Clinical efficacy of rosuvastatin in lipid management in Chinese patients in Hong Kong / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Rosuvastatin has been claimed to be more potent than other statins in its ability to lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of rosuvastatin in LDL cholesterol lowering therapy for new or switched hyperlipidaemic Chinese patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study was a retrospective one in patients who took rosuvastatin in the outpatient clinics of Prince of Wales Hospital during the period of July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005. The prescribing pattern, the utilization pattern and the side effect profile were recorded. Attainment of lipid goals for each patient was assessed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP) III guidelines.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 261 Chinese patients (mean age (64.8 +/- 12) years; 55.6% male) were recruited into the study. The mean LDL-cholesterol level was (3.50 +/- 1.29) mmol/L prior to Rosuvastatin and (2.30 +/- 1.73) mmol/L after Rosuvastatin treatment (P < 0.0001). Rosuvastatin raised the LDL-cholesterol goal achievement rate from 28.0% to 74.3% in all patients combined (P < 0.0001) and from 11.0% to 79.0% for statin naive patients (P < 0.0001). Approximately 4% of patients developed side effects including myalgia, elevated liver enzymes, and dizziness.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rosuvastatin was effective in improving LDL-cholesterol goal attainment and lowering LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in either newly started or switched patients.</p>

Corticosteroids are not present in a traditional Chinese medicine formulation for atopic dermatitis in children

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used as an alternative in treating children with atopic dermatitis (AD) but its efficacy and potential side effects are debatable. We recently used a TCM capsule (PentaHerbs) on 9 children and observed significant reductions in clinical scores of disease severity. However, there have been concerns that the therapeutic effects of many forms of TCM are due to the presence of corticosteroids. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if common corticosteroids are present in PentaHerbs capsules.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>PentaHerbs powder was analysed with thin-layer chromatography, infra-red spectrophotometry and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hydrocortisone, prednisolone, fludrocortisone and dexamethasone were not detected in the PentaHerbs capsules.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Corticosteroids are not present in the 5 familiar herbs that were earlier shown to have efficacy on AD.</p>