Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
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A re-analysis of the Sydney Diet Heart Study (Ramsden et al., BMJ 2013) suggested that a diet high in linoleic acid increased the risk of coronary heart disease. The authors ascribe this to a lack of the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, in the oils and fats consumed. This argument has some weaknesses. ⋯ Additionally, the fats consumed by subjects in the intervention group were high in trans fats, which may have increased risk. Finally, a large recent clinical trial failed to show any benefit of linolenic acid. The conclusion is, therefore, that this re-analysis provides insufficient evidence to justify changes in current dietary recommendations.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2013
Review[Terminal care in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) often fear of dying from suffocation. This fear is also common in relatives and caregivers. Research has, however, shown that ALS patients seldom die from suffocation. ⋯ Intensive guidance of the relevant medical, practical and ethical aspects are necessary. Particularly in the pre-terminal and terminal phases, support given to an ALS patient requires a pro-active attitude on the part of the treating physician. To this end, physicians may seek advice from the Dutch ALS Center, a palliative care consultation team, a hospice physician or a center for home mechanical ventilation.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2013
Review[Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: from biomarker to treatment].
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common cause of chronic joint inflammation in childhood. The aetiology is unknown and the pathogenesis is multifactorial. JIA manifests itself in many various ways. ⋯ MRI examination is playing an increasingly important role in making a correct early diagnosis and in assessing response to therapy. After 6 months JIA patients are classified, based on clinical characteristics and laboratory results, into one of the JIA categories according to the criteria of the International League of Associations for Rheumatology. Recent developments in therapy, such as starting biological treatment at an early stage, have led to an improvement in the prognosis of JIA and to structural joint damage occurring less often.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2013
Review['Postoperative pain treatment' practice guideline revised].
On the initiative of the Dutch Association of Anaesthesiologists, a multidisciplinary workgroup has revised the 2003 practice guideline on 'Postoperative pain treatment' for adults and children. The main reason for revision was the availability of new drugs and new methods of administration. The most important deviations from the previous edition are the following. ⋯ In patients with relative contraindications for epidural analgesia, peripheral and locoregional blocks or multimodal pain treatment are advised. In the case of postoperative nausea and vomiting, administration of dexamethasone, droperidol and 5-HT3-antagonists is recommended, preferably in combination. Non-medicinal treatment options are not recommended.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jan 2013
Review[Secondary prevention with clopidogrel after TIA or stroke].
In patients with TIA or stroke of arterial origin various antiplatelet agents, or combinations of these, have been found to be effective to reduce the risk of new vascular complications. International guidelines currently recommend three treatment strategies with antiplatelet agents after TIA or stroke: acetylsalicylic acid in combination with dipyridamole, clopidogrel monotherapy, or alternatively acetylsalicylic acid monotherapy. In the Netherlands, current standard antiplatelet therapy after a TIA or stroke is a combination of acetylsalicylic acid and dipyridamole. ⋯ Clopidogrel monotherapy is easier to use, has fewer side effects and has recently become cheaper than the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and dipyridamole. For secondary prevention in the Netherlands we advise following the international guidelines on thromboprophylaxis after TIA or stroke. Clopidogrel could be considered as an alternative treatment to the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and dipyridamole.