High-concentration topical capsaicin in the management of refractory neuropathic pain in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: a case series.

AIM: The aim of this case series was to report the use of 8% topical capsaicin patch (marketed under the trade name Qutenza®) a in the management of refractory neuropathic pain (NP) in adult patients with type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1). METHODS: Capsaicin has been suggested for NF1 patients suffering from refractory peripheral NP despite several years of analgesic treatments. The patch was applied for 60 minutes on the painful area, with tolerability control (blood pressure, intensity of pain and dermal reaction). The evaluation was done at the beginning of treatment and during the 2 months following the first treatment (phone calls at weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8). The primary efficacy criterion was the response rate: a patient was considered to be responding if he or she reported an average relief ≥30% at the time of the follow-up calls. The secondary criteria were: interference scores (QCD), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) and overall treatment satisfaction, self-reported by the patient. RESULTS: Eight patients (5 females/3 males, 41.8 ± 8.2 years of age) received a first treatment with capsaicin. Patients had pre-existing pain for 6.6 years (±6.0) and were currently receiving an average of 6.1 (±3.9) different analgesics. The response rate was 37.5%. The three responders felt globally improved and satisfied, with the improvement in overall condition as interference scores decreased. Apart from the expected local reactions, the treatment was not accompanied by systemic side effects. CONCLUSIONS: As suggested in this case series, capsaicin provided pain relief in certain NF1 patients with resistant NP. The response rate is that expected in multi-line refractory NP. A significant benefit on the overall condition of some patients was observed. In addition, this topical treatment is administered every 3 months without systemic effects. This study is limited by the small number of patients, but was intended to describe a new and well tolerated alternative treatment.

[Evaluation of professional practices: Implication of hospital pharmacist in improving care for vulnerable patients]. / Évaluation des pratiques professionnelles : implication du pharmacien hospitalier dans l'amélioration de la prise en charge des patients en précarité.

As drug delivery activity to outpatients in precarious situation is rising continuously, the goal of this work was to perform an assessment of the professional practices of the care pathway of these patients, called PASS in France (permanence d'accès aux soins de santé). At first, two pharmacists did an audit of this care pathway. Then, options for improvement were suggested and established after a multidisciplinary work with pharmacists, physicians and social workers of the relevant services. Finally, after six months, those actions and their impact were evaluated. Over a three-year period, the audit showed an increase by a factor of 1.77 of the average number of prescriptions provided per year. Over the same period, the number of dispensed lines was increased by 2.2 and the annual costs were multiplied per 1.82. The pharmacy department suggested several corrective actions: at first, initiating new schedules suited to the activity; then, making adjustments in the reception zone; but also, establishing two new specific prescriptions and 89 helps cards about the most frequently delivered medications. As a result, the time dedicated to drug delivery has been cut in half while the number of pharmaceutical actions remained constant. This assessment of the professional practices showed how hard it is to formalize a transversal circuit as the PASS in hospital. The actions established had improved the organization and the drug delivery activity in the pharmacy department.

Dorsal trans-scaphoid perilunate dislocation in a 9-year-old child.

The authors reported on the surgical management of a trans-scaphoid retrolunate dislocation of the carpus associated with a stable styloid fracture of the radius and a displaced fracture of the triquetrum in a nine-year-old child. An open reduction of the dislocation and fixation using a screw inserted disto-proximally in the scaphoid were quickly carried out using a palmar approach. X-ray showed a good union nine months later. At 29 months the motion of the wrist was normal and pain-free, the strength was graded at 80 % in comparison to the contralateral side and the X-ray examination showed no carpal instability nor growth trouble. The authors discuss the mechanism of production and the therapeutic strategy.

AIDS education for health professionals.

PIP: 36 nurses participated in a three-day AIDS education course conducted by the Community AIDS Information and Support Center of the Johannesburg City Health Department during 1992. Participants were representative of all race groups in South Africa, but there were only four men in the group. The authors evaluated the impact of the program upon AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes. A control group of 51 nurses from the J.G. Strijdom Hospital in Johannesburg was selected and a questionnaire administered to evaluate any changes in knowledge and attitudes among both groups. Responses to the questionnaire indicate that the course effectively produced significant changes in the dimensions of attitudes to homosexuals and attitudes to Black sexuality, but there was no significant change in attitudes to AIDS or knowledge of AIDS. These findings were confirmed at the one-month follow-up. The results suggest that time-limited education programs can change health professionals' attitudes on AIDS-associated patients and groups.^ieng