Molecular epidemiological and antibiotic susceptibility characterization of Brucella isolates from humans in Sicily, Italy

Brucellosis is a serious problem in Sicily. Brucella melitensis was identified as the species most frequently isolated in humans in Italy. No data, however, are available about the molecular epidemiological characterization of Brucella isolates from humans. We have conducted this study to molecularly characterize clinical isolates of Brucella spp. and to evaluate their antimicrobial susceptibilities. Twenty Brucella isolates were studied. Differential growth characteristics and DNA polymorphisms such as the restriction patterns of the PCR-amplified omp2a and omp2b genes, rpoB nucleotide sequencing, and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis of 16 loci (MLVA-16) were used to characterize the strains. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the E-test method on two different agar media, and the results were compared. All isolates were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3. rpoB nucleotide sequence analysis allowed the identification of two different genotypes of B. melitensis biovar 3. On the other hand, the MLVA-16 typing assay recognized 17 distinct genotypes. All isolates were sensitive to all tested antibiotics (rifampin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), and the Mueller-Hinton agar plate is recommended for antibiotic susceptibility testing by the E-test method. Our findings identify B. melitensis biovar 3 as the etiological agent isolated in Sicily and encourage the use of both molecular methods, and in particular of the MLVA-16 assay, in epidemiological trace-back analysis. This study represents the first epidemiological data from molecular typing of Brucella strains circulating in Italy and, in particular, in eastern Sicily.

Role of surgery in thymic disorders

Thymomas are relatively slow-growing neoplasms that should be considered malignant tumours. When treated in the early stages, however, they have an excellent prognosis for long-term survival. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy all play a role in the management of these neoplasms. Surgery is the treatment of choice in thymoma patients and has become an increasingly accepted procedure in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) since 1936, when thymectomy was performed for this disease for the first time. Improvement in myasthenic symptoms is nearly always observed following thymectomy, but the rates of complete remission vary from 7% to 63%. We have studied the potential preoperative factors predicting the evolution of MG.

Mitoxantrone plus vinorelbine with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) support in advanced breast cancer patients. A dose and schedule finding study

Mitoxantrone (MTZ) and vinorelbine (VNR) have shown a good efficacy in advanced breast cancer. We conducted a phase I-II trial to determine the MTDs and best schedule of these drugs, in advanced breast cancer patients, when granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) support was given. The starting dose-intensity level was MTZ 3 mg/m2/week + VNR 15 mg/m2/week; dose was escalated at each step by 1 mg/m2/week for MTZ and 5 mg/m2/week for VNR, until dose limiting toxicity (DLT) developed in 33% or more of the patients at the first course. G-CSF 5 micrograms/kg/day d3-13 was administered at each cycle from dose level 2 on. For each dose step we planned 3 different schedules (a = total dose of MTZ on day 1; b = total dose d1 and 8; c = weekly schedule). At the time of this analysis (December 1993) 43 patients with locoregionally advanced or metastatic breast cancer have entered this study, 23 of whom had received prior chemotherapy other than adjuvant. Toxicity has been primarily hematologic. Non hematologic toxicity never caused interruption of dose escalation. Overall 8 patients developed DLT at the first course. Dose escalation was stopped at level 3 in patients receiving schedules a or b, and in those receiving schedule c the dose was escalated until level 5. The MTD was MTZ 6 mg/m2 and VNR 30 mg/m2 weekly. Age, dose level, and PS were found to be correlated with neutrophil and platelet nadirs, but dose level was the only independent variable predictive of myelotoxicity at multiple regression analysis. Forty-one patients were evaluable for response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intraperitoneal adjuvant immunochemotherapy in operable gastric cancer with serosal involvement

Since the peritoneal cavity is the most common site of initial recurrence in patients after surgery for gastric cancer, an intraperitoneal (IP) adjuvant treatment was tested in patients with resected gastric cancer with serosal involvement. Between March 1986 and September 1991, 44 consecutive patients with resected T3/T4-N0/N+ gastric cancer were given an IP combination, including cisplatin or carboplatin, etoposide, and alpha interferon-2b. The overall survival of these patients was compared with that observed in 47 historical controls (admitted to the same institutions from 1983 to 1986) with similar prognostic characteristics, who had not received adjuvant treatment after surgery. No major complication relating to the IP route was observed. Mild to moderate abdominal pain occurred in nine patients. Grade 3-4 myelotoxicity occurred in 14 patients. Interferon had to be reduced in five patients and suspended in one because of severe fatigue. Emesis occurred in 23/28 patients given cisplatin and 9/16 given carboplatin. At the time of this analysis (September 1992) median follow-up was 42 months (range 12-78) in the group receiving IP treatment, and 97 months (range 74-128) in the historical controls. There had been 20 deaths among treated patients compared with 36 in the control group. The 5-year estimated survival rate was significantly better in the patients who received IP adjuvant treatment (44% +/- 9 versus 23% +/- 6; P = 0.016). Using the Cox proportional hazard model with a backward procedure to correct for the influence of prognostic pretreatment variables, IP treatment again afforded a significant advantage in terms of survival (P = 0.04). Adjuvant IP immunochemotherapy appears to improve prognosis compared with historical controls in patients having operable gastric cancer with serosal infiltration.