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Lymphedema is a chronic devastating disease characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the extremities, tissue progressive changes such as adipose tissue deposition and fibrosis. To restore the functionality and structural integrity of the damaged lymphatic vessels, autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) was implanted in 3 sessions, 4 weeks apart, in the affected limb. Each patient was followed for 6 months, monitoring changes in the limb volume. Lymphangiogenesis was evaluated by lymphoscintigraphy, and the monitoring of quality of life. A rapid reduction in the volume of the limbs was observed: Twenty-four point 5 percent of volume reduction after the first implant, 18.5% after the second, and 15.3% at 6 months after the third (p<0.05 vs baseline). Lymphoscintigraphy showed a hyper fixation of the tracer along the ipsilateral iliac axis not appreciable at baseline. Implants of autologous PBMNC in patients with primary lower limb lymphedema seems to be a feasible, effective therapy option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radium 223 (RA223) is currently administered as part of a therapeutic sequence with the other life-prolonging agents (LPAs) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Patients & methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients who had received at least three LPAs including RA223. Results: Median overall survival (OS) from the start of first-line treatment was 39.8 months, with the patients who completed all six planned courses of RA223 having a longer OS than those who did not (53.2 vs 29.5 months; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our study confirms the activity of RA223 regardless of the treatment line in which it is administered and suggests that patient selection plays a central role in maximizing this activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Prostate cancer frequently causes bone metastases and skeletal events that impair quality of life (QoL) and survival. The alpha emitter radium-223 is a new drug that improves treatment in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and bone metastases. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of radium-223. Subjects and Methods: In this retrospective study we enrolled 48 subjects. Pain reduction, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), time to first symptomatic skeletal event, and QoL were the variables we evaluated. Results: Radium-223 was well tolerated, with a manageable toxicity profile and a modest objective response rate. A considerable difference in serum ALP levels before and after treatment was observed, with a significant correlation between pain relief and QoL, which showed a value of R2 to 0.44 with a slope of 1.50 (p = 0.0021). Conclusions: Radium-223 showed a clinical benefit, with a reduction in pain symptoms in 58% of patients. Radium-223 was shown to be an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option in patients with metastatic CRPC progressing after docetaxel plus prednisone treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions. Infiltration of botulinum toxin in the major salivary glands allows a temporary reduction of salivation that begins 8 days afterwards and returns to normal within 2 months. The inhibition of salivary secretion, carried out before the oral cavity reconstructive surgery, could allow a reduction of the incidence of oro-cutaneous fistulas and local complications. Objectives. Saliva stagnation is a risk factor for patients who have to undergo reconstructive microsurgery of the oral cavity, because of fistula formation and local complications in the oral cavity. The authors suggest infiltration of botulinum toxin in the major salivary glands to reduce salivation temporarily during the healing stage. Patients and methods. During the preoperative stage, 20 patients with oral cavity carcinoma who were candidates for microsurgical reconstruction underwent sialoscintigraphy and a quantitative measurement of the salivary secretion. Injection of botulinum toxin was carried out in the salivary glands 4 days before surgery. The saliva quantitative measurement was repeated 3 and 8 days after infiltration, sialoscintigraphy after 15 days. Results. In all cases, the saliva quantitative measurement revealed a reduction of 50% and 70% of the salivary secretion after 72 h and 8 days, respectively. A lower rate of local complications was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]