No abstract

Seven hundred three subjects completed a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, single-center study comparing the single-dose efficacy of ketoprofen 12.5 mg, ketoprofen 25 mg, acetaminophen 1000 mg, and placebo in the treatment of tension headache. For the primary efficacy variable, 4-hour sum of pain relief intensity differences, ketoprofen 25 mg was significantly superior to placebo. Ketoprofen 25 mg also demonstrated superior pain relief in the first hour after dosing, and the time to meaningful pain relief was significantly shorter for the ketoprofen 25-mg group. Ketoprofen 12.5 mg proved to be significantly superior to placebo for pain relief intensity difference and pain relief at 3 hours, global assessment of medication at 4 hours, and for time to onset of meaningful pain relief. The data suggest a dose response for ketoprofen 12.5 mg and 25 mg. Acetaminophen 1000 mg proved to be numerically more favorable than placebo in most variables, but could not be separated from placebo with statistical significance. In spite of possible inflation of the placebo response due to sensitivity limits of the study, ketoprofen 25 mg demonstrated a more rapid onset of analgesia compared to acetaminophen 1000 mg, and patients' global assessment rated ketoprofen 25 mg higher than acetaminophen 1000 mg.

The effects of two topical cream formulations containing clotrimazole 1% and ketoconazole 2%, respectively, were clinically compared in a double-blind, randomized manner for a 28-day therapy of interdigital tinea pedis in 106 treated patients. Ketoconazole was to be used twice daily whereas clotrimazole was administered only once daily. The primary response criterion defined as the number of patients with cure or improvement after 28 treatment days was comparable with 62.0% vs. 64.0% (clotrimazole vs. ketoconazole) for the full analysis set of 100 (50 vs. 50) patients. The mycological response revealed a negative culture and microscopy in 53.1% vs. 52.1% of the patients after 14, in 76.0% vs. 79.2% after 28, and in 83.7% vs. 76.9% after 56 days of observation, indicating a possibly better long-term efficacy of clotrimazole. The development of the overall score of tinea-related signs and symptoms did not show relevant differences between the two drugs and continuously decreased from 11+/-5 in both groups at baseline to 2+/-2 vs. 2+/-1 at day 56. As to the remission and improvement rates of single symptoms, better results were obtained under clotrimazole than under ketoconazole particularly for pruritus (97.8 vs. 89.6%) and burning/stinging (97.5 vs. 89.4%) which both are perceived as most bothersome by the patients. Furthermore, both substances appeared as comparably safe and well tolerable (8 vs. 7 adverse events with only 1 vs. 3 drug related). In conclusion, a successful therapy of tinea pedis can be achieved with both clotrimazole and ketoconazole within 28 days of treatment and once-daily clotrimazole is equally effective as twice-daily ketoconazole with favourable influences on the most irritating symptoms of the disease. Mycological and reliable clinical cure cannot be observed during two weeks after start of treatment.

OBJECTIVE:  Antacids are used worldwide for the treatment of acid‐related conditions such as heartburn and gastro‐esophageal reflux disease. The present study investigated the in vitro acid neutralization and bile acid binding capacities of hydrotalcite compared with other antacids that are available in Germany and China. It has been reported that hydrotalcite is effective in the treatment of bile reflux gastritis because of its binding capacity to bile acids. METHODS:  Hydrotalcite and other preparations of antacids were tested in a comparative in vitro study. The neutralization properties were determined with static and dynamic tests (preliminary antacid test, acid neutralization capacity (ANC) test, Rossett‐Rice (RR) test) and the bile acid binding test with a standardized commercial test kit (Merckotest bile acids). RESULTS:  In the static and dynamic tests hydrotalcite 500 mg and some other antacids, such as magaldrate, almasilate, algedrate Mg hydroxide, Ca/Mg carbonate and calcium carbonate, demonstrated favorable ANC reflected by rapid onset and long duration of action, and high buffering capacity. In the RR test, a hydrotalcite dose of 1000 mg was able to keep the pH level above 3 for 76.9 min. The bile acid binding capacity test yielded that hydrotalcite had the highest binding potential to taurodeoxycholic acid, a lipophilic bile acid associated with cell and mucosa toxicity. CONCLUSIONS:  Hydrotalcite has a rapid onset of action, a high buffering capacity and a long duration of action. In particular, hydrotalcite binds cytotoxic bile acids. These pharmacochemical properties make hydrotalcite a most suitable antacid.

Two topical formats containing clotrimazole [500 mg single dose vaginal tablet (VT) or 10% single dose vaginal cream (VC) for intravaginal use] combined with additional clotrimazole cream for topical application to the vulval area (Canesten 1 Combi, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany) were compared with oral fluconazole 150 mg single dose treatment of vulvovaginal mycosis (VVM) in a single-blind clinical study. The objective of the study was to demonstrate the equivalent efficacy of the clotrimazole combination therapies (VT + 1% cream and VC + 2% cream), and fluconazole 150 mg oral capsule (Diflucan 1, Pfizer Gmbh, Karlsruhe, Germany) in terms of overall response defined as clinical cure and mycological resolution. Overall, combination therapies containing either clotrimazole 500 mg VTs or clotrimazole 10% VC were as effective as a single dose fluconazole 150 mg oral tablet in treating VVM with rates for overall response being 66%, 61% and 60%, respectively, after 14 days. There were no significant differences in the time to onset of symptom relief in the clotrimazole 500 mg tablet group and clotrimazole 10% VC compared with fluconazole 150 mg oral capsules. Only 50% of 88 patients across treatment groups with mycological recurrence also experienced return of symptoms over the entire 8 week follow-up period. All treatments administered were safe and well-tolerated and the number of patients experiencing adverse events was low.