Publications by authors named "Antonino Cacioppo"

We aim to describe a new non-parametric methodology to support the clinician during the diagnostic process of oral videocapillaroscopy to evaluate peripheral microcirculation. Our methodology, mainly based on wavelet analysis and mathematical morphology to preprocess the images, segments them by minimizing the within-class luminosity variance of both capillaries and background. Experiments were carried out on a set of real microphotographs to validate this approach versus handmade segmentations provided by physicians.

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The aim of this investigation is to appraise labial oral microcirculation in chemotherapy patients to clarify the effects of cytotoxic agents on oral microvessels. Twenty-five patients with diagnosis of head and neck tumors were recruited in the study. All the patients were submitted to chemotherapy.

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Background: Diabetes mellitus is today considered a society-wide disease of a chronic/degenerative nature. Among the secondary effects of diabetes, the one that interests the dental surgeon most is diabetic parodontopathy. The aim of this study was to underline and objectify microcirculatory variations at a periodontal mucous level in type 2 diabetics.

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Objective: We evaluated the morphological and parametric characteristics of the periodontal microcirculation in patients diagnosed as having hypercholesterolemia and high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Methods: Forty patients were recruited, 20 of whom were affected by hypercholesterolemia and 20 of whom were considered healthy. A videocapillaroscopic examination was carried out on the periodontal mucosa in the proximity of the frenulum (II, V sextant).

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Background: There are various types of oral mucosa specific to different parts of the mouth and each of these has a unique histological structure. The variations in the epithelial structure are consistently related to observable differences in the underlying microcirculation: i.e.

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This study aimed at evaluating possible differences in the vascular pattern (of periodontal mucosa microcirculation) between healthy patients and patients suffering from PLP (periodontal lichen planus). Fifty-four patients (27 patients suffering from PLP and 27 healthy patients) were examined by means of videocapillaroscopy. The following area was examined for each patient: periodontal mucosa corresponding to 1.

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