Efficacy of Artichoke dry extract in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia.

Efficacy and tolerability of artichoke dry extract (drug/extract ratio 25-35:1, aquous extract, CY450) as coated tablets containing 450 mg extract (tradename: Valverde Artischocke bei Verdauungsbeschwerden) was investigated in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia and compared with placebo. 143 adult patients with initial total cholesterol of > 7.3 mmol/l (> 280 mg/dl) were included in a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled, multi-center clinical trial. Patients received 1,800 mg artichoke dry extract per day or placebo over 6 weeks. Changes of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol from baseline to the end of treatment showed a statistically significant superiority (p = 0.0001) of artichoke dry extract over placebo. The decrease of total cholesterol in the CY450 group was 18.5% compared to 8.6% in the placebo group. LDL-cholesterol decrease in the CY450 group was 22.9% and 6.3% for placebo. LDL/HDL ratio showed a decrease of 20.2% in the CY450 group and 7.2% in the placebo group. There were no drug related adverse events during this study indicating an excellent tolerability of artichoke dry extract. This prospective study could contribute clear evidence to recommend artichoke dry extract CY450 for treating hyperlipoproteinemia and, thus, prevention of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

Dimethindene maleate in the treatment of pruritus caused by varizella zoster virus infection in children.

The efficacy and tolerability of dimethindene maleate (CAS 3614-69-5, DMM, Fenistil) as drops in the treatment of pruritus in children suffering from chicken-pox were investigated in a study with two different doses of dimethindene maleate and placebo. 128 children, 1 to 6 years of age, were included in a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled, multi-center clinical trial. Patients received either a dosage of DMM of 0.1 mg/kg x d, or 0.05 mg/kg x d, or placebo, respectively. All patients received a commercially available astringent lotion for topical treatment of skin lesions. The primary efficacy criterion which was the change in the itching severity score from baseline to the end of the treatment assessed as area under the baseline (AUB) showed for both treatments with DMM a statistically significant superiority versus placebo in reducing the severity of itching. There was no statistically proven difference between the two verum groups.

Effects of dimethindene maleate on psychomotor performance in the oculodynamic test compared with placebo and loratadine.

The effects of dimethindene maleate (CAS 3614-69-5) on the central nervous system-as sustained release pellets (Fenistil OAD; OAD = once a day) and sustained release tablets (Fenistil retard) with an immediate release fraction-were investigated by means of the oculodynamic test (ODT) and visual analogue scales and compared to loratadine (CAS 79794-75-5) and placebo. In the confirmatory part of the study 18 healthy volunteers were included in a single-blind, randomised, 3-way change-over design with Fenistil OAD, loratadine, and placebo. An additional, fourth exploratory arm with Fenistil retard was run in 6 (out of the 18) subjects after completing the main part of the study. The ODT includes electro-oculography, choice reaction task, and cardiologic parameters under workload. Visual analogue scales were used for subjective ratings on well-being and drug effects concerning wakefulness (sedation), excitation, dizziness, performance, effort, and dry mouth. The results show no relevant differences between either of the active drugs and placebo. Therefore it can be stated that after a single dose there is no sedating effect of dimethindene maleate compared to loratadine or placebo.

Assessment of tennis elbow using the Marcy Wedge-Pro.

The Marcy Wedge-Pro (MWP), a device used in training by tennis players, was employed in the assessment of tennis elbow. The MWP was used to measure the ability of patients to perform wrist extension exercises, since pain resulting from this specific activity is a prominent symptom of the condition. The MWP results were compared with clinical measures and found to identify accurately patients who responded to treatment (P < 0.05). This study illustrates the potential of the MWP to assess tennis elbow quantitatively.

Transient 210-nm absorption in fused silica induced by high-power UV laser irradiation.

Synthetic fused silica, exposed to high-power KrF excimer laser irradiation, shows the well-known induced absorption at 210 nm owing to E' center generation. Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy reveals that this induced absorption is transient in nature. The generation rate of E' centers depends strongly on the irradiation history, the OH content, and previous high-temperature processes. In order to explain the experimental observations, a nonabsorbing state of theE' center is postulated. The recovery of the induced optical absorption in high-OH fused silica is explained as a conversion from E' centers to these nonabsorbing centers.

[Partial trisomy 1 (1q31-41) caused by intrachromosomal insertion in 1p31.3 in a newborn infant and a sister of the mother]. / Partielle Trisomie 1 (1q31-41) infolge intrachromosomaler Insertion in 1p31.3 bei einem Neugeborenen und der Schwester der Mutter.

Insertions of chromosomal material which are due to 3 breaks are rare events. In this observation a segment of the long arm of chromosome 1q31-41 was shifted to 1p31.3 on the short arm and after recombination had caused trisomy of this segment in 2 cases. Main phenotypical feature is colobomatous microphthalmia. Other traits in which both patients differ considerably are non specific. Any correlation between duplications of the long arm of chromosome 1 and phenotypical expression has not yet been recognized.