Aflatoxins and sterigmatocystin are potent carcinogens, certainly involved in pathogenesis of liver cancer. To evaluate the risk of mycotoxin intake and to determine the presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and sterigmatocystin (STC) in... more
Aflatoxins and sterigmatocystin are potent carcinogens, certainly involved in pathogenesis of liver cancer. To evaluate the risk of mycotoxin intake and to determine the presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and sterigmatocystin (STC) in patients with liver cirrhosis. The study included 92 patients (33 controls, 59 liver cirrhosis) that completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Blood and urine samples were collected and mycotoxins determined by high performance liquid chromatography. 18.18% samples in controls and 72.88% in cirrhosis group presented detectable levels of mycotoxins. The mean values of AFB1 in blood were 0.7 ng/mL in controls and 1.67 ng/mL in test group (p = 0.11); STC presented 60 times higher levels in second group (p < 0.01). AFB1 presented a mean level of 1.2 ng/mL in urine of test group (not detected in controls); STC presented 256 time higher concentration in urine of cirrhotic patients, with a perfect correlation between blood and urine levels in control (r...
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Aim: The present study attempts todetermine the steps for obtaining theetiological diagnosis of brain metastaseswith unknown origin.Material and methods: A total of 190patients with brain metastases diagnosed inthe Department of... more
Aim: The present study attempts todetermine the steps for obtaining theetiological diagnosis of brain metastaseswith unknown origin.Material and methods: A total of 190patients with brain metastases diagnosed inthe Department of Neurosurgery inEmergency Hospital ”N. Oblu” Iasibetween 2007-2010 were included in thisstudy. The clinical characteristics andpathological features were analyzed.Results: There were 102 males and 88females with a M:F ratio of 1.15:1. Themedian age of patients was 47.07 years(range 31-77 years). Females patients wereolder (mean age 57.21 years) than malespatients (49.15 years). 154 patients (81.05%)had single brain metastasis, and 36 patients(18.95%) had more than two. The lesionswere supratentorial in 142 patients(74.73%), infratentorial in 18 (9.47%), andboth infratentorial and supratentorial in 30patients (15.78%). Surgical treatmentinvolved complete resection in 47.9% ofcases, subtotal resection in 26.8%, andbiopsy alone in the remainder (25.3%).Brain met...
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Abstract The purpose of our paper is to present the effects of 1.8 GHz GSM microwave radiation on membrane anisotropy of a human blood cell population. Power level of the applied CW microwave radiation was low enough to consider it to be... more
Abstract The purpose of our paper is to present the effects of 1.8 GHz GSM microwave radiation on membrane anisotropy of a human blood cell population. Power level of the applied CW microwave radiation was low enough to consider it to be athermal. ...
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Research Interests: Medicine, Humans, Child, Pancreas, Male, and 3 moreInsulinoma, Clinical Sciences, and Pancreatic neoplasms
The aim of this study was to assess breast cancer incidence, diagnostic possibilities in clinical treatable stages and the prognosis in a series of breast cancer patients repeatedly treated in the same unit, by the same team. Diagnostic... more
The aim of this study was to assess breast cancer incidence, diagnostic possibilities in clinical treatable stages and the prognosis in a series of breast cancer patients repeatedly treated in the same unit, by the same team. Diagnostic difficulties in the early stage of the contralateral cancer constitute a proven reality even in our cases. The detection of the second metachronous breast tumor was done and evaluated mostly in an more advanced stage than the initial tumours. This might be explained by the delayed visit to the doctor. Most BBC were lobular carcinoma. Adjuvant therapy--chemotherapy, antiestrogens, ovariectomy--do not prevent the appearance of the second tumoral site.
Research Interests: Breast Cancer, Medicine, Romania, Humans, Female, and 6 moreIncidence, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, Prognosis, and Breast Neoplasms
UNLABELLED Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are the most frequent soft tissue sarcomas of childhood. Despite advances in knowledge about biological pathways of tumorigenesis, risk stratification and multimodal treatment, the immediate and... more
UNLABELLED Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are the most frequent soft tissue sarcomas of childhood. Despite advances in knowledge about biological pathways of tumorigenesis, risk stratification and multimodal treatment, the immediate and long-term prognosis of these lesions in many countries with limited resources is still poor. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-five histologically confirmed pediatric RMS were recorded during the period of study. Demography, clinical presentation, diagnostic means, pretreatment staging and post-surgical grouping, histological type, therapy and outcome were evaluated. RESULTS The mean age was 6.7 years; the group included 12 boys and 13 girls. Twelve lesions were localized in the genitourinary tract, eight in the trunk and extremities, two cases each in head and neck and retroperitoneum and one case in biliary tract. Primary surgical attempt was performed in 15 patients but only in nine of them underwent complete resection (three with free margins) other six cases...
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Renal cell carcinoma constitutes 3% of all adult malignancies. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of management for localised renal cell carcinoma. No effective postsurgical adjuvant therapy has been established for patients with... more
Renal cell carcinoma constitutes 3% of all adult malignancies. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of management for localised renal cell carcinoma. No effective postsurgical adjuvant therapy has been established for patients with locally advanced disease who are a high risk for recurrence. The effective treatment of metastatic kidney cancer remains a challenge. Despite extensive investigations with different treatment modalities, metastatic renal cell carcinoma remains high resistant to systemic therapy. Combination chemotherapy alone or in combination with cytokine, is a very little use. Small numbers of patients' exhibits complete or partial responses to interferon and/or interleukin-2, but most patients do not respond and few survive over the long term. New immunologic approaches to the treatment of both advanced and high-risk postsurgical disease are focusing on novel vaccine therapies to target both renal epithelial and vascular antigens.
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The complexity of tobacco smoke leads to some confusion about mechanisms by with is caused lung cancer. Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens, but 20 of them are deeply involved in causing lung cancer induction. Of these, polycyclic... more
The complexity of tobacco smoke leads to some confusion about mechanisms by with is caused lung cancer. Tobacco smoke contains many carcinogens, but 20 of them are deeply involved in causing lung cancer induction. Of these, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and tobacco specific nitrosamine are likely to play a major role. This review include a discussion of the mechanisms of interaction between DNA and tobacco smoke carcinogens and the relationships with mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. By focusing in this review on several important carcinogens in tobacco smoke, the complexities in understanding tobacco-induced cancer can be reduced, and new approaches for lung cancer prevention can be envisioned.
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The disciplinary fields of political science and political philosophy deeply intertwine with educational theory, research, and practice. At least since Plato&amp;#x27;s Republic, these fields have offered many theoretical frameworks... more
The disciplinary fields of political science and political philosophy deeply intertwine with educational theory, research, and practice. At least since Plato&amp;#x27;s Republic, these fields have offered many theoretical frameworks for analyzing what quality education entails. In the ...
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Oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to adverse effects such as gastrointestinal distress. The complexation of different groups of active substances with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) has drawn... more
Oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to adverse effects such as gastrointestinal distress. The complexation of different groups of active substances with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) has drawn considerable interest over recent years. The purpose of this study was to analyze the ketoprofen/β-cyclodextrin (K/β-CD) conjugate complex as well as to assess its anti-inflammatory effect after oral administration (doses of 30 mg/m(2) and 15 mg/m(2) of body surface), compared with ketoprofen. The studies were done on two models of experimentally-induced acute inflammation in rats (n = 48, 6/group), by means of intraplantar administration of a 10% aqueous kaolin suspension and intraperitoneal administration of a 1% sodium thioglycolate solution. The dynamics of the acute inflammatory process and the anti-inflammatory effects were monitored using plethysmometric determinations after 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 and 48 h (plantar inflammation), and the absorbance of the exudates (spectrophotometrically read) and nucleated cell counts after 24 h (peritoneal inflammation). The coupling of ketoprofen with β-CD resulted in increased solubility (100% in 60 min) of the newly-formed product, which further resulted in a higher bioavailability compared with ketoprofen (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;40% in 120 min). In both models of experimentally-induced inflammation, the K/β-CD complex had a higher anti-inflammatory activity than ketoprofen.
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This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of mapatumumab (a human agonistic monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 1) in... more
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of mapatumumab (a human agonistic monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 1) in combination with sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with advanced HCC (stratified by Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status), were randomized 1:1 to receive sorafenib (400 mg, twice daily per 21-day cycle) and either placebo (placebo-sorafenib arm) or mapatumumab (30 mg/kg on Day 1 per 21-day cycle; mapatumumab-sorafenib arm). The primary endpoint was time to (radiologic) progression (TTP), assessed by blinded independent central review. Key secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival, and objective response. In total, 101 patients were randomized (placebo-sorafenib arm: N=51; mapatumumab-sorafenib arm: N=50). There was no signifi...
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Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CYP19A1 gene have shown the ability to modify its activity, but no association has been established with aromatase inhibitor (AI) efficiency in hormone receptor positive breast cancer (BC).... more
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CYP19A1 gene have shown the ability to modify its activity, but no association has been established with aromatase inhibitor (AI) efficiency in hormone receptor positive breast cancer (BC). The study included blood samples from 53 patients (p) with BC and 1 control (male DNA); 22p. (investigational group) were administered an Al and followed up. Homozygous (hh) -CC and TT -, and heterozygous (hz) - TC - genotypes of the rs10046 SNP were balanced. Response to treatment or progression were not affected (p=0.630) in patients with T allele 1; local relapse occurred significantly more rarely and overall survival (OS) was superior (p=0.046). For rs4646, genotypes were mainly hhGG (57%), with no implication to study parameters (p>0.05). For rs727479 SNP, major genotypes were hhTT (40%) and hzTG (45%). Therapeutic response was better in patients with T allele 2 (p=0.040), T allele 1 was associated with reduced local recurrence (p=0.047) and T...
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Breast cancer is considered today as a heterogeneous group of diseases, with a wide spectrum of clinical, pathologic and molecular features. A new classification of breast carcinomas, based on gene expression profiles technologies (cDNA... more
Breast cancer is considered today as a heterogeneous group of diseases, with a wide spectrum of clinical, pathologic and molecular features. A new classification of breast carcinomas, based on gene expression profiles technologies (cDNA microarray), shows impact on the diagnosis and prognostic classification of tumors, prediction of response of individual patients to specific chemotherapeutic regimens, and identification of novel tumor targets. To identify the proportion of basal-like ("triple-negative") tumors in patients treated for breast carcinoma. To evaluate the impact of molecular subtyping on treatment response, disease-free survival and overall survival of patients, and to establish and correlate particular biologic, clinical and diagnostic features of these cancers. 96 patients with breast cancer, aged 28-78 years, were retrospectively selected using specific criteria from cases treated between 2001 and 2007 in the Oncology Department of the "Sf. Spiridon&qu...
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Rectal cancer diagnosis is established by collaboration between oncological surgeons, oncologists, pathologists and imaging specialists. By examining the macroscopic and microscopic aspect of the surgical specimen, the pathologist could... more
Rectal cancer diagnosis is established by collaboration between oncological surgeons, oncologists, pathologists and imaging specialists. By examining the macroscopic and microscopic aspect of the surgical specimen, the pathologist could provide the surgeon with information regarding the surgical procedure. Staging represents the clinical or pathological assessment of the extent of tumour spread. The clinical staging is a preoperative evaluation based on clinical and radiological information being used to determine the appropriate treatment for each case. The pathological staging permits the postoperative assessment that brings prognostic information. The aim of this paper is to present the suggestions of our multidisciplinary team for an accurate pathology assessment of rectal cancer.
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Patients with unknown primary site cancer represents 5% to 10% of all neoplasia patients. Liver is a favourite site for gastrointestinal tumors, but not only. The adenocarcinomas represents 60% of patients from this group. A detailed... more
Patients with unknown primary site cancer represents 5% to 10% of all neoplasia patients. Liver is a favourite site for gastrointestinal tumors, but not only. The adenocarcinomas represents 60% of patients from this group. A detailed physical examination, extensive laboratory and imaging procedures are necessary to locate the primary tumor. However, liver biopsy could be essential for histological diagnosis and important to identify the tumors who may benefit from specific and effective therapy (breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and small-cell carcinoma of the lung). Systemic chemotherapy represents the most frequently treatment, but only patients with good performance status and without co-morbidities may benefit. "Best supporting care" may be the optimal treatment for most patients, majority with poor performance status at the time of diagnosis.
Research Interests: Ovarian Cancer, Medicine, Biopsy, Humans, Liver, and 3 morePrognosis, Adenocarcinoma, and Liver neoplasms
... CELL Mihai Marinca*, Lucian Miron** Andreea Marinca***, Ingrith Miron**** ... Spiridon” Hospital, Iasi, Romania, e-mail: cristea_dr@yahoo.com **** Associate Professor, Pediatrics Dept., “Gr. T. Popa” University of Medicine and... more
... CELL Mihai Marinca*, Lucian Miron** Andreea Marinca***, Ingrith Miron**** ... Spiridon” Hospital, Iasi, Romania, e-mail: cristea_dr@yahoo.com **** Associate Professor, Pediatrics Dept., “Gr. T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iaúi, Romania e-mail: lucmir@gmail.com ...
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Purpose To evaluate the curative potential of primary chemotherapy in term of clinical, histological response and survival in local-advanced breast cancers. Patients and Methods 76 patients with local-advanced breast cancera (stage IIIA -... more
Purpose To evaluate the curative potential of primary chemotherapy in term of clinical, histological response and survival in local-advanced breast cancers. Patients and Methods 76 patients with local-advanced breast cancera (stage IIIA - IIIB) were treated in two sequences: group A: 29 patients with 4–6 cycles (CMF/FEC) chemotherapy, local-radiotherapy and surgery; group B: 47 patients with radiotherapy and surgery. Two types of histological response (H.R.) have been individualized in 76 radical mastectomy specimens: complete HR without microscopic disease and incomplete HR, with residual tumor cells or histological tumor structure. An univariate analyis of six prognostic variable (age, Kamofski performance status, clinical, histological response and therapeutical sequence) was performed using Kruskall-Wallis and Kaplan-Meier method. Results 6 clinical complete responses (CR), 8 complete histological responses (HR) and 38% mortality rate was find in group A and 0 cases of complete HR and a 68% mortality rate at 36 weeks in group B. This difference is statistically significant (p = 0,002 for CR and p = 0,005 for HR). The performance status at the diagnosis moment proved to be statistically significant for the clinical response and survival. Conclusion Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in local-advanced breast cancers is effective in local control and survival.
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Adjuvant therapy has been shown to reduce recurrence and improve survival in patients with stage III colo-rectal cancer (CRC). However, the use of adjuvant therapy is still much debated in stage II disease. Fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic... more
Adjuvant therapy has been shown to reduce recurrence and improve survival in patients with stage III colo-rectal cancer (CRC). However, the use of adjuvant therapy is still much debated in stage II disease. Fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) are currently the standard adjuvant drug combination. The treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cance has changed dramatically over the years. The more optimal use of 5-FU in association with FA, the new drugs such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin, and the oral fluoropyrimidines capecitabine and uracil/tegafur(UFT) have contributed to the increased therapeutic option and to improved outcome of patients with metastatic CRC. It has been shown that combination therapy with 5-FU/FA and irinotecan or oxaliplatin is more active than 5-FU/FA in the first line of advanced CRC. The oral fluoropyrimidines capecitabine and UFT/FA seem to have a comparable activity to intravenous bolus 5-FU/FA in the first line treatment of metastatic CRC. Ne...
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Abstract: Power generation is one of the challenges in Sustainable Development. For example, well known sun tracking systems allows improvement of solar panel power ratio. In order to illustrate this concept, this paper presents a... more
Abstract: Power generation is one of the challenges in Sustainable Development. For example, well known sun tracking systems allows improvement of solar panel power ratio. In order to illustrate this concept, this paper presents a simplified and didactical small scale system for pedagogical application and sensitizing actions. Principle of tracking is described. A mixed SPICE modelling of the system, including geometrical, optical, electronic linear and non linear aspects is built. Simulations results are analyzed. Electronic analogue design is detailed, experimental test are presented before conclusion. This small scale solar tracking system is now installed in a green house model.
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In autumn 2011 in cyprinid farms located in Iasi on the Jijia river, several infections with bacterial strains and macroscopical external cysts on the skin were diagnosedwhich developed as a result of the stress induced by biotic and... more
In autumn 2011 in cyprinid farms located in Iasi on the Jijia river, several infections with bacterial strains and macroscopical external cysts on the skin were diagnosedwhich developed as a result of the stress induced by biotic and abiotic factors. On the examination of the cyst contents the presence of numerous spores was observed, mostly of the Dermocystidium spgenusThe samples were taken from the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)species from the fish farm as well as from the Jijia River. 35 fish were examined, all of them showing cysts, fragmentation of their dorsal fin and congestion of the gills. Histological examination of the skin showed a field of multiple dermal cysts with round light eosinophilic formations (14-16µm) containing a central refractable body similar to that reported for Dermocystidium sp.Gills samples were taken from the affected areas for the SEM examination with the purpose of evaluating not only aspects of normal m...
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The aim of study was to identify pathogens involved in hospital-acquired or community-acquired infections in patients suffering from various types of cancers. A clinical epidemiological study included a group of 355 cancer patients... more
The aim of study was to identify pathogens involved in hospital-acquired or community-acquired infections in patients suffering from various types of cancers. A clinical epidemiological study included a group of 355 cancer patients admitted and operated at the Surgery Department II of the Iasi Regional Oncology Institute in 2013 was performed using data from hospital statistical service and the surgery and laboratory records, then processed by epidemi ological and statistical methods. In cancer patients the pathogen most commonly involved in infections was E. coli, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter. Analysis of bacterial resistance to antibiotics of the pathogen most commonly involved revealed that of the 29 E. coli strains 22 were tested for resistance/sensitivity to ampicillin; of these, 19 strains showed resistance, and only 3 were sensitive; 14 E. coli strains of wer...
Research Interests: Microbiology, Epidemiology, Incidence Geometry, Medicine, Comorbidity, and 15 moreLung Cancer, Humans, Escherichia coli, Female, Male, Microbial genetic and drug resistance, Incidence, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Aztreonam, Fluoroquinolones, Escherichia Coli Infections, and lung neoplasms
To assess the clinical and epidemiological features of all three main histological types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study included 34 patients with NSCLC admitted to specialized units of the Iasi Regional Cancer Institute... more
To assess the clinical and epidemiological features of all three main histological types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study included 34 patients with NSCLC admitted to specialized units of the Iasi Regional Cancer Institute (IRCI) in the interval May 2012 - May 2014. Data were collected electronically based on a clinical-epidemiological survey form. The obtained data were then processed and interpreted by statistical-mathematical methods using the correlation index (significant at p < or = 0.05 and highly significant at p < 0.005), chi-square and Y tests. Data were analyzed using SPSS 13.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois, USA). Most NSCLC patients were aged 56-71 years, the Pearson correlation index between age and diagnosis being p = 0.01. Sex difference was highly significant (p = < 0.001) and so was the relationship between heavy smoking and age groups. Most cases were histogenetically classified as adenocarcinomas (22%). Four patients (21%) were in stage IIIA...
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Contributions to the knowledge of some peculiarities of C. difficile involvement in human pathology, nosocomial infections (NI) included. This clinico-epidemiological and laboratory study included 14 patients admitted to the Medical... more
Contributions to the knowledge of some peculiarities of C. difficile involvement in human pathology, nosocomial infections (NI) included. This clinico-epidemiological and laboratory study included 14 patients admitted to the Medical Clinic of the Iasi Regional Cancer Institute with the diagnosis of C. difficile NI based on detection of toxins A and B in stool samples. The data were assessed and interpreted using an algorithm which revealed the peculiarities of C. difficile NI outbreak occurrence and evolution. Of the 14 cases included in the study, 5 (35.8 %) had community-onset infections and 9 (64.3%) oncology unit-onset infections. The average hospital stay was 22 days. Immunocompromised condition and the use of antibiotics in the ciprofloxacin, colistin and cefotaxime group for 4 - 10 days were the main risk factors. This epidemic C. difficile NI outbreak which affected immunocompromised patients with high susceptibility to infection, common finding in oncology care was brought ...
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Ovarian cancer is unique among solid tumors in its propensity to remain localized in the peritoneal cavity for much of its natural history. There is now a growing body of clinical data demonstrating a survival advantage for patients with... more
Ovarian cancer is unique among solid tumors in its propensity to remain localized in the peritoneal cavity for much of its natural history. There is now a growing body of clinical data demonstrating a survival advantage for patients with advanced stages of ovarian cancer treated by intraperitoneal (i.p.) chemotherapy compared with standard intravenous (i.v.) treatment route. Cytotoxic agents administered directly into the peritoneal cavity, however, have limited potential for penetrating bulky tumor masses. On the basis of the results of three randomized, phase III clinical trials, i.p. chemotherapy has now been shown to be superior to standard i.v. chemotherapy in the primary setting of chemotherapeutic management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, with small residual volume after surgery. Despite the fact that i.p. chemotherapy has been shown to determine an improvement in survival, many investigators feel that the formidable toxicity, complexity, and quality of life alteratio...
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Soft tissue sarcoma has a primitive mesenchymal origin and represents a heterogeneous group of malignant entities with a continuous rising frequency in the age range below 18. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) constitutes 5.8% from the whole amount... more
Soft tissue sarcoma has a primitive mesenchymal origin and represents a heterogeneous group of malignant entities with a continuous rising frequency in the age range below 18. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) constitutes 5.8% from the whole amount of pediatric solid tumors, taking the fourth place after CNS tumors, neuroblastoma, and Wilms tumors. The other category of non-rhabdomyosarcoma tumors in children and teenagers represents 3% of the solid malignancies under 18 years old. Our study looks at the particularities of the pathological, clinical, therapeutic aspects and the statistical correlation with prognosis. We included in the study a well-known category of soft tissue tumors called of uncertain malignancy. The study was made between January 1995 and July 2005 in the Pediatric Department of Hematology and Oncology of the "Sf. Maria" Clinical Emergency Hospital Iaşi on a group of 58 de patients ranging between 0 and 18 years old. Positive diagnostic confirmation was establish...