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Biomedical subjects

G Lombardo

Publications and source records attributed to G Lombardo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Topical cyclosporine in the treatment of oral pemphigus].

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris presents the typical blistering lesions at the level of oral mucosa in nearly all patients. The main drugs used in the treatment of the disease are steroids and immunosuppressive agents. Among the latter, cyclosporine A plays a pivotal role. METHODS: In this study the effects of topical cyclosporine have been evaluated in 12 patients (4 males and 8 females, mean age 65 years) suffering from oral pemphigus for at least 4 years non responsive to the previous treatments. Five ml of oral suspension (500 mg) were divided into three times a day; cyclosporine had to be kept in the oral cavity for 15 mins and no food nor drinks were allowed for 30 mins before and after the oral wash. The treatment lasted for 2 months. RESULTS: At the end of the study a significant beneficial effect on erythema, oral lesions and pain was noticed. No side effects have been reported and the monitoring of full blood count, of renal and hepatic function and of blood pressure has not shown any variation from the baseline. Serum cyclosporine level has always been undetectable. CONCLUSIONS: These encouraging results in the treatment of oral pemphigus need to be confirmed in controlled studies.

Cyclosporine↗
PubMed1997

Clinical results with exposed polyglactin 910 resorbable membranes for guided tissue regeneration.

Three cases are presented where early exposure of a resorbable membrane occurred during guided tissue regeneration therapy. An antimicrobial regimen was selected to determine whether infection of exposed membranes could be controlled to the point of achieving acceptable clinical results without membrane removal. The results suggest that with the use of the antimicrobial regimen: (1) exposure is compatible with successful clinical results, and (2) removal is not necessary.

Absorbable Implants↗
PubMed1997

[Effect of saliva on resorption time of some resorbable membranes].

Since resorbable membranes have been introduced their resorption time has been always an important topic of discussion. The current literature does not cover very accurately the contributing factors associated with this biologic process in the oral cavity. The clinical experience shows that the influence of saliva may be an important factor during the resorption of synthetic resorbable membranes. Six experiments are described in this article in which four synthetic resorbable membranes are tested (Vicryl periodontal mesh, Vicryl collagene, Guidor and Resolut). The membranes are plated in Petri dishes precoated with Agar in contact with saliva. Experiment number 1 and 2 demonstrated that saline solution and Agar do not alter the resorption time of the membranes. Experiment 3 and 4 showed that a dilution of saliva to 1:10 and a non diluted saliva accelerate their resorption time of two of the tested membranes. The Vicryl periodontal mesh and the Vicryl collagene disappeared respectively after 7 and 9 days of contact with the not diluted saliva and after 10 and 12 days of contact with the 1:10 diluted saliva. The experiment 5 and 6 indicated that both salivas (diluted and not diluted) deprived of bacteria do not alter the resorption time of the membranes. In conclusion the pattern of resorption of the synthetic membranes, in this in vitro study, is recognized in the contact between the membrane and the bacterial enzymes present in saliva, and in the mechanical structure of the membrane design.

Absorption↗
PubMed1996

Laboratory evaluation of a new delivery system to improve patient compliance with chelation therapy.

As thalassaemia patients live longer, compliance with chelation therapy becomes more and more of a problem. Teenagers rebel against the continual need for treatment, and young adults with jobs, active social lives and families, find it hard to find the time to prepare and deliver their treatments. In an effort to find a solution to this problem, we evaluated a non-electronic, disposable pump (Infusor 5 ml/h, Baxter Healthcare) to determine its suitability for high dose desferrioxamine (DFO) infusions. We wanted an infusion time of 12 h to support overnight delivery in the patient's home. Because of DFOs viscosity, infusion times vary at different concentrations. We found the optimal prescription for total delivery within 12 h to be a dose of 70 mg/kg x patient's body weight diluted in constant volume of 40 ml of water for injection. Our tests were carried out in vitro and the results show that the 5 ml/h Infusor may be used to deliver high dose DFO chelation therapy within 12 h. The variability of the flow rate, dependent on the concentration of the solution, and the absence of a warning system, are more than compensated for by the simplicity of the pump.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Surgical correction of gingival recessions associated with radicular carious lesions.

In this clinical report, six cases are presented in which radicular carious lesions and gingival recessions were treated concurrently. The combined treatment included the removal of caries, radicular planing, and various surgical techniques for root coverage. Traditional procedures, as well as newer procedures, such as guided tissue regeneration, showed successful results.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Cyclosporin in Behçet's disease: results in 16 patients after 24 months of therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of cyclosporin in Behçet's disease. Sixteen subjects (10 males and 6 females; mean age 25.2 years) affected by the complete type of Behçet's syndrome received 5 mg/kg/day of cyclosporin for 24 months. A marked improvement of the symptoms was observed after three months of therapy. Within 6 to 12 months of treatment 14 of the 16 patients obtained a complete clinical remission. Biochemical and immunological parameters were controlled periodically to evaluate the clinical response and the possible side-effects. Two patients dropped out of the study because of anaemia and renal dysfunction, which returned to normal when cyclosporin was withdrawn. Our results confirm the efficacy of cyclosporin in the treatment of Behçet's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Post-traumatic hemoperitoneum: role of laparoscopy].

The use of laparoscopic as a diagnostic instrument in blunt penetrating abdominal traumas was first proposed by some authors in the 70s. The introduction of sophisticated instrumental tests, such as CAT and echotomography (ETG), confined this method to narrow diagnostic field which was gradually less frequently used. The lively interest expressed by the surgical world and the enormous spread of laparoscopy after the end of the 80s, following the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, has prompted the renewed use of the laparoscopic technique also in those subjects with blunt abdominal trauma. Over the past 12 months the authors have used laparoscopy in 8 subjects with hemoperitoneum secondary to contusive abdominal trauma in hemodynamically stable conditions, in which instrumental test (CAT and ETG) and peritoneal lavage were positive for the presence of hematic effusion. The use of laparoscopy in 7 patients allowed a wait-and-see approach to be adopted, thus eliminating the need for explorative laparotomy. It was only necessary to proceed with laparotomy in one patient to control bleeding from a major splenic lesion.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1994

[Prevention of immunodeficiency and postoperative infective complications in patients undergoing surgical resection for carcinoma of the colon-rectum. Clinical study on 50 cases, using thymus hormones and thymopentin in particular].

As well as being related to the spread of the tumour, cancer patients present a state of immunodeficiency which is linked to age, malnutrition which is often present, particular in cases of cancer of the gastroenteric tract, surgery and the possibility of associated chemo- or radiotherapy. The authors studied two groups of 25 patients with colorectal cancer. In addition to antibiotic prophylaxis, group A received immunostimulating therapy with thymopentin-TP5. Group B was treated with antibiotic therapy alone. Cell-mediated immunity was checked preoperatively and after 15 days on the basis of skin reaction to 7 booster antigens (Multitest-IMC). Strictly surgical infective complications were more frequent in group B patients (28.1%) receiving antibiotic treatment alone compared to subjects in group A (21.6%). Infections in a non-surgical site were more than double in the absence of perioperative immune therapy. Of the 25 patients examined in group A, 3-4 postoperative infections and as many long-distance infections were reported, all of which resolved without sequelae within a few days. There was a greater and faster recovery of body weight in those subjects receiving thymopentin treatment in addition to antibiotic therapy. In colorectal cancer surgery antibiotic prophylaxis alone is without doubt a valid surgical antisepsis but, above all in hypoergic patients, it is significantly enhanced by perioperative treatment with thymopentin. This association reduces both postoperative infectious complications, in particular postoperative abdominal abscess, and infections in other areas, such as respiratory complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[The efficacy of cyclosporin for topical use in oral lichen planus].

Oral lichen planus is a disease characterized by long symptomatic phases unresponsive to the usual therapy. Many groups have used different drugs in the treatment of lichen planus: topically applied retinoic acid, temarotene, antimycotic agents corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents, with unsatisfactory results. Recently it has been suggested that topical cyclosporine might improve the lesions of oral lichen planus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of this therapy in our patients. Fourteen patients, 6 males and 8 females, mean age 47 years, with oral lichen planus were enrolled in the study. All the patients were instructed to swish 5 ml of solution (500 mg) of cyclosporine in the mouth three times a day for three months. Clinical evaluation was performed before therapy and every two weeks afterwards. At each visit serum levels of cyclosporine, creatinine, total and direct bilirubin and complete blood count were performed. No side effects or blood test alterations were detected in any patient and cyclosporine serum level was always undetectable. Symptoms and oral lesions had a beneficial effect already after one month of therapy. Our results confirm that cyclosporine is useful in the treatment of oral lichen planus.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1993

[Splenectomy for splenic abscess caused by Salmonella typhi].

Splenectomy due to splenic abscess is without doubt an unusual occurrence, especially in Western countries. The paper reports the case of 19-year-old male who underwent splenectomy because of an abscess caused by Salmonella typhi. Following a revision of the literature it appears that only six cases of splenic abscess by S. typhi have been reported since 1940. Splenectomy represents the elective treatment for patients with splenic abscess provoked by any cause.

Abscess↗
PubMed1993

[An analysis of the surgical risk in elderly subjects with neoplasms of the large intestine. A follow-up of 102 consecutive cases].

Today surgeons find that they have to operate with increasing frequency on elderly patients suffering from colorectal cancer. This study examined 102 patients with this pathology. The findings show that age alone is not a contraindication for surgery. On the contrary decisive negative factors include both concomitant pathologies and emergency surgery because it is not possible to correct any pre-existing imbalances before surgery. The overall mortality rate is 9% of which 4% after emergency surgery. It is therefore possible to conclude that elderly patients can undergo radical surgery irrespective of age.

Aged↗