Biomedical subjects

S Pergolizzi

Publications and source records attributed to S Pergolizzi.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Enamel fluorosis in rat's incisor: S.E.M. and T.E.M. investigation.

Findings on the alterations taking place in the enamel have demonstrated that they are generally caused by a daily use of highly fluoridated drinking waters. According to that, the Authors have carried out an ultrastructural study on lower incisors of albino rats after administering for 60 days water with a fluorine concentration five times the normal one. The samples, studied under the S.E.M., showed a general slowing of both the deposition and the maturation phase as well as the presence of some hypomineralized areas even after eruption. All this suggested the possibility that the damages observed were not due to the direct effect of fluorine on the enamel, but to the interaction between fluorine and ameloblasts. The Authors have then carried out an ultrastructural study on the enamel organ using the S.E.M. The results showed the presence of a well-evident endoplasmic reticulum, the lack in dense granules during the secretion phase, the lack in ruffle ended webs during the modulation phase, and the mitochondrial damage in the ameloblast. All this could justify the slowing of the enamel mineralization caused by fluorine effect on the ameloblasts.

Ameloblasts↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of two oral dose regimens of granisetron.

BACKGROUND: Most chemotherapic treatments are carried out on an outpatient basis. In such patients the prevention and control of emesis is important. Granisetron is a specific and extremely potent 5-HT3 antagonist available as an oral formulation. We have carried out an open randomized crossover study in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 patients were randomized to receive one of the two oral dose regimens of GRAN. Treatment A = 1 mg of GRAN initially and 12 hours after the first; treatment B = a single 2 mg dose of GRAN. RESULTS. An overall good response for vomiting was reached in 70% and 86.7% respectively of patients receiving treatments A and B (p = 0.0625). Good response to nausea was reached in 73.3% of the patients with treatment A and in 76.7% with treatment B (p = 1). 68.3% of patients did not record chemoinduced emesis. CONCLUSION: We believe that oral GRAN alone is an active and safe drug for the prevention of acute chemoinduced emesis.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The shape of enamel crystals as seen with high resolution scanning electron microscope.

The authors have carrie out a study on the shape of apatite enamel crystals by means of field emission S.E.M.; for this purpose the lower incisor enamel of albino rats and the enameloid of fossil remains of Odontaspis from the Cretaceus and Miocene ages were used. The analysis of the available literature showed two different models: according to the first model enamel crystals were elongated hexagonal rods; according to the second, the one of Warshawsky, the enamel crystals were flat ribbons, with a rectangular cross-section. In accordance to the synthetic apatite morphology and to the shape of the unit cell, the authors show that the single enamel crystal is a rod with an equilateral hexagon base.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Supraclavicular lymph node metastases (SLM) from breast cancer as only site of distant disease: has radiotherapy any role?

BACKGROUND: Supraclavicular lymph node metastases (SLM) as the only site of metastatic disease from breast cancer is a rare and a poor prognostic event. In order to evaluate the role of Radiotherapy (RT) with "radical dose" to the supraclavicular fossa, we carried out a non randomized clinical trial comparing systemic therapy alone to integrated and aggressive treatment (systemic therapy plus radiotherapy). The primary end-point was time to progression (TTP). The second end-point was the overall survival (OS). METHODS: From 1/1/1989 to 31/12/1994 37 patients (with or without the presence of locoregional disease) were enrolled into two arms, of the study, but were allowed, when giving their consent, to change the arm of the study which they had been originally allotted to. Arm A, 18 patients, 15 evaluable: chemo +/- hormonotherapy for 6 courses; after the second course, if local progression disease was present, the pts. were submitted to RT and removed from the study (3 patients). Arm B, 19 patients all evaluable: chemo +/- hormonotherapy for 3 courses followed by RT with "radical" dose. Results were analyzed on 30/11/1995 and no interim analysis was performed. The potential median follow up for all patients was 56.5 months (range 11-83 months): for Arm A 61 months (range: 12-82); for Arm B 53 months (range: 11-83). The two groups were homogeneous and balanced, without statistical differences. RESULTS: Median TTP was 12.5 months in Arm A and 19.5 months in Arm B (p = 0.064). Median overall survival (OS) was 27.5 months in Arm A and 48 months in Arm B. T-status to the time of the diagnosis was found to be independent prognostic factor for TTP (p = 0.0029). Disease-free interval from diagnosis to recurrence was found to be a significant prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The results in Arm B demonstrated the opportunity of a long term control in this subset of patients. Therefore we suggest the start of a wider multicenter study in order to define the biological significance of SLM, its importance in staging breast cancer and to consider the optimum treatment.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Defibrotide in the prevention of venous irritation by vinorelbine administration.

BACKGROUND: Vinorelbine is active in a variety of malignancies. The most common side effects are leukopenia and granulocytopenia, moreover Vinorelbine is a vescicant and venous irritant, the incidence of the latter being 10-26% in patients who received VNB as a 20-30 minute peripheral infusion. To prevent venous toxicity we have carried out a study in order to evaluate the efficacy of Defibrotide in this issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 41 patients were enrolled in the study, the experimental schedule was: Defibrotide 400 mg on 250 cc of normal saline iv, after 15 minutes of infusion, we delivered quick, brief and repeated pulses of Vinorelbine through the plastic tube followed by remaining Defibrotide: For grading venous irritation we used the scale by Rittenberg et al. RESULTS: A total of 360 infusion were delivered, the incidence of any venous irritation was 5% and maximum grade 2. No severe toxicity was recorded. CONCLUSION: These data show that Defibrotide might serve as a therapeutic drug to prevent vascular toxicity by Vinorelbine.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Denervation muscular atrophy. Studies on the soleus muscle of the albino rat (LM, TEM, immunofluorescence, image analysis).

In previous researches the Authors hypothesized that the loss of cytoskeletal proteins such as desmin and vinculin lead to degenerative ultrastructural changes which occur in muscular disuse atrophy. In order to support this hypothesis they carried out a morphometric, structural, ultrastructural and immunofluorescence study on the soleus muscle of albino rats after resection of the ischiatic nerve. It was demonstrated that a chronological sequence of the damage took place in particular three levels of damage. The last level of damage proved to be irreversible; the first level assured complete recovery in the case of rapid reinnervation, whereas the possible reversibility of the second level remained open to question. The disappearance of vinculin and desmin was observed in a period between 72 hours and 7 days, i.e. before the appearance of ultrastructural damage. On this ground the Authors explained the correlation between the loss of the proteins and degenerative changes. In conclusion the Authors correlated the gene expression of cytoskeletal and contractile proteins with the neuropeptides released by motor axon.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Escalating dose of oral ondansetron in the prevention of radiation induced emesis.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced emesis is an event linked to the release of serotonin during abdominal irradiation. Ondansetron is able to prevent emesis, but an optimal scheme has not yet been established. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of an escalating dose of oral ondansetron (Oral OND) in the prevention of emesis induced by fractionated radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 30 patients who underwent fractionated radiotherapy involving the upper abdomen which received this schedule of antiemetic therapy: phase A Oral OND 4 mg p.o. immediately after irradiation (RT) with a dose < or = 20 Gy; phase B Oral OND 8 mg p.o. immediately after RT with dose > 20 Gy and < 30 Gy; phase C Oral OND 8 mg p.o. every 12 hours starting immediately after RT with a dose > or = 30 Gy. RESULTS: During phase A we obtained a 100% of CR in all 30 patients. In phase B 22 CR (92%) and 2 MR (8%). In phase C on a total of 11 patients we recorded 6 CR (55%), 3 MR (27%) and 2 F (18%). The toxicity was mild. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm the efficacy and safety of Oral OND and, moreover, show the possibility to reduce the cost without compromising the activity.

Adolescent↗