Modified balloon aortic valvuloplasty in fragile symptomatic patients unsuitable for both surgical and percutaneous valve replacement.

Background: Balloon Aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is considered as a bridge therapy to percutaneous valve implantation or a palliative treatment in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS). Potential risk of complications, in particular in fragile patients, is still not negligible.

Aim: To describe the technique and outcomes of modified BAV in fragile symptomatic patients unsuitable for other treatments using no-pacing and minimally invasive approach.

Management of distal/bifurcation left main restenosis after drug eluting stents implantation: single center experience.

Objectives: Restenosis after drug eluting stent (DES) implantation in the distal/bifurcation left main (DBLM) remains challenging to manage. The aim of this study was to assess the in-stent restenosis (ISR) after DES implantation in DLM and to evaluate current management strategy.

Methods: The medical records of patients referred for LM distal/bifurcation percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) from the same Cardiology Unit in the January 2007 to December 2012 period were reviewed for PCI technique, stent type, restenosis type, restenosis treatment and management (CABG, balloon angioplasty only, alternative DES implant, drug eluting balloon angioplasty).

Six-year follow-up of a preformed spacer for the management of chronically infected total hip arthroplasty.

Antibiotic-loaded cement spacers are currently used in two-stage revision of septic total hip arthroplasty as temporary devices. Prolonged spacer implantation in infected shoulder has been described occasionally in poor candidates for reconstruction surgery (medically compromised and/or low-physical demand patients, deficient bone stock). Few papers previously reported the use of spacers in infected hip prosthesis as a permanent solution, but limited information is available on the medium-term behaviour.

A preformed temporary antibiotic-loaded cement spacer for the treatment of destructive septic hip arthritis: a case report.

Preformed spacers have proved to be effective in the two-stage revision of infected total hip replacements. In the treatment of septic arthritis of the hip, the use of a temporary device has occasionally been described, but the implantation of a preformed antibiotic-loaded spacer has not yet been reported. A 71-year-old man with a destructive Staphylococcus aureus septic arthritis of the hip joint was admitted to hospital.

Hip resurfacing using the anterolateral Watson-Jones approach in the supine position.

Hip resurfacing is commonly performed using a posterior approach, although some authors have advocated damage to the vascular supply due to posterolateral capsulectomy as one of the possible causes of femoral neck fracture. The need to preserve blood supply has led to the use of an alternative surgical vascular-sparing procedure. This article describes early clinical and radiological outcomes of hip resurfacing via an anterolateral Watson-Jones approach in the supine position.

Long-term results of anti-protrusion cage and massive allografts for the management of periprosthetic acetabular bone loss.

From 1992 to 1995, 71 total hip arthroplasties with extensive acetabular bone loss underwent revision using bulk allografts and Burch-Schneider anti-protrusion cages. Twelve patients died of unrelated causes and 3 were lost to follow-up. Fifty-six hips were available for clinical and radiographic follow-up examination at an average of 11.

One-stage posterior decompression-stabilization and trans-sacral interbody fusion after partial reduction for severe L5-S1 spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: A retrospective clinical study was conducted.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of one-stage posterior decompression-stabilization after partial reduction and trans-sacral interbody fusion with a titanium cage for severe L5-S1 spondylolisthesis.

Summary Of The Background Data: Trans-sacral interbody fusion for the management of severe L5-S1 spondylolisthesis with or without partial reduction and pedicular fixation has been previously described.

Invasive aspergillosis in neutropenic patients: rapid neutrophil recovery is a risk factor for severe pulmonary complications.

Background: In invasive aspergillosis, the duration of neutropenia is an accepted risk factor, and recovery from neutropenia is generally associated with a favourable outcome. However, the rapidity of granulocyte recovery may rarely be associated with adverse sequelae. The purpose of this study was to define the relationship between neutrophil (polymorphonuclear, PMN) recovery after chemotherapy-induced bone marrow aplasia and the occurrence of severe pulmonary complications (haemoptysis, pneumothorax and death) in patients with haematological malignancies who developed invasive fungal pneumonias.

Improved prognosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in 127 consecutive neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies.

Objectives: Although decreasing in frequency, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia is still a major challenge for neutropenic cancer patients. In patients with hematologic malignancies, the prognosis of P. aeruginosa bacteremia is particularly poor due to the prolonged and severe neutropenia, mucosal damage, and other defects in immunity related both to the underlying disease and to the cytotoxic therapy.

Serum levels of p55 and p75 soluble TNF receptors in adult acute leukaemia at diagnosis: correlation with clinical and biological features and outcome.

The tumour necrosis factor (TNF)/TNF-receptor (TNFR) complex plays a role in the growth of leukaemic cells. We retrospectively investigated the relationship between pretreatment serum concentration of soluble TNFR (p55- and p75-sTNFRs) and outcome in adult acute myeloid (AML 82 cases) and lymphoid (ALL 44 cases) leukaemia. Both sTNFRs were significantly higher in AML (p55-sTNFR 4.

Serum level of the soluble form of the CD30 molecule identifies patients with Hodgkin's disease at high risk of unfavorable outcome.

Preliminary reports suggested a prognostic significance for serum levels of soluble CD30 (sCD30) in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD). In this study, we investigated the prognostic impact of sCD30 concentration at diagnosis in relation to the other recognized prognostic parameters in 303 patients with HD observed in three different institutions between 1984 and 1996. sCD30 levels were correlated with stage, presence of B symptoms, and tumor burden.

Estimated 6-year event-free survival of 55% in 60 consecutive adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated with an intensive phase II protocol based on high induction dose of daunorubicin.

On the basis of a previous experience suggesting that daunorubicin dose in induction was an independent prognostic factor in adult ALL, we designed a chemotherapeutic regimen (ALLVR589) characterized by high doses of daunorubicin (270 mg/m2) in induction and by high-dose Ara-C in post-remission. The protocol was otherwise conventional: induction and post-remission therapy were followed by chemo-radio prophylaxis of the central nervous system (CNS) and periodical reinductions over a 3-year maintenance period. Sixty consecutive patients (male 42, female 18, median age 34 years, range 14-71; B-lineage, 35; T-lineage, 25; Ph' and bcr/abl positive, 7) recruited between 1989 and 1996, were evaluated for treatment outcome.

High serum level of soluble CD30 in acute primary HIV-1 infection.

CD30 has been suggested to play a role in HIV infection. In this study the serum concentration of soluble CD30 (sCD30) was determined by an ELISA essay on samples collected from patients with acute primary HIV-1 infection during the acute phase (n = 17) and after seroconversion (n = 13). sCD30 during acute infection was consistently elevated (137.

Preferential release of high amounts of interleukin-8 by myeloid blasts showing monocytic differentiation.

Background: In myeloid blasts, the expression and release of the multifunctional chemokine IL-8 could be expected to be differentiation-associated.

Methods: We investigated the profile of interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression and release by leukemic cells obtained at diagnosis from 42 untreated adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia of various FAB subtypes (2 M0, 7 M1, 6 M2, 6 M3, 10 M4 and 11 M5). IL-8 transcripts were evaluated by Northern blot and densitometric analysis.

Serum levels of the soluble form of CD30 molecule as a tumor marker in CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.

Purpose: To determine serum levels of the soluble form of CD30 molecule (sCD30) in patients with Ki-1/CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), and to evaluate its correlation with clinical features at presentation and its possible role as a tumor marker to monitor response to treatment and subsequent follow-up.

Patients And Methods: sCD30 serum levels were measured with an improved commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kit in 24 patients with CD30+ ALCL at diagnosis and in 13 after treatment.

Results: Increased values (> 20 U/mL) at diagnosis were observed in 23 of 24 cases (median, 842.

Circulating levels of soluble CD23 reflect clinical and biological features of leukemic B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders.

One hundred and twenty-four sera from patients with various leukemic B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative diseases were investigated at diagnosis by ELISA for their soluble CD23 content. Immunophenotyping was carried out in all patients, and in a selected subset the mean number of membrane-bound CD23 molecules per cell was also investigated. Seventy-three patients had typical B chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 41 leukemic B-cell disorders with atypical morphological and/or immunophenotypic features, 5 had low-grade follicular cell lymphoma in the leukemic phase, and 5 had splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes.

Correlation between clinical features and circulating levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in Hodgkin's disease.

Previous reports have suggested soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 as a marker of disease activity in Hodgkin's disease. In the present study we investigated serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 at diagnosis in 104 patients with Hodgkin's disease and in 77 of these patients following the achievement of complete remission (within 12 months of diagnosis). Mean serum levels at diagnosis were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.

Soluble forms of p55-IL-2R alpha, CD8, and CD30 molecules as markers of lymphoid cell activation in infectious mononucleosis.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in infectious mononucleosis (IM) is associated with lymphocyte activation leading to the expansion of cells expressing activation-associated antigens. Most of these antigens are released as soluble molecules in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: We investigated the serum levels of the soluble forms of the CD8 (sCD8), p55-IL-2R alpha (sIL-2R alpha), and CD30 (sCD30) molecules in 55 patients following primary EBV infection.

High serum level of the soluble form of CD30 molecule in the early phase of HIV-1 infection as an independent predictor of progression to AIDS.

Objective: To determine the serum levels of the soluble form of the CD30 (sCD30) activation molecule in the early phase of HIV-1 infection, and to investigate the possible correlation with evolution to AIDS.

Methods: sCD30 values were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on serum samples collected at the time of the first evidence of HIV-1 infection in 110 individuals with a median follow-up of 56 months (range, 12-88 months), at the A1 (74 cases) or A2 (36 cases) stages of the 1993 revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification. The data were evaluated using established clinical and immunological parameters, including circulating CD4+ T-cell count.

Detection of membrane and intracellular antigens by flow cytometry following ORTHO PermeaFix fixation.

In the present study, we explored the suitability of a new cell fixative (ORTHO PermeaFix, OPF) for the detection by flow cytometry of intracellular molecules while preserving the cell surface immunoreactivity, scatter features and morphology. The effect of OPF was investigated on whole blood of ten normal donors, and on separated blasts of 17 leukemic patients. OPF fixation for 45 min to 24 h maintained the morphology of lymphoid cells with minimal cellular distortion and scatter changes, and only slightly modified cell surface immunoreactivity.

Serum levels of soluble CD30 are elevated in the majority of untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease and correlate with clinical features and prognosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the serum levels of the soluble form of the CD30 molecule (sCD30) in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) to establish whether there is a correlation with clinical features at presentation and prognosis.

Patients And Methods: The sCD30 serum levels of 117 patients were measured at diagnosis with a commercial sandwich enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) test kit, and in 78 of these patients the sCD30 levels were also recorded during the follow-up period.

Results: sCD30 levels at diagnosis were increased (> 20 U/mL) in a high proportion of patients (87.

T suppressor activated lymphocytes (CD8+/DR+) inhibit megakaryocyte progenitor cell differentiation in a case of acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura (AATP) is a rare disease, characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia and the absence of megakaryocytes in bone marrow. Recent studies suggest that this syndrome is due to diverse etiologies. Humoral or cellular mediated suppression has been alternately demonstrated using an in vitro colony assay for megakaryocytic progenitor cells (colony forming units megakaryocyte, [CFU-meg]).

Relationship between Daunorubicin dosage delivered during induction therapy and outcome in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The long-term results of a therapeutic regimen for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have been analysed with the main purpose to evaluate the impact of Daunorubicin (DNM) dosage given during the induction. The files of 86 consecutive adult ALL patients treated in our institution between 1974 and 1988 were reviewed. They received the same induction regimen based on Vincristine, DNM and Prednisone, consolidation with L-Asparaginase, central nervous system prophylaxis, and 3-year maintenance with 6-mercaptopurine and Methotrexate with periodic cycles of reinduction.

IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 production by acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Purified leukemic cells from 30 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases at diagnosis were investigated for the presence of interleukin 8 (IL-8) mRNA by Northern blot analysis. IL-8 specific transcripts were detected in uncultured blasts in 14/30 cases, 10/14 from patients with M4-M5 and 4/14 from cases with M0-M3 morphology. The transcript expression was associated with the detection of IL-8 molecule in blast cells by immunostaining performed on cytospin preparations.