Reasons for prescribing second generation antihistamines to treat allergic rhinitis in real-life conditions and patient response.

Background: Second generation H1 antihistamines (H1A) are currently recommended as first choice medications for allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis. However, little is known about what influences the choice of prescription of one second generation (H1A) as opposed to another in real-life conditions.

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the main criteria determining the choice of a second generation H1A by allergy specialists in mainland France.

[Milnacipran and venlafaxine at flexible doses (up to 200 mg/d) in the outpatient treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder: a 24-week randomised, double blind exploratory study].

Introduction: Serotonin (HT) and noradrenaline (NA) reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly used as first line treatment of major depressive disorders (MDD). As compared to tricyclic antidepressants, they have proved similar efficacy and better tolerability. Milnacipran (MLN) (Ixel) and venlafaxine (VLF) (Effexor) are two SNRIs pharmacologically differing by their NA/HT ratio of potency: 1:1 and 1:30, respectively.

Local steroid therapy and bacterial skin flora in atopic dermatitis.

A double-blind, randomized trial was conducted to determine the influence of topical steroid therapy on atopic skin flora. The bacteriological and clinical effects of desonide (Locapred), compared with those of its excipient, were studied in 40 children. Clinical scoring and bacteriological sampling were performed before the start of the trial and after 7 days of once-daily topical treatment.

[Topical tretinoin in the treatment of lichen planus and leukoplakia of the mouth mucosa. A clinical evaluation].

A randomized study was conducted to evaluate the effect of tretinoin and patient tolerance to treatment with topical applications in series of 20 cases of smoking-related or traumatic oral keratoses leukoplakia and of 20 cases of lichen planus. In each group, patients applied the topical ointment containing tretinoin (10 patients) or placebo (10 patients) twice daily. Clinical outcome was evaluated on the basis of the surface area of the lesion, measured monthly during treatment, as compared with the area observed at treatment onset.

[Topical tretinoin in the treatment of lichen planus and leukoplakia of the oral mucosa. A biochemical evaluation of the keratinization].

In earlier work, we demonstrated that 0.1 p. 100 topical tretinoin is clinically effective and well tolerated compared with placebo for the treatment of oral leukoplakia and oral keratosic or erythematous lichen planus.

Pharmacokinetics of prednisolone in children with the nephrotic syndrome.

The aim of this study was to establish whether the criteria for the clinical effectiveness of steroids are correlated with the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone in children treated with prednisone during an attack of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Thirteen patients with nephrosis were included. Prednisolone, prednisone and cortisol levels were measured using a specific high-performance liquid chromatography assay after an oral dose of 1 mg/kg body weight of prednisone taken at the onset of the disease.

[Extrapyramidal syndromes caused by flunarizine. Apropos of 6 cases].

The ability of flunarizine in inducing or worsening extrapyramidal symptoms is well documented. The relation with age or dose of such symptoms as their clinical characteristics remain controversial. We report 6 cases of extrapyramidal syndromes induced by flunarizine in five women and one man (mean age 71.

Pharmacodynamics of CY 216 in healthy volunteers: inter-individual variations.

The pharmacodynamic parameters of a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH, CY 216) and their inter-individual variations were investigated. In a cross over study 100 anti-factor Xa IC U/kg were injected, one week apart, to 12 healthy volunteers by intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) route. The pharmacological effects were followed by performing activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin clotting time (TCT) and a chromogenic anti-factor Xa assay.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of dermatan sulfate in humans.

Dermatan sulfate (DS), a catalyst of the thrombin-heparin cofactor II interaction, has antithrombotic activity and is devoid of significant hemorrhagic risk in several animal models. We investigated the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of DS in humans. DS was injected in single bolus intravenous injections of four increasing doses (0.

Involvement of cholinergic mechanisms in the central cardiovascular actions of nicardipine in dogs.

The involvement of cholinergic mechanisms in the central cardiovascular effects of a dihydropyridine, nicardipine, was investigated in pentobarbital-anaesthetized normotensive dogs. Nicardipine (1 microgram/kg) injected intracisternally (i.c.

A study of the action of clonidine on secretion from the adrenal medulla in dogs.

The effects of clonidine on adrenal catecholamine (adrenaline and noradrenaline) secretion were investigated in chloralose-anaesthetized dogs. Intravenous administration of clonidine (10 and 20 micrograms kg-1) induced a decrease in both adrenal catecholamine secretion rates and cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure and heart rate). In contrast, a dose of 5 micrograms kg-1 was ineffective.

[An intensive survey of drug surveillance in a medical admissions department].

An intensive survey of pharmacovigilance was carried out in a medical admission department over a 4-month period. Out of 2,017 admissions to hospital, 23 (1,1 p. 100) were motivated by adverse reactions to drugs.

Effect of size and dosage strength on the bioavailability of two diltiazem formulations during repeated administrations in humans.

In angina pectoris, diltiazem is usually prescribed as two 60 mg tablets in the morning and two 60 mg tablets in the evening. In the course of the pharmaceutical development of this drug, it was therefore planned to study an experimental formulation containing 120 mg of diltiazem. On the basis of dissolution tests in vitro, a bioavailability study was initiated to compare the 120 mg experimental formulation to the standard 60 mg tablet.

Experimental and clinical approaches to treatment of hypertension by dopamine receptor agonists.

The action of several dopamine agonists on blood pressure was investigated. In dogs, apomorphine induced a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. These effects were suppressed by intravenous haloperidol or phentolamine.

Effect of clonidine on adrenal medulla catecholamine levels in rats.

The effects of clonidine on adrenal medulla catecholamines levels were studied in normotensive rats. Intraperitoneal injections (50,100 micrograms/kg) of clonidine caused a dose-dependent decrease in adrenaline content of the gland. This effect was suppressed by denervation of the adrenal medulla, i.