European journal of clinical investigation
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialTopical butyrate improves efficacy of 5-ASA in refractory distal ulcerative colitis: results of a multicentre trial.
The treatment of distal ulcerative colitis, refractory to conventional 5-ASA/steroid treatment, is still a matter of debate. The present study aimed at confirming, with adequate statistical power, previous data indicating the usefulness of topical butyrate and 5-ASA in the treatment of this condition. ⋯ The combined treatment with topical butyrate and 5-ASA is significantly more effective than 5-ASA alone in the management of refractory distal colitis. Further improvements in the treatment of refractory distal ulcerative colitis may be feasible based on the identification of patient subgroups and the association of two or more active drugs. Butyrate may well be one of them.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2003
Time to progression is dependent on the expression of the tumour suppressor PTEN in ovarian cancer patients.
Quantitative analyses of PTEN expression of ovarian cancer tissues were performed in this study. PTEN expression was investigated in terms of each patient's progression-free interval to indicate the role of PTEN in the generation of platinum refractory tumours. ⋯ The data suggest that decreased PTEN expression accompanies the progression of ovarian cancer. Declining PTEN expression results in a shortened relapse-free interval, whereas an increase of PTEN prolongs the time to progression. However, as far as recurrence occurs, PTEN is not the only mechanism to suppress tumour progression in ovarian cancer.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDose-effect relations of loop- and thiazide-diuretics on calcium homeostasis: a randomized, double-blinded Latin-square multiple cross-over study in postmenopausal osteopenic women.
Thiazide diuretics (TDs) reduce whereas loop diuretics (LDs) increase urinary calcium. We studied the effects of different doses of a TD and LD on electrolytes, calcitropic hormones and biochemical bone markers. ⋯ Whether a LD or TD is chosen as diuretic therapy affects calcium homeostasis. The effects of LDs are potentially harmful to bone. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether long-term treatment with LDs causes osteoporosis. Until then, we suggest using, if possible, a TD rather than a LD as diuretic therapy in order not to risk deleterious effects on bone metabolism.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Dec 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialClinical and genetic features underlying the response of patients with bronchial asthma to treatment with a leukotriene receptor antagonist.
Treatment with antileukotriene drugs results in clinical improvement in many, though not all, patients with asthma. It can be hypothesized that the subpopulation of asthmatic patients, characterized by aspirin intolerance and cysteinyl-leukotriene overproduction, might profit most from antileukotriene treatment. ⋯ No difference in the clinical response to the montelukast treatment was observed between the AIAs and the ATAs.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2002
Association between increased levels of IL-2 and IL-15 and outcome in patients with early acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome remains a serious, often fatal, condition, despite progress in modern critical care treatment. Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of the syndrome, although their role in the evolution and outcome has not been clearly elucidated. We explored whether the measurement of serum and bronchoalveolar lavage IL-2 and IL-15 at the time of hospital admission can predict the outcome of this syndrome. ⋯ Determination of serum IL-2 and IL-15 levels may be a valuable and simple aid to improve identification of patients with ARDS or at risk for ARDS who are at high risk of subsequent mortality.