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Biomedical subjects

G Cocco

Publications and source records attributed to G Cocco.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Evaluation of non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity in different respiratory diseases.

Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) has been observed in respiratory disorders other than asthma but asthmatics usually show BHR to differing degrees. The presence and degree of BHR in asthma was evaluated and compared with that in other respiratory disorders. High BHR was observed in asthma (84%, with no difference between atopics and non-atopics), recurrent or persistent cough (36%), laryngeal spasm (50%), Kartagener's syndrome (66%) and cystic fibrosis. BHR was low in patients with allergic rhinitis but no asthma and was absent in patients with unexplained dyspnoea (100%) and in healthy controls (91%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Ambroxol decreases bronchial hyperreactivity.

Ambroxol is a new compound which increases secretion of phosphatidylcholine by type II pneumocytes. The secretion of phosphatidylcholine could affect bronchial hyperreactivity in two ways: by increasing lysophosphatidylcholine turnover and/or by modifying the layer of bronchial secretion that covers airway receptors. To see whether ambroxol affects bronchial hyperreactivity, we carried out a double-blind cross-over study, evaluating the efficacy of this drug vs placebo in modifying methacholine PD20 in 11 asthmatic patients, 4 atopics and 7 non-atopics. 90 mg of ambroxol or placebo were randomly administered orally for one of two 14-day periods. Methacholine PD20 was evaluated before and after each treatment. A highly significant difference was demonstrated in the direct comparison between ambroxol and placebo as to their ability to modify mean metacholine PD20, which with ambroxol was more than double that with placebo. It was also seen that ambroxol induced a significant increase in baseline values of PD20, i.e. a significant decrease in bronchial hyperreactivity. Placebo did not do this.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Incidence of complex ventricular arrhythmias in asymptomatic patients with recent myocardial infarction.

The incidence of ventricular extrasystoles (VES) was documented in 50 patients with recent uncomplicated myocardial infarction, with a 72-h two-channel ambulatory electrocardiogram. All patients were free of symptoms of arrhythmias; unstable angina pectoris and heart failure were absent. A total of 82% of the patients had VES: 23/50 patients had multiform or complex VES, 8/50 patients had ventricular tachycardia. VES were independent of heart rate and stable angina pectoris. Thus, frequent and complex VES are common in asymptomatic patients with uncomplicated recent myocardial infarction. Even in the absence of symptoms, ambulatory electrocardiography is useful. The prognostic significance of asymptomatic complex VES in these patients remains unsettled.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Ergometric evaluation of the effects of captopril in hypertensive patients with stable angina.

The antihypertensive and anti-ischaemic effects of methyldopa and captopril were compared in 12 hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease. The antihypertensive effect of alpha-methyldopa (A) and captopril (C) were significant and similar. On the other hand, while methyldopa did not increase the product of systolic pressure and heart rate and did decrease the effort-induced S-T segment depression, C increased the double product (DP) and decreased the ischaemic S-T changes. Captopril might be useful in the treatment of hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Antiarrhythmic use of cibenzoline, a new class 1 antiarrhythmic agent with class 3 and 4 properties, in patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia.

Cibenzoline is a new antiarrhythmic agent with class 1 properties, and additional class 3 and 4 effects. We treated 28 patients with drug-refractory and recurrent ventricular tachycardia with up to 700 mg/day cibenzoline for periods up to 5.5 months. Cibenzoline prevented the recurrence of ventricular tachycardia in five patients (18%). In three patients (11%) the arrhythmia may have been worsened, in 23 patients (82%) cibenzoline was ineffective. Cibenzoline increased the PR interval by 18% and the QRS duration by 33%; the effect on the QT was variable and the corrected QT interval did not change significantly. Side-effects were observed in 21% of patients. We conclude that cibenzoline does not appear to be superior to conventional class 1 antiarrhythmic agents and that it cannot be recommended for general use in patients with ventricular tachycardia. Additional pharmacokinetic and electrophysiologic studies are required before cibenzoline is used in outpatients with severe ventricular arrhythmias.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Vasodilator treatment for mild to moderate heart failure. Effect of Ro 12-4713, a minoxidil analogue.

18 patients (14 men, 4 women) with a mean age of 64.3 years (range 41-75) and with chronic cardiac failure, NYHA functional class 1-2 (12 cases) or 2-3 (6 cases), insufficiently responsive to digitalis and diuretics, were treated for 4 weeks with Ro 12-4713, a minoxidil-like drug. The effects were assessed at rest and during maximal exercise, each patient was his own control. All patients completed the study. The treatment did not affect the body weight, the heart rate or the blood pressure, but it should be stressed that all patients were normotensive. The ejection fraction (by 99mTc pertechnetate scintigraphy) increased from 42.0 +/- 10.0 (resting means +/- SD) to 48.9 +/- 8.7%, and from 44.7 +/- 10.1 to 57.9 +/- 8.7% (end-exercise values), both changes being significant (p less than 0.0001). The ejection rate increased in a similar manner. The resting stroke volume increase from 53.5 +/- 13.6 to 60.2 +/- 16.5 ml (p less than 0.005), but the exercise stroke volume did not increase significantly. The cardiac output increased both at rest and during exercise, but the changes did not reach statistical significance. The end-diastolic volume decreased from 132.6 +/- 126.9 +/- 47.0 to 126.9 +/- 42.3 ml (resting values), and from 151.5 +/- 44.4 to 120.6 +/- 36.6 ml (exercise), the changes being significant (p less than 0.005). The physical work capacity increased, i.e. the duration of exercise increased from 7.8 +/- 3.2 to 9.9 +/- 1.9 min (p less than 0.05) and the 'quality of life' (symptoms related to heart failure) improved (fewer symptoms) in 14/18 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Double-blind crossover study on the protective effect of fenoterol--administered by pressurized aerosol and in powder form--in allergen-induced asthma.

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of protection afforded by fenoterol (200 microgram), administered by pressurized aerosol, in allergen-induced bronchospasm and to compare its effect with that of the same drug administered at the same dosage in powder form. It was a double-blind crossover study on 14 patients with atopic asthma. The administration of the drug took place at weekly intervals according to an appropriate randomized schedule. The sensitizing allergen was inhaled 30 min after the administration of the drug. Parameters of the respiratory function were controlled at fixed intervals over a 2-hour period. The study showed that both fenoterol formulations possess a protective effect in allergen-induced bronchospasm. No statistically significant difference between the two types of drug preparation (pressurized aerosol and powder form) was observed regarding the individual measuring times. In an overall evaluation, statistically significant differences between dry powder and pressurized aerosol have been observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Mold allergy: a three year investigation (1980-1982) of the airborne fungal spores in Naples, Italy.

The purpose of the study was to examine the seasonal changes of the most important anemophilous species of molds, mainly those of allergenic interest. A spore-mold calendar for Naples, Italy was developed by continuous sampling over a 3-year period (January 1980-December 1982). The results reveal the climatic conditions are favorable for the growth of some fungi with dry spores in Naples and very high atmospheric concentrations of mold spores are to be found in summer months, particularly those of Cladosporium. Allergic sensitization with skin test reactivity and clinical signs of sensitivity to inhaled fungal spores is nevertheless found infrequently and generally not correlated with the seasonal patterns of presence of the spore molds in the atmosphere.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1983

A study on airborne allergenic pollen content of the atmosphere of Naples.

In this paper we describe the results of volumetric sampling of the airborne allergenic pollen content of the Naples atmosphere. These studies have been carried out continuously since 1 May 1979 until 31 December 1981 utilizing a Burkard volumetric spore trap. We found that the most important allergenic pollen in Naples air is Parietaria, with a very long-lasting period of pollination occurring from March to November. After Parietaria, Gramineae play an allergenic role frequently in association with the pollen of Olea, which is the most important pollen of all the trees in this area. In the summer/autumn seasons we observed in this area the pollination of mugwort (the unique plant of the Compositae) which was found to be of allergenic importance in Naples.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Evaluation of protective effect of fenoterol in allergen-induced bronchospasm.

The purpose of this study was to determine the intensity and duration of the protective effect of fenoterol (200 micrograms) in allergen-induced bronchospasm and to compare its effect with that of DSCG (20 mg). Twelve atopic-asthmatic patients, with ages ranging from 10 to 41 years, participated in the study. At the time of the study their symptoms were well controlled without the use of anti-asthmatic drugs and their FEV1 was greater than 80% of predicted and did not vary by more than 10% on each study day. The study was a double-blind cross over trial. Each drug was given separately at 1 week intervals according to an appropriate random plan. During the treatment the patients were given two puffs of metered dose aerosol and a capsule of inhalation powder. Each patient was given aerosol with test drug and placebo aerosol alternately, according to the double-blind method. The allergen was given 90 min after the administration of the drugs, and parameters of the respiratory function were controlled over a period of 6 h. Subsequently, the protective effect of 200 micrograms fenoterol administered 4 h before the allergen was studied openly, and showed that fenoterol possesses a protective effect in allergen-induced bronchospasm. This effect, although slightly reduced, persists even when the allergen is administered 4 h later.

Adolescent↗