The neurocognitive effects of Hypericum perforatum Special Extract (Ze 117) during smoking cessation.

The efficacy and tolerability of current treatments for smoking cessation are relatively poor. More research is required to address the biological mechanisms underpinning nicotine withdrawal and drug treatments for smoking cessation. We assessed the neurocognitive effects of Remotiv® (Hypericum perforatum Special Extract - Ze 117), Nicabate CQ Nicotine Replacement therapy (NRT) and combined NRT/HP during conditions of smoking abstinence in 20 regular smokers aged between 18 and 60 years over a period of 10 weeks during smoking cessation. A Spatial Working Memory (SWM) task was completed at baseline, 4 weeks prior to quitting, as well as at the completion of the study, following the 10 weeks of treatment. Brain activity was recorded during the completion of the SWM task using Steady-State Probe Topography. Reaction time and accuracy on the SWM task were not found to be significantly different between treatment groups at retest. Differences in SSVEP treatment profiles at retest are discussed, including stronger SSVEP Amplitude increase in posterior-parietal regions for the HP and NRT groups and greater fronto-central SSVEP Phase Advance in the HP group.

Improved cognitive performance and mental fatigue following a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement with added guaraná (Paullinia cupana).

Guaraná (Paullinia cupana) extracts are most commonly used in Western markets as putatively psychoactive food and drink additives. This double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel groups study assessed the acute effects of either a vitamin/mineral/guaraná supplement or placebo drink in 129 healthy young adults (18-24 years). Participants completed a 10min version of the Cognitive Demand Battery (comprising: Serial 3s and Serial 7s subtraction tasks, a Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) task, 'mental fatigue' scale). Thirty minutes following their drink participants made six consecutive completions of the battery (i.e. 60 min). The vitamin/mineral/guaraná combination resulted in improved task performance, in comparison to placebo, in terms of both increased speed and accuracy of performing the RVIP task throughout the post-dose assessment. The increase in mental fatigue associated with extended task performance was also attenuated by the supplement. This research supports previous findings demonstrating guaraná's cognition enhancing properties and provides evidence that its addition to a multi-vitamin-mineral supplement can improve cognitive performance and reduce the mental fatigue associated with sustained mental effort.

[The role of galactography in the diagnosis of breast diseases. Our experience]. / Il ruolo della galattografia nella diagnostica senologica. Nostra esperienza.

Following a description of the most common galactographic semeiotics in relation to the different types of secretion, the Authors report their personal experience in the use of galactography to diagnose breast cancer. Histopathological tests revealed the presence of carcinoma in 14 (29.2%) out of a total 48 galactographic examinations. In conclusion, the Authors underline the high degree of diagnostic precision of galactography, a test which contributes to the identification of a considerable number of carcinomas during the preclinical stage.

[Medium term study of the efficacy of propafenone in the treatment of hyperkinetic ventricular arrhythmia]. / Studio a medio termine dell'efficacia del propafenone nel trattamento delle aritmie ipercinetiche ventricolari.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the therapeutic and preventive action of propafenone on ventricular hyperkinetic arrhythmias (VHAs). 26 patients with VHAs have undergone a follow-up over a period of 90 days. Controls by means of dynamic electrocardiography (Holter) took place in baseline condition and on the 30th, 60th and 90th day of treatment. All patients were initially treated with 450 mg of P daily. According to the result of the first and second control, the P dosage was increased to 600 and 900 mg for those patients who failed to show any improvement. 88% of the patients showed a considerable improvement: 69% were free from arrhythmias and 33% exhibited a significant reduction. At the dose of 450 mg, P proved to be effective in 72% of cases; in the follow-up period a further increase in the effectiveness of the treatment was observed. The same trend resulted also from the observation of the patients treated with 600 and 900 mg. We can therefore confirm the effectiveness and tolerability of P as a first choice treatment of VHAs.

[Polygraphic changes in relation to active and passive upright position after myocardial infarct]. / Modificazioni poligrafiche in relazione all'alzata attiva e passiva dopo infarto del miocardio

In 33 patients on the 15th day after the onset of myocardial infarct, without complications, the effects of active and passive gravitational stress on left ventricular efficiency were studied by measuring systolic intervals. It is concluded that the semivertical passive position means an unfavourable course for left ventricular dynamism wompared with thehorizontal position and that active rising, from this point of view, can be considered more physiological than passive rising.