PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

V Bianco

Publications and source records attributed to V Bianco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Tibolone in the treatment of menopause: compliance, efficacy and safety in a ten year experience.

AIM: To assess tibolone compliance, efficacy and safety in everyday clinical practice a non-randomized, prospective, cohort clinical study was carried out. METHODS: One hundred and fifty post-menopausal women aged 48 to 73 years were prescribed tibolone: 72 of them were treated for 36.4 months, 55 terminated treatment after less than 1 year, while 23 never took the tablets after seeking for menopause counseling and having agreed upon the treatment. We examined: endometrial thickness and histology, total cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, AST, ALT, gamma-gt, and the body weight. RESULTS: Side effects were the main causes of withdrawal (32%), and insufficient therapeutic effect and adverse events for a small number of cases (5.5% and 4.7% respectively), while various causes (fear of cancer, missing tablets, family doctor or other specialist's advice, remission of symptoms) were responsible for terminating treatment after extended periods. Laboratory findings showed a favorable trend; only the (GT showed slightly higher mean values, although within a normal range. On average, weight during treatment increased of 1.5 kg, and endometrial thickness grew of 1.3 mm in a mean time of 34.5 months of observation. An average of 2.3%/year increase of bone mineral density was reported, though bone mass didn't improve in some patients. CONCLUSIONS: Different causes of terminating treatment are related to the length of treatment, side effects being the main reason for early withdrawals, efficacy on symptoms or medical advice or fear of treatment for extended periods of time. Effectiveness on bone mass, safety as resulting from endometrial thickness and laboratory measures are confirmed. It is suggested to enhance follow-up accuracy and reinforce counseling as measures to improve compliance.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

[Human papillomavirus of the female genital tract: prevalence in women attending a centre for early cancer detection].

AIM: The authors study the trend of cytologic human papillomavirus (HPV) detection in the period between 1980 and 2000 in women attending a clinic for genital cancer early detection. METHODS: Routine activity, besides pap smear, is based on clinical evaluation, colposcopy and target biopsy in the presence of a lesion. The cytological trend is compared with that of histologic and clinical findings of HPV lesions on the basis of data prospectively collected. RESULTS: About 5% of cytologic HPV detection is observed in the whole, with a pick of about 11% in the years 1992-1994, and values around 2-3% up to 1991 and after 1995. The finding does not change if the whole pap smear group is considered (46,862) or only the first pap smear per woman (16,810). A similar trend, but with a smaller pick, is observed in histologic findings, not in colposcopic findings. The clinical finding of condylomata is higher in the first period of observation, sloping down through the time intervals considered. Standardization on age or patient's recruiting does not change the evidence. CONCLUSION: The trend of the HPV parameters studied could represent an epidemiological model for HPV infection. The clinical epidemics is followed by a period of HPV cytological pick, which might be followed, at suitable time interval, by more cervical intraepithelial neoplasia/squamous intraepithelial lesions, according to the well known latency between infection and premalignant changes.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Use of new adjuvants in an emergency vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease virus: evaluation of conferred immunity.

The ability of an emergency adjuvanted FMDV vaccine to elicit early protective immune response in mice was examined. We studied the efficacy of several adjuvants to induce such protection. The aqueous IMS1313 plus inactivated FMDV induce a higher protective immune response than the vaccine with inactivated virus alone at seven days post vaccination (dpv). Mice vaccinated with this formula showed higher lymphoproliferative index values and higher IL-2, IL-4 and IFNgamma levels than the controls.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2003

[Sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease. Treatment by "open" and "closed" technique: personal experience].

The Authors report their own experience concerning the treatment of the sacrococcigeal pilonidal sinus disease. Results obtained with the "open" and "closed" techniques were compared. Although results were similar in terms of complications and relapses, the closed technique is to be preferred, because it allows a more rapid return to working activities. In the light of the new trends of sanitary economy a modulated treatment of the disease is suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Complications after stapled hemorrhoidectomy: can they be prevented?

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy (SH), a new approach to the treatment of hemorrhoids, removes a circumferential strip of mucosa about four centimeters above the dentate line. A review of 1,107 patients treated with SH from twelve Italian coloproctological centers has revealed a 15% (164/1,107) complication rate. Immediate complications (first week) were: severe pain in 5.0% of all patients, bleeding (4.2%), thrombosis (2.3%), urinary retention (1.5%), anastomotic dehiscence (0.5%), fissure (0.2%), perineal intramural hematoma (0.1%), and submucosal abscess (0.1%). Bleeding was treated surgically in 24%, with Foley insertion 15%; and by epinephrine infiltration in 2%; 53% of patients with bleeding received no treatment and 6% needed transfusion. One patient with anastomotic dehiscence needed pelvic drainage and colostomy formation. The most common complication after 1 week was recurrence of hemorrhoids in 2.3% of patients, severe pain (1.7%), stenosis (0.8%), fissure (0.6%), bleeding (0.5%), skin tag (0.5%), thrombosis (0.4%), papillary hypertrophy (0.3%) fecal urency (0.2%), staples problems (0.2%), gas flatus and fecal incontinence (0.2%), intramural abscess, partial dehiscence, mucosal septum and intussusception (each <0.1%). Recurrent hemorrhoids were treated by ligation in 40% and by Milligan-Morgan procedure in 32%. All hemorrhoidal thromboses were excised. Anal stenoses were treated by dilatation in 55% and by anoplasty in 45%. Fissure was treated by dilatation in 57%. Most complications (65%) occurred after the surgeon had more than 25 case experiences of stapled hemorrhoidectomy. The most common complication in the first 25 cases of the surgeon's experience was bleeding (48%). Even though SH appears to be promising, we feel that a multicenter randomized study with a long-term follow-up comparing SH and banding is necessary before recommending the procedure. Most complications can be avoided by respecting the rectal wall anatomy in the execution of the procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Prevention of delayed emesis induced by moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with acute emesis: a pilot study with ACTH-Depot plus tropisetron.

The rates of delayed nausea and vomiting by moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in patients with previous experience of acute emesis are usually quite high. This is a pilot study aiming to evaluate the safety of a new antiemetic schedule to prevent delayed emesis in this subset of patients. During 5 consecutive cycles of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, we evaluated 50 patients (15 males) who experienced acute emesis in the first cycle of treatment. The regimen for prevention of delayed emesis consisted of daily tropisetron (5 mg orally from d 2 to d 6 of each chemotherapeutic cycle) associated to ACTH-Depot (1 mg intramuscularly 24 and 68 h after the initiation of chemotherapy). In 77% of chemotherapy cycles, there was a total elimination of nausea and vomiting, whereas in the remaining 23% of cycles, there was a major response defined as < or = 2 vomiting episodes per cycle or nausea grade 1 according to the WHO. The efficacy of the antiemetic regimen persisted during the entire treatment program without the appearance of toxic effects. The proposed antiemetic regimen is highly active in preventing delayed nausea and vomiting episodes in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Moreover, no toxic effects were observed. These promising results require confirmation by a randomized trial.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Gemcitabine as single agent therapy in advanced non small cell lung cancer and quality of life in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to test the efficacy of gemcitabine as single agent therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly by the evaluation of the clinical response, the survival increase and the quality of life. METHODS: Nineteen patients (age >65 years) with a PS >2, bearing an advanced non-small cell lung cancer (IIIb-IV) not treated with chemotherapy before, were charged between December 1996 and December 1998. Sixteen patients were treated with gemcitabine at the dose of 1000 mg/mq 1-8-15 every 28 days. CT scan, X-rays and skeletal scintigraphy were used in the evaluation of the therapeutic response. The toxicity was estimated by following WHO indexes. The quality of life and the modification of the specific symptoms were estimated by particular tests (Spitzer Index, IADL, EORTC-LC13). RESULTS: One complete response (6%), 4 partial responses (25%), 7 cases of illness stabilization (43%), 4 cases of illness progression, were shown. One year of survival was found in 43% of cases with a 14 week of therapeutic response and a global survival ratio of 12.4 weeks. Only 2 cases (12.5) of medium grade G3-leucopenia were found. All patients improved their quality of life (IADL and Spitzer indexes) with reduction of symptoms, (EORTC-LC13) and increase of self-agin and relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of gemcitabine as single agent therapy as not yet been tested due to the scanty number of patients, nevertheless it must be considered in relation to the improvement of the patient s quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Treatment of vulvar vestibulitis with submucous infiltrations of methylprednisolone and lidocaine. An alternative approach.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of submucous infiltrations of methylprednisolone and lidocaine into the vulvar vestibule for the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-two patients were referred for vulvar vestibulitis. Methylprednisolone and lidocaine were injected into the vulvar vestibule once a week for three weeks at decreasing doses (1, 0.5, 0.3 mL). Follow-up was performed monthly for three months, then at six and nine months. Fourteen women have had 12 months and 5 women, 24 months of follow-up. RESULTS: Fifteen women (68%) responded favorably to the treatment, seven (32%) with absence of symptoms and eight (36%) with a marked improvement. Seven patients (32%) failed to respond in spite of a fourth dose (0.3 mL) given after 30 days. No relapse was observed at nine months' follow-up, while a further 0.5 mL infiltration followed by quick remission of symptoms was needed after one year in five patients. Five patients completed the 24 months' follow-up, with no need for further treatment. CONCLUSION: Submucous infiltration allows methylprednisolone to be deposited in the submucosa, the site of the inflammatory reaction, while the depot formulation allows gradual and prolonged release of the drug. Seven patients (32%) failed to respond, suggesting either that they had a kind of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome where inflammation is less remarkable or failure of the infiltrated drug to become adequately diffused.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1997

[Cancer in the elderly. Clinico-epidemiologic considerations].

The elderly population is rapidly increasing in Western countries. Old age indirectly represents one of the most important risk factors for the development of neoplasias. In Italy in 1991 a total of 14,572 deaths from tumours were recorded, equivalent to 27% of all deaths; of these over 66% affected individuals aged over 65 years old. In the 65-74 age bracket mortality caused by tumour is the prime cause of death in Italy and is undergoing an exponential increase over time. The most frequently found tumours and above all the cause of the greatest number of deaths in the elderly population are lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer. To date the only weapon that has proved efficacious in some tumours (breast, colon-rectal, prostate, melanoma) is early diagnosis through screening and adequate treatment. The elderly are an extremely heterogeneous population and it is therefore not easy to provide guidelines that are applicable to the entire population. Firstly, it is important to provide more information in order to permit effective and targeted prevention. In order to fulfil this objective, structures offering the necessary equipment and skills will have to be create; training must be provided for personnel in this type of preventive medicine; lastly, the awareness of doctors towards this type of medicine must be increased by providing the correct information.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Nonpalpable lesions of breast carcinoma in elderly patients].

Breast cancer is the most frequent form of tumour in women. The only weapon at our disposal to reduce the mortality rate for breast cancer is early diagnosis. A number of studies have shown, using appropriate prevention programmes, an increasing number of minimum 20-30% lesions. The probability that a non-palpable lesion is malignant increases with age, with a positivity of 37-39% is women aged over 50. Localisation using FNAB requires studies with greater statistical value so that it can be inserted in current prevention programmes, given that the percentage of false negative is > 8%. At present, excisional biopsy with bioptic tests continues to be the standard reference method for the diagnosis of non-palpable lesions; this diagnostic procedure allows the lesion to be removed in positive cases, and avoids re-operating as in the case of suspected or inadequate cytological tests.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[The surgical therapy of prostatic tumors].

In this paper the authors review the latest international literature regarding prostate tumour surgery, comparing surgery with the so-called "wait and see" approach. Together with hormone treatment, the latter method has been used by many researchers over the past few years given the low mortality caused by this tumour in spite of the increasing number of cases diagnosed. The wait-and-see approach is now rendered controversial by improved diagnostic methods and the widespread introduction of early diagnosis programmes. The authors report a number of studies on the use of "wait-and-see" in relation to radical prostatectomy and compare the results of the two techniques in terms of morbidity, mortality and survival. They go on to describe the various types of surgical technique used and their respective pros and cons as well as the complications typical of each technique. In conclusion, the authors discuss the indications for radical prostatectomy which, if performed in selected patients, appears to be a promising therapeutic approach in terms of disease-free survival and with a low operating mortality with complications that are not impossible to resolve using appropriate treatment.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Monitoring steatorrhoea in cystic fibrosis.

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the relationship between chemical fat analysis and some more rapid tests proposed to estimate steatorrhoea. Stool collections (72 h) were obtained on 32 occasions in 22 patients with cystic fibrosis and in seven healthy children. A very close relationship was found between faecal fat, as measured by standard chemical methods, and faecal energy (r = 0.95, P < 0.001). We conclude that the determination of faecal energy, easier to measure than faecal fat, can provide reliable information about the extent of steatorrhoea in cystic fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Follow-up results of a prevention program for cervical cancer.

Of 4,782 women attending a colposcopy clinic from 1964 to 1971, 4,358 were included in a prevention program for cervical cancer and were followed for at least ten years. Of them, 1,105 were untreated and 3,253 treated. One hundred two underwent surgery and 3,151, electrocautery (ECT). On the basis of the post-ECT colposcopic examination, cervices were divided into iodine dark and iodine light. One cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN III) and three invasive cancers were found among the untreated women. Three neoplasias (one adenocarcinoma, one in situ carcinoma and one invasive carcinoma) were found among the treated non-CIN women, only one carcinoma among the treated CIN women and no neoplasias among the surgically treated women. The comparison showed a difference in favor of the treated group, though it was not statistically significant. A comparison between the observed and expected data on the basis of the literature was highly significant: the expected appeared high. While these data do not prove the basic hypothesis that ECT has a protective effect in cancer prevention, they do provide some evidence in favor of it.

Atrophy↗