Results of a national multicentric study on compliance to treatment with various disphosphonate formulations in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

AIM: Compliance to pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis is crucial if the risk of fracture is to be reduced. Case series show that treatment with traditional bisphosphonates in the form of tablets has a compliance of between approximately 30% and 70%. The aims of this paper were to assess compliance to treatment with various formulations of bisphonates and to identify those at highest risk of discontinuation. METHODS: In this multicentre retrospective observational study, a population of 387 women diagnosed with postmenopausal osteoporosis under treatment with bisphosphonates (risedronate, ibandronate, alendronate in tablet form, alendronate in a fluid solution per os) was observed for at least a year. Demographic data and information pertaining to the type of drug taken, compliance to treatment, side effects, reasons for discontinuation, the basal examination and follow-up at 18 months and later were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Analysis of patient compliance to a prescribed treatment plan showed a significantly higher persistence (P<0.001) in the group taking alendronate in soluble solution form (83.3%) compared to the group taking any bisphosphonate in tablet form (66.7%). At the same time, patientspresenting comorbidity, receiving more than one therapy, not taking vitamin D, and in surgical menopause, risked discontinuation.

Revision of texts with word-processing.

The aim of the research was to study the use of a word processor to improve writing and revising skill by 28 pairs of primary school children. Analysis confirmed greater difficulty in the drafting of texts than with traditional handwriting, but the increase in the number of words and errors does not imply improvement in lexical and orthographical aspects. The guided revision of texts on a word processor may support beginning writers' expression and, with increasing ease, allow them to use greater precision in the process of revision.

Diabetes and illness image: an analysis of diabetic early-adolescents' self-perception through the Draw-a-person test.

To study the self-projective representations expressed by diabetic children, aged between 10 and 15 yr., and to compare these with representations of a control group the Draw-a-person test associated with those for subsequent Draw-a-sick-person were administered to 23 children regularly checked by an Antidiabetic Centre. The diabetic subjects drew an image of "sick person" having projective elements with a regressive value and denoting a refuge in the past, together with depressive signs of retiring into themselves and of less consideration of the self. Also, the diabetic children seemed to be less prone to the cultural stereotype which requires a smiling and happy image of "the healthy person." At the same time there was also a transparent symbolic defense which allowed the diabetics to adapt variously and to move from their anxious state toward psychological recovery.

Comparison between the central effects of camazepam and temazepam. Computerized analysis of sleep recordings.

The effects of acute administration per os of 30 mg camazepam and the same dose of temazepam, were compared with placebo in 8 young male volunteers, fully adapted to the laboratory environment by 6 nights of adaptation. The study was double-blind, in a random order, 10 days separating each session. Spectral analysis was performed on the all-night records (1-min epochs), and the relative power of six frequency bands calculated. Concerning sleep parameters, temazepam induces a statistically significant reduction of: phase shifts; number of awakenings; percent duration of sleep stages I and IV. A significant increase of the percent duration of stage II and sleep efficiency was also found. Camazepam shows modification, with the same trend, but not reaching statistical significance. Concerning spectral analysis, temazepam induces a light increase of the relative power of the slowest frequencies, paralleled by an increase of the fast bands, while major effects are found on the characteristic periodicity of delta activities, which appear disrupted by the drug. These effects are not evident with camazepam, which does not seem to distort the normal sleep pattern.