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Biomedical subjects

G Ceccarelli

Publications and source records attributed to G Ceccarelli.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

[Role of digestive endoscopy in the diagnosis of primary intestinal lymphangiectasis. Presentation of 2 cases].

This article describes two new cases of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: the first one refers to a 10-years-old girl, who failed to thrive, while the second one was discovered in a 19-months-old female infant, who presented with anasarca. In both cases gastroduodenal endoscopy allow us to put the diagnosis, revealing the presence of the typical duodenal lesions, due to dilatation of the lymphatic vessels and loss of the lymph. The typical endoscopic features found in both cases are here described; at the same time, the major role of the intestinal biopsy via endoscopic route is outlined, since this is the only method which allow to perform targeted biopsies.

Biopsy

[Decrease of blood lead in the Marche population, 1979-1989].

Blood lead concentration was measured from 1979 to 1989 in 1148 subjects (834 males and 314 females) living in Regione Marche of Italy. Blood concentration lowered in the time from 34.6 mcg/100ml in 1979 to 12.3 mcg/100ml in 1989. The greatest decrease was measured after 1982 and this appears to be related to the reduction, on the basis of CEE dispositions, of lead concentration in gasoline. Blood lead concentration was higher in males than in females (18.2 mcg/100ml vs 16.5 mcg/100ml) and in people living in the cities with more than 50.000 inhabitants (18.3 mcg/100ml). The smoking habit, the wine assumption and the use of canned foods do not influence blood lead concentration, which is instead increased in subjects which usually drink water drawn from artesian wells.

Adolescent

Drug monitoring study of a product containing ferritin.

A drug monitoring study was carried out co-operatively by industry, a university department of clinical pharmacology and a randomly selected sample of general practitioners throughout Italy to collect case history and clinical data on over 10,000 patients with anaemia treated for 2 to 4 months with a preparation containing ferritin plus vitamin B12 co-enzyme and folinic acid. Analysis of the data generated, whilst confirming the effectiveness and tolerability of the study medication, highlighted the usefulness of the research methodology for describing the pattern of use of a drug widely prescribed in general medicine.

Adolescent

Antianxiety properties of lormetazepam. A double-blind crossover trial versus diazepam.

A double-blind crossover trial was carried out to compare the anxiolytic activity of lormetazepam vs diazepam. After 1 week of placebo, the drugs were administered for 4 weeks (10 drops twice daily) to 10 subjects with anxiety disorders. Each patient received either lormetazepam or diazepam and modifications of symptoms were evaluated through a series of tests at various intervals (days 0, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 40 of the study). Both drugs proved to be effective and significantly superior to placebo. They were both well tolerated.

Adult

Relative bioavailability in humans for oral tablets and solutions of lormetazepam.

A study was carried out to estimate the relative bioavailability of 7-chloro-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-1, 3-dihydro-1H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2-one (lormetazepam, Minias) in humans after administration of oral tablets and solutions. Plasma concentration of the drug was measured by gaschromatography with electron capture detector. Six healthy males were each given both formulations. With the oral solution higher plasma peak concentration and a shorter peak time were observed than with tablets. Also the elimination half-life was shorter with the oral solution, while no difference was found with the AUC.

Administration, Oral

Stereochemistry of cis-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (cicloxilic acid).

The configuration of cis-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-cyclohexanecarboxilic acid (cicloxilic acid) was deduced by comparing its NMR and IR spectra with those of its diastereoisomer and of their respective analogs, the 1-hydroxy(bicyclohexyl)-2-carboxylic acids. The diastereoisomer was prepared by converting cicloxilic acid to the corresponding 2-chloro-2-phenyl-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid and subsequent hydrolysis of the latter with aqueous solvents in the presence of wet silver oxide, or by simple solvolysis. The pair of 1-hydroxy(bicyclohexyl)-2-carboxylic acid was prepared from the respective phenylic terms by catalytic hydrogenation. Comparison of the NMR spectra revealed the spatial arrangement of the -H and -COOH groups on the carbon-alpha atom and the study of the interaction between the substitutents -OH and -COOH by IR spectrography revealed the position of the -OH group with respect to the -COOH group, as a result of which the configuration and conformation of the compounds under study were established. Cicloxilic acid is thus represented by the steric formula 4.

Chemical Phenomena

The frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies in a Calabrian population.

The epidemiological survey was carried out in a Calabrian population in order to ascertain the incidence of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae. In the past it has been felt that this infection does not occur in Southern Italy. We have found an incidence in our survey equal to that of the other countries. It was impossible to tell when these infections had occurred and the possibility of a continuing survey is discussed.

Adult

A double-blind clinical comparison of two dosage schedules of cefatrizine in children.

A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was carried out to compare the effectiveness of twice daily versus once daily administration of the cephalosporin, cefatrizine, in paediatric outpatients with bacterial infection of the respiratory tract. Thirty children were studied, aged 7 years 2 months (range, 4-12 years). They were given 75 mg/kg.day cefatrizine either once daily or twice daily at 12 h intervals for 8 days. Fever, clinical symptoms, bacterial eradication and overall tolerance were evaluated. No significant differences were observed between once daily or twice daily administration. This is in agreement with other studies carried out on adults. It is concluded that cefatrizine may be given to paediatric out-patients for the treatment of bacterial infection of the respiratory tract only once daily with good clinical and overall results.

Body Temperature

Azelastine in the prophylactic treatment of bronchial asthma: an Italian multicentre comparison with ketotifen.

The prophylactic effectiveness of the phthalazinone derivative, azelastine was compared with ketotifen. A total of 111 patients, aged 18-65 years, from 10 centres was entered into this randomized, double-blind study. All patients had reversible asthma. After 1 week on placebo, patients were allocated to either 8 mg/day azelastine once or twice daily, or to 1 mg ketotifen, twice daily, for a further 12 weeks. Azelastine was more effective in improving respiratory function (forced expiratory flow in 1 s and peak expiratory flow rate) when given in the once daily regimen, whereas clinical measures (number of weekly asthma attacks) were most improved by twice daily dosing. There was no significant difference between the effectiveness of azelastine and that of ketotifen. Treatments were equally well tolerated and a low incidence of side-effects was reported. In conclusion, 8 mg/day azelastine, in either a single or twice daily dosage regimen may be regarded as providing effective prophylaxis against bronchial asthma.

Adult

Etizolam in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a controlled clinical trial.

A total of 45 patients with generalized anxiety disorder were treated twice daily for 2 weeks, on a double-blind basis, with 0.5 mg etizolam, 0.5 mg alprazolam or 3 mg bromazepam, and symptoms were assessed using Hamilton's rating scale for anxiety and Hamilton's rating scale for depression. Patients then received the same drug for a further 2 weeks, the drugs being given three times daily if a poor response was observed during the first 2 weeks. All drugs displayed equivalent anxiolytic activity after 2 weeks, but etizolam displayed a progressive increase in anxiolytic activity over 4 weeks of treatment. Etizolam also possessed a more marked antidepressant effect than did alprazolam or bromazepam. There were no differences in the tolerability of the three drugs.

Adult

[The accident phenomenon in a naval shipyard].

The paper analyses the rate and severity of accidents in a shipyard in the period 1 January-31 December, 1987. Data were collected by consulting the shipyards' accident register, which recorded each single case of injury, and the medical certificates sent to the shipyard management by the worker's physicians. The shipyard employed 996 blue collar workers and 210 white collar workers in 1987, all of whom were subject to obligatory industrial accident insurance. For each of the 1375 accidents that occurred in the period under study, the time, place and cause of the accident and the type and site of the injury were recorded. The aim of the statistical analysis of the data was to assess the risk in each area of the shipyard and the causes of the accidents in relation to the work station and job. The severity rate of injury increased in those workers recently assigned to new jobs; climate had a negative influence since accidents were more frequent in spring/summer. Accident prevention measures are suggested that can be achieved by improving work organisation and by a more appropriate use of personal safety devices.

Accidents, Occupational