Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

About: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart is a education organization based out in Milan, Lombardia, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 13592 authors who have published 31048 publications receiving 853961 citations.

Efficacy of Music Therapy in the Treatment of Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms of Dementia

Abstract: Background: Music therapy (MT) has been proposed as valid approach for behavioral and psychologic symptoms (BPSD) of dementia. However, studies demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach are lacking. Objective: To assess NIT effectiveness in reducing BPSD in subjects with dementia. Method: Fifty-nine persons with dementia were enrolled in this study. All of them underwent a multidimensional assessment including Mini Mental State Examination, Barthel Index and Neuropsychiatry Inventory at enrolment and after 8, 16, and 20 weeks. Subjects were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 30) or control (n = 29) group. The NIT sessions were evaluated with standardized criteria. The experimental group received 30 MT sessions (16 wk of treatment), whereas the control group received educational support or entertainment activities. Results: NPI total score significantly decreased in the experimental group at 8th, 16th, and 20th weeks (interaction time x group: F-3,F- 165 = 5.06, P = 0.002). Specific BPSD (ie, delusions, agitation, anxiety, apathy, irritability, aberrant motor activity, and night-time disturbances) significantly improved. The empathetic relationship and the patients' active participation in the NIT approach, also improved in the experimental group. Conclusions: The study shows that NIT is effective to reduce BPSD in patients with moderate-severe dementia.

Does downstaging predict improved outcome after preoperative chemoradiation for extraperitoneal locally advanced rectal cancer? A long-term analysis of 165 patients

Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the impact of tumor response; tumor and nodal downstaging; and cTNM, yTNM (clinical stage after chemoradiation, based on preoperative imaging), and pTNM classifications on long-term outcome in patients with rectal cancer treated with preoperative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based concurrent chemoradiation. Methods and Materials: Between January 1990 and March 1998, 165 consecutive patients with locally advanced extraperitoneal cancer of the rectum were treated with preoperative chemoradiation. Four patients had a cT2 lesion (2.5%), 120 had a cT3 lesion (74.5%), and 41 had a cT4 lesion (23%). The nodal involvement at combined imaging was cN0 in 21%, cN1 in 41%, cN2 in 34%, and cN3 in 4%. Preoperative chemoradiation was delivered according to 1 of 3 schedules: ( 1 ) FUMIR-T3 (from 1990 to 1995) for patients with cT3N0-2 or cT2N1-2 rectal carcinoma (82 patients): 37.8 Gy (1.8 Gy/fraction) plus 5-FU, 1 g/m 2 /d on Days 1–4, continuous infusion, and mitomycin-C, 10 mg/m 2 /d on Day 1; ( 2 ) FUMIR-T4 (from 1990 to 1999) for patients with cT4N0-3 or cT3-4N3 rectal carcinoma (40 patients): 45 Gy (1.8 Gy/fraction) plus 5-FU, 1 g/m 2 /d on Days 1–4 and 29–32, continuous infusion, and mitomycin-C, 10 mg/m 2 /d on Days 1 and 29; and ( 3 ) PLAFUR-4 (from 1995 to 1998) for patients with cT3N0-2 or cT2N1-2 rectal carcinoma (42 patients): 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy/fraction) plus 5-FU, 1 g/m 2 /d on Days 1–4 and 29–32, continuous infusion, and cisplatin, 60 mg/m 2 /d on Days 1 and 29. Four to five weeks after chemoradiation, patients were reevaluated for clinical response by imaging studies (CT scan, transrectal ultrasonography, barium enema, liver ultrasonography, chest X-rays) and restaged (yTNM). Surgery was performed 6–8 weeks after chemoradiation. Adjuvant chemotherapy (5-FU + l-folinic acid) was delivered to 26 patients in the FUMIR-T4 protocol group. Local control (LC), freedom from distant metastases (FDM), disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were evaluated according to the clinical response and cTNM, yTNM, and pTNM classification. The median follow-up was 67 months. Results: The 5-year survival rate was 100% for cT2, 77% for cT3, and 62% for cT4 ( p = 0.0497); after chemoradiation, it ranged between 81% and 91% for pT0-pT2 and dropped to 66% for pT3 and 47% for pT4 ( p = 0.014). The 5-year local control rate was, at the first staging, 84% for cT3 and 72% for cT4; after chemoradiation, the pT stage correlated significantly with LC ( p = 0.0012): 100% for pT0, 83% for pT1, 88% for pT2, 79% for pT3, and 46% for pT4. N stage was statistically significant in predicting FDM and OS at any staging step. A significant impact of tumor response, tumor downstaging, and nodal downstaging on LC, FDM, disease-free survival, and OS was also recorded. If the residual tumor, before surgery, had a tumor index Conclusion: After preoperative chemoradiation, clinical response and tumor/nodal pathologic downstaging showed a close correlation with improved outcomes. The better 5-year survival and local control in pT0-2 patients regardless of their initial stage seems to confirm a heterogeneity in rectal cancer patients. The responder population showed a behavior similar to rectal cancer diagnosed at Stage cT1-2 and treated with conservative surgery alone. Additional studies aimed at improving local tumor response seem justified. Trials of sphincter-saving surgery after a major response are warranted.

A Genome-Wide Association Study of Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancers Conducted within the INHANCE Consortium

Abstract: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been successful in identifying common genetic variation involved in susceptibility to etiologically complex disease. We conducted a GWAS to identify common genetic variation involved in susceptibility to upper aero-digestive tract (UADT) cancers. Genome-wide genotyping was carried out using the Illumina HumanHap300 beadchips in 2,091 UADT cancer cases and 3,513 controls from two large European multi-centre UADT cancer studies, as well as 4,821 generic controls. The 19 top-ranked variants were investigated further in an additional 6,514 UADT cancer cases and 7,892 controls of European descent from an additional 13 UADT cancer studies participating in the INHANCE consortium. Five common variants presented evidence for significant association in the combined analysis (p≤5×10−7). Two novel variants were identified, a 4q21 variant (rs1494961, p = 1×10−8) located near DNA repair related genes HEL308 and FAM175A (or Abraxas) and a 12q24 variant (rs4767364, p = 2×10−8) located in an extended linkage disequilibrium region that contains multiple genes including the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene. Three remaining variants are located in the ADH gene cluster and were identified previously in a candidate gene study involving some of these samples. The association between these three variants and UADT cancers was independently replicated in 5,092 UADT cancer cases and 6,794 controls non-overlapping samples presented here (rs1573496-ADH7, p = 5×10−8; rs1229984-ADH1B, p = 7×10−9; and rs698-ADH1C, p = 0.02). These results implicate two variants at 4q21 and 12q24 and further highlight three ADH variants in UADT cancer susceptibility.

ERCP-related adverse events: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline

Abstract: Prophylaxis 1 ESGE recommends routine rectal administration of 100 mg of diclofenac or indomethacin immediately before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in all patients without contraindications to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration. Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 2 ESGE recommends prophylactic pancreatic stenting in selected patients at high risk for post-ERCP pancreatitis (inadvertent guidewire insertion/opacification of the pancreatic duct, double-guidewire cannulation). Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 3 ESGE suggests against routine endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy before the insertion of a single plastic stent or an uncovered/partially covered self-expandable metal stent for relief of biliary obstruction. Weak recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 4 ESGE recommends against the routine use of antibiotic prophylaxis before ERCP. Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 5 ESGE suggests antibiotic prophylaxis before ERCP in the case of anticipated incomplete biliary drainage, for severely immunocompromised patients, and when performing cholangioscopy. Weak recommendation, moderate quality evidence. 6 ESGE suggests tests of coagulation are not routinely required prior to ERCP for patients who are not on anticoagulants and not jaundiced. Weak recommendation, low quality evidence. Treatment 7 ESGE suggests against salvage pancreatic stenting in patients with post-ERCP pancreatitis. Weak recommendation, low quality evidence. 8 ESGE suggests temporary placement of a biliary fully covered self-expandable metal stent for post-sphincterotomy bleeding refractory to standard hemostatic modalities. Weak recommendation, low quality evidence. 9 ESGE suggests to evaluate patients with post-ERCP cholangitis by abdominal ultrasonography or computed tomography (CT) scan and, in the absence of improvement with conservative therapy, to consider repeat ERCP. A bile sample should be collected for microbiological examination during repeat ERCP. Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.