Current medical research and opinion
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Nine patients with Type I diabetes mellitus, diastolic blood pressure of 90 to 100 mmHg and persistent microalbuminuria of greater than or equal to 30 micrograms/min were treated with 50 to 100 mg atenolol daily for 3 years in an uncontrolled pilot study to assess the effect of long-term reduction of blood pressure on microalbuminuria. Treatment with atenolol prevented progression of microalbuminuria with a median (range) urinary albumin excretion rate before treatment of 74 (33 to 196) micrograms/min and 50 (5 to 123) micrograms/min after 3 years of therapy (p less than 0.05). ⋯ Measurements of renal function and diabetic control remained unchanged throughout the study period. These results suggest that early and prolonged use of antihypertensive therapy is beneficial in slowing down progression of microalbuminuria.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and tolerability of diclofenac dispersible in elderly patients with osteoarthritis.
The efficacy and tolerability of a new dispersible formulation of diclofenac were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre study in patients aged 60 to 80 years suffering from osteoarthritis. A total of 314 elderly patients with a mean age of 68.9 years received either 50 mg diclofenac dispersible or placebo 3-times daily for a period of 4 weeks, with paracetamol being allowed as rescue analgesic for both treatment groups. The study consisted of a baseline evaluation and two follow-up visits after 14 and 28 days of treatment. ⋯ Thirty (14.4%) patients out of 208 assessed in the diclofenac group reported adverse events compared to 18 (17%) out of 106 who received placebo; therapy was discontinued prematurely due to poor tolerability in 4.8% and 5.7% of patients, respectively. The adverse events were predominantly related to the gastro-intestinal system and were mostly mild to moderate in severity. The results of this 4-week study thus demonstrate that diclofenac dispersible is not only effective in treating osteoarthritis in the elderly but also has an acceptable tolerability profile in a patient population which is especially vulnerable to adverse effects induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of a single occasion treatment of head louse infestation with phenothrin liquid shampoo or a carbaryl lotion.
Fifty subjects with head louse infestation were recruited into a controlled trial to compare a phenothrin liquid shampoo with a carbaryl lotion. Twenty-seven subjects were treated with phenothrin and 23 with carbaryl, each formulation being applied only on a single occasion. Subjects were inspected for evidence of live lice and eggs at 24 hours and 3 to 4 weeks after application of treatment. ⋯ No statistically significant difference in treatment efficacy was observed between the two groups. Fewer side-effects, however, were observed with the phenothrin liquid shampoo than with the carbaryl lotion. These results indicate that, when applied as a single treatment, a phenothrin liquid shampoo was as effective as a carbaryl lotion in eradicating head lice and eggs.