Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences
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Open Access Maced J Med Sci · Jan 2019
Successful Treatment of Vitiligo Vietnamese Patients with Vitilinex® Herbal Bio-Actives in Combination with Phototherapy.
Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disease, that causes progressive loss of melanocytes, resulting in hypopigmented skin patches. Current treatments aim at stopping the disease progression and achieving repigmentation of the amelanotic areas. Corticosteroids, surgery, topical immunomodulators, total depigmentation of normal pigmented skin and phototherapy are current treatment options for vitiligo although phototherapy remains the treatment of choice. There is no documented evidence that herbal bio-active products may also be effective treatment options for vitiligo. ⋯ Vitilinex® herbal bio-actives in combination with nbUVB is a more effective treatment option for vitiligo with 87% of the patients achieving a re-pigmentation rate higher than 50%, compared to Vitilinex® alone (65%) or nbUVB alone (62.5%).
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Open Access Maced J Med Sci · Jan 2019
Efficacy and Safety of Methotrexate in Combination with Mini Pulse Doses of Methylprednisolone in Severe Alopecia Areata. The Vietnamese Experience.
Treatment of severe alopecia areata remains very difficult, especially in alopecia areata totalis and alopecia areata universalis. Methotrexate is known to be effective in the treatment of severe and chronic autoimmune disorders. ⋯ Combination Methotrexate and mini pulse dose of methylprednisolone are effective and safe in treatment severity alopecia areata.
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Open Access Maced J Med Sci · Jan 2019
Dexmedetomidine versus Magnesium as Adjuvants to Bupivacaine-Induced Caudal Block in Children: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Trial.
Caudal block remains fundamental in pediatric anaesthetic practice. It is very useful in a wide range of surgical procedures and has proved to have a remarkable safety record, But one of the major limitations of the single-injection technique is the relatively short duration of postoperative analgesia. Prolongation of caudal analgesia using single-shot technique has been achieved by the addition of various adjuvant. ⋯ Both magnesium (50 mg) and dexmedetomidine (2 mcg/Kg) improved the analgesic profile of bupivacaine-induced caudal block in children. Dexmedetomidine administration was accompanied with higher sedation score and negative hemodynamic profile.
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Open Access Maced J Med Sci · Dec 2018
Ondansetron Is an Effective Alternative to Decrease the Incidence of Postspinal Hypotension in Healthy Subjects Undergoing Infra-Umbilical Surgeries Compared To Combined Volume Loading and Vasoconstrictors: Randomized Controlled Trial.
One of the important and predicted physiological effects of spinal anaesthesia is hypotension. A range of strategies including mechanical interventions, intravenous fluids and vasoconstrictor drugs have been used to minimise or prevent spinal anaesthesia-induced hypotension. Observational studies suggest that ondansetron reduces the incidence of post-spinal hypotension (PSH) and support the use of combined fluid preloading and vasoconstrictors for this purpose (but with limited doses) to avoid side effects as fluid overload and tachycardia respectively. ⋯ The preemptive use of Ondansetron alone versus combined vasoconstrictors with fluid preload significantly reduces the incidence of post-spinal hypotension (PSH) with no significant difference between both regimens. Furthermore, they also reduced consumption of the used vasoconstrictors and fluids to correct hypotension.
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Open Access Maced J Med Sci · Nov 2018
Serum Calcium and Magnesium Levels in Normal Ghanaian Pregnant Women: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.
Pregnancy is described as a normal physiologic state associated with various biochemical changes. Magnesium and calcium are essential macronutrients required for foetal growth. Complications associated with their deficiency during normal pregnancy include; low neonatal birth weight, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and preterm labour. Changes in serum levels of magnesium and calcium in normal pregnancy have not been extensively studied among Ghanaian women. ⋯ Total serum calcium and magnesium levels in normal pregnancy were non-significantly lower compared to non-pregnant women in Ghana. There was a reduction in total serum protein, and albumin levels during pregnancy with a significant reduction noticed during the third trimester compared to the non-pregnant state.