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A Peracchia

Publications and source records attributed to A Peracchia.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Laser-photo-radiotherapy in the treatment malignant tumors].

Photoradiation therapy or, as more recently defined, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been effective in the treatment of several kinds of cancers, above all of the skin, lung, esophagus and bladder. It is based on the preferential retention by tumor and photosensitizing properties of certain porphyrins. We began to investigate this technique experimentally in 1978 and clinically in september 1982, with report of the initial results in 38 patients in 1985. In this paper we describe our more recent experience of PDT in 18 patients affected by different tumors and treated with a new double argon-dye laser system. These tumors included 8 carcinomas of the esophagus, 5 basal cell skin cancers, 2 carcinomas of the lung, 2 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and 1 early gastric cancer. Clinical results and technical problems of PDT are discussed.

Hematoporphyrin Photoradiation↗
PubMed1987

Adenocarcinoma of the cardia: the choice of surgical treatment.

The ideal surgical treatment for adenocarcinoma of the cardia is still controversial. Out of 168 consecutive patients resected in a 10-year period, 98 underwent esophagogastric resection (EGR) and 70 total gastrectomy with esophageal resection (TGER). Early and long-term results were compared in order to define specific indications for both surgical procedures. Abdominal nodes were metastatic in 62% of the cases; mediastinal nodes were metastatic in 20.3% of 138 thoracotomized patients. Neoplastic permeation of the section margin occurred in 4.7% of the patients. No positive section margins were found in the cases with 10 cm or more of uninvolved esophagus resected. The superiority of the thoracoabdominal approach was therefore evident in terms of oncologic radicality. Anastomotic leakages occurred in 13.3% of EGR and in 7.1% of TGER patients. No correlation between the stage of the tumor or the neoplastic permeation of the section margin and the incidence of leak was found. Operative mortality was 7.1% after EGR and 10% after TGER, which may suggest that EGR is the procedure of choice in poor-risk and elderly patients. Loco-regional or systemic neoplastic recurrence was responsible for long-term mortality in 70% of the cases. Anastomotic recurrence was found in 12.2% of EGR patients and in 1.4% of TGER patients. Overall five-year survival was 19.1%. Mean survival was 29.5 months, 30 after EGR and 27 after TGER (p = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Effect of perioperative somatostatin administration of sphincteroplasty-induced increase of amylase.

Twenty patients undergoing sphincteroplasty for cholelithiasis were randomly divided into two groups of 10. The former (T) were treated with a 4-h somatostatin intravenous drip (250 micrograms/h), started at the beginning of operation, while the latter (C) made up the control group. Serum and urine amylase, amylase creatinine clearance ratio, and liver function tests were assessed for 2 days before surgery, after the operation and for a period of 5 postoperative days. Homogeneity between the two series was verified in experimental conditions. Statistical differences occurred postoperatively in amylase creatinine clearance ratio, which proved higher in C group, and gamma-GT, which was higher in T group. Short-term somatostatin administration proved effective in reducing the postoperative amylase creatinine clearance ratio, although more evident results are reported after long-term administration. Cholestasis or any serious impairment in liver function did not occur, suggesting the suitability of somatostatin use even in patients with jaundice. Since a relationship between postoperative amylase levels and risk of pancreatitis has not yet been proved, the value of somatostatin in the prevention of postoperative pancreatitis after sphincteroplasty needs to be further verified.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Phase II study of cisplatin, 5-FU, and allopurinol in advanced esophageal cancer.

Forty patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with a combination of cisplatin, 5-FU (by continuous 5-day infusion), and allopurinol; 37 are evaluable for response. Thirteen remissions (35%) were obtained, including three complete and ten partial, with a median duration of 9 months. After chemotherapy, seven responding patients underwent a surgical procedure, which was radical in four. The most frequent side effects were nausea and vomiting. This regimen is effective and can be included in a multimodality approach.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Early detection of necrotizing pancreatitis by computer.

In 59 patients admitted with a clinical picture compatible with acute pancreatitis, 88 features, recorded within the first day, were retrospectively collected and stored in a database programmed on a NCR DM V personal computer. On the basis of the final diagnosis, the patients were divided into two groups, according to Becker's grading of acute pancreatitis. A third group comprised the false-positives. Using 14 significant differences (p less than 0.025) between the three groups, a Bayesian analysis was programmed for early prediction, in terms of percentage probability, of each of the three final diagnoses. A retrospective assessment of computer performance was carried out in the patients entered the initial database, and further 38 underwent a prospective test. In the detection of necrotizing pancreatitis the procedure gave 95.8% accuracy, 91.9% sensitivity and 98.3% specificity. Previous diagnosis of pancreatitis, estimate of the degree of necrosis, data to be used for the processing, are discussed. Performances, similar in retrospective and prospective series, proved higher as compared to diagnostic peritoneal lavage. Comparison with Ranson's multiple criteria or computed tomography is inappropriate. The system seems to be reliable feasible and adaptable. The choice of treatment is difficult in acute pancreatitis. A computer-aided analysis may provide a better approach, than an unaided clinical estimate, to several decisional problems in acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

[Colon-rectal anastomosis with mechanical sutures (personal experience in 96 cases)].

From 1 October 1981 to 30 September 1985 ninety-six patients underwent colorectal resection with EEA Auto-suture stapled anastomosis for cancer or diverticula. As compared with manual suture, the mechanical procedure involved some technical problems and peroperative drawbacks (partial leakage, hemorrhage), which decreased after the initial phase of our experience. The EEA Stapler proved a reliable and useful procedure, especially in low colo-rectal anastomoses, which present a higher risk of leakage, owing to difficulties with manual technique. Clinical or x-ray fistulas occurred in four patients after colon-to-colon (5.8%) and were six following colorectal anastomoses (22.2%). Only in three cases a colostomy was necessary. In spite of suitability of the mechanical procedure, a colostomy was carried out to protect low colo-rectal anastomoses, when general risk factors were present or when the suture was improperly performed or transection circles were incomplete. The introduction of the EEA Stapler allowed for a higher number of anterior resection of the rectum, with a corresponding decrease of abdominoperineal procedures, and promoted a more extensive indication to palliative anterior resection. It is still a matter of concern whether the high number of anterior resections would be followed by an increased local recurrence rate, in consideration that radicality depends on a wide exeresis with a complete lymphoadenectomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Metabolic, water and electrolyte changes after moderate surgical trauma. Observations after different schedules of parenteral nutrition.

The effects of a moderate surgical trauma on body composition, in conditions comparable to fasting were assessed in a balance study. Two groups of patients under normal nutritional conditions were compared after cholecystectomy. The patients underwent for three days the following schedules of parenteral therapy: incomplete nutrition with balanced intake of water, sodium and potassium but carbohydrate deficient and lacking in amino acids (group 1, 10 cases); or complete nutrition with respect to calories, amino acids and other electrolytes (group 2, 9 cases). An evident loss in body weight was observed in patients undergoing incomplete nutrition, not justified by a moderately negative water balance. Statistical comparison of the two groups showed equal or positive balances for group 1 while group 2 gave negative results for all the parameters, particularly for nitrogen and potassium, suggestive of a loss in lean body mass greater than that usually occurring after simple fasting. Results confirmed the poor significance of serum values in expressing even significant degrees of electrolyte depletion. Substantial modifications in body composition may appear as clinical manifestations in cases with pre-existing malnutrition or when drugs that affect or are affected by the water and electrolyte balance are administered.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Cisplatin, bleomycin and methotrexate in the treatment of advanced oesophageal cancer.

From February 1981 to September 1982, 34 patients with metastatic or locally advanced (inoperable) epidermoid carcinoma of the oesophagus were treated with a combination of cisplatin, bleomycin and methotrexate. Thirty-one patients are now evaluable for response: 16 of 31 (52%) experienced some improvement, but only eight (26%) obtained major responses (one complete and seven partial). Responses were obtained rapidly within the first two courses. The median duration of responses was 5 months. The median survival from start of therapy was 8 months for responsive and 5 months for non-responsive patients. Gastrointestinal toxicity (cisplatin-related) and mild myelosuppression were the most prominent side-effects. This combination chemotherapy proved to be only of small efficacy in the long-term control of advanced oesophageal cancer. However, because the responses were obtained rapidly, it is conceivable that a similar regimen (with increased dosage of cisplatin) applied before surgery to patients with limited disease could obtain a reduction of the bulky tumour, with a possible increase of the resectability rate and destruction of micrometastases.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Influence of bile flow interruption on acute experimental pancreatitis.

The influence of bile flow interruption on the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis has been evaluated in the rat. The pancreatitis was induced by Pfeffer's technique and the severity of the disease was assessed by a macroscopic examination of the pancreatic damage and the calculation of amylase-to-creatinine clearance ratio (ACCR) as well. The results showed that the bile reflux into the pancreas made the pancreatic lesions caused by stasis in the gland associated with hyperstimulation of exocrine secretion more severe. On the other hand the bile reflux had no influence when the pancreatitis was due to flowing back of duodenal contents into the pancreas (closed duodenal loop). It was concluded that the bile effect is probably consistent with a pressure mechanism. In addition the reliability of ACCR in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was confirmed, and the test was effective in detecting even milder pancreatic damages.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

Cholelithiasis and colorectal cancer.

To assess whether the higher risk of colorectal cancer is related to cholelithiasis rather than to cholecystectomy, a retrospective epidemiologic study was carried out on 350 patients operated for colorectal cancer. The incidence of a previous cholecystectomy or concomitant cholelithiasis was shown to be significantly higher in colorectal cancer patients with respect to controls (relative risk: 1.48 and 1.99 respectively). The association in both cases was more frequent for colorectal cancer. These results permit to hypothesize that the association with colorectal cancer does not concern previous cholecystectomy but rather cholelithiasis which is contemporaneously present or responsible for cholecystectomy.

Cholecystectomy↗