Biomedical subjects

D M Cocchetto

Publications and source records attributed to D M Cocchetto.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Cefuroxime axetil in the treatment of cutaneous infections.

A multicenter clinical trial was conducted in 125 out-patients with skin and skin structure infections due to bacteria in order to compare the safety and efficacy of cefuroxime axetil and cefaclor. Patients with a median age of 32 years were randomly allocated to treatment for 10 days with one of three treatments: cefuroxime axetil 250 mg b.i.d., cefuroxime axetil 500 mg b.i.d., or cefaclor 250 mg t.i.d. Clinical evaluations of each patient were done pre-treatment, 2 to 4 days intra-treatment, and within 3 days post-treatment. One patient discontinued cefuroxime axetil due to severe urticaria and one patient discontinued cefaclor due to a persistent headache and vomiting. Cefuroxime axetil was an effective antibacterial agent for treatment of common skin infections. Clinically beneficial outcome was achieved for 92% (cefuroxime axetil 250 mg b.i.d.), 95% (cefuroxime axetil 500 mg b.i.d.), and 97% (cefaclor 250 mg t.i.d.) of patients. Since the study failed to demonstrate a significant advantage of higher dosage, cefuroxime axetil should be prescribed in a regimen of 250 mg twice a day for patients with skin infections.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nomogram for estimating creatinine clearance.

Several methods have been published for estimating creatinine clearance from serum creatinine concentrations. Such estimates of creatinine clearance are widely used for dosage adjustments of drugs which are primarily eliminated through the kidneys in patients with reduced renal function. Most of these methods involve the use of equations, requiring a few steps of calculations. A simple and easy-to-use nomogram is presented for estimating creatinine clearance from serum creatinine concentration, plus the age, sex, and bodyweight of the individual patient. This nomogram is based on the linear relationship between creatinine clearance and the reciprocal value of the serum creatinine concentration, where the slope of this relationship is determined by the rate of creatinine production. The rate of creatinine production, however, is related to age, sex, and bodyweight. These physical characteristics are therefore used to scale the slopes of the relationships between creatinine clearance and serum creatinine concentration. The validity of the nomogram was tested in 50 consecutive hospitalised patients for which creatinine clearance was measured. There was an excellent correlation (r = 0.903) between predicted and observed creatinine clearance values.

Creatinine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative effects of H2-receptor antagonists on drug interaction in rats.

The most widely used H2-receptor antagonist, cimetidine, is known to interact with cytochrome P-450 drug-metabolizing enzymes and, therefore, interacts with other drugs which may be administered concurrently. In this study, effects of three H2-receptor antagonists, famotidine, ranitidine, and L-643,441, on drug interaction were studied using cimetidine as a positive control. Cimetidine and L-643,441, but not famotidine or ranitidine, prolonged antipyrine elimination and hexobarbital-induced sleeping time. The effect of cimetidine and famotidine on the anticoagulant effect on warfarin in rats was also investigated. Pretreatment of rats with cimetidine produced a significant depression of plasma prothrombin complex activity, whereas concomitant administration of famotidine did not alter the plasma prothrombin complex activity. Whereas cimetidine is known to impair the elimination of a number of drugs metabolized by microsomal mixed function oxidase enzyme systems, the results of the present study suggest that famotidine and ranitidine have little effect on these enzyme systems.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Use and acceptance of ventolin Rotacaps and the Rotahaler in 1235 asthmatic patients.

This open-label study was performed to characterize the acceptance, reliability, and adverse event profile of a dry powder delivery system for albuterol. A total of 1235 asthmatic outpatients, aged 11 to 84 years, were studied for 1 month. Each patient enrolled was documented as having a specific complaint concerning the use of a standard metered-dose inhaler. At the end of 4 weeks of treatment, the patients completed a questionnaire to record their opinions and preferences. The results were as follows: 93% stated that Rotacaps were easy to use; 92% that they could use Rotacaps during an asthma attack; 99% that they had no problems with breakage of the device; 94% that the drug tasted pleasant or had no taste; 70% that they could inhale a full dose with one breath; and 79% that Rotacaps were at least as effective as the metered-dose inhaler they had used previously. Drug-related adverse events were reported by 6% of the patients; no single event was reported by more than 1% of the patients. The results indicate that Rotacaps are a safe, effective, and well-accepted alternative to metered-dose inhalers in asthmatic patients.

Administration, Inhalation↗