Randomized clinical trial of ascorbic acid in the treatment of pressure ulcers

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of ascorbic acid supplementation, 500 mg twice daily in the treatment of pressure ulcers as an adjunct to standardized treatment.

The design consisted of a multicenter blinded randomized trial. The control group received 10 mg of ascorbic acid twice daily.

Patients from 11 nursing homes and 1 hospital participated.

Main outcome measures included wound survival, healing rates of wound surfaces, and clinimetric changes over 12 weeks.

Eighty-eight patients were randomized. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that the wound closure probability per unit time (i.e., the closure rate) was not higher in the intervention group than in the control group (Cox hazard ratio of 0.78 [90% precision interval, 0.44–1.39]). Mean absolute healing rates were 0.21 and 0.27 cm²/week in the intervention and control group, respectively (PI of the adjusted difference: −0.17 to 0.13). Relative healing rates and healing velocities did not show favorable results of ascorbic acid supplementation, either. A panel scored slides of the ulcers with a report mark between 1 (bad) and 10 (excellent). The improvement was 0.45 and 0.72 points per week in the intervention and control group, respectively (PI of the adjusted difference: −0.50 to 0.20). With another clinimetric index we could not show any differences, either.

These data do not support the idea that ascorbic acid supplementation (500 vs. 10 mg twice daily) speeds up the healing of pressure ulcers.     

硝普钠结合控制性再灌注预防肺缺血再灌注损伤的实验研究

目的　探讨硝普钠结合控制性再灌注在预防肺缺血再灌注损伤中的作用及其机制。方法　将 1 4只猪随机分为对照组 (Ⅰ组 )和实验组 (Ⅱ组 )。对照组在去除肺动脉阻断 ,恢复自体血流前 ,给予控制性再灌注处理 (灌注液 :去白细胞∶改良Buckberg液 =4∶1 ,灌注压 1 8mmHg ,灌注时间 1 0min ,温度 37℃± 1℃ )。实验组在去除肺动脉阻断 ,恢复自体血流前 ,给予控制性再灌注 ,后经肺动脉以每分钟 1 .0 μg kg注入硝普钠 1 0min ,余处置同对照组。 0 .5 ,1和 2h后测血氧分压、肺血管阻力、肺顺应性及肺氧合功能变化 ,实验结束后 ,取肺组织测NO含量、MDA含量及肺含水量。结果　实验组的左肺氧合功能和肺顺应性明显好于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 )。肺循环阻力、丙二醛 (MDA)值及肺含水量均低于对照组 (P <0 .0 1 )。实验组肺中NO含量较对照组明显升高 (P <0 .0 1 )。结论　硝普钠结合控制性再灌注能明显降低肺缺血再灌注损伤 ,起到了较好的移植肺保护效果     

醒脑静注射液治疗肺性脑病31例疗效分析

目的 :探讨醒脑静注射液治疗肺性脑病的临床疗效。方法 :采用随机分组对照法 ,将 6 1例肺性脑病患者分为加用醒脑静组 (治疗组 ) 31例和单纯西药治疗组 (对照组 ) 30例 ,进行疗效对比分析。结果 :治疗组治愈12例 ,有效 15例 ,总有效率 87.10 % ;对照组治愈 5例 ,有效 16例 ,总有效率 70 .0 % ,2组疗效差异有显著性(P<0 .0 5 )。从时效关系看 :治疗组对意识障碍的起效时间〔(72 .0 0± 33.94 )小时〕明显快于对照组〔(117.71± 34.70 )小时 ,P<0 .0 1〕,表现为促醒时间短 ,意识恢复正常快 ,并能达到镇静安神的作用 ;从改善原发病症状、体征及血气指标看 :治疗组在改善头痛、失眠、多语、幻觉、谵妄、狂躁及喘憋等症状方面明显优于对照组 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,对降低 Pa CO2 效果亦明显优于对照组 (P<0 .0 1)。结论 :醒脑静注射液具有开窍醒脑、行痰通瘀、镇静止痉和清热解毒等功效 ,是防治肺性脑病的安全、有效药物。     

Evaluation of an Australian intervention to encourage breast feeding in primiparous women

Breast feeding has nutritional, immunologic and antiallergicadvantages for the infant. Although it has been widely recommendedthat infants be exclusively breast fed until 4–6 monthsof age, only about half of all Australian babies currently receiveextended breast feeding. The present study evaluated an intensiveprogramme designed to increase the proportion ofprimi-parousmothers who breast fed for 4 months or longer. Women who registeredwith the hospital at least 20 weeks before delivery and whointended to breastfeed were eligible for the study. Two hundredand thirty-five women were allocated to receive either usualcare or an intensive breast feeding programme when they registeredwith the hospital. The intensive programme consisted of writtenmaterials, and group and individual sessions with a lactationcounsellor. It also included a visit from a breastfeeding consultantwhile in hospital after the birth and contact on return home.Women were followed up 6 weeks and 4 months after delivery.There were no significant differences in breastfeeding ratesbetween the control and intervention groups at either follow-uppoint. Breast feeding until 4 months was more likely among womenwhose baby did not receive a bottle feed while still in hospitaland who did not smoke, use the combined oral contraceptive pillor introduce solid food before 4 months. Those mothers who enjoyedand felt satisfied with breastfeeding were more likely to continueto 4 months. It seems likely that programmes designed to increasebreastfeeding will need to address underlying factors such ashospital policy rather than simply providing more health education.     

Decreased incidence of headache after accidental dural puncture in caesarean delivery patients receiving continuous postoperative intrathecal analgesia

To examine the effects of prolonged (> 24 h) intrathecal catheterization with the use of postoperative analgesia on the incidence of post–dural puncture headache (PDPH), charts of 45 obstetric patients who had accidental dural puncture following attempts at epidural block were reviewed retrospectively. Three groups were identified: Group I (n = 15) patients had a dural puncture on the first attempt at epidural block, but successful epidural block on a repeated attempt; Group II (n=17) patients had a dural puncture with immediate conversion to continuous spinal anaesthesia with catheterization lasting only for the duration of caesarean delivery; Group III (n= 13) patients had an immediate conversion to spinal anaesthesia and received post–caesarean section continuous intrathecal patient–controlled analgesia consisting of fentanyl 5 (ig'ml^-1 with bupivacaine 0.25 mg·ml^-1 and epinephrine 2 μg·ml^-1 with catheterization lasting >24 h. No parturient in group III developed a PDPH. This was substantially lower ( P < 0.009) than the 33% incidence for group I and the 47% incidence for group II. The incidence of a PDPH did not differ between group I and II. Similarly, there was no difference between group I and II with regard to requests for a blood patch. Patients receiving continuous intrathecal analgesia had excellent pain relief, could easily ambulate and none complained of pruritus, nausea, vomiting, sensory loss or weakness. In conclusion, indwelling spinal catheterization > 24 h with continuous intrathecal analgesia following accidental dural puncture in parturients may for some patients be a suitable method for providing PDPH prophylaxis and postoperative analgesia.     

An Electrically Modulated Drug Delivery Device. III. Factors Affecting Drug Stability During Electrophoresis

A number of factors affecting the stability of propranolol HC1 during electrophoretic control were investigated. It was found that significant degradation of propranolol HC1 and hydrolysis of water occurred when a current of 15 mA was used with platinized electrodes. This degradation was thought to be due to decomposition of propranolol HC1 at the electrodes. Degradation could be significantly reduced by using uncoated platinum electrodes and currents in the range of 0 to 2.5 mA, while still allowing control of drug delivery rates. Electrode reaction processes were found at high ionic strengths and high drug concentrations but were not thought to be associated with drug decomposition.     

尼莫地平控释片释放度试验研究

本文研究了尼莫地平控释片的释放度试验方法——转篮法，释放介质为含有２２％异丙醇的０．１ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１盐酸液；磷酸盐缓冲液（ｐＨ５．８）和ｐＨ７．２的溶液。含量测定方法：紫外分光光度法，在三种介质中尼莫地平分别在１～３０μｇ·ｍｌ－１，１０～５０μｇ·ｍｌ－１和１０～５０μｇ·ｍｌ－１的范围内，浓度与吸收度有较好的线性关系。回归方程分别为Ａ＝０．６１５Ｃ＋０．０２３（ｒ＝０．９９９９）；Ａ＝０．０６１４Ｃ＋０．０１２（ｒ＝０．９９９５）；Ａ＝０．０６１２Ｃ＋０．００８８（ｒ＝０．９９９９）。平均回收率分别为９９．６３％，９９．９８％及１００．７７％，ＲＳＤ（％）分别为１．３４％，１．５９％及１．４１％。本方法的体外释放百分率与体内吸收分数有较好的相关性（ｒ＝０．９９１）。     

The combination oral and nutritional treatment of late-onset diabetes mellitus (CONTROL DM) trial results.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of short-term improvements in glycaemic control on brachial artery endothelial function as a marker of cardiovascular health. METHODS: Persons with Type 2 diabetes who were poorly controlled on oral therapy were randomly assigned to monotherapy with repaglinide or combination therapy with repaglinide plus metformin. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation was assessed by ultrasonography at randomization and following 16 weeks of therapy. The primary outcome was change in brachial artery endothelial function from baseline. Comparison of randomized groups was a secondary aim. RESULTS: Eighty-six participants were randomized, and 83 were followed to study completion. Post occlusion brachial artery vasodilation was 3.74% at baseline and 3.82% following 16 weeks of therapy (P = 0.77). The treatment effect was 0.08% (95% CI: -0.48%, 0.64%). No difference was seen between treatment groups (P = 0.69). Overall, A1C was reduced from 8.3% to 7.0%, with a greater reduction in the combination therapy group (from 8.4% to 6.7%) than in the monotherapy group (from 8.3% to 7.3%, p for difference between groups = 0.01). Statistically significant reductions were observed in fasting glucose, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Statistically significant increases were observed for fasting insulin, uric acid, weight and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Brachial artery endothelial function was not influenced by short-term improvements in glycaemic control. The CONTROL DM group was successful in lowering A1C. Future research should explore more intensive and longer-lasting improvements in glycaemic control on endothelial function. Some data previously published in abstract form (Diabetes 2001; 50 (Suppl. 2): A217).     

醒脑静注射液治疗缺血性中风急性期随机对照试验的系统评价

目的 系统评价醒脑静注射液治疗缺血性中风急性期的疗效及安全性。方法 集醒脑静注射液治疗缺血性中风急性期随机对照试验文献，筛选合格研究，应用Jadad评分法进行质量评价，运用异质性检验、Meta-分析、漏斗图分析、敏感性分析等方法统计相关数据。结果 项研究符合纳入标准，Jadad评分所有研究得分均低于3分，属低质量文献。Meta-分析结果显示，总有效率比较的相对危险度（RR值）=1．04，99％的可信区间（CI值）为（0．88，1．23）。结论 前尚无充分证据证实醒脑静注射液治疗缺血性中风急性期的疗效及安全性。要进一步验证醒脑静注射液治疗缺血性中风急性期的疗效及安全性，尚需进行设计合理、执行严格、多中心大样本且随访时间足够的随机对照试验。     

Model Features of a Cardiac lontophoretic Drug Delivery Implant

Pharmaceutical Research -