Intravenous injection of bortezomib, melphalan and dexamethasone in refractory and relapsed multiple myeloma

2013

Abstract Background A combination of bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2), melphalan (5 mg/m2), and dexamethasone (40 mg) (BMD), with all three drugs given as a contemporary intravenous administration, was retrospectively evaluated. Patients and methods Fifty previously treated (median 2 previous lines) patients with myeloma (33 relapsed and 17 refractory) were assessed. The first 19 patients were treated with a twice-a-week (days 1, 4, 8, 11, ‘base’ schedule) administration while, in the remaining 31 patients, the three drugs were administered once a week (days 1, 8, 15, 22, ‘weekly’ schedule). Results Side-effects were predictable and manageable, with prominent haematological toxicity, and a better tox…

Intestinal Ischemia: US-CT findings correlations.

2013

Background Intestinal ischemia is an abdominal emergency that accounts for approximately 2% of gastrointestinal illnesses. It represents a complex of diseases caused by impaired blood perfusion to the small and/or large bowel including acute arterial mesenteric ischemia (AAMI), acute venous mesenteric ischemia (AVMI), non occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI), ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R), ischemic colitis (IC). In this study different study methods (US, CT) will be correlated in the detection of mesenteric ischemia imaging findings due to various etiologies. Methods Basing on experience of our institutions, over 200 cases of mesenteric ischemia/infarction investigated with both US and …

Nutcracker syndrome due to left renal vein compression by an aberrant right renal artery

2007

Classic nutcracker syndrome is caused by left renal vein compression between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta, leading to retrograde venous hypertension associated with such urinary abnormalities as hematuria or proteinuria. We describe a case of symptomatic nutcracker syndrome treated by means of stent placement in which hypertension in the left renal vein was caused by stenosis of this vein compressed by an aberrant right renal artery at a point closer to the inferior vena cava.

Valvular Heart Disease

2013

Valvular heart disease (VHD) refers to a wide spectrum of cardiac disorders that affect a large number of patients. Echocardiography is still considered the pivotal imaging method to evaluate the cardiac valves. However, echocardiography has some intrinsic limitations due to operator dependence and patient habitus. In the last two decades three-dimensional techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) have provided valuable assessment of VHD. MRI overcomes the limitation of the poor acoustic window of echocardiography without ionizing radiation. Nowadays, MRI aims to be considered as the reference standard for imaging cardiac valves because of the improved…

Underestimation of atypical lobular hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ at stereotaxic 11-gauge vacuum-assisted breast biopsy

2013

The aims of this study are to determine the frequency of diagnosis of atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) at stereotaxic-guided 11-gauge vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) and to assess the rate of underestimation of these at subsequent surgical excision and follow-up. Moreover, we aimed to define clinical, radiological and histological features of nonpalpable lesions in core biopsies that predict the lesion upgrade. Retrospective review of 11-gauge VABB was performed to identify the underestimation rate of nonpalpable lesions diagnosed as ALH or LCIS at VABB. Thirteen cases of ALH and 36 cases of LCIS were sent to surgery, 29 cases of ALH and 14 cases…

Role of conventional radiology and MRi defecography of pelvic floor hernias

2013

Background Purpose of the study is to define the role of conventional radiology and MRI in the evaluation of pelvic floor hernias in female pelvic floor disorders. Methods A MEDLINE and PubMed search was performed for journals before March 2013 with MeSH major terms 'MR Defecography' and 'pelvic floor hernias'. Results The prevalence of pelvic floor hernias at conventional radiology was higher if compared with that at MRI. Concerning the hernia content, there were significantly more enteroceles and sigmoidoceles on conventional radiology than on MRI, whereas, in relation to the hernia development modalities, the prevalence of elytroceles, edroceles, and Douglas' hernias at conventional radi…

Computed tomography coronary angiography vs. stress ECG in patients with stable angina

2009

PURPOSE: This study compared the role of multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA) and stress electrocardiography (ECG) in the diagnostic workup of patients with chronic chest pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MSCT-CA was performed in 43 patients (31 men, 12 women, mean age 58.8+/-7.7 years) with stable angina after a routine diagnostic workup involving stress ECG and conventional CA. The following inclusion criteria were adopted: sinus rhythm and ability to hold breath for 12 s. Beta-blockers were administered in patients with heart rate>or=70 beats/minute. In order to identify or exclude patients with significant stenoses (>or=50% lumen), we determined posttest likelihood r…

The role of US examination in the management of acute abdomen.

2013

Acute abdomen is a medical emergency, in which there is sudden and severe pain in abdomen of recent onset with accompanying signs and symptoms that focus on an abdominal involvement. It can represent a wide spectrum of conditions, ranging from a benign and self-limiting disease to a surgical emergency. Nevertheless, only one quarter of patients who have previously been classified with an acute abdomen actually receive surgical treatment, so the clinical dilemma is if the patients need surgical treatment or not and, furthermore, in which cases the surgical option needs to be urgently adopted. Due to this reason a thorough and logical approach to the diagnosis of abdominal pain is necessary. …

Clinical impact of the immunome in lymphoid malignancies: the role of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells

2015

The better definition of the mutual sustainment between neoplastic cells and immune system has been translated from the bench to the bedside acquiring value as prognostic factor. Additionally, it represents a promising tool for improving therapeutic strategies. In this context, myeloid-derived suppressor cells have gained a central role in tumor developing with consequent therapeutic implications. In this review, we will focus on the biological and clinical impact of the study of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the settings of lymphoid malignancies.

US in the assessment of acute scrotum

2013

Abstract Background The acute scrotum is a medical emergency . The acute scrotum is defined as scrotal pain, swelling, and redness of acute onset. Scrotal abnormalities can be divided into three groups , which are extra-testicular lesion, intra-testicular lesion and trauma. This is a retrospective analysis of 164 ultrasound examination performed in patient arriving in the emergency room for scrotal pain. The objective of this article is to familiarize the reader with the US features of the most common and some of the least common scrotal lesions. Methods Between January 2008 and January 2010, 164 patients aged few month and older with scrotal symptoms, who underwent scrotal ultrasonography …

Accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adult patients: review of the literature

2013

Background Ultrasound is a widely used technique in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis; nevertheless, its utilization still remains controversial. Methods The accuracy of the Ultrasound technique in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the adult patient, as shown in the literature, was searched for. Results The gold standard for the diagnosis of appendicitis still remains pathologic confirmation after appendectomy. In the published literature, graded-compression Ultrasound has shown an extremely variable diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (sensitivity range from 44% to 100%; specificity range from 47% to 99% ). This is due to many reasons, including lack of operat…

Lubricin is expressed in chondrocytes derived from osteoarthritic cartilage encapsulated in poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate scaffold

2011

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by degenerative changes within joints that involved quantitative and/or qualitative alterations of cartilage and synovial fluid lubricin, a mucinous glycoprotein secreted by synovial fibroblasts and chondrocytes. Modern therapeutic methods, including tissue-engineering techniques, have been used to treat mechanical damage of the articular cartilage but to date there is no specific and effective treatment. This study aimed at investigating lubricin immunohistochemical expression in cartilage explant from normal and OA patients and in cartilage constructions formed by Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) based hydrogels (PEG-DA) encapsulated OA chondrocytes. The e…

Prognostic assessment and treatment of primary gastric lymphomas: how endoscopic ultrasonography can help in tailoring patient management.

2013

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has recently gained a pivotal role in the management of gastric lymphomas, especially in the diagnostic workup. Its accuracy and reliability have overcome those of other imaging techniques, such that it represents an invaluable tool for the management of gastric lymphomas. Although this technique is operator dependent, its application in large series has proved its reliability. Thus, it has generally been considered a useful tool for providing information crucial in deciding the treatment program, especially for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas, for which EUS can provide an accurate evaluation of disease extension and treatment response pro…

Is a 1-cm margin from major vessels adequate for radiofrequency ablation of pulmonary neoplasms?

2009

Ultrasonography (US) in the assessment of pediatric non traumatic gastrointestinal emergencies

2013

AbstractBackgroundNon traumatic gastrointestinal emergencies in the children and neonatal patient is a dilemma for the radiologist in the emergencies room and they presenting characteristics ultrasound features on the longitudinal and axial axis. The most frequent emergencies are : appendicitis, intussusceptions, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, volvulus due to intestinal malrotation. The aim of this article is to familiarize the reader with the US features.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 200 ultrasound examinations performed in neonatal and children patients with fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis, vomiting and diarrhea were evaluated.ResultsOf 200 exame 50 cases of intussusceptions, 100…

Accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis: review of the literature.

2013

Background To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis in comparison with other imaging modalities. Methods The authors performed a search of the Medline/ PubMed (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland) for original research and review publications examining the accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis. The search design utilized a single or combination of the following terms : (1) acute cholecystitis, (2) ultrasonography, (3) computed tomography, (4) magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and (5) cholescintigraphy. This review was restricted to human studies and to English-language literat…

Endoscopic ultrasonography in gastric lymphomas: appraisal on reliability in long-term follow-up

2011

The reliability of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in follow-up management of gastric lymphomas has not been clearly validated. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 23 patients, 12 affected by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, eight by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and three by high-grade lymphoma with low-grade component, all treated with a stomach-conservative approach. One hundred and twenty matched evaluations with both EUS and endoscopy with biopsy (E-Bx) were performed, according to validated guidelines and clinical judgment. At a median follow-up of 87 months ranged between 9.5 and 166 months, the analysis of progression-free survival and disease-free survival …

IMPATTO DEL TEMA DELLA RADIOPROTEZIONE NELLA LETTERATURA RADIOLOGICA ITALIANA

2015

Evaluate the interest aroused in the Italian radiological literature by radioprotection in the period 2004-2014, and its impact and development in national scientific research

CONOSCENZA DELLA PROBLEMATICA RADIOPROTEZIONISTICA TRA ASSISTENTI IN FORMAZIONE IN PEDIATRIA: ANALISI MEDIANTE QUESTIONARIO

2012

Impatto del tema della radioprotezione nella letteratura radiologica nazionale italiana

2015

Evaluate the interest aroused in the Italian radiological literature by radioprotection in the period 2004-2014 and its impact and development in national scientific research.