[Epidemiological study of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a sample of women requesting voluntary termination of pregnancy, treated with rokitamycin]. / Studio epidemiologico sull'infezione da Chlamydia trachomatis in un campione di donne che richiedono l'IVG trattate con rokitamicina.

BACKGROUND: Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis usually involves the cervix uteri, causing no symptoms, and may easily be unrecognised and untreated until troublesome symptoms arise, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect fertility and reproductive life. Therapies include the macrolide antibiotics, and in this class rokitamycin offers marked lipophilia, excellent intracellular penetration, and bactericidal activity at concentrations close to the MIC. The present study was therefore designed to establish the frequency of intracervical infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in women applying for termination of pregnancy, and to assess the efficacy and safety of this drug in this indication. METHODS: Women aged 18-40 years were admitted for termination of pregnancy, with a positive cervical swab for Chlamydia trachomatis. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and amendments. Patients were given one oral tablet of 400 mg rokitamycin in the morning, and one in the evening, for two weeks. Treatment started ten days before the termination, within 48 h of taking the swab. Partners were to receive the same treatment. RESULTS: 292 women requiring termination of pregnancy, on average at the 9th week of pregnancy, were assessed. Of these, 24 (8.2%), mean (+/- SD) age 27.1 +/- 6.1 years, range 18-39, with a positive cervical swab for Chlamydia trachomatis, were treated with rokitamycin; 22 of their partners were treated too. Forty days after the start of treatment 22 patients (92%) gave negative results; these were all the cases whose partners had received treatment. No adverse events were reported and the acceptability of the treatment was considered good or excellent in 91% and fair in 9% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm that rokitamycin is one of the most useful and effective macrolides for the treatment of infections caused by intracellular microorganisms; it is extremely well tolerated and has marked microbiological efficacy.

[Nationwide drug surveillance project on slow-release nicardipine in the short-term therapy of light/moderate arterial hypertension]. / Progetto nazionale di farmacovigilanza sulla nicardipina a lenta liberazione nel trattamento a breve termine dell'ipertensione arteriosa lieve/moderata.

This trial was designed to confirm the hypotensive action and safety of slow-release nicardipine, as a single drug or together with other hypotensive drugs, for the short-term treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension, on a large case list of patients in 57 centers throughout Italy. A total of 1011 patients (502 M, 509 F) were admitted, mean age 58.6 +/- 9.1 years (range 25-87), mean weight 72.7 +/- 11.1 kg (range 43-128), with essential (972 cases) or secondary hypertension (39 cases). Nicardipine was given orally at a mean daily dosage of 80 mg (range 40-120), for four weeks. Clinically and statistically significant reductions in systolic and diastolic BP were observed at the end of treatment, with no noteworthy changes in heart rate. Nicardipine single-drug therapy restored normal blood pressure in 79.7% of patients with essential hypertension, and in 72.0% of those with secondary hypertension; nicardipine associated with other hypotensive agents achieved normal blood pressure in respectively 65.9% and 42.9%. Blood pressure returned to normal in 77.3% of patients with essential hypertension aged 65 years or under, and in 66.9% of those over 65 years old. These figures were respectively 70.8% and 46.7% for patients with secondary hypertension. The treatment was very well tolerated by 86.2% of patients; 140 (13.8%) presented adverse reactions, requiring dose reductions in 12, and discontinuation of treatment only in 24 cases. Five patients taking nicardipine together with another drug presented adverse reactions. These results confirm that slow-release nicardipine is effective and extremely well tolerated in the treatment of mild-to-moderate essential or secondary hypertension, in adults and the elderly.

[Cross-over study on the effects of ketanserin vs enalapril in the treatment of hypertension]. / Studio in cross-over sugli effetti della ketanserina verso enalapril nel trattamento di soggetti ipertesi.

The aim of the study was to compare antihypertensive efficacy and safety of ketanserin with those of enalapril in the treatment of hypertension. The study design was controlled, cross-over, with randomized sequences. The efficacy was evaluated from data of 19 (9 males, 10 females) mean age 59.5 +/- 10.1 years, weight kg 68 +/- 12.1 with hypertension lasting over 5 years. Posology was ketanserin 20-40 mg bid, and enalapril 10-20 mg bid; both for three weeks. The efficacy was good with both treatments and the effects similar. In fact, at the end of the treatment with ketanserin, supine SBP was decreased 10 +/- 20 and DBP 5 +/- 10 mmHg, standing SBP was reduced 15 +/- 19 and DBP 7 +/- 15 mmHg. With enalapril supine SBP decreased 25 +/- 16 and DBP 10 +/- 13 mmHg, standing SBP was reduced 16 +/- 19 and DBP 8 +/- 18 mmHg. Changes of heart rate by either treatment were of no clinical importance. The safety of treatment with ketanserin was excellent, while 14.3% of the patients treated with enalapril had undesirable effects.