Biomedical subjects

M Sala

Publications and source records attributed to M Sala.

190 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

The efficacy and safety of gamma-linolenic acid in the treatment of infantile atopic dermatitis.

The efficacy and safety of gamma-linolenic acid in the treatment of atopic dermatitis was evaluated. The children (mean age, 11.4 months) with atopic dermatitis (mean duration, 8.56 months) were openly treated with 3 g/day gamma-linolenic acid, for 28 days. Clinical evaluations were carried out every 7 days, and parents were asked to keep a diary, recording details of symptoms of eczema every day. Blood chemistry and immunological tests were done before and after treatment. None of the children showed complete recovery of symptoms. A gradual improvement in erythema, excoriations and lichenification was seen; significant differences were shown for itching (P < 0.01), and the use of antihistamines (P < 0.01). A significant rise in the percentage of circulating CD8 was found. No side-effects were recorded. Dietetic and pharmacological approaches are the basis of the treatment of atopic dermatitis and gamma-linolenic acid appears to be a safe and efficient additional therapy for infants and young children.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nutritional value of a rice-hydrolysate formula in infants with cows' milk protein allergy: a randomized pilot study.

This study was designed to assess whether a rice-hydrolysate formula allows normal growth and adequate metabolic balance in infants with cows' milk protein allergy. Infants (seven females, nine males; aged 6-14 months) were randomly assigned to receive a rice-hydrolysate formula (n = 8) or a soy formula (control group, n = 8). Standardized growth indices (Z scores) and biochemical parameters were evaluated during a 6-month treatment period. Infants in both groups showed normal growth patterns during the study, and no adverse reactions were seen. Mean plasma biochemical parameters were within the normal ranges, and did not differ between groups. In conclusion, rice-hydrolysate formula may be a nutritionally suitable alternative for infants with cows' milk protein allergy. Larger studies, with satisfactory power, should be undertaken to confirm these findings.

Body Height↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tumour markers CEA, NSE, SCC, TPA and CYFRA 21.1 in resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: In the last few years, several prognostic factors have been investigated in order to identify among patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subsets at high risk of recurrence. In this context, the actual role of serum tumour markers is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative CEA, NSE, SCC, TPA and CYFRA 21.1 serum levels in 62 patients submitted to radical surgery for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The predicting ability of these tumour markers with respect to histological type and pathological stage was also assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After informed consent was obtained, the preoperative serum concentrations of the tumour markers CEA, NSE, SCC, TPA and CYFRA 21.1 were measured by means of immunometric assays in 62 patients referred to our Institutions from January to December 1992. All patients had resectable, histologically proven NSCLC and were submitted to radical surgery. Overall survival (OS) was calculated as the time elapsed from surgery to the date of death or last clinical evaluation; the prognostic effect of the tumour markers was investigated by Cox multiple regression models. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were male and 6 female; median age was 62 years. Thirty-four patients had a histological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and 28 of squamous cell carcinomas. With regard to pathological stage, 32 patients had stage I, 4 patients had stage II and 23 patients had stage IIIA disease. In this series of patients, at a median follow-up of 55 months after surgery, we found that both TPA and CYFRA 21.1 serum levels at the time of diagnosis were reliable predictors of overall survival high values of these markers being associated with worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that in completely resected NSCLC, TPA and CYFRA 21.1 preoperative serum levels might provide a useful tool for stratifying subgroups of patients with different chances of disease recurrence after surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Several advances have been produced in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. It is possible to diagnose the neoplasm at an early stage when radical treatment options may be applied. The criteria to apply them successfully have been refined and the expected outcome has been improved, but we still lack a useful treatment for the vast majority of patients who are still diagnosed at an advanced stage. Efforts have to be done during the next years to develop such an option (perhaps based on gene manipulation) and until then the management of this tumour will still constitute a challenge for physicians taking care of patients with this neoplasm.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia].

Hyperbilirubinemia remains one of the most common and more important pathological conditions in the newborn. The possibility that low levels of serum bilirubin could be responsible for bilirubin encephalopathy in the small premature infant is of great concern for the neonatologist. In fact, premature newborns, as recognized more than 70 years ago by Y1ppo, are prone to develop hyperbilirubinemia. The so-called physiologic of developmental hyperbilirubinemia could be harmful for the small preterm infant, who is at risk of developing bilirubin encephalopathy in the presence of low plasma bilirubin concentrations. Current methodologies for suppressing severe neonatal jaundice include: 1) Attempts to stimulate liver conjugating enzymes by drugs, such as phenobarbital. 2) Attempts to degrade bilirubin "in vivo" by phototherapy. 3) Exchange transfusion. It is too soon to consider Sn-protoporphyrin as a drug for the prevention and treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, if it can be shown that the use of tin-protoporphyrin can serve as a safe and less costly alternate treatment, a considerable improvement in the management of neonatal jaundice will be achieved.

Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the treatment with levodropropizine of respiratory diseases in children].

Sometimes, antitussives can be a valid adjuvant to respiratory tract infections treatment. Although not always needed, this therapeutic support can be extremely useful in selected cases, and when patient is resident and monitored. In this line, the efficacy of a new peripheral antitussive, levodropropizine (Dompé farmaceutici, Milan), has been evaluated in 70 children inpatients of the Pediatric Department at san Paolo Hospital - Milan University - from September 1987 to May 1988. Thirty one male and 29 female children, aged 4 years and 6 months +/- 3 years and 5 months, suffering from various respiratory tract diseases were included in the study. Underlying diseases were represented by 21 acute bronchitis, 20 asthmatic attacks, 18 bronchopneumonia, 11 tracheitis, 6 acute episodes of chronic bronchitis, 2 hypoglottis laryngitis, 1 pertussis, 1 spontaneous pneumothorax. All parents gave their oral informed consent. The basic treatments were antibiotics in 44 patients associated or not with beta 2 agonists (31), theophylline (15), corticosteroids via aerosol (9) or parenterally (3), immunomodulators (2). Treatment with levodropropizine in the oral drops formulation at 2 mg pro kg a day was continued for 5 days and withdrawn according to the clinical evolution. Cough was registered by means of appropriate record forms given to the parents as well as with 120' tape recording whenever possible, i.e. 60 minutes before and 60 minutes after drug administration, on day one and 2. At treatment end, parents and investigator gave an antitussive efficacy judgement. Tolerability was evaluated as per clinical evolution and laboratory parameters.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied