Papers by Salvatore Alongi
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1998
Cornea, 2000
Purpose: to evaluate the efficacy of topical nonpreserved 0.1% diclofenac therapy to improve symp... more Purpose: to evaluate the efficacy of topical nonpreserved 0.1% diclofenac therapy to improve symptoms and ocular surface signs in patients with Sjogren and non Sjogren keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Methods: 16 patients (average age 49.6, 1 male) with diagnosis ...
Intensive Care Medicine, 2003
To investigate the possibility of artificially decreasing intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) by apply... more To investigate the possibility of artificially decreasing intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) by applying continuous negative pressure around the abdomen. We investigated the effects of negative extra-abdominal pressure (NEXAP) on IAP and central venous pressure (CVP) in 30 patients admitted to our intensive care unit (age 57+/-17 years, BMI 26.1+/-4.0 kg/m2, SAPS II 41.8+/-17.0). Patients with severe hemodynamic instability and/or those admitted following a laparotomy were not studied. Measurements included bladder pressure as an estimate of IAP, CVP, invasive mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). In five patients extensive hemodynamic measurements were also taken using a Swan-Ganz catheter. Following measurements at baseline (Basal), NEXAP (Life Care - Nev 100, Respironics) was applied on the abdomen, in random order, at a pressure equal to IAP (NEXAP0), 5 cmH(2)O (NEXAP-5) or 10 cmH(2)O (NEXAP-10) more negative than NEXAP0. Basal IAP ranged from 4 to 22 mmHg. NEXAP decreased IAP from 8.7+/-4.3 mmHg to 6+/-4.2 (Basal vs NEXAP0 p<0.001). There was a further decrease of IAP when more negative pressure was applied: 4.3+/-3.2 mmHg, 3.8+/-3.7 mmHg (NEXAP-5 and NEXAP-10 vs NEXAP0, respectively, p<0.001). Similarly, CVP decreased from 9.3+/-3.4 mmHg to 7.5+/-3.8 (Basal vs NEXAP-10, p<0.001). The lower the IAP when NEXAP was applied, the lower the CVP (r2=0.778, p<0.001, multiple linear regression). When measured, cardiac output did not significantly change with NEXAP. Negative extra-abdominal pressure may be applied in critically ill patients to decrease intra-abdominal pressure non-invasively.
Intensive Care Medicine, 1999
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 2001
Purpose: To quantify the quality of vision achieved with multifocal and bifocal contact lenses. M... more Purpose: To quantify the quality of vision achieved with multifocal and bifocal contact lenses. Methods: We analyzed differential light sensitivity by computerized automatic perimetry in 21 patients wearing monofocal soft contact lenses (group 1, controls) and multifocal and bifocal contact lenses (groups 2 and 3, respectively). Seven patients each were fitted with multifocal or bifocal contact lenses; seven patients were without contact lenses (without correction for testing the visual periphery and with near-vision correction using monofocal contact lens for testing the central 30 degrees of vision). The type of correction was randomly changed in a crossover fashion so that each eye was examined at different times with different corrections. Humphrey 640 VFA computerized automated perimetry was used to test visual fields at baseline, 45 days, and 3, 4.5, and 6 months. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the global sensitivities (GS) of the central visual field in patients with near-vision monofocal contact lenses and with bifocal contact lenses (P=0.0273) and between the GS of the central visual fields with multifocal contact lenses and with bifocal contact lenses (P=0.0261). In both cases, the GS were significantly reduced with bifocal contact lenses (total GS: group 1, 11256 dB (Decibels); group 2, 11154 dB; group 3, 10679 dB). Conclusions: The results indicate that there is reduced differential light sensitivity in the central 30 deg of the visual field with bifocal contact lenses compared with multifocal contact lenses and monofocal contact lenses (controls).
European Journal of Pain Supplements, 2011
Cornea, 1998
This study quantified the bacterial load and protein deposits on 1- and 15-day disposable contact... more This study quantified the bacterial load and protein deposits on 1- and 15-day disposable contact lenses after use in normal wearers. Sixteen patients were randomly assigned to a 1-day contact lens (1-Day Acuvue) in one eye and to a 15-day contact lens (Acuvue) in the contralateral eye. Only one specified solution was allowed for the care of 15-day lenses. All patients were evaluated every month for 6 months (at times T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6). At times T1, T3, and T5, the lenses were removed in a sterile fashion and sent for laboratory quantification of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. At T2, T4, and T6, quantification of protein deposits was determined, and at T0 and T6, impression cytology of the conjunctiva was performed. P. aeruginosa was not identified on any lens. At T1, T3, and T5, S. aureus was significantly greater on the 1-day versus 15-day lenses (p < 0.001). In contrast, protein deposits were significantly greater on the 15-day lenses at all time points (T2, T6: p < 0.01; T4: p < 0.05). Impression cytology of the 15-day lens eyes revealed a worsening trend compared to the 1-day lens; however, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups (p = 0.29). Results of this study suggest that the use of cleaning and preservative solutions can alter the ocular surface bacterial environment of the contact lens wearer and that these changes are not a direct consequence of contact lens wear. The bactericidal activity of these solutions could, with time, also affect ocular surface cells, leading to contact lens intolerance and ocular surface disease.
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Papers by Salvatore Alongi