Advances in therapy
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Advances in therapy · Jun 2008
Clinical TrialEfficacy and safety of pregabalin in alcohol dependence.
Pregabalin is a new anxiolytic that selectively binds to the alpha2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, inhibiting release of excessive levels of excitatory neurotransmitters. In this open-label trial we aimed to investigate the efficacy of pregabalin on alcoholism indices in detoxified alcohol-dependent subjects. Reduction of cravings, psychiatric symptom improvements, and the evaluation of safety parameters were the secondary endpoints. ⋯ Pregabalin shows promise as a treatment for alcohol dependence. Although limited by a low number of participants and by the open design, this is the first study concerning the efficacy and safety of pregabalin in current alcoholics. In these patients pregabalin was effective and well tolerated. Additional research is needed to explore the clinical relevance of these findings.
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Advances in therapy · Apr 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialIschaemic preconditioning attenuates haemodynamic response and lipid peroxidation in lower-extremity surgery with unilateral pneumatic tourniquet application: a clinical pilot study.
The harmful effects of ischaemia-reperfusion on skeletal muscle during extremity surgery can be diminished by using medications or ischaemic preconditioning ⋯ Ischaemic preconditioning attenuates haemodynamic response and lipid peroxidation during lower-extremity surgery with unilateral tourniquet application.
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Advances in therapy · Apr 2008
Serum lipid levels and 3-month prognosis in Chinese patients with acute stroke.
The possible correlation between serum lipid levels and outcome after stroke is still controversial. Therefore we examined whether serum lipid levels at admission had any prognostic value in the 3-month outcome after stroke. ⋯ The data from this study show that low levels of serum TC, TG and HDL-C are strong independent predictors of 3-month poor outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke and ICH.
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Advances in therapy · Apr 2008
Case ReportsUnusual loss of body hair in childhood: Trichotillomania or alopecia.
Hair loss (alopecia) is a relatively common problem in childhood and the underlying pathophysiology and manifestations are diverse. We report four cases of hair loss with unusual distributions and discuss the outcome of their management. One child had alopecia with unilateral loss of hair over the eyebrow. ⋯ Diagnosis and treatment are based on clinical assessment, evaluation of coexisting psychosocial factors and exclusion of autoimmune and other underlying disorders. In alopecia totalis or universalis, alternative therapy is often sought and tried for prolonged periods but efficacy has remained unproven. These cases serve to illustrate the principles of management of children with unusual patterns of hair loss.
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Advances in therapy · Feb 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRandomised, cross-over comparison of sevoflurane and ketamine-midazolam anaesthesia in children undergoing extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.
The aim of this study was to assess the haemodynamic responses, adverse events and recovery characteristics associated with sevoflurane and ketamine-midazolam anaesthesia for paediatric extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. ⋯ Sevoflurane and ketamine-midazolam both provided effective anaesthesia for paediatric lithotripsy. The recovery and discharge times were shorter after anaesthesia with sevoflurane compared with ketamine-midazolam in children undergoing lithotripsy.