[Care of skin infections in patients in peritoneal dialysis]. / Indagine descrittiva sulla cura dell'emergenza cutanea nel paziente in dialisi peritoneale.

The incidence of exit-site infections among peritoneal home-dialysis patients was quantified following for 1 year all home dialysis patients of 23 dialysis centres. The exit site conditions were observed and classified according to Twardowsky. When an infection occurred data on its treatment were collected. 393 patients were observed. The infection occurred in 40 patients (10.1%). 82.2% of patients wear a Tenckoff catheter, 3% do not protect the exit site with any kind of dressing. The strategies adopted by different centres vary for the choice of antiseptics, the suggested frequency of changes dressing and the routine use of nasal swabs. Due to the limited number of patients with infection no association was found between tunnel direction or frequency of dressing changes and infections occurrence. Discussion on controversial aspects and the definition of common guidelines for instance for frequency of dressing changes, use of antiseptics is warranted.

Sobrerol in the treatment of secretory otitis media in childhood.

The therapeutic activity and tolerability of sobrerol, a muco-active agent, were evaluated in 30 children (aged 5-10 years) with secretory otitis media. The drug was administered once daily by inhalation for 10 days consecutively at a dose of 40 mg/3 ml. Clinical assessments showed a significant improvement in the objective measures together with good tolerability. Moreover, sobrerol was shown to improve impedance values; this is an important aspect of the modifications induced by this drug in diseases involving the ear.

Preliminary report on activity and tolerability of epomediol, administered by intravenous infusion, in patients with chronic hepatopathies.

The therapeutic activity and tolerability of epomediol were studied in 28 patients with chronic hepatopathies. Treatment was continued, parenterally, for 10 days (400-600 mg once daily by intravenous infusion). Clinical parameters (headache, right hypochondrial pain, bitter taste in the mouth, asthenia and nausea) and hepatic function (transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) showed significant improvements. Clinical and systemic tolerabilities of epomediol were satisfactory.

Guide to therapy with theophylline for the treatment of obstructive lung disease.

During the last 10-15 years, therapy with theophylline for the treatment of obstructive lung disease has been rationalized because of increased investigation into drug pharmacokinetics and metabolism and the introduction of new techniques for measuring drug concentration in plasma. Orally administered sustained-release preparations of theophylline have recently been introduced as therapy following the development of new technology. Such preparations allow more effective use of theophylline through increased patient compliance and the maintenance of more stable plasma theophylline concentrations.

Treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with two sustained-release theophylline preparations.

A sustained-release theophylline preparation in capsule form was compared with standard slow-release theophylline tablets for variation in plasma theophylline concentration, effectiveness and tolerability in 30 adults with chronic broncho-obstructive pathology. They were administered every 12 h and blood samples were collected after 8 days of treatment during the steady-state period. In this double-dummy crossover study, the sequence of the two regimens (sustained-release capsules versus tablets) was selected at random. The results of this study demonstrate that plasma theophylline levels remain within the therapeutic range for both preparations. Effectiveness and tolerability of the two drugs were satisfactory.

Clinical experience with two twice daily slow release theophylline preparations. Relation between serum theophylline concentrations, effectiveness, tolerability and compliance in elderly patients.

The relation between serum theophylline concentrations, effectiveness, tolerability and compliance were evaluated in 14 hospitalized elderly patients with broncho-obstructive pathology, using a new twice daily sustained release theophylline suspension compared to standard twice daily slow release tablets. The results showed that the mean theophylline serum concentration remains within the therapeutic range with both preparations. No significant difference exists between the two treatments with regard to effectiveness. Tolerability and compliance of the theophylline suspension, however, were higher.

A new sustained-release theophylline suspension for asthmatic children: evaluation of serum theophylline concentrations.

Theophylline level variability obtained with standard slow-release theophylline tablets was compared to that obtained with a new sustained-release theophylline suspension in asthmatic children. The sustained-release preparations were administered every 12 hours and serum samples were collected after ten days of treatment during the steady-state period. In this crossover study, the sequence of the two regimens (slow-release tablets versus slow-release suspension) was selected at random. Both preparations of theophylline were administered at a mean dosage (+/- s.d.) of 19.3 +/- 1 mg/kg/day. The results of our study demonstrated that theophylline serum levels remain within the therapeutic range for both preparations, but there was a greater fluctuation with theophylline suspension compared to the tablets. The tolerability of the two drugs was satisfactory.