Sleep clinical record: an aid to rapid and accurate diagnosis of paediatric sleep disordered breathing

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Pompei. L'Insula Occidetalis. Indagini e riletture

The archaeological investigations carried out in Pompeii belong to a cooperation agreement between the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and the University of Naples Federico II. The research programme focuses on a sector of the so-called Insula Occidentalis, close to the Herculaneum Gate. The project aims to recompose, first of all, the dossier of archival sources related to the Bourbon excavations. The “archaeology of the buried “and the “archaeology of built” characterise the analysis of the almost completely unpublished buildings. We present, on this occasion, the first results of research in the Casa del Leone (VI 17, ins. occ., 23-25) and the Hospitium of Albinus (VI 17 ins. occ., 1-4). The analysis of the Hospitium allowed to recognize an interesting building plan and highlight several interpretation’s issue

Levetiracetam in tardive dyskinesia

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of levetiracetam on tardive dyskinesia (TD), which is known to be a major limitation of chronic antipsychotic drug therapy, particularly with conventional antipsychotics. Methods: Sixteen patients suffering from chronic psychosis with TD were enrolled consecutively. Levetiracetam was given in gradually increasing doses, starting with 125 twice a day until the best clinical benefit was achieved (mean dosage, 2290 mg; range, 1000-3000 mg). Tardive dyskinesia was assessed using the Abnormal involuntary Movement Scale at baseline and after 1 month and 3 months of treatment with levetiracetam. Results: Compared with baseline, there was a significant improvement in the Abnormal involuntary Movement Scale score after 1 month still present after 3 months (P < 0.001). All patients well tolerated levetiracetam, except one who dropped out of the trial after the first 2 weeks owing to excessive drowsiness. Conclusions: The results of this open-label observational study suggest that levetiracetam is a well-tolerated drug and effectively controls TD

A Systematic Review on Drugs Acting as Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists in the Treatment of Dementia

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, A.M.T. and A.C.; Methodology, E.L.; Software, E.L., E.F. and A.A.; Validation, N.V., N.L. and A.M.T.; Formal Analysis, E.C., P.R. and A.A.; Investigation, R.R., E.F., A.A., P.P. and P.R.; Data Curation, P.P., A.C., E.C. and R.R.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, A.C., E.C., P.P., P.R. and R.R.; Writing—Review and Editing, A.C., E.C., P.P., P.R., R.R., N.L. and A.M.T.; Supervision, P.P, A.M.T., N.L. and N.V.; Project Administration, A.C.; Funding Acquisition, N.V. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Acetylcholine signaling is attenuated in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. A significant reduction in the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain of AD patients has also been reported in several molecular biological and in situ labeling studies. The modulation of the functional deficit of the cholinergic system as a pharmacological target could therefore have a clinical benefit, which is not to be neglected. This systematic review was conducted to identify clinical trials, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists using Clinicaltrial (CT) and EudraCT databases. Structured searches identified 39 trials, which used 15 different drugs designed to increase the function of the nAChRs. Most of the identified clinical trials were phase II trials, with some of them classified as ongoing for several years. The systematic screening of the literature led to the selection of 14 studies out of the 8261 bibliographic records retrieved. Six trials reported detailed data on adverse events associated with the intervention, while twelve trials reported data on efficacy measures, such as attention, behavior and cognition. Overall, smost of the physical side effects of cholinergic agonists were reported to be well tolerated. Some trials also reported improvements in attention. However, the efficacy of these drugs in other cognitive and behavioral outcomes remains highly controversial.Medicin

Natalizumab: a country-based surveillance program

Natalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody with a selective adhesion-molecule inhibitor effect, and a demonstrated efficacy in decreasing the frequency of relapses and progression of disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS). After the approval of FDA and EMEA in MS cases unresponsive to immunomodulating therapy or in severe MS patients also not previously treated with interferons, and considering the concern on the possible side effects, an accurate program of surveillance was organized in our country by a combined effort of AIFA, Cineca, Department of Pharmacology of University of Bologna, and a group of neurologists appointed by the National Society of Neurology (SIN). After 15 months from the authorization of natalizumab therapy in MS, as of 31 March 2008, 908 cases have been treated with natalizumab and enrolled in this pharmaco-vigilance study. The mean age is 35 years, while the duration of disease is longer and disability is higher than that reported in the registrative study. Side effects are at the moment mild and similar to those previously described. At follow-up, the majority of treated cases are stable or ameliorated. The treatment was discontinued in 6% of patients