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Biomedical subjects

R Elie

Publications and source records attributed to R Elie.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Alprazolam and diazepam in the treatment of generalized anxiety.

In a 4-week double-blind study comparing alprazolam with diazepam treatments, 48 outpatients suffering from mild to moderate generalized anxiety were evaluated after a 5-day placebo washout, and then after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment. The optimal therapeutic doses without excessive sedation averaged 2 mg for alprazolam and 15.8 mg for diazepam. Results from the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Clinical Global Impression Scale, a behavior checklist questionnaire, and a symptomatic patients' self-rating scale indicated that patients improved in both treatment groups. Results from the comparative phase suggest that diazepam is more efficient than alprazolam in the reduction of several symptoms of anxiety and depression in particular. Assuming that the first 2-week ratings depend on accuracy of dose adjustment and that week 4 ratings are an important evaluation of long-term efficacy, results from this study suggest that adequate control of anxiety is obtained more readily with diazepam and that symptoms of depression might benefit more from that drug. Few side effects were reported: mainly, drowsiness, tremor, light- headedness , and dry mouth. A toxic reaction to alprazolam, possibly allergic, was observed. Either alprazolam or diazepam appeared to be effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, and the statistically significant differences between the two drugs were not clinically striking.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with severe gastrointestinal manifestations in Haiti.

29 patients (19 males and 10 females) in Haiti were diagnosed as having acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Their clinical presentation was characterised by unexplained chronic diarrhoea, prolonged fever, extreme weight loss, anorexia, and severe infections. The infectious agents included: Candida albicans (27 patients), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (7 patients), Cryptosporidium (11 patients), Pneumocystis carinii (2 patients), cytomegalovirus (4 patients), and herpes virus (3 patients). In 1 woman Kaposi's sarcoma developed during the course of her disease. Immunological studies of 20 patients revealed profound cell-mediated immune deficiency with cutaneous anergy, marked decrease in the number of T helper cells, and impairment of lymphocyte proliferation. 18 patients died.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1983

Comparative hypnotic activity of single doses of loprazolam, flurazepam, and placebo.

Loprazolam is a benzodiazepine derivative which possesses, in animals, a potent hypnotic effect. In a double-blind single-dose study, three dose levels of loprazolam (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg) were compared to each other as well as to 15 mg flurazepam and placebo in 60 insomniac outpatients. The 0.5- and 1.0-mg doses demonstrated hypnotic potency comparable to that of flurazepam, and all three treatments were superior to placebo. The hypnotic effect of the 2-mg dose of loprazolam was significantly greater than that of the other treatments, but at this dose, patients experienced significantly more side effects and morning hangover.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Efficacy and tolerance of zopiclone in insomniac geriatric patients.

Zopiclone is a cyclopyrrolone derivative which exerts, in animal and man, an hypnotic activity comparable to that of flurazepam. In healthy adult insomniacs it was well tolerated upon repeated administration for 28 days. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, three dose levels of zopiclone (5, 7.5, and 10 mg) were compared to 15 mg of flurazepam in 30 geriatric insomniacs. The 7.5- and 10-mg doses demonstrated hypnotic potency comparable to that of flurazepam, and the active treatments were superior to placebo. For most sleep indices, 7.5 mg was the optimal therapeutic dose. Few side effects were reported. These were not clinically significant. Zopiclone is efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of geriatric patients suffering from insomnia. A dosage range of 7.5-10 mg is recommended.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Effect of salicylic acid on the activity of betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate in the treatment of erythematous squamous dermatoses.

Forty adult out-patients with erythematous squamous dermatoses of the scalp were treated in this 21-day double-blind study with an alcohol base lotion containing either 0.05% betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate, 2% salicylic acid, 0.05% betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate + 2% salicylic acid or their respective placebo. The four treatments were assigned randomly to the patients according to a 2 x 2 orthogonal factorial design. Changes in severity of redness, scaling, pruritus and size of lesions were evaluated. Since very few patients presented with excoriation and lichenification, these symptoms could not be ascertained. Results were assessed for significance by covariance analysis where initial status was used as regressor. A potentiation of the betamethasone-17,21-dipropionate activity by salicylic acid was observed for scaling. An additive effect was noted for redness and pruritus. According to the physician's global evaluation, patients treated with the combination drug showed a better evolution than those treated with placebo. The results suggest that addition of a keratolytic agent enhances the corticosteroid effect in the treatment of erythematous squamous dermatoses.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1982

Pathophysiology of chest pain in patients with cardiomyopathies and normal coronary arteries.

To clarify the pathogenesis of chest pain in patients with cardiomyopathies, we compared coronary blood flow and other indicators of ischemia at rest and during pacing-induced tachycardia in nine patients with cardiomyopathy (four hypertrophic and five congestive) and in five control subjects. Coronary blood flow was reduced at rest and during pacing in cardiomyopathy patients compared with controls. In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pacing induced chest pain in all, increased ST-segment depression in three patients and increased coronary venous lactate concentration. With pacing, two of five patients with congestive cardiomyopathy had chest discomfort and three had increased ST-segment depression, but coronary venous lactate concentration did not change significantly. In both groups of cardiomyopathies, the ratio of the systolic and diastolic pressure-time indexes tended to decrease more than in controls during pacing. Thus, myocardial perfusion is decreased in patients with cardiomyopathy, both at rest and during pacing. The changes detected during pacing point to subendocardial ischemia as the likely mechanism for angina in hypertrophic and possibly also in congestive cardiomyopathy.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1982

Efficacy and tolerance of zopiclone in insomniac geriatric patients.

Zopiclone is a cyclopyrrolone derivative which exerts, in animal and man, an hypnotic activity comparable to that of flurazepam. In healthy adult insomniacs it was well tolerated upon repeated administration for 28 days. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, three dose levels of zopiclone (5, 7.5, and 10 mg) were compared to 15 mg of flurazepam in 30 geriatric insomniacs. The 7.5- and 10-mg doses demonstrated hypnotic potency comparable to that of flurazepam, and the active treatments were superior to placebo. For most sleep indices, 7.5 mg was the optimal therapeutic dose. Few side effects were reported. These were not clinically significant. Zopiclone is efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of geriatric patients suffering from insomnia. A dosage range of 7.5-10 mg is recommended.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

A placebo-controlled trial of floctafenine (idarac) against enteric-coated acetylsalicylic acid in osteoarthritic patients.

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 30 out-patients with osteoarthritis of knee and hip. The therapeutic value of flactafenine 1.2 g daily, a new oral non-narcotic analgesic agent, was compared with that of enteric-coated acetylsalicylic acid (ACSA) (Rougier Inc.--enteric-coated acetylsalicylic acid, tablets of 650 mg) 2.6 g daily. Every patient successively received the three medications for six weeks according to a Latin-square design. An objective index of improvement of hips and knees was developed and applied to this study. In both objective and subjective assessments of the disease, floctafenine was found to be approximately equivalent to or superior to ACSA and superior to placebo. Both drugs were clinically well tolerated. A consistant but slight decrease in both haemoglobin and red-blood-cell count under floctafenine and ASA was found to be statistically but not clinically significant.

Aspirin↗
PubMed1980

Role of adherent cells in graft-versus-host-induced suppression of the humoral immune response.

Experiments were performed to investigate the role of adherent (A) cells in graft-versus-host (GVH)-induced immunosuppression. GVH reactions (GVHR) were induced in adult F1 hybrid mice by intravenous injections of parental lymphoid cells. Spleen cells (SC) from mice experiencing a GVHR (GVH mice) were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin (Con A), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). SC taken in the early phase of the GVHR (early GVHR) responded normally to LPS but did not respond to PHA and Con A. SC taken in an advanced phase of the GVHR (advanced GVHR) did not respond to PHA, Con A, or LPS. The influence of A cells from GVH mice (GVH-A cells) on the response of normal non-adherent cells to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC), PHA, and LPS was investigated. A cells from early GVHR, used in appropriate numbers, stimulated the responses to SRBC and to PHA; in excess they inhibited both responses. They had no effect on the response to LPS. A cells from advanced GVHR, even in low numbers, suppressed the responses to SRBC, PHA and LPS. The lymphoregulatory activities of GVH-A cells seemed to be mediated by soluble factors. The results indicate that the GVHR evokes complex non-specific regulatory interactions between A cells and lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Comparison of SCH-12679 and thioridazine in aggressive mental retardates.

SCH-12679, a benzazepine derivative, was compared to thioridazine and to placebo on the aggressive behaviour of mentally retarded patients. After a three-week chlorpromazine (100 mg t.i.d.) standardizaton period, no significant differences between the three treatment groups were observed in their abnormal behaviour. During the comparative phase, patients treated with SCH-12679 became less hyperative and less agitated while those treated with thioridazine became more violent, more choleric and more provocative. The clinical investigator and the nursing staff found significant differences between the active drugs. As compared to the placebo, SCH-12679 improved the behaviour of the patients while thioridazine aggravated their condition. No important adverse reaction was found and the drugs did not interact with the sex of the patients and the presence of epilepsy. The results suggest that, in mental retardation, physical restraint of hyperactivity might induce aggressivity and that one should be cautious in using neuroleptics in nonpsychotic patients.

Aggression↗
PubMed1979

Gas-liquid chromatographic method for the measurement of plasma levels of d-7,8-dimethoxy-3-methyl-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1h-3-benzazepine acid maleate (SCH-12679) and its major metabolites in aggressive mental retardites.

A sensitive gas-liquid chromatographic technique for the quantitative analysis of SCH-12679 (d-7,8-dimethoxy-3-methyl-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine acid maleate) and its major metabolites in plasma of aggressive mental retardates receiving therapeutic doses of the medicament has been developed. The lower limits of detection are 20 ng/ml for SCH-12679, 0.5 ng/ml for 3-desmethyl SCH-12679 and 0.4 ng/ml for 7-desmethyl plus 8-desmethyl SCH-12679. SCH-12679 is estimated with a flame ionization detector. Its metabolites are quantitated using an electron-capture detector after conversion of the compounds to their heptafluorobutyryl derivatives by reaction with the appropriate anhydride. Data on plasma levels of unchanged SCH-12679, 3-desmethyl SCH-12679 and a combination of 7-desmethyl and 8-desmethyl SCH-12679 in fifteen patients treated with the medicament are presented.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed1979

Metabolic interaction between amitriptyline and perphenazine in psychiatric patients.

1. Steady-state plasma level samples of sixty-five schizophrenic patients from two psychiatric hospitals assigned to three treatment groups (amitriptyline 150 mg/day, perphenazine 20 mg/day and a combination of amitriptyline and perphenazine at 150 mg and 20 mg/day) were assayed for amitriptyline (AT), endogenous nortriptyline (NT) and perphenazine (PPZ) using gas-liquid chromatography. 2. Results reveal that AT and NT levels are independent of sex and hospital environment. 3. PPZ significantly increased the steady-state NT plasma levels, probably through inhibition of the hydroxylation biotransformation pathway, but had no effect on AT levels, thus indicating that PPZ has no influence on the desmethylation pathway, or alternatively, the hydroxylation of AT.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Immunological parameters in perennial rhinitis.

As part of a study of the effectiveness of beclomethasone dipropionate in perennial rhinitis five immunologically related parameters were measured. These included skin tests, total IgE, specific IgE, nasal and peripheral blood eosinophil counts. In addition, nasal biopsies were obtained in twenty out of sixty patients. It was apparent that patients with perennial rhinitis formed a heterogeneous group who could be divided into three groups based on the extent of immunological abnormality detected. Group 1 consisted of twenty patients who displayed no abnormality in any of the five parameters studied. Group 2 consisted of twenty-six patients in whom specific IgE was not detected but who had varying degrees of abnormal findings in the other laboratory parameters. The remaining fourteen patients formed a third group in whom specific IgE was detected in addition to abnormalities in other parameters. In general, patients with detectable specific IgE had a higher frequency of abnormal parameters, including abnormal histology of their nasal biopsy, than patients in whom no specific IgE was detected. The heterogeneous nature of perennial rhinitis is discussed. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the total patient group, the majority of patients (80%) treated with beclomethasone dipropionate improved compared to 20% improved in the placebo group. There was no difference in the drug effect between the three groups of patients.

Adolescent↗