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The MRI confirmed the presence of a small mass (11 × 14 mm), it appeared rounded and with well-defined edges, it was anchored by a small peduncle at the angle of the right atrium with the opening of the inferior vena cava (Figure 2(A)). Keywords: Cardiat tumor; cardiovascular surgery; MRI; CT EN Cardiat tumor cardiovascular surgery MRI CT 557 559 3 11/16/22 20220801 NES 220801 A 39-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a recent diagnosis of a right hip ulcerate melanoma, Breslow depth 5.1 mm, mitotic rate of 6 mitoses/mm SP 2 sp and Clark level III. During hospitalisation, a contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to evaluate the motion relationship between the mass and the right heart chambers, the right atrial wall involvement, the functional impairment of the right atrioventricular, the left ventricular function, and to better characterise the tissue of the mass. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: Both interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) are crucially involved in fibrotic events that characterize interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate in primary cultures of normal and fibrotic human lung fibroblasts (HLF), exposed to either IL-6 or TGF-β1, the effects on phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and cell growth of IL-6 signalling inhibition, performed by the IL-6 receptor superantagonist Sant7. Materials and methods: MAPK phosphorylation was detected by Western blotting, HLF viability and proliferation were evaluated using the trypan blue staining and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, respectively. Results: Sant7, at a concentration of 1 µg/mL, was capable of significantly inhibiting HLF proliferation and MAPK phosphorylation induced by cell exposure to IL-6 (100 ng/mL) or TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL), whose actions were more evident in fibrotic cells. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, in HLFs derived from patients with ILDs, the proliferative mechanisms activated by TGF-β1 are at least in part mediated by an increased release of IL-6, leading to phosphorylation-dependent MAPK activation. Such preliminary findings may thus open new therapeutic perspectives for fibrogenic ILDs, based on inhibition of signal transduction pathways stimulated by the IL-6 receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although platinum-based two-drug combinations represent the elective therapeutic approach for advanced/metastatic NSCLC, there is still interest in exploring the efficacy and tolerability of platinum-free combinations including third generation agents in selected NSCLC population. Based on the satisfying activity of gemcitabine (G), ifosfamide (I) and paclitaxel (T) as single agents in NSCLC, we have designed a phase II study to explore an alternative approach to platinum-containing regimens using a combination of these three drugs. To investigate the activity/toxicity of T 175 mg/m2 on day 1, I 3 g/m2 on day 1 (with Mesna uroprotection) and G 1,000 mg/m2 on day 1–8, every 3 weeks in the treatment of advanced/metastatic NSCLC, 46 patients (38 male, 8 female) with NSCLC were enrolled: mean age 58 (range 33–70); Stage IIIB/IV = 15/31; ECOG PS 0-1/2 = 31/15; Histology: adenocarcinoma = 20, squamous = 14, large cell = 3, NSCLC = 8, adenosquamous = 1. A total of 221 cycles have been administered (median number 4.8 for patients). In intent-to-treat analysis, partial response was achieved in 17 patients (36.95%), stable disease and progressive disease was detected in 16 (34.78%) and 10 (21.73%) patients, respectively. Time to progression was 30.9 weeks; median survival time was 42.7 weeks; the survival rates at 12 and 18 months were 34.79 and 15.21%, respectively. No toxic deaths occurred. No patients experienced grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Neutropenia grade 3 occurred in 10 patients (21.7%); Anemia grade 3 in 1 (2.1%); Thrombocytopenia grade 2 in two patients (4.3%) and grade 3 in one (2.1%). Peripheral neuropathy grade 1 occurred in ten (21.7%) and grade 2 in two patients (4.3%). Additional non-haematological toxicities were mild nausea, emesis and fatigue. GIT is well tolerated and active regimen in both advanced and metastatic NSCLC. These data suggest future investigations for GIT schedule as a possible alternative to platinum-based regimens in selected advanced/metastatic NSCLC patients where survival, tolerability and quality of life are the primary goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new compact, multiband, single-feed planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) for laptop computers is presented. The proposed large-bandwidth radiating system is designed to operate in the IEEE 802.11a (5.725–5.825 GHz), IEEE 802.11b (2.4–2.48 GHz), and HIPERLAN2 (5.470–5.725 GHz) frequency bands. The overall size of the antenna and its dimensions are suitable for its installation in any position along the border of the display of a laptop computer. The design procedure is illustrated and discussed. The antenna behavior has been analyzed by resorting to both a conformal finite-difference time-domain (CFDTD) simulation procedure and a finite-element method (FEM) based technique. The simulation results are shown for the antenna in free space as well as when it is mounted in the border of a notebook display. A prototype is realized and the measurement results show good agreement with the simulation data. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 46: 454–458, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of non-bronchoconstrictive doses of propranolol on airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. Methods: Double increasing concentrations (from 0.03 to 64 µg/ml) of inhaled propranolol were administered to a study population which included ten patients with mild asthma, ten rhinitics, and ten healthy control subjects. After the baseline bronchial responses to propranolol and methacholine, expressed as the cumulative provocative dose producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (PD20FEV1), were assessed, methacholine challenge was repeated after pretreatment with non-bronchoconstrictive doses of propranolol. Results: The pharmacologically induced β-blockade did not cause any effect in normal individuals, but it worsened airway responsiveness to methacholine in all asthmatics (geometric mean PD20 FEV1: 257 and 87 µg, respectively) and some rhinitics (geometric mean PD20 FEV1: 724 and 446 µg, respectively). Conclusion: Asthmatic patients were extremely sensitive to β-blockers, whereas we observed a variable response to propranolol within the group of rhinitic subjects. This variability in the latter group is possibly because these individuals had different degrees of airway inflammation, increased parasympathetic activity, and β-adrenoceptor dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhaled heparin on bronchoconstriction induced by ultrasonically nebulised distilled water (UNDW) in allergic asthmatics. Methods: Eight atopic asthmatics, hyperresponsive to UNDW, were selected for this randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover double-blind study. On two consecutive days, these subjects underwent a UNDW challenge 45 min after inhaling aerosolised heparin (1000 U/kg) or placebo. Results: Neither heparin nor placebo had a significant effect on base-line forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), but heparin significantly attenuated UNDW-induced bronchoconstriction, as shown by its efficacy in preventing the decreases in FEV1 produced by all doses of water (in comparison with placebo: P<0.05 after 2 ml water; P<0.01 after 4, 8 and 16 ml water). Conclusion: Inhaled heparin is able to exert a protective effect against the bronchoconstrictive response to UNDW in allergic asthmatics, and this action is likely due to inhibition of mast cell degranulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary Ca and osteocalcin (OC), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were assessed simultaneously to bone mineral density (BMD) in 200 adolescent girls (aged 11???15 years) and 100 young women (aged 20???23 years), selected from the lowest and highest end of the Ca intake distribution of a larger population sample. Ca intake was evaluated by food frequency questionnaires, BMD was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at ultradistal and proximal radius of non-dominant arm, bone age was estimated from x-rays of left hand and wrist according to. Surprisingly, mean Ca intakes were below the dietary reference intakes in the subgroups of girls and women with the highest measured Ca consumption. Postmenarcheal, but not premenarcheal girls showed radial densities as high as the women and in no group was BMD associated with Ca intake. In all adolescents serum PTH was negatively related to dietary Ca. In girls before menarche IGF-I was positively associated with bone age, while in the same subjects the negative relationship between SHBG and BMD pointed to the crucial role of bioavailable sex steroids on bone mass apposition in early puberty. OC levels decreased progressively with age, while serum 25-OH-D significantly increased after menarche. In conclusion, although in adolescents low Ca intake has not been shown to induce any immediate deleterious effect on radial density, the compensatory hypersecretion of PTH supports the need for an adequate Ca intake to achieve peak bone mass. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The association between forearm bone mineral areal density (BMD) and dietary calcium, anthropometric characteristics, puberty, and physical activity was studied for the first time in 200 girls (aged 11-15 years) and 100 women (aged 20-23 years) living in Southern Italy.Methods: The BMD was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at ultradistal (ud) and proximal (pr) radial sites and dietary calcium was evaluated using Food Frequency Questionnaires and detailed 3-day food records.Results: For population samples grouped according to low and high calcium intake levels, forearm densities were quite similar among both girls and women. Independently of calcium intake, girls displayed strong correlations between ud/pr-BMD and age, bone age, weight, height and BMI. Furthermore, in girls of similar age and BMI, radial densities were substantially increased following menarche. Positive relationships between weight, BMI and both ud/pr-BMD were only evident in women with high calcium intake.Conclusions: This study showed that different calcium intake values do not appear to affect forearm mineral densities at the ages investigated, however puberty represents the major event in radial bone mass acquisition during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have investigated the possible relationship between fertility drugs and the risk of breast cancer. To provide further information on this issue, we analysed data from a case control study, conducted in Northern Italy between 1983 and 1991. Trained interviewers identified and questioned 3415 cases (women aged 23-74 years with histologically confirmed breast cancer) and 2916 controls (women aged 21-74 years admitted to the same hospitals for diseases other than malignant, hormonal or gynaecological conditions). Fifty (1.5%) cases and 53 (1.8%) controls reported any history of infertility; the corresponding multivariate odds ratios (OR) of breast cancer was 0.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-1.1]. Sixteen (0.5%) cases and 11 (0.4%) controls reported ever using fertility drugs; the corresponding OR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.5-2.6). Allowance for potential confounding factors did not markedly modify these estimates. In conclusion, this study provides reassuring evidence on the absence of an association between fertility drug treatment and breast cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]