Marche Polytechnic University

About: Marche Polytechnic University is a education organization based out in Ancona, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 5905 authors who have published 15769 publications receiving 382286 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitá Politecnica delle Marche & Universita Politecnica delle Marche.

LCI699, a Potent 11β-hydroxylase Inhibitor, Normalizes Urinary Cortisol in Patients With Cushing's Disease: Results From a Multicenter, Proof-of-Concept Study

Abstract: Introduction: The clinical features and increased mortality associated with Cushing's syndrome result from a chronic excess of circulating cortisol. As LCI699 potently inhibits 11β-hydroxylase, which catalyzes the final step of cortisol synthesis, it is a potential new treatment for Cushing's disease, the most common cause of endogenous Cushing's syndrome. Methods: Adult patients with moderate-to-severe Cushing's disease (urinary free cortisol [UFC] levels >1.5 × ULN [upper limit of normal]) received oral LCI699 for 10 weeks in this proof-of-concept study. LCI699 was initiated at 4 mg/d in two equal doses; the dose was escalated every 14 days to 10, 20, 40, and 100 mg/d until UFC normalized, whereupon the dose was maintained until treatment ended (day 70). The primary endpoint was UFC ≤ ULN or a ≥50% decrease from baseline at day 70. Results: Twelve patients were enrolled and completed the study. Baseline UFC ranged over 1.6–17.0 × ULN. All 12 patients achieved UFC ≤ ULN or a ≥50% decrease from baseline a...

A controlled study of inhaled pentamidine for primary prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Current recommendations for prophylaxis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) are based on data from patients who have had at least one episode of PCP (secondary prevention). We designed a study to determine the efficacy and side effects of inhaled pentamidine in the primary prevention of PCP. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-three patients sero-positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) but not PCP, who had advanced AIDS-related complex, or who had less than 0.2 x 10(9) CD4-positive lymphocytes per liter received either 300 mg of pentamidine isethionate or 300 mg of sodium isethionate every 28 days by inhaler. The proportion of patients surviving without PCP was analyzed with the log-rank test as a function of time spent in the trial, according to the intention to treat with either placebo or pentamidine. RESULTS: The third of five planned interim analyses showed a significant difference in the occurrence of PCP, with 8 cases in pentamidine group and 23 in the placebo group (nominal P value = 0.0021). There were no deaths within 60 days of the diagnosis of PCP and no significant differences in survival between groups. Approximately 53 inhalations were needed to prevent one episode of pneumonia. Thirty-eight of 114 patients given pentamidine (33 percent) and 7 of 109 given placebo (6 percent) had moderate-to-severe coughing during inhalations (two-tailed P less than 0.00001), which caused 4 patients given pentamidine (3.5 percent) to discontinue taking it. CONCLUSIONS: A dose of 300 mg of aerosolized pentamidine given every four weeks was well tolerated and 60 to 70 percent effective in preventing a first episode of PCP in patients with HIV infection.

Multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma : a report of 45 cases of a kidney tumor of low malignant potential.

Abstract: The 2004 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of kidney tumors recognizes multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma (MCRCC) as a rare variant of clear cell renal cell carcinoma with a good prognosis. Available information on its clinical significance is limited. The study cohort included 45 MCRCC cases classified according to 2004 WHO criteria obtained through a multi-institutional international search. Most patients had unilateral MCRCC with no side predominance that was found incidentally; 62% were men, but women had tumors at an earlier age (P = .385). MCRCC occurred slightly more often in men than in women (1.7:1). At diagnosis, 82% of patients had stage T1 and 16%, stage T2; 1 patient had stage T3. The Fuhrman grade was 1 (62%) or 2 (38%), with smaller tumors (