Search results for "Drug administration"
showing 10 items of 393 documents
Phase II dose escalation study of caspofungin for invasive Aspergillosis.
2011
ABSTRACT Our objective was to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose of caspofungin for invasive aspergillosis (IA). The safety and pharmacokinetics of escalating dosages of caspofungin were investigated in IA. Eight patients each received caspofungin 70, 100, 150, or 200 mg once a day (QD). Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as the same non-hematological treatment-related adverse event of grade ≥4 in 2 of 8 patients or ≥3 in 4 of 8 patients in a cohort. A total of 46 patients (median age, 61 years; 21 female; 89% with hematological malignancies) received caspofungin (9, 8, 9, and 20 patients in the 70-, 100-, 150-, and 200-mg cohorts) for a median of 24.5 days. Plasma pharmacokinetics w…
Early lipoic acid intake protects retina of diabetic mice
2008
The aim of this study was to test the effect of lipoic acid treatment on the retina after a short diabetic insult. Diabetes was induced by alloxan and mice were divided into sub-groups; control, diabetic, diabetic+insulin and all groups received+/-lipoic acid (100 mg/kg body weight) for 3 weeks. GSH content, MDA concentration, GPx activity were measured and electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded. Early administration of lipoic acid to diabetic mice prevented the statistically significant decreases of GSH content and GPx activity and normalized MDA concentration. Moreover, lipoic acid restored electroretinogram b-wave amplitude of diabetic animals to control values. Lipoic acid has a protect…
Atorvastatin in stable angina patients lowers CCL2 and ICAM1 expression: Pleiotropic evidence from plasma mRNA analyses
2013
Objective: Statin pleiotropy is still an evolving concept, and the lack of clarity on this subject is due at least in part to the lack of a definitive biomarker for statin pleiotropy. Using plasma mRNA analysis as a novel research tool for the non-invasive in vivo assessment of gene expression in vascular beds, we hypothesised that atorvastatin lowers the plasmamRNA level from statin pleiotropy-target genes, and the reduction is independent of the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Design and methods: Forty-four patients with stable angina received atorvastatin therapy (20 mg/day, 10 weeks). Plasma chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and intercellular adhesion molec…
Which patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C can benefit from prolonged treatment with the 'accordion' regimen?
2007
The on-treatment virological response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy is a useful tool in the management of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The time at which hepatitis C virus RNA becomes undetectable by a sensitive PCR assay has a huge impact on the probability of achieving a sustained virological response, particularly in genotype 1 patients, and may be useful in selecting patients for prolonged therapy. Indiscriminate extension of treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 is not beneficial. However, there is a subgroup of patients – the so-called ‘slow responders’ – who benefit from extending treatment from 48 to 72 weeks and can be readily identified afte…
High incidence of venous thrombosis after surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm
2009
Objective The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VT) after aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) surgery is imprecisely reported. On one hand, thromboprophylaxis has improved, on the other hand, AAA patients have become older and/or present worse comorbidities. Herein, we prospectively analyzed the incidence of VT in a continuous series of patients operated on for AAA repair and looked for predictive factors. Materials and Methods Between January 1, 2005, and December, 31, 2006, 193 consecutive patients (177 men and 16 women), mean age 73 (range, 47-93) underwent elective AAA repair, 137 open (71%) and 56 endovascular (29%), in our institution. Thromboprophylaxis consisted of thigh-length compr…
The treatment of venous leg ulcers: a new therapeutic use of iloprost
2007
Background: We conducted a study using an intravenous (i.v.) infusion of iloprost in the treatment of venous ulcers to verify whether the association of i.v. iloprost + local therapy + elastic compression has a favorable effect when compared with traditional treatment with local therapy and elastic compression. Study Design: We evaluated the effects of iloprost in 98 consecutive patients with noncomplicated venous ulcers of lower limbs subdivided into 2 groups: the first group (48 patients) received iloprost in saline solution for 3 weeks and the second group (50 patients) received a venous infusion of a saline solution. The patients were examined at baseline time 0 (first visit) and then a…
Adding insulin glargine vs. NPH insulin to metformin results in a more efficient postprandial β-cell protection in individuals with type 2 diabetes
2010
AIM Postprandial release of intact proinsulin (IP) is an independent marker for beta-cell dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes. This open-label, parallel-group, two-arm, pilot study compared the beta-cell protective effect of adding insulin glargine (GLA) vs. NPH insulin to ongoing metformin. MATERIAL AND METHODS Overall, 28 insulin-naive type 2 diabetes subjects (mean +/- SD age, 61.5 +/- 6.7 years; diabetes duration, 9.8 +/- 6.5 years; HbA1c, 7.1 +/- 0.5%; BMI, 30.7 +/- 4.3 kg/m(2)) treated with metformin and sulfonylurea were randomized to add once-daily GLA or NPH at bedtime. At baseline and after 3 months, subjects received a standardized breakfast, lunch and dinner, with pre- …
Correlation between FIX genotype and pharmacokinetics of Nonacog alpha according to a multicentre Italian study
2016
Introduction Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies on recombinant FIX concentrate, Nonacog alpha, were conducted with different sampling time designs which gave rise to not complete and homogenous outcomes. In addition, patient's FIX genotype/PK relationship has never been investigated. Aim Investigate how different sampling times may affect PK parameters and try to find a FIX genotype/PK relationship. Patients and Methods A cohort pharmacokinetic, Nonacog Alpha single-dose, open-label, non-comparative study was conducted in eight Comprehensive Care Haemophilia Centres in Italy. Seventeen previously treated moderate or severe haemophilia B patients were enrolled. Factors IX:C one-stage clotting assa…
Fabry disease: enzyme replacement therapy
2003
Fabry disease is a multisystem disorder associated with wide variability in clinical expression. Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A. The enzyme defect leads to the systemic accumulation of glycosphingolipids with alpha-galactosyl moieties consisting predominantly of globotriaosylceramide, galabiosylceramide and two additional glycosphingolipids. Four hemizygotes patients with a family history of Fabry disease and deficiency of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A were selected. Each patient received purified alpha-galactosidase by intravenous infusion (0.2 mg/kg). The infusion was administered every 2 weeks, for 40 min, for a …
Low awareness and common misconceptions about schistosomiasis in endemic lowland areas in Western Ethiopia: a mixed-methods study
2021
Abstract Background Understanding the health behavior of the target population is crucial for sustainable schistosomiasis control. The aim of this study was to assess schistosomiasis related levels of knowledge, attitude, and practices of communities in lowland areas of western Ethiopia, where schistosomiasis is endemic. Methods A community-based multilevel triangulation mixed-methods design was conducted in three schistosomiasis endemic villages in the Abbey and Didessa valleys of the Benishangul Gumuz Region of Western Ethiopia, where mass drug administration (MDA) was done 30 years back and again the last 5 years. A structured survey questionnaire, in-depth interviews, focused group disc…