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L Gallo

Publications and source records attributed to L Gallo.

119 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Recovery of erection after pelvic urologic surgery: our experience.

The incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients undergoing pelvic urologic surgery, the efficacy and tolerability of vardenafil-based rehabilitative treatment as first option in these patients, the role of spontaneous erection (SE) as a possible positive predictive factor to erection recovery after such treatment, and the role of second-line therapies in those nonresponders are evaluated. All the patients undergoing pelvic urologic surgery at our Institution between November 2002 and December 2003 were considered. Preoperative erectile function (EF) was evaluated by using the abridged five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF5) questionnaire. Study population was divided into separate groups considering grade of preoperative EF, nerve sparing (NS) surgery and type of procedure (radical prostatectomy, radical cystectomy (RC) or nerve and seminal sparing cystectomy). In total, 86 patients were evaluated. After 6 months, an increase in mean IIEF5 score of 12.9 points was found in those who had undergone a bilateral NSRP after vardenafil therapy, of 8.0 points in those who had undergone unilateral NSRP, of 11.3 in those who had undergone NSRC and of 11.5 in nerve and seminal sparing cistectomies. A better vardenafil response was found in patients with SE+(P<0.001). Among those vardenafil notresponders, 13 were treated by using intracavernous injections, one by vacuum device and three with penile prosthesis implant. In conclusion, in our experience, vardenafil showed to be well tolerated and effective for recovery of EF in patients undergoing pelvic urologic surgery. This drug was particularly effective for those with a normal preoperative EF undergoing an NS procedure. Of course, it should be recognized that the absence of a control group in the study represents an important limitation. However, based on the data from the literature, there is a strong belief that such an approach will lead to an earlier recovery of EF than without rehabilitative treatment.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies of the coronary circulation in Chagas' heart disease.

Pathogenesis of chronic Chagas' heart disease may include various disturbances in the coronary circulation, that could be responsible for the myocardial lesions seen in human hearts and in experimental models of the disease. In this paper we critically reviewed the anatomical and functional abnormalities described in chronic chagasic patients, pertaining to the so-called vascular pathogenetic theory of Chagas' disease. The epicardial coronary arteries are usually free of significant obstructive disease in nonselected groups of chagasic patients examined at autopsy or by coronary angiography. However, chagasic patients who were studied after an episode of acute myocardial infarction, show the same patterns of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease seen in the general nonchagasic population. Studies of chagasic patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries, by several scintigraphy methods, revealed myocardial perfusion abnormalities which may be caused by the microcirculatory derangements described in animals experimentally infected with the T. cruzi. Since hypoperfusion has been detected in regions with normal or mildly impaired wall motion, it is likely that the microvascular disturbances precede and may be causative mechanism for the subsequent myocardial damage. We speculate that hibernating ventricular areas may occur in chagasic patients, on the basis of the evidence gathered from these studies. Recent investigations of chronic patients with Chagas' disease and chest pain showed attenuation of the vasomotor responses to physiological and pharmacological stimuli, in the epicardial coronary arteries.

Animals↗
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[Role of crural inguinal lymphadenectomy and dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy in lymph node staging in squamous-cell carcinoma of the penis. Our experience].

PURPOSE: We determine the value of dynamic sentinel node biopsy for staging squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a period of 2 years 17 patients with penile cancer was performed after lymphoscintigraphy pre and intraoperatively with gamma ray detection probe at biopsy of the sentinel node with the aid of perilesional administered patent blue dye. After 20 days regional lymph node dissection was performed in all patients. RESULTS: Sentinel node metastasis was found in 5 patients; in one case lymphoscintigraphy not visualized sentinel node. All negative node biopsy was confirmed with the regional lymph node dissection. No major complication did occur after sentinel node biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Occult lymph node metastases can be detected by dynamic sentinel node biopsy including preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, vital dye and gamma ray detection probe with a sensitivity of 78%, predictive negative value of 100% and with low morbidity.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytology of extrapulmonary Pneumocystis carinii infection in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Rare cases of extrapulmonary Pneumocystis carinii (EPPC) have been seen in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We report seven such diagnoses of nonpulmonary P carinii (PC) from four AIDS patients between 1986 and 1989. The specimens included fine needle aspirate of liver, spleen, periarticular tissue and pleura as well as ankle fluid, pleural fluid and ascites. In some, but not all, cases the patients had concurrent or previous episodes of PC pneumonia. In all cases the typical granular, eosinophilic aggregates of PC cysts were noted on routine Papanicolaou staining, leading to the definitive detection of PC cysts with Grocott silver stain. In most cases, evidence for granulomalike and neovascularized tissue reaction was present in cytologic material. One specimen demonstrated concurrent acid fast bacilli. In the setting of AIDS, cytology of effusions and masses should include an evaluation for EPPC.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of cystic benign lymphoepithelial lesion of the parotid gland in patients at risk for the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Cystic benign lymphoepithelial lesion (BLL), a previously rare lesion of the parotid gland consisting of marked lymphoid hyperplasia with accompanying squamous-lined cysts, has recently been described in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS risk factors. Thirteen fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples of parotid gland masses from patients with AIDS (one case), AIDS risk factors (five cases) or denial of AIDS risk factors (two cases) and a histopathologic diagnosis of BLL were examined. The FNA features that correlated best with the histopathologic findings were (1) a heterogeneous lymphoid population, (2) scattered single and/or clustered foamy macrophages and (3) superficial and/or anucleated squamous cells. Most aspirates showed some combination of these three components. The differential diagnostic considerations, the clinical and radiologic correlations and the relationship of this lesion to HIV infection are discussed. Patients with parotid masses whose aspirates consist of some combination of squamous cells, lymphocytes and foamy macrophages should be questioned for possible AIDS risk factors.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methotrexate, mitoxantrone, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in metastatic breast cancer patients.

We have evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, mitoxantrone, 5-Fluorouracil and leucovorin in 21 advanced breast cancer patients. Among 20 evaluable patients, objective response was obtained in 6 patients (30%) with two complete responses, stable disease in 4 patients (20%), while 10 patients (50%) progressed. Median progression-free survival and survival were 10 and 15 months, respectively. The most frequently observed side-effects were myelosuppression and emesis; one patient, who had previously received doxorubicin at the maximum dose-limiting cardiac toxicity, died of congestive heart failure after the third cycle. This treatment is moderately effective for advanced breast cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fine needle aspiration cytology of peripheral lymph node cryptococcosis. A report of three cases.

Aspiration cytology of lymph nodes allows rapid diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis. Three cases of lymph node cryptococcosis diagnosed by aspiration cytology in three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are presented. The organisms were easily seen with a routine modified Wright and Papanicolaou stain as variably sized yeasts, 5-15 microns in greatest diameter, with thick capsules. Many of the organisms showed narrow base budding. In one case occasional pseudohyphae were observed. The diagnoses were confirmed easily with mucicarmine stain.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nucleolar organizer regions: a prognostic factor in infiltrating ductal carcinoma in the breast.

By means of an AgNOR technique, the authors have carried out a retrospective study on proliferative activity in 170 cases of infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma (so-called carcinoma NOS). The follow-up period was 138 months. A statistically significant correlation was found between AgNOR score and outcome of the disease ("vital status"), clinical stage and OS respectively. By means of discriminant analysis a threshold value of AgNOR score was identified (= 9.5) which distinguished two risk groups among the cases under examination. Those cases with an average AgNOR score below the threshold value showed a favourable prognosis. The cases with an AgNOR score greater than 9.5 had an unfavourable outcome. The authors suggest that AgNOR score may be used as a prognostic parameter in breast carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Control of heart rate during exercise in health and disease.

The authors present a review of their contributions over the last decade to the study of the autonomic control of heart rate during dynamic exercise under physiological and pathological conditions. These studies included the development of new methods for the evaluation of autonomic control of heart rate during dynamic exercise in man. Pharmacological blockade of sympathetic (propranolol) and parasympathetic (atropine) efferent nerves was used to demonstrate differences in time constants and power-dependent relative participation of each division of the autonomic nervous system, as predominant mechanisms responsible for the tachycardia occurring during dynamic exercise. These findings have permitted the use of properly standardized dynamic exercise (discontinuous protocol: step powers, seated position on a bicycle ergometer, 4-min duration), as a simple and noninvasive test for the evaluation of autonomic control of the sinus node. This test has proved to be useful for detecting physiological autonomic adaptations induced by aerobic training, as well as dysfunctions occurring in pathologic conditions such as Chagas' disease and hyperthyroidism.

Atropine↗