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Biomedical subjects

A C Altamura

Publications and source records attributed to A C Altamura.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

PB:PRM ratio in patients with epilepsy treated with primidone.

Phenobarbitone (PB) and primidone (PRM) plasma concentrations were measured in 88 patients of both sexes with different types of epilepsy and treated with PRM, alone or in association with carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT), ethosuximide (ESM) or valproic acid (VPA). A correlation was observed between the dose and the levels of both PRM and PB. Plasma PB:PRM ratio was high variable, especially interindividually. These changes seemed to be linked to age and particularly to pharmacological associations. In fact, PB:PRM ratio was increased with CBZ, ESM, VPA and PHT respectively. Moreover, a correlation was observed between the PB:PRM ratio and PHT plasma levels. The possibility of monitoring PB and PRM plasma levels during long-term treatment with PRM is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Influence of age on mianserin pharmacokinetics.

The pharmacokinetics of Mianserin (MIA) after acute administration have been studied in nine volunteers, divided into two groups according to age. The subjects were given a single oral dose of 30 mg MIA. The plasma peak time was shorter in the younger subjects than in the older. In general, the concentrations of MIA in the plasma were higher in the older subjects than in the younger, and in the former group there was no relationship between administered dose (mg/kg) and plasma levels. The area under curve, volume of distribution and clearance were significantly different in the two groups. The side effects (both incidence and type) differed in the two groups. There were no significant changes in blood pressure, either supine or standing. The sedative effect was more marked in the young than in the elderly subjects. A relationship between drowsiness and MIA plasma levels was observed only in the younger subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Therapeutic plasma levels of some anticonvulsants in focal epilepsy in relation to computerized axial tomography.

The authors investigated 37 patients with established focal epilepsy in terms of the antiepileptic drug (AED) blood levels needed to achieve control or significant abatement of seizures; then they examined the patients by computerized axial tomography (CAT) and grouped them according as they did or did not show evidence of an organic food lesion of the brain. Statistical elaboration of the data revealed that CAT-positive patients required significantly higher mean AED blood levels for clinical effectiveness than did CAT-negative patients; also, single drugs failed to produce control at any plasma level, necessitating recourse to multidrug regimes, significantly more often in the CAT-positive than in the CAT-negative patient group. In the discussion the authors examine the possible reasons for the observed difference of therapeutic responses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Plasma renin activity in primary and secondary depression.

Plasma renin activity (PRA), both in supine and standing position, was investigated in primary and secondary depressed patients. After orthostatic stimulation (standing position) primary depressed patients showed PRA values significantly lower than did those with secondary depression. The authors stress the importance of the peripheral sympathetic system in the control of renin release and discuss the data obtained in the light of some evidence in the literature indicating a possible impairment of transmitter turnover in central and peripheral noradrenergic synapses in the pathogenesis of primary depression.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1977

Plasma and intracellular kinetics of lithium after oral administration of various lithium salts.

Five healthy volunteers were treated orally with lithium carbonate, sulphate, or chloride. There were no significant differences in area under time-concentration curves, half-lives, total body clearance or apparent distribution volumes between the various salts, either in plasma or in the RBC compartment. The carbonate salt did show a higher RBC/plasma distribution ratio than the other salts, which might possibly imply greater therapeutic effectiveness of this salt. Some considerations on the tolerability of various lithium salts are discussed.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1976

Cobalt-induced experimental epilepsy in cats pharmacologically immunodepressed. An EEG and histological study.

The authors made 11 adult cats epileptic by implanting cobalt powder on the left sensorimotor cortex. Some of the animals were treated with the immunodepressant drug, cyclophosphamide (Endoxan), before and after surgery, and others were not. Then the two groups of animals were compared in terms of EEG and histopathological findings. The treatedanimals showed a definite reduction of focal electrical activity both primary and secondary, and a much milder perifocal parvicellular infiltration and cerebral edema. In view of these findings, the authors suggest that in addition to other well-known factors, the pathogenesis of cobalt-induced experimental epilepsy involves immunological mechanisms triggered by the release of nerve tissue antigens as a result of tissue injury caused by cobalt. This would result in the formation of antibodies directed against several brain constituents. Last, the authors submit that a similar autoimmune mechanism may be at play also in the pathogenesis of some forms of focal epilepsy of traumatic origin.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Plasma renin activity in depressed patients treated with increasing doses of lithium carbonate.

Plasma renin activity (PRA) was measured in the supine position and after active upright stance in patients with endogenous depression and in a group of healthy volunteers serving as controls. In the depressed patients, PRA was further investigated in the same conditions during treatment with increasing doses of lithium carbonate. Basal PRA values were lower in depressed patients than in normal controls, particularly in the upright stance, and tended to rise gradually during lithium therapy. These findings suggest that lithium may work as a stimulant of the renin-angiotensin system, and possibly as an antidepressant, by way of producing functional activation of the norepinephrine system independent of its action on the water and electrolyte balance.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Therapeutic attempts with lithium in young drug addicts.

On the hypothesis that drug addiction may be due to "masked depression", lithium was administered to 20 opiate addicts. Only nine patients took the lithium carbonate tablets for more than a few weeks; during this period they seemed to abstain from taking opiates. After 1 year, all the patients were off lithium and most of them again took opiates. Due to lack of cooperation on the part of the patients, the observations can neither confirm nor refute our hypothesis. The study shows that psychological and socio-environmental factors make trials on drug treatment of opiate addicts almost impossible to carry out.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

N1-Methylnicotinamide urinary output in multiple sclerosis affected patients.

This brief report develops the ideas of some previous works underlying a possible functional disequilibrium of tryptophan metabolism in patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) and in animals with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. So, the urinary excretion of one of the terminal metabolites of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan, the N1-Methylnicotinamide has been confronted in M.S. patients and in healthy volunteers, in order to put in evidence a possible alteration of the same in M.S. patients. The A.A. could not find any significant difference of the N1-Methylnicotinamide urinary output between controls and M.S. patients; afterwards they have critically revised this result.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Animal model for investigation of fluphenazine kinetics after administration of long-acting esters.

A model was developed for studying fluphenazine availability and disposition. Rats were given doses of radioactively labelled esters of fluphenazine by intramuscular injection. Radioactivity excreted in urine, faeces, and expired air was assessed for fluphenazine esters, fluphenazine, and CO2 content. Levels of fluphenazine and its esters were measured in plasma, brain, and muscle (injected and non-injected samples). The data mimicked those obtained in other studies involving the same material given to human subjects, and posed new questions concerning the factors controlling fluphenazine availability when given as 'long-acting' intramuscular injections.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[L-sulpiride in the treatment of somatoform disturbances: a double-blind study with racemic sulpiride].

Thirty out-patients, age ranging from 22 to 64 years (mean 49.20 +/- 1.71 SE) diagnosed according to DSM III-R, were studied to evaluate clinical efficacy and tolerability of L-sulpiride (L-SLP) vs racemic sulpiride (SLP) in the treatment of somatoform disorders. After one week of placebo treatment, not responders were treated under double blind conditions with L-SLP (150 mg po/die) (group 1) or with SLP (300 mg po/die) (group 2) for three weeks. A placebo week followed the treatment. Clinical picture and side-effects were evaluated at the beginning of the study and then weekly using the Lipman scale for somatoform disorders (SCL), the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HRS-A), the EPSE for extrapyramidal side-effects and a check list for anticholinergic side-effects (ACS). Haematochemical routine, ECG and EEG were controlled at the beginning and at the end of the study. All patients showed a significant improvement (p less than 0.01 for group 1, p less than 0.05 for group 2) at the SCL from the first week of treatment. Patients treated with L-SLP showed a significant improvement (p less than 0.01) of HRS-A since the first week of treatment, while group 2 showed it since the second week. Extrapyramidal and anticholinergic side-effects were more frequent in group 2. This study seems to confirm the useful use of L-SLP in somatoform disorders; clinical and tolerability data point out that this isomer is more potent than the racemic compound, with less side-effects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Controlled clinical study on the effect of quazepam versus triazolam in patients with sleep disorders].

Quazepam (QZP), a new long half-life benzodiazepine, seems to have a more specific hypnotic activity and a "physiological" mechanism of action. This study assessed its clinical efficacy and any withdrawal symptoms occurring after the treatment with QZP and triazolam (TRZ). Sixty-five patients (mean age 41.4 yrs +/- 12.43 SD) with sleep disorders were included in the study. The patients were treated with placebo for 4 days (run-in period) and if no amelioration of insomnia was observed, were then randomly allocated to 15 mg QZP (33 patients) or TRZ (32 patients) for 8 weeks and finally placebo for another week. Sleep quality, efficiency, side-effects and withdrawal effects were assessed by specific rating scales. In comparing data obtained from the two treatments, the following conclusions were drawn: 1) both drugs showed a hypnoinductive efficacy but patients treated with QZP had significantly fewer night awakenings; 2) at the end of treatment only patients treated with TRZ had longer awakenings and rebound symptoms; 3) a lower withdrawal symptom incidence was observed in patients treated with QZP. Therefore, QZP seems to have a good hypnotic effect without inducing withdrawal symptoms. In contrast TRZ turned out to be a merely hypno-inducing drug presenting higher risks of rebound effects after withdrawal.

Adolescent↗