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Biomedical subjects

M Moscucci

Publications and source records attributed to M Moscucci.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Long-term weight control study. III (weeks 104 to 156). An open-label study of dose adjustment of fenfluramine and phentermine.

Between weeks 104 and 156 we attempted to optimize response by adjusting the doses of fenfluramine and phentermine. Dosing changes were based on an algorithm that aimed to achieve 120% of ideal body weight (IBW) while minimizing adverse effects. The dose groups were as follows: stage I, 30 mg fenfluramine plus 15 mg phentermine in the morning; stage II--continuous or targeted intermittent, 60 mg fenfluramine plus 15 mg phentermine in the morning; stage III, 60 mg fenfluramine plus 30 mg phentermine in the morning; stage IV, 60 mg fenfluramine plus 30 mg phentermine in the morning and 30 mg fenfluramine in the evening; and stage V, 60 mg fenfluramine plus 30 mg phentermine in the morning and 60 mg fenfluramine in the evening. Seventy-seven participants began this segment of the study and 59 completed to week 156. Completers of this segment of the study gained an average of 2.7 +/- 0.5 kg between weeks 104 and 156 but remained 9.4 +/- 0.8 kg (10.5%) below baseline. On average, weight loss from baseline by group was as follows: for stage I (n = 2), 14.1 +/- 6.8 kg; for stage II continuous (n = 14), 10.9 +/- 0.7 kg; for stage II targeted intermittent (n = 7), 8.8 +/- 2.4 kg; for stage III (n = 9), 7.7 +/- 2.6 kg; for stage IV (n = 8), 10.5 +/- 2.6 kg; and for stage V (n = 19), 8.4 +/- 2.4 kg. Upward dose adjustment (n = 36) resulted in further weight loss in 11 and no gain in six participants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Electrocardiographic changes during acute treatment of hypertensive emergencies with sodium nitroprusside or fenoldopam.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiograms are routinely obtained before and during the acute treatment of hypertensive emergencies, usually to rule out "ischemic changes." Despite a few anecdotal reports of electrocardiographic changes, little is known about the incidence and significance of such changes, or their relationship to the treatment used. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed 12-lead electrocardiograms from 21 patients admitted for hypertensive emergencies (average blood pressure, 222 +/- 4/140 +/- 3 mm Hg). Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with sodium nitroprusside (n = 11) or the dopamine receptor agonist fenoldopam mesylate (n = 10). Electrocardiograms were obtained at baseline and within 30 minutes of reaching goal blood pressure (diastolic blood pressure, 100 to 110 mm Hg). RESULTS: There was no significant effect of either drug treatment on PR interval, QRS duration, QT interval, or R-wave amplitude, and no major ST-segment changes were noted. During treatment with either drug, the average T-wave amplitude decreased in all leads except aVR. New T-wave inversions in lead V4 occurred in two and four patients after fenoldopam and nitroprusside treatment, respectively. There were no clinically apparent episodes of myocardial ischemia in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the absence of obvious myocardial ischemia, a decrease in T-wave amplitude, including T-wave inversion, occurs commonly during acute blood pressure reduction in hypertensive emergencies, an observation that may be explained by the accompanying acute changes in cardiac chamber volumes.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed1991

Prediction of aortic annulus diameter by two-dimensional echocardiography. Application in the preoperative selection and preparation of homograft aortic valves.

The preoperative selection and preparation of an appropriately sized homograft aortic valve would allow delay of surgery if a suitable valve were unavailable, thus pre-emptying inventory limitations, and a decrease of ischemic time in cases of isolated aortic valve replacement. An accurate preoperative measurement of the aortic annulus diameter is the prerequisite for such selection. The aortic annulus diameter was measured retrospectively in a blinded fashion from the two-dimensional echocardiograms of 62 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement with mechanical or bioprosthetic valves. Measurements were obtained with electronic calipers by two observers. Confidence in the accuracy of the measurement obtained was ranked on a scale from 1 to 5. The mean difference between echocardiographic measurements and prosthetic valve sizes was 0.39 +/- 0.46 mm (mean +/- 2SD) for observer 1 and -0.26 +/- 1.44 mm for observer 2. Ninety-eight percent of observer 1 measurements and 80% of observer 2 measurements were within 1.5 mm of the prosthetic valve size (p less than 0.01 for differences between observers). Confidence scores were higher for observer 1 and for both observers were related to accuracy. The aortic annulus diameter of eight patients scheduled for homograft aortic valve replacement was measured prospectively with the same technique. There was an excellent agreement between the two-dimensional echocardiographic measurements and the surgical measurements. In the last 5 consecutive patients, the echocardiographic measurement was used for the preoperative selection and preparation of the appropriate valve. In conclusion, measurement of the aortic annulus diameter by two-dimensional echocardiography is feasible and clinically useful for the preoperative selection and preparation of homograft aortic valves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed1988

Brief footshock analgesia: long-lasting enhancement induced by cathinone, an amphetamine-like agent.

In view of the analgesic effects produced by cathinone (CATH), an amphetamine-like agent, and of the interaction of amphetamines with stressful environmental stimuli, the present study evaluated in rats the influence of CATH on the nonopioid analgesia induced by a brief electric footshock (FSA; 3 min of continuous 2.5 mA current). The influence of this combination on body temperature was also evaluated. CATH (5 mg/kg, i.p.) alone induced a brief and slight increase in latency during the hot plate test (HPT), but enhanced and prolonged the analgesic effect induced by FS. In addition, the presentation of the environment (shock box with unelectrified grid) where other rats received FS, caused CATH to induce a slow-rising analgesic effect for 180 min. A hyperthermic response paralleling the analgesic effect was observed in shocked and nonshocked rats receiving CATH. After 24 h, rats that had received both CATH and FS on the previous day showed prolonged latencies on the HPT before and after a 1-min presentation of unelectrified grid. These animals also showed an increased analgesic response to the subsequent application of a 15-second FS. At the same time no differences in body temperature were observed between treatment groups. These results suggest that CATH can interact with environmental stimuli to induce an analgesic effect, the time-course of which depends upon the intensity of the stimulus applied.

Alkaloids↗