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Biomedical subjects

E Diamantopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to E Diamantopoulos.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Economic evaluation of nimesulide versus diclofenac in the treatment of osteoarthritis in Greece.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, from a social security system perspective, the economic consequences of treating rheumatic diseases with nimesulide or diclofenac. DESIGN: Cost-minimisation analysis was used to estimate the incremental direct medical cost and the cost of gastrointestinal adverse events for 15 days' treatment with nimesulide compared with diclofenac. Cumulative incidence of adverse events was calculated through meta-analysis of the results of double-blind randomised clinical trials. The therapeutic pathway for ambulatory care resource use was determined by a panel of experts, and direct hospital costs were estimated from a sample of 43 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: The 15-day treatment cost with nimesulide was 35.9% lower compared with diclofenac due to the lower incidence of adverse events. Our analysis showed that nimesulide generated a cost saving of $US20.98 per patient depending on the dosage of diclofenac used.

Ambulatory Care↗

Controlled clinical trial of oral and parenteral nefopam hydrochloride. A novel and potent analgesic drug.

The results of a controlled, double-blind clinical trial are reported demonstrating the potency of analgesia produced by orally and parenterally administered nefopam HCl in hospitalized patients with pain principally of skeletal and neuromuscular origin. The drug is an analogue of orphenadrine, consisting of a cyclization of the diphenhydramine molecule. A double-blind, crossover study was made of the analgesic effects of intramuscular doses of 20 mg nefopam HCl, 50 mg pethidine, and saline placebo in 20 patients. Nefopam and pethidine were found to be equally effective and statistically superior to placebo. A double-blind, randomized study was made of orally administered nefopam HCl, 60 mg t.i.d., for three days and of placebo t.i.d. for three days in 80 patients. Nefopam was distinctly superior to placebo in analgesic effectiveness, both in the initial single dose and in maintaining therapeutic benefit for the duration of the three-day trial. It was concluded that nefopam is a potent analgesic of novel structure and unique physiologic properties.

Adult↗

24-h blood glucose pattern in type I and type II diabetics after oral treatment with pentoxifylline as assessed by artificial endocrine pancreas.

Based on the known action of xanthine derivatives on the insulin secretion, the effect of pentoxifylline on carbohydrate homeostasis of type I (IDDM) and type II (NIDDM) diabetics was investigated. Pentoxifylline is known to exert a favorable influence on hemorheological disturbances in such patients. Twenty-four hour blood glucose pattern and insulin requirements were evaluated in type I and type II diabetics by the use of the artificial pancreas before and after a 14-day treatment with pentoxifylline 400 mg p.o. (Trental 400) t.i.d. During the stabilization period before treatment with pentoxifylline, NIDDM patients required 10.1 +/- 3.8 U of insulin and the IDDM 35 +/- 13.7 U. After 2 weeks on pentoxifylline, NIDDM required only 6.3 +/- 2.8 U (p less than 0.05) and IDDM 28.5 +/- 9.7 U (n.s.). Average blood glucose during the 24h decreased by 15.8 +/- 3.5% in NIDDM and by 10.3 +/- 2.5% in IDDM. Moreover, a significant smoothing of glucose fluctuations during the 24h was noted in both groups. It is concluded that pentoxifylline administered concurrently to any antidiabetic type of treatment leads to better blood glucose control as well as to prevention or delay of vascular complications.

Adolescent↗

Biologic activities of biosynthetic human insulin in healthy volunteers and insulin-dependent diabetic patients monitored by the artificial endocrine pancreas.

This study investigates and compares biosynthetic human insulin (BHI) and purified pork insulin, in healthy volunteers and in insulin-dependent diabetic patients, in terms of biologic action, capacity for controlling diabetic patients, and the requirements of the patients on each insulin. The possible importance of this new insulin in the improved long-term control of diabetic patients led to the experimental design of this protocol.

Adult↗

Inhibition of pancreatic glucagon responses to arginine by human insulin (recombinant DNA) and purified porcine insulin in normal and diabetic subjects.

This study investigates and compares human insulin (recombinant DNA) and purified porcine insulin (PPI) in healthy volunteers and in type II diabetic patients, in terms of whether both these insulins were capable of influencing in a different manner pancreatic glucagon, C-peptide, and free fatty acids (FFA) concentrations. The findings reveal that the beta-cell of human pancreas apparently recognizes human insulin more readily than PPI, as assessed by the inhibition of C-peptide, and a similar conclusion follows for the alpha-cell; this conclusion is underscored by the inhibited glucagon values. The delayed increments of glucagon under human insulin following arginine stimulation may be the result of a more rapid insulin absorption from subcutaneous tissue and a greater biologic action of this insulin in comparison with the PPI. Finally, human insulin has additional properties as demonstrated by its stronger antilipolytic effects.

Absorption↗