Introduction to The neurosciences and music IV: learning and memory.

The conference entitled "The Neurosciences and Music-IV: Learning and Memory'' was held at the University of Edinburgh from June 9-12, 2011, jointly hosted by the Mariani Foundation and the Institute for Music in Human and Social Development, and involving nearly 500 international delegates. Two opening workshops, three large and vibrant poster sessions, and nine invited symposia introduced a diverse range of recent research findings and discussed current research directions. Here, the proceedings are introduced by the workshop and symposia leaders on topics including working with children, rhythm perception, language processing, cultural learning, memory, musical imagery, neural plasticity, stroke rehabilitation, autism, and amusia. The rich diversity of the interdisciplinary research presented suggests that the future of music neuroscience looks both exciting and promising, and that important implications for music rehabilitation and therapy are being discovered.

Continuous non chronomodulated infusion of floxuridine in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC): report of 17 cases.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: MRCC responds poorly to usual treatments. Recently floxuridine (FUDR) has been administered by chronomodulated infusion, obtaining interesting results. In order to simplify the infusion, we used continuous non chronomodulated infusion. METHODS: We treated 17 patients affected by MRCC with continuous non chronomodulated infusion of FUDR. Toxicity was evaluated according to WHO criteria. Responses were recorded as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD) and progressive disease (PD). RESULTS: Sixty-four courses of therapy were administered; 15/17 patients, treated with a median of 4 cycles, were evaluable for the response. Only 1 patient showed a grade 3 toxicity (mucositis and diarrhoea); 6 patients showed grade 1-2 diarrhoea; 2 grade 1-2 nausea and vomiting; 1 grade 2 anaemia and thrombocytopenia. No patient obtained CR; 2 PR (lasting 7 and 9 months respectively) and 4 SD (lasting 4,5,6 and 9 months) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience continuous non chronomodulated infusion of FUDR did not show important general toxicity. The observed responses were not good enough. We think that a better selection of patients (good performance status) and the use of FUDR in an earlier stage of disease, can obtain better results.

Retrospective analysis of 156 cases of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: evaluation of prognostic factors and response to different treatments.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is a "capricious" tumor. Many prognostic factors have been evaluated, treatment is still controversial, and results are not coincident. METHODS: We reviewed 156 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Survival from the time of diagnosis was the end point of the study. The influence on survival of age, sex, nephrectomy, disease-free interval, performance status, site and number of metastases was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done. Survival according to different therapies was also evaluated. RESULTS: In our study, no nephrectomy, a disease-free interval < 24 months, > 2 metastatic sites and a performance status > 2 proved to be risk factors. According to the number of risk factors, 3 groups of patients were identified (low, intermediate and high risk). We observed 3 kinds of responses to treatments: 1) in untreated patients (n = 48), median overall survival was 6 months, and the 24-month survival rate was 8%; 2) in patients treated with hormone therapy and/or chemotherapy (n = 73), median overall survival was 13 months, and the 24-month survival rate was 24%; 3) in patients treated with interferon and/or interleukin-2 (n = 35), median overall survival was 16 months and the 24-month survival rate was 34%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are only partially in accordance with those observed by other authors. Risk factors and treatment must be determined in more defined and selected studies.

Possible correlation between some biologic effects and the clinical course in patients treated with continuous infusion of interleukin-2 plus alpha-2 interferon for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-2 therapy is known to cause many biologic effects, which are enhanced by the administration of interferon prior to or immediately after interleukin-2 infusion. Some of these effects could be related to the clinical response. METHODS: Sixteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were treated with continuous infusion of interleukin-2 plus alpha-2 interferon. Differential leukocyte count and lymphocyte subset evaluation were performed every 3 days during interleukin-2 treatment. At each cycle, the presence of the following antibodies was tested: antithyroid, antinuclear, antiplatelet and antierythrocyte. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were evaluable for response. No complete response was observed. Five patients obtained partial response (33%) and 3 stable disease (20%): 2 of them underwent surgical resection of metastases and obtained complete response. Some of our patients showed a significant increase in eosinophils, CD25+ lymphocytes and antithyroid antibodies. The association of these parameters, calculated with a "score" system, was also related to a better clinical response. CONCLUSIONS: Eosinophils, CD25+ lymphocytes and antithyroid antibodies could have a predictive value for the efficacy of interleukin-2 and alpha-2 interferon therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

[Clinical and prognostic usefulness of Ki67 determination in breast carcinoma]. / Utilità clinica e prognostica della determinazione del ki67 nel carcinoma mammario.

We studied the correlation between tumor size, nodal status, menopausal status, nuclear oestrogen receptors, disease free survival and Ki67 (proliferation rate) measured by mean of immunohistochemical analysis with monoclonal antibody. Median value was 10%. From December 1986 to October 1989 we studied 236 consecutive patients (pts). Median follow up was 34 months (range 7-51 months). Median age was 56 years (r. 26-82). We observed: 1) lower levels in smaller tumors; 2) poor correlation with nodes involvement; 3) lower levels when nuclear oestrogen receptors were positive. Preliminary data seem to suggest longer disease free survival when Ki67 is low.

Histology as a prognostic factor in early gastric cancer.

Of 431 patients with gastric cancer observed in our institution, 23 (5.3%) had early gastric cancer (EGC). Macroscopic presentation, histology, depth of invasion, and lymph node involvement were evaluated in all the cases. All patients underwent surgery and an intensive follow-up was performed. Five of the 23 patients progressed, and the risk factors were examined. Histology seemed to be the main prognostic factor in our study, since intestinal type of EGC was associated to a significantly better prognosis. Total gastrectomy is indicated in the proximal localization of EGC, and should perhaps be performed also in cases presenting undifferentiated histology.

Age as a prognostic factor in primary non Hodgkin lymphoma of the stomach.

We present 20 cases of primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the stomach. Histological classification, staging, age of patients and therapeutical approach were evaluated. Median overall survival was 30 months, and 5-year survival was 44%. In our small series, the age of the patients plays an important role: median overall survival is 18 months in patients greater than 60 y.o. (compared to 90 months in patients less than 60 y.o.) and 5-year survival 12.5% (compared to 62%).

Infections in haematologic neoplasms: autopsy findings.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Infections are the main cause of death in most haematologic malignancies. We studied 95 autopsies of patients who died from haematologic neoplasms in the period 1980-1989 at Niguarda Cà Granda Hospital. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Infections were the cause of death in 63% of patients. In this group of patients bacterial infections accounted for 43% of deaths; fungal infections were frequent too (28%), mainly among leukemic patients; viral (9%), mycobacterial (7%) and polymicrobic infections (11%) were also documented. Haemorrhages were less frequently fatal (12%) due to the availability of haemocomponents. A high number of fatal haemorrhages were associated with fungal infections. Neoplastic progression was the real cause of death in only a few cases, and cardiovascular and pulmonary complications were fatal in the great majority of the other patients.

Pancreatic cystadenocarcinoma and pregnancy: a case report.

We report a case of cystadenocarcinoma occurring in a pregnant woman. After child birth, a subtotal pancreatectomy was performed, without rupture of the cyst. The patient is asymptomatic, 24 months after surgery. The presentation of cystadenocarcinoma in pregnancy has been reported in another single case. The possibility of hormonal dependence is discussed.