in whom mastectomy is the conventional option. Since tumor regression before surgery is considered a favorable prognostic factor, there is still controversy regarding the need to perform an axillary dissection after a good response to systemic induction treatment.

Study Design: Between February 1990 and December 1993, we conducted a prospective study of 56 consecutive patients receiving high-dose anthracycline-based preoperative chemotherapy for large but potentially resectable carcinoma of the breast.

Phase II trial of high-dose epirubicin and cyclophosphamide in advanced breast cancer.

Between February 1990 and December 1991 high-dose epirubicin (Epi)(120 mg/m2) plus cyclophosphamide (CTX)(600 mg/m2) were given every 3 weeks to 52 patients with locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer. 26 patients with locally advanced disease received four courses of this regimen before and after local treatments. 26 patients had metastatic disease: they received eight courses unless progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred.