Biological and endocrine aspects of transdermal 17 beta-oestradiol administration in post-menopausal women.

The plasma protein distribution of oestradiol (E2) and oestrone (E1) during transdermal E2 administration (100 micrograms/24 hr) was studied in 12 post-menopausal women. The E2 and E1 levels observed were 43-83 pg/ml and 37-73 pg/ml, respectively. The levels of the free, albumin-bound and sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) bound fractions were in the ranges 1.4-1.9%, 60-65% and 35-45%, respectively, in the case of E2, and 2.8-3.0%, 80-89% and 15-20%, respectively, in that of E1. The SHBG levels also remained unaltered. It was concluded that transdermal administration of E2 at the dosage employed produces a physiological plasma protein distribution of E2 and E1 and does not affect liver protein production.

Response of Paget's disease to human calcitonin in patients resistant to porcine calcitonin.

Eleven patients with Paget's disease of bone, treated intermittently for 2-4 years with porcine calcitonin (pCT) and clinically resistant to pCT [no modifications of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and urinary hydroxyproline ( uHOP ) during pCT administration] were treated with 0.5-0.25 mg/day of human calcitonin (hCT) for 3-6 months. Nine of our patients showed biochemical improvement during the first 2 months of treatment, with reduction in ALP and uHOP . In one patient with slightly increased ALP and uHOP , and in another one during the second treatment course, hCT treatment did not modify the biochemical indices of bone disease. However all patients, including those with biochemical resistance, experienced a remarkable diminution of bone pain, which had not been observed during previous pCT treatment courses. Therefore, hCT appears to be indicated for therapeutic use in patients who are resistant to foreign calcitonins.

[Clinical experience with human calcitonin]. / Esperienza clinica con calcitonina umana.

The Authors report the results of treatment with synthetic human calcitonin in patients suffering from Paget's disease, osteoporosis, Sudeck's disease, osteolytic metastases and in one case adults Cooley's anaemia. They summarize the characteristic blood chemistry changes due to calcitonin in some cases and report a marked clinical improvement in the majority of the patients.

One year efficacy and tolerability of oxprenolol slow-release and chlorthalidone on fixed combination in mild to moderate hypertension.

The long-term antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of oxprenolol 160 mg slow-release + chlortalidone 20 mg was studied in 40 out-patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension followed during one year with monthly clinical visits. The fixed combination was given at the dosage of 1 tablet once daily, in the morning, increasing to 1 tablet b.i.d. in case of lying diastolic blood pressure greater than 95 mmHg. After one year only 9 patients were on 1 tablet b.i.d., the others remaining on 1 tablet once daily regimen. Clear-cut antihypertensive effect was already evident after the 1st month of treatment. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure further decreased after two months (p less than 0.01) showing then a constant trend to decrease till the 6th month; afterwards blood pressure values remained unchanged. Normalization of blood pressure was obtained in 63%, 73% and 80% of the patients, respectively after 1, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Laboratory data did not show significant changes. Only 3 patients complained of unwanted effects which were mild, transient and in no case compelled to interrupt the treatment. Results confirm that the fixed combination of oxprenolol 160 mg slow-release + chlorthalidone 20 mg is able to long term control mild to moderate hypertension with a good tolerability, thus allowing an improved patient compliance.