Comparative studies on patient's and family's basic attributes, psychosocial states and treatment prognoses at three medical institutions for treatment of alcoholism]

A research by questionnaire was conducted at three medical institutions, on basic attributes and psychosocial states of alcoholics' as first time inpatient and respective families. After a year of research, additional study was conducted in regard of abstinence, treatment continuation as outpatient, participation in self-help groups, and family's participation in family groups. Outcomes of researches' statistical analyses showed significant differences concerning medical institutions and basic attributes for the items: treatment histories of alcoholism, treatment or inpatient in other medical departments and alcoholic's family history,; but these differences were considered to be associated with varied courses of referrals. In relation to medical institutions with patients and family's psychosocial states, there were no significant differences on the outcomes of five scales. As for the correlation between medical institutions with a year's prognoses there were no significant differences concerning abstinence and treatment continuation as outpatient. In case of participation in self-help groups and family groups, the prognoses showed significant differences but these differences were considered to be related to varied treatments and different helping ways of medical institutions and varied conditions of local communities for mentioned helps.     

Cutaneous lesions of Kikuchi's disease: Evolution of histopathological findings

We report a 38‐year‐old male patient who presented with cutaneous lesions mimicking widespread discoid lupus erythematosus with high‐grade fever, arthralgia and lymphadenopathy. Additional lymph node and skin biopsies, however, revealed karyorrhectic debris without neutrophils and numerous CD68‐positive cells, a characteristic finding of Kikuchi's disease (KD). Comparing skin biopsies on different occasions, we could see different forms of histopathology. The histopathology of skin lesions of KD may vary during the clinical course, which may reflect the stage of the disease.     

Inhibition of enamel demineralization and bond‐strength properties of bioactive glass containing 4‐META/MMA‐TBB‐based resin adhesive

We investigated the enamel demineralization‐prevention ability and shear bond strength (SBS) properties of 4‐methacryloxyethyl trimellitic anhydride/methyl methacrylate‐tri‐n‐butyl borane (4‐META/MMA‐TBB)‐based resin containing various amounts (0–50%) of bioactive glass (BG). Disk‐shaped specimens were immersed in distilled water and ions released were analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic‐emission spectroscopy. Samples were also immersed in lactic acid solution (pH 4.6) to estimate acid‐neutralizing ability. Brackets were bonded to human premolars with BG‐containing resins and the bonded teeth were alternately immersed in demineralizing (pH 4.55) and remineralizing (pH 6.8) solutions for 14 d. The enamel hardness was determined by nanoindentation testing at twenty equidistant distances from the external surface. The SBS for each sample was examined. The amounts of ions released [calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), silicon (Si), and boron (B)] and the acid‐neutralizing ability increased with increasing BG content. After alternating immersion, the specimens bonded with the BG‐containing resin with high BG content were harder than those in the other groups in some locations 1–18.5 μm from the enamel surface. Bioactive glass‐containing (10–40%) resin had bond strength equivalent to the control specimen. Thus, the SBS obtained for BG‐containing resin (6.5–9.2 MPa) was clinically acceptable, suggesting that this material has the ability to prevent enamel demineralization.     

Comparison between famciclovir and valacyclovir for acute pain in adult Japanese immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster

Famciclovir is a guanine analog antiviral drug used commonly for herpes zoster. Efficacy of famciclovir treatment has been reported to be comparable to valacyclovir treatment. Both of these medications reduce the time to complete cessation of zoster‐associated pain including post‐herpetic neuralgia, as compared to acyclovir. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, open clinical trial in order to evaluate the extent of pain relief afforded by these two antiviral drugs during the acute disease phase of herpes zoster. The study group comprised 86 immunocompetent adult patients suffering from herpes zoster, who were treated with either famciclovir or valacyclovir for 7 days. Of these, 55 patients enrolled in this study within 72 h of the onset of the rash and 31 patients after 72 h of the onset. There was a significant reduction in acute herpes zoster pain with famciclovir on day 7 and at 2–3 weeks in both of these patient groups, while with valacyclovir, there was not significant reduction in pain on day 7. Of patients aged 50 years or older, there was a significantly earlier reduction in pain with famciclovir than with valacyclovir. In addition, a significant reduction in the number of patients with pain was observed as early as days 3–4 with famciclovir treatment as compared with valacyclovir treatment. We conclude that famciclovir was superior to valacyclovir in the relief of acute pain of herpes zoster. Accordingly, famciclovir is recommended for herpes zoster patients with moderate symptoms and a visual analog scale score of under 50 mm.