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Massimo Petruzzi

Publications and source records attributed to Massimo Petruzzi.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T and A1298C Polymorphisms are Not Associated With Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVES: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms have been investigated as potential genetic factors associated with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). This study investigated whether MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms, as well as circulating homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels, are associated with RAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective case-control study, 55 patients with clinically diagnosed RAS and 55 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction on genomic DNA extracted from EDTA blood samples. Plasma homocysteine was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay, while serum folate and vitamin B12 were assessed by electrochemiluminescence. In patients with RAS, number of ulcers, clinical subtype, episode frequency, healing time, and pain intensity were recorded. Associations were analysed using &#x3c7;&#xb2; tests and ANOVA, with statistical significance set at P < .05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between RAS and non-RAS groups in the distribution of MTHFR C677T or A1298C genotypes. Mean homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels, as well as their categorical distributions, were also comparable between groups (all P > .05). Within the RAS group, episode frequency was significantly associated with homocysteine and folate serological levels, whereas no significant associations were observed between MTHFR genotypes and the clinical variables assessed. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms were not associated with RAS occurrence. However, homocysteine and folate serological levels were associated with selected indicators of disease course, suggesting that metabolic factors may contribute to RAS phenotype in a subset of patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although MTHFR polymorphisms do not appear to be directly associated with RAS onset, assessment of homocysteine and folate serological levels may help identify patients with a more severe or recurrent clinical course and support a more individualized approach.

Humans↗
PubMed2005

Oro-vaginal-vulvar lichen planus: report of two new cases.

Atrophic-erosive lichen planus with oral and genital involvement is a rare condition and is often difficult to diagnose. Patients seldom report genital symptoms to the dentist and dentists do not generally investigate about genital lesions. Delays in diagnosis may cause complications and affect the quality of life. We report the clinical and histopathological features of two new cases of oro-vaginal-vulvar lichen planus and review current treatment options for this condition. Genital lichen planus should be suspected in case of atrophic-erosive oral lichen planus. A thorough multidisciplinary medical management and active early treatment are necessary to improve symptoms and prevent genital sequelae. This might also be a relevant prevention strategy for the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, although data to fully support this statement still need investigation.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2005

Peno-gingival lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus with simultaneous oral and genital involvement in males is a quite rare condition and often difficult to diagnose. The prevalence, treatment options, and management for this condition are far from being established, and research in this area primarily relies on anecdotes. We present the clinical features of eight cases of peno-gingival lichen planus and propose a management algorithm for this condition based on the best available published evidence. METHODS: Personal medical history was collected for all cases. Following careful examination of the oral and genital mucosae, pathology was obtained, previous treatments and duration of mucosal lesions ascertained, treatment initiated, and response evaluated at 8 weeks on both oral and genital lesions. The first-line drug was topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream in all cases; in case of failure, topical cyclosporin was used. A review of the literature on treatment options for this rare condition was performed based upon standard literature review practices. RESULTS: Five cases presented gingival lesions that clinically resembled lichen planus. Glans penis was involved in all patients. All patients responded to treatment except for one. Oral candidiasis was the only observed side effect. CONCLUSIONS: Genital lichen planus may be suspected in males when atrophic-erosive gingival lichen planus is found. A thorough multidisciplinary medical management and active early treatment are necessary to improve symptoms and prevent genital sequelae and, given the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, as a preventative strategy, although this area still needs investigation. Therapeutic trials relating to the treatment of peno-gingival lichen planus may be undertaken considering that current management relies exclusively on observations of case reports.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2004

Systemic capsaicin for burning mouth syndrome: short-term results of a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a major diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Systemic and topical treatments (capsaicin, lidocaine, anti-histamines, sucralfate and benzydiamine) have been tried, but they appear to be inadequate. Topical capsaicin is bitter, may cause burning and has low therapeutic efficacy. We hypothesized that systemic administration of capsaicin could reduce the limitations of topical administration and have better therapeutic efficacy; this hypothesis was tested in a controlled trial. METHODS: Systemic oral capsaicin 0.25% was used for patients with BMS, recruited in our single centre. After the diagnosis of BMS, patients were dentally and medically examined. They were alternatively assigned to treatment with capsaicin or to a shape/smell/taste/color matched placebo. The severity of symptoms was scored at trial entry and 30 days thereafter by investigators who were unaware of the assigned intervention. The visual analogical scale (VAS) measure was used to score the severity of pain, and results for the treated and untreated groups were compared by Fisher's exact test. Analysis was performed by intention-to-treat. Statistical significance was considered for values of P < 0.05. Data are expressed as mean +/- SD. RESULTS: Fifty patients were enrolled (25 assigned to systemic capsaicin and 25 to placebo). The VAS score was significantly lower in treated patients (5.84 +/- 1.17) as compared to the placebo-control group (6.24 +/- 0.96). The use of systemic capsaicin implied significant gastric toxicity (referred gastric pain) with eight cases (32%) documented in the treatment group as compared to zero cases (0%) in the placebo control group. CONCLUSION: Systemic capsaicin is therapeutically effective for the short-term treatment of BMS but major gastrointestinal side-effects may threaten its large-scale, long-term use. This preliminary study suggests that more, adequately powered, randomized controlled trials are necessary and worthy to come to a definitive assessment of this matter.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

[Importance of oral signs in the diagnosis of atypical forms of celiac disease].

The dramatic improvement in knowledge concerning celiac disease (CD) has disclosed the pattern of the associated clinical manifestations and the often atypical or silent presentation of this disease, which makes clinical diagnosis difficult. Also oral manifestations, mostly recurrent apthous stomatitis (RAS) and dental enamel hypoplasia, are atypical signs of CD. Our opinion about the possibility of performing mass-screening to reveal atypical or silent CD is in agreement whit who is asserting that a sistematical case-finding is, at present, the most suitable epidemiological approach. So, we think that patients affected by RAS, or dental enamel hypoplasia, should be considered, even in the absence of any gastrointestinal symptom, at-risk subjects, and should therefore undergo diagnostic procedure for CD.

Celiac Disease↗