Scabies is becoming less sensitive to permethrin therapy Balestri, R.; Magnano, M.; Infusino, S.D. ...
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology,
December 2021, 2021-12-00, Volume:
35, Issue:
12
Journal Article
A ‘cold heart’ papule Infusino, S. D.; Magnano, M.; Ioris, T. ...
Clinical and experimental dermatology,
October 2021, 2021-Oct, 2021-10-00, 20211001, Volume:
46, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
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The aim of the study was to assess the toxicity and the clinical activity of biweekly oxaliplatin in combination with infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) administered every 2 weeks ...(FOLFOX-4 regimen) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). A total of 61 previously untreated AGC patients were treated with oxaliplatin 85 mg m(-2) on day 1, FA 200 mg m(-2) as a 2 h infusion followed by bolus 5-FU 400 mg m(-2) and a 22 h infusion of 5-FU 600 mg m(-2), repeated for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks. All patients were assessable for toxicity and response to treatment. Four (7%) complete responses and 19 partial responses were observed (overall response rate, 38%). Stable disease was observed in 22 (36%) patients, with progressive disease in the other six (10%) patients. Median time to progression (TTP) and median overall survival (OS) were 7.1 and 11.2 months, respectively. National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria grade 3 and 4 haematologic toxicities were neutropenia, anaemia and thrombocytopenia in 36, 10 and 5% of the patients, respectively. Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy was recorded in three (5%) patients. FOLFOX-4 is an active and well-tolerated chemotherapy. Response rate (RR), TTP and OS were comparable with those of other oxaliplatin-based regimens, suggesting a role for this combination in gastric cancer.
Erythema nodosum Passarini, B; Infusino, S D
Giornale italiano di dermatologia e venereologia,
08/2013, Volume:
148, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Erythema nodosum is an acute inflammatory dermatosis characterized by painful nodules which are generally symmetrical and non ulcerative and are mainly located to the extensor surface of the lower ...legs. The nodules, due to septal panniculitis, are often accompanied by fever and resolve without permanent sequelae. Arthralgia occurs in more than 50% of patients and begins during the eruptive phase or precedes the eruption by 2-4 weeks. Erythema nodosum is presumed to be a hypersensitivity reaction and may occur in association with several systemic diseases or drug therapies, or it may be idiopathic. The most common cause of erythema nodosum is streptococcal infection in children and streptococcal infection and sarcoidosis in adults. Peak incidence occurs at age 18-34 years. Age and sex distributions vary according to etiology and race; women are affected more often than men. It is possible to distinguish between an acute and a chronic form of erythema nodosum; in the acute form, an early stage and a late stage can be detected, both clinically and histologically. Laboratory and instrumental examinations to be performed in case of erythema nodosum are varied and are intended to identify any underlying trigger disease. Erythema nodosum is a self-limited disease, so the therapy is often only symptomatic. Even if the erythema nodosum quickly responds to systemic steroids, in most cases their use is not recommended, nor necessary; is usually sufficient to use NSAIDs (eg, acetyl salicylic acid, ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin).
Patients receiving systemic cancer chemotherapy must often have their dose intensity of therapeutic agents reduced, because a broad range of organs are adversely affected. Therefore, research and the ...development of agents protecting the normal tissues from the toxicity of antineoplastic therapy, without reducing the antitumour efficacy, are very important. Amifostine, a prodrug that forms an activated free thiol, when dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase, appears selective in its entry in non-malignant cells, and exerts a protective effect from toxicity induced by chemo- or radiotherapy on normal tissues, through free radical scavenging, hydrogen donation and inhibition of DNA damage. Studies in vitro and experimental models have confirmed the protective properties of amifostine in normal cells. In clinical trials pretreatment with amifostine reduced the frequency of cyclophosphamide induced neutropenia and nephro-, oto- and neurotoxicity of platinum compounds. In some cases the use of amifostine have also potentiated the effects of several drugs, such as alkylating agents and, in recent studies, taxanes. The main potentially dose-limiting adverse effect is hypotension, that is often asymptomatic. Amifostine is thus usefully employed in order to obtain a better quality of life in patients receiving oncologic treatments.
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