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Inhaled nitric oxide reduction in systolic pulmonary artery pressure is less in patients with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether inhaled nitric oxide decreases pulmonary artery pressure in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction. DESIGN: Randomized, blinded, crossover clinical trial. SETTING: Tertiary care university referral hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-three patients with pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular dysfunction or valvular heart disease were recruited by convenience. INTERVENTIONS: Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was measured by Doppler echocardiography during randomized inhalation of either 20 ppm or 40 ppm nitric oxide in 30% oxygen as well as during control periods without nitric oxide. MAIN RESULTS: Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with 20 ppm nitric oxide (53.4 +/- 13.9 mmHg) and 40 ppm nitric oxide (53.1 +/- 14.4 mmHg) compared with either initial control (55.8 +/- 15.3 mmHg) or terminal control (56.3 +/- 15.2 mmHg) values. The regression equation for the change in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (y) as predicted by the left ventricular ejection fraction (x) alone for 20 ppm nitric oxide was y = 13.8x-2.9; R2adj = 0.30, P < 0.0001. For 40 ppm nitric oxide alone, the regression equation was y = 16.3x-3.3; R2adj = 0.25, P < 0.0001. Left ventricular ejection fraction was the most explanatory independent variable in the multivariate equation for nitric oxide-induced change in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (R2 = 0.61, P = 0.0000). The change in systolic pulmonary artery pressure was -5.1 +/- 5.2 versus 0.8 +/- 4.9 mmHg (P < 0.0000) in patients with left ventricular ejection fractions greater than 0.25, and 0.25 or less, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data imply that in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.25 or less, nitric oxide may not decrease systolic pulmonary artery pressure. Nitric oxide inhalation may result in a paradoxical increase in systolic pulmonary artery pressure in patients with severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction. This effect would significantly limit the therapeutic role of nitric oxide in patients with severe heart failure.

Administration, Inhalation↗

The effects of 4-aminopyridine in multiple sclerosis patients: results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, concentration-controlled, crossover trial.

Because 4-aminopyridine (AP) improves residual deficits in some multiple sclerosis (MS) patients but has a narrow toxic-to-therapeutic margin, we compared the safety and efficacy of two target peak serum concentration ranges (low: 30 to 59 ng/ml and high: 60 to 100 ng/ml). We enrolled eight MS patients with temperature-sensitive visual and motor deficits in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial of short-term oral AP treatment. We randomized patients to a sequence of three treatments on three separate days: placebo, low serum concentration, and high serum concentration. We determined dosing to achieve the desired steady-state peak serum concentration ranges from a test dose and population pharmacokinetic parameters using bayesian estimation. Contrast sensitivity, standard neurologic examination, ratings of videotaped neurologic examinations, and quantitative strength assessment all improved with treatment, but flicker fusion frequency, visual evoked response latencies, and Expanded Disability Status Scale scores did not. All patients experienced side effects during the high-serum-concentration arm. A grand mal seizure occurred at a serum AP level of 104 ng/ml, and an acute confusional episode occurred at 114 ng/ml. AP treatment produced improvements in residual deficits in MS patients, but the occurrence of significant toxicity suggests that AP serum levels should be monitored and peak levels above 100 ng/ml should be avoided. Concentration-control methodology may be useful in testing putative treatments for other neurologic diseases.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Nifedipine in chronic stable angina: a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial.

Thirty patients with chronic stable angina pectoris were randomized in a double-blind prospective placebo-controlled crossover trial to assess the efficacy of nifedipine (30 to 60 mg/day orally) in controlling symptoms and objective signs of myocardial ischemia using a symptom-limited treadmill exercise test. Adverse effects that occurred during both nifedipine and placebo treatment were minor and generally well tolerated. Twenty-three patients were analyzed from the crossover phase of the study. Nifedipine significantly reduced the frequency of angina by 55% and nitroglycerin consumption by 59%, and increased exercise time by 34%. These changes were significantly greater than those in the placebo group. Hemodynamic evaluation during exercise revealed a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the nifedipine group at the onset of angina and at maximal exercise without significant differences in heart rate responses in the nifedipine and placebo groups. The pressure-rate product during submaximal exercise was significantly smaller in the nifedipine group than in the placebo group, but did not differ significantly in the 2 groups at the onset of angina or on maximal exercise. Furthermore, S-T segment depressions that occurred during exercise at the same pressure-rate products were smaller in the nifedipine period than in the placebo period. Thus, it appears that the antianginal effects of nifedipine are caused by a reduced myocardial oxygen demand for a specific work load and possibly by an increased blood supply to ischemic myocardium.

Adult↗

Alpha-adrenergic blockade for variant angina: a long-term, double-blind, randomized trial.

Recent reports have shown that beta-adrenergic blockade may exacerbate variant angina. On theoretical grounds, alpha-adrenergic blockade may be beneficial in these patients. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the efficacy of prazosin, an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent, in six men, mean age 49 years, with variant angina. Prazosin, 14.0 +/- 2.4 mg/day (mean +/- SD) in three equal doses, was compared with placebo in a double-blind, randomized, double-crossover trial lasting 4 1/2 months: 2 weeks of open-label prazosin followed by four 1-month periods of blinded alternating therapy. No other vasoactive medications were administered during the study. Prazosin reduced sitting systolic arterial pressure from 145 +/- 18 to 127 +/- 16 mm Hg (p = 0.02), but exerted no effect on diastolic arterial pressure or heart rate. Prazosin did not change the weekly number of episodes of chest pain (2.5 +/- 2.3 with placebo vs 3.1 +/- 3.0 with prazosin, NS), nitroglycerin tablets used (3.9 +/- 3.7 with placebo vs 4.6 +/- 4.2 with prazosin, NS), or transient ST-segment deviations (by calibrated two-channel Holter monitoring for 24 hours/week throughout the study) (6.5 +/- 10.1 with placebo vs 11.8 +/- 17.4 with prazosin, NS). During prazosin therapy, three patients had orthostatic dizziness and one patient had headache. Thus, in a long-term, randomized, double-blind trial, prazosin exerted no obvious beneficial effect in patients with variant angina.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

A randomized clinical trial of active compression-decompression CPR vs standard CPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in two cities.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of active compression-decompression (ACD) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with a handheld suction device vs standard manual CPR in victims of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial with crossover group design. SETTING: Emergency medical services (EMS) of a large (San Francisco) and medium-sized (Fresno) city in California. PATIENTS: All normothermic adult victims of out-of-hospital, nontraumatic cardiac arrest on whom CPR was performed by first responders. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized to receive either standard manual CPR according to American Heart Association guidelines or ACD CPR, on first-responder contact. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Return of spontaneous circulation, admission to the intensive care unit, survival to hospital discharge, and neurological function at hospital discharge. RESULTS: The ACD group (n = 117 in Fresno; n = 297 in San Francisco) and standard group (n = 136 in Fresno; n = 310 in San Francisco) were similar with regard to demographic and prognostic variables, such as age, witnessed arrest and bystander CPR frequency, and initial cardiac rhythm. Average interval from 911 call activation to EMS responder arrival was 6.4 minutes in Fresno and 4.0 minutes in San Francisco. In Fresno, there was no difference between the ACD group and standard CPR group in return of spontaneous circulation (17% vs 20%; P = .68), hospital admission (16% vs 20%; P = .56), hospital discharge (5% vs 7%; P = .64), or cerebral performance category score at discharge (1.5 vs 1.6; P = .90). Similarly, in San Francisco there was no difference between the ACD group and standard CPR group in return of spontaneous circulation (19% vs 21%; P = .65), hospital admission (13.5% vs 14.5%; P = .79), hospital discharge (4.7% vs 5.5%; P = .80), or cerebral performance category score at discharge (2.2 vs 2.6; P = .31). There was no increase in significant complications associated with the use of ACD CPR. CONCLUSION: There was no improvement in outcome with ACD CPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in these two cities. Differences in study design, demographics, EMS systems, response intervals, training, and technique performance may contribute to the lack of improvement in initial resuscitation with ACD CPR compared with previous studies. Future research needs to control these variables to determine the reason for these differences in outcome.

Adolescent↗

A random effects model for ordinal responses from a crossover trial.

Crossover studies have been successfully conducted in the case of continuous responses. Existing procedures of analysis for ordinal responses, on the other hand, are rarely satisfactory unless strict, usually unrealistic, assumptions are made. In this paper we investigate a random effects model and show that the model is simple and general. Interpretation of parameters is easy, though with a complicated fitting procedure.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Sustained antianginal efficacy of transdermal nitroglycerin patches using an overnight 10-hour nitrate-free interval.

The antianginal efficacy of the transdermal nitroglycerin patch may be limited by the rapid development of tolerance during uninterrupted exposure. To address this problem, we investigated the role of intermittent therapy was investigated, using a daily nitroglycerin patch-free interval in 13 patients with chronic stable angina. Concomitant antianginal medications were permitted. Entry criteria required reproducible exercise times to both onset of angina and 1 mm of ST-segment depression. In each patient the highest tolerated nitroglycerin patch dose was determined by a dose-titration phase, which was then used in a double-blind crossover trial comprising 2 randomized treatment arms: 1 week of active nitroglycerin patch and 1 week of matching placebo. All patches were worn only from 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily. Exercise testing was repeated before patch application and then 4 and 8 hours after application on both the first and the last day of each treatment arm. Eleven patients completed the randomized crossover phase. Exercise time to the onset of angina and to the onset of 1 mm of ST-segment depression was significantly prolonged during the first day of therapy at both 4 and 8 hours after active nitroglycerin patch application compared with placebo (p less than 0.01). During sustained use, the benefit at 4 and 8 hours after nitroglycerin patch application was still evident (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.05, respectively). No evidence of a overnight rebound or withdrawal phenomenon was observed by history or by ambulatory Holter monitoring calibrated for ST-segment analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Clinical presentation and personality factors are predictors of the response to treatment in patients with functional dyspepsia; a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study.

The role of psychological factors or symptom pattern for the response to treatment in patients with unexplained (functional) dyspepsia is unknown. We hypothesized that patients with reflux- and ulcer-like symptoms would be more likely to respond to acid-lowering therapy, while psychological disturbances would be associated with a less favorable response to treatment. Seventy-eight patients with a diagnosis of functional dyspepsia were recruited and 75 completed the trial. Patients were treated for 4 weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial starting in random order with either active drug (ranitidine, 150 mg b.d.) or placebo. Every 7 days, medication was switched from active drug to placebo, or vice versa. At entry, patient characteristics were assessed utilizing a semistructured standardized interview and standardized questionnaires, and weekly intensity of symptoms was assessed utilizing a visual analogue scale. Patients with a greater reduction of the symptom score during active treatment and an overall reduction of the global symptom score by more than 50% at the end of the study period were categorized as responders. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to assess the influence of symptom type and presence of psychological disturbances on the treatment response. During treatment the symptom score decreased significantly, from 32.1 +/- 1.44 (SD) to 21.3 +/- 1.9 at the end of the trial (P < 0.001). Twenty of 75 were responders. High scores for somatization (OR, 3.6; 95% Cl, 1.2-11.4), anxiety (OR, 3.3; 95% Cl, 0.9-11.8), and reflux-like symptoms (OR, 5.3; 95% Cl, 1.7-16.7) were associated with response to treatment, while dysmotility-like symptoms were associated with an unfavorable response (OR, 0.3; 95% Cl, 0.1-0.9). Symptom pattern and psychological disturbances are independent predictors of treatment response. Patients with reflux-like symptoms and greater psychological disturbances are more likely to respond to an acid-lowering compound.

Adult↗

Controlled trials of inositol in psychiatry.

Inositol is a simple polyol precursor in a second messenger system important in the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid inositol has been reported as decreased in depression. A double-blind controlled trial of 12 g daily of inositol in 28 depressed patients for four weeks was performed. Significant overall benefit for inositol compared to placebo was found at week 4 on the Hamilton Depression Scale. No changes were noted in hematology, kidney or liver function. Since many antidepressants are effective in panic disorder, twenty-one patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, four week, random-assignment crossover treatment trial of inositol 12 g per day. Frequency and severity of panic attacks and severity of agoraphobia declined significantly with inositol compared to placebo. Side-effects were minimal. Since serotonin re-uptake inhibitors benefit obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and inositol is reported to reverse desensitization of serotonin receptors, thirteen patients with OCD completed a double-blind controlled crossover trial of 18 g inositol or placebo for six weeks each. Inositol significantly reduced scores of OCD symptoms compared with placebo. A controlled double-blind crossover trial of 12 g daily of inositol for a month in twelve anergic schizophrenic patients, did not show any beneficial effects. A double-blind controlled crossover trial of 6 g of inositol daily vs. glucose for one month each was carried out in eleven Alzheimer patients, with on clearly significant therapeutic effects. Antidepressant drugs have been reported to improve attention deficit disorder (ADDH) with hyperactivity symptomatology. We studied oral inositol in children with ADDH in a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled manner. Eleven children, mean age 8.9 +/- 3.6 years were enrolled in an eight week trial of inositol or placebo at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. Results show a trend for aggravation of the syndrome with myo-inositol as compared to placebo. Recent studies suggest that serotonin re-uptake inhibitors are helpful in at least some symptoms of autism. However a controlled double-blind crossover trial of inositol 200 mg/kg per day showed no benefit in nine children with autism. Cholinergic agonists have been reported to ameliorate electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced memory impairment. Inositol metabolism is involved in the second messenger system for several muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Inositol 6 g daily was given in a crossover-double-blind manner for five days before the fifth or sixth ECT to a series of twelve patients, without effect. These results suggest that inositol has therapeutic effects in the spectrum of illness responsive to serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors, including depression, panic and OCD, and is not beneficial in schizophrenia, Alzheimer's ADDH, autism or ECT-induced cognitive impairment.

Adult↗

The association between psychopathology and placebo analgesia in patients with discogenic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain patients have a high rate of psychopathology, comprised mainly of depression, anxiety, and high levels of neuroticism. We previously found that psychopathology is associated with increased placebo analgesia in this patient group. OBJECTIVE: To better understand this finding in the context of other known predictors of placebo response (such as expectations for relief), we performed a detailed analysis of expectations and other possible covariates. DESIGN: We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover-designed trial of intravenous morphine vs. placebo in 60 subjects with chronic low back pain and discogenic abnormalities. Patients were stratified into three groups of psychiatric symptom severity (Low, Moderate, and High), based on composite scores on depression, anxiety for pain, and neuroticism scales. Subjects were given intravenous morphine and placebo in random order on separate visits, and completed serial pain ratings over 3 h at each session. RESULTS: With 20 subjects per group, there were small, but significant differences between groups in baseline pain ratings. No differences were found between groups in age, gender, and radicular pain. Patients with low psychological symptomatology reported 7.7% total pain relief with placebo compared with 23.4% in the Moderate group and 23.5% in the High group (P < 0.05). Expectations were not significantly different between groups, but in the High group expectation levels predicted placebo analgesia (P < 0.001). Neuropathic pain quality was also a predictor (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that high and moderate levels of psychopathology are associated with heightened placebo analgesia in chronic low back pain patients. Expectations were only an influence in the high psychopathology group, and neuropathic pain affects placebo responses. These findings have implications for future research characterizing placebo responders.

Adult↗

A randomized clinical trial of a care recommendation letter intervention for somatization in primary care.

PURPOSE: This paper describes the impact of a care recommendation (CR) letter intervention on patients with multisomatoform disorder (MSD) and analysis of patient factors that affect the response to the intervention. METHODS: One hundred eighty-eight patients from 3 family practices, identified through screening of 2,902 consecutive patients, were classified using somatization diagnoses based on the number of unexplained physical symptoms from a standardized mental health interview. In a controlled, single-crossover trial, patients were randomized to have their primary care physician receive the CR letter either immediately following enrollment or 12 months after enrollment. The CR letter notified the physician of the patient's somatization status and provided recommendations for the patient's care. Patients were followed for 24 months with assessments of functional status at baseline, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS: Longitudinal analysis revealed a 12-month intervention effect for patients with multisomatoform disorder (MSD) of 5.5 points (P < .001) on the physical functioning (PCS) scale of the SF-36. Analysis of scores on the MCS scale of the SF-36 found no significant effect on mental functioning. The intervention was more effective for patients with 1 or more comorbid chronic physical diseases (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The CR letter has a favorable impact on physical impairment of primary care patients with MSD, especially for patients with comorbid chronic physical disease. Multisomatoform disorder appears to be a useful diagnostic classification for managing and studying somatization in primary care patients.

Alabama↗

Endoscopic variceal sclerosis compared with distal splenorenal shunt to prevent recurrent variceal bleeding in cirrhosis. A prospective, randomized trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To define the roles of endoscopic variceal sclerosis and distal splenorenal shunt in the prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized clinical trial with crossover for those failing therapy. The median follow-up was 61 months. SETTING: A private, tertiary-referral university hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-two patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were drawn from a total of 420 patients treated during a 4.5-year interval. TREATMENTS: Endoscopic variceal sclerosis or distal splenorenal shunt. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Survival was significantly (P = 0.02) improved in patients randomly assigned to receive sclerotherapy: 13 of these 37 (35%) patients failed sclerotherapy and required surgical rescue. A survival advantage (P = 0.01) was seen in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who had this combined therapy; however, in patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis, survival for those receiving sclerotherapy and surgical rescue was not significantly (P = 0.36) different from that of patients receiving distal splenorenal shunt. Control of variceal bleeding was significantly (P less than 0.001) better in the distal splenorenal shunt group (34 of 35 [97%] compared with 15 of 37 [41%] in the sclerotherapy group). Using death, uncontrolled rebleeding, or shunt thrombosis as the endpoints resulted in no significant difference between treatment groups. Hepatocyte function and portal perfusion were significantly better maintained in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who were managed by sclerotherapy rather than shunt (P = 0.01 and P = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic sclerotherapy with surgical rescue for uncontrolled bleeding is the optimum therapy for patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and variceal bleeding. Survival is similar in nonalcoholic patients treated with either distal splenorenal shunt or endoscopic sclerotherapy, but shunting provides better control of variceal bleeding.

Endoscopy↗

Bioequivalence of generic and brand-name levothyroxine products in the treatment of hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To compare relative bioavailability of Synthroid, Levoxine (Levoxine has been renamed Levoxyl), and 2 generic levothyroxine sodium preparations. DESIGN: Single-blind (primary investigators blinded), randomized, 4-way crossover trial. SETTING: Ambulatory care. PATIENTS: Twenty-two women with hypothyroidism who were clinically and chemically euthyroid and were receiving levothyroxine sodium, 0.1 or 0.15 mg. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received each of the 4 levothyroxine products for 6-week periods in the same dosage as their prestudy regimen with no washout period. The order of the drug sequences was randomly determined before study initiation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Area under the curve, time to peak serum concentrations, and peak serum concentrations of thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine index for all 4 products. RESULTS: All data analyses were completed prior to unblinding of the product codes. No significant differences between the 4 products were found in area under the curve or peak serum concentrations of total thyroxine, total triiodothyronine, or free thyroxine index. Although Synthroid produced a more rapid rise in total serum triiodothyronine concentration and a higher total peak serum triiodothyronine concentration than the other products, these differences were not statistically significant (P=.08). The Food and Drug Administration criterion for relative bioequivalence within 90% confidence intervals (0.8-1.25) was demonstrated (P<.05) for all pairs of products. Relative bioequivalence of 0.95 to 1.07 was demonstrated, tighter than the current bioequivalence criterion for oral formulations. CONCLUSIONS: The 4 generic and brand-name levothyroxine preparations studied are different but are bioequivalent by current Food and Drug Administration criteria and are interchangeable in the majority of patients receiving thyroxine replacement therapy. Further investigation is required to determine whether our results are equally applicable to all existing levothyroxine preparations.

Adult↗

[Nasea injection in the prophylaxis of gastrointestinal reaction induced by chemotherapeutic agents].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of nasea injection for the prophylaxis of gastrointestinal reactions induced by chemotherapeutic agents, and compare them with those of kytril. METHODS: A multicenter, open, randomized self-crossover control trial was carried out. All the eligible patients were randomized into AB or BA group. The patients in AB group were treated by nasea in the first cycle and kytril in the second cycle, those in BA group were treated with the drugs in the reverse order. RESULTS: In patients enrolled in this study, 98 patients were evaluable for response, including 61 patients in DDP-arm and 37 in ADM-arm. Nasea was as effective as kytril in the control of anorexia, nausea and vomiting in the 0-6 hour period after chemotherapy. Nasea was significantly superior to kytril in the complete control of anorexia (38.8% vs 25.5%, P < 0.05) in the 0-24 hour period. The overall control rate of nausea by nasea in the 0-12, 0-18, and 0-24 hour period was 73.6%, 71.4%, 67.3%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that by kytril (65.3%, 61.2%, 48%). Nevertheless, in the control of vomiting in the 0-24 hour period, no statistical difference between the two drugs was observed. Nasea and kytril were equally effective in the control of anorexia, nausea and vomiting induced by DDP and ADM. The side effects of nasea were head heaviness, headache, dry mouth and constipation, etc. All of these were mild and comparable with kytril in their frequencies. CONCLUSION: Nasea can effectively prevent the gastrointestinal reaction induced by chemotherapeutic agents. The side effects of nasea are similar to those of kytril but its effect to alleviate gastrointestinal reactions is of longer duration.

Adolescent↗

[Nausea disintegrating buccal tablet in the prevention of gastrointestinal reaction induced by anticancer drugs].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nausea oral, disintegrating buccal tablet (DBT) in the prevention of gastrointestinal reaction induced by anticancer drugs (cisplatin DDP 30 - 50 mg/m(2) or adramycin ADM >/= 40 mg/m(2)), as compared with those of kytril tablets. METHODS: A multicenter, open and randomized self-crossover control trial was carried out with all the eligible patients randomized into AB or BA group. Patients in AB group were given nausea 0.1 mg as buccal tablet one hour before chemotherapy in the first cycle and kytril tablet 2 mg in the second cycle, those in BA group were given these drugs in the reverse order. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients were allotted to this study, including 44 patients in DDP-arm and 29 in ADM-arm. Sixty-two patients were evaluable for response and 70 patients for safety. Nausea DBT was as effective as kytril tablet in the control of anorexia, nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours after chemotherapy, with response rates of 74.2%, 77.4%, 83.9% in nausea DBT and 74.2%, 71.0%, 88.7% DBT in kytril tablets. A high efficacy in the control of vommitting induced by cisplatin was observed in both nausea DBT and kytril tablets. The complete control rates and overall control rates were 83.3%, 91.7% in nausea DBT and 86.1%, 97.2% in kytril tablets, respectively. The side effects of nausea DBT were head heaviness, dry mouth and somnolence, which were mild and comparable with kytril in their frequencies. CONCLUSION: Nausea disintegrating buccal tablet is able to effectively prevent gastrointestinal reaction induced by anticancer drugs, with efficacy and side effects similar to kytril tablets. Nausea DB tablet, an intraoral disintegrator, is very convenient for patients who can not swallow tablets for various reasons.

Adolescent↗

Myofascial pain response to topical lidocaine patch therapy: case report.

This is a case from a preliminary open trial to assess the efficacy of topically applied lidocaine patches as an alternative to trigger point injections for myofascial pain. We describe one case in this report that had a dramatic response to the lidocaine patch. Her pain relief increased, pain intensity decreased, and functional capacity increased. Her pain intensity and relief was measured by the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF). A quality of life measure was also included in the BPI-SF. While this was a dramatic response to this patient, it is only one case from an open-trial. The response to other patients has varied. The true clinical utility cannot be obtained from this one report, but only after the data have been analyzed from this initial trial. If the data are promising, a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial is planned.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Statins for improving renal outcomes: a meta-analysis.

Statins frequently are used to prevent cardiovascular events. Several recent studies suggest that statins also may have renal benefits, although this is controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the effect of statins on change in kidney function and urinary protein excretion. Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, conference proceedings, and the authors' personal files were searched. Published or unpublished randomized, controlled trials or crossover trials of statins that reported assessment of kidney function or proteinuria were included, and studies of individuals with ESRD were excluded. Data were extracted for study design, subject characteristics, type of statin and dose, baseline/change in cholesterol levels, and outcomes (change in measured or estimated GFR [eGFR] and/or urinary protein excretion). Weighted mean differences were calculated for the change in GFR between statin and control groups using a random-effects model. A random-effects model also was used to calculate the standardized mean difference for the change in urinary protein excretion between groups. Twenty-seven eligible studies with 39,704 participants (21 with data for eGFR and 20 for proteinuria or albuminuria) were identified. Overall, the change in the weighted mean differences for eGFR was statistically significant (1.22 ml/min per yr slower in statin recipients; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44 to 2.00). In subgroup analysis, the benefit of statin therapy was statistically significant in studies of participants with cardiovascular disease (0.93 ml/min per yr slower than control subjects; 95% CI 0.10 to 1.76) but was NS for studies of participants with diabetic or hypertensive kidney disease or glomerulonephritis. The standardized mean difference for the reduction in albuminuria or proteinuria as a result of statin therapy was statistically significant (0.58 units of SD greater in statin recipients; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.98). Statin therapy seems to reduce proteinuria modestly and results in a small reduction in the rate of kidney function loss, especially in populations with cardiovascular disease.

Albuminuria↗

Cyclosporin greatly improves the quality of life of adults with severe atopic dermatitis. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover clinical trial was conducted on 33 patients with severe refractory atopic dermatitis, to determine the effects of cyclosporin (5 mg/kg/day) on their health-related quality of life. Treatments were administered for 8-week periods. One group (n = 16) received placebo followed by cyclosporin, and the other (n = 17) received cyclosporin and then placebo. Health-related quality of life was assessed at 0, 8 and 16 weeks using a general measure, the United Kingdom Sickness Impact Profile (UKSIP), an eczema-specific measure, the Eczema Disability Index (EDI), and a global 5-point rating scale of overall health (very good to very poor). In addition, clinical assessments (i.e. extent and activity of disease) were made by the investigators. UKSIP and EDI scores indicated significant improvement in quality of life (P < 0.05-P < 0.01) of patients with atopic dermatitis after treatment with cyclosporin. Although no patient required withdrawal from the study, 20 patients receiving cyclosporin reported adverse events, compared with eight taking placebo. There was a close correlation (P < 0.05-P < 0.01) between the UKSIP and EDI scores. In contrast, there was either no correlation, or only a very poor correlation, between the quality of life parameters and clinical measures of extent and activity of eczema. When cyclosporin was stopped, relapse was rapid, but the mean scores for disease activity and extent of disease were less than their baseline values (i.e. an improvement of greater than 25% was maintained in 11 patients at week 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activities of Daily Living↗