Open safety-in-use trial of a new high-potency antacid product.

In an open safety-in-use study, the subjective effectiveness and taste acceptability of a new high-potency antacid product were compared to previous treatment in 109 patients presenting with upper gastro-intestinal disorders of functional origin. Severity of the dominant symptoms prior to treatment was compared with that of symptoms present during treatment. Sixty-seven per cent to 73% of upper gastro-intestinal tract symptoms were completely relieved. Eighty-three per cent versus 48% of patients seen in a private practice setting, as compared with the speciality practice, reported good to excellent results, with 92% versus 56% describing good to excellent taste acceptability. When compared with previous antacid therapy, 70% of the patients preferred the new high-potency formulation to the regular-strength products, for both effectiveness and taste. The incidence of product-related side-effects was low, with only 6.7% experiencing the diarrhoea or loose stools commonly associated with conventional products containing magnesium hydroxide.

Benign paroxysmal peritonitis: the principal manifestation of familial mediterranean Fever.

Two cases of familial mediterranean fever are presented. Several other members of the family were probably affected by the same disease. The etiopathogenesis, ethnic origin and clinical symptomatology are discussed in detail. The importance of history and clinical investigation in differential diagnosis is emphasized, in comparison with the non-specific results of laboratory tests. Finally, therapeutic measures are reviewed, of which only colchicine appears promising at present.