Double-blind, randomised, controlled study of the efficacy and tolerability of palonosetron plus dexamethasone for 1 day with or without dexamethasone on days 2 and 3 in the prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: To reduce side-effects of corticosteroid-containing antiemetic regimens, tailoring antiemetic schedules to specific requirements of different patients could be of benefit. We evaluated the possibility to reduce the total dose of corticosteroids when palonosetron, a long-acting second-generation 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT(3)) receptor antagonist, is used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Double-blind, multicentre, noninferiority study of chemotherapy-naive breast cancer patients receiving 0.25 mg palonosetron and 8 mg dexamethasone on day 1, randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 151) or 4 mg b.i.d. dexamethasone (n = 149) on days 2 and 3. Primary end point was complete response (CR) rate (no emesis, no rescue medication) in the overall (days 1-5) period. Secondary end points were CR rates in the acute (day 1) and delayed (days 2-5) periods, rates of no emesis and no nausea and impact on daily functioning (Functional Living Index-Emesis). RESULTS: Noninferiority between the two treatments was demonstrated by similar CR rates (P = 0.487) in the overall period. Most parameters showed that palonosetron and dexamethasone on day 1 only offer chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting protection similar to multiple-day dexamethasone administration. CONCLUSION: In patients treated with a single injection of palonosetron on day 1, reducing dexamethasone is an option that is not associated with significant reduction in antiemetic control during the 5-day period or an impact on patient functioning.

Increased cAMP levels in human hair follicles due to local treatment with trichoriboside.

Local therapy with trichoriboside and trichosaccharide, which have been found to be beneficial for scalp hair maintenance in adult males affected by androgenic alopecia, was found to increase cAMP levels in human scalp hair follicles. The increase was significant in men affected by androgenic alopecia, whereas it was not significant in unaffected control men. Trichoriboside showed a greater activity than trichosaccharide, and such activity was accompanied by a significant concomitant reduction of ATP in the hair.

[Clinico-prognostic significance of plasma cortisol half-life(after intravenous administration ) during acute and chronic hepatic diseases]. / Significato clinico-prognostico del tempo di emivita del cortisolo plasmatico (dopo carico endovenoso) in corso di malatte epatiche acute e croniche

Plasma cortisol half-times following an i.v. pharmacological dose were determined in subjects with variously serious forms of liver disease in a search for data indicating the course and prognosis. Determinations were made by means of the competitive protein binding technique. In the normal subject, values remain within the range 49 to 95 min. In acute and chronic liver disease, it was found that values in subsequent controls varied in function of the course. Cases with clinically cured acute hepatitis presented values within normal limits, while stationary or aggravescent forms were always accompanied by values of over 95'. It is suggested, therefore, that this test will give useful information concerning the course and prognosis of both acute and chronic liver disease.