Drugs under experimental and clinical research
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The aim of this work was to investigate the possible effects of resveratrol on the mitochondrial respiratory chain in rat brains. Isolation of mitochondria was performed at 4 degrees C using differential centrifugation. Mitochondrial respiration rate (0.4 mg of protein/ml) was determined by measuring mitochondrial oxygen consumption with a Clark electrode at 37 degrees C. ⋯ In conclusion, resveratrol can decrease complex III activity by competition with coenzyme Q. This property is especially interesting as this complex is the site where reactive oxygen substances (ROS) are generated. By decreasing the activity of complex III, resveratrol cannot only oppose the production of ROS but can also scavenge them.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Multicenter trial comparing tramadol and morphine for pain after abdominal surgery.
Seventy patients (40 male, 30 female), mean (SD) age 60.8 +/- 13.7 years were treated with parenteral morphine (10 mg/1 ml ampul) or tramadol (100 mg/2 ml ampul) to verify their analgesic effects in pain following abdominal surgery. The multicenter trial followed an open, controlled experimental design between patients, randomized within the centers. The drugs were given by intramuscular injection, as requested by patients, starting in the postoperative period when pain was more than 70 mm, assessed on a visual analog scale. ⋯ The quality of sleep and the number of hours of sleep the night after surgery were similar for both groups. Tramadol was tolerated better, giving rise to no untoward reactions; with morphine there was one case of mild respiratory depression. In abdominal surgery, therefore, tramadol given by intramuscular injection has postoperative analgesic activity similar to morphine, but is better tolerated.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison ketoprofen, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium in the treatment of tension-type headache.
The safety and efficacy of treatment of tension-type headache with either ketoprofen or ibuprofen and naproxen sodium were evaluated in a prospective, randomized, double-blind parallel-group-study in 345 subjects. All patients were valid for evaluation of efficacy and safety. Headache pain intensity and pain relief were measured on categorical verbal scales 30, 45, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min after ingestion of a single dose of 12.5 mg or 25 mg ketoprofen, 200 mg ibuprofen and 275 mg naproxen sodium. ⋯ A statistical comparison test was performed only once analysing the primary efficacy variable, the sum of pain intensity differences. There was no statistically significant difference among all treatments in this respect. The results of this clearly indicate that ketoprofen in a dosage of 12.5 or 25 mg, compared to 200 mg ibuprofen and 275 mg naproxen sodium, is an effective and safe treatment in tension-type headache.
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Dextromethorphan, after administration, is rapidly and extensively transformed into dextrorphan. The aim of this study was to compare the cough-suppressing activity of 6, 12, 24, 48 mg/kg, i.p., of dextrorphan (dextro rotatory isomer of racemorphan) with that of dextromethorphan, using the model of citric acid-induced coughing in the unanaesthetized, unrestrained guinea pig. ⋯ However, at 48 mg/kg, i.p., dextromethorphan had a toxic effect while dextrorphan did not. Because dextrorphan is the major metabolite of dextromethorphan and has antitussive activity comparable to that of dextromethorphan, clinical use of dextrorphan is suggested.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and tolerability of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, DHEP plaster, in inflammatory peri- and extra-articular rheumatological diseases.
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study has been carried out in order to assess the effects of the new topical cutaneous formulation, diclofenac hydroxyethylpyrrolidine (DHEP) plaster. Sixty patients (10 M + 50 F, mean age 56.6 yrs) suffering from local inflammatory processes in peri-articular/tendinous and/or extra-articular sites were involved in this study and randomly given either DHEP plaster or placebo plaster. Plasters were applied and left on the site of inflammation b.i.d. (at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) for 14 days. ⋯ Local inflammation, objectively evaluated using the telethermographic index, showed consistent reduction during the study which was statistically significant from day 3 onwards and significantly different compared to the control group. Global assessment of efficacy, expressed by the investigator and the patients, was significantly better (good to excellent after only 7 days in 70% of the cases) in the DHEP group compared to the placebo group. In the extra-articular pathologies, results similar to those reported earlier were obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)