Current medical research and opinion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of flunisolide and beclomethasone dipropionate in seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Sixty-nine patients were entered into a randomized, single-blind, parallel group study. Patients had a history of moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis and all patients commenced treatment before the start of the pollen season. Treatment was with either flunisolide or beclomethasone dipropionate, both being administered as 2 sprays to each nostril twice daily for 7 weeks. ⋯ Analysis of results did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the treatments. Minor side-effects were reported by 1 patient from each treatment group. Both treatments proved to be effective in the treatment of hay fever and were equally well tolerated.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Does oxpentifylline ('Trental') have a place in the treatment of intermittent claudication?
In a randomized double-blind study, the clinical and haemorrheological responses of 40 patients receiving oxpentifylline (200 mg 3-times daily) were compared with those of 40 patients receiving placebo. The treatment period in both groups was 2 months. The parameters measured before and after treatment were: subjective response; claudication and maximum walking distances; ankle systolic indices; maximum blood flow in the lower limb by gravimetric plethysmography; plasma fibrinogen; erythrocyte deformability and whole blood viscosity. ⋯ The placebo group showed a significant improvement (p less than 0.05) in claudication distance and mean plasma fibrinogen concentration, but no such improvements were observed in the oxpentifylline group. There were no significant differences in either of the two groups with regard to the subjective response, ankle systolic indices, maximum limb blood flow or whole blood viscosity. It is concluded that oxpentifylline , when taken in oral form at the dose used in this study, increased erythrocyte deformability without conferring any clinical or haemorrheological benefit to patients with intermittent claudication.