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S Castelli

Publications and source records attributed to S Castelli.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[The effectiveness and acceptance of a medical device for the treatment of aphthous stomatitis. Clinical observation in pediatric age].

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of a new bioadhesive patch, Aloe vera hydrogel, for the treatment of aphthous stomatitis. METHODS: An open, not controlled study was performed in 31 pediatric out-patients, aged 6-14 years, affected by mouth ulcers were enrolled consecutively in the 3 Gps Depts+ of San Marino Republic. For each case, data on case history and clinical profile, patterns of the lesion, presence of spontaneous or provoked pain were collected at baseline, and a bioadhesive patch ("Alovex patch") was administered on the basis of a daily regimen of < or = 3 patches for 4 days. Data on modification of the above-mentioned parameters, with patients and physicians opinion on the therapeutical efficacy, were collected during a control visit (4 days later). Moreover, by means of a daily diary, patients recorded information on the course of the symptoms during the 4 days and were also asked to compare the current treatment with other previous therapies. RESULTS: At the control visit 77% of the patients have shown a marked resolution of spontaneous pain, while in the other patients, pain was significantly decreased to a "mild" or "moderate" level. No one child declared to suffer from severe pain. Also provoked pain resulted to be significantly decreased after treatment Global efficacy was judged positively, being the therapeutical effect in more than 80% of cases "evident or of absolute improvement" both by physicians and patients opinion. A positive improvement of symptomatology started within the 2nd day of treatment in 74% of the patients. The compliance (adhesivity, acceptability and palatability) of the formulation was judged largely favourable in more than 90% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study underline the good efficacy and compliance of the patch for the treatment of the aphtous stomatitis; also the limit of topical available therapies, linked to the "contact time", to develop their therapeutical action, seems not to be evinced on the basis of this study, so the application of this patch seems to be more easy and beneficial.

Adhesives↗

[Fever as periodic disorder].

Slight, moderate but also high rises in temperature, excluding other causes of fever, can be considered symptoms of periodic syndrome originating by hypothalamic centers as soon as headache, recurrent abdominal pains, growing pains, dizziness, kinetosis. These rises aren't uncommon, but often aren't considered important and this few statistics are available. The Authors present 16 case reports of fever as periodic symptom and discuss how common factors exist in the mechanism of hyperthermia and other clinical signs of periodic syndrome (ex. migraine) but they are generally modulated differently so that disturbance of temperature regulation predominates in the first case, pain in the second.

Abdominal Pain↗

[Comparison of periodic syndrome and spasmophilia].

Two casual clinical observations here reported allow the Authors to discuss the possible relationships between periodic syndrome and spasmophilia. Particularly they stress how these common causes of recurrent symptoms (abdominal pain, headache, growing pains, anxiety, irritability) can be the same clinical entity. This suspicion is confirmed by EMG investigation: 25 children with periodic syndrome (8 males, 17 females; 8-13 years) and 10 normal subjects (6-11 years) participate in this study. Post-ischemic EMG shows signs of neuromuscular hyperexcitability as in spasmophilia in 21 children (84%) of the first group and only in 3 of the second group. Such findings should be regarded as the first step towards a better definition of the relationships between periodic syndrome and spasmophilia.

Adolescent↗

[A diagnostic controversy: the significance of 14-6/sec positive spikes in clinical electroencephalography].

There has been a great dealt of discussion as to the clinical significance of E.E.G. 14-6 per second positive spikes (14-6 PS), a short burst lasting one second or less which occurs during light sleep in monopolar recordings, mainly in the posterior temporal regions and usually involving the parietal and occipital regions as well, for the most part in unsymmetrical fashion. Early interpretations stress the epileptic nature of vegetative attacks in patients with an inter-critical E.E.G. reading characterized by 14-6 P.S. Subsequently, however, this hypothesis has been refuted, mainly because E.E.G. intra-critical recordings have never shown evidence of any sort of paroxysmal activity. At present time expert think that the presence of 14-6 PS may be merely an indication of an electrical alteration associated with disorders in the neurovegetative area. In order to evaluate the possibility of using them as a diagnostic marker of migraine equivalents and periodic syndromes, we reviewed wake and sleep E.E.G. recordings, carried out consecutively and hence not selectively, in 617 children aged 5-16 years. 14-6 PS were present in 109 children (17.6%), 63 of whom showed evident symptoms of periodic syndrome (headache, recurrent abdominal pain, cyclic vomiting, kinetosis, etc.); hence 46 E.E.G. recording were false positive. 510 children were lacking in 14-6 PS, 91 of these presented symptoms of periodic syndromes (false negative). 14-6 PS are hence a marker 40.9% sensitive, 90.1% specific, with a predictable value of 57.7%. The search for 14-6 PS in children with periodic syndrome is not particularly sensitive as a test, but it is fairly specific: it may well constitute an useful element in diagnosis.

Adolescent↗