Gianfranco Schiraldi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Gianfranco Schiraldi

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Mar 1, 1999

Salmeterol inhaled twice-daily is now being used more frequently as additional treatment in asthm... more Salmeterol inhaled twice-daily is now being used more frequently as additional treatment in asthma insufficiently controlled by inhaled corticosteroids. We compared oral bambuterol in a dose of 20 mg taken once daily in the evening with inhaled salmeterol at 50 g taken twice daily in 126 asthmatic patients (60 bambuterol, 66 salmeterol) aged 18 to 74 yr who were treated for at least 4 wk with inhaled corticosteroids at a constant dose of 400 to 2,000 g/d or with oral corticosteroids at р 20 mg/d. The patients were able to use a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) efficiently, and had an FEV 1 of 40 to 85% of the predicted normal value. During a run-in period, patients had to show at least one nocturnal or early awakening caused by asthma symptoms that required rescue medication, and a у 15% overnight decrease in peak expiratory flow (PEF) on 3 of the preceding 7 d, in order to be randomized into this double-blind, double dummy, multicenter parallel group study (2-wk run-in period and 6 wk of treatment). There was no significant difference between bambuterol and salmeterol in morning change from baseline in PEF (p ϭ 0.53). The median increases in morning PEF were 50 L/min for bambuterol and 55 L/min for salmeterol. Other variables (evening PEF, percent of overnight decrease in PEF, number of awakenings, percent of nights with an awakening, number of puffs of rescue medication, asthma symptoms during the day and night, and mean tremor score) also showed no significant difference between bambuterol and salmeterol. Both treatments, at the doses given, were well tolerated. Once-daily oral bambuterol is a convenient, effective, and less expensive alternative to twice-daily inhaled salmeterol for treating nocturnal asthma. Crompton GK, Ayres JG, Basran G, Schiraldi G, Brusasco V, Eivindson A, Jamieson AH, Olsson H. Comparison of oral bambuterol and inhaled salmeterol in patients with symptomatic asthma and using inhaled corticosteroids.

The FASEB Journal, Apr 1, 2007

European Journal of Cancer, 1993

Twnty eiaht pnviouslv rntnated patimts lptsl with epidumid wninma of 1~ StWe III* md IIIB UHY ppo... more Twnty eiaht pnviouslv rntnated patimts lptsl with epidumid wninma of 1~ StWe III* md IIIB UHY pposc&ively treated uith Cisplatin 120 10/a* IV day 1, S-Fl-il

INTRODUCTION. The POEMI Project (POllution and Emergencies in MIlan) has been designed to evaluat... more INTRODUCTION. The POEMI Project (POllution and Emergencies in MIlan) has been designed to evaluate the correlation between daily levels of outdoor pollution and visits for cardio 12respiratory diseases in the Emergency Departments of the main 5 city hospitals of Milan. METHODS. The project started on November 1, 2007, and is planned to last one year. We monitor the daily levels of PM 2,5, PM10, SO2, NO, NO2, CO, C6H6 and O3. For statistical purpose, we include confounders such as flu epidemic, daily temperature and humidity, pollen counts (including Alternaria) and day of the week. PATIENTS. As of October 20, 2008, we registered 25.305 visits, with the diagnosis summarized in the following table. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection 12.976 Pneumonia 2631 Acute Bronchitis 2289 Hearth Failure 2268 Acute Coronary Disease 1657 Acute Asthma 1350 COPD Exacerbation 1271 Stroke 842 Unknown 21 The age groups were the following: 0 1218 yrs: 13.315 patients; 19 1256 yrs 5.379; > 65 yrs 6.596. 4758 patients were in the first year of life. The vast majority of patients (22.305) were caucasians. Among the 25.305 patients admitted to the Emergency Department, 17.300 were discharged, 7620 were hospitalized and 91 deceased. RESULTS. A preliminary statistical evaluation, performed on the first 16.326 patients, showed a highly statistical correlation between visits for cardio 12vascular and respiratory diseases, as a group, and the level of all the considered pollutants. Such correlation was highly significant for all the age groups. A complete and definitive evaluation will be carried out at the end of the one 12year data collectio

European Respiratory Journal, 2009

Mycoses, 1996

tome; bei 4 Patienten wurde A. fumigatus vorubergehend beseitigt verbunden mit deutlicher klinisc... more tome; bei 4 Patienten wurde A. fumigatus vorubergehend beseitigt verbunden mit deutlicher klinischer und radiologischer Besserung. Bei den Ruckfallen wurde keine Resistenz gegen Terbinafin gesehen. Bedeutende Nebenwirkungen traten nicht auf. Terbinafin envies sich somit bei bronchopulmonaler Aspergillose abwehrkompetenter Patienten als ahnlich wirksam wie Amphotericin B und Itraconazol. Diese vorlaufigen Ergebnisse ermuntern zur Durchfiihrung weiterer kontrollierter Studien.

PubMed, Sep 1, 1988

Prednisone-induced osteoporosis is very frequent in the long-term treatment of sarcoidosis (sarco... more Prednisone-induced osteoporosis is very frequent in the long-term treatment of sarcoidosis (sarcoidosis 4:45-48, 1987). The aim of this work is to evaluate if salmon Calcitonin (sCT) is able to prevent osteopenia in the long-term. We have studied 53 patients with chronic histologically-proven sarcoidosis, all needing steroids, in a follow-up of 15 months; 20 of them were protected with sCT (100 I.U. i.m. daily for one month, then every two days for all the time of the study), 33 were unprotected. The two groups were matched for age, sex and total dose of prednisone. In order to overcome the differences of Vertebral Cancellous Mineral Content (VCMC) due to age and sex, we express VCMC in terms of Z score, i.e. the number of standard deviations above or below our normal means: initial Z score was -1.77 +/- 0.16 in the sCT group and -0.99 +/- 0.17 in the other group (P less than .05). For each subject we calculated the Mineral Loss (ML) in % of the initial value. At the end of the study ML% averaged -2.15(+/- 2.27) in the sCT protected group, and -14.11(+/- 2.08) in the unprotected group (P less than .001). We have also analysed the results limited to pts with initial Z score under -1 (19 sCT protected pts vs 18 unprotected). In these subgroups the ML% after 15 months averaged -13.62(+/- 2.9) in the unprotected group and -2.80(+/- 2.29) in the protected one (P less than .01). Finally we have studied another subgroup, i.e. 21 postmenopausal females: 9 were sCT protected, 12 were unprotected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Background and aim of the work. Bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a spectrum of diseases extendin... more Background and aim of the work. Bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a spectrum of diseases extending from a harmless saprophytic state to rapidly fatal acute invasive conditions; their increasing frequency is due to the wide use of steroids and other immunosuppressive drugs. Conventional treatments are often ineffective and associated with side-effects. The aim of this work was to evaluate a mew allylamine antimycotic drug (terbinafine) in the treatment of lower respiratory tract mycotic infections unresponsive to conventional therapy. Methods. We report on 14 immunocompetent patients, who were unresponsive to conventional therapy or relapsed or showed untoward effects to conventional antifungal treatments. Diagnosis was based on compatible clinical history, indentification of mycotic microrganisms in biological fluids, chest x-ray and CT scan abnormalities, respiratory function test, positive skin tests and serum presence of Aspergillus precipitine. These patients were treated with terbinafine at oral doses ranging from 5 to 15 mg/kg/day for 84-264 days, depending on clinical severity of the disease, clinical course and compliance. Results. We obtained eradication of Aspergillus fumigatus (AF) in 11 patients: 3 of them obtained complete resolution of signs and symptoms; 4 a partial response with major clinical improvement and the last 4 a partial response with minor improvement. In other 3 patients, who were AF negative but with positive precipitins, we obtained one complete remission, and a clinical radiological improvement on 2 cases. Conclusion. These preliminary findings indicate that terbinafine appears to be effective in the treatment of bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in non immunocompromised patients. Controlled trials are warranted to evaluate terbinafine in pulmonary mycotic infections

PubMed, Apr 1, 1987

The analgesic effect of salmon calcitonin (Calcitonina-Sandoz) was evaluated in an open study of ... more The analgesic effect of salmon calcitonin (Calcitonina-Sandoz) was evaluated in an open study of thirty-four patients with bone metastases of a lung cancer. Two different administration protocols were used: eighteen subjects received sCT 400 IU/day for three consecutive days, while the remaining sixteen were given sCT 200 IU/day for six consecutive days. In both protocols salmon calcitonin was diluted in saline and infused intravenously in one hour. Bone, visceral and neuritic pain were evaluated by means of Huskisson's visual analog scale and Keele's pain scale. The analgesic efficacy of salmon calcitonin was also evaluated on the basis of daily consumption of analgesic drugs. Salmon calcitonin proved of extreme efficacy in the treatment of intractable pain from advanced malignancy. A higher and earlier analgesic activity was observed with sCT at the 400 IU daily dosage.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences, Aug 1, 1976

A histological biopsy study of gastric and jejunal mucosa of eight acute cholera patients during ... more A histological biopsy study of gastric and jejunal mucosa of eight acute cholera patients during an epidemic in Southern Italy was carried out. The study demonstrated in all patients an intact epithelial lining of gastric and jejunal mucosa, a moderate degenerative process of enterocytes, presence of inflammatory lesions manifested by edema, vascular congestion, mononuclear cell infiltrate of lamina propria, and discharge of goblet-cells mucus. These changes reverted to normal in a few days. The authors emphasize that, contrary to cholera patients of Asiatic areas in whom an underlying chronic spruelike enteropathy is very common, the histological picture observed in Western patients may be considered more specific since Vibrio cholerae acts upon a normal intestinal mucosa.

Lung Cancer, Feb 1, 1993

From I%%'7 tt,4/')1 WC lrcalcd 14pls with median ageS9y, range32-69,13 males, PS(EC'O(;) 1:21.4'#... more From I%%'7 tt,4/')1 WC lrcalcd 14pls with median ageS9y, range32-69,13 males, PS(EC'O(;) 1:21.4'#.2-.. 1.71.4 %, 47. I '7. Sites of mclastases: liver 57 %, brain 36 ' ;, twnc I4 ',; , ddrcnal gland 14 'g, an d other sites (kidney, bone marrow, lung). The ('T rcgimcn consistcdol(mg/mq): CTX4OOEpiDOX Sod. 1, MTX 300 VCR I 5 (nxrx. 2.0) d. X, DDP 50 d. 15 and VP16 X0 d. I5-16, starting again on d. 21 for J-~ H cycle\. In tax r>f ncutropcnia dox reduction was provided only if ncutrophils < 15OOimmq. Palliative RT wx pcrlormcd if clinically rcqucstcd. 227 week\ oI therapy wrrc dclivcrcd (median 16.2). The %-dose-intensity ($7. rdngc) rcachcd Ior cxh drug was: CTX 92 (57-l35), EpiDOX XX (42-103), MTX 91 (4t-104). DDP 79 (53-94), VP16 X2 (53-94). Dose-limiting toxicity was ncutropcnia. Other to&tics: anemia (26 blood units dclivcrcd: l.h/pt), vomiting (rmly four grade-Ill cpi\odcs), alopecia in all ang EC{; ahn~,rmalitiea in one. 3 pt\ wcrcho\pitali7edL,r ini~ctir,nsductoCT(7')daysinall), controlled hyconventional dntihiotic therapy. Nrr lilt-thrcatcning toxlcitywas rcgiatcrcd and this achcdule was usually dclivcrcd to ~>utp~ticnt\. 3S % RC and 57 % RP wcrc achicvcd (OR 92 's,), 7 % progrcsxd during CT. Mcdiansurvival i~43wecks,T,~date2pt\

Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, Dec 11, 2019

Marinis made a heartfelt appeal to Italian pulmonologists to become more active and involved in t... more Marinis made a heartfelt appeal to Italian pulmonologists to become more active and involved in the field of lung tumors [1]; today we find ourselves in the same situation regarding pulmonary mycoses with, we fervently hope, more chance of success. Recently, within the span of one month two emi

The FASEB Journal, Mar 1, 2008

Smoking can contribute to human pathogenesis through the production of reactive oxygen species, a... more Smoking can contribute to human pathogenesis through the production of reactive oxygen species, and also by weakening the antioxidant system. To study the efficacy of supplementation with dehydrated concentrated of fruit and vegetable juice powder (FVJ) and the same plus berry (FVJ+), on the oxidative balance, 61 healthy heavy smokers (35 males, age 40–60y; 20 cigarettes/day or more for at least 10 y) were randomized into 3 groups: A (placebo, n=19), B (FVJ, n=21), C (FVJ+, n=21). They were supplemented for 12 weeks and underwent blood sampling at baseline (T0), and at end of supplementation (T1), for plasma and blood thiols HPLC analysis. No differences between groups’ aminothiol concentrations were found at T0. Total homocysteine (Hcy) decreased significantly in all compartments both in group A and B (plasma: p<0.001 for A and B; blood: p=0.027 A vs C, and p=0.018 B vs C), as well as the reduced Hcy (plasma: p=0.005 A vs C; blood: p=0.005 A vs C, and p<0.001 B vs C). Only group B showed a significant decrease of total blood glutathione (GSH) compared to group C (p=0.027). Supplementation with FVJ effectively improved Hcy metabolism, and concomitantly folate levels. Also FVJ+ supplementation was effective in improving GSH cycle.

$Research paper thumbnail of Terbinafine in pulmonary refractory aspergillosis: compassionate cases$

Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Oct 1, 1995

The European respiratory journal, Oct 1, 2007

To the Editors: The editorial of Annesi-Maesano et al. 1 summarises current evidence concerning t... more To the Editors: The editorial of Annesi-Maesano et al. 1 summarises current evidence concerning the adverse health effects of particulate matter (PM) and correctly outlines that: 1) the health effects of air pollution are a big problem worldwide; and 2) several scientific questions are still open. In addition, the authors press for more stringent measures of prevention, in order to achieve adequate protection of the exposed population. In particular, they outline that “experimental research has rapidly progressed” and only “details of the pathophysiological mechanisms remain to be elucidated”. We agree with most of their statements and are in favour of more stringent rules for the European Union (EU). However, we would like to make some comments concerning the open questions, in order to increase the scientific strength that should convince EU authorities. The World Health Organization estimates that inhalation of PM in ambient air causes 500,000 premature …

Calcified Tissue International, Mar 1, 1991

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of salmon calcitonin (sCT) in preve... more ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of salmon calcitonin (sCT) in preventing corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. Three groups of patients with sarcoidosis requiring long-term steroid therapy were followed for 2 years with yearly evaluations of vertebral cancellous mineral content (VCMC) by quantitative computed tomography. The first group (n = 18) was treated with intramuscular (i.m.) sCT for the 2-year study period; the second (n = 11) with i.m. sCT for the first 4 months and then with sCT nasal spray for 20 months; the third (n = 35) received no sCT. We observed a large mineral loss in the third group but a very slight drop of VCMC in the two groups receiving sCT. SCT nasal spray was better tolerated and as effective as i.m. injections. The action of sCT appeared extremely useful, especially in the first year of steroid therapy when corticosteroid-induced mineral loss was maximal. We conclude that sCT nasal spray is a good tool for preventing corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.