Cyclosporine (CyA) is a well-known immunosuppressant with a narrow therapeutic window. Its bioavailability is affected by many other traditional drugs and herbal extracts. Cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes ...CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 and protein P-glycoprotein (P-gp) are involved in CyA bioavailability. Interactions of CyA with herbal extracts are not well known, but, given their increased concomitant use, it is important to know which extracts, many of which are commonly self-prescribed, can affect CyA blood concentrations. Decreased CyA blood concentration has been shown with St John’s wort in case reports and, in vivo animal studies, with ginger, liquorice, scutellariae radix, and quercetin. Increased CyA concentration has been reported in patients with grapefruit juice, chamomile, or berberine, and with cannabidiol or resveratrol in animal studies. Effects of Echinacea and Serenoa repens on CyA levels have not been shown consistently, but concomitant use should be avoided. Although findings from animal studies cannot be directly translated into humans, avoiding concomitant use of herbal extracts is prudent until human clinical studies have ruled out any possible interaction. Clinicians should interview their patients carefully about their use of herbal supplements before CyA administration, and those receiving CyA should be warned about possible interactions between herbal preparations and CyA.
Cyclosporine A (CsA) is one of the most effective systemic drugs available for the treatment of psoriasis, as evidenced by the results of several randomized studies and by a prolonged experience in ...dermatological setting. In clinical practice, CsA is usually used for the induction of psoriasis remission at a daily dose included in the range of 2.5–5 mg/kg and with intermittent short-term regimens, lasting on average 3–6 months. The magnitude and rapidity of response are dose dependent, as well as the risk of development of adverse events. Therefore, the dose should be tailored to patient’s needs and general characteristics and adjusted during the treatment course according to both the efficacy and tolerability. Some studies support the feasibility of pulse administration of CsA for a few days per week for both the induction and the maintenance of response in psoriasis patients. This paper will review the data on CsA regimens for plaque-type psoriasis and will focus the attention on dose, treatment duration, novel schedules, and role in combination therapies, including the association with biologicals.
Acoustic noise levels were measured in the Gulf of Catania (Ionian Sea) from July 2012 to May 2013 by a low frequency (<1000Hz) hydrophone, installed on board the NEMO-SN1 multidisciplinary ...observatory. NEMO-SN1 is a cabled node of EMSO-ERIC, which was deployed at a water depth of 2100m, 25km off Catania. The study area is characterized by the proximity of mid-size harbors and shipping lanes. Measured noise levels were correlated with the passage of ships tracked with a dedicated AIS antenna. Noise power was measured in the frequency range between 10Hz and 1000Hz. Experimental data were compared with the results of a fast numerical model based on AIS data to evaluate the contribution of shipping noise in six consecutive 1/3 octave frequency bands, including the 1/3 octave frequency bands centered at 63Hz and 125Hz, indicated by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC).
•NEMO-SN1 is a cabled node of EMSO-ERIC, deployed at 2100m in Western Ionian Sea.•Acoustic noise (¡1kHz) was continuously measured from July 2012 to May 2013.•SPL was measured in 1/3 octave frequency bands.•An AIS-based simulation of ship noise data was run and compared with acoustic data.•Experimental values of SPL in the area are largely attributed to ship traffic.
Aim of the study was to determine both clinically and by noninvasive instrumental evaluations the efficacy, tolerability and the duration of the effects of a new hyaluronic acid (HA) gel in human ...volunteers with moderate aging/photoaging.
Eighteen volunteers (35-55 years) were enrolled in this single-center study. The subjects underwent five visits. The first visit was at baseline to determine the adherence to the inclusion criteria, followed by the first injection of the HA-based study product, and the second visit was at 48 hours after the injection. Two months later, a second injection was given (Visit 3) followed by a subsequent visit (Visit 4) after 48 hours. The last visit (Visit 5) was performed 5 months after the first injection. Clinical and instrumental evaluations as well as self-assessment by the subjects were recorded at each visit.
A significant improvement of wrinkles' grade around the eyes, vertical lip lines and wrinkles' severity of nasolabial folds was recorded after the first injection and the effect increased after the second injection. Aging/photoaging grade and surface microrelief improved 2 months after the first injection procedure. These clinical improvements were paralleled by amelioration of instrumental skin profilometry and optical colorimetry. The treatments were very well tolerated by the volunteers as determined by the self-grading score.
The results confirm the good esthetic performance and the duration of the effect of the HA-based study product (Viscoderm
Hydrobooster) on dynamic facial wrinkles and/or static facial lines. These effects were particularly evident after the second injection and were accompanied by a good tolerability of the product.
High energy gamma-rays from the 116Sn + 24Mg reaction at 23A MeV were measured using the MEDEA detector at LNS – INFN Catania. Combining this new data with previous measurements yields a detailed ...view of the quenching of the Giant Dipole Resonance as a function of excitation energy in nuclei of mass A in the range 120÷132. The transition towards the disappearance of the dipole strength, which occurs around 230 MeV excitation energy, appears to be remarkably sharp. Current phenomenological models give qualitative explanations for the quenching but cannot reproduce its detailed features.
Flours of unpeeled and peeled almond seeds have been irradiated with ionising radiation at 1.5kGy dose by means of 5MeV energy electron beam. The effects of ionising radiation have been studied ...concerning microbiological parameters, such as total mesophilic counts, mould, yeast, enterobacters, coliform bacteria, as well as physicochemical parameters, free fatty acid, peroxide number, humidity, activity water, aflatoxin, pesticides, and sensory evaluation of attributes regarding only appearance, olfactory and rheological aspects in accordance with the prescription of Italian laws about the consumption of irradiated food. The results, compared with non-irradiated samples from the same supply, show a sharp decrease of pathogen loads while no significant variations of physicochemical parameters and sensory descriptors have been noticed. These results indicate that irradiation at 1.5kGy dose, lower than values usually reported in literature, seems to be still a suitable sanitation treatment to extend the shelf-life of this kind of foodstuff while maintaining its nutritional, safe and sensory characteristics.
► Examine physical chemical and sensory changes on irradiated almond. ► Increase the information on irradiation treatment at low doses. ► Contribute to broaden the use of this technology in the food.
Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based injectable filling agents are at the forefront of the current demand for noninvasive dermatological procedures for the correction of age-related soft tissue defects. The ...present review aims to summarize currently available HA-based products and critically appraise their differences in rheological nature and clinical application. Linear HA (LHA) gels may be supplemented with amino acids, lipoic acid, vitamins, nucleosides, or minerals for synergistic antiaging and antioxidant benefits (polycomponent LHA). HA hydrogels can be generated via chemical or physical crosslinking, which increases their elasticity and decreases viscosity. The performance of crosslinked fillers depends on HA concentration, degree of crosslinking, elastic modulus, cohesivity, and type of crosslinking agent employed. PEG-crosslinked LHA displays improved elasticity and resistance to degradation, and lower swelling rates as compared to BDDE-crosslinked LHA. Physical crosslinking stabilizes HA hydrogels without employing exogenous chemical compounds or altering hyaluronans' natural molecular structure. Thermally stabilized hybrid cooperative HA complexes (HCC) are a formulation of high- and low-molecular-weight (H-HA and L-HA) hyaluronans, achieving high HA concentration, low viscosity with optimal tissue diffusion, and a duration comparable to weakly cross-linked gel. Our critical analysis evidences the importance of understanding different fillers' properties to assist physicians in selecting the most appropriate filler for specific uses and for predictable and sustainable results.
A study of hot Giant Dipole Resonance (GDR) in nuclei of mass A = 120~130 in an excitation energy range from 150 to 330 MeV, where the GDR quenching is expected to arise, has been undertaken using ...the MEDEA multi-detector system. Elot nuclei were populated using complete and incomplete fusion reactions. The characterization of hot system was performed through the study of residue time of flight combined with the analysis of light charged energy spectra detected in coincidence. Gamma-ray energy spectra show an evolution of the GDR main features both in terms of width and multiplicity. Evidences of a saturation of gamma multiplicity appear at high excitation energy at variance with predictions of statistical model calculations. Gamma-ray energy spectra can been reproduced in a phenomenological way introducing in the statistical model a sharp suppression of the gamma-ray emission above E* = 240 MeV. A comparison of experimental data to models describing the GDR disappearance will be presented.
Pectus carinatum: When less is more Martinez-Ferro, M; Bellia-Munzon, G; Schewitz, I A ...
African journal of thoracic and critical care medicine,
09/2019, Letnik:
25, Številka:
3
Journal Article
PDF
