ABSTRACT
A prospective, controlled clinical trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy and safety of two types of silicone gel, Silastic Gel Sheeting (SGS) and Cica-Care (CC), in the management of hypertrophic scars. Forty-two patients were randomly assigned to SGS and CC groups and their hypertrophic scars were divided into treated and control areas. Extensometric measurements were made at monthly intervals for 6 months and significant improvement of the treated areas relative to the control areas was observed. The two gels were not significantly different in efficacy or safety, but CC, being more adhesive and more comfortable than SGS, has advantages in ease of use and patient acceptability.
Subject(s)
Cicatrix, Hypertrophic/therapy , Silicone Elastomers/administration & dosage , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Cicatrix, Hypertrophic/pathology , Female , Gels , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Between 1978 and 1983, at least 20 children with fluoride poisoning were admitted to two major children's hospitals in Brisbane. Data on telephone calls received by Poisons Information Centres in Australia about fluoride toxicity show that Brisbane, the water supply of which is not fluoridated, received approximately twice as many calls per head of population as were received in Sydney and Melbourne. Concern is also expressed at the standard of packaging of fluoride tablets currently marketed in Australia. A treatment plan for cases of acute fluoride poisoning after oral ingestion is presented.
Subject(s)
Fluoride Poisoning/diagnosis , Sodium Fluoride/adverse effects , Acute Disease , Australia , Child, Preschool , Female , Fluoride Poisoning/epidemiology , Fluoride Poisoning/therapy , Humans , Infant , Male , TabletsABSTRACT
Seventy-nine children with symptoms of urinary tract infections were randomly allocated to treatment with a single dose or a 7-day course of trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. Of the 42 patients (39 girls, 3 boys) who fulfilled the criteria for the trial, 23 were given a single-dose regimen and 19 of them a 7-day regimen. Both groups of patients had sterile urine cultures 2 days after starting treatment. Eight patients had underlying structural renal abnormalities (n = 3, single-dose regimen; n = 5, 7-day regimen). One patient in the single dose group had a recurrence of infection on day 7. These results show that single dose trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole is as effective as the conventional 7-day course in children with symptomatic urinary tract infection. Further investigation of the renal tract is necessary regardless of the fact that the infection has been eradicated by single-dose treatment.
