499 research outputs found
A placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and tolerability of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, DHEP plaster, in inflammatory peri- and extra-articular rheumatological diseases
No full textA double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study has been carried out in order to assess the effects of the new topical cutaneous formulation, diclofenac hydroxyethylpyrrolidine (DHEP) plaster. Sixty patients (10 M + 50 F, mean age 56.6 yrs) suffering from local inflammatory processes in peri-articular/tendinous and/or extra-articular sites were involved in this study and randomly given either DHEP plaster or placebo plaster. Plasters were applied and left on the site of inflammation b.i.d. (at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) for 14 days. Patients under stabilized systemic treatment with NSAIDs, glucocorticoids and/or basic therapy for over 2 months, maintained this treatment unchanged during the course of the study. Patients were examined on days 3, 5, 7 and 14. The effects of the treatments were assessed using subjective, semi-quantitative (provoked pain, peri-articular swelling, doctor-patient judgement, telethermographic index) and quantitative variables (spontaneous pain measured using a visual analogical scale). In the peri-articular pathologies, spontaneous and provoked pain decreased faster and in a clinically relevant manner in the group treated with DHEP plaster compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Local inflammation, objectively evaluated using the telethermographic index, showed consistent reduction during the study which was statistically significant from day 3 onwards and significantly different compared to the control group. Global assessment of efficacy, expressed by the investigator and the patients, was significantly better (good to excellent after only 7 days in 70% of the cases) in the DHEP group compared to the placebo group. In the extra-articular pathologies, results similar to those reported earlier were obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
SERS active gold nanostructures for selective and ultrabright biolabelling: synthesis and quantitative study
No full textSurface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) – organic dyes nanocomposites disclosed new opportunities for multiplexed ultrasensitive biolabelling in vitro or in vivo. SERS labels also have excellent biocompatibility and can be excited with near infrared laser sources, that match the transparency window of biological tissues. Here we report about the preparation of AuNPs obtained by laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASiS)[1,2] and their functionalization with a series of Raman reporter with different spectral fingerprints. The effective differential Raman scattering cross section of these labels were evaluated using liquid Raman standards and the analysis of the surface plasmon band of AuNPs with the Mie – Gans models.[3] We estimated that few (<10) SERS labels are enough to collect a clear Raman spectrum with a common Raman spectrometer. SERS labels were used for the study of nanoparticles uptake in macrophages[4] in order to quantify the number of nanoparticles phagocytized after different times. The conjugation of SERS labels with antibodies that selectively binds antigens over-expressed by specific types of cancerous cells is under investigation for the antibody – directed selective ultrasensitive detection and imaging of cancer.
[1] V. Amendola, M. Meneghetti, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2009,
[2] V. Amendola, M. Meneghetti; J. Mater. Chem. 2007, 17, 4705–4710.
[3] V. Amendola, M. Meneghetti, J. Phys. Chem. C 2009, 113, 4277–4285.
[4] V. Amendola, M. Meneghetti, S. Fiameni, G. Fracasso, A. Boscaini, M. Colombatti; Submitte
Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M protein, Skin changes: not always a POEMS syndrome.
No full textPOEMS or Crow-Fukase syndrome is a rare plasma cell disease with multiorgan involvement, whose acronym refers to the presence of Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly,
Endocrinopathy, M protein, Skin changes. The etiology of
POEMS is still unknown, but increasing evidence points to a
possible role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
Serum VEGF levels have repeatedly been found to correlate
with the clinical course and response to therapy. Lacking
specific tests or patognomonic signs, the diagnosis of POEMSsyndrome is still based on the combination of clinical findings,although general consensus has still to be reached. Additional diagnostic markers other than clinical are therefore warranted. We herein report a patient who, although presenting all the POEMS features, was eventually diagnosed with a different disease
Cartilage turnover markers are predictive of ACR70 response to anti-TNF alfa treatment in RA-patients
No full textBackground: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a variable course with a wide range of potential outcomes, making it difficult to predict disease progression and magnitude of therapeutic response. The possibility to identify rapid versus slow responders at an early stage, has the potential to improve the care of the patients Objectives: To investigate in RA patients the possibility to apply a combination of markers reflecting different basic disease mechanisms to improve ability to predict rapid and sustained clinical response to anti-TFN treatment. Methods: 81 out of 85 consecutive RA patients were monitored in accordance with a structured protocol during three different anti-TNF therapies and were tested for serum Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) and C-Reactive protein (CRP) at baseline. 35 pts were treated with Adalimumab, 30 with Infliximab and 20 with Etanercept (4 serum samples were excluded because of incomplete data). The response to the therapy was evaluated by ACR20,50, 70. CRP was used to describe systemic inflammation and COMP to describe cartilage turnover. Levels of COMP were tested by using a commercial sandwich immunoassay (AnaMar Medical, Sweden) and levels below 10 U/L were considered as low cartilage turnover. CRP levels exceeding 10 ug/ml were considered as elevated. The outcome of the two markers was combined to investigate a possible synergy between the markers. Results: We could not find any difference in ACR20 between the two groups with low or elevated baseline COMP levels, at any time points. However, the percentage of ACR70 responders was significantly (p<0.005) higher in the group of patients with low COMP levels, at 3 months follow up. The percentage of ACR70 responders did not increase at 6 months for patients with low COMP at baseline in contrast to the patients with higher COMP. At 12 months there was no differences between the two groups. The percentage of ACR 70 responders in the group with normal cartilage turnover was high (38% at three months) but did not increase over time, in contrast to the group with elevated cartilage turnover that significantly (p<0.05) increased the percentage of ACR 70 response over time. The patient groups did not differ significantly in disease activity at baseline. Table 1. Comparison of percentage of ACR 70 responders at 3 months, at 6 months, at 12 months, in groups selected at baseline status of in vitro tests Group 3 months 6 months 12 months Mean value all patients (n=81) 20% 24% 31% COMP Normal (basal) (n=26) 38% ** 35% 42% COMP Elevated (basal) (n=55) 11% 18%* 27%* P-values are indicated by * for p<0.05 and ** for p<0.005 and shows the significance between groups with normal and elevated marker levels Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that the outcome of COMP may be helpful to the treating physician when considering continued observation or modification of the current treatment. References: G. Morozzi, F. Bellisai, M. Fabbroni, S. Cucini, M. R. Bacarelli, M. Galeazzi: Levels of circulating COMP and anti-CCP in RA patients treated with adalimumab: Ann Rheum Dis 2005; 64: 10
Carta di vulnerabilità degli acquiferi del Valdarno Inferiore, tra la città di Pontedera e il limite con la provincia di Firenze
No full textAmministrazione Provinciale di Pisa Reg. Gen.. n° 59 del 08/02/199
Carta di vulnerabilità degli acquiferi della Pianura Pisana compresa tra la linea di costa, il canale dello Scolmatore, il Fosso della Bufalina e la città di Pontedera
No full textAmministrazione Provinciale di Pisa Reg. Gen.. n° 59 del 08/02/199
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