Superiority of antagonic-stress composition versus nicergoline in gerontopsychiatry.

Nicergoline (NE)--a cerebral vasodilator with nicotinic acid esterified in its molecule--and Antagonic-Stress (AS) composition--a neurometabolic nootropic, also containing nicotinic acid but with fast and prolonged release--were evaluated in senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT), mild to moderate intensity (DSM-IV Options Book, 1991 and ICD-10, 1990 criteria). A double-blind, randomized, comparative, and parallel clinical trial was performed on 62 old people divided into 2 groups and exclusively treated with NE or AS. Psychogeriatric evaluations (Sandoz Clinical Assessment-Geriatric scale, Self-Assessment Scale-Geriatric and their subscales) and psychometric tests (digit symbol of WAIS, Wechsler Memory Scale, and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-WAIS) were made before and after 3 months of treatment. Prolonged and large dose treatments with NE and AS significantly decreased the psychogeriatric scores, diminished the deterioration index, and improved cognitive performances (ANOVA). Therapeutical effects of AS were significantly higher than those of NE (ANCOVA). The better actions of AS in senile dementia and for improving cognitive function and behavior are discussed in connection with its multiple neurometabolic composition, the synergism of components, the antiischemic action of its antioxidants, its anti-free radical complementary action (deceleration of the aging rate, brain and erythrocyte lipofuscinolysis, complex antioxidative and scavenger formula), the multivitamin and multimineral supplementation and, finally, with the superiority of multitherapy vs. monotherapy.

Antagonic-stress superiority versus meclofenoxate in gerontopsychiatry (alzheimer type dementia).

A double blind, comparative, parallel and randomized clinical trial was used for evaluation of two nootropics with anti-aging actions: Meclofenoxate (MF) and Antagonic-Stress (AS). Sixty-three old persons divided into 2 groups (average age: 68.6 and 70.8 years, respectively) with senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT), of mild to moderate intensity (criteria of DSM-III-R, APA, 1987; and ICD-10, WHO, 1990) were treated with one of these nootropica. Baseline and final psychogeriatric symptomatology after three months of treatments were multiply assessed: psychogeriatric by Sandoz Clinical Assessment-Geriatric scale, Self-Assessment Scale-Geriatric and their subscales; psychometric by Wechsler Memory Scale and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Prolonged treatments with MF and AS significantly decreased the psychogeriatric scores in scales and subscales, improved the cognitive performance (attention, concentration, memory, performance IQ, full IQ) and diminshed the deterioration index (ANOVA). Therapeutical effects of AS (a neurometabolic complex containing MF) were significantly superior against MF alone (ANCOVA). MF and AS actions are discussed in connection with the brain cholinergic system, lipid peroxidation and free radical scavengers, deceleration of the aging rate, brain and erythrocyte lipofuscinolysis, multiple anti-oxidant formula, multivitamin and multimineral supplementation and with the superiority of multitherapy versus monotherapy in senile dementia and for improving the IQ and the maladaptative behavior.

Renin-sodium profile and its therapeutical implications in arterial hypertension.

In 35 patients with moderate or severe essential hypertension (EH) four groups could be identified by plasma angiotensin II (AII) (formula: see text) and by exchangeable sodium (ENa) (formula: see text) determination. In 6 patients with high AII (135.9 pg/ml +/- 26.29) and normal ENa (98.83% +/- 1.40) propranolol significantly lowered both blood pressure (BP) and AII, suggesting that these forms of EH are renin dependent. In 15 patients with normal AII (36.43 pg/ml +/- 2.27) and high ENa (124.23 +/- 2.78) and in 6 patients with low AII (8.36 pg/ml +/- 3.39) and high ENa (125.16% +/- 5.71) the maximal hypotensive effect was achieved after ENa reduction with thiabutazid. These forms of EH appear to be volume-sodium dependent. In 8 patients with increase of both AII (76.53 pg/ml +/- 5.72) and ENa (112% +/- 1.72), propranolol associated with thiabutazid lowered the BP, AII and ENa suggesting that these cases are mixed forms. ENa determination appears to be a reliable index for renin profiling; such a renin-sodium profile allows to identify some pathophysiologic forms of arterial hypertension.