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Biomedical subjects

A Arrigo

Publications and source records attributed to A Arrigo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Phenobarbital in the prophylaxis of late posttraumatic seizures.

390 patients with severe head injuries were treated with phenobarbital (PB) orally for a period of 12 months in order to determine whether this drug could reduce the incidence of posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE). An intramuscular PB dose of 2.5-3 mg/kg body weight per day was administered within 24 hours after the trauma; after 5 days, or longer if the coma persisted, the drug was administered orally. Maintenance dosage adjustments, when necessary, were based on serial plasma concentrations of the drug, sustained at between 5 and 30 micrograms/ml. 293 patients completed the study. 66% of these presented one risk factor, while 34% presented two or more. 6 patients (2.04%) had at least one seizure during the twelve months. Plasma drug levels at the time of the seizure, with one exception of 15 micrograms/ml, ranged from 20 to 28 micrograms/ml. The results of the study indicate that PB administered during the first twelve months after the trauma, even at relatively low doses, can have a prophylactic effect on PTE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Efficacy and tolerability of ketoprofen lysine salt foam for topical use in the treatment of traumatic pathologies of the locomotor apparatus].

In this study the authors evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a foam of 15% ketoprofen lysine salt versus placebo in patients with articular traumas, pains and strains, distortions etc. All parameters considered were statistically significantly decreased after 7 days of active treatment as compared to placebo. Pain score decreased significantly at pressure (p < 0.001), pain on active movement (p < 0.005), pain on passive movement and pain at rest. Efficacy of the active foam was graded as satisfactory in 81.7% and its tolerability in 92.7% versus 44% and 29% with placebo respectively. Patients reported high acceptability (89%) of the new foam formulation. No systemic or local side effects were observed or reported. The 15% ketoprofen lysine salt foam for topical use can be considered an effective antiinflammatory and analgesic drug for the treatment of minor orthopedic and traumatic disorders, and was found to be perfectly tolerated.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1991

Surface-EMG analysis of rectus femoris in patients with spastic hemiparesis undergoing rehabilitation treatment.

In the present study a surface-EMG investigation of the rectus femoris muscle was performed in patients with spastic hemiparesis before and after rehabilitation treatment. The EMG activity was detected during 50% of the maximum voluntary contraction by means of FFT automatic analysis; the mean power frequency (MPF) and the time-course of the frequencies of the surface-EMG signals showed significant changes after physiokinesitherapy. In hemiparetic patients a particular distribution of the frequencies of the surface-EMG signals towards the lowest values were observed. These findings could be related to the preferential atrophy of type II fibers which has been demonstrated in morphological studies. Furthermore the surface-EMG analysis after a period of rehabilitation treatment showed some significant modifications of MPF and time-course of the EMG signals. These changes corresponded to an improvement of the spasticity as evaluated by clinical rating-scale. This neurophysiological investigation seem to be a simple and reliable method for better evaluating some effects of the rehabilitation therapy.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of prevalence of "doping" among Italian athletes.

To evaluate knowledge of, attitudes to, and use of illegal drugs and other forms of "doping" in sport 1015 Italian athletes and 216 coaches, doctors, and managers (technicians) were interviewed after selection on a quota basis. Overall, 30% of athletes, managers, and coaches and 21% of doctors indicated that athletic performance can be enhanced by drugs or other doping practices. Over 10% of athletes indicated a frequent use of amphetamines or anabolic steroids at national or international level, fewer athletes mentioning blood doping (7%) and beta-blockers (2%) or other classes of drugs. These proportions were 2-3 times higher for occasional use than for frequent use. Estimates by managers and coaches were much the same as those of athletes when allowance was made for larger random variation. 62% of athletes who acknowledged doping reported pressure to do so from coaches and managers. According to over 70% of athletes access to illegal substances was not difficult. Both athletes and technicians awarded higher scores to risk than to efficacy for any substance, although 42-67% of athletes and technicians regarded amphetamines and anabolic steroids as efficacious. 82% wanted stricter controls not only during competitions but also during training.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Evaluation of the safety of antitussive agents during respiratory rehabilitation. A clinical study of L-dropropizine].

This study proves that L-dropropizine, a new peripheral antitussive drug, does not hinder the positive and useful effect of cough. This is particularly the case of physiokinesis in chronic obstructive lung disease patients. To quantify results, the respiratory voluntary muscles have been examined by surface electromyography and the peak expiratory flow has been registered by a computer-assisted device. By analysing the curves obtained relating the intensity of muscle contraction to expiratory flow, i.e. the muscle work exerted, no difference has been found after L-dropropizine and placebo. Statistical analysis evidenced increase in maximal peak expiratory flow and decrease in muscle work with both therapies. Both were significant (Student's test for paired data: p less than 0.01) in attaining functional improvement. Levodropropizine does not seem to impair the efficacy of cough elicited as part of respiratory clearance mechanisms.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Autoimmune myastenia gravis with thymoma following the spontaneous remission of stiff-man syndrome.

A patient who developed generalized autoimmune myasthenia gravis six years after the spontaneous remission of a stiff-man syndrome is described. He also suffered from chronic active hepatitis and had radiological evidence of a thymoma. He did not have diabetes mellitus. Besides anti-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies, anti-nuclear, anti-DNA, anti-mitochondrial and anti-skeletal muscle antibodies were found in his serum, while islet-cell antibodies were absent. Immunocytochemistry studies failed to demonstrate autoantibodies to GABA-ergic nerve terminals, although an aspecific neuronal immunostaining was observed. The clinical and immunological features of this case support the hypothesis of a dysimmune pathogenesis of SMS, also in cases not associated with autoimmunity to GABA-ergic nerve terminals. Furthermore, a relationship between thymoma and the neurological syndromes discussed could be considered.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗
PubMed1990

Psycho-motor skills in hemiplegic patients: reaction time differences related to hemispheric lesion side.

Psychomotor performances are frequently impaired in patients with cerebral lesion. The locus of lesion seems to play an important role: patients with right hemispheric lesion (RHL) frequently show a more important impairment in reaction to external stimuli than patients with left hemispheric lesion (LRH). The aim of this work was to study simple and choice visual reaction times in 2 groups of hemiplegic patients, with different hemispheric lesion side. Results confirm that patients with RHL have significantly more prolonged reaction times. No differences were found in a time we called choice time, related to "central delay" confirming that the more important psychomotor performances deficit in RHL patients is mainly related to impairment of attention, alertness, arousal systems.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on reaction times in patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency.

A double-blind cross-over study was carried out on the clinical effectiveness of acetyl-L-carnitine on 12 elderly subjects undergoing rehabilitation for acute cerebral circulatory insufficiency compared with a placebo. Significant differences between the drug and placebo were found in memory, number and word tests and in the responses to simple stimuli and the performance of the maze test. There were no side-effects to the drug.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1989

Peripheral nerve conduction velocity in normal infants and children.

Maximum motor conduction velocity of the median, ulnar and peroneal nerves and maximum sensory conduction velocity of the median nerve have been studied in 635 children, below 12 years of age, free from peripheral nervous system disease. The children fell into four age-group: from 0 to 1 year; from 1 to 3 years: from 3 to 6 years; from 6 to 12 years. No normal values were recorded for the sensory conduction velocity of the median nerve under the age of one year. The motor conduction velocity values significantly rise for the median and ulnar nerves up to 1 year, for the peroneal nerve up to 3 years. The sensory conduction velocity values of median nerve increase significantly up to 6 years.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Effects of intravenous high dose co-dergocrine mesylate ('Hydergine') in elderly patients with severe multi-infarct dementia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 40 patients affected by multi-infarct dementia to see if a daily intravenous infusion of 3 mg co-dergocrine mesylate ('Hydergine') over 14 days would improve severely deteriorated elderly patients and shorten the latent period (3 months) which is observed when the drug is given orally. All the patients had severe mental impairment, psychological deficit or altered consciousness. A Hachinski score of 7 or more, and a cumulative score of at least 12 points on SCAG scale Items 1, 2 and 4 (anxiety/depression) and/or Items 5, 6 and 8 (alertness/confusion) were required for admission. After 1 week of intravenous infusion of placebo, patients were randomly allocated to treatment with co-dergocrine mesylate or placebo, from Day 1 to Day 14. The solutions were infused over a period of 2 hours. During the follow-up period from Day 15 to Day 21, the patients did not receive any treatment. Thirty-six patients (17 on co-dergocrine mesylate, 19 on placebo) completed the study. The results, as rated on the SCAG scale, indicated significant improvements, in favour of co-dergocrine mesylate, in cognitive dysfunction, mood depression, withdrawal and overall impression. Furthermore, the factor fatigue on the Nowlis scale and clinical global assessments by physicians also showed significant advantages of the co-dergocrine mesylate group over placebo. Nine out of 17 co-dergocrine mesylate patients complained of side-effects, usually experienced during infusion; they consisted mainly of nausea (6 patients), gastric discomfort (2 patients), and tremor, nasal congestion, flushing, hypotension and hypertension (1 patient each). Despite the appearance of side-effects, general tolerability was rated as 'good' by both physicians and patients. It is concluded, therefore, that intravenous high dose co-dergocrine mesylate treatment has a fast and clinically relevant effect on the key clinical symptoms of multi-infarct dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Interaction of diazepam and levodropropizine evaluated with quantitative EEG].

The purpose of this clinical trial was to evaluate the presence of possible interactions between Levodropropizine and benzodiazepines (BZ). Experience was performed recording bioccipital quantified EEG in 5 healthy volunteers in normal conditions, after BZ administration and after BZ plus Levodropropizine administration. The slight shifting towards lower frequences in quantified EEG, due to BZ, was not modified by Levodropropizine administration. As results from this experience Levodropropizine seems not to have sinergic action on BZ effect in quantified EEG.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Activity of oxiracetam in patients with organic brain syndrome: a neuropsychological study.

Oxiracetam is a new psychotropic drug that has been shown to positively affect processes both in animals and in patients with impaired brain function. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effects of oxiracetam treatment on clinical symptoms in 43 patients with organic brain syndrome (OBS). After a 2-week washout period, patients were assigned to either oxiracetam or placebo, according to a randomized, double-blind, between-patients design. Both oxiracetam and placebo were orally given bid for 8 weeks; daily dose of oxiracetam was 2 X 800 mg. In OBS patients with a mild to moderate degree of cognitive impairment, oxiracetam showed to improve cognitive functions, logical performance, and attention. Other behavioral and functional parameters were also positively modified.

Aged↗