PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R J Luciani

Publications and source records attributed to R J Luciani.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Patient preferences for migraine therapy: subcutaneous sumatriptan compared with other medications.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to identify, from the patient's perspective, the important attributes of a migraine therapy and to assess the performance of subcutaneous sumatriptan, aspirin, acetaminophen, and patients' usual therapies with respect to these attributes. METHODS: Six hundred forty-eight patients who had received subcutaneous sumatriptan (one or two doses, 6 mg per dose, for a single migraine episode) or placebo in a clinical trial completed questionnaires. RESULTS: According to patients, the four most important attributes of a migraine therapy are "how well it works," "how safe it is," "how fast it works," and "side effects." The least important attribute is "cost of drug." Subcutaneous sumatriptan received significantly more favorable scores than did aspirin, acetaminophen, or patients' usual therapies with respect to the attributes of how well it works, how fast it works, and number of doses needed to relieve pain. Subcutaneous sumatriptan was also rated more favorably than either aspirin or patients' usual therapies with respect to side effects. Acetaminophen and aspirin were rated significantly more favorably than subcutaneous sumatriptan on the attributes "easy to take" and "easy to buy." Asked which drug they would use again for migraine, more patients selected subcutaneous sumatriptan than any other single medication. More patients also ranked subcutaneous sumatriptan as the best overall performer compared with other migraine medications taken in the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that according to patients' preferences, subcutaneous sumatriptan possesses many of the attributes of an ideal migraine therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

An application of optimization methods to evaluate conditioning intervals.

A decision rule is obtained to determine when exercise is beneficial. The term beneficial used in this context refers to the extension of lifetime based on studies of cardiovascular conditioning. Models are used to characterize changes in heart rate with intense exercise. In addition, it is necessary to consider a model involving a heartbeat bank to help determine the conditioning interval. Optimization procedures are used to develop the decision rule, to examine the assumptions in the problem, and to point out when a unique solution exists. This procedure is applied to empirical data for one individual (inter-subject study) and a unique conditioning interval is obtained.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

The acquisition and validation of the surface electromyogram signal for evaluating muscle fatigue.

The advent of new USAF aircraft control concepts necessitates the investigation of muscle fatigue in complex dynamic environments. The Acceleration Effects Branch of the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base had undertaken such a study for evaluation of fatigue in lateral G environments. Investigation of the literature indicates that the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the electromyogram (EMG) signal samples could be used to determine fatigue by analysis of the center frequencies and amplitudes of the sampled power spectra. Reproducibility of data, especially in a dynamic environment, proved to be a challenge. However, acquisition and processing of the EMG signal have been optimized to give consistently reproducible and useable data. The method of sampling data and its processing are discussed.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1983

Cardiac function monitored by impedance cardiography during changing seatback angles and anti-G suit inflation.

Impedance cardiography (IC) appears to be a promising noninvasive technique for monitoring small changes in pilot cardiovascular status during conditions simulating flight. Heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), ventricular ejection time (VET), and thoracic impedance (Zo) were monitored in ten volunteers for 5 min at each of four seatback angles from vertical: 12 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees. Data were also obtained at three seatback angles (12 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees) for 6 min each before, during, and after inflation of the standard USAF anti-G suit to 1.5 psi. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) in HR, SV, CO, VET and Zo were observed among the four positions. Inflation of the standard anti-G suit to 1.5 psi at 1.0 +Gz did not significantly alter HR, SV, or CO; whereas, 1 min of deflation of the anti-G suit significantly altered HR, SV, CO compared to inflation values. The results suggest IC can detect small differences in HR, SV, CO, VET, and Zo within subjects as a function of minor changes in body position.

Cardiac Output↗