Articles: treatment.
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In pain clinics, thorough documentation of patient-related data is essential for analysis of patient history, long-term evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and research on the etiology and epidemiology of chronic pain syndromes. With these requirements in mind, we realized a microcomputer documentation system based on a commercial data-base software concept (dBASE). Each patient's data are stored in three different sections: data for identification, basic data (mainly diagnostic findings), and treatment related follow-up data. ⋯ The microcomputer documentation system offers listings for administration as well as effective patient scheduling thanks to a recall system by date of last contact, selected therapeutic procedures and any other item in the medical record. A mail-merge service can be applied, which is particularly useful for follow-up-studies. The documentation system means routine work can be standardized and performed in an economical manner, with the ultimate aim of enhancing the quality of pain therapy.
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A randomized, double-blind study was performed to test the analgesic effect of salmon calcitonin (sCT). The pain threshold of ten healthy subjects was measured during electrical stimulation of the dental pulp. Each subject underwent four different tests, whereby sCT at doses of 50 IU, 100 IU and 200 IU or placebo was administered subcutaneously. ⋯ The maximal threshold change was also significantly dependent on the dosage: with placebo the maximal change was 4 mA, while with sCT 50, sCT 100, and sCT 200 it was 14, 17 and 18 mA, respectively. The plasma levels of sCT and its analgesic activity were significantly correlated, as was demonstrated by means of linear regression based upon the bilogarithmic transformation of the plasma concentration. Altogether, the results prove conclusively that calcitonin given systemically possesses primary analgesic efficacy, a property that fits well into its spectrum of activity in the treatment of (painful) bone diseases.
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The American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Nurses Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the National Medical Association recently released guidelines aimed at protecting the privacy of adolescent patients. The organizations stated that, in many cases, young people will not confide in health professionals if the young people feel that these discussions will be reported to their parents. Ultimately, the organizations said, health risks to adolescents are so impelling that legal barriers and deference to parental involvement should not stand in the way of needed health care. ⋯ However, the statute is silent in regard to medical treatment involving prescription contraceptives. By negative inference, the statute would preclude a minor on her own from making a decision about abortion. This article examines Texas statutes dealing with consent for medical treatment for minors and discusses US Supreme Court decisions on a minor's rights to abortions and contraceptives.
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Eight hundred and forty male patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic for urethritis were investigated. Out of them, 31.6% had gonococcal urethritis, 16.1% suffered from nongonococcal urethritis due to Ureaplasma urealyticum and in 12.6%, both the organisms were present. ⋯ Gonorrhoeae were resistant to penicillin, all the strains were sensitive to spectinomycin; while all Ureaplasma strains were sensitive to tetracyclines. As the treatment differs for these two organisms, it is necessary to identify the correct etiological agent.
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The first type of facial pain is of vascular origin. Cluster headache is described as well as its subgroups and carotidodynia. Two organic lesions of the arterial wall can also cause facial pain: dissection of the internal carotid artery and giant cell arteritis. ⋯ Also, local lesions in the cranial nerves can cause facial pain, as well as organic processes of the upper cervical spine and of the occipitocervical transition. The characteristics of facial pain due to eye or ENT and dental lesions are described. So called atypical facial pain occurs quite frequently and mostly affects middle-aged women.