Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Pappalardo

Publications and source records attributed to S Pappalardo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The use of silicon elastomer in maxillofacial rehabilitation as a substitute for or in conjunction with resins.

Maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation aims to restore anatomic function when serious tissue defects are present, as a result of congenital factors, trauma, or surgery. The aims are both aesthetic and functional, and results are obtained using devices that contain, reconstruct, and fill. This study introduces a technique using methods and materials that are acceptable to the patient in that they satisfy chewing, phonetic, and aesthetic functions, while respecting bone structure and restoring function to the soft tissues without causing trauma to them. Our techniques do not use innovative materials, but ones that are structurally different and that, until now, have not been connected with attachment systems. Acrylic resin, acetylic resin, and silicon are used, each in such a way as to take maximum advantage of each material's characteristics and thus give the best results.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed2005

Serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and oestradiol pattern in women undergoing pituitary suppression with different gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue protocols for assisted reproduction.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRH-a) are used widely in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycles for assisted reproduction. At present, there is great debate about the influence of exogenous hormone activity on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis following pituitary desensitization. The objective of this comparative study was to investigate the pattern of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol in women undergoing ovarian stimulation with different GnRH-a preparations. We retrospectively analysed 201 women, aged between 27 and 43 years, who were referred consecutively to our infertility clinic between January 2002 and January 2003. All women had no endocrinopathies or occult ovarian failure as assessed by day-3 hormone profile. Women were enrolled in one of the following COS protocols: depot triptorelin long protocol (n = 38), buserelin long protocol (n = 101) or buserelin short protocol (n = 62). Recombinant FSH was used to induce ovulation. Treatment was monitored by transvaginal ultrasound scan and serum measurement of FSH, LH and oestradiol. Among the women initially included, 30 had cancelled cycles due to poor ovarian response. Serum LH levels were significantly higher in the short-protocol group compared with the long-protocol groups (p < 0.001). The number of follicles, oocyte yield, number of grade-I embryos and fertilization rate were significantly lower in the short-protocol group than in the long-protocol groups. These findings showed that LH concentrations are significantly higher in women undergoing reversible medical hypophysectomy with a GnRH-a short protocol than in women treated with a long protocol. The hypothesis of an LH ceiling is confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Alveolar ridge augmentation by means of onlay grafts harvested from mandibular symphysis].

AIM: Prosthestic-implant rehabilitation in subjects partially, or totally, endentulous is the method of choice for the considerable advantages involved from an aesthetic as well as functional point of view, besides preventing the physiological reabsorption that is established in the edentulous area. However, it is necessary to have an adequate quantity, as well as quality, of bone in order to support the fixture and the masticating load, conditions that up to now could often prove inferior for various reasons. Such a randomized research programme was proposed, in order to increase the bone volume by means of grafted onlays in the mandibular/chin area, with implant positioning 6 months after the operation, as a valid solution to the prosthestic problems found in the bone deficiency area. METHODS: Twenty patients with partial edentulism in the incisor-canine area were chosen. They showed no signs of periodontal diseases, bruxism or parafunctions. They underwent an autogenesis bone graft with the bone being taken from the mandibular/chin area, with positioning of the implant 6 months after the first operation, thus obtaining an increased bone height of 5 to 7 mm. RESULTS: Check ups were carried out in the 1(st) week after surgery, once a month for the first 3 months and then every 6 months and showed a minimal degree of bone reabsorption and an excellent osteo-integrative process. CONCLUSION: The use of onlay autogenous bone, compared to the other methods for increasing bone volume, is a valid solution for prosthetic-implant rehabilitation in edentulous areas.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Drugs in oral surgery. Brief guidelines for adult patients.

Drugs administrable in oral surgery for adult patients are antiseptics-antibiotics, antiinflammatory-analgesics and sedative-hypnotics. Such drugs can be administered before, during or after oral surgery. Sedative-hypnotics can be administered before or during oral surgery in order to control the patient's anxiety. Anti-inflammatory-analgesics, on the other hand, can be administered before or after oral surgery to lower edema and pain. For this purpose, FANS are the most commonly used drugs but, in more traumatic oral surgery, the administration of a single pre-surgery dose of corticosteroids is suitable. As regards, antibiotics have to be given from 15 min to 1 h before oral surgery and continued or otherwise for 24-48 h depending on the dosage. post-surgery infection onset, in fact, is higher within 3 h after oral surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Antibacterial effect of Nd:YAG laser in periodontal pockets decontamination: a in vivo study].

AIM: Tha aim of this paper is to assess the effects in vivo of the Nd: Yag laser on gingival microflora in patients periodontally at risk. METHODS: An investigation has been carried out on 5 patients suffering from serious periodontal disease, with a sub-gingival check-up a week after the treatment. The selected patients presented either a relapse after the raising of a traditional flap, or showed acute phenomena and were, therefore, treated with a laser with the propedeutic intention of surgery; or they refused traditional surgical therapy or presented systematic pathologies that could not be included in the appropriate protocol. Pockets were chosen that had a probe depth of between 5-8 mm, an optic fibre probe was pushed as far as possible into the probe depth, for about 1 minute per site, 5 times, at 30 second intervals. The samples, taken in order to calculate bacteria colonies, were carried out before using the laser, immediately after and, again, 1 week later. RESULTS: All the sites showed a slight reduction in the quantity of colonies forming immediately after the Nd:Yag laser application, while a week later, only if clinical inflammation appeared to be resolved, the bacteria forming colonies seemed to be reduced. CONCLUSION: From this study it can be concluded that the use of the Nd:Yad laser represents, in mild and average periodontitis, a therapeutic aid to scaling and root planing and, in the same way, in serious periodontitis for traditional surgical therapy.

Humans↗
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

[Role of human viruses in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease].

Human viruses play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease due to their intrinsec capacity to interfere with immune system of the host. Herpesvirus maybe involved in the onset or progress of a number of periodontal diseases while HIV seems to be related to the linear gingival erythema (LGE) and necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP).

Gingival Crevicular Fluid↗
PubMed2001

Calixarene--poly(dithiophene)-based chemically modified electrodes.

The stepwise synthesis of cone and partial cone 1,3-bridged n-propoxy-calix[4]crown ethers ("monomers" 2 and 3) with an electropolymerizable 2,2'-dithiophene-3-yl-hexylene functionality at the lower rim, is described. The potential of 2 and 3 as sensing agents for alkali metal ions was investigated by 1H NMR titration experiments with NaSCN and KSCN. The results obtained have confirmed that the presence of the heterocyclic subunit does not affect the well-known size-selectivity observed with calix[4]crowns. Monomers 2 and 3 were electropolymerized (Pt as a working electrode, CH2Cl2/CH3CN, Bu4NPF6) to produce the title chemically modified electrodes (CMEs). After coating with a PVC membrane containing a lipophylic cation exchanger, CMEs based on calix[4]-crown-5 2b (cone) and 3b (partial cone) were tested for the potentiometric recognition of alkali metal ions in aqueous solution. In agreement with NMR titration studies, a satisfactory potentiometric response in terms of K+/Na+ selectivity was obtained only with CME 2b (pK(K/Na) 1.51). The amperometric responses of PVC-uncoated CMEs were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments in CH3CN solution. High Na- selectivity was found with the CME based on partial cone calix[4]crown-4 3a, and frequency response analysis (FRA) measurements support this finding.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Older adult multiorgan donors and misdiagnosed tumor.

BACKGROUND: In these last years, the increase in organ donations is mostly due to old patients died of primary vascular cerebral diseases. In this kind of patients some undiagnosed cancers can be present and can be transmitted to the receiver. Aim of this study is to carry out a research in order to identify any undiagnosed cancer which can be present during the period of encephalic death. METHODS: Perspective study: hospitals type II and type III. Polyvalent intensive care. From January 1999 to July 2000 encephalic death has been ascertained in 16 patients. The research of tumor markers has been carried out on these patients. Further diagnostic researches have been carried out on patients who had anomalous values. RESULTS: The organ donations have not been made by eight patients: five for family refusal, one for medical contraindications, two for the presence of undiagnosed tumor (PSA 1100 ng/ml and CEA 129.5 ng/ml) confirmed by prostatic and abdominal US imaging. A patient with CA 19-9 89.5 ng/ml has not been examined, because of the family refusal to donation. A patient with PSA of 135 ng/ml had a negative response from the anal scanner, and so the prosecution of the donation has not been interrupted. A blood sample has been taken and a biopsy of the prostate has been made to confirm the absence of neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to make a careful examination of the organ donor to check if some cancers are present. Tumor markers cannot be used to make a diagnosis of a cancer, but they can be used as guide for further researches. In spite of all the diagnostic efforts, the objective evaluation of the surgeon is still the most important factor like the biopsy of all the suspected lesions during an operation and the autopsy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Interactions at the outside faces of calix

Attractive pi-pi interactions between two of the four outside cavity faces of 1,3-bis-pyridylmethylcalix[4]arene (1) and both faces of 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (2a) form infinite one-dimensional non-covalent ribbons where the two modules alternate. These ribbons are cross-linked by electron donor-acceptor interactions between picolyl nitrogen atoms of calixarene 1 in one chain and iodine atoms of perfluoroarene 2a in another chain and the two-dimensional supramolecular network 3a is formed. A similar behaviour is also shown by 1,4-dibromotetrafluorobenzene (2b). The halogen bonding and the attractive pi-pi interactions occur in directions which are nearly orthogonal each other. Diiodotetrafluorobenzene, being involved in both these interactions, appears to be a particularly interesting tecton. The ability of electron-poor arenes to elicit the exo-receptor potential of calixarene module by connecting their outside faces through pi-pi interactions may be developed as a new and general binding protocol in calixarene self-assembly processes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

1,3-Calix

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

[Conservative treatment of upper anterior dental discrepancy during orthodontic therapy].

The orthodontic therapeutic sequence used in cases with dento-dental discrepancy for reduced mesiodistal size and congenital absent lateral upper incisors, is described. The importance of correct conoid tooth replacement in the programmed space between the other teeth and its restorative treatment in order to obtain the best biomechanical control is stressed. The contemporaneous presence of the form and volume anomaly of the 12th and the missing 22nd due to agenesia demanded an interdisciplinary approach. For the restoration of the conoid tooth the authors used a microhybrid composite for the alloy properties with the grain size of the inorganic particles. In fact this type of composite responds well to mechanical stress and has a high shining capacity and good aesthetical rendering. Meanwhile the temporary dental prothesis solution of the 22nd in this case has suggested the application of the artificial element on the superior Hawley holding plaque.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The role of apoptosis and bcl-2 protein in topical treatment of oral leukoplakia with isotretinoin.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the role of bcl-2 protein, as well as, of apoptotic bodies in the topical treatment of oral leucoplakia with 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin). To test this role, a clinical, histological and immunohistochemical study of the treated lesions was carried out, so as to verify the role of apoptosis and its genetic control mechanism of the development, progression and therapy of preneoplastic lesions. METHODS: A Double-blind study was carried out on 15 patients afflicted with oral leukoplakia. They were treated daily (3 topical applications) with 0.1% isotretinoin gel or a placebo for 4 months. Afterwards, the patients treated with placebo were administered the active medication for an additional 4 month period. RESULTS: All the patients, with the exception of one patient who was lost to follow-up, who finished the treatment, showed a marked improvement of the dimension and the clinical aspect of the lesions (3 total remission, 11 improvement of the size and clinical appearance of the lesion of 50% or more). The immunohistochemical analysis for bcl-2 protein showed a weak positive reaction of the level in the basal membrane of the specimens collected before the pharmacological treatment; after the pharmacological treatment almost all the specimens with the exception of one, tested completely negative for bcl-2 protein. In the specimens collected before the pharmacological treatment only a few apoptotic bodies were observed, while after treatment the samples showed a noticeable increase of apoptotic bodies. CONCLUSIONS: A statistical analysis showed that the difference in the positive reaction to bcl-2 protein between the 2 groups is not statistically significant (p = 0.132). On the other hand, the difference in the count of apoptotic bodies between the 2 groups is statistically significant (p = 0.0193).

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1999

[Bcl-2, p53, Ki-67 and apoptotic index in cancerous and precancerous lesions of the oral mucosa].

BACKGROUND: In this study an immunohistochemical analysis of both normal and pathological tissues was made to investigate the expression of some factors involved in genic regulation mechanisms of apoptosis. METHODS: In normal mucosa, in leukoplakia, in mild and severe dysplasia and in high, mild and low grade cancer a bcl-2, p53, and Ki 67 evaluation was made using immunostaining techniques; also an evaluation of apoptotic index was carried out. Seventy-two biopsies were made in 12 patients with normal mucosa, 12 affected by leukoplakia, 12 by dysplasia (6 mild, 6 severe), 12 by low grade, 12 by mild grade and 12 by high grade cancer. > t RESULTS: The immunohistochemical analysis pointed out that there was weak bcl-2 expression in normal mucosa and in preneoplastic lesions and less more in severe dysplasia while bcl-2 was discreetly detectable in oral tumors. P53 was not detectable in normal mucosa and weakly expressed in preneoplastic lesions, presenting a peak in severe dysplasia. These results showed an interesting inverse relation between bcl-2 and p53 expression in severe dysplasia. Ki 67 expression results to be weak in normal mucosa, in preneoplastic lesions and in mild dysplasia, while it reaches the maximum level in severe dysplasia and in tumors. CONCLUSIONS: In all the samples the apoptotic index expression showed the same features of the Ki 67 protein. These results were achieved through statistically analysis carried out with the U Mann Whitney test.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1997

[Augmentation of the maxillary sinus by Le Fort osteotomy in endosseous implantology. A clinical case report].

The authors present a case of sinus floor elevation using Le Fort I osteotomy. They underline that, owing to its peculiarities, this type of intervention is indicated, in their opinion, for sinus floor elevation when both the vertical dimension and possible skeletal discrepancies require modification. They briefly describe the indications, peculiarities and contraindications.

Alveolar Ridge Augmentation↗