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ABSTRACT: This study compares the volumetric and spatial relationships of gross tumour volume (GTV) derived from CT (CT-GTV) and GTV derived from MRI (MR-GTV) to determine the utility of multi-modality imaging for radiotherapy treatment planning in rectal cancer.
Fifteen patients with T3 rectal cancer were accrued over 18 months. The male : female ratio was 2:1. The average age was 60.3 years (range 38-79). All patients underwent a diagnostic MRI and CT and MRI simulation. Data sets were co-registered. A site specialised diagnostic radiologist contoured all volumes in consultation with a radiation oncologist. CT-GTV was contoured while blinded to MR data sets. MR-GTV was contoured independently 2-4 weeks later whilst blinded to its respective CT-GTV data. Tumour volumes were analysed for three anatomical subregions (sigmoid, rectal and anal). Reference points on tumour volumes were used for spatial comparison and analysis.
The mean CT-GTV/MR-GTV ratio was 1.2 (range 0.5-2.9). The tumour volume ratios for the rectal subregion were well correlated. CT-GTV provided adequate spatial coverage of tumour in reference to MR-GTV with the average mean discrepancy of 0.12 (range -0.08-0.38) or a maximum discrepancy of <0.4 cm (1.54 standard deviation). CT-GTV coverage was inadequate for tumours with MRI evidence of anal and sigmoid invasion.
Conventional simulation CT imaging provided a reasonable estimate of the GTV. Multi-modality imaging with staging MRI can assist target volume definition where there is involvement of the sigmoid and anorectal region and avoid geographic misses. The role of a simulation MRI may aid in this process but remains investigational.
Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology 12/2010; 54(6):562-8. · 0.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This is a prospective case-control study to assess nutritional supplementation in limiting weight loss and its impact on daily set-up variations and planning target volume (PTV) margins in head and neck (H&N) radiotherapy (RT). Twenty sequential H&N patients were recruited for this study. Ten patients had a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube inserted prior to RT and 10 did not. PEG use was determined by departmental guidelines for patients considered at high risk for weight loss. Daily 2D electronic portal images were taken for orthogonal verification. Set-up variations were determined for both PEG and non-PEG patients by calculating systematic (Sigma) and random (sigma) errors, and PTV margins were derived. PEG patients lost less weight (P = 0.04) over the course of RT and had a reduction in set-up variation in the superior-inferior (SI) and anterior-posterior (AP) planes compared to those without. Mean correctional shifts in mm (range) for PEG patients were: Right-Left (RL) 0.1 (-1.9-2.1), SI -1.7 (-2.9-0.0), AP -0.4 (-2.0-0.8), and for non-PEG patients were: RL -0.2 (-2.7-1.3), SI -1.3 (-3.1-1.0), AP 0.4 (-1.5-2.8). The adapted PTV margins (mm) in the RL, SI and AP planes, respectively, for PEG patients were 4.1, 3.3 and 3.6, and for non-PEG were 3.9, 4.9 and 4.8. Intensive enteral support maintained weight stability in H&N patients considered at risk of weight loss during RT and this was associated with reduced set-up variation.
Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology 10/2009; 53(5):500-5. · 0.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Despite biologically plausible mechanisms for cardiac protection from estrogen therapy, recent clinical trials have suggested possible cardiovascular risk rather than benefit. However, it has been speculated that cardioprotective benefits from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be more evident in the early postmenopausal period. We have previously reported early beneficial effects on biochemical markers of endothelial function in healthy women after short-term estradiol replacement therapy. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of long-term HRT on different vasoactive factors and oxidative stress in healthy recently postmenopausal women.
Fifteen women (age 50 +/- 1 years, time since menopause 1.6 +/- 0.1 years) were randomized to a sequential oral and transdermal estradiol regimen (2 mg oral micronized 17beta-estradiol/day or 1.5 mg 17beta-estradiol gel/day). Oral dydrogesterone (10 mg/day, 12 days/month) was then cyclically combined with either of the estrogen therapies for 1 year. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 1, 2, 6 and 12 months of therapy to evaluate levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, 6-keto PGF1alpha (prostacyclin metabolite), nitrite/nitrate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, 8-isoprostane (8-epi PGF2alpha) and lipid profile values.
FSH levels decreased (p < 0.001) while estradiol levels increased (p < 0.001) during HRT. Levels of epinephrine (p < 0.001), norepinephrine (p < 0.01), mean blood pressure (p < 0.01) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (p < 0.01) decreased, and nitrite/nitrate levels increased (p < 0.01) during HRT, which did not significantly affect 8-epi PGF2alpha levels.
One-year HRT significantly reduced the levels of catecholamines, mean blood pressure and LDL cholesterol while it increased levels of nitrite/nitrate, indicating cardiovascular benefit in healthy recent postmenopausal women. Levels of 8-epi PGF2alpha did not change, suggesting no evident relationship between HRT and oxidative stress.
Climacteric 12/2006; 9(6):452-8. · 1.99 Impact Factor
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A Mercuri,
O Amadori,
A Andreozzi,
S Antonelli,
A Biritognolo,
V Bizzarri,
P Brocani,
E Cardini,
P Ciucciuvè,
A Corneli, [......],
A G Ruggeri,
M C Salvucci,
A Seri,
U Scuppa,
L Silvestri,
L Sorelli,
A Toscanelli,
N Venanzetti,
P F Perri,
O Gabrielli
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this epidemiological research is to evaluate the prevalence of genetic diseases and malformative syndromes in paediatric population living in the Macerata county.
All the data were collected through a careful analysis of a specific questionnaire sent to all the family paediatricians.
23,379 children living in Macerata county, aged 0 to 9 years, were evaluated (93.8% of all this paediatric population). Among those were found N 400 cases of genetic diseases and malformative syndromes: Malformations Tot.N. 255 cases (63.3% of the reported cases); Malformative Syndromes Tot. N. 55 cases (27.8% of the reported cases); Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Tot. N. 41 cases (10.3% of the reported cases); Osteochondrodysplasia Tot. N. 22 cases (5.7% of the reported cases); Other Tot. N. 28 cases (7.0% of the reported cases); Male population was found more affected than female: M/F ratio = 1.4. The analysis of the data showed an increasing trend in detecting these pathological conditions, consistent with the increase in geographic altitude (3 areas considered): 0-100 meter = 0.88%; 100-600 m.a.s. = 1.34%; over 600 m.a.s. = 1.88%.
The knowledge of the number of children affected by genetic and malformative diseases in the Macerata county is relevant in order to establish a Genetic Service with the aim to better support the medical assistance of these patients and counselling service for the families.
Acta bio-medica: Atenei Parmensis 02/2000; 71 Suppl 1:493-5.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aerobic training program on the metabolic and sympathetic responses to exercise in 12 patients with mitochondrial myopathies. A 10-week course of aerobic training, consisting of supervised exercise every other day on an electrically braked pedal-rate bicycle ergometer was prescribed to each patient and four healthy controls. Venous lactate, epinephrine (EP) and norepinephrine (NEP) levels were assessed at baseline and after the aerobic training by means of constant-workload exercise performed at near lactate threshold (LT). In patients, a decrease in exercise peak values, significant for lactate (-38.6%, P < 0.01) but not for catecholamines (EP: -26.0%, NEP: -22.1%) was observed after training, findings confirmed by the lactate/EP and lactate/NEP area ratios. The results show that lactate accumulation during exercise is decreased after aerobic training in mitochondrial myopathies and that the effect is partially dissociated from the catecholaminergic response. This in turn suggests that the lactate decrease can be explained, at least in part, by the improved muscle oxidative metabolism consequent to the proposed training program.
Neuromuscular Disorders 02/2000; 10(1):40-5. · 2.80 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report on a male infant with oral, facial, digital, and skeletal anomalies in association with severe psychomotor delay. This may represent a new oral-facial-digital syndrome.
American Journal of Medical Genetics 12/1994; 53(3):290-3.
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ABSTRACT: An automated fluorometric enzyme immunoassay system for the determination of serum myoglobin has been recently developed. This method is based on the sandwich immunoassay and uses two mouse monoclonal antimyoglobin antibodies; the first one is complexed onto glass fiber paper and the second is conjugated to an enzyme alkaline phosphatase which reacts with the substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate to generate a fluorescent product. Using a dedicated automated apparatus the time to the first result is eight minutes, with additional values being produced at one-minute intervals (about 50 samples/hour). We compared the analytical performance of this fluorometric enzyme immunoassay with that of a RIA set up in our laboratory for the routine assay of serum myoglobin. The automated fluorometric enzyme immunoassay showed lower between-assay variability (CV = 4.7% vs 13.8%) and higher sensitivity (0.3 ng/mL vs 7.2 ng/mL) than the manual RIA. Moreover, the two immunoassays gave similar results when serum samples of normal subjects and patients with coronary artery disease with or without acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were assayed (fluorometric immunoassay = -0.7 + 0.851 RIA, r = 0.991, n = 137). In conclusion, the automated fluorometric enzyme immunoassay tested in the present study produces reliable clinical results with a rapid turnaround time and therefore can be recommended for use in the early detection of AMI in a laboratory of Coronary Care Unit.
Journal of nuclear biology and medicine (Turin, Italy: 1991) 07/1993; 37(2):83-7.
