Multiple mononeuritis with peripheral blood eosinophilia in a patient with Q fever: An unusual presentation: Case report and review of the literature.

Coxiella burnetii is a gram-negative bacterium that typically lives and multiplies within monocytes and macrophages of the host, being the etiologic agent of the zoonosis Q fever. Q fever is usually divided into acute and chronic forms, with a significant percentage of patients being asymptomatic. In the wide spectrum of the disease, neurological involvement seems to be extremely rare and peripheral neuropathy presenting with mononeuritis multiplex is one of the possible presentations with low rates of occurrence.

Clostridioides difficile infection in a patient with immunoglobulin A vasculitis: a triggering factor or a rare complication of the disease? A case-based review.

IgA vasculitis, formerly known as Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), is the most common form of systemic vasculitis in children and is characterized by inflammation of the small vessels with typical deposition of IgA immune complexes. It is a leukocytoclastic type of vasculitis and is characterized by a tetrad of clinical manifestations: non-thrombocytopenia or coagulopathy-induced palpable purpura, arthritis, or arthralgia, gastrointestinal, and renal involvement. The exact cause of IgA vasculitis is not known yet, although infections, vaccinations and insect bites have been implicated in the appearance of the disease.

Coexistence of Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; Composite Lymphoma [CL] in a Patient Presenting with Waxing and Waning Lymphadenopathy.

Background: The coexistence of two or more types of lymphoma within the same organ at the same time of diagnosis is defined as composite lymphoma, a rare disease that has recently been identified in the literature. Pointedly, the concurrence may be Hodgkin lymphoma with a Non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL], either B or T cells, or two different entities of NHLs. Furthermore, this condition has been described concurrently or sequentially.

Low dose dabigatran versus uninterrupted acenocoumarol for peri-procedural anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation catheter ablation.

Background: Left atrial ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a transiently increased risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events. We tested the hypothesis that the low dose dabigatran [110mg twice a day (bid)] can be safely used as an alternative to uninterrupted acenocoumarol for periprocedural anticoagulation in left atrial ablation procedures.

Methods And Results: A total of 149 consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary vein antral isolation for AF were included; 64 patients were on low dose dabigatran (110mg bid) and 85 patients were on acenocoumarol with therapeutic international normalized ratios.

Predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with long-lasting atrial fibrillation.

Background: Limited data are available on the predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in patients with chronic AF.

Objectives: To evaluate potential clinical, echocardiographic and electrophysiological predictors of AF recurrence, after internal cardioversion for long-lasting AF.

Methods: A total of 99 consecutive patients (63 men and 36 women, mean age 63.

Efficacy of tropisetron in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and taxanes.

Even though significant progress has been made, chemotherapy-induced emesis remains a challenging problem. Few studies focus on emesis in patients treated with carboplatin and the observation period is limited to the initial 24 h following chemotherapy. Thus, we investigated if tropisetron (T) monotherapy can adequately prevent acute and delayed emesis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving a moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) (carboplatin-containing) regimen.

Comparison of two oral regimens for the outpatient treatment of low-risk cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and fever: ciprofloxacin plus cefuroxime axetil versus ciprofloxacin plus amoxicillin/clavulanate.

The objective of this investigation was to assess retrospectively the safety and the efficacy of oral ciprofloxacin plus cefuroxime axetil compared to the combination of oral ciprofloxacin plus amoxicillin/clavulanate, as initial outpatient treatment, in low-risk cancer patients with fever and neutropenia. We analysed retrospectively 120 episodes of febrile neutropenia, treated on an outpatient basis at 2 different oncology units; 63 episodes were treated with the oral regimen of ciprofloxacin plus amoxicillin/clavulanate and 57 were treated with the combination of oral ciprofloxacin plus cefuroxime. 20 treatment failures were recorded-2 of them among patients receiving ciprofloxacin plus amoxicillin/clavulanate and 18 in the ciprofloxacin plus cefuroxime group.

5-fluorouracil cardiotoxicity is a rare, dose and schedule-dependent adverse event: a prospective study.

Purpose: Cardiotoxicity associated with 5-fluorouracil (5FU) administration is infrequently reported in the literature, albeit case reports of acute coronary syndromes have been published. In the present study, patients undergoing 5FU chemotherapy were tested for the development of cardiac-related symptoms during its administration.

Patients And Methods: Five hundred twenty-two patients entered the study.

Analgesic activity of high-dose intravenous calcitonin in cancer patients with bone metastases.

We undertook a prospective, nonrandomized study with the objective to evaluate the efficacy of salmon calcitonin (sCT) in controlling pain secondary to bone metastases. Our study population consisted of 45 cancer patients with bone metastases (26 men) with a mean age of 64 years (range, 48-70) who had completed chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy at least 30 days prior to enrollment in the study, and had intractable pain despite the use of common analgesics (acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, opioids) and bisphosphonates. The study medication was a 300-IU dose of sCT administered intravenously daily for 5 consecutive days and repeated every two weeks until no response was noticeable.

A simplified premedication schedule for 1-hour paclitaxel administration.

Many investigations have focused on an optimal dosing schedule for paclitaxel since its regulatory approval. Paclitaxel is generally administered at a dose of 175 mg/m2 IV over 3 hours or 135-175 mg/m2 IV over 24 hours, every 3 weeks. The purpose of this study was to simplify the administration of paclitaxel to make it suitable and practical in the outpatient setting.

Breast cancer after curative chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: examination of the role of drug resistance and retrospective comparison to the outcome of de novo breast cancer.

We examined the outcome of patients who developed breast cancer after curative chemotherapy (CHOP) for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in comparison to the outcome of a retrospectively selected matched-pair group of patients with de novo breast cancer, and evaluated the role of drug resistance-related protein (MDR, MRP, LRP) expression in breast cancer tissue. Twenty-two patients presented with breast cancer (BC) in complete remission after CHOP for NHL. The median age was 62 (49-70) years, each had high/intermediate grade B-cell NHL treated with 6 courses of CHOP, and were in complete remission.

Two different schedules of irinotecan (CPT-11) in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma relapsing after a 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin combination. A randomized study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan as second-line treatment in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (ACC) failing or relapsing after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus leucovorin (LV) standard chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Irinotecan was randomly administered in two different schedules (once every 3 weeks, and every 10 days) in patients failing prior 5-FU plus LV. Patients were randomized to two treatment groups: group A received irinotecan 350 mg/m2 every 21 days and group B received irinotecan 175 mg/m2 days 1 and 10 every 21 days.

Amifostine, in a reduced dose, protects against severe diarrhea associated with weekly fluorouracil and folinic acid chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer: a pilot study.

Fifty-two consecutive patients with advanced colorectal cancer who developed persistent diarrhea following chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil despite dose reduction were treated with amifostine 800, 500 or 150 mg/m(2). The administered dose of 5-fluorouracil was significantly greater during amifostine treatment. Amifostine 800 mg/m(2) was associated with complete elimination of diarrhea, but 76.

Docetaxel and epirubicin supported by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor first-line in advanced breast cancer.

This phase II trial studied the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel-epirubicin, supported by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer. Patients received epirubicin (60 mg/m2) followed 1 hour later by docetaxel (80 mg/m2) every 3 weeks for a maximum of 8 cycles or until disease progression. Prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (5 micrograms/kg) was administered daily for 5 days.

Etoposide, leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in 5-FU+LV pre-treated patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of the weekly combination of etoposide, leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) when administered as second-line chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory advanced colorectal cancer (ACC), previously treated with weekly LV+5-FU. Etoposide was administered at 3 different dose levels (DLs), in 3 groups of 20 patients each (total: 60); DL-I: etoposide 80 mg/m2, DL-II: etoposide 120 mg/m2, and DL-III: etoposide 180 mg/m2, in 45 min i.v.

Etoposide added to weekly leucovorin (LV)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in LV/5-FU pre-treated patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Background: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the weekly combination of etoposide, leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) when administered as second-line chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory advanced colorectal cancer (ACC), previously treated with weekly LV + 5-FU.

Material/methods: Etoposide was administered at 3 different dose levels (DL), in 3 groups of patients (total=60): DL-I - etoposide 80 mg/m2, 45 min i.v.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in the CHOP regimen for older patients with aggressive (stages III/IV) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is associated with a lower risk of cardiotoxocity than conventional formulations of doxorubicin, allowing the use of higher cumulative doses. In this Phase II study, 25 patients aged over 70 years (median 79, range 75-82 years) with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (International Prognostic Index (IPI) -2, 12 (48%); IPI-3, 10 (40%); IPI-4, 3 (12%)) received CHOP with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. All completed 6 treatment cycles and were evaluable for efficacy and safety.

Immune changes in patients with advanced breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy with taxanes.

Besides cytotoxicity, taxanes induce other biological effects, especially in the immune system. Taxanes have demonstrated immunostimulatory effects against neoplasms, supporting the idea that these agents suppress cancer through several mechanisms and not solely through inhibiting cell division. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) and investigate their ability in alterating important immunological parameters in breast cancer patients.

Cardiotoxicity following different doses and schedules of 5-fluorouracil administration for malignancy -- a survey of 427 patients.

Background: Although cardiotoxicity associated with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) administration is infrequent, there are case reports of acute coronary syndromes. We report on patients undergoing 5-FU chemotherapy who developed cardiac symptoms during its administration.

Material/methods: In patients receiving 5-FU who experienced cardiac-related symptoms, ECG and serum cardiac enzyme determination were performed.

Irinotecan (CPT-11) in patients with advanced colon carcinoma relapsing after 5-fluorouracil-leucovorin combination.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between performance status (PS) and mean dose of irinotecan (CPT-11) in patients with recurrent advanced colorectal cancer relapsing after 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin chemotherapy. Patients who had completed their last chemotherapy course with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for at least 6 weeks and progressed were included. Based on PS, we administered a starting dose of 250 mg/m(2) in patients with a PS 70-80 (group A), and 350 mg/m(2) for those with a PS > 80 (group B).

Raltitrexed (tomudex) administration in patients failing multiple prior chemotherapy regimens in advanced colorectal cancer: a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy of Raltitrexed, a specific thymidilate synthase inhibitor, in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (ACC) failing multiple prior chemotherapy regimens (e.g. 5-FU+LV, CPT-11, etc).

Extragonadal seminoma after renal transplantation and immunosuppression; treatment in the presence of renal dysfunction: a case report and literature review.

A 37-yr-old man who had undergone renal transplantation for end-stage renal failure presented with a large right pelvic mass obstructing the transplanted kidney. Initially, this was diagnosed as an anaplastic tumor while he had been on immunosuppressive treatment for kidney allograft rejection after transplantation. Despite difficulties of classic histopathology to reveal the origin of his tumor, FISH analysis revealed the presence of chromosome 12p abnormalities, strongly indicative of a germ-cell tumor-more likely seminoma-with extragonadal presentation.

Adenocarcinoma of the colon presenting as polymyositis: case report.

The relationship between polymyositis and malignancy is well known. Several types of tumors can be complicated with myositis and/or more frequently dermatomyositis. It has been suggested that tumors of the large bowel are rarely complicated by myositis.

Raltitrexed (Tomudex) administration in patients with relapsed metastatic colorectal cancer after weekly irinotecan/5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin chemotherapy.

Purpose: The present study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of Raltitrexed, a specific thymidilate synthase inhibitor, in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (ACC) in relapse (>8 weeks) after a prior response or disease stabilization to first-line chemotherapy combination with lrinotecan+5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)+Leucovorin (LV).

Methods: Twenty-five patients with metastatic ACC entered; 17 males/8 females, median age 61 (range: 47-70), median Karnovsky PS: 80 (70-90), and sites of metastases; liver: 21, lung: 4, lymph nodes: 7, peritoneal: 5 and a life expectancy of at least 3 months, were entered in the present pilot study. All patients had progressed after prior chemotherapy with lrinotecan+5-FU+LV.

A phase I-II study of docetaxel-ifosfamide-cisplatin (DIP) combination chemotherapy regimen in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

In an attempt to develop more effective chemotherapy regimens in advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we evaluated docetaxel-ifosfamide-cisplatin (DIP) based on our previous experience with paclitaxel-ifosfamide-cisplatin. Patients with advanced NSCLC (stages III-IV), WHO-PS< or =2, no prior chemotherapy and unimpaired hematopoietic and organ function were eligible. Chemotherapy was administered in successive dose levels (DLs) and included docetaxel (80-100 mg/m2 day 1), ifosfamide (4-5 g/m2) and cisplatin (80-100 mg/m2), both divided over days 1 and 2 every 21 days.