Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza

About: Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza is a healthcare organization based out in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 2234 authors who have published 6183 publications receiving 239811 citations. The organization is also known as: Home for Relief of the Suffering.

Clinico-prognostic implications of simultaneous increased serum levels of soluble CD23 and β2-microglobulin in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract: Soluble CD23 (sCD23) and beta-2 microglobulin (beta2-m) are reliable prognostic parameters in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); however, their merit over well-established clinical variables such as clinical stages, bone marrow (BM) histology and lymphocyte doubling time (LDT) remains to be defined. Furthermore, information dealing with the impact on overall survival of the simultaneous increase of either beta2-m or sCD23 are lacking. In this prospective study based on 106 B-cell CLL patients, we propose a combination of beta2-m and sCD23 as a strong prognostic system whose statistical significance was mainly due to an excess of deaths in the subgroup displaying increased serum levels of either beta2-m or sCD23. Multivariate survival analysis confirmed the important dominant role of such a finding, thus excluding features with a high degree of codependence (i.e. clinical stages, LDT) and including variables with low association (i.e. BM histology) in the final regression model. The presence of increased serum levels of beta2-m/sCD23 and diffuse BM histology signified high-risk disease, whereas the absence of any adverse variable was associated with prolonged survival; in between there was a subgroup with only 1 characteristic which displayed an intermediate pattern of survival. Finally, on the basis combined increased serum levels of beta2-m and sCD23, a better stratification of low- and intermediate-risk patients could be obtained, thus allowing the formulation of a clinico-biological staging for CLL.

Management of Skin Toxicity Associated with Cetuximab Treatment in Combination with Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy

Abstract: Background. Cetuximab was demonstrated by clinical trials to improve response rate and survival of patients with metastatic and nonresectable colorectal cancer or carcinoma of the head and neck. Appropriate management of skin toxicity associated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (EGFR-i) therapy is necessary to allow adequate drug administration and to improve quality of life and outcomes.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and combined therapy in patients with micro- and macroalbuminuria and other cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract: Background. A recent clinical trial showed harmful renal effects with the combined use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARB) in people with diabetes or vascular disease. We examined the benefits and risks of these agents in people with albuminuria and one or more cardiovascular risk factors.

Darbepoetin alpha for the treatment of anaemia in low-intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

Abstract: Thirty-seven anaemic subjects with low-to-intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) received the highly glycosylated, long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating molecule darbepoetin-alpha (DPO) at the single, weekly dose of 150 microg s.c. for at least 12 weeks. Fifteen patients (40.5%) achieved an erythroid response (13 major and two minor improvements, respectively, according to International Working Group criteria). Such results are currently maintained after 7-22 months in 13 of the responders, one of whom required iron substitutive therapy during the treatment. One patient relapsed after 4 months. Another responder died after 5 months because of causes unrelated to the treatment. No relevant side-effects were recorded. At multivariate analysis, significant predictive factors of response were baseline serum levels of endogenous erythropoietin <100 IU/l, absent or limited transfusional needs, no excess of blasts and hypoplastic bone marrow. This study suggests that DPO, at the dose and schedule used, can be safely given in low-intermediate risk MDS and may be effective in a significant proportion of these patients.