South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Wound healing with honey--a randomised controlled trial.
To compare honey and IntraSite Gel as woundhealing agents, to record side-effects, gauge patient satisfaction and calculate the cost-effectiveness of the honey used. ⋯ A distinction should be made between shallow wounds and abrasions when wound healing is being measured. There was no evidence of a real difference between honey and IntraSite Gel as healing agents. Honey is a safe, satisfying and effective healing agent. Natural honey is extremely costeffective.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Selective cerebral hypothermia for post-hypoxic neuroprotection in neonates using a solid ice cap.
The main objective of this study was to study the safety and efficacy of a simple, cost-effective method of selective head cooling with mild systemic hypothermia in newborn infants with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. ⋯ Nasopharyngeal temperature monitoring was not reliable as an acute clinical indicator of brain temperature in these spontaneously breathing infants, and the back temperature in supine infants correlated better with deep rectal temperature than did exposed skin temperature. This method of cooling achieved systemic cooling but there were large variations in regional temperatures in 3 of the 4 infants. The variations in temperature were probably due to the excessive cooling effect of the ice cap, coupled with the use of external heating to maintain systemic temperature at 35-35.5 degrees C. Variation in temperature was reduced when additional insulation was provided. However, the additional insulation resulted in the loss of the selective cerebral cooling effect. This cooling technique was therefore not an appropriate method of selective head cooling, but did successfully induce systemic hypothermia. This method of insulating an ice cap could therefore be used to induce whole-body cooling but the use of lower core temperatures of 33-34 degrees C is recommended as this will probably result in fewer regional temperature fluctuations. Ideally a more uniform method of cooling should be used.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy of albendazole against the whipworm trichuris trichiura--a randomised, controlled trial.
To test the efficacy of albendazole against the whipworm Trichuris trichiura for school-based deworming in the south-western Cape, South Africa. Children infected with Trichuris were randomised to 3 doses of albendazole (400, 800 or 1200 mg), each repeated 4 times. The boy/girl ratio was 1. A group not infected with worms was treated with placebo, creating a negative control. ⋯ The 400 mg stat dose had a low Trichuris cure rate. To repeat the dose on 2 or 3 days would increase cost, reduce compliance and complicate management. Albendazole cannot be used in deworming programmes in South Africa because it is a Schedule 4 prescription medicine. De-scheduling is needed urgently, particularly because of high efficacy against hookworm in KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring countries.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Labour induction at term--a randomised trial comparing Foley catheter plus titrated oral misoprostol solution, titrated oral misoprostol solution alone, and dinoprostone.
To compare three methods of labour induction. ⋯ Use of extra-amniotic Foley catheter placement showed no measurable benefits over the use of oral misoprostol alone, or vaginal dinoprostone.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effect of 1% and 2% propofol on blood lipids during longterm sedation.
To compare the effects of 1% and 2% propofol on the maximum and average lipid levels, the relative frequency of hyperlipidaemia, the propofol dose required to achieve an equivalent degree of sedation, the pharmacodynamic effects at the required infusion rates, and the effect on respiratory function. ⋯ Seventy-five patients were enrolled in the study, of which 72 were evaluable for safety analysis and 58 were evaluable for efficacy analysis. The total daily dose of propofol (ml/day) in the 2% propofol group was about 60% of that in the 1% propofol group, indicating that the lipid load in the 2% propofol group had only slightly more than half the lipid load in the 1% propofol group. Thirteen of 27 patients (48%) in the 2% propofol group had abnormally.