The paradoxes of staphylococcal infection in dentistry

Study of the role of staphylococcal infection in pyoinflammatory complications of mandibular injuries showed that immunization of this category of patients with staphylococcal antitoxin simultaneously with antibiotic therapy leads to a significant increase in the blood level of anti-alpha-toxin. The latter has a positive impact on the clinical course of disease and staphylococcal contamination of involved site and oronasal mucosa.     

One-Year Follow-up of Duodenal Ulcers after 1-Wk Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori

Objective : to study the ulcer recurrence rate of Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcers at 1 yr after eradication of the bacteria by triple therapy. Method : Patients with H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcers were randomized to receive either triple therapy for 1 wk plus omeprazole for 4 wk (THple+OMP) (n = 78), or omeprazole alone (OMP) for 4 wk (N = 77). Patients were followed up every 3 months for symptom enquiry. At 1 yr, all asymptomatic patients were invited to attend for gastroscopy. Results : At 8 wk, 16 patients in the OMP group and four in the Triple+OMP group had an ulcer. During the 1-yr period, 12 patients in the OMP group and no patient in the Triple+OMP group developed symptomatic ulcers. At follow-up endoscopy at 1 yr, another 10 ulcers were detected in the OMP group and two in the Triple+OMP group. Fifteen patients in the OMP group and 13 in the Triple+OMP group were lost to follow-up. In total, ulcers were de-tected in 39 of 61 (64%) assessahle patients in the OMP group, and in six of 65 (97o) assessahle patients in the Triple+OMP group after I yr (χ² test: p < 0.001). Of the patients whose H, pytori were successfully eradicated hy Triple+OMP at 8 wk, 90% remained H. pylori negative at 1 yr. Conclusion : Triple therapy for 1 wk eradicates H, pylori infection and significantly reduces duodenal ulcer relapses.     

Tele-surgery of thoracic sympathectomy

Experience of surgical treatment of Raynaud's disease with application of thoracoscopic sympathectomy (TSSE) method using telesurgical technique was analyzed. Operative intervention was performed in 17 patients. Stable positive result was observed in all the patients for the period of 2 years and more. Regarding the intervention traumaticity, efficacy of treatment in immediate and late postoperative period, the patients quality of life, the duration of stay in hospital and the value of treatment, the TSSE results, performed with telesurgical technique application, were significantly better than the results of thoracotomic sympathectomy. Peculiarities of anesthesiologic support and predominance of application of monopulmonary artificial ventilation of lungs during performance of thoracic sympathectomy were noted.     

Efficacy of nimodipine in the prophylaxis of migraine

The efficacy of nimodipine in the prophylaxis of migraine was assessed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study carried out on 33 patients, 20 of whom suffered from classic and 13 from common migraine. Four patients dropped out, but not as a result of the side effects of the drug. The duration of drug treatment was 8 weeks. The dosage used was 30 mg four times daily. Nimodipine proved to be better than placebo, the number of migraine attacks and severity of headache showing a significant reduction. The drug was well tolerated and no marked side effects were noted. The results suggest that nimodipine is a useful new prophylactic drug for migraine, but further studies are needed before its final value can be evaluated.