Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
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About 4% of consultations in general practice involve patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints. Evidence of peptic ulcer disease is identified in only 20-30% of the patients. No organic explanation of the symptoms is found using endoscopy in 20-50%; these patients are given the diagnosis non-ulcer dyspepsia or functional dyspepsia. ⋯ The gastric motility is influenced by stress; there is a strong relationship between anxiety, depression and functional dyspepsia. Antacids, H2-blockers and prokinetics are hardly more effective than placebo in patients with functional dyspepsia, while antidepressants have been proven effective in reducing dyspeptic symptoms. Likewise, psychological treatment like bio-feedback, stress management, interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive therapy has also been proven effective in reducing dyspeptic symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia.
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Antidotes are therapeutic substances that are used primarily to counteract the toxic action of poisonous agents and thus have an important role in the treatment of poisoning. Antidote availability is crucial for the poisoned patient; it is important that hospitals keep antidotes in stock to treat these patients. Most antidotes are expensive, infrequently used, and have short shelf-lives. This makes hospital stocking economically difficult. In Norway, there is no national antidote programme. ⋯ This survey showed that the antidote availability is not satisfactory. The availability of antidotes in Norwegian hospitals is discussed and recommendations are given.
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Apr 2002
Case Reports[Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis--an unusual complication of hyperthyroidism].
Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a complication of hyperthyroidism. ⋯ TPP is most common in Asian males, very few cases are reported in females. In Western countries TPP is rare, but with increasing immigration, TPP is likely to occur more frequently.