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Biomedical subjects

L Leone

Publications and source records attributed to L Leone.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics of flutoprazepam, a novel benzodiazepine drug, in normal subjects.

The single dose pharmacokinetics of flutoprazepam and its active N-desalkyl metabolite were determined in 8 normal subjects by using newly developed, highly sensitive, GC-MS and HPLC techniques. Following a 2 mg dose of the drug, the concentrations of unchanged flutoprazepam in serum were extremely low (below 5 ng/ml at 2 h) and declined rapidly to undetectable levels within 6-9 h after dosing. At all sampling times, the serum concentration of the N-dealkylated metabolite (N-desalkylflurazepam) was much greater than that of the parent compound. This metabolite appeared in serum rapidly (within 2 h), reached a peak between 2 and 12 h and declined slowly, with an elimination half-life of about 90 h on average. The serum concentration of two additional putative metabolites (3-hydroxy-flutoprazepam and N-desalkyl-3-hydroxy-flutoprazepam) was below the limit of detection (2 ng/ml) in all samples. Mild CNS effects (documented by prolonged choice reaction time) were present at 2 and 4 h but were no longer detectable at 9 h. It is suggested that unchanged flutoprazepam is unlikely to contribute significantly to clinical effects and that the drug exerts its therapeutic activity through conversion to the slowly eliminated N-desalkyl metabolite.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preliminary clinical evaluation of free/total PSA ratio by the IMMULITE system.

The role of free (F) and complexed serum PSA is now under investigation. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical significance of F-PSA and F/Total (T) PSA ratio in a preliminary series of samples from 88 patients with prostate cancer (PC), 113 with benign prostatic disease (BPD), and 98 with non-prostatic disease (NP). We used the F-PSA and third generation T-PSA (DPC, Los Angeles, USA) chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assays with the IMMULITE automated system. At the 10 ng/ml cutoff for T-PSA levels, we obtained a sensitivity of 83% with a specificity of 100% in NP and 80% in BPD. The addition of the F/T ratio--rather than F-PSA levels--was useful to better discriminate PC and BPD in the cases erroneously classified by T-PSA alone: 44/68 samples (65%) were correctly diagnosed. Moreover, the F/T ratio was particularly effective in the critical T-PSA range between 4.1-9.9 ng/ml; 26/40 cases (65%) were correctly evaluated. In conclusion, the F/T ratio seems to be an interesting auxiliary test to T-PSA, to be reserved for selected cases where additional diagnostic information is necessary.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[New trends in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease].

The Authors in reviewing the diagnostic techniques commonly used in Crohn's disease, focus their attention on Indium-111 scanning. The method seems useful, not only to point out the complications of the disease (stenosis, abscess, fistula) but especially for the follow up of patients after surgery with early diagnosis of a possible relapse.

Crohn Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Multifactorial surgical risk index of the development of respiratory complications].

Respiratory events are between the most frequent postoperative complications. The preoperative conditions associated with postoperative respiratory failure were evaluated in a prospective study of 1182 patients from six Italian Surgical Units. Multiple regression logistic analysis was employed for statistical evaluation and a predictive prognostic score was derived. Only the presence of the following conditions was significant in affecting postoperative respiratory outcomes: preoperative respiratory and cardiac failure, hypotransferrinemia, prolonged surgical procedures (above the 2 hours) and peroperative bacterial contamination. Advanced age did not appear as a major risk factor. Studies on the predetermination of the pulmonary complications have been widely published. Historical risk factors include the presence of respiratory disease, smoking habits, obesity and thoracic or upper abdominal surgical procedures. Although the results of the present study need a prospective confirmation, the predictive scoring system proves to be a usefull tool that can be employed in most of the General Surgery Units.

Abdomen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

What do patients want to know about their inflammatory bowel disease?

Being informed is not only a patient's right, it is also important in order to improve compliance and management. Apart from verbal consultations, informative material is often produced without prior analysis of what patients consider important to know. Patient information needs were defined in order to plan future educational programmes. A 44-item questionnaire was given to 100 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) out-patients (50 Crohn's Disease (CD) and 50 Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Sixty-two per cent of those with UC and 78% of those with CD consider themselves insufficiently informed about their disease. CU and CD patients indicated different priorities concerning areas where further information is requested: CD patient needs were aetiology, diet, symptoms, history, new treatments, risks deriving from treatment, cancer risk and consequences on work. UC patients indicated a different priority order: risk of cancer, new treatments, symptoms, psychological and diet factors and aetiology. The media preferred by patients were: specifically prepared books (73%), video-cassettes (20%) and leaflets (25%). Ninety per cent think that educational material prepared according to their needs could be very useful; however 35% think that knowledge of the possible severity of their disease might increase their anxiety.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Colonic stenosis due to a "microcarcinoma" of the ovary: a clinical note].

The authors, on the basis of a case recently observed, suggest to take into account the presence of an ovarian "microcarcinoma" when a jejunal stenosis of uncertain origin is found in a female patient. In fact, ovarian carcinoma is often misdiagnosed. A complete surgical exploration is recommended even though diagnostic techniques such as endoscopy, CT scan, ultrasonography and X-ray barium enema are negative.

Carcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical evaluation of defibrotide in the treatment of arterial and venous vascular disease. A preliminary report.

Defibrotide is a new compound with antithrombotic and profibrinolytic activity. It increases the endogenous fibrinolytic activity by promoting the cellular activator of plasminogen from endothelial cells and by decreasing the concentration of its inhibitors. In this study we evaluated a total of 223 patients for a mean period of 43 days for the following vascular conditions: (a) superficial venous thrombosis; (b) prophylaxis against deep venous thrombosis; (c) peripheral vascular disease (ischaemic foot and intermittent claudication; (d) prophylaxis against TIAs in patients with carotid plaques determining embolization; (e) treatment of venous ulcerations determined by chronic venous incompetence; (f) patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and disease. The tolerability observed was good. No side effects were observed even in more prolonged treatments. The overall efficacy was good for all groups especially in comparison with other treatment already in use for these vascular conditions. In conclusion defibrotide is a particularly useful drug in these vascular diseases and can be used both for acute and chronic treatments.

Adult↗