Insights from Experiences on Antiplatelet Drugs in Stroke Prevention: A Review
Reduction of hazard risk of cerebral ischemic event (stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA)) represents the hard point to be achieved from primary or secondary preventive strategy in the best clinical practice. However, results from clinical trials, recommendations, guidelines, systematic review, expert opinions, and meta-analysis debated on the optimal pharmacotherapy to achieve the objective. Aspirin and a number of antiplatelet agents, alone or in combination, have been considered from large trials focused on stroke prevention. The present review summarizes, discusses results from trials, and focuses on the benefits or disadvantages originating from antiplatelet drugs. Sections of the r…
What changed in the Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards during the lockdown
A total of 48 internal medicine or geriatric wards among the 93 adhering to the register REPOSI answered an online questionnaire aimed to investigate the characteristics and activities of converted and non-converted wards in the crucial period of the first wave of the epidemic, 22 February-4 May 2020
Inter-relationship between platelet-derived microparticles and oxidative stress in patients with venous thromboembolism
Background: Hypercoagulative conditions play a key role in venous thromboembolism (VTE). Inflammation is currently linked to VTE, but the potential role of circulating microparticles and oxidative stress (OxS) must be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate platelet-derived microparticles and surrogate OxS biomarkers in patients diagnosed with VTE through a case&ndash
Pulse wave velocity differs between ulcerative colitis and chronic kidney disease
Background: We hypothesized that a reversal of the physiological stiffness gradient, previously reported in end-stage renal disease, begins in the early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and that chronic inflammation produces a different arterial phenotype in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Objectives: To assess the extent of arterial stiffening in the central (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, cf.-PWV) and peripheral arteries (carotid-radial pulse wave velocity, cr-PWV) and to explore the determinants of the stiffness gradient in UC and in CKD. Methods: We enrolled 45 patients with UC, 45 patients with stage 3-4 CKD and 45 matched controls. Results: Despite the comparable cf…
Neridronate prevents bone loss in patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.
Today, androgen deprivation therapy is a cornerstone of treatment for advanced prostate cancer, although it presents important complications such as osteoporosis. Neridronate, a relatively new bisphosphonate, is able to prevent bone loss in patients with prostate cancer during androgen ablation. Introduction: Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is a cornerstone of treatment for advanced prostate cancer. This therapy has iatrogenic complications, such as osteoporosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of neridronate, a relatively new bisphosphonate, to prevent bone loss during androgen ablation. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight osteoporotic patients with prostate cancer, tre…
Preventing bone loss during androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: Early experience with neridronate
Abstract Objective: Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is the usual treatment for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. Osteoporosis is a common complication of ADT. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of neridronate, a relatively new bisphosphonate to prevent bone loss during androgen ablation. Methods: Sixty patients with prostate cancer and osteoporosis were enrolled and randomly assigned to 2 different treatment regimes: group A (30 patients) treated with maximum androgenic blockage (MAB), and group B (30 patients) treated with bicalutamide 150mg. Each group was divided in 2 subgroups A1–A2 and B1–B2. All patients received calcium and cholecalciferol supplements …