Single-Blind, Randomized Study Comparing Chromated Glycerin, Polidocanol Solution, and Polidocanol Foam for Treatment of Telangiectatic Leg Veins

BACKGROUND: A single-blind, randomized, comparative study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of pure chromated glycerin (CG), polidocanol (POL) 0.25% solution, and POL 0.25% foam (Monfreux technique) for treatment of telangiectasias and reticular leg veins. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative efficacy and safety of two sclerosing agents and foam. METHOD: Of 150 randomized patients presenting comparable areas (lateral face of thigh) of telangiectasias and reticular leg veins, 147 could be evaluated by photographic assessment, patients' satisfaction score, and pain at injection sites. Internal and external agreement for the photographic assessment was good for two independent blinded experts. RESULTS: CG cleared vessels significantly better than POL solution or foam (p<0.002). The patients' satisfaction score was also higher in the CG group, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. CG was significantly more painful at injection sites. Other side effects were very few, precluding any statistical comparison. Foam was associated with more side effects (microthrombi, matting) than CG or POL solution. Three patients treated with POL foam experienced a transient visual disturbance. CONCLUSION: This study shows that CG is superior to POL solution and foam for sclerotherapy of leg telangiectasias.     

Quality of life assessment and HIV infection: A review

In the last few years, survival of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been improved because of a decreased incidence of some opportunistic complications attributable to prophylactic treatments and antiretroviral drugs. The impact of these agents should also be reflected in the quality of life (QoL) of patients. We have reviewed this topic with an emphasis on different types of measurements such as Q-TWIST, MOS and the Spitzer score which seem to be most appropriate for this patient population. We do not think that a special type of assessment should be designed for HIV-infected persons. It would be less time-consuming to improve already existing validated scores focusing on HIV infection. QoL in intravenous drug users with HIV should be evaluated more often.     

Predictive molecular and genetic toxicology

Conclusion The search for a link between cellular and molecular events involved in delayed-type CHS reactions and the early molecular activation of xenobiotics is a new field of research. It should largely contribute to the debate on the best way forward for predictive toxicology in general.     

Comparison Between Incremental and Single-Dose Allergen Administration in Bronchial Provocation Tests

To study the effect of different schedules of allergen administration on the early (EAR) and late allergic reaction (LAR), 15 asthmatic patients with dual response after allergen challenge were submitted to two consecutive bronchoprovocation tests (BPT). BPT₁ was carried out with semilogarithmic increase of allergen doses until a FEV₁ drop of 20% was recorded. BPT₂ was performed 2 weeks later using the highest allergen dose that had elicited the dual reaction in BPT₁. Both EAR and LAR were very similar for a given patient. As the allergen dose used in BPT₂ is smaller than the cumulative allergen dose administered in BPT₁, this protocol takes into account a possible influence on BPT₂ of bronchial hyperreactivity induced by BPT₁ performed 2 weeks before.     

Pharmacokinetics of prednisolone in children with the nephrotic syndrome

The aim of this study was to establish whether the criteria for the clinical effectiveness of steroids are correlated with the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone in children treated with prednisone during an attack of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Thirteen patients with nephrosis were included. Prednisolone, prednisone and cortisol levels were measured using a specific high-performance liquid chromatography assay after an oral dose of 1 mg/kg body weight of prednisone taken at the onset of the disease. All the pharmacokinetic parameters, including the conversion of prednisone to prednisolone were similar to the data already published in children with INS. No correlation was found between the values of pharmacokinetic parameters and criteria of clinical effectiveness. Hypo-albuminaemia was significantly correlated with the area under the plasma-concentration curve but not with the elimination half-life of prednisolone. Moreover, the prednisolone elimination half-life correlated with the urinary exretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids achieved in the first 6h. The present study suggests that routine measurements of prednisolone kinetics do not help when assessing the treatment of children with INS.     

Value of Doppler ultrasound for the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis in children

To evaluate the reliability of Doppler ultrasonography (US) in identifying children with renal artery stenosis (RAS) among those with hypertension, we compared Doppler US results in 22 hypertensive children (mean age 8.9±4.3 years), with (13 cases) and without RAS at angiography, and in 33 normotensive children (mean age 8.8±4.7 years). We observed 2 false-negatives and 2 false-positives with Doppler US. Of the 2 false-negative diagnoses, 1 had RAS on an accessory renal artery located behind a normal upper polar artery and the other was observed in a patient with bilateral multiple stenosis of the very distal segments of renal arteries. The 2 false-positive diagnoses were due to sinuous left renal artery and to technical reasons, respectively. In another patient, Doppler US showed a tight RAS, while arteriography was normal. RAS was subsequently confirmed by a second arteriography. Peak systolic velocity values of Doppler US were significantly higher in patients with proven angiographic RAS (3.44±0.66 m/s) than in hypertensive patients with normal renal arteries at angiography (0.99±0.35 m/s, P <0.0001) and normotensive healthy children (1.04±0.23 m/s, P <0.0001). With the use of multiple views, and the experience acquired with practice, false-negatives or false-positives due to the geometry of the renal artery can be avoided. Nevertheless, very distal stenosis can be missed by Doppler US. Received October 30, 1995; received in revised form April 16, 1996; accepted May 14, 1996     

Comparison of the inflammatory response between miniaturized and standard CPB circuits in aortic valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: One of the complications of CPB is the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Recent developments tend to minimize the biological impact of CPB in using miniaturized closed circuit with reduced priming volume and less blood-air interface. The benefit of these miniaturized closed circuits in terms of inflammatory response has been proved in coronary surgery. However, in open heart surgery, the CPB circuit is no more closed and the benefit of the miniaturized set-up could disappear. The aim of the study is to compare the SIRS between standard and miniaturized circuits in aortic surgery. METHODS: Forty patients who underwent singular aortic valve replacement were randomly assigned either to a standard CPB (group A, n=20) or to a miniaturized CPB (group B, n=20). Pertinent clinical and surgical data were collected. Hematological parameters (leukocyte and neutrophil counts) and biochemical parameters (C-reactive protein, cytokine tests) were determined pre-, on and post-CPB. RESULTS: There were an increase in leukocyte and neutrophil counts and a decline in hematocrit in both groups. In both groups, there was a raise after CPB, in C-reactive protein, IL-6, TNF-alpha, neutrophil elastase, and IL-10. However, the raises of elastase and TNF-alpha were significantly lower after the weaning of miniaturized CPB (116+/-46 ng/ml and 10+/-4 pg/ml, respectively) compared to standard CPB (265+/-120 ng/ml, P=0.01 and 18+/-7 pg/ml, P=0.03). The raise of IL-10 is also lower with miniaturized circuit (15+/-6 pg/ml) compared to standard circuit (51+/-26, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates in aortic surgery, the lesser inflammatory response of a miniaturized CPB compared to a standard CPB. However, there is always some inflammation after CPB and a small bio-reactive free perfusion circuit is still to be found in open heart surgery.     

Comparison of self-reports and biological measures for alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs consumption in psychiatric inpatients

BACKGROUND: Asking psychiatric in-patients about their drug consumption is unlikely to yield reliable results, particularly where alcohol and illicit drug use is involved. The main aim of this study was to compare spontaneous self-reports of drug use in hospitalized psychiatric patients to biological measures of same. A secondary aim was to determine which personal factors were associated with the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs as indicated by these biological measures. METHODS: The consumption of substances was investigated using biological measures (urine cotinine, cannabis, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines and barbiturates; blood carbohydrate-deficient transferrin [CDT] and gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT]) in 486 consecutively admitted psychiatric patients, one day following their hospitalization. Patients' self-reports of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs consumption were recorded. Socio-professional and familial data were also recorded. RESULTS: The results show a low correlation between biological measures and self-reported consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs. Fifty-two percent of the patients under-reported their consumption of illicit drugs (kappa=.47). Patients with schizophrenia and personality disorders were more likely to disclose their illicit drug consumption relative to patients suffering from mood disorders and alcohol dependence. Fifty-six percent of patients underreported alcohol use, as evaluated by CDT (kappa=.2), and 37% underreported when using the CDT+GGT measure as an indicator. Smoking appeared to be reported adequately. In the study we observed a strong negative correlation between cannabis use and age, a strong correlation between tobacco and cannabis use, and correlations between tobacco, cannabis and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to compare self-reports and biological measures of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug uses in a large sample of inpatients suffering from various categories of psychiatric illnesses, allowing for cross-diagnosis comparisons.