Oral and subcutaneous sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine: an open randomized cress-over study

In an open, randomized cross-over study in 124 patients, we compared the efficacy, safety and patient preference of oral and subcutaneous sum triptan in the acute treatment of migraine. Patients were treated for 3 attacks or 3 months and then crossed over. Primary clinical efficacy was defined as a reduction in headache severity on a four-point self-rating scale from severe (3) or moderate (2) to mild (1) or none (0), or mild (1) to none (0). Efficacy was evaluated 2 h after the administration of subcutaneous and 4h after the administration of oral sumatriptan. Subcutaneous sumatriptan was significantly more effective than oral sumatriptan in relieving headache (over all three attacks 78% vs 61% improvement), improving clinical disability (55% vs 41 % improvement) and relieving nausea (69% vs 53%), vomiting (72% vs 32%) and phono- or photophobia (67% vs 49%). Median time to recurrence was shorter after subcutaneous (12.5 h) than after oral sumatriptan (18 h); the number of patients experiencing a recurrence was similar Patients reported more adverse events after subcutaneous sumatriptan (1.32 per attack) than after the oral form (0.85 per attack), but all adverse events were mild to moderate in intensity and of short duration. Patient opinion was more often positive after subcutaneous sumatriptan. These results may be useful in counselling patients to choose between the available marketed formulations of sumatriptan.     

Accelerating effects of epidermal growth factor on skin lesions of pemphigus vulgaris: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a severe blistering disease involving the skin and mucous membranes. The most common causes of death in these patients are adverse effects of drugs, and infection. Skin lesions are one of the important sources of infection. Thus, any local treatment that could reduce healing time of lesions and consequently reduce the total dosage of drugs needed to treat is favourable. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in reducing healing time of lesions in patients with pemphigus vulgaris. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, within-patient, left/right, controlled trial, 20 hospitalized patients with pathologial and immunohistologial (direct and indirect immunoflourecence) proven pemphigus vulgaris (PV) were chosen. In addition, all patients had at least one appropriate pemphigus lesion on each side of the body that had not healed after 2-week systemic therapy and sterile saline washing. EGF (10 microg/g) in 0.1% silver sulfadiazine cream vs. 0.1% silver sulfadiazine cream alone was applied randomly on one side of the body. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that median time to heal with application of EGF plus silver sulfadiazine cream was 9 days, in comparison with 15 days for silver sulfadiazine cream alone (log-rank test, P=0.0003). No intervention-related adverse effect was observed during the study. CONCLUSIONS: EGF can significantly reduce healing time of skin lesions in patients with pemphigus vulgaris, at least when this cream base is applied (Cochrane skin group identifier: CSG20).     

Informed consent, parental awareness, and reasons for participating in a randomised controlled study

BACKGROUND: The informed consent procedure plays a central role in randomised controlled trials but has only been explored in a few studies on children. AIM: To assess the quality of the informed consent process in a paediatric setting. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to parents who volunteered their child (230 children) for a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of ibuprofen syrup to prevent recurrent febrile seizures. RESULTS: 181 (79%) parents responded. On average, 73% of parents were aware of the major study characteristics. A few had difficulty understanding the information provided. Major factors in parents granting approval were the contribution to clinical science (51%) and benefit to the child (32%). Sociodemographic status did not influence initial participation but west European origin of the father was associated with willingness to participate in future trials. 89% of participants felt positive about the informed consent procedure; however, 25% stated that they felt obliged to participate. Although their reasons for granting approval and their evaluation of the informed consent procedure did not differ, relatively more were hesitant about participating in future. Parents appreciated the investigator being on call 24 hours a day (38%) and the extra medical care and information provided (37%) as advantages of participation. Disadvantages were mainly the time consuming aspects and the work involved (23%). CONCLUSIONS: Parents' understanding of trial characteristics might be improved by designing less difficult informed consent forms and by the investigator giving extra attention and information to non-west European parents. Adequate measures should be taken to avoid parents feeling obliged to participate, rather than giving true informed consent.     

四肢创伤围术期的脂肪栓塞综合征

目的:论述四肢创伤围术期脂肪栓塞综合征的病因、病理、临床表现及防治。方法:查阅关于四肢创伤围术期脂肪栓塞综合征方面的文献,进行总结。结果:脂肪栓塞综合征在四肢多发骨折中应引起临床医师认识和重视。结论:脂肪栓塞综合征防治的关键是防止应激反应发生、低血容量、组织缺氧、骨折早期固定、髓内钉手术进行减压处理及皮质类固醇的应用。     

电磁脉冲辐射对原癌基因c-fos调控区的影响

目的　通过研究电磁脉冲 (electromagneticpulse ,EMP)辐射对原癌基因c fos调控区域的影响 ,探讨其诱导细胞功能改变的机制。方法　构建c fos启动区氯霉素乙酰化转移酶 (chloramphenicolacetyl transferase,CAT) ,然后转染HeLa癌细胞株 ,高场强EMP模拟源 (有界波模拟源 )辐射细胞 ,EMP场强为6× 10 4V/m ,脉冲上升时间为 2 0ns ,脉宽为 3 0 μs ,频率为 2 .5个脉冲 /min ,辐射 2min ,处理后 2 0min时观察细胞中CAT的活性。结果　EMP辐射转染的细胞后 2 0min ,转染了P50 0 ( -711～ -2 2 3bp)和P2 50 ( -3 62～-10 0 )的Hela细胞其CAT活性明显高于对照水平的活性 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　EMP辐射可引起c fos基因调控区的 -3 62～ -2 2 5明显改变。     

肠系膜血管病变引起的急腹症八例报告

目的：全面认识肠系膜血管病变引起的急腹症的严重性，提高疗效。方法：对8例临床特点、治疗方法和效果进行了分析比较。结果：6例经手术病理证实，初诊多表现为急腹症，症状和体征不相符，5例误诊，1例术前确诊，2例肠系膜血管供血不足经CT及腹腔动脉造影明确诊断并经药物治疗，7例治愈，1例死亡。结论：该病较少见，症状和体征无特异性，难以做出准确的诊断，B超和CT是较敏感的检查，对诊断有积极的作用。早期切除坏死肠段，包括静脉阻塞的肠系膜部分，术中和术后抗凝治疗是预防复发、降低病死率的重要措施。