The frequency of reflux increased with the severity of visible signs of disease as described by the CEAP classification. In men, the occurrence of subjective symptoms was mostly correlated with functional disorders.

Venous disease is very common in Italy, in particular in people living in the South. A correlation between varicose veins and venous incompetence is more marked in men, while minor objective and subjective symptoms prevail in women. The findings from this non-random sample closely match results from previous studies, in which random sampling was used.

The study evaluates to what extent symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and functional venous incompetence as investigated using color-coded duplex ultrasonography may interfere with activities of daily living (ADLs). This study comprises a cross-sectional survey conducted in urban areas surrounding 24 Italian cities. A spontaneous sample of 5,187 subjects (4,457 women [mean age, 54 years] and 730 men [mean age, 61 years]), selected by advertising on television and in newspapers, underwent a clinical examination that included duplex ultrasonography in 3 vein segments in both legs to determine the presence and severity of venous reflux. Subjective perception of lower limb symptoms of CVI and the effect of leg problems on the ability to perform normal ADLs are assessed by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Most of the respondents have some CVI symptoms, with women being 1.5 to 3 times as likely as men to report leg symptoms. The risk of developing the most frequent subjective symptoms such as heaviness and tiredness in the legs is not statistically significantly different for younger subjects compared with older subjects. Advanced age is considered to be a relevant risk factor only for heat sensation and swollen legs. Persons living in southern Italy are at higher risk of almost all lower limb symptoms. Results of duplex ultrasonography performed on 3875 subjects show that fewer than 1 in 5 young persons, regardless of sex, manifest some degree of venous reflux (primarily mild symptoms). The risk of developing venous incompetence increases rapidly with age until it triples among subjects 50 years and older. Adjusting for all other factors, men are on average 1.5 times as likely as childless women to have venous reflux, and the risk increases in the case of family history of CVI or (among women) in the case of past pregnancies. More women than men report that their leg problems affect their ADLs. Pregnancy and living in the south contribute to a reduction in the ability to perform most heavy housework. Although milder lower limb symptoms such as evening heaviness and tiredness in the legs may begin early in life, venous reflux and related symptoms of heat sensation and swollen legs become more pronounced with age, and their severity can be disabling for those afflicted.

We compare the efficacy including spirometry, peak expiratory flow (PEFR) and quality of life and safety of an 8-week treatment with inhaled oxitropium, theophylline or their combination in patients with mild-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We conducted a multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy randomized, parallel-group study at 29 Italian outpatients clinics. A group of 236 patients with mild-to-severe COPD (baseline FEV1 < or = 70% of predicted value) were recruited. Treatments were as follows: Inhaled oxitropium bromide 200 microg (N=75), sustained-release oral theophylline 300 mg (N=81) or their combination (N=80), taken twice daily. Spirometry (FEV1 and FVC) was evaluated every 4 weeks, and morning and evening PEFR (before and 2-4 h after drug intake) was measured daily. Symptoms, cough and dysponea, were recorded daily. Health status was evaluated at baseline and week 8 using the disease specific St George' Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Any adverse event occurring during the treatment period was recorded on a diary card. FEV1 and FVC improved in all the groups at 4 and 8 weeks, but the difference between treatment groups did not reach statistically significant levels. Differences between groups in pre-dosing morning and evening PEFR were not significant. Post-dosing morning and evening PEFR were increased and the largest increase was seen in patients treated with both drugs. However, differences between groups was significant only for evening values (P=0.008). The proportion of patients who experienced a decrease in symptoms was high in all groups but no differences among groups were observed. SGRQ total scores decreased in all treatment groups after 8 weeks, particularly in the oxitropium and combination groups. Clinically significant change (> or = 4 units) was only observed in patients treated with oxitropium bromide whether with or without theophylline. Adverse events related to treatments were higher in the group treated with theophylline alone (P < 0.02). We conclude that inhaled oxitropium bromide alone was associated with an improvement in FEV1, PEFR and symptoms in patients with COPD that was not statistically different from that of oral theophylline alone or of the combination of both drugs. Oxitropium bromide in combination with theophylline provided a greater improvement in evening post-dosing PEFR. Oxitropium bromide alone or in combination with theophylline improved the quality of life better than theophylline alone.

In radioligand binding studies, BIMG 80, a new putative antipsychotic, displayed good affinity at certain serotonin (5‐HT1A, 5‐HT2A, 5‐HT6), dopamine (D1, D2L, D4), and noradrenergic (α1) receptors. The effect of acute subcutaneous BIMG 80, clozapine, haloperidol, risperidone, amperozide, olanzapine, and Seroquel was then investigated on dopamine release in medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and striatum in freely moving rats using the microdialysis technique. Four different neurochemical profiles resulted from the studies: (a) Systemic administration of BIMG 80, clozapine, and amperozide produced greater percent increases in dopamine efflux in medial prefrontal cortex than in the striatum or the nucleus accumbens. (b) Haloperidol induced a similar increase in dopamine concentrations in the striatum and nucleus accumbens with no effect in the medial prefrontal cortex. (c) Risperidone and olanzapine stimulated dopamine release to a similar extent in all brain regions investigated. (d) Seroquel failed to change significantly dopamine output both in the medial prefrontal cortex and in the striatum. Because an increase in dopamine release in the medial prefrontal cortex may be predictive of effectiveness in treating negative symptoms and in the striatum may be predictive of induction of extrapyramidal side effects, BIMG 80 appears to be a potential antipsychotic compound active on negative symptoms of schizophrenia with a low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects.