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Biomedical subjects

A Capuano

Publications and source records attributed to A Capuano.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Epidemiology of hypertension in children.

In 1979-80, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 7118 Neapolitan school children aged 10-15 years. In 1980-81 and 1981-82 a longitudinal study was performed in a group of children with blood pressure above the mean + 1SD (in age and sex related peers) and in a group with blood pressure less than mean + 1SD. In the whole population blood pressure increased with age from 10 to 14 years. The major determinant of blood pressure was body weight, followed by heart rate. Three hundred and ninety-eight children (5.6%) were hypertensive having blood pressure greater than mean + 2SD. In children followed longitudinally, blood pressure was very labile; only 13 per cent of those originally having blood pressure mean + 1SD, in fact, remained in the same category. All of these, however, had blood pressure greater than mean + 2SD throughout the study.

Adolescent↗

Management of hypertension by general practitioners: an Italian observational study.

Data on patients receiving antihypertensive therapy were collected from 20 general practitioners (GPs) in Campania, Italy, to determine the prescription of different antihypertensive classes and their use with other drugs for concomitant diseases, to investigate the main factors influencing antihypertensive choice, to document treatment outcome, and to assess adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Each GP completed a data card for each consultation that produced an antihypertensive prescription; 1900 cards were collected. The most frequently used antihypertensives were angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (49.6%), calcium antagonists (24.8%), beta blockers (11.7%), angiotensin II-receptor blockers (5.5%), and alpha blockers (0.9%). In 82% of patients, blood pressure was reduced but did not reach normotensive levels. The choice of antihypertensive treatment was influenced by international guidelines (56%), clinical diagnosis (25%), concomitant diseases (8%), cost (4%), compliance (3%), and other factors (5%). ADRs--most often cough (35.7%), edema (22.7%), headache (13.3%), and tachycardia (7.8%)--occurred in 11.8% of patients.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Self-prescribed laxative use: a drug-utilization review.

This study was conducted to determine the reasons for the choice of self-prescribed laxatives and to acquire information on how they were used and tolerated. From November 1999 to February 2000, 70 pharmacies, uniformly located throughout the Campania region of southern Italy, distributed a questionnaire to purchasers of over-the-counter laxatives. The average age of the (mostly female) respondents was 45.9 years; 23.8% were elderly. Among the 7324 individuals who completed the survey, 77.6% selected an oral product; 22.4% preferred rectal administration. A physician influenced the choice of a laxative in 37.7% of the cases, a pharmacist in 20.5%; other suggestions came from relatives (14%), acquaintances (12.1%), advertisements (11.7%), and miscellaneous sources (4%). Only 59.8% of respondents used these drugs correctly, and 58.2% consulted a physician or pharmacist because of constipation. Adverse effects, mainly gastrointestinal symptoms, occurred in 6.1% of those surveyed. The long-term use or abuse of laxatives can cause serious medical consequences, as well as mask diseases, delaying diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Physicians, pharmacists, and other health-care personnel should counsel patients on the proper use of these easily available, ubiquitous drugs.

Adolescent↗

Over-the-counter oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a pharmacoepidemiologic study in southern Italy.

The Pharmacoepidemiologic Service of the Second University of Naples analyzed the use and tolerability of over-the-counter (OTC) oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) purchased in Campania, a region of southern Italy. Forty private pharmacies uniformly distributed throughout the region were recruited. The study was conducted by means of a questionnaire completed by purchasers and lasted from December 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000; 2,053 questionnaires were collected. The age of respondents averaged 45.3 +/- 3.49 years (range, 17-85 years). The NSAIDs analyzed were acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, diclofenac, and piroxicam. Adverse effects, mainly gastrointestinal symptoms, were reported by 5.5% of the users and occurred primarily with diclofenac, piroxicam, ibuprofen, and ketoprofen. Because the use and availability of OTC NSAIDs are increasing, further studies of the tolerability of this important drug class are warranted.

Adolescent↗

Gabapentin in the prophylaxis of migraine: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug of new generation that increases brain GABA levels. We report the results of a three-month randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study on the effects of gabapentin in the prophylaxis of patients with migraine meeting the IHS criteria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated 63 patients suffering from migraine with or without aura. Patients treated their attack at home using symptomatic drugs and clinical assessment was recorded on a diary. After a washout of 8 week from any other prophylactic treatment, all patients were treated with 1200 mg/day of gabapentin; this is our therapeutic plan: 400 mg/day from 1st to 3rd day, 800 mg/day from 4th to 6th day and 1200 mg/day from 7th day. RESULTS: No patients withdrew, gabapentin was well tolerated; adverse events (somnolence, dizziness, tremor, fatigue and ataxia) generally were transient and mild to moderate in severity and in 13 patients (27%) only occurred. At the end of treatment, in such case, we reported a significative reduction of frequency and intensity of migraine in 30 patients treated with gabapentin. DISCUSSION: Our observations indicate that gabapentin is well tolerated by patients and that reduces headache frequency and use of symptomatic drugs in both groups. Gabapentin shows to have an effective therapeutic action in the prophylactic treatment of migraine.

Acetates↗

Antiepileptic drugs in migraine prophylaxis: state of the art.

Antiepileptic drugs have proven their efficacy in the prophylactic treatment of migraine. Our study comprises a clinical trial that examines the efficacy of gabapentin and topiramate and a description of the pharmacologic characteristics and the efficacy of tiagabine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam and zonisamide. Antiepileptic drugs have multiple modes of action which can explain their efficacy in reducing neuronal excitability which is proven in epilepsy and postulated in migraine. The relationship between epilepsy and migraine has, in fact, been much debated but never convincingly proven. Antiepileptic drugs could be useful in migraine prophylaxis as some of these have determined a reduction in the monthly frequency and intensity of crises in subjects suffering from migraine with and without aura. These are the aims that have been proposed by the U.S. Headache Consortium Evidence-Based Guidelines. Further double-blind placebo-controlled studies are necessary in order to assess their safety and efficacy.

Acetates↗

[Cardiovascular emergencies in dental surgery].

More often to day odontologist must face emergency situations especially of cardiovascular kind. The article reviews the principal clinical aspects: syncope, cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, acute hypertension, acute myocardial infarction. The authors besides describe cardiopulmonary-resuscitation (CPR) techniques. The article ends with some recommendations to prevent cardiovascular emergency and to incite medical and paramedical staff to learn perfectly CPR techniques.

Angina Pectoris↗

[Local anesthetics and cardiopathic patients].

Today the number of people who need odontologist is very high, so the risk relative to local anesthesia is increased. The authors, after having remembered local anesthetics pharmacological properties, have analysed the many kinds of cardiovascular disease in relation with possible side effects of local anesthesia. The article ends with the contraindications for local anesthetics and vasoconstrictors use.

Anesthesia, Dental↗

[Prevention of infective endocarditis during dental treatment].

About 14% of infective endocarditis seems due to dental treatments and 7% to poor dental hygiene. It's necessary for odontologist to reconnaissance the so called "moderate risk patients" and the "high risk patients". The authors report infective endocarditis prophylaxis program recommended from OMS/European Region (1985). It's also emphasized the role of dental hygiene as an essential precaution for the prevention of infective endocarditis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Use of diadynamic currents for analgesia in dentistry. Preliminary note].

In this article the authors have taken in to account the use of diadynamic currents with antalgic aim in odontostomatologic surgery. Based on clinical results in a number of cases, which cannot be analysed statistically due to insufficient number of patients to provide reliable data, the authors conclude that the results obtained justify further research in this field.

Analgesia↗

[Use of NSAIDS in dentistry: double blind controlled study of Diflunisal versus ASA].

As a conclusion to the results obtained during our studies, we can say that both drugs provided fast and accurate antalgic anti-inflammatory characteristics. Diflunisal has however shown a slightly more powerful and larger lasting antalgic action which provides a higher tolerance level than the drug which was used as a comparison.

Adolescent↗