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Biomedical subjects

F Peluso

Publications and source records attributed to F Peluso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Clinical and therapeutic experience in twenty eight patients with burning mouth syndrome.

AIM: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic painful syndrome in clinically normal oral mucosa. There are many local, systemic and/or psychogenic pathological conditions that may clinically appear as burning and painful sensation of the oral mucosa. There are essential or idiopathic BMS and organic or secondary BMS. A diagnostic and therapeutic protocol is proposed by the authors evaluating, the effectiveness of the estroprogestinic replacement therapy in post-menopausal women suffering from idiopathic BMS. METHODS: A total of 28 patients suffering from persistent burning and painful oral sensation underwent to careful clinical and laboratory examination in order to distinguish primary forms from secondary ones. Patients suffering from primary BMS underwent to incisional biopsy for the research of estrogens receptors. RESULTS: Only 8 out of the 28 studied patients (28.5%) were negative to the clinical oral and laboratory examinations listed in our protocol and they were diagnosed for primary BMS. All of them were females. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a valid diagnostic and therapeutic protocol allows a better management of patients suffering from oral pain and a reduction if not a disappearance of the burning symptomatology in most of them. In post-menopausal patients suffering from idiopathic BMS good results may be obtained by an estroprogestinic replacement therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Nonequilibrium fluctuations in the Rayleigh-Benard problem for binary fluid mixtures.

We have employed a simple Galerkin-approximation scheme to calculate nonequilibrium temperature and concentration fluctuations in a binary fluid subjected to a temperature gradient with realistic boundary conditions. When a fluid mixture is driven outside thermal equilibrium, there are two instability mechanisms, namely a Rayleigh (stationary) and a Hopf (oscillatory) instability, causing long-ranged fluctuations. The competition of these two mechanisms causes the structure factor associated with the temperature fluctuations to exhibit two maxima as a function of the wave number q of the fluctuations, in particular, close to the convective instability. In the presence of thermally conducting but impermeable walls the intensity of the temperature fluctuations vanishes as q goes to zero, while the intensity of the concentration fluctuations remains finite in the limit of vanishing q. Finally, we propose a simpler small-Lewis-number approximation scheme, which is useful to represent nonequilibrium concentration fluctuations for mixtures with positive separation ratio, even close to (but below) the convective instability.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

A naive accelerometer acting in the continuum range.

The space experiment TRAMP (Thermal Radiation Aspects of Migrating Particles) flown in 1999 onboard the mission Foton 12 sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA), was conceived to reveal and measure a new kind of forces, named Thermal Radiation Forces (TRF). The experiment was dramatically disturbed by the occurrence of undesired convective motions due to the rotation of the spacecraft. Apart from that, corrosion occurred in some parts of the flight apparatus, resulting in the presence of gas bubbles inside the experimental liquid, completely compromising the results. Consequently, the experiment did not allow to reveal and/or to measure TRF, but it turned out to be useful in another way, as a very sensitive accelerometer, since the accelerations deduced from velocity measurements concurred with those measured by the Quasi-Steady Acceleration Measurement (QSAM) system.

Acceleration↗
PubMed2001

Influenza vaccination coverage in elderly people, Campania (Italy), 1999.

A study on the coverage of influenza vaccination among elderly people was carried out. Fity-six per cent of those interviewed had been vaccinated (weighted coverage 50%), compared with the target of 75%, but higher rates were reported in those older than 74 years and those with chronic diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Persistence of anti-HBs in children vaccinated against viral hepatitis B in the first year of life: follow-up at 5 and 10 years.

The persistence of anti-HBs protective levels in groups of children who had been immunized against Hepatitis B 5 and 10 years earlier, in their first year of life, has been studied. The results were analyzed according to the type of vaccine (both plasma-derived and DNA recombinant) and the number of doses administered (three or four doses). In addition, the protective effect of the vaccine in vaccinated subjects was studied in relation to the anti-HBc presence. The serologic results suggest that, in cohorts of children vaccinated 5 years earlier, a higher prevalence of subjects with anti-HBs protective levels was found, when the DNA recombinant vaccines were administered (97.6% for MSD Recombivax and 97.1% for SKF Engerix B); a lower one when the plasma-derived vaccine was used (80.4% Pasteur Merieux, Hevac B). Moreover, in cohorts of children vaccinated with plasma derived vaccine (hevac B) 10 years earlier, a higher prevalence of subjects with anti-HBs protective levels was demonstrated when four doses were administered (76.9%); a lower one when three doses were inoculated (57.5%). The absence of core antibody (anti-HBc) in responders to the vaccination shows the protective efficacy of both the DNA recombinant and plasma derived vaccines. On the other hand the presence of anti-HBc in some anti-HBs negative non-responders subjects shows the susceptibility of these people to infection. In anti-HBs negative vaccinated subjects the appearance of levels of anti-HBs in 95.9% of subjects, 1 week after the administration of a booster dose, demonstrates the presence of a solid immunologic memory.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Hepatitis B vaccination: universal vaccination of newborn babies and children at 12 years of age versus high risk groups. A comparison in the field.

From 1983 to 1993 two anti-hepatitis B vaccinal strategies were adopted in two small towns of Southern Italy at high incidence for HBV infections: Afragola (prevalence of HBsAg carriers of 13.4%) and Frattamaggiore (prevalence of HBsAg carriers of 12.9%). In Afragola, the universal vaccination of infants in their first year of life and adolescents at 12 years of age was carried out, while in Frattamaggiore the selective vaccination of high risk groups of population was introduced. During this study, the changes in the HBV infection endemicity in both towns has been tested by monitoring the incidence of new cases of viral hepatitis B and by the prevalence study of HBsAg carriers prior to and 10 years after the beginning of the immunization programme (1978-1993). The results suggest that universal vaccination of infants in the first year of life and adolescents at 12 years of age has a greater efficiency on the improvement on the endemic status of the infection in the general population in comparison with selective vaccination, when the incidence of new cases of disease and the prevalence of number of HBsAg and anti-HBc carriers in the two populations are considered.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Clinical evaluation of an optimized 1.1% amino-acid solution for peritoneal dialysis.

A significant percentage of dialysed patients have inadequate protein intake. One strategy for treating the protein malnutrition in peritoneal dialysis patients is to replace glucose in the dialysis solution by amino acids. A new peritoneal dialysis solution containing 1.1% amino acids in a formulation optimized for renal patients and with a lactate concentration of 40 mmol/l has been evaluated. Fifteen CAPD patients completed a non-randomized prospective 3-month study. Each patient received 2 litres of the optimised 1.1% amino acid solution for the second exchange of the day with a dwell time of 5-6 h. Indicators of efficacy were serum albumin and transferrin. After 3 months of intraperitoneal amino acids, serum albumin levels significantly increased from 32.7 +/- 2.3 to 35.1 +/- 2.2 g/l (mean +/- SD; P < 0.01). This occurred in parallel with a significant increase in transferrin levels from 2.21 +/- 0.26 to 2.39 +/- 0.27 g/l (P < 0.05). As expected, urea rose from 23.7 +/- 6.8 to 29.9 +/- 9.4 mmol/l. Interestingly bicarbonate did not change (25.5 +/- 4.2 versus 25.2 +/- 3.3 mmol/l). These results suggest that the optimized formulation is effective in improving nutritional parameters in CAPD patients while avoiding unwanted side-effects such as acidosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A new catheter to prevent exit-site infection in peritoneal dialysis.

In order to prevent exit-site infection, we studied a new Tenckhoff-derived catheter, named the "Malpighi catheter," capable of avoiding sinus tract formation. The outer cuff of this new device is 3.5 cm long and is deliberately positioned half-extruded; in fact, half of the cuff remains outside the skin exit-site. The implantation technique is identical to that of the standard two-cuff Tenckhoff catheter. We implanted eight Malpighi catheters in 5 CAPD and 3 IPD patients. The observation period was 146 patient-months (range 14-23, M +/- SD 18.2 +/- 3.3). We observed excellent adhesion between the outer cuff and surrounding tissue. Actually, by pulling the catheter the skin around the half-extruded cuff becomes cone-shaped, with the cone's apex tightly stuck to cuff and the sinus tract disappearing completely. Only one case of exit-site infection by Staphylococcus aureus and two cases of ulcer of the skin beneath the external part of the half-extruded cuff were observed. These complications were resolved completely. No catheter needed to be removed and there were no leakages. The histological study of the cuff showed a good infiltration of the dacron cuff by fibrous tissue. On the grounds of our preliminary experience, we believe that the absence of the sinus tract, the formation of an efficient mechanical and bacterial barrier and the reduction of exit-site infection incidence are all factors that encourage further research.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Intraperitoneal administration of phosphatidylcholine improves ultrafiltration in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Reports in the literature have linked a low phosphatidylcholine content in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) effluent to ultrafiltration loss. Clinical evidence suggests that adding phosphatidylcholine to the dialysis solution enhances ultrafiltration. A clinical study has been designed to clarify the effect of phosphatidylcholine on ultrafiltration in CAPD patients with normal ultrafiltration. A weekly measurement of the peritoneal equilibration test was conducted per patient in the hospital. A comparison between the control dialysis solution (three-week period) and the phosphatidylcholine premixed solution (three-week period) was performed on a total of 12 patients. This study shows that a phosphatidylcholine premixed dialysis solution significantly enhances ultrafiltration. Since ultrafiltration per osmotic driving force (mL/g glucose) is enhanced, the patient's glucose load per day is reduced to achieve equal ultrafiltration. In the presence of phosphatidylcholine, peritoneal permeability remained unchanged, as indicated by membrane transport characteristics. No side effects were observed.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1992

Tortilla corn chip-associated esophageal perforation: an unusual presentation of achalasia.

Laceration of the esophagus related to ingestion of tortilla corn chips has been described in the past. However, no cases of perforation of the esophagus are known to be associated with tortilla corn chip ingestion. We describe a case of previously undiagnosed achalasia in a patient who presented with an esophageal perforation after ingestion of tortilla corn chips.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of peritoneal dialysis solutions with amino acids and glycerol in a rat model.

In this study a simple rat model for evaluating the ultrafiltration by peritoneal dialysis solutions is described. Anaesthetised male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with dialysis solutions. Zero, 1, 3, or 6 h later, the dialysate volume was determined directly: the abdomen was carefully opened, the intraperitoneal liquid was withdrawn with a syringe and its volume was measured. Good recovery of dialysate, highly reproducible results, and the similarity between the ultrafiltration profiles in rats and published profiles in CAPD patients for control solutions, indicate that the model is valid. The model was then used to evaluate peritoneal dialysis solutions containing a mixture of glycerol and amino acids. Both osmotic agents are chemically compatible and these mixtures provide amino acids and carbohydrates in a single solution. For three mixtures, intraperitoneal dialysate volume were determined as a function of dwell time and the formulation with the desired ultrafiltration could be selected.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1991

In vitro testing of a potentially biocompatible continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis fluid.

In the present study a newly formulated dialysis solution (HDF) was tested for its effects on phagocyte viability and function as well as its ability to support bacterial growth. This solution differs from standard CAPD solution (NPD) by the inclusion of histidine to buffer the fluid to pH 6.7. Low-dextrose HDF (1.36% w/v dextrose) did not significantly decrease the viability or inhibit any of the PMN functional parameters measured (phagocytosis, LTB4 release or respiratory burst activation) when compared to control buffer. NPD (1.36% w/v dextrose) at low pH as well as all high-dextrose dialysis solutions (NPD and HDF) significantly inhibited most PMN functions independently of reduced viability. Peritoneal mesothelial cell viability was unaffected by either low- or high-dextrose HDF but was significantly reduced by NPD (1.36 and 3.86% dextrose) at pH 5.2. The inhibitory effects of low dextrose dialysis solutions were confirmed as being partly related to their low initial pH. High-dextrose dialysis fluids, however, inhibit PMN function by a mechanism which, in addition to initial pH, appears to be directly related to their dextrose content but not their osmolality.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1990

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage and infection in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We studied 140 consecutive patients beginning continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) at one of seven hospitals to assess the relation of the nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus to subsequent catheter-exit-site infection or peritonitis. Shortly before the implantation of the catheters, the patients' anterior nares were cultured for the presence of S. aureus. Antibiotics were not prescribed for the S. aureus carriers, but all the patients were monitored for signs of catheter infection (median follow-up, 10.4 months). At the initiation of CAPD, 63 patients (45 percent) carried S. aureus in the nares. Nasal carriage was more frequent among the 30 patients with diabetes (77 percent) than among the 110 without the disease (36 percent). The carriers of S. aureus had a significantly higher rate of exit-site infection than the noncarriers (0.40 vs. 0.10 episode per year; P = 0.012). Of these episodes, 24 of 34 were caused by S. aureus. The rates of peritonitis of all bacterial types did not differ significantly between the groups, but all 11 episodes of peritonitis caused by S. aureus occurred among the carriers. In 85 percent of the patients with clinical S. aureus infections, the strain from the nares and the strain causing the infection were similar in phage type and antibiotic profile. We conclude that in patients beginning ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, the nasal carriage of S. aureus is associated with an increased risk of catheter-exit-site infection and that the performance of nasal cultures before the implantation of the catheter can identify patients at high risk of subsequent morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Exit-site care and exit-site infection in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD): results of a randomized multicenter trial.

A total of 127 patients from 8 hospitals were randomized into 1 of 2 exit-site care regimes to evaluate their effect on rate of exit-site infection (ESI). Group 1 used povidone iodine and nonocclusive dressings changed 2 to 3 times weekly; Group 2 simply cleansed the exit site with nondisinfectant soap and water. Incidence, cause, duration, and treatment of ESI and peritonitis (P) were noted. Groups were analysed for age, sex, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), catheter, and systems. Total cumulative follow up time was 95.6 years. There was a significantly higher rate (p = 0.0183) of ESI in Group 2 (soap and water). The mean rate of ESI was 0.27 episodes/patient year for Group 1 versus 0.71 episodes/patient year for Group 2. Rates of P for the two groups were not significantly different (p greater than 0.50): 0.446 episodes/year for Group 1 versus 0.574 episodes/year for Group 2. S. aureus was responsible for 83% of ESI in Group 1 and 67% of ESI in Group 2. Protective dressing with a disinfectant is associated with significantly less ESI than minimum care. However, further research in exit-site care aimed specifically at reducing S. aureus infection is still required.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Surgical treatment of congenital radial clubhand.

In choosing the surgical method of correction of radial clubhand, one must take into consideration the age of the patient, the anatomical, radiographic and pathological alterations, and lastly the function of the homolateral elbow. Angiographic studies of the malformation have proved of value in revealing the possible coexistence of a normal vascular bed with hypogenesis of the radius. The esthetic and functional results obtained with two different surgical techniques, and followed up over the years, are reported in a fifteen year old boy and an eight year old girl.

Adolescent↗