Current medical research and opinion
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The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in Karachi, Pakistan, was examined in a group of 100 children, aged 2 to 6 years, and 200 adult females, aged 17 to 35 years. Anaemia, defined as a haemoglobin level less than 11.5 g/dl, was present in 47% of the children and 30% of the adult females. The majority of subjects had normal red cell counts and MCV, but haematocrit and MCH were below normal in one-quarter of the children and one-third of the adult females. ⋯ Many also had elevated iron binding capacity and reduced serum iron levels. Iron deficiency may be superimposed on folate deficiency in this population. The potentially serious consequences and higher prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in children and women of childbearing age demand greater efforts toward diagnosis and eradication in developing countries.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Comparison of diabetic control in type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetic patients treated with different sulphonylureas.
Diabetic control was compared in groups of Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetic patients treated concurrently for 1 year with five different sulphonylurea drugs: chlorpropamide (21), glipizide (24), gliquidone (22), gliclazide (22) and glibenclamide (23). Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) levels decreased in all groups over the first 2 months, but tended to level off or increase thereafter. ⋯ Only the glibenclamide group had a significant change in weight (p less than 0.05). There may be differences between different sulphonylureas which could be of clinical advantage in certain patients.
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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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Seven hundred and fifty cycles of treatment with a new triphasic oral contraceptive (WL-49(50). 'Trinordiol') containing the lowest quantity of steroids of all available preparations were evaluated in 75 healthy young women (mean age 19.6 years), 70% of whom had regular, normal cycles. Sixty-five percent had not used contraception before; the others had previously been on combined or progestagen-only oral contraceptives or had an IUD. The mean length of treatment with the triphasic preparation was 10 cycles. ⋯ Complaints of oestrogen-related symptoms such as breast tenderness and digestive disorders were probably due to the reduced progestagen content of the preparation compared with combined low fixed daily dose oral contraceptives. However, no increases in dysmenorrhoea and/or premenstrual tension were noted. It is concluded that the triphasic preparation provides effective contraception with excellent cycle control and minimal side-effects, which should help to increase the acceptability of low-dose combined oral contraceptives.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of a combination of orphenadrine/paracetamol tablets ('Norgesic') on myalgia: a double-blind comparison with placebo in general practice.
The clinical efficacy and tolerability of a combination preparation ('Norgesic') of 35 mg orphenadrine plus 450 mg paracetamol was compared with that of placebo in a controlled double-blind, parallel group, 7-day study comprising 44 patients suffering from pain due to tension of the cervical and upper thoracic musculature. The patients were allocated at random into two homogeneous groups, stratified by sex and initial pain intensity. One group received the combination, the other placebo. ⋯ Despite the low dosage used, orphenadrine/paracetamol produced statistically significant pain relief from initial levels by and from the second day of the study. Comparison between the groups showed that the analgesic efficacy of the combination was significantly superior to that of placebo from the third day of treatment. These results confirm the efficacy of a combination of orphenadrine/paracetamol in patients suffering from myalgia nuchae.