Quantitative determination of vigabatrin and gabapentin in human serum by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Published methods for routine clinical monitoring of vigabatrin and gabapentin are often very laborious. A simple GC-MS method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of vigabatrin and gabapentin in human serum. METHODS: After protein precipitation, the compounds are derivatized by methylation and analysed on a polydimethylsiloxane column using splitless injection. Cyclobarbital is used as the internal standard. To attain maximal sensitivity, detection is performed in selected ion monitoring mode. RESULTS: The method was fully validated and linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration ranges from 5 to 80 microg/mL for vigabatrin and from 5 to 30 microg/mL for gabapentin. The within-day and day-to-day relative standard deviations at three different concentration levels were <10% and <15%, respectively. The limit of quantitation was 2 mug/mL for both compounds. CONCLUSIONS: The presented method provides high chromatographic resolution, good sensitivity and unequivocal identification potential and can be used for simultaneous analysis of both antiepileptics.

[Distant healing and diabetes mellitus. A pilot study]. / Fernheilung und Diabetes mellitus: Eine Pilotstudie.

BACKGROUND: The Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene, Freiburg (IGPP) in cooperation with the Abteilung Naturheilkunde, University Hospital, Zürich investigated whether Distant Healing has a beneficial effect on patients with diabetes mellitus regarding the state of the disease and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the pilot study was to observe the progression of the disease with various medical and psychological measures and to explore which of them might be sensitive for measuring possible treatment effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 14 diabetic patients were observed for a period of 16 weeks. Within this time they underwent a treatment of 4 consecutive weeks (weeks 9-12) by 5 experienced and trustworthy healers each. Patients were informed about the duration of the treatment but not about the time point of its beginning. Patients and healers never met and there was no contact between researchers and patients during the study period. RESULTS: With regard to medical parameters, reduction in fructosamine level was observed during the healing period, increasing fructosamine level after the end of the healing period. Sensitivity, measured only at the beginning and at the end of the study period, decreased significantly. The other parameters showed some significant changes but there was no correlation to the Distant Healing intervention. Regarding the psychological data, only improvements were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the possibility that a Distant Healing intervention could have certain effects on patients with diabetes mellitus.

Analgesic efficacy of the serial application of a sulfurated mud bath at home.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of a series of applications of sulfurated mud baths in outpatients suffering from back pain. Within 2 weeks 13 patients took 6 sulfurated mud baths (group A) and 12 patients 6 tap water baths (group B) at home. Before the bath and over 48 h after starting the 1st and the 6th bath, pain intensity was evaluated by the patients according to a visual analogue scale (VAS). The main outcome parameter was the weighted (for time of observation) sum of pain intensity (SPI) after the 6th bath. The mean SPI in group A was 741 mm x h (95% CI 594-864 mm x h) and in group B 1,112 mm x h (95% CI 929-1,252 mm x h) (p = 0.009), suggesting a significantly stronger analgesic effect of a series of sulfurated mud baths than of a series of tap water baths.

[Foot reflex zone massage--general practice and evaluation]. / Fussreflexzonenmassage--Praxis und Evaluation.

Reflexology is a frequently used method of complementary medicine. This review deals with history, theory and practise of this technique. Furthermore, results of the published clinical trials are discussed.

[Foot reflex zone massage--a review]. / Fussreflexzonenmassage--eine Ubersicht.

Reflexology is a frequently used method of complementary medicine. This review deals with history, theory and practise of this technique. Furthermore, results of the published clinical trials are discussed. Although there are more positive than negative results in the therapeutic studies, a final assessment is not possible because of methodological flaws of the studies. More controlled clinical trials are essential.