122 research outputs found
Brown Sequard Syndrome Secondary to Intraspinal Cervical Hemorrhage Associated with Cavernous Angioma and Warfarin Therapy
Chronic myelogenous leukemia: an update on the biological findings and therapeutic approaches.
Comparison between two accreditation models: joint commission and Iso 9001:2000 in rehabilitation departments and spinal unit in Province of Pavia
Impatti organizzativi e di outcome del modello di accreditamento joint commission international in reparti di riabilitazione della provincia di Pavia
Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) nelle malattie linfoproliferative: risultati preliminari degli effetti biologici e clinici.
Monitoraggio della beta2 microglobulina (beta2-M) e della neopterina in corso di terapia con interferon Beta (IFN-beta).
Biochemical host response to interferon-beta.
To assess influence of host response to interferon-β (IFN-β), on biochemical parameters, β2-microglobulin (β2-M) and neopterin were evaluated in 15 and 12 patients respectively before and 24 h after 1-46 x 106 IU intravenously (i.v.) IFN-β given every other day. In 4 additional patients, both molecules were determined before and after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of weekly IFN-β injections. Serum β2-M levels significantly increased 24 h after IFN-β administration in the overall group of 15 patients treated with the alternate day schedule (p = 0.003) as well as in the group of patients treated with the weekly schedule (p = 0.00003). Maximum induction of β2-M was observed 24 h after a single weekly IFN-β injection, but the levels of this protein 72 h after still remained significantly higher than baseline values (p = 0.001). This demonstrates the progressive accumulation of β2-M in the circulation produced by the continuous IFN administration. Nevertheless, in patients treated with both IFN treatment schedules, a clear correlation between the increments of β2-M and the IFN-β doses was observed (p = 0.00002 and p = 0.0016 for the alternate day and the weekly schedule respectively). Furthermore the under curve area (AUC) of 48 h β2-M levels after IFN administration significantly rose (p <0.05) with increasing IFN doses in 4/6 patients. In spite of the accumulation of β2-M in the circulation, the overall serum values of this protein 24 h after each successive IFN-injection, in the 15 patients receiving the alternate-day treatment, were significantly higher than before the immediate preceding dose both in patients with initially normal and those with initially high base levels (p = 0.00055 and p = 0.011, respectively). As with β2-M, neopterin levels significantly rose during IFN treatment (p <0.05) in the group of patients as a whole. After single weekly IFN-β injections, maximum induction of neopterin was observed 24 h after administration, then the levels of this molecule slowly declined towards the baseline levels, but 96 h after, its levels were still significantly elevated (p <0.00001). Neopterin induction was not related to IFN-β doses, but the levels of this molecule both before and after IFN administration were correlated with an increase in the number of IFN injections (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0009, respectively). Although neopterin progressively accumulated during the overall period of IFN treatment, 24 h after each successive IFN injection, further increases of this molecule were observed (p = 0.0176). Levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), like neopterin a molecule produced by activated macrophages, showed no alteration in response to IFN-β treatment. Changes in serum levels of both β2-M and neopterin represent suitable biochemical markers for monitoring IFN-β therapy, and might be used in future trials with this type of IFN to better define the relationship between biological effects and therapeutic outcome
Microsatellite instability is associated with the histological features of the tumor in nonfamilal colorectal cancer.
Interphase FISH for Y chromosome, VNTR polymorphisms, and RT-PCR for BCR-ABL in the monitoring of HLA-matched and mismatched transplants.
Thirty-six sex-mismatched transplants were studied using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Molecular cytogenetics was performed using interphase FISH with a centromeric probe for chromosome Y, and PCR amplification was performed with a set of VNTR microsatellite loci. In addition, reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) for BCR-ABL fusion was used to investigate cases of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Our integrated approach of post-transplant monitoring was helpful in documenting successful transplants and in controlling the size of Ph-positive clones in CML. A striking overlap was found between results from FISH analysis and PCR for polymorphic loci
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