Biomedical subjects

G A Scardina

Publications and source records attributed to G A Scardina.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Microvascular characteristics of the human filiform papillae: a videocapillaroscopic study.

The aim of this study was to observe the microcirculation characteristics of the human filiform papillae in healthy patients in vivo. Twenty healthy patients were examined using lingual capillaroscopy to investigate the characteristics of microcirculation of the human filiform papillae. Visibility, course, tortuosity, as well as the possible presence of microhemorrhages, the average caliber of the capillary loops and the number of visible capillary loops per square millimeter were evaluated for each patient. The investigation was simple, non-invasive and repeatable for each patient. Microcirculation architecture was characterized by a network of capillaries in polygonal mesh with parallel orientation in regard to the surface. Rare microhemorrhages were observed. The caliber of visible capillary loops was 12.50 +/- 1.46 microm (mean +/- SD). The number of visible capillaries was 9.88 +/- 1.06 (mean +/- SD). Our study shows that capillaroscopy of lingual filiform papillae is a practicable method. Future studies might evaluate whether microcirculation in that area is compromised or not during systemic pathologies involving peripheral microcirculation alterations. This method could also be applied to the study of microcirculation in pathologies which strictly pertain to the dental stomatological field.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

A randomized trial assessing the effectiveness of different concentrations of isotretinoin in the management of lichen planus.

The aim of our 10-year study was to test the effectiveness of topical therapy based on 0.18% isotretinoin, comparing it with that most frequently used, i.e. at 0.05% concentration. Seventy patients with an established diagnosis of oral lichen planus were involved in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, and the drug was administered topically at 0.05% and 0.18% concentrations. The drug at the higher concentration, according to the same protocol, was administered to the patients who did not benefit from the therapy at the lower concentration. None of the cases of reticular lichen planus showed clinical or histological improvement. In contrast, the atrophic-erosive forms showed a significant improvement, both clinical and histological: in 26 patients (at 0.18% concentration) and in nine patients (at 0.05% concentration), the symptoms, as well as the erosions or ulcers observed, disappeared. The disappearance of dysplasic phenomena was observed at 0.18% concentration. Topical application of the drug was accompanied by an increase in soreness and pain, as well as greater sensitivity to hot foods. However, these side effects were transitory, and considered acceptable by the patients. The proposed therapeutic protocol was effective towards highly active atrophic-erosive oral lichen planus with dysplasic phenomena, which is the form of the disease at higher risk of malignant evolution.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2005

Periodontal microcirculatory abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to observe the differences in periodontal microcirculation between healthy patients and patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Fifteen healthy patients and 15 patients with SSc were examined. Periodontal capillaroscopy was used to investigate the characteristics of microcirculation. The visibility, course, tortuosity, possible presence of microhemorrhages, average caliber of the capillary loops, and number of visible capillary loops per square millimeter were evaluated for each patient. RESULTS: The investigation was simple, non-invasive, and repeatable for each patient. In patients with SSc, it was possible to observe a reduced number of capillaries and a greater capillary diameter and tortuosity. CONCLUSIONS: Capillary alterations in patients with SSc are not limited to the nailfold bed but also occur in periodontal mucosa microcirculation. Such evidence could be extremely important in the pathogenesis and treatment of periodontal diseases in patients with SSc.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Oral capillaroscopy: a new diagnostic method].

The morphological-functional study of microcirculation is of fundamental importance; in fact, the microvascular bed is directly involved both in autoimmune etiopathogenesis pathologies, and in acute and chronic inflammatory etiopathogenesis pathologies. Oral capillaroscopy is a very stimulating method for studying microcirculation, because of the possibility of studying small vessels in vivo by means of a microscope. Today, it is becoming more reliable thanks to the improvement of the observation tools (photography, videomicroscopy).

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Vasodilatation of human gingiva and neurogenic inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic Inflammation (NI) is the consequence of amyelinic-sensitive neuron activation. Recent studies on rats proved that NI could be experimentally induced by topical capsaicin application. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of topical capsaicin application on human periodontal mucosa and to assess if NI might have a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. METHODS: 15 patients were examined in our laboratory. NI was experimentally induced in the gingival mucosa close to: (1) the interdental papilla corresponding to the upper central incisors; (2) the interdental papilla corresponding to the lower left lateral incisor and canine after ipsilateral nerve trunk anaesthesia. The characteristics of gingival microcirculation were observed using computerised videocapillaroscopic techniques. RESULTS: axon-reflected vasodilatation was observed close to the papilla corresponding to the upper central incisors. An important correlation was observed between capsaicin application and capillary tortuosity. No significant modifications in vascular diameter and tortuosity were observed after capsaicin application close to the interdental papilla corresponding to the lower left lateral incisor and canine. CONCLUSIONS: the study shows that NI can be induced in human gingiva, and such evidence could be extremely important in the pathogenesis and treatment of periodontal diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Effects of a nonsurgical exercise program on the decreased mouth opening in patients with systemic scleroderma.

The decreased mouth opening (microstomia) represents a frequent finding in patients with systemic scleroderma (SSD), but little information is available about the efficacy of nonsurgical management of this condition. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of a nonsurgical exercise program on the decreased mouth opening in a group of 10 SSD patients with severe microstomia (maximal mouth opening < or =30 mm). The subjects were instructed to perform an exercise program including both mouth-stretching and oral augmentation exercises. The effects of such exercises were assessed after an 18-week period by measuring the maximal mouth opening of each subject. All patients completed the study and no adverse effects occurred, with the exception of transient muscular fatigue. The exercise program improved the mouth opening of all subjects (mean increase: 10.7+/-2.06 mm, P<0.005), without significant differences between dentate and edentulous ones (P>0.1). At the end of the 18-week period, all patients commented that eating, speaking and oral hygiene measures were easier. The edentulous subjects also experienced less difficulty inserting their own dentures. These findings suggest that regular application of the proposed exercise program may be useful in the management of microstomia in SSD patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Early diagnosis of progressive systemic sclerosis: the role of oro-facial phenomena].

BACKGROUND: The study considers the oro-facial manifestations occurring in a group of patients suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis, evaluating their predictive role and monitoring the systemic disease. METHODS: 34 patients with systemic sclerosis were examining: 30 women, 4 men, at the Department of Dental Sciences, Palermo University, from July 1998 to March 2001. All patients were positive for the diagnostic criteria of scleroderma.1 For each patient we considered: observation of any changes in soft tissues of the oral cavity; evaluation of possible xerostomia; evaluation of any fungal infections; presence of prosthetic sores in patients wearing dentures; DMFS evaluation; evaluation of periodontal health; evaluation of bone resorption. RESULTS: One of the most interesting results was that: in 4 patients, medical history contained past trigeminal sensory neuropathy characterised by the slow and gradual numbness of the face muscles, which developed into pain and paresthesia, weakening or disappearance of the sense of taste and in one case loss of sensitivity at the oro-pharynx (this progression of symptoms preceded by three years the onset of systemic manifestations, and consequently diagnosis); 14 patients as first sign of the disease had a "hardening" of the skin of the face with consequent microstomia with marked difficulty in speaking. CONCLUSIONS: The most significant result emerging from this study was the predictive role of progressive systemic sclerosis, that can be played by some oro-facial manifestations; an important element which has recently changed the life expectation for scleroderma patients is the possibility of diagnosing the disease in an early phase and thus bringing to bear all the therapeutic measures necessary to hinder development of the disease and its consequences.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The role of neuromodulators (substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide) in the development of neurogenic inflammation in the oral mucosa].

Vatous observations carried out in the course of the years have shown that certain neuropeptides have a possible role to play as inflammation mediators. The substances on which attention has been principally focused are: substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, capsaicin an histamine. Knowledge acquired in this field, however, does not yet permit us to sufficiently clarify the role, not to speak of the possible action mechanism, on the basis of which these neuropeptides act, although it is confirmed that these substances have been found first in laboratory animals and later also in human tissues in the course of experimentally induced neurogenic inflammation. The need to know more and more about inflammatory mechanisms and the increasingly complex possibilities offered by the application of technology in the field of medical research have led to many small advance in our knowledge of what is involved in inflammation. In fact it has been understood that behind the typical signs of inflammation (the famous four cardinal signs of Celsus: pain, redness, swelling, heat) no abstract entities or strange alchemies are concealed, but a series of well-known, classified substance, the so-called "inflammation mediators", namely a variety of substances of cellular or plasmatic origin united by the fact that exist, in stationary state conditions, in the form of inactive precursors, or sequestered in intracellular sites where they are unable to carry out their action. Following an inflammatory stimulus, they are activated, or their synthesis can be induced, or their release from intracellular sequestration sites in favoured; in any case they are stored in the disturbance district in concentrations that are such as to act on their respective targets, triggering event s that characterise the various stages of the inflammatory process.

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cefaclor induced pemphigus vulgaris].

Pemphigus is a chronic disease with an outcome that is not without risk. It is characterised by loss of the intraepithelial cell-cell relationship (acantholysis). Underlying the disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the desmosomes are damaged by antibodies directed against particular molecules called desmogleins (particularly 3 and 1). Various types of pemphigus have been described with different antibody profiles and clinical signs. In the present paper, a case of pemphigus vulgaris associated with the medication cefaclor monohydrate is reported. Histological and immunological evaluation of the biopsy sample led to a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris. The patient, who was not hospitalised, was treated with corticosteroids and systemic immunosuppressors. At present she is being controlled by low doses of systemic corticosteroids. Early diagnosis and the timely introduction of the therapeutic protocol permitted complete remission of the lesions observed at the level of the oral and conjunctival mucosa, preventing the involvement of other locations.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗