Whey Protein, Leucine- and Vitamin-D-Enriched Oral Nutritional Supplementation for the Treatment of Sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia has been recognized as a muscle disease, with adverse consequences on health. Updated recommendations, aimed at increasing awareness of sarcopenia and its accompanying risks, have been produced to urge the early detection and treatment of this disease. Recommended treatment is based on an individually tailored resistance exercise training program, the optimization of protein intake using high-quality protein sources (i.

Cost-effectiveness of a disease-specific oral nutritional support for pressure ulcer healing.

Background & Aims: The Oligo Element Sore Trial has shown that supplementation with a disease-specific nutritional formula enriched with arginine, zinc, and antioxidants improves pressure ulcer (PU) healing in malnourished patients compared to an isocaloric-isonitrogenous support. However, the use of such a nutritional formula needs to be supported also by a cost-effectiveness evaluation.

Methods: This economic evaluation - from a local healthcare system perspective - was conducted alongside a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial following a piggy-back approach.

Double-blind comparison of hepatitis C histological recurrence Rate in HCV+ Liver transplant recipients given basiliximab + steroids or basiliximab + placebo, in addition to cyclosporine and azathioprine.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence in HCV+ liver transplant recipients is almost inevitable and may be promoted by immunosuppression. We compared the amount of liver damage with regard to usage of steroids and basiliximab.

Methods: A total of 140 HCV+ adult liver transplant recipients were randomly allocated to basiliximab + steroids or basiliximab + placebo (plus cyclosporine and azathioprine).

Cost and outcome analysis and cost determinants of liver transplantation in a European National Health Service hospital.

Background: Liver transplantation has become established therapy for end-stage liver disease. Survival rates are satisfactory and the current challenge is the implementation of cost-optimization policies.

Methods: This study was a cost-outcome and cost-determinant analyses in an Italian National Health Services liver transplantation unit.

Occupational dermatitis in a highly industrialized Italian region: the experience of four occupational health departments.

There is a need for several research centers to carry out coordinated large-scale evaluation of the spread of occupational irritant and allergic dermatitis. The Occupational Health Departments of Bergamo, Brescia, Lecco and Cremona therefore decided to join their experiences and bring together all the cases of occupational irritant and allergic dermatitis diagnosed by these Departments between 1993 and 1998. In this period, 1169 cases of occupational dermatitis were diagnosed, subdivided into 768 cases of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), 337 of irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), 54 of urticaria and 10 of airborne contact dermatitis, and there has not been a trend towards increase of occupational dermatitis over the years.

Double-blind evaluation of short-term analgesic efficacy of orally administered diclofenac, diclofenac plus codeine, and diclofenac plus imipramine in chronic cancer pain.

A prospective double-blind randomized trial was conducted on 184 cancer patients with moderate to severe chronic pain to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and tolerability of diclofenac alone (50 mg q.i.d.

Diclofenac dispersible provides superior analgesia with faster onset of action compared to naproxen granular in patients with acute, painful, minor sports injuries.

Background: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of single doses of diclofenac dispersible and naproxen granular in patients with acute, painful, minor sports injuries.

Methods: Forty-eight adult outpatients with moderate-to-severe pain on movement, following a traumatic event < or = 36 hours previously, participated in this double-blind, between-patient comparative study. Patients were randomised in equal comparative study.

Efficacy and tolerability of Estraderm MX, a new estradiol matrix patch.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of a new matrix patch delivering 0.05 mg estradiol per day (Estraderm MX 50) in postmenopausal women with moderate to severe postmenopausal symptoms.

Methods: A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, between-patient, placebo controlled trial in 109 postmenopausal women was carried out.

Sequential addition of low dose of medrogestone or medroxyprogesterone acetate to transdermal estradiol: a pilot study on their influence on the endometrium.

We evaluated bleeding pattern and endometrium following the administration of two of the most common types of progestogens used in hormone replacement therapy, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and medrogestone acetate. Twenty eight patients in spontaneous menopause were randomly allocated to two groups. Group 1 (n = 14) received 5 mg/day of of MPA and group 2 (n = 14) received 5 mg/day of medrogestone: both the progestogens were sequentially added for the last 12 days of a 21-day period of transdermal estradiol administration (50 micrograms per day).

Plasma and synovial fluid interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and substance P concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis patients: effect of the nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs indomethacin, diclofenac and naproxen.

We performed an open, between patients, placebo controlled study in order to evaluate the effect of the treatment with the non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs indomethacin, diclofenac and naproxen on the concentrations of the cytokines IL-1 beta and IL-6 and of the neuropeptide substance P in plasma and synovial fluid of 24 rheumatoid arthritis patients. All patients had high synovial fluid cytokine and substance P levels, and high plasma cytokine levels at the beginning of the study. The treatment with the non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs significantly decreased both plasma and synovial fluid IL-6 and synovial fluid substance P in comparison to placebo, but did not affect IL-1 beta concentrations.

Evaluation of the bronchodilating activity and the tolerability of broxaterol administered as a solution by inhalation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bronchodilating activity and the tolerability of broxaterol (B, CAS 76596-57-1) given as drops by inhalation after single administration at different doses and after repeated administrations for 1 month. Two groups of 12 patients each were treated in a double-blind fashion and according to a within-subject design: one group with B at the single doses of 1.25 mg and 2.

Evaluation of the effect of thymoxamine solution 0.5% on mydriasis induced by ibopamine solution 1%.

The effects of thymoxamine 0.5% solution and of a placebo solution (mannitol) on the mydriasis induced by ibopamine 1% solution were evaluated in 8 healthy volunteers and 12 patients with eye diseases. One drop of ibopamine was instilled into each eye and 30 min later 1 drop of thymoxamine was instilled into one eye and 1 drop of placebo into the contralateral eye.

Bronchodilation and beta 2-selectivity of broxaterol in asthmatics: a crossover, single-blind, terbutaline- and placebo-controlled study.

To investigate the beta 2-receptor selectivity of a new beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, broxaterol, we compared the respiratory and cardiovascular effects of this compound with those of terbutaline and placebo. Twelve asthmatic patients were evaluated in a randomized, single blind, crossover study. A single dose of each study treatment (broxaterol 400 micrograms and terbutaline 500 micrograms was administered with metered dose inhalers.

Bronchodilating activity of broxaterol transdermal patch and its protective effect on bronchial constriction induced by inhaled distilled water mist.

The bronchodilating activity and the ability of broxaterol transdermal patch to inhibit bronchial constriction in response to distilled water mist (UNH2O) inhalation were assessed. The study was performed in 10 asthmatic patients in clinical remission according to a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized crossover design. Test medications were broxaterol patch (size = 1.