Clinical outcome and olanzapine plasma levels in acute schizophrenia.

PURPOSE: This open label study was performed to evaluate the relationship between the plasma concentration of olanzapine and the response in acute schizophrenic inpatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 54 inpatients, 38 males and 16 females, age ranging from 18 to 75 years, affected by Schizophrenia (DSM IV criteria) during an exacerbation phase were included in the study. Olanzapine (OLZ) was started at a dose of 5-20 mg/day and was increased to a mean dose of 15.27 mg +/-5.53 S.D. Patients were evaluated at baseline, and after 2 weeks, by using BPRS, PANNS, HRS-D, EPSE, and ACS. RESULTS: BPRS and total PANSS showed a statistically significant improvement at the end of the study. Olanzapine plasma levels (PL) ranged from 5 to 120 ng/ml (mean 33.15 ng/ml +/- 28.28 S.D.) and showed a positive correlation with OLZ dosage. A significant curvilinear correlation between OLZ PL and clinical improvement (BPRS, PANSS and HRS-D percent of amelioration) was observed. CONCLUSION: Olanzapine plasma level determination seems to be a useful tool in optimizing acute treatment particularly for more problematic cases.

Dimethylformamide risk. An evaluation in the production of artificial organic leather.

This study aimed to evaluate the exposure to DMF during the different stages in the production of synthetic polyurethanic leathers. Environmental surveys and biological surveillances were carried out in order to classify the working areas and the tasks of the employees as regards DMF-risk. Design improvements to reduce, as far as possible, environmental pollution are discussed.

Epidemiological study on workers exposed to low dimethylformamide concentrations.

Reviewing medical and epidemiological reports, no definite clinical picture could be expected as a result of a low DMF exposure and experimental research on long term toxicity has always demonstrated some adverse effects but has not been sufficient to define a no-effect level in animals. This study was designed to assess the specificity of symptoms and the relevance of adverse effects as consequence of an exposure to airborne DMF concentration in the range of the present TLV (30 mg/m3 - 10 ppm). For this purpose 100 DMF-exposed workers, with homogeneous characteristics, were compared with 100 matched controls. Both groups were selected by a careful pair-matching. Mean DMF exposure was 22 mg/m3 (range 8-58 mg/m3). Exposed subjects and their matched controls were evaluated clinically and a questionnaire was used for the registration and the comparison of subjective complaints. A laboratory assessment was performed, including transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Statistical analysis was based on McNemar Test procedure. The problem of dietary alcohol intake was particularly investigated. Among symptoms studied, headache, dyspepsia and digestive impairment of hepatic type could be specifically associated with chronic DMF exposure and increased levels of gamma-GT demonstrated minimal hepato-cellular damage, even without ethanol dietary intake. No chronic sickness was diagnosed and the disturbances observed are better considered as indicators of malaise and discomfort due to a toxic effect of DMF, whose consequences are discussed.