0000000000303456
AUTHOR
A. Bono
Randomised controlled study with cyproterone acetate (100 mg/die) versus Pygeum africanum (200 mg/die) in benign prostatic hypertrophy
A multi-centre comparative study was carried out on 143 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and reduced or no sexual activity. 74 patients were treated with a low dose of CPA (100 mg a day) and 69 with PYG (200 mg a day), administered orally and assigned randomly. The patients were evaluated at 4,12 and 24 weeks. Results showed a significant statistical difference in favour of the CPA treatment for almost all parameters (flow, post-micturitional residue, symptomatological score). There was a decrease in prostate volume, equal to 19.3% compared to the initial values, only in those patients treated with CPA who completed the treatment. Considerable improvement in nicturia and micturit…
Correlation between Low Folate Levels and Hyperhomocysteinemia, but not with Vitamin B12 in Hypertensive Patients.
INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is considered to be among the most important risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In recent years, several investigators have reported that high plasma levels of total homocysteine (t-hcy) has a key role in the development of hypertension, and the deficiency of B complex vitamins could increase the risk of hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in hypertensive patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 116 patients with hypertension and 81 healthy subjects, total plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Homocys…
Factors associated with first- versus second-generation long-acting antipsychotics prescribed under ordinary clinical practice in Italy
Background For many years, long-acting intramuscular (LAI) antipsychotics have been prescribed predominantly to chronic and severe patients, as a last resort when other treatments failed. Recently, a broader and earlier use of LAIs, particularly second-generation LAIs, has been emphasized. To date, few studies attempted to frame how this change in prescribing took place in real-world practice. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the clinical features of patients prescribed with LAIs, and to explore possible prescribing differences between first- and second-generations LAIs under ordinary clinical practice in Italy. Methods The STAR Network "Depot" Study is an observational, longitudinal…
Comparing Long-Acting Antipsychotic Discontinuation Rates Under Ordinary Clinical Circumstances: A Survival Analysis from an Observational, Pragmatic Study
Background Recent guidelines suggested a wider use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) than previously, but naturalistic data on the consequences of LAI use in terms of discontinuation rates and associated factors are still sparse, making it hard for clinicians to be informed on plausible treatment courses. Objective Our objective was to assess, under real-world clinical circumstances, LAI discontinuation rates over a period of 12 months after a first prescription, reasons for discontinuation, and associated factors. Methods The STAR Network ‘Depot Study’ was a naturalistic, multicentre, observational prospective study that enrolled subjects initiating a LAI without restrictions …
Aminoacid profile and oxidative status in children affected by Down syndrome before and after supplementary nutritional treatment
Down syndrome is the most common autosomal aberration among liveborns, characterised by several clinical features and metabolic disturbances. Aminoacid pathways abnormalities and defective oxidative balance are the most common metabolic problems in Down Syndrome. To evaluate the biochemical responses of children with Down Syndrome to a nutritional regimen supplemented with aminoacids, vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids, we submitted 86 subjects divided in two groups (0-6 and 6-12 years) to the dosage of plasma levels of aminoacids, antioxidant enzymes activities and reactive oxygen species, before and after 12 months of such nutritional supplementation and in relation to normal contro…
Complications in radical cystectomy and their prevention
We wish to dedicate this review article on radical cystectomy, its complications and their prevention to the memory of Prof. Luciano Giuliani. The article is based on a work written originally by Jim Montie and many other authors for the consensus meeting on bladder cancer held in Antwerp in 1994 and recently published in a booklet entitled “Global strategy for bladder cancer” (1). With the consent of Montie and the other co-authors, we have prepared on updated Italian version, inserting some parts (such as vascular complications) which were treated more superficially in the preliminary text.