International journal of clinical practice
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Apr 2005
Schizophrenia syndromes associated with changes in ventricle-to-brain ratios: a serial high-resolution three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging study in first-episode schizophrenia patients using subvoxel registration and semiautomated quantification.
A cohort of patients with first-episode schizophrenia was dichotomised into two age- and sex-matched groups of clinical syndromes, the active and withdrawn, and underwent high-resolution three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and 8 months later. A cohort of age- and sex-matched normal controls was also imaged at the same time intervals. ⋯ Compared with the controls, the withdrawn patients showed progressive ventricular enlargement, with an increase in ventricle-to-brain volume ratio, whereas the active group showed a reduction in ventricle-to-brain volume ratio, with a change opposite in sign and smaller in magnitude. These findings lend further support for the aetiological validity of this syndromal model of schizophrenia and are likely to be of importance in furthering our understanding of its pathogenesis and in the development of suitable therapeutic strategies.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2005
Factors affecting pain in intravenous catheter placement: role of depression illness.
The aim of the study was to examine factors affecting pain during intravenous (IV) catheter placement in an emergency department. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at an academic emergency department. Nine hundred and twenty-five adult patients who had a 20-gauge IV catheter placed were enrolled in the study. ⋯ Patients with a history of depression reported significantly higher pain than non-depressed patients (p = 0.001). Depressed patients reported higher severity of pain during IV catheter placement than non-depressed ones. This may influence the decision on whether or not to use local anaesthesia for catheter insertion.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2005
Mechanisms and pattern of facial lacerations in the Accident Department.
The purpose of this study was to determine patterns of facial laceration seen in the Accident and Emergency Department and identify how they are related to the mechanism of injury. A retrospective analysis of facial lacerations of an adult presenting to Accident and Emergency department was made over a 6-month period. There were 197 consecutive facial lacerations. ⋯ Lacerations were mainly linear, with a mean length of 2.4 cm, and about 75% were precipitated by blunt injury. Identification of common patterns of injury corresponding to a certain mechanism may allow assessment of the difficult or non-compliant patient. Understanding mechanisms of injury will allow safety planners to design safer domestic and workplace environments.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Feb 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialCophenylcaine spray vs. placebo in flexible nasendoscopy: a prospective double-blind randomised controlled trial.
Practices vary across the UK on the use of topical preparation prior to flexible fibreoptic nasendoscopy. In this double-blind study, we randomised 98 patients to receive cophenylcaine or placebo nasal spray before flexible nasendoscopy. A visual analogue scale (1-100) was used to record pain, unpleasantness of taste and overall discomfort experienced. ⋯ There was no significant difference in pain or overall discomfort experienced between the two groups; however, the sensation of bad taste was significantly worse in the cophenylcaine group. In linear regression, factors that predicted the overall unpleasantness of the experience were primarily pain experienced and secondarily unpleasantness of taste. We conclude that the routine use of cophenylcaine for nasal preparation is not justified before flexible nasendoscopy.
-
Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Feb 2005
ReviewUpdate on treatment guidelines for acute bacterial sinusitis.
Acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS) is a common complication of viral upper respiratory tract infections and represents a considerable social burden both in terms of diminished quality of life for the patient and the economic implications of decreased productivity and treatment costs. Several national health authorities have developed guidelines for the management of ABS, which aim to promote rational selection of anti-bacterial therapy to optimise clinical outcomes while minimising the potential for selection of anti-bacterial resistance as a result of inappropriate anti-bacterial usage. This article provides an overview of current guidelines, with particular focus on the clinical significance of variations in treatment recommendations and new treatment options, such as the ketolide telithromycin, which was recently added to a number of national treatment guidelines.