Aims-To compare the clinical eYcacy of hypo-osmolar oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution (224 mmol/l) and standard ORS solution (311 mmol/l) in severely malnourished (marasmic) children having less than 60% Harvard standard weight for age with dehydrating acute watery diarrhoea. Methods-In a double blind, randomised, controlled trial, 64 children aged 6-48 months were randomly assigned standard (n = 32) or hypo-osmolar ORS (n = 32). Results-Stool output (52.3 v 96.6 g/kg/ day), duration of diarrhoea (41.5 v 66.4 hours), intake of ORS (111.5 v 168.9 ml/kg/ day), and fluid intake (214.6 v 278.3 ml/kg/ day) were significantly less in the hypoosmolar group than in the standard ORS group. Percentage of weight gain on recovery in the hypo-osmolar group was also significantly less (4.3 v 5.4% of admission weight) than in the standard ORS group. A total of 29 (91%) children in the standard ORS group and 32 (100%) children in the hypo-osmolar group recovered within five days of initiation of therapy. Mean serum sodium and potassium concentrations on recovery were within the normal range in both groups. Conclusion-Our findings suggest that hypo-osmolar ORS has beneficial eVects on the clinical course of dehydrating acute watery diarrhoea in severely malnourished (marasmic) children. Furthermore, children did not become hyponatraemic after receiving hypo-osmolar ORS. (Arch Dis Child 2001;84:237-240)
Background:Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute inflammatory dermatosis. The association of human herpes virus 6 and 7 suggests the utility of use of antiviral agents in this disease.Aims and Objectives:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acyclovir in the treatment of PR.Methods:An observer-blind, randomized (1:1), parallel group, add-on trial was conducted on 24 adult patients with PR. Subjects of both Group A and B received the standard of care in the form of cetirizine 10 mg OD and calamine. Group A in addition received acyclovir 400 mg tablets thrice daily for 7 days. Both groups were followed up for four consecutive weeks for assessment of effectiveness and adverse events.Results:Group A complained of significantly fewer new lesions than Group B (P = 0.046). A complete response was obtained in all patients of Group A and 83% patients of Group B at the end of the follow up period. There was significant reduction in both lesional score and pruritus at second week follow-up in Group A and third week follow-up in Group B (P < 0.05). Minor adverse effects were observed in both treatment arms.Conclusion:Acyclovir offered rapid resolution of clinical severity of PR from second week onwards without significantly increased adverse events as compared to supportive therapy alone.
Recently nontoxic natural compounds are getting immense importance for the prevention of diseases of different etiology. Natural product provitamin A "carotenoids", largely α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin, are typical constituents of orange/red/yellow colored fruits and green vegetables. Different in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that carotenoids possess the capacity to scavenge DNA damaging free radicals, suppress angiogenesis, inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Epidemiological reports of case-control studies, nested case-control studies, and cohort studies support significant association between dietary intake and circulating levels of carotenoids and reduction in cancer risk/carcinoma of various organs. However, randomized trials regarding β-carotene supplementation, alone or in combination with other supplements, have not always well corroborated with this. Of seven trials, one observed a significant benefit on cancer mortality, four reported no significant benefit or harm, while the remaining two trials found an unexpected, but significant increase in lung cancer incidence. This review discusses implications and significance of carotenoids in the field of cancer risk and prevention.
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