[Can the decrease of blood alcohol level be accelerated? Results of a clinical study]. / Gyorsítható-e a véralkoholszint csökkentése? Egy klinikai vizsgálat eredményei.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Guardian Angel powder (GA) on the blood alcohol level. According to the experimental protocol, two sets of measurement were performed: modeling the eating and drinking habit of a typical family or social meeting, alcohol containing drinks corresponding to 70 g of pure alcohol and copious amount of food were consumed first without GA powder, then with GA powder. In the latter case GA powder was dissolved in water and one dose was taken before eating, the other one was consumed during eating. Blood samples were hourly collected from the volunteers in both sets for four hours. The measurement of blood alcohol level was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method proceeding to Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME). Our results show that the blood alcohol level decreased significantly when two doses of GA powder were consumed. After two hours of taking GA powder, the blood alcohol level was significantly lower in each volunteers compared to their own blood alcohol level measured in the absence of GA powder. This result shows that the individual variation of the alcohol metabolism does not influence significantly the effect of GA powder. Further studies are needed to investigate the detailed mechanism of the action of GA powder to find out whether GA powder influences the absorption of alcohol or/and the metabolism of alcohol.

EMG-biofeedback assisted pelvic floor muscle training is an effective therapy of stress urinary or mixed incontinence: a 7-year experience with 390 patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the short- and long-term efficacy of an intensive and EMG-biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program as a therapy of female stress or mixed urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence treated in the pelvic floor reeducation program at our clinic between September 1996 and March 2003 were included. EMG-biofeedback assisted PFMT was performed by specially trained therapists (one registered nurse and one midwife). Electric stimulation preceded PFMT if the pelvic floor muscle contractions were considered too weak for active training (Oxford < 2). Examinations included among others: conventional urodynamic studies prior to therapy, a stress provocation test (cough test), and determination of maximal pelvic floor muscle strength (Oxford-grading and electric EMG-potential). A retrospective chart review was performed. A questionnaire was administered for long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty four women attended our PFR-program in this 7-year period. All 390 women with stress (80%) or mixed (20%) urinary incontinence were evaluated. Mean age: 52 years. Mean duration of incontinence: 6.7 years. Two hundred and sixty three women completed the training (group 1, average number of training sessions: 8.7), 127 patients ended therapy prematurely (group 2, average number of training sessions: 4.1). Short-term results at the end of the PFR-program are available for group 1. There was a statistically significant improvement of the stress provocation test (cough test). The data before the therapy was 141x SUI degrees III (60%); 50x SUI degrees II (21%), 24x SUI degrees I (10%), 20x SUI degrees 0 (9%) as opposed to after the therapy 9x SUI degrees III (5%), 34x SUI degrees II (19%), 48x SUI degrees I (26%), 91x SUI degrees 0 (50%). There was a significant increase in the Oxford-score by 1.2 points (2.9-4.1; P<0.001). Self-reported improvement of incontinence symptoms was 95%. The electric EMG-potentials almost doubled (11.3-20.5 muV; P<0.001). Long-term results (questionnaire) for all patients: the average follow-up time was 2.8 years (range: 3 months to 7 years). Three hundred and twelve (80%) of the questionnaires returned. Seventy-one percent of them self-reported a persisting improvement of their incontinence symptoms. Thirteen percent of all women underwent incontinence surgery following the completion of conservative therapy (9.2% group 1, 25% group 1; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An intensive and EMG-biofeedback assisted PFMT is very effective. Often, avoidance of surgery is possible.