Publications (6)6.97 Total impact
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Article: MET receptor is overexpressed but not mutated in oral squamous cell carcinomas.
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ABSTRACT: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a neoplasm characterized by a high degree of local invasion and an elevated rate of metastasis to cervical lymph nodes. It has been shown that the Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor Receptor Met is constitutively activated in many human tumors of epithelial origin and that it plays a critical role to confer invasive properties to neoplastic cells. Most frequently, Met activation is due to receptor overexpression, but also point mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain can lead to deregulated activation. Here we show that in all the primary tumors examined this receptor is overexpressed. Direct sequencing of Met mRNAs failed to find any activating mutation in its intracellular domain. Moreover, in cell lines derived from squamous cell carcinomas, HGF-induced activation of Met resulted in the acquisition of invasive properties. All together these data suggest that the MET oncogene is involved in progression of squamous cell carcinoma toward an invasive-metastatic behavior.Journal of Cellular Physiology 01/2002; 189(3):285-90. · 3.87 Impact Factor -
Article: [Effect of immobilization after treatment of mandibular fractures].
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess whether the duration of intermaxillary block in patients with non-condylar mandibular fractures can interfere with restored mandibular function and whether there is a statistically significant correlation between the duration of joint immobilisation and the onset of temporo-mandibular joint pathologies. A clinical evaluation was made of 40 patients treated for non-condylar mandibular fractures during the period 1991-1992. The patients were subdivided into two groups depending on the type of treatment and the duration of the intermaxillary block. Group A included patients treated with intermaxillary block alone lasting more than 25 days. Group B included patients treated surgically with intrafocal osteosynthesis with immobilisation lasting less than 15 days. The follow-up of results (3.7 years) showed a maximum mean aperture in Group A of 45.1 mm compared to 50.1 mm in Group B. The mean score for mandibular clinical dysfunction in patients in Group A was 5.0 points (SD +/- 4.75), whereas it was 0.7 points (SD +/- 1.45) in patients in Group B. This difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The results of this study suggest that jaw immobilisation in mandibular fractures may be potentially damaging for the temporo-mandibular joint, sometimes leading to painful dysfunctional syndromes. For this reason, even in the case of mandibular fractures without decomposition, the authors feel that it is advisable to avoid long periods of immobilisation in patients with a positive history of mandibular dysfunction.Minerva stomatologica 06/1999; 48(5):203-8. -
Article: [Actinomycosis of the tongue. Report of two cases and review of the literature].
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ABSTRACT: Actinomycosis of the tongue is a rare form of infection whose initial clinical manifestation is a submucosal swelling that may mimic both benign and malignant neoplasias. Two cases are, presented and their clinical features and diagnostic criteria are discussed in the light of twelve cases drawn from the literature. Infection in the tongue is rare, though perhaps underestimated. It is generally located on the anterior two thirds laterally to the median sulcus, and presents as a moderately painful nodule set deep in the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles and poorly mobile on the adjacent planes. In a few weeks the lesion increases in size and painfulness with consequent loss of function in the absence of diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic management. Both our patients, in fact, presented with deep lesions and no apparent involvement of the mucosa, and were investigated by means of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). The aspirated material was used to prepare both routine smears and cell blocks embedded in paraffin. The pathological material provided by this combination of methods proved quantitatively and qualitatively sufficient for the definitive diagnosis of actinomycosis in both cases.Minerva stomatologica 04/1998; 47(3):95-101. -
Article: Hyperplasia of the mandibular coronoid process: long-term follow-up after coronoidotomy.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results of treatment by intraoral coronoidotomy and prolonged physiotherapy in five patients with mandibular coronoid process hyperplasia. Five consecutive cases of coronoid process hyperplasia were studied (two unilateral and three bilateral) at the Department of Maxillo-facial Surgery of the University of Turin during the period 1985-1990. All patients were treated by intraoral coronoidotomy and given physiotherapy from the third postoperative day. This continued for an entire year. A clinical and radiological follow-up (average 39.4 months), in three cases over a 5-year period, was completed. Three months after the operation, all patients had achieved satisfactory improvement in mandibular interincisal opening. The mean value for mouth opening at the end of follow-up was 42 mm. Radiographic follow-up showed the presence of a coronoid process almost the size of the original, apparently united with the mandibular ascending ramus, with moderate dislocation and inclination posterior to the body of the zygomatic bone. The results of this study indicate that treatment of coronoid process hyperplasia by intraoral coronoidotomy, when combined with prolonged postoperative physiotherapy, gives satisfactory and stable long-term results in the correction of coronoid-malar interference.Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery 07/1997; 25(3):169-73. · 1.64 Impact Factor -
Article: Diagnosis of actinomycosis by fine-needle aspiration.
Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Endodontics 05/1996; 81(4):381-2. · 1.46 Impact Factor -
Article: [Anesthetic efficacy of an eutectic mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA) on the oral mucosa: prospective double-blind study with a placebo].
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the topical analgesic efficacy of an eutectic mixture of lignocaine and prilocaine (EMLA) cream on oral mucosa. The study evaluated a total of 52 patients of legal age to give their informed consent, requiring the removal of metal maxillary and/or mandibular splints used to contain fractures. A double-blind prospective study was carried out using EMLA cream and placebo during the removal of metal splints. The placebo cream contained the eccipients of EMLA cream without the active ingredients. After the removal of the metal clips, patients were invited to quantify the pain using a visual analog scale of 100 mm. Patients were then evaluated using an objective examination to identify the possible presence of alterations to the oral mucosa. The analysis of results highlighted a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) between EMLA cream (23 mm) and placebo (35.3 mm) in reducing pain consequent to the removal of metal splints and the relative pericoronal bindings. As shown by the results of this study, the analgesic effect of EMLA cream on oral mucosa allow the application of contact anesthesia to be broadened to oral surgery and dentistry, limiting it to those procedures that do not involve deep tissues and only require short-term anesthesia.Minerva stomatologica 48(1-2):39-43.
