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Biomedical subjects

F Ferro-Milone

Publications and source records attributed to F Ferro-Milone.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Alpha-dihydroergocryptine in Parkinson's disease: a multicentre randomized double blind parallel group study.

INTRODUCTION: A multicentre randomized double-blind parallel group study was carried out on 68 patients suffering from idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with L-dopa for at least 1 year with inadequate therapeutic responsiveness. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of alpha-dihydroergocryptine (alpha-DHEC) vs lisuride as an adjunct therapy to L-dopa on dyskinesias and clinical fluctuations (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS] part IV), on the symptoms pattern (Columbia University Rating Scale [CURS]), on disability (Northwestern University Disability Scale [NUDS]), and to evaluate the incidence of adverse events. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients (18 males, 14 females with a mean age of 64.5+/-1.5 SEM) were randomized to alpha-dihydroergocryptine and 36 (16 males, 20 females with a mean age of 61.8+/-1.4) to lisuride. The treatment lasted 3 months and the dosage was increased until it reached 60 mg/day of alpha-dihydroergocryptine and 1.2 mg/day of lisuride, while the L-dopa dosage was kept constant in both groups. Per protocol and intention to treat analyses were performed on response variables. RESULTS: The adjunctive treatment with the two dopamine agonists determined a significant improvement of PD symptoms in both groups. Alpha-dihydroergocryptine showed a superior efficacy in reducing the clinical complications (P < 0.01 by ANOVA). The number of patients complaining of adverse events was 8 out of 32 (25%) for alpha-dihydroergocryptine and 24/36 (67%) for lisuride (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Alpha-dihydroergocryptine effect seems to be superior to that of lisuride both in terms of reduction of L-dopa therapy long term motor complications (UPDRS part IV) as well as in terms of the incidence and severity of adverse events.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Recovery from herpes simplex encephalitis: selective impairment of specific semantic categories with neuroradiological correlation.

The clinical, neuropsychological and neuroradiological features of two patients affected by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis are described. An experimental study for the assessment of naming, recognition and description displayed in one patient a persistent significant impairment in naming living things. The other patient showed a failing "semantic memory" for the same categories, although a significant impairment emerged only for plants. In both patients, the late neuroradiological sequelae were localised mainly in the inferior and middle gyri of the left temporal lobe and in the left-side insula. In one patient, the right-side insula was also involved. The selective cerebral damage induced by HSV-1 is stressed and a correlation between the neuroradiological and neuropsychological findings is attempted. The stereotyped anatomical and neuropsychological changes lead to the belief that the virus may recognise, within the limbic system, particular cellular "strains" on the basis of their molecular specificity.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Acute confusional migraine: clinical and electroencephalographic aspects.

Twelve patients with episodes of acute confusional migraine (ACM) are reported. Prolonged agitation and mental confusion characterized the headache attacks, occurring mostly among adolescents. The ictal EEG showed diffuse, slow abnormalities and a peculiar pattern known as FIRDA (frontal intermittent rhythmic delta activity). Neuroradiologic examinations and laboratory tests were unremarkable. After the acute stage, EEG gradually tended to show normalization. Apart from the noticeable similarities to the "juvenile head trauma syndrome", the authors assume that ACM represents a peculiar clinical form among the different types of migraine associated with disorders of higher mental functions.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Relevance of platelet factor four (PF4) plasma levels in multiple sclerosis.

In order to study the role of platelets in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) we assessed, in a group of patients during a quiescent phase of the disease, the plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor four (PF4) both in absence of treatment and during administration of aspirin (ASA) at the dose of 50 mg/daily. In the MS patients studied, the basal plasma levels of beta-TG and PF4 were significantly higher than in control subjects. The increase in the beta-TG plasma levels occurred independently of the age, sex and severity of the disease, whereas the modification in the PF4 plasma levels was significantly correlated with the severity of the disease. Administration to the patients of ASA, at the dose that does not affect prostacyclin production, determined a decrease of beta-TG in 77% of the patients. Mean PF4 plasma levels remained unchanged. These results suggest that PF4 in the plasma of MS patients may originate not only from the platelets but also from the mast cells following platelet aggregating factor (PAF) stimulation and immunocomplex formation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Treatment of parkinsonian conditions with a controlled-release form of levodopa--preliminary study.

Results obtained in 22 patients with Parkinson's disease in whom treatment with standard Madopar was replaced by Madopar HBS, a CR formulation of the same product, are presented. All the patients presented with dyskinesia and akinesia phenomena related in part to the L-dopa treatment and in part to the disease itself. In 20 patients replacement of the standard agent by HBS led to a distinct improvement in the clinical condition and a significant reduction of the 'on-off' phenomenon. However, with the new formulation the dosage had to be increased by 86% on average as compared with standard Madopar. In 6 of the 22 patients treatment with the HBS formulation has continued for over 6 months and is still giving very good results.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Platelet activity in cluster headache.

Platelets are known to be activated in common or classic migraine both during the attack and in headache-free periods. Platelet behavior is less well known in cluster headache. We have investigated beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor four (PF4) plasma levels, markers of in vivo platelet activation, in patients during remission and during bouts of cluster headache with and without pain. The results indicated that statistically significantly higher levels of beta-TG and PF4 occur in the patients during the remission period when compared with the control subjects. Such high levels seemed to persist between paroxysmal episodes in cluster periods. However, during the attacks of cluster headache beta-TG and PF4 plasma levels decreased by 42% and 50%, respectively, in comparison with plasma concentrations measured outside of attack. Thus, although platelet activation also occurs in patients with cluster headache, the attack as such seems to be characterized by a marked reduction in platelet activation.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Platelet behavior in patients with TIA: responsiveness to small doses of aspirin.

To study platelet role in cerebrovascular disease, beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) plasma levels, indices of in vivo platelet activation, were assayed in a group of patients affected by cerebral ischemic attack (transient ischemic attack; TIA). Determinations were carried out within 1 month from the ischemic event and following short-term (1 month) and long-term (1 year) daily administration of low doses (50 mg) of aspirin (ASA). After the cerebral ischemic event, beta-TG and PF4 plasma levels were elevated. beta-TG and PF4 plasma levels did not decrease after 1 month of treatment with ASA and significantly increased in all the patients after 1 year. Such a trend can perhaps be related to the natural course of the disease and associated with the possible occurrence of collagen-induced platelet activation in cerebrovascular patients. Data suggest that although platelet activation occurs in TIA-affected patients, the high levels of beta-TG and PF4 may not be adequate parameters for evaluation of TIA relapses and ASA efficacy.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Drugs and platelet activation in migraine and transient ischemic attacks.

In order to study the role of platelets in migraine and cerebrovascular disease, beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) plasma levels, indices of in vivo platelet activation, were assayed in two groups of patients suffering from migraine (common/classic and classic/complicated migraine, respectively) and in one group suffering from transitory ischemic attacks (TIAs). Plasma determinations were carried out in the absence of treatment and during the administration of aspirin (50 mg/daily) and flunarizine (10 mg/daily). Platelet activation was found in patients suffering from TIA; patients affected by classic and complicated migraine showed a high incidence of activation, in comparison with common migraine sufferers, also in headache-free periods. Administration of aspirin (ASA) was more effective than flunarizine in inducing a decrease in beta-TG and PF4 plasma levels in migraineurs. Aspirin, however, did not affect platelet activation in subjects suffering from ischemic attack even though we did not observe any relapse after one year of treatment. The different effect of ASA in TIAs and migraine indicates that the platelet activation in TIA patients is due not only to cyclo-oxygenase pathway but also to other in vivo pathways.

Adult↗