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Biomedical subjects

N H Rowe

Publications and source records attributed to N H Rowe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

The natural history of ultraviolet radiation-induced herpes simplex labialis and response to therapy with peroral and topical formulations of acyclovir.

The lips of 196 patients with a history of sun-induced herpes labialis were exposed to experimental ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and treated with acyclovir (ACV) or placebo at different times and by different routes. Of 98 placebo recipients, 39 (40%) developed 43 lesions inside or within 10 mm of the irradiated zone. The temporal distribution of lesions was bimodal. 11 (26%) occurring within 48 h (immediate) and 32 (72%) 2-7 days after UVR exposure (delayed). Prophylactic peroral ACV begun 7 days before or 5 min after UVR prevented the development of the delayed but not the immediate lesions (P less than .001). When peroral ACV was started 48 h after UVR, delayed lesions developed but were less severe (P = .01-.05). Prophylactic topical ACV begun 5 min after UVR did not reduce lesion frequency or severity. ACV therapy can be efficacious, but some rapidly developing lesions are unresponsive to treatment. This suggests that more than one process may contribute to the pathogenesis of herpes labialis.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1990

Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis with oral acyclovir.

In a double-blind, randomized, patient-initiated clinical trial, 174 nonimmunocompromised patients with a history of virus-culture-confirmed herpes simplex labialis were treated with acyclovir capsules, 400 mg five times daily for 5 days, or placebo capsules. For 97% of the patients, treatment started within 1 h of the first sign or symptom of a recurrence. The frequency of positive lesion virus cultures was significantly lower among acyclovir-treated subjects (29/114, 25%) than among placebo-treated subjects (29/60, 48%; P = .004). Drug treatment did not affect the development of lesions, measured by the frequency of macular and papular (aborted) lesions and mean maximum lesion size. However, acyclovir hastened lesion resolution among the patients who could start treatment in the prodrome or erythema lesion stage. For this group, the mean duration of pain was reduced by 36% (P = .02) and the mean healing time to loss of crust by 27% (P = .03). Thus, oral acyclovir alleviated some of the clinical manifestations of herpes simplex labialis.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1990

Early application of topical 15% idoxuridine in dimethyl sulfoxide shortens the course of herpes simplex labialis: a multicenter placebo-controlled trial.

In a double-blind, randomized, patient-initiated treatment study at five medical centers, 301 immunocompetent patients experiencing a recurrence of herpes labialis were treated with topical 15% idoxuridine (IDU) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 80% DMSO control solution, or 2% DMSO control solution. IDU did not prevent the development of lesions but significantly accelerated lesion resolution in comparison with the combined control groups. For the total population, the mean duration of pain was reduced by 1.3 days (35%, P = .01) and the mean healing time to loss of crust by 1.7 days (21%, P = .004). Analysis of subpopulations revealed that the beneficial activity of the treatment was concentrated among the patients who began treatment in the prodrome or erythema lesion stage. For these patients, the mean duration of pain was reduced by 1.8 days (42%, P = .08) and the mean healing time to loss of crust by 3.3 days (38%, P less than .001). If only patients with classic herpes lesions (vesicle, ulcer, or crust formation) were considered, there was a greater drug effect on the duration of pain (reduction by 2.6 days, 49%; P = .03) and the mean healing time to normal skin was significantly shortened (reduction by 2.3 days, 23%; P = .004). Adverse reactions to the medication were minimal.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1985

Control of pain with meclofenamate sodium following removal of an impacted molar.

The analgesic effectiveness of meclofenamate sodium (Meclomen) at two dose levels, 200 mg and 100 mg, was compared with the effectiveness of a placebo and aspirin, 600 mg, in a double-blind study of 174 adult outpatients who had undergone removal of impacted third molars. When compared with the placebo, meclofenamate sodium at either dose level produced a significantly greater reduction in pain intensity, greater pain relief, fewer withdrawals for inefficacy, greater percentage of patients who considered their medication effective, and greater percentage of patients considered by the investigator to have received drug-attributable benefits. In comparison with aspirin, 600 mg, meclofenamate sodium at either 200 mg or 100 mg produced significantly greater reduction in pain intensity and greater pain relief. The other measures of efficacy showed no significant differences between the two drugs. Side effects were minimal in all treatment groups. Meclofenamate sodium appears to be a safe and effective analgesic for the control of pain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Herpetic whitlow: an occupational disease of practicing dentists.

Recurrent herpes simplex virus lesions of fingers, hand, or eyes are suspected to be encountered in health practitioners in greater frequency than in the general population. To determine whether an increased risk of disease contraction coincident to practicing dentistry exists and to determine the magnitude of risk, a survey of dentists practicing in the state of Michigan was conducted. An age and sex matched nondentist patient from each respondent's practice provided a control population. Frequency of herpes labialis and herpes infection of the eye were found be lower in dentists than in the control population. Conversely, herpetic whitlow was found to be more frequent in practicing dentists than in the control population. If the occurrence of herpes labialis in each of the two groups is taken as the reference point, the frequency of herpetic whitlow is significantly higher among practicing dentists than among the control population (P less than .01).

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Control of pain by mefenamic acid following removal of impacted molar. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The efficacy of mefenamic acid, aspirin, and placebo in the control of postsurgical pain was compared in a double-blind, randomized study of forty-seven patients. Medication was begun as soon as the anesthetic began to wear off and was continued as needed to a maximum of eight doses over a 48-hour period. The results were analyzed in terms of the patient's assessment of postsurgical pain, and the patient's and the investigator's evaluation of drug efficacy. In the population studied, mefenamic acid was well tolerated. Mefenamic acid was clearly superior to placebo and equalled or exceeded the ability of aspirin to control postsurgical pain in the parameters measured.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Control of pain resulting from endodontic therapy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The efficacy of mefenamic acid, aspirin, and a placebo for control of postendodontic pain was compared in a double-blind, randomized study of 150 patients. Medication was begun immediately prior to the endodontic therapy and continued for a total of eight doses. The results were analyzed in terms of the patients' assessments of postendodontic pain, the need for additional analgesic medication, and the patients' and investigator's evaluations of drug efficacy. The results indicate that mefenamic acid was well tolerated. Mefenamic acid was equal to, or exceeded, aspirin in ability to control postendodontic pain in every comparison made. The converse was never true. Mefenamic acid was statistically superior to placebo in every comparison made. Aspirin was not consistently superior to the placebo. Under the conditions of this trial, it can be stated that, for control of pain following simple endodontic therapy, mefenamic acid rather than aspirin is the drug of choice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

A clinical trial of topically applied 3 percent vidarabine against recurrent herpes labialis.

Seventy-six participants were enrolled in a clinical trial to determine therapeutic effectiveness of 3 percent vidarabine applied topically to recurrent perioral herpetic lesions. Following a 6- to- 12-month natural history phase, a 12-month clinical trial was conducted. Seventy participants developed 463 lesions during 361 episodes. Three percent vidarabine in a water-miscible gel was applied six times daily for 7 days to each lesion in the experimental group. Identically packaged placebo was used by the control group. Group assignment was by computer-generated randomization. Lesion size was reduced when vidarabine, rather than placebo, was applied. The difference was statistically significant (Student's t test, P = 0.02). Vesiculation followed tingling more rapidly when vidarabine, rather than placebo, was applied prior to vesiculation (P = 0.05). No significant difference between the two groups was found in episode frequency or lesion duration. Adverse reactions to vidarabine were not experienced.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1977

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in clinical infections: differences observed by electron microscopy.

Microtubule-like structures have been observed ultrastructurally in BHK-21/4 cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) but not in cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). BHK-21/4 cells were infected with two known strains of HSV-2 and one known strain of HSV-1, as well as with vesicular fluid from 50 clinical isolates (47 perioral, two penile, and one from the leg) in an examination of the accuracy of electron microscopy for differentiation between clinical isolates of HSV-1 and HSV-2. Cells infected with the known strains of HSV-2 or with material from the genital or leg lesions demonstrated microtubule-like structures. Cells infected by a known strain of HSV-1 or by material from perioral lesions did not show evidence of microtubule-like structures. Typing by indirect hemagglutination of these same 50 clinical isolates gave identical results.

Cell Line↗