Topical treatments for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis: systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and effectiveness

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the effectiveness of topical treatments, in providing symptomatic relief from ocular allergy, remains uncertain. AIMS: To assess the effectiveness and relative efficacy of topical treatments for the management of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. DESIGN OF STUDY: A systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING: A literature search of the Cochrane Library, Medline, and EMBASE bibliographic databases. METHOD: Double-masked randomised controlled trials were identified, that compared the use of topical mast cell stabilisers (sodium cromoglycate, nedocromil, lodoxamide) with placebo, topical antihistamines with placebo, and topical mast cell stabilisers with topical antihistamines. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of six trials showed that patients using sodium cromoglycate were 17 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4 to 78) more likely to perceive benefit compared with those using a placebo, although this estimate may be partially influenced by publication bias. Five trials indicated that those patients using nedocromil were 1.8 times (95% CI = 1.3 to 2.6) more likely to perceive their allergy to be moderately or totally controlled than those using a placebo. Four trials showed that those using antihistamines were 1.3 times (95% CI = 0.8 to 2.2) more likely to perceive a 'good' treatment effect than those using mast cell stabilisers, although this beneficial effect was not statistically significant. Limited evidence suggests that antihistamines might have a faster therapeutic effect compared to mast cell stabilisers. CONCLUSION: Overall, these findings confirm the benefit of topical mast cell stabilisers and antihistamines over placebo for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. There is, however, insufficient evidence to recommend the use of one type of medication over another. Treatment preferences should therefore be based on convenience of use (with reduced frequency of instillation for some preparations), patient preference, and costs, especially as important side effects were not reported with any medication.     

Seroepidemiology of rotavirus infection in rural Bangladesh.

A prospective seroepidemiological study of rotavirus infection was performed in children in a village in rural Bangladesh. Ninety-three percent of the children had detectable antibodies during the study, and there were 66 significant rises in titer occurring in 57 of the 85 children. Antibody titer rises occurred in older children and younger children with equal frequency. Nine children (11%) had evidence of multiple infections during the 16-month period. Winter infections were most frequent, although one summer (monsoon) season was also associated with a large cluster. Subjects with high titers (greater than 1:8) of antibody less frequently developed a titer rise than did subjects with lower titers.     

Accessibility, clinical effectiveness, and practice costs of providing a telephone option for routine asthma reviews: phase IV controlled implementation study.

BACKGROUND: Attendance for routine asthma reviews is poor. A recent randomised controlled trial found that telephone consultations can cost-effectively and safely enhance asthma review rates; however, concerns have been expressed about the generalisability and implementation of the trial's findings. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone option as part of a routine structured asthma review service. DESIGN OF STUDY: Phase IV controlled before-and-after implementation study. SETTING: A large UK general practice. METHOD: Using existing administrative groups, all patients with active asthma (n = 1809) received one of three asthma review services: structured recall with a telephone-option for reviews versus structured recall with face-to-face-only reviews, or usual-care (to assess secular trends). Main outcome measures were: proportion of patients with active asthma reviewed within the previous 15 months (Quality and Outcomes Framework target), mode of review, enablement, morbidity, and costs to the practice. RESULTS: A routine asthma review was provided for 397/598 (66.4%) patients in the telephone-option group compared with 352/654 (53.8%) in the face-to-face-only review group: risk difference 12.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.2 to 17.9, P<0.001). The usual-care group achieved a review rate of 282/557 (50.6%). Morbidity was equivalent in the three groups; however, enablement (P = 0.03) and confidence (P = 0.007) in asthma management were greater in the telephone-option versus face-to-face-only group. The cost per review achieved by providing the telephone-option service was lower than the face-to-face-only service (10.03 pounds versus 12.74 pounds, mean difference 2.71 pounds; 95% CI = 1.92 to 3.50, P<0.001); usual-care costs were 11.85 pounds per review achieved. CONCLUSION: Routinely offering telephone reviews cost-effectively increased asthma review rates, enhancing patient enablement and confidence with management, with no detriment to asthma morbidity. Practices should consider a telephone option for their asthma review service.     

Characterization and identification of Oya virus,a Simbu serogroup virus of the genus Bunyavirus,isolated from a pig suspected of Nipah virus infection

Summary.  A virus, named Oya virus, was isolated in Vero cell cultures from the lungs of a pig suspected of Nipah virus infection. The virus was revealed as a spherical enveloped RNA virus with a diameter of 79 nm. For identification of Oya virus, RT-PCR was performed. A common primer set for S-RNA of the Simbu serogroup of the genus Bunyavirus was able to amplify a cDNA from Oya virus RNA. The sequence data of the product revealed that the partial gene of Oya virus S-RNA segment had 65–70% homology with published cDNA sequences of Simbu serogroup viruses. The phylogenetic analysis of the data showed that the Oya virus is grouped in Simbu serogroup, but is genetically distinct from the serogroup viruses that have been analyzed molecularly. Serological surveys revealed that the virus distributed widely and densely in Malaysia. Received January 5, 2002; accepted April 16, 2002 Published online July 19, 2002     

Contribution of BK Ca2+-activated K+ channels to auditory neurotransmission in the Guinea pig cochlea

Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels are known to play a prominent role in the hair cell function of lower vertebrates where these channels determine electrical tuning and regulation of neurotransmitter release. Very little is known, by contrast, about the role of BK channels in the mammalian cochlea. In the current study, we perfused specific toxins in the guinea pig cochlea to characterize the role of BK channels in cochlear neurotransmission. Intracochlear perfusion of charybdotoxin (ChTX) or iberiotoxin (IbTX) reversibly reduced the compound action potential (CAP) of the auditory nerve within minutes. The cochlear microphonics (CM at f1 = 8 kHz and f2 = 9.68 kHz) and their distortion product (DPCM at 2f1-f2) were essentially not affected, suggesting that the BK specific toxins do not alter the active cochlear amplification at the outer hair cells (OHCs). We also tested the effects of these toxins on the whole cell voltage-dependent membrane current of isolated guinea pig inner hair cells (IHCs). ChTX and IbTX reversibly reduced a fast outward current (activating above -40 mV, peaking at 0 mV with a mean activation time constant tau ranging between 0.5 and 1 ms). A similar block of a fast outward current was also observed with the extracellular application of barium ions, which we believe permeate through Ca2+ channels and block BK channels. In situ hybridization of Slo antisense riboprobes and immunocytochemistry demonstrated a strong expression of BK channels in IHCs and spiral ganglion and to a lesser extent in OHCs. Overall, our results clearly revealed the importance of BK channels in mammalian cochlear neurotransmission and demonstrated that at the presynaptic level, fast BK channels are a significant component of the repolarizing current of IHCs.     

Screening of some food poisoning bacteria in sausage and hamburger meat

Microbial investigation of 30 samples of sausage meat and 30 samples of hamburger meat, freshly prepared, were collected randomly from different markets in Alexandria city, to determine the bacteriological status of these products. The average counts/gm of total bacteria, total coliforms and fecal coliform in sausage meat were 1.33 x 10(7), 9.16 x 10(5) and 1.11 x 10(3) respectively, and in hamburger samples were 8.47 x 10(5), 2.63 x 10(3) and 1.35 x 10(3) respectively. Shigella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus spp were isolated with various percentages, whereas Salmonella spp was isolated from sausage only. The public health importance of the isolated microorganisms are fully discussed.     

Volume control during periodic changes of blood volume in the alert rat

Summary Blood (3.4–13.5% of blood volume) was pumped in and out of the circulation of rats at different rates and period lengths during continuous measurements of blood conductivity (reciprocally related to hematocrit) and arterial pressure. Hct followed the same zig-zag course as the induced changes of blood volume in every case, indicating that fluid shifts (v) between interstitium and intravascular space closely follow blood volume changes. As the het increase during reinfusion was not as great as the preceding decrease, hct dropped continuously during the 20–90 minutes of experimentation, so that a final volume increase (v) by about 4% was calculated, which was confirmed by a corresponding decrease of plasma protein concentration. Both final v and v during periodic volume change (% B.V.) were greater when arterial pressure dropped. v was directly related to % B.V. but not to its rate of change. Heart rate dropped slightly at the end of the reinfusion periods, whereas it rose to control at the end of the withdrawal periods. The results were regarded as evidence of blood volume regulation proportional to the absolute volume of blood lost in non-hypotensive hemorrhage.Supported by DFG-grant AZ 3/3