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Biomedical subjects

D Ferrara

Publications and source records attributed to D Ferrara.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Criteria for discontinuation of sustained-release theophylline in children with chronic asthma].

Aim of the study was to ascertain when it is advisable to discontinue the treatment with sustained release theophylline in chronic asthmatic subjects. The population consisted of 23 patients under continuous therapy with Theo-dur since at least 9 months, and free from bronchoobstructive episodes during the last three months. Upon stopping the treatment, instrumental controls showed a statistically significant reduction of mean values of PEF (checked by patients at home three times a day), VC, FEV1, MMEF or FEF25-75, FEV1/VC. The worsening of the physical examinations and anamnestic score is also significant, whilst the exstemporary use of beta 2 agonists increases. Dividing the cases into two populations, formed by worsened patients (11) and by stationary ones (12), it can be observed that the only distinctive features are that the former have been ill for longer, and are older in age. As the majority of patients (12/23) did not exhibit substantial modifications, we consider as proposable the standards we have adopted that means to try a suspension of theophylline in patients free from symptoms for at least 3 months.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment by human chorionic gonadotropin in maldescended testes. (Synthesis of our experience)].

87 prepuberal children, 2-15 years old, 58 with unilateral and 29 with bilateral cryptorchidism, were treated intramuscularly with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). HCG was administered in 16 children in single dose (5.000 IU/m2), in 11 children every other day for one week (3 x 1,500 IU) and in 60 children twice a week (2 x 1,000 IU) for 3-7 weeks. Treatment was successful in 31% of children. The most effective HCG dosage ranged between 10,000 and 14,000 IU (2 x 1,000 IU once a week for 5-7 weeks). The best therapeutic response was obtained in inguinal cryptorchid testes (39,3%), in unilateral cryptorchidism (34,5%) and in children aged 5-10 years (42,3%). The observed androgenic side effects (32%) subsided within 3-12 months after therapy suspension. The HCG therapy appears of particular value in cryptorchidism treatment. Surgical management is indicated in cases of true ectopic testes and after failure of HCG therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Aerosol administration in antibiotic therapy of cystic fibrosis].

The aim of this research was to evaluate the response to aerosol antibiotic therapy in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients, who because of severe lung disease, were obligated to frequent hospitalizations to undergo intravenous antibiotic therapy. Ten patients, aged 2 to 20 years were submitted to 4 months cycles of aerosol antibiotic therapy for a total of 18 cycles. The daily treatment consisted of carbenicillin 1 g b.d. and gentamicin 80 mgs b.d. At the end of treatment there was a statistically significant improvement of the modified Huang score and of single clinical parameters such as body growth, apetite, physical activity, clinical thoracic evaluation, appearance of sputum. Almost all of the radiographic items remained unchanged: in only 4 cases there was an improvement of the atelectasis-broncopneumonia type lesions. Regarding lung function, there was a statistically significant increase of maximum midexpiratory flow rate (MMEF) from 40% predicted before treatment to 50% predicted after. The reduction of residual volume (RV) from 270% predicted before 170% predicted after treatment was quantitatively more important. Furthermore, the treatment brought about a drastic reduction in number of hospitalizations: from an average of 1,7 hospitalizations/year before to an average of 0,3 hospitalizations/year during treatment. The increased number of isolations of isolations of candida albicans is the only report which favors possible adverse effects, in particular the possibility that this type of treatment favors lung mycosis.

Adolescent↗