Estrangement, interventions, and male violence toward female partners.

The primary objective of this paper is to integrate three relatively distinct lines of research on male violence towards intimate female partners. First, the relation between conjugal violence and estrangement is examined. We found them to be positively associated, but they can vary independently. Second, we examined the association between estrangement and interventions. Estrangement was found to be associated with private, private/public and mainly public interventions depending upon the level of estrangement. High levels of estrangement are strongly but not invariably associated with ending the relationship. Third, we reviewed the link between interventions and violence. Interventions which empower battered female partners are most effective in ending male partner violence. Taken together, the findings tend not to support hypotheses derived from the theory of male proprietariness. Implications for social policy are discussed in the final segment.

A large scale comparative study in general practice with nitroglycerin spray and tablet formulations in elderly patients with angina pectoris.

In an 8-week comparative study, 410 patients were treated with nitroglycerin spray and 387 with conventional 500 mcg sublingual tablets. Data were analysed to compare the two treatments and to compare the results in older patients (greater than or equal to 65 y) with younger patients (less than 65 y). Spray was significantly superior to tablets in terms of number of patients helped, speed of pain relief and reduction in the number of attacks from pre-study levels. The occurrence of headache was significantly less in the spray group. There was no significant difference in the number or nature of adverse events but more spray patients reported taste disturbance. The clinical advantages seen in the entire population were maintained when the two age categories were considered separately. Further, 95% of patients found the spray convenient. The authors conclude that improved efficacy together with improved stability of the spray without loss of convenience makes Nitrolingual spray an acceptable alternative to tablets irrespective of patients' age.

Efficacy and tolerability of cefuroxime axetil in patients with upper respiratory tract infections.

A study was carried out in general practice to assess the clinical effectiveness and tolerability of the oral cephalosporin, cefuroxime axetil, in the treatment of 369 patients presenting with acute infections of the upper respiratory tract. The main diagnoses were tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis and otitis media. Patients were treated for 7 days with 1 tablet of 250 mg cefuroxime axetil twice daily. Details of fever and signs and symptoms of infection such as pain, sinus tenderness and reddening of the eardrum were recorded before and after treatment. Response was assessed by the physician on the basis of the clinical findings (the microbiological findings will be reported separately), and by patients on their satisfaction with their therapy. The results indicated an overall clinical improvement rate of 89%: all clinical parameters showed significant improvement and most patients were symptom-free when seen after treatment. Only 2 patients were classified as treatment failures and withdrawn from the study. Complete resolution of the infection was seen more often in patients with tonsillitis and pharyngitis than in those with sinusitis or otitis media. Over 80% of patients expressed their satisfaction with therapy. Adverse events reported were few, even though patients were prompted with a non-leading question, and were mainly mild in nature. The most frequently reported were diarrhoea (5%) and loose motions (3%).

Efficacy and tolerance of a fixed ratio combination of hydrochlorothiazide, amiloride and timolol, taken before or after food, in the treatment of hypertension.

An open study was carried out in general practice to assess the efficacy and tolerance of a fixed ratio combination of hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg), amiloride (2.5 mg) and timolol (10 mg) in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate hypertension, and to determine if there were any differences in response when medication was taken before or after food. A total of 663 patients was studied and received 1 to 2 tablets once daily for a period of 12 weeks; 322 patients took their medication before and 341 after food. The results showed that there were similar significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and in heart rate in both groups, over half of the patients being controlled (less than 90 mmHg diastolic) after 2 weeks and 80% by the end of the study period. Relatively few adverse effects were reported and the incidence during treatment was less than that recorded on entry to the study. There was no evidence to suggest that the timing of drug intake in relation to food had any effect on the efficacy or tolerance of the combination.