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PURPOSE: We report the results of low back pain treatment using a combination of nucleotides, uridine (UTP), cytidine (CMP) and vitamin B12, vs a combination of vitamins B1, B6, and B12. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, of a 60-day oral treatment: Group A (n=317) receiving nucleotides+B12 and Group B (n=317) receiving B vitamins. The primary endpoint was the percentage of subjects in each group presenting adverse events (AEs). Secondary endpoints were visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores at Visit 2 (day 30) and Visit 3 (day 60) in relation to pretreatment values, Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) scores and finger-to-floor distance (FFD) (percentage of subjects per group presenting improvement ≥5 points and ≥3cm, respectively). RESULTS: Seventy-five (24%) and 105 (33%) subjects (P=0.21) presented 133 and 241 AEs, with 3159% of subjects presenting ≥2 AEs (P=0.0019) in Group A and Group B, respectively. Twenty-four subjects in Group B were discontinued due to AEs, while no AE-related discontinuations occurred in Group A (P<0.0001). VAS score reduction after 30 and 60 days of treatment was statistically significant (P<0.0001) in both groups, with Group A showing greater reduction at Visit 2 (P<0.0001). RMQ score improvement ≥5 points occurred in 99% of subjects from each group, and FFD improvement ≥3 cm occurred in all subjects. CONCLUSION: Treatment with nucleotides+B12 was associated with a lower number of total AEs, fewer AEs per subject, and no AE-related treatment discontinuation. Pain intensity (VAS) reduction was superior at 30 days of treatment in the nucleotides+B12 group and equivalent between groups at 60 days of treatment. Improvements in efficacy measures RMQ and FFD were observed in both groups at treatment days 30 and 60.
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BACKGROUND: Phlebotonics have beneficial effects on some symptoms related to chronic venous disease (CVD) of the lower limbs. The most commonly used one is diosmin, available in a pure semisynthetic form or as a micronized purified flavonoid fraction. Patients and Methods. The primary objective of this single-blind, randomized, parallel-group, prospective study was to assess the clinical noninferiority of nonmicronized diosmin 600 mg once daily (D-group) compared to micronized diosmin 900 mg plus hesperidin 100 mg once daily (D/H-group) over a 6-month treatment period. Adult patients with a symptomatic CVD of the lower limbs (C0-C3 grade; 20-60 mm on a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS)) were included. The primary endpoint was the change (from baseline to last postbaseline value) of the intensity of the lower-limb symptoms on VAS. RESULTS: 114 patients (mean age, 44.4 years; women, 90.4%) were randomized in the per-protocol analysis (D-group, n = 57; D/H-group, n = 57; D/H-group, p < 0.0001) in the D-group and -22.8 mm (p < 0.0001) in the D-group and -22.8 mm (p < 0.0001) in the D-group and -22.8 mm (. CONCLUSION: Nonmicronized diosmin 600 mg was proven to have a noninferior efficacy compared to micronized diosmin 900 mg plus hesperidin 100 mg, associated with greater ease in swallowing the tablet.
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INTRODUCTION: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common autosomal dominant genetic disorders. Some clinical manifestations are present at birth, while some develop during childhood, and others can occur at any age. Given the early age at which patients develop clinical features, diagnosis is often made during childhood. The most prevalent features of NF1 are café au lait spots, dermal and plexiform neurofibromas, and learning disability. A variety of skeletal problems may be seen in NF1, including scoliosis, short stature, and pseudoarthrosis. Reduced skeletal bone mass has been documented to be a common phenomenon in children and adults with NF1. Decreased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) levels have been noted in adults and children with NF1 and have been reported to be inversely correlated with the number of dermal neurofibromas in adults. However, the actual correlation of vitamin D level to bone density and dermal neurofibroma number in children with NF1 remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate vitamin D levels among children and adolescents with NF1. The secondary objective was to describe the levels of vitamin D among children and adolescents with NF1, to verify in which age group there is a higher frequency of vitamin D alterations, and to explore vitamin D level correlations between age, gender, sun exposure, number of neurofibromas, and number of plexiform neurofibromas. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional, hospital-based study. We obtained a convenience sample of individuals with confirmed diagnosis of NF1 from patients attending the Medical Genetics Service of the IPPMG-UFRJ and Santa Casa de Misericórdia of Rio de Janeiro over a 24-month period. We evaluated vitamin D levels in blood samples of patients with NF1 by a chemiluminescent immunoassay method, and we correlated the results with gender, age, number of neurofibromas, number of plexiform neurofibromas, and satisfactory sun exposure. RESULTS: Of the 55 patients, 28 (50.9%) were female and 27 (49.1%) were male. Patient ages ranged from a minimum of 1.2 to a maximum of 19.6 years (mean age 10.95 years) and the median was 11.11 years. Median and mean body mass index (BMI; z score) were -0.09 (minimum value -1.63 and maximum of 4.62) and 0.16, respectively. The mean value of vitamin D was 30.82 ng/mL (±12.31) and the median was 29 ng/mL (minimum value of 10.40 ng/mL and maximum of 79.19 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of vitamin D did not differ according to gender, age group, or the presence or number of cutaneous neurofibromas. Among patients with adequate sun exposure, there was a higher incidence of sufficient serum vitamin D levels. Patients with cutaneous neurofibromas in the 0 to 11 age group had a greater tendency to vitamin D sufficiency in relation to patients aged 11 to 19 years.
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Case report of Community-acquired pneumonia in a male patient without co-morbidities. Empiric antibiotic treatment did not resolve the clinical picture of productive cough, and a chest computerized tomography and sputum culture with antibiogram were performed, identifying S. maltophilia infection with sensitivity to levofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Treatment with levofloxacin (500 mg/day for 15 days) resulted in resolution of the clinical picture.
