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G Recchia

Publications and source records attributed to G Recchia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

New anxiolytics in development.

Benzodiazepines (BDZ), the most popular drug of choice for treating anxiety disorders, present side-effects such as sedation, muscular disorders, abuse liability and synergistic effect with alcohol and CNS depressant drugs. At present, pharmacological research is focusing to find anxiolytic drugs as efficacious as benzodiazepines but without side-effects. This review reports the status of the pharmaceutical research and development on novel drugs for the treatment of anxiety disorders. A close analysis of the items selected by the N5C "Pharmaprojects" search (anxiolytic class) yielded the following classification: A) Drugs interacting with the GABA-A receptor complex, which includes BDZ-like drugs, partial BDZ agonists (beta-carbolines) and drugs interacting with the GABA-A complex through an as yet unidentified mechanism (15 compounds), B) Drugs acting as CCK-B antagonists (5 compounds), C) Drugs interacting with serotonergic function (30 compounds) subdivided into: (i) agonists at the 5-HT1A receptor, (ii) antagonists at the 5-HT2 receptor, and (iii) antagonists at the 5-HT3 receptor; D) Drugs with other mechanisms (22 compounds). Based on these results, it is not possible to identify a common mechanism through which the selected drugs under development exert their anxiolytic effect. Therefore, it appears that different biological mechanisms are specifically involved in the different anxiety disorders.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1991

[Bacterial infections. Progress and new prospects in chemo-antibiotic therapy].

During the last 10 years, a very large number of molecules with antibacterial activity has been developed by pharmaceutic industry. The principal objectives of pharmacological research are to obtain ever wider spectra of activity and increased antibacterial action in order to combat "emerging" agents and those resistant to traditional treatment, as well as longer acting drugs so as to improve patient compliance. These objectives might be attained by the molecules now in the phase of clinical trial, especially by the new injectable or oral cephalosporins and new fluoroquinolones.

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1991

Efficacy and safety of lacidipine, a new long-lasting calcium antagonist, in elderly hypertensive patients.

Elderly patients are becoming a greater proportion of the hypertensive population. In addition, they may respond differently to drugs, both pharmacodynamically and pharmacokinetically. Therefore, approximately 25% of the patients treated with lacidipine in early studies were over 65 years old. In three double-blind, parallel-group comparative trials, 118 elderly hypertensive patients were treated with lacidipine or comparators, either atenolol, nifedipine SR, or hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). Lacidipine was at least as effective in lowering blood pressure as the comparators, as well tolerated as nifedipine SR (but with a significantly lower incidence of edema) and HCTZ, and better tolerated than atenolol. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-response study of 131 elderly hypertensive patients randomized to receive either lacidipine or placebo, lacidipine significantly reduced the diastolic blood pressure compared with placebo. In the long-term evaluation, more patients required titration with 2 mg of lacidipine than with 4 mg. These results suggest that 4 mg once daily is an effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive treatment in the elderly and, as with the general adult population, represents the optimal long-term maintenance dose.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Azapsoralens: new potential photochemotherapeutic agents for psoriasis.

New bioisoters of psoralen, obtained by replacing carbon 8 of the central benzene ring with a nitrogen, were studied from the photochemical, photobiological and phototherapeutic points of view. In particular, 4,4'-, 4',5'-dimetyl, 4,4',5'-trimethyl and 3,4,4',5'-tetramethylazapsoralen were studied. The crystal and molecular structure of 4,4',5'-trimethylazapsoralen, obtained by X ray diffraction, was also reported. Like psoralen, these compounds form a molecular complex with DNA, undergoing intercalation inside the double helix of the macromolecule. When irridiated with long ultraviolet light (365 nm), the intercalated drug photoconjugates covalently to the macromolecule, forming mono- and diadducts. The photobinding rate show the following order of magnitude: 4,4',5'-trimetylazapsoralen (4,4',5'-TMAP) = 3,4,4',5'-tetramethylazapsoralen (3,4,4',5'-TMAP) greater than 4',5'-dimethylazapsoralen (4',5'-DMAP) = 4,4'-dimethylazapsoralen (4,4'-DMAP). The DNA photobinding rate of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), taken as reference compound, is similar to that of the two dimetylazapsoralens but lower than tri- and tetramethyl derivatives. The ability of azapsoralens to form cross-links in DNA is lower than that of 8-MOP. However, capacity to induce cross-links does not parallel the DNA photobinding rate; it is higher for trimethyl derivate and lower for tetramethylazapsoralen. Azapsoralens show evident antiproliferative activity. The trimethyl derivative is the most active, followed by tetrametyl, both these compounds showing activity slightly higher than that of 8-MOP. The two dimethylderivatives are less active. The mautagenic activity of azapsoralens on E. coli WP2 TM6 is lower than that of 8-MOP in the same conditions. The new compounds do not show any skin phototoxicity on guinea pig skin. On the basis of its DNA photobinding, antiproliferative activity, mutagenicity and lack of skin phototoxicity, 4,4',5'-TMAP was chosen for clinical evaluation. Clinical results obtained by topical treatment of psoriatic plaques reveal evident therapeutic effectiveness and clearing is between good and moderate, although 8-MOP, used as reference compound, is more effective.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Aging of the population: the 2d demographic revolution].

The extension of the duration of life and the growth of elderly population stimulate the neuropharmacology to research new preparations and consequently to develop new methodic of research. At present a project of research started by Glaxo and coordinated by the Centre for Geriatric and Gerontology of Modena University on "The use of a methodology to evaluate aging population and to investigate the effects of L-Acetylcarnitine in senile deterioration" is in progress. Some aspects of this research, like dimension, experimental method, ways of management, evaluation of findings are new. They were discussed and examined during a meeting held on 22nd and 23rd September 1989, the reports of which are in this volume.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1990

[Clinical development of a drug for brain aging. Current limitations and future prospects].

The clinical development of any drug used in the treatment of brain-ageing, poses many methodological problems regarding the difficulty in defining precisely the pathology, both from the point of view of diagnostic and of terminology, the lack of specific parameters for assessing the therapeutic efficacy and the difficulty of establishing homogeneous trial sample, since the geriatric population is a very heterogeneous whole. The authors, in the light of the research done, state their methodology and give their directives; among them: common training for all the examiners, in order to make execution and classification of the tests extremely homogeneous the drug is evaluated through psychometric tests, which analyze the patient both physically and mentally.

Acetylcarnitine↗
PubMed1990

6-Methylangelicins: new monofunctional photochemotherapeutic agents for psoriasis.

The monofunctional furocoumarins, the 6-methylangelicins, were tested for their antiproliferative activity with various animal models and for genotoxicity in micro-organisms and in mammalian cells. The most active compound was 6,4,4'-trimethylangelicin, which showed a high antiproliferative effect and reduced genotoxicity in comparison with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP). Some of these compounds were also tested clinically by topical application on 17 patients with psoriasis. They appeared to be more active than 8-MOP in clearing psoriasis without inducing skin phototoxicity. The methylangelicins also caused skin pigmentation.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Safety profile of ofloxacin in elderly patients.

In clinical trials co-ordinated in Italy by Glaxo S.p.A. from May 1984 to February 1988, 553 patients aged over 65 years (376 men and 177 women), suffering from different infectious diseases (mostly LRTI and UTI), were treated with ofloxacin, a new broad-spectrum quinolone. Of the patients studied, 75% presented one or more concurrent diseases and 72.3% were receiving one or more concurrent therapies. Daily dose of the drug varied, in most cases, between 400 and 800 mg in two oral administrations. In all, 21 adverse events were recorded in 19 patients (3.44%): 13 gastrointestinal events (gastric pain, nausea, vomiting), 3 cutaneous events and 5 others. The severity of the events was judged as mild in 56.3% of the cases and moderate in 43.7%. The treatment was stopped because of adverse events in three patients (0.54%). Abnormal laboratory parameters, probably related to the drug, were observed in four patients. In conclusion, ofloxacin appears to be a very safe drug in the treatment of bacterial infections in elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

[Hyperparathyroidism in patients having undergone a kidney transplant].

The persistence or onset of hyperparathyroidism following kidney transplant is characterized by an incidence ranging from 2.6 to 70% according to the various statistics available. In a total of 462 kidney transplants performed in our department, hyperparathyroidism was detected in 9 patients. Surgery took the form of parathyroidectomy 8/8 plus autograft in 3 cases, parathyroidectomy 3/4 in 2 cases, 7/8 in 2 cases, and 4/8 in 1 case. Serum calcium values returned to normal in all patients after the operation.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

[Cyclosporin A in immunosuppressive therapy of kidney transplants (clinical results in 55 patients)].

The authors report the results of a clinical study of the use of cyclosporin A plus low-dose steroids in a consecutive series of 55 kidney transplants with follow-up ranging from 6 to 20 months. The clinical results (rejects, immunosuppressant side effects, 12-month survival of transplant and patient) are compared with those of a similar group of patients on "traditional" therapy (azathioprine plus high-dose steroids). The results of the study confirm the efficacy of cyclosporin A in preventing and controlling acute reject crises in the course of allogenic transplant, though many of the problematic issues related its clinico-therapeutic management remain open questions.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1987

[Malignant neoplastic pathology in patients given a kidney transplant].

The incidence of malignant neoplasms in patients subjected to pharmacological immunosuppression following kidney transplantation is higher than that observed in the control population at large. In our unit, in a study population of 451 patients undergoing a total of 462 kidney transplants over the period from 1968 to 1986, four malignant neoplasms (0.9%) were observed in 3/369 (0.8%) patients treated with azathioprine (1 ovarian papilliferous cystoadenoma, 1 embryonal carcinoma of the testicle and 1 Kaposi's sarcoma) and in 1/93 (1.1%) patients treated with cyclosporin (1 Kaposi's sarcoma). The neoplasm was successfully controlled only in the first case after bilateral extended adnexectomy.

Azathioprine↗
PubMed1986

Safety profile of ofloxacin: the Italian data base.

In clinical trials performed in Italy, 2,003 patients, suffering from various infectious diseases, have so far been treated with ofloxacin. In most cases dosages of 200 mg, 300 mg or 400 mg b. i. d. have been used. In all, 130 adverse reactions have been recorded in 116 patients (5.8%): gastrointestinal events (mostly nausea, vomiting and gastric pain) in 4.8% of the patients, neurological events (mostly headache and insomnia) in 0.7%, cutaneous reactions in 0.4% and others in 0.5% cases. The drug-event causal relationship was assessed by the investigators as unlikely in 5.0% of the events, as possible in 47.1%, as probable in 31.4% and as almost certain in 16.5%. The severity of adverse reactions was judged as mild in 55% of the cases, as moderate in 38% and as severe in 7%. In 30 patients (1.5%), treatment was discontinued because of occurrence of side effects. Abnormal laboratory values probably related to treatment were reported in 25 patients (2.1%). Ofloxacin is well tolerated and shows a safety profile comparable with that of the best tolerated oral antibacterials.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Spontaneous perirenal extravasation of urine].

Perirenal urinary extravasation in the course of violent renal colic appears to occur much more frequently than is reported in the literature. In this study, the authors report on three such cases observed personally in the space of one year and discuss the pathophysiological factors which may give rise to this phenomenon.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Adenomatoid tumor of the epididymis].

Primary tumors of the epididymis are very rare. The neoplasms most frequently affecting the epididymis are adenomatoid tumors. In this report, the authors describe a case observed personally. Various histogenetic hypotheses and the histological characteristics of the tumor are discussed.

Epididymis↗
PubMed1985

[Primary retroperitoneal tumors (clinical findings in yolk sac tumor, vascular leiomyosarcoma and extraosseous chondrosarcoma)].

Primary retroperitoneal tumors (PRT) constitute about 0.02 per cent of all tumors examined in the Department of Pathology of our hospital. We report 3 cases of malignant PRT - yolk-sac tumour, vascular leiomyosarcoma and extraskeletal chondrosarcoma - selected for their histological rarity and clinical features. Recent techniques available for the diagnosis of these neoplasms and surgical treatment are discussed. The role of radio-chemotherapy is also dealt with.

Adult↗