PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Lombardo

Publications and source records attributed to P Lombardo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA): evaluation of the analgesic effectiveness during ND: YAG laser turbinoplasty].

The analgesic effect of EMLA anesthetic cream is evaluated during contact turbinoplasty with a Neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd: Yag) laser. A total of 48 patients were selected and randomized in two groups. EMLA was applied on the nasal mucosa, respectively, for 15 and 30 minutes after using vasoconstrictor cottonoids. Both groups underwent turbinate reduction by contact with Nd: Yag laser using three discharge incisions traced parallel on the medial surface of the lower turbinate working from the tail to the head. The pain induced by the surgical procedure was evaluated with a visual analogic scale. The score obtained was significantly lower in the 1st group than in the 2nd group and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The EMLA anesthetic cream applied on the mucosa for 15 minutes allows to obtain a good analgesia during the functional contact turbinate surgery with a Nd: Yag laser and thus can be considered a valid alternative to anesthesia by local infiltration.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2000

Laryngopyocele: three new clinical cases and review of the literature.

Laryngopyocele is a fairly rare disease. It is a complication of laryngocele. Its clinical picture is often alarming; thus it needs fast differential diagnosis. Computed tomography allows early diagnosis. Surgical treatment permits a complete recovery. An association between laryngocele and carcinoma of the larynx has been reported by some authors. Three new cases of laryngopyocele are presented and discussed.

Abscess↗
PubMed2000

Morning recall of verbal material depends on prior sleep organization.

Despite the evidence that sleep may facilitate memory, controversial findings concern the role of sleep states (NREM, REM). We put forward the hypothesis that sleep organization, i.e. the regular occurrence of NREM-REM cycles, more than sleep states per se, may be crucial for the retention of verbal material presented before sleep. An experiment was performed in which recall of verbal material was requested of young subjects after three different kinds of night sleep: undisturbed sleep, fragmented sleep without sleep cycles disorganization, and fragmented sleep interrupted with sleep disorganization. Morning recall of verbal material was impaired after the night with disturbed sleep cycles, whereas it was not after the night with preserved sleep cycles; the amount of REM was similar in both cases. We conclude that the recall of verbal material is greatly affected by sleep cycle disorganization.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Sleep stages preceding spontaneous awakenings in the elderly.

Spontaneous awakenings from sleep were studied in a group of 21 elderly subjects (mean age 69.29+/-3.02 years) free of neurological and somatic diseases. The prevalence of awakenings and the duration of waking bouts were analyzed with regard to the prior sleep state. The results showed an increased frequency of awakenings during Stage 2 NREM in the elderly, who wake out of Stage 2 NREM no less frequently than out of REM sleep. This trend is different from that observed in younger subjects (babies and young adults), where a clear prevalence of REM sleep awakenings has been reported. The duration of Stage 2 interrupted by awakening was shorter than Stage 2 followed by sleep. The duration of waking bouts did not differ according to the preceding sleep stage. It is suggested that the relative inability to sustain Stage 2 may be a mechanism which contributes to the difficulty of sleep maintenance in the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Slow wave sleep (SWS) distribution across night sleep episode in the elderly.

Slow wave sleep (SWS) distribution across night sleep was shown to be different between infants and young adults. The present research aimed at studying the SWS distribution across night sleep in elderly subjects. Nine healthy elderly subjects, 61-71 years old, were submitted to nocturnal polygraphic sleep recording. Eleven young subjects, 21-23 years old, were the control group. Recordings were visually analyzed according to Rechtschaffen and Kales rules; the method proposed by Webb and Dreblow was used for scoring SWS. An NREM-REM cycle was defined as a sequence of NREM and REM sleep not interrupted by a waking period longer than 15 minutes. SWS percentage was calculated for each successive NREM episode. No significant association between SWS percentage and cycle rank was shown in elderly subjects, whereas a significant association was observed in the young ones. This kind of SWS distribution could be interpreted as reflecting the restructuring of internal organization of sleep in the elderly.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Functional uncertainty, aging and memory processes during sleep.

Disorganized sleep patterns, can be found both during normal development and in pathological conditions. Aging could also be accompanied by a disorganization of the night sleep episode; sleep could be interrupted by spontaneous awakening, sleep cycle could be shortened or incomplete, sleep states modified. These patterns suggest an inability to sustain a stable condition, i.e. a condition of functional uncertainty. Biological and cognitive implications of functional uncertainty conditions are discussed. In particular, the hypothesis has been put forward that disturbances of sleep could have a detrimental role on memory. Recent results obtained in our lab support this hypothesis: recall is correlated with NREM-REM cycles proportion. Future research should ascertain the role of the functional uncertainty with respect to the kind of memory being involved during sleep, and establish how much and for which cognitive processes (including those involved in dream production) the inability to sustain a steady condition impairs the functioning during sleep. The duration of the functional uncertainty condition is also important. The long-term study of the link between functional uncertainty and cognitive resources, could be important for the understanding of the night life and for an adequate treatment of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Fetal heart rate tracings: observers versus computer assessment.

UNLABELLED: Cardiotocography (CTG) is widely used despite the fact that its diagnostic accuracy is far from satisfying. This is due, among other reasons, to the great intra- and interobserver variation in reading the fetal heart rate tracings. Computerized analysis might be a means to overcome the latter problem. OBJECTIVE: the present study was designed to assess the reproducibility of CTG readings among observers and between observers and a computer system. STUDY DESIGN: 63 fetal heart rate tracings were read by 4 clinicians (2 experienced and 2 inexperienced) and by the 2CTG computerized system. The variables considered were: baseline fetal heart rate (FHR), long-term variability (amplitude bandwidth around the baseline), number of large accelerations and number and type of decelerations. RESULTS: the agreement among observers, assessed by means of kappa coefficient, ranges from fair to good. The agreement between each of the observers and the computer readings, ranges from 0.18 to 0.48 for FHR baseline, from 0.16 to 0.74 for variability, from 0.37 to 0.64 for the number of accelerations and from 0.41 to 0.54 for the number of decelerations. The agreement on the type of decelerations is very low (0.01-0.25). CONCLUSION: it is concluded that interobserver variability between experienced observers, inexperienced observers and 2CTG is considerable and that the use of a computer system should overcome this problem.

Cardiotocography↗
PubMed1979

Identification and gas-liquid chromatographic determination of aryl phosphate residues in environmental samples.

Aryl phosphates are widely used as flame retardant plasticizers and hydraulic fluids. Laboratory exposures of rainbow trout to a commercial phosphate hydraulic fluid in a flow-through system resulted in substantial biomagnification. Aryl phosphate residues in fish are extracted and cleaned up by the AOAC method for pesticides in fatty foods, and are detected by phosphorus-selective gas-liquid chromatography. Residues of several aryl phosphate mixtures were detected in fish near industrial sites at concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 1 ppm (edible portion basis).

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Bioaccumulation of chlorinated paraffin residues in fish fed chlorowax 500C.

Fingerling rainbow trout were fed a diet fortified with 10 ppm Chlorowax 500C, a chlorinated paraffin, for up to 82 days. Chlorinated paraffin residues as high as 1.1 ppm (tissue basis) were found. Recoveries from fortified fish tissue were greater than 92%, and the method sensitivity (tissue basis) is at least 0.5 ppm. Ultraviolet irradiation of the sample extracts and microcoulometric gas chromatography minimized interferences. No gross toxicological effects were noted in the experimental fish, although their weight gain was less than that of the controls.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1975

The Food and Drug Administration and the vinyl chloride problem--an overview.

Recent evidence has shown that chronic exposure to vinyl chloride by inhalation may cause cancer in laboratory animals and in man. Its possible oral effects are currently being investigated. The history of the significant events leading to the investigation of this chemical is presented. The current and future activities of the Food and Drug Administration in this area are also described.

Carcinogens↗
PubMed1975

Photochemical technique for the elimination of chlorinated aromatic interferences in the gas-liquid chromatographic analysis for chlorinated paraffins.

A method is described for eliminating chlorinated aromatic interferences in the analysis for the more volatile chlorinated paraffins. Sample extracts are irradiated in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents with high intensity ultraviolet light prior to detection of the chlorinated paraffin by microcoulometric gas-liquid chromatography. Chlorinated aromatic and unsaturated materials, including DDT and polychlorinated biphenyls, are selectively degraded to compounds containing little or no chlorine. Cycloaliphatic pesticides such as toxaphene, chlordane, and mirex are only partially degraded. Analysis of fish fillets fortified with 1 and 5 ppm of a chlorinated paraffin gave recoveries greater than 90%.

Chlordan↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The FDA pesticides program: goals and new approaches.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has carried out a large-scale monitoring program for pesticide residues in foods since the 1960s. The program has evolved continuously as evidenced by a number of recently incorporated modifications and initiatives. Included are greater emphasis on imports; increased and more specific targeting of pesticide/commodity combinations by geographic area or country; development of individual district sampling plans for domestic and imported foods; expanded use of single residue methods; linkage of information on foreign pesticide usage with food import volumes; development of an analytical methods research plan; and increased cooperative sampling and data exchange with the states. Initiatives to acquire and utilize private sector and other monitoring data are being explored, and aggressive steps are being taken to inform the public of FDA monitoring results in a timely and understandable manner.

Food Contamination↗