17 research outputs found
Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy
IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical
attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced
colorectal cancers at diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced
oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all
17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December
31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period),
in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was
30 days from surgery.
EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery,
palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer
at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as
cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding,
lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery,
and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes
was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster
variable.
RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years)
underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142
(56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was
significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR],
1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic
lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients
undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for
these patients
Serum iron and myocardial infarction
The serum iron has been measured in patients with myocardial ischemia, compared with a control group. Serum iron was low in patients with complications as pericarditis and bulge caused by wide akinesis area. The low serum iron in complicated infarction could be due to the continuous local release of lactoferrin in necrosis focus
Treatment of congestive heart failure with oral enoximone.
Treatment of congestive heart failure with oral enoximone
Indicatori di rischio aterogeno e attivit\ue0 sportiva in giovani studenti. Valutazione epidemiologica e suggerimenti sanitari.
Sono stati messi a confronto alcuni indicatori di rischio aterogeno (BMI, PAS,PAD, CH, TG) fra due gruppi di adolescenti rispettivamente praticanti e non praticanti regolare attivit\ue0 sportiva. I giovani inattivi presentavano valori significativamente pi\uf9 alti di BMI e di CH. I risultati depongono per la importanza di interventi educativi finalizzati alla diffusione della pratica sportiva unitamente alla adozione di norme alimentari corrett
I precursori dell\u2019aterosclerosi in un campione di adolescenti a seguito di un intervento di prevenzione primaria.
A distanza di 6 anni da un intervento di prevenzione primaria dell'arteriosclerosi rivolto alla intera popolazione di un Comune modenese, sono stati analizzati alcuni indicatori di rischio (BMI, PA e PAD, CH totale, TG) in un campione di 292 bambini di 12 anni, mai sottoposti a precedenti controlli. I parametri analizzati sono risultati sovrapponibili o superiori a quelli evidenziati in soggetti della stessa et\ue0 prima dell'intervento preventivo. Il risultato depone per una insufficiente ricezione nella comunit\ue0 infantile del precedente messaggio educativ
Patterns of care and survival in a retrospective analysis of 1059 patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated between 2002 and 2007: a multicenter study by the central nervous system study group of the AIRO (Italian Association of Radiation Oncology)
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the pattern of care and outcomes for newly diagnosed glioblastoma in Italy and compare our results with the previous Italian Patterns of Care study to determine whether significant changes occurred in clinical practice during the past 10 years.
METHODS:
Clinical, pathological, therapeutic, and survival data regarding 1059 patients treated in 18 radiotherapy centers between 2002 and 2007 were collected and retrospectively reviewed.
RESULTS:
Most patients underwent both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging either preoperatively (62.7%) or postoperatively (35.5%). Only 123 patients (11.6%) underwent a biopsy. Radiochemotherapy with temozolomide was the most frequent adjuvant treatment (70.7%). Most patients (88.2%) received 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Median survival was 9.5 months. Two- and 5-year survival rates were 24.8% and 3.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the statistical significance of age, postoperative Karnofsky Performance Status scale score, surgical extent, use of 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, and use of chemotherapy. Use of a more aggressive approach was associated with longer survival in elderly patients. Comparing our results with those of the subgroup of patients included in our previous study who were treated between 1997 and 2001, relevant differences were found: more frequent use of magnetic resonance imaging, surgical removal more common than biopsy, and widespread use of 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy + temozolomide. Furthermore, a significant improvement in terms of survival was noted (P < .001).
CONCLUSION:
Changes in the care of glioblastoma over the past few years are documented. Prognosis of glioblastoma patients has slightly but significantly improved with a small but noteworthy number of relatively long-term survivors
Radiotherapy and temozolomide in anaplastic astrocytoma: a retrospective multicenter study by the Central nervous system study group of AIRO (Italian association of radiation oncology).
Although the evidence for the benefit of adding temozolomide (TMZ) to
radiotherapy (RT) is limited to glioblastoma patients, there is currently a trend
toward treating anaplastic astrocytomas (AAs) with combined RT + TMZ. The aim of
the present study was to describe the patterns of care of patients affected by AA
and, particularly, to compare the outcome of patients treated exclusively with RT
with those treated with RT + TMZ. Data of 295 newly diagnosed AAs treated with
postoperative RT ± TMZ in the period from 2002 to 2007 were reviewed. More than
75% of patients underwent a surgical removal. All the patients had postoperative
RT; 86.1% of them were treated with 3D-conformal RT (3D-CRT). Sixty-seven percent
of the entire group received postoperative chemotherapy with TMZ (n = 198).
One-hundred sixty-six patients received both concomitant and sequential TMZ.
Prescription of postoperative TMZ increased in the most recent period
(2005-2007). One- and 4-year survival rates were 70.2% and 28.6%, respectively.
No statistically significant improvement in survival was observed with the
addition of TMZ to RT (P = .59). Multivariate analysis showed the statistical
significance of age, presence of seizures, Recursive Partitioning Analysis
classes I-III, extent of surgical removal, and 3D-CRT. Changes in the care of AA
over the past years are documented. Currently there is not evidence to justify
the addition of TMZ to postoperative RT for patients with newly diagnosed AA
outside a clinical trial. Results of prospective and randomized trials are
needed