ABSTRACT
Chronic idiopathic urticaria can be extremely disabling in it's severe form and may respond poorly to antihistamines or systemic corticosteroids, so immunomodulatory treatment had been tried for those severe cases. To determine the beneficial effect and safety of methotrexate in Chronic idiopathic urticaria patients compared with loratadine. Forty patients with severe Chronic idiopathic urticaria were included in this study. Twenty of these patients received methotrexate in a dose of 12 mg once a day/week IM injection, after performing baseline investigations. The other 20 patients received loratadine 10 mg orally once daily. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks and were followed up for 8 weeks after treatment. After 8 weeks of treatment there was a significant improvement in both frequency of episodes and duration of episodes in patients treated with methotrexate. At the end of treatment and after 8 weeks follow up assessment, patients treated with methotrexate showed a significant improvement regarding frequency of episodes [P value <0.0001] and duration of episodes [P value<0.0001] compared with those treated with loratadine. It is concluded that methotrexate was not only significantly more effective than loratadine in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria but also had a significantly sustained effect after discontinuation of therapy
ABSTRACT
The rate of prescribing various antihypertensives was evaluated. Of 230 prescriptions, 180 contained single drug therapy while 50 contained combined therapy. Methyldopa [21%], atenolol [12.9%], frusemide [12.9%], propranolol [11.5%], hydrochlorothiazide+ amiloride [11.2%] and chlortalidon [8.7%] were the most commonly prescribed agents, whether used single or in combination. Betaadrenoceptor blockers [B-blockers] [34.4%], diuretics [33.3%], and centrally acting drugs [C.N.S. acting drugs] [18.3%] were the most commonly prescribed groups when used as monotherapy. Regarding combined therapy combining a diuretic with a C.N.S. acting drug [52%]or aB-blocker[36%] was preferred. of the various groups of antihypertensives analyzed whether used singly or in combination, diuretics [37.8%], B-blockers [30.8%] and C.N.S. acting drugs [21%] attend the highest prescribing rates. It is concluded that the prescribing rate of antihypertensive drugs in Baghdad is influenced by the step care program as well as other factors which include; experience of the physician, availability of the drug, associated diseases, cost of the drug, and patient compliance
Subject(s)
Drug PrescriptionsABSTRACT
The effects of indomethacin-prednisolone on urinary bladder carcinoma was investigated All patients underwent full clinical evaluation including cystoscopy and clinical staging of the tumour. The mean tumour diameter was determined and a biopsy material was obtained. Patients were instructed to take prednisolone 15 mg/day orally and indomethacin 200mg/day rectally for four weeks. At the end of treatment, the intravenous urogram and cystoscopy were repeated. Nine patients had completed the study. A significant reduction [P < 0.05] in the mean tumour diameter was observed. Furthermore, a tendency for symptomatic and radiological improvement was noted. It is concluded that indomethacin-prednisolone combination has a beneficial effect on carcinoma of the bladder
Subject(s)
Drug Therapy, Combination , Indomethacin , PrednisoloneABSTRACT
The hemodynamic changes and metabolic alterations during hemorrhagic shock were determined in deoxycorticosterone-saline hypertensive [DOC-saline] rats and compared with those of normotensive control rats. The shocked DOC-saline rats showed more drop in the arterial pressure, an early rise and subsequent decline in plasma glucose and lower plasma triglyceride than the normotensive control rats. Survival rats were equal. Treatments with naloxone 1 mg/kg/hr produced a more dramatic rise in the arterial pressure of the normotensive than the DOC- saline rats; survival rates of both groups were greatly improved. naloxone reduced the decline in plasma glucose during the late hours of hemorrhagic shock and increased plasma triglycerides in DOC-saline rats. It is concluded that naloxone is less effective in shocked DOC-saline hypertensive rats than in shocked normal control rats