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Biomedical subjects

M Giovannini

Publications and source records attributed to M Giovannini.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[Inoperable cancer of the esophagus: preliminary results of combined chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil-cisplatin) and radiotherapy].

The aim of this study was to appreciate the tolerance and efficacy of a new nonoperative therapy for inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma based on chemotherapy (5FU-cisplatinum) and concomitant splitcourse radiation therapy. Twenty five symptomatic patients (24 males, 1 female, mean age: 59 yrs, range: 41-72 yrs) were included. Five had 2 esophageal carcinoma, 5 an associated upper respiratory tract tumor and 2, relapse after surgery. Nine patients had a tumor limited to the esophagus (stage I or II) but were considered at high surgical risk. Sixteen had stage III disease with mediastinal involvement in 13 cases, nodal involvement in 4 and distant metastasis in 7. Treatment consisted of 2 cycles of chemotherapy with 5-FU (1 g/m2/24 h by continuous infusion for 5 days, D1-D5 and D29-D33) and cisplatinum (70 mg/m2 IV bolus on D2 and D30). Radiation therapy was concomitant in 2 courses delivering 20 grays in 5 days (D1-D5 and D29-D33). On the first day of the treatment, peroral endoscopic dilation or Nd-YAG laser therapy was applied. At the end of treatment all the patients could eat. Histoendoscopic control was performed 8 weeks after the beginning of therapy. Seventeen of the 24 patients had a complete response with negative biopsies. Of the 7 patients with metastatic disease, only 4 were evaluable for response to chemotherapy: one with hepatic metastasis had a complete response for 12 months, 2 had stable disease and one progressive disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials in phenylketonuric children.

Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PR-VEPs) and EEG were recorded in 14 phenylketonuric (PKU) children on a low-phenylalanine (phe) diet; the data obtained were correlated with metabolic parameters, namely, the actual phe plasma level, the mean phe plasma level in the last year, an the beginning of the diet. PR-VEPs seem to be more sensitive than EEG in detecting neurophysiological derangements in these subjects; in fact PR-VEPs were pathological in six patients while EEG detected three; no significant alterations were found in the neurophysiological tests among the children with good metabolic control, and only one child was abnormal among the six on an early dietetic regimen; in contrast, six of the nine subjects presenting with high mean phe plasma levels (greater than 10 mg/100 ml) and five of the eight whose diet started after the 2nd month of life showed pathological PR-VEPs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Clinical experience and results of treatment with suprofen in pediatrics. 5th communication: a single-blind study on antipyretic effect and tolerability of suprofen syrup versus metamizole drops in pediatric patients.

In a single-blind study, 60 children in two age groups (30 patients: 6 months to 3 years; 30 patients: 3 years to 12 years), were orally treated with either alpha-methyl-4-(2-thienyl-carbonyl)phenylacetic acid (suprofen, Suprol), syrup 10 mg/ml or metamizole drops 50% for a maximum period of 4 days, up to 4 times a day. The children presented with high fever due to bacterial or virus infections. Body temperature, pulse rate, and respiratory rate were evaluated at the beginning and then 30 min, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h after the first administration of the respective drug. Significant differences between the drugs were found for all variables; this demonstrated that with suprofen the antipyretic effect set in more rapidly than with the reference drug. No side-effects were observed in children treated with suprofen syrup. Two patients showed adverse effects, i.e. sweating and hypotension, during the treatment with metamizole. Due to its good antipyretic effect and good tolerability, suprofen appears to be particularly useful for symptomatic treatment of pediatric patients with fever caused by bacterial or virus infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

A double-blind clinical trial for the evaluation of the therapeutical effectiveness of a calf thymus derivative (Thymomodulin) in children with recurrent respiratory infections.

The effectiveness of an orally administrable thymic derivative (Thymomodulin) for the treatment of the recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) in children has been studied in a double-blind clinical trial with historical comparison. In the Thymomodulin treated group a significant decrease of the monthly frequency of RRI has been observed in comparison with the previous year (P less than 0.05) and with the placebo treated group (P less than 0.002). The evaluation of the laboratory data at the beginning of the study didn't show in the two groups typical alterations of the common hematological and immunological parameters, but at the end of the trial a statistically significant increase of the levels of salivary IgA has been noticed only in the Thymomodulin treated group (P less than 0.02).

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1985

Cranial computerized tomography in dihydropteridine reductase deficiency.

Dihydropteridine reductase deficiency is a rare cause of hyperphenylalaninaemia, characterized by severe and progressive neurological impairment, despite early and accurate dietary control of plasma phenylalanine. We describe two girls, diagnosed at 17 and 14 months of age, respectively, and immediately treated with L-dopa, 5-hydroxytryptophan and carbidopa. In spite of an adequate dietary and pharmacological treatment, the clinical and neurological pictures progressively worsened. Repeated cranial computerized axial tomography scans showed degeneration of the white matter and, in one case, calcification of the basal ganglia. The possible association of this last finding with folate depletion is discussed.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗