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Biomedical subjects

G Abate

Publications and source records attributed to G Abate.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicentre study of idebenone in patients suffering from multi-infarct dementia.

In this randomized double-blind, placebo controlled, multicentre study on 108 elderly patients with mild to moderate mental deterioration of vascular origin, idebenone - a benzoquinone derivative with a hydroxyalkyl side chain - proved to be therapeutically effective in the treatment of multi-infarct dementia. The oral administration of idebenone 45 mg/day b.i.d. for 120 days significantly improved the scores of the following test in comparison with placebo: Mini Mental State, Randt Memory Test, Gottfries Rating Scale, Token Test, Toulouse Piéron Test, indicating improvements in memory attention and cognitivity. The drug was well tolerated and effective in patients with multi-infarct dementia. No changes in laboratory parameters were observed either before or after treatment.

Clinical Trial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy of gamma-linolenic acid in the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Of 60 patients with atopic dermatitis (30 males and 30 females, 15-30 years old) 30 were treated with gamma-linolenic acid of (C18:3 n-6) at a dosage of 274 mg twice a day; the other 30 patients were given placebo. The patients were treated for 12 weeks, during which their symptoms were assessed on a linear scale both by a dermatologist and by themselves every 4 weeks. The patients who received gamma-linolenic acid, showed gradual improvements in pruritus, erythema, vesiculation and oozing, which were statistically significant compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Only one patient had presented with scaling at the beginning of the study and this symptom appeared to be less influenced by the effects of gamma-linolenic acid. The assessments of symptoms made by the dermatologist were generally consistent with those made by the patients themselves. gamma-linolenic acid was found to be effective and without side-effects for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sarcopenia: age-related skeletal muscle changes from determinants to physical disability.

Human aging is characterized by skeletal muscle wasting, a debilitating condition which sets the susceptibility for diseases that directly affect the quality of life and often limit life span. Sarcopenia, i.e. the reduction of muscle mass and/or function, is the consequence of a reduction of protein synthesis and an increase in muscle protein degradation. In addition, the capacity for muscle regeneration is severely impaired in aging and this can lead to disability, particularly in patients with other concomitant diseases or organ impairment. Immobility and lack of exercise, increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, increased production of oxygen free radicals or impaired detoxification, low anabolic hormone output, malnutrition and reduced neurological drive have been advocated as being responsible for sarcopenia. It is intriguing to notice that multiple pathways converge on skeletal muscle dysfunction, but the factors involved sometimes diverge to different pathways, thus intersecting at critical points. It is reasonable to argue that the activity of these nodes results from the net balance of regulating mechanisms, as in the case of the GH/IGF-1 axis, the testosterone and cortisol functions, the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and receptors. Both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms operate in regulating the final phenotype, the extent of muscle atrophy and reduction in strength and force generation. It is widely accepted that intervention on lifestyle habits represents an affordable and practical way to modify on a large scale some detrimental outcomes of aging, and particularly sarcopenia. The identification of the molecular chain able to reverse sarcopenia is a major goal of studies on human aging.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multicentre study of l-alpha-glyceryl-phosphorylcholine vs ST200 among patients with probable senile dementia of Alzheimer's type.

A multicentre, randomised, controlled study compared the efficacy of l-alpha-glyceryl-phosphorylcholine (alpha GPC) and ST200 (acetyl-l-carnitine) among 126 patients with probable senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT) of mild to moderate degree. Efficacy was evaluated by means of behavioural scales and psychometric tests. The results showed significant improvements in most neuropsychological parameters in the alpha GPC recipients. Improvements also occurred in the ST200 recipients but to a lesser extent. Tolerability was good in both groups. These positive findings require replication in larger, double-blind, longitudinal studies coupling clinical and biological determinations.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stop-flow in mediastinum and thorax for resistant lymphoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Management of patients with heavily pretreated malignant lymphoma failing frontline treatment and salvage high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral stem cell rescue, is problematic. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate isolated thoracic perfusion of drugs by means of stopflow technique. METHODOLOGY: Six patients were enrolled in the study; diagnoses included 4 advanced Hodgkin's disease, 1 primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma, and 1 anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Patients were aged 18-37 years; 4 presented with bulky mediastinum. They had never achieved a complete response since all had progressed from front-line treatment, and 3 had even failed salvage high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral stem cell rescue. Cisplatin (100 mg/m2) and melphalan (35 mg/m2) were used. Carmustine (100 mg/m2) were added to these 2 drugs and cytarabine (2000 mg/m2) in patients not previously treated by carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan. Epidoxorubicin (70 mg/m2) was added in patients who previously received a suboptimal dosage of antracycline. Drugs were delivered monthly via aortic perfusion performed by means of Aigner's stop-flow technique. RESULTS: Overall 13 cycles of perfusional chemotherapy were administered with a median number of 2 cycles. During the procedures there were no technical, hemodynamic, or vascular complications, and no deaths occurred during surgery. After 1 month, 6 (100%) objective responses after isolated thoracic perfusion were recorded, 3 (50%) of which were complete. Tolerance to therapy was excellent. Hematological toxicity was mild and transfusional support was needed only in one course. At the last follow-up, 2 patients are alive (1 complete response and 1 very good partial response, maintained). CONCLUSIONS: This new therapeutical approach seems very active in recurrent/refractory malignant lymphoma and may play an important role in this setting.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CEOP/PEB alternating chemotherapy in advanced intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

BACKGROUND AND METHOD: From February, 1987 to July, 1990, 28 patients (M/F = 16/12; median age = 60.5 yrs) affected by intermediate (22) or high-grade (6) advanced stage (III = 8; IV = 20) NHL were given a median (range 4-10) of 8 cycles of CEOP (Cyclophosphamide, Epirubicin, Vincristine and Prednisone), alternated every 21 days with PEB (Cisplatin, Etoposide, Bleomycin). RESULTS: Nineteen (68%) pts. achieved a CR, 5 (18%) a PR, and 4 (14%) experienced progressive disease (PD); 11/19 CRs subsequently relapsed within a median (range 3-15) time of 8 mos.. After a follow-up ranging from 6 to 42+ (median 18) mos., the 3-year actuarial overall survival (OS) was 51% and shifted to 18% at 42 mos. After 7-42+ (median 19) mos., 14/19 (73%) Crs were still alive with 63% of them predicted to survive at 3 years. The projected 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) for these pts. after 1-36+ (median 8) mos. was 28%. DISCUSSION: CEOP/PEB alternating chemotherapy failed to improve the therapeutic results we obtained in a previous study with CEOP alone. Toxicity was moderate, but higher than expected.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hyperhomocysteinemia in preeclampsia is associated to higher risk pressure profiles.

Homocysteine levels have been determined with Chromatography on HPLC column, between the 20th and the 24th week of pregnancy, in women with analogous characteristics (a) normotensive, (b) with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), low (LR), medium (MR), high risk (HR). The group they belonged to was confirmed after natural or caesarean delivery. All the patients were submitted to 24 hour blood pressure monitoring for the evaluation of further pressure risk parameters: mean arterial pressure (MAP), non dippers, percentages of pressure peaks. Homocysteine levels in normotensive pregnant women (5.8 +/- 1.7 microM) were low. Significant high levels of homocysteine were present proportionally to the risk degree of PIH. Higher levels of homocysteine statistically significant were present in non dippers of all groups (MR p < 0.05; HR p < 0.01). A direct correlation between plasmatic homocisteine levels and pressure profiles was found out in non dippers (r = 0.56, r = 0.55, r = 0.50 respectively) and in dippers (r = 0.7, r = 0.75, r = 0.60 respectively), and also between levels of homocysteine, MAP value, and pathological percentages of systolic and diastolic nocturnal peaks. In pregnant women presenting preeclampsia afterwards, high levels of homocysteine were not different from mean values present in high risk PIH pregnant women (13.3 +/- 1.9 vs. 16.4 +/- 1.7 microM). High levels of homocysteine early determined in the second trimester of PIH pregnancies seem to be associated to a pregnancy higher risk, coexisting with dangerous pressure profiles. High levels confirm a pregnant woman to belong to a higher or lower risk degree of vascular damage, but in the same group context high levels of homocisteine do not allow to identify those pregnant women who will develop eclampsia.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Osteoarthritic disease: therapy with oxicam derivatives].

Two groups, each composed of 20 elderly patients suffering from osteoarthritis characterised by intense pain, were treated for 4 weeks with the oral formulation of two modern oxicam derivatives (tenoxicam capsules and beta-cyclodextrin-piroxicam tablets respectively). The analysis of the results showed that both drugs have an excellent antalgic effect. After the first dose the action of beta-cyclodextrin-piroxican was quicker and more marked, with statistically significant differences between treatments for the first 4 hours. At the end of the study period the two drugs proved to be equally effective, with a more pronounced symptomatic effect of beta-cyclodextrin-piroxican. No side effects serious enough to warrant suspension of treatment were observed: the only side effects reported were gastric adverse events (pyrosis, gastralgia) in both groups, having an incidence of 50% (tenoxicam) and 15% (beta-cyclodextrin-piroxicam) respectively.

Aged↗