Acute antidepressant response to fluoxetine and sertraline in psychiatric outpatients with psychomotor agitation.

INTRODUCTION: Sertraline and fluoxetine have different pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic profiles, which may be of clinical relevance in the determination of treatment response in different subtypes of depression. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the efficacy of sertraline and fluoxetine in a subgroup of 78 patients with evidence of significant psychomotor agitation (HAM-D item 8 h 1 and HAM-D item 9 S 2 at study entry) in a 6-week study comparing sertraline (50 - 100 mg/day) and fluoxetine (20 - 40 mg/day) for the treatment of major depression in 286 psychiatric outpatients. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with psychomotor agitation responding ( S 50% reduction HAM-D score) at last visit was significantly ( P < 0.05) higher in the sertraline group than in the fluoxetine group (62% vs 39%, respectively). Most of the secondary efficacy parameters showed significantly ( P h 0.05) greater improvement in the sertraline treatment group at last visit: HAM-D h 8, HAM-D total score, HAM-D anxiety/somatization factor, HAM-D weight factor, HAM-A total score, CGI-S, Raskin Depression score, and Covi Anxiety score. CONCLUSION: The findings of this retrospective data analysis suggest that fluoxetine may be a less efficacious antidepressant than sertraline in patients with psychomotor agitation.

Treatment and prophylaxis of psoroptic mange of sheep by a 10% w/w dip formulation of high CIS-cypermethrin.

A 10% w/w dip formulation of high CIS-cypermethrin (Ecofleece sheep dip) was evaluated as a prophylactic and treatment method against Psoroptes ovis of sheep. A laboratory trial using groups of healthy sheep under challenge showed that, when dipped as directed for 1 min, they were protected against infection for at least 4 weeks. Twelve sheep infected with psoroptic mange at the laboratory were effectively treated by one dipping in Ecofleece. A field outbreak of psoroptic mange in a flock of 237 crossbred ewes was likewise successfully treated by just one dipping. As this formulation is also effective against blowfly myiasis it is a useful alternative to organophosphate dual purpose dips.

A novel dip formulation of a synthetic pyrethroid (SP) for the control of blowfly myiasis of sheep.

Field trials were carried out during the summer months of 1994 and 1995 to ascertain the prophylactic effects of a 10% w/w formulation of a synthetic pyrethroid (Ecofleece, Cross Vetpharm Group Ltd.) against sheep blowfly myiasis (fly strike). The trials were carried out on the same three farms each year. The flocks, of mixed breeds, comprised between 500 and 700 sheep. Treated sheep which consisted of ewes and lambs were plunge dipped, with at least one complete immersion. At least 10% of each flock were left untreated to act as sentinels. Both sentinel and treated sheep mixed freely at pasture. All recorded cases of fly myiasis were treated by topical applications of the same formulation. Inspections of the flocks were made daily by the farmers and weekly by one of the investigators. Prophylaxis against blowfly myiasis was achieved for periods ranging from 3 to 9 weeks. On some occasions, fly larvae developed in faecal dags but failed to establish on the sheep or cause lesions.