Bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist off label use in short-term prophylaxis in hereditary angioedema.

Hereditary angioedema type I (HAE-C1-INH) is an inherited disorder characterized by repeated severe angioedema attacks mostly triggered by traumas, emotional stress, increased estrogen levels or surgical procedures, in particular, odontostomatological interventions. Icatibant, a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, has been approved for treatment of HAE attacks. In this paper we describe the “off label” administration of icatibant as short-term prophylaxis of dental extraction in a patient with HAE with the aim of preventing perioperative angioedema attacks. The drug showed an effective and safe profile. Thus, a short-term prophylaxis of angioedema attacks in patients with HAE may be arranged on a multidisciplinary basis, according to the clinical history of each single patients.

Implementation of GOLD consensus report in real life: results from the Velletri-Lariano (VELA) cohort.

BACKGROUND: COPD is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Pharmacotherapy improves quality of life and reduces exacerbations although low adherence with prescribed treatments may represent a barrier to optimal disease management. The first objective of this paper is to report the distribution of COPD patients according to GOLD categories, in a sample of patients from a cohort study in an area of the Latium region in Italy. The second objective is to evaluate the agreement between the distributions of severity obtained from the HCPs and the experts included in the study board (Board). METHODS: COPD patients were given a card to collect demographic and clinical data at baseline. Information in those cards was independently evaluated by HCPs and Board to include each patient into one of the four GOLD categories. RESULTS: In a sample of 187 stable COPD patients, 59% male, mean age 70 year, the distribution of GOLD categories according to the Board was: 6% A, 34% B, 2% C, and 58% D. A discrepancy in GOLD classification was observed between the study board and field-based HCPs, regarding more than 50% of the patients, with a clear trend to underestimate the frequency of patients in D level (21%) and to overestimate the frequency in C level (21%). CONCLUSIONS: These results describe for the first time the distribution of COPD patients in an Italian cohort according to the GOLD categories, with the highest frequencies in levels B and D. The misclassification from HCPs may impact the therapeutic approach and the clinical outcomes.

Insertion torque of dental implants after microvascular fibular grafting.

We have measured the necessary torque to the initial stabilisation of dental implants in revascularised bony transplants for reconstruction of the maxilla and mandible in edentulous patients. We installed 28 dental implants in 7 patients who had had reconstructions of the maxilla and mandible by microsurgical flaps. At the time of the installation of the implants, we measured the torque for final stabilisation. The minimum torque was 20 Newton centimetres (Ncm) in 11 implants, and the maximum 45Ncm in 8. The measure of torque was not influenced by sex, age group, or time between transplant and implant.

Lipoxin A augments release of thromboxane from human polymorphonuclear leukocyte suspensions.

Lipoxin A (LXA) is a novel eicosanoid, generated by the interactions of lipoxygenases, which has a variety of biological actions. When added to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, LXA stimulated thromboxane formation which was monitored as TxB2 by radioimmunoassay. The compound augmented the formation of TxA2 stimulated by the ionophore of divalent cations (A23187). Formation of thromboxane was inhibited by two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. indomethacin and proglumetacin). Results of the present study indicate that LXA can provoke the release and transformation of endogenous arachidonic acid to thromboxane. Moreover, they suggest a relationship between lipoxin A and the formation of cyclooxygenase pathway products.

Mitogen dose-dependent effect of weak pulsed electromagnetic field on lymphocyte blastogenesis.

The effects of pulsed extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on human peripheral blood lymphocyte mitogenesis induced by phytohaemoagglutinin, concanavalin A or calcium ionophore A23187 were studied. The dependence of the field effect on mitogen concentrations was investigated. Field exposure produced strong inhibition of DNA synthesis when optimal doses of mitogens were used, confirming our previous findings. Opposite effects were observed at suboptimal concentration of mitogens. Experiments performed by exposing cell cultures to the field for short periods indicated that a field application of at least 6 h is needed to influence irreversibly lymphocyte blastogenesis.

A role for Ca2+ in the effect of very low frequency electromagnetic field on the blastogenesis of human lymphocytes.

The DNA synthesis of lymphocytes triggered by phytohemagglutinin or phorbol-myristate-acetate is strongly reduced by the externally applied electromagnetic field (ELF). Ca2+ uptake by stimulated lymphocytes is also reduced by ELF. The effect appears to be synergistic with that of the well-known calcium blocker agent, verapamil.

Reduced mitogenic stimulation of human lymphocytes by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields.

Blastogenesis of human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated in vitro by non-specific mitogens (PHA, ConA, PWM) upon exposure to extremely low frequency EMF has been studied. Different frequencies of square waveforms have been used. PHA-stimulation resulted in strong inhibitions as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. A frequency window (3-50 Hz) within which ConA-induced blastogenesis was significantly inhibited has been individuated. The mitogenic effect of PWM was significantly affected only at 3 Hz.

Effect of salicylates on lymphocyte blastogenesis in vitro: association with other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs.

High concentrations of the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, alone and in association, reduce the blastogenesis of human lymphocytes in vitro. This effect is probably due to the toxicity of these agents and not to the inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) prosuction. Therefore drugs, such as, salicylates and associations of salicylates with other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, which have a weak action on PG-synthesis, also inhibit proliferation of lymphocytes.

Isolation and partial characterization of a kallikrein from mouse submaxillary glands.

A simple procedure to obtain relatively large amounts of purified kallikrein from male mouse submaxillary gland is described. Some chemical and biological properties of this kallikrein have been investigated. The enzyme has a m.w. of 32,000 and shows strong BAEE-esterase activity, as well as kininogenase activity. It is partially inhibited by Aprotinin.