scholarly journals Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen for chronic and recalcitrant intertrigo of toe webspaces

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sowmya C. S. ◽  
Nidhika V. Sorake
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Response ◽  
Topical Therapy ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Freeze And Thaw ◽  
Topical Medications

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The inflammation of the toe web spaces is known as foot intertrigo. Most commonly caused by candida. Important predisposing factors such as diabetes mellitus, obesity and immunosuppression lead to persistence and recurrence. Cryotherapy is a promising, safe, cost-effective, easily available therapeutic approach to treat recalcitrant intertrigo compared to available topical medications. Aim of the study was to observe the clinical improvement and therapeutic response of recalcitrant intertrigo and to observe treatment response based on photographs.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> A total of 30 patients who were clinically diagnosed with chronic candida intertrigo (CI) who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. Cryotherapy was administered with 3 cycles of freeze and thaw of 30 seconds each, every 2 weeks for a maximum of 3 treatment sessions. Follow-up of patients were done for 4 months.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Among 30 patients treated, 21 patients showed excellent clinical response, 6 patients showed good response. Only 2 patients showed poor response. Minimal side effects were observed, of which transient pain at the cryotherapy site is the most common. Diabetes was the most common comorbidity with poor response to treatment and recurrence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Cryotherapy can be used as a safe modality of treatment for recalcitrant CI cases unresponsive to topical therapy by providing faster therapeutic response and improving the quality of life in these patients. </p>

Clinical Profile and Prediction of Response to Treatment in Childhood Epilepsy - A Single-Centre Experience from Eastern India

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (15) ◽  
pp. 977-981
Author(s):  
Prakash Chandra Ghosh ◽  
Mitali Bera ◽  
Punyabrata Barma ◽  
Arijit Roy ◽  
Sananda Majumder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Clinical Profile ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Childhood Epilepsy ◽  
Primary Health Centres ◽  
Single Centre Experience ◽  
Active Epilepsy

BACKGROUND Though epilepsy remains a significant problem for children and adolescents in our country, studies delineating the clinical profile and response to treatment in childhood epilepsy are lacking. The current study was carried out for obtaining a baseline profile and to predict the response to treatment in childhood epilepsy in India that may be helpful in planning management strategies from a public health point of view. METHODS Patients with clinical suggestion of active epilepsy (N = 141) from one month to 12 years, were enrolled into the study over a period of 1 year (February 2010 to January 2011) from the out-patient department and epilepsy clinic of Bangur Institute of Neurology. Detailed history was taken along with neurological examination. Electroencephalography (EEG) and neuroimaging (MRI / CT scan) were done on all patients. Each patient included in the study was kept in followup for a period of 6 months and their response to the treatment was recorded. RESULTS About 48.9 % (N = 69) patients had localisation related epilepsy while the rest had generalised epilepsy. Of those with generalised epilepsy, generalised tonicclonic seizures (GTCS) was by far the most common type. Of those with focal EEG activity, the highest proportion (50 %), were localised to the temporal lobe. Symptomatic aetiology accounted for 59.6 % (N = 84) of the patients. 20.6 % (N = 29) had poor response to treatment at 6 months follow-up. Abnormal neuroimaging (OR = 6.708) and abnormal EEG (OR = 6.357) were effective factors in predicting poor response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the need to link specialised epilepsy services with primary health centres for early detection and treatment. EEG is an essential cost-effective modality in determining seizure localisation and response to treatment. KEYWORDS Paediatric, Epilepsy, Clinical Profile, Response to Treatment

scholarly journals MON-073 Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia Responsive to Diazoxide Due to a Previously Unknown ABCC8 Dominant Mutation

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica M Figueredo ◽  
Alejandro Diaz ◽  
Pedro Pagan Banchs
Keyword(s):  
Brain Mri ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
White Matter Injury ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia ◽  
Dominant Mutation ◽  
Suspected Sepsis ◽  
Intravenous Glucose ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background: Hyperinsulinism is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia. It results from different genetic defects, the most common being recessive and dominant mutations in the ABCC8/KCNJ11 genes. The majority of recessive mutations have a poor response to Diazoxide, while dominant mutations are highly variable in both clinical presentation and response to treatment. Prompt recognition and management is critical to avoid irreversible brain damage. Clinical case: A 38-week gestation male, born via emergent c-section due to decreased fetal movement, presented with neonatal hypoglycemia. Pregnancy was uncomplicated and mother had a normal OGTT. Patient had a history of suspected sepsis, seizures, pulmonary hypertension and respiratory distress requiring intubation. Blood glucose was undetectable at birth and required multiple dextrose 10% boluses. A critical sample with a glucose of 47 mg/dL showed an elevated insulin at 30.3 m IU/mL with undetectable ketone levels. Lactic acid, ammonia, cortisol, GH, plasma amino acids, acylcarnitine profile and uric organic acids where all normal for a hypoglycemic state. He required intravenous glucose infusion with GIR up to 17 mg/kg/min to maintain normoglycemia. A brain MRI at 11 days of life showed findings of white matter injury. Subsequent genetic testing identified a heterozygous c.4051G&gt;A (p.Val1351Met) variant in ABCC8, classified as “of uncertain significance”. However, an entry in the ClinVar database (RCV000714711.1) exists from a research lab and was classified as likely pathogenic. Analysis of parental samples showed that the mother was heterozygous for the same genetic variant. She did not have a history of hypoglycemia. Patient was started on diazoxide (8 mg/kg/day) and chlorothiazide with resolution of hypoglycemia. At a follow up visit at 5 months of age, there was no history of hypoglycemia, and no need for adjustments of the diazoxide dose by weight (dose at that time of 7.4 mg/kg/day). Conclusion: The ABCC8 reported here is a dominant mutation causing hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia responsive to diazoxide with a milder phenotype later in infancy. Longitudinal follow up of the case is warranted to understand the long term progress in patients with this particular mutation. Reference: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, et al. None. 1993. Familial hyperinsulinism.

scholarly journals Endoscopy of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian B. Burkey ◽  
Robert H. Ossoff
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
High Risk ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Local Anesthesia ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Cancer ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cost Effective Approach ◽  
The World

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a unique disease with increasing interest for many physicians due to its unusual etiology, histology, and epidemiology. The recent era of fiberoptic endoscopy now provides the clinician with better tools for the screening, diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of NPC. The use of high resolution flexible and rigid nasopharyngoscopy gives the physician an opportunity for a more sensitive examination in a higher proportion of patients. Ultimately, this will allow for earlier diagnosis of NPC, and improved prognosis and better quality of life for the patients with this disease. Also, by allowing the clinician to perform directed biopsies of the nasopharynx under local anesthesia, fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy allows a less morbid and more cost-effective approach towards this disease, including screening protocols in certain high risk regions of the world.

Levetiracetam monotherapy for treatment of structural epilepsy in dogs: 19 cases (2010–2015)

2017 ◽  
Vol 181 (15) ◽  
pp. 401-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren Kelly ◽  
Francesca Raimondi ◽  
Nadia Shihab
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Seizure Control ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Seizure Freedom ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Cluster Seizures ◽  
Structural Epilepsy

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam monotherapy in dogs with structural epilepsy. Retrospective case series. Nineteen client-owned dogs with structural epilepsy. Seizure frequencies after initiation of treatment were used to evaluate the efficacy of levetiracetam monotherapy. Seizure control was considered good if no seizures occurred within three months of starting treatment or poor if seizures returned within one month of starting treatment. Tolerability was evaluated by considering the occurrence and severity of any reported side effects. Ten of the 19 dogs were considered to have a good response to treatment with 7 achieving complete seizure freedom. Nine dogs were considered to have poor response to treatment. There was a statistically significant reduction in the percentage of patients experiencing cluster seizures from 68.4% to 15.8% (p=0.002). Side effects were noted in 8 of the 19 dogs but were considered mild in all cases. Follow-up times ranged from 12 days to 426 days. When used in conjunction with other appropriate therapies, levetiracetam may be an efficacious option for monotherapy in dogs with structural epilepsy. Its tolerability makes it a suitable option for use in a wide variety of patients.

scholarly journals A randomised trial of the effect and cost-effectiveness of early intensive multifactorial therapy on 5-year cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with screen-detected type 2 diabetes: the Anglo–Danish–Dutch Study of Intensive Treatment in People with Screen-Detected Diabetes in Primary Care (ADDITION-Europe) study

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (64) ◽  
pp. 1-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca K Simmons ◽  
Knut Borch-Johnsen ◽  
Torsten Lauritzen ◽  
Guy EHM Rutten ◽  
Annelli Sandbæk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Patient Reported Outcomes ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
All Cause Mortality

BackgroundIntensive treatment (IT) of cardiovascular risk factors can halve mortality among people with established type 2 diabetes but the effects of treatment earlier in the disease trajectory are uncertain.ObjectiveTo quantify the cost-effectiveness of intensive multifactorial treatment of screen-detected diabetes.DesignPragmatic, multicentre, cluster-randomised, parallel-group trial.SettingThree hundred and forty-three general practices in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Cambridge and Leicester, UK.ParticipantsIndividuals aged 40–69 years with screen-detected diabetes.InterventionsScreening plus routine care (RC) according to national guidelines or IT comprising screening and promotion of target-driven intensive management (medication and promotion of healthy lifestyles) of hyperglycaemia, blood pressure and cholesterol.Main outcome measuresThe primary end point was a composite of first cardiovascular event (cardiovascular mortality/morbidity, revascularisation and non-traumatic amputation) during a mean [standard deviation (SD)] follow-up of 5.3 (1.6) years. Secondary end points were (1) all-cause mortality; (2) microvascular outcomes (kidney function, retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy); and (3) patient-reported outcomes (health status, well-being, quality of life, treatment satisfaction). Economic analyses estimated mean costs (UK 2009/10 prices) and quality-adjusted life-years from an NHS perspective. We extrapolated data to 30 years using the UK Prospective Diabetes Study outcomes model [version 1.3;©Isis Innovation Ltd 2010; seewww.dtu.ox.ac.uk/outcomesmodel(accessed 27 January 2016)].ResultsWe included 3055 (RC,n = 1377; IT,n = 1678) of the 3057 recruited patients [mean (SD) age 60.3 (6.9) years] in intention-to-treat analyses. Prescription of glucose-lowering, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medication increased in both groups, more so in the IT group than in the RC group. There were clinically important improvements in cardiovascular risk factors in both study groups. Modest but statistically significant differences between groups in reduction in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, blood pressure and cholesterol favoured the IT group. The incidence of first cardiovascular event [IT 7.2%, 13.5 per 1000 person-years; RC 8.5%, 15.9 per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65 to 1.05] and all-cause mortality (IT 6.2%, 11.6 per 1000 person-years; RC 6.7%, 12.5 per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.21) did not differ between groups. At 5 years, albuminuria was present in 22.7% and 24.4% of participants in the IT and RC groups, respectively [odds ratio (OR) 0.87, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.07), retinopathy in 10.2% and 12.1%, respectively (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.10), and neuropathy in 4.9% and 5.9% (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.34), respectively. The estimated glomerular filtration rate increased between baseline and follow-up in both groups (IT 4.31 ml/minute; RC 6.44 ml/minute). Health status, well-being, diabetes-specific quality of life and treatment satisfaction did not differ between the groups. The intervention cost £981 per patient and was not cost-effective at costs ≥ £631 per patient.ConclusionsCompared with RC, IT was associated with modest increases in prescribed treatment, reduced levels of risk factors and non-significant reductions in cardiovascular events, microvascular complications and death over 5 years. IT did not adversely affect patient-reported outcomes. IT was not cost-effective but might be if delivered at a reduced cost. The lower than expected event rate, heterogeneity of intervention delivery between centres and improvements in general practice diabetes care limited the achievable differences in treatment between groups. Further follow-up to assess the legacy effects of early IT is warranted.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00237549.Funding detailsThis project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full inHealth Technology Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 64. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

scholarly journals Relationship Between Clinical Control, Respiratory Symptoms and Quality of Life for Patients With Copd

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardino Alcazar Navarrete ◽  
A. Fuster ◽  
P. García-Sidro ◽  
J.L. García-Rivero ◽  
B. Abascal Bolado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Copd Assessment Test ◽  
Clinical Control ◽  
Symptom Load ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Symptom Diary

Abstract Background:The concept of clinical control has been proposed as an instrument for evaluating patients with COPD. However, the possible association between clinical control,reduced symptom severity and HRQoL has yet to be confirmed.Method: This multicentre, prospective and observational study was carried out in pulmonology clinics in Spain. The patients were followed up for six months, with a baseline visit (V0), followed by visits at three months (V1) and six months (V2). Clinical control was determinedat V1, with the application of both clinical criteria and the COPD assessment test (CAT). All patients reported their symptoms by a validated symptom diary (E-RS) using a portable device, and their HRQoL was assessed using the EQ5D questionnaire. The relationship between clinical control and E-RS andHRQoL during follow-up was assessed.Results: A total of126 patients were screened. After application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 93 were finally included (mean age 66 ± 8 years, 84.9% male), with a mean FEV1predicted of 49.8% ± 16.5%. Of these patients, 44 (47.3%) achieved clinical control at V1, according to CAT criteria, and 50 (53.8%), according to clinical criteria. The E-RS scores differed between controlled and uncontrolled patients at all time points, both according to CAT (mean differences of -4.6, -5.6 and -6.2 units at V0, V1 and V2 respectively, p<0.005 for all comparisons) and to clinical criteria (mean differences of -3.3, -5-6 and -4.99 units, respectively, p<0.005 for all comparisons). The controlled patients also presented a significantly better HRQoL, measured by the EQ5D questionnaire(mean difference 0.13and 0.10 at V2 by CAT or clinical criteria, respectively, p<0.05).Conclusions:Clinical control in patients with COPD, whether measured by CAT or by clinical criteria, is associated with a lower symptom load and a better HRQoL.

scholarly journals Positive behaviour support training for staff for treating challenging behaviour in people with intellectual disabilities: a cluster RCT

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 1-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Hassiotis ◽  
Michaela Poppe ◽  
Andre Strydom ◽  
Victoria Vickerstaff ◽  
Ian Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Challenging Behaviour ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Positive Behaviour Support

Background Preliminary studies have indicated that training staff in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) may help to reduce challenging behaviour among people with intellectual disability (ID). Objective To evaluate whether or not such training is clinically effective in reducing challenging behaviour in routine care. The study also included longer-term follow-up (approximately 36 months). Design A multicentre, single-blind, two-arm, parallel-cluster randomised controlled trial. The unit of randomisation was the community ID service using an independent web-based randomisation system and random permuted blocks on a 1 : 1 allocation stratified by a staff-to-patient ratio for each cluster. Setting Community ID services in England. Participants Adults (aged > 18 years) across the range of ID with challenging behaviour [≥ 15 Aberrant Behaviour Checklist – Community total score (ABC-CT)]. Interventions Manual-assisted face-to-face PBS training to therapists and treatment as usual (TAU) compared with TAU only in the control arm. Main outcome measures Carer-reported changes in challenging behaviour as measured by the ABC-CT over 12 months. Secondary outcomes included psychopathology, community participation, family and paid carer burden, family carer psychopathology, costs of care and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Data on main outcome, service use and health-related quality of life were collected for the 36-month follow-up. Results A total of 246 participants were recruited from 23 teams, of whom 109 were in the intervention arm (11 teams) and 137 were in the control arm (12 teams). The difference in ABC-CT between the intervention and control arms [mean difference –2.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) –8.79 to 4.51; p = 0.528] was not statistically significant. No treatment effects were found for any of the secondary outcomes. The mean cost per participant in the intervention arm was £1201. Over 12 months, there was a difference in QALYs of 0.076 in favour of the intervention (95% CI 0.011 to 0.140 QALYs) and a 60% chance that the intervention is cost-effective compared with TAU from a health and social care cost perspective at the threshold of £20,000 per QALY gained. Twenty-nine participants experienced 45 serious adverse events (intervention arm, n = 19; control arm, n = 26). PBS plans were available for 33 participants. An independent assessment of the quality of these plans found that all were less than optimal. Forty-six qualitative interviews were conducted with service users, family carers, paid carers and service managers as part of the process evaluation. Service users reported that they had learned to manage difficult situations and had gained new skills, and carers reported a positive relationship with therapists. At 36 months’ follow-up (n = 184), the mean ABC-CT difference between arms was not significant (–3.70, 95% CI –9.25 to 1.85; p = 0.191). The initial cost-effectiveness of the intervention dissipated over time. Limitations The main limitations were low treatment fidelity and reach of the intervention. Conclusions Findings from the main study and the naturalistic follow-up suggest that staff training in PBS as delivered in this study is insufficient to achieve significant clinical gains beyond TAU in community ID services. Although there is an indication that training in PBS is potentially cost-effective, this is not maintained in the longer term. There is increased scope to develop new approaches to challenging behaviour as well as optimising the delivery of PBS in routine clinical practice. Trial registration This study is registered as NCT01680276. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 22, No. 15. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

scholarly journals Palliative radiotherapy combined with stent insertion to reduce recurrent dysphagia in oesophageal cancer patients: the ROCS RCT

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (31) ◽  
pp. 1-144
Author(s):  
Douglas Adamson ◽  
Jane Blazeby ◽  
Catharine Porter ◽  
Christopher Hurt ◽  
Gareth Griffiths ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Oesophageal Cancer ◽  
External Beam Radiotherapy ◽  
Palliative Radiotherapy ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Stent Insertion ◽  
External Beam ◽  
Bleeding Events

Background Most patients with oesophageal cancer present with incurable disease. For those with advanced disease, the mean survival is 3–5 months. Treatment emphasis is therefore on effective palliation, with the majority of patients requiring intervention for dysphagia. Insertion of a self-expanding metal stent provides rapid relief but dysphagia may recur within 3 months owing to tumour progression. Evidence reviews have called for trials of interventions combined with stenting to better maintain the ability to swallow. Objectives The Radiotherapy after Oesophageal Cancer Stenting (ROCS) study examined the effectiveness of palliative radiotherapy, combined with insertion of a stent, in maintaining the ability to swallow. The trial also examined the impact that the ability to swallow had on quality of life, bleeding events, survival and cost-effectiveness. Design A pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial with follow-up every 4 weeks for 12 months. An embedded qualitative study examined trial experiences in a participant subgroup. Setting Participants were recruited in secondary care, with all planned follow-up at home. Participants Patients who were referred for stent insertion as the primary management of dysphagia related to incurable oesophageal cancer. Interventions Following stent insertion, the external beam radiotherapy arm received palliative oesophageal radiotherapy at a dose of 20 Gy in five fractions or 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was the difference in the proportion of participants with recurrent dysphagia, or death, at 12 weeks. Recurrent dysphagia was defined as deterioration of ≥ 11 points on the dysphagia scale of the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire oesophago-gastric module questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, bleeding risk and survival. Results The study recruited 220 patients: 112 were randomised to the usual-care arm and 108 were randomised to the external beam radiotherapy arm. There was no evidence that radiotherapy reduced recurrence of dysphagia at 12 weeks (48.6% in the usual-care arm compared with 45.3% in the external beam radiotherapy arm; adjusted odds ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.40 to 1.68; p = 0.587) and it was less cost-effective than stent insertion alone. There was no difference in median survival or key quality-of-life outcomes. There were fewer bleeding events in the external beam radiotherapy arm. Exploration of patient experience prompted changes to trial processes. Participants in both trial arms experienced difficulty in managing the physical and psychosocial aspects of eating restriction and uncertainties of living with advanced oesophageal cancer. Limitations Change in timing of the primary outcome to 12 weeks may affect the ability to detect a true intervention effect. However, consistency of results across sensitivity analyses is robust, including secondary analysis of dysphagia deterioration-free survival. Conclusions Widely accessible palliative external beam radiotherapy in combination with stent insertion does not reduce the risk of dysphagia recurrence at 12 weeks, does not have an impact on survival and is less cost-effective than inserting a stent alone. Reductions in bleeding events should be considered in the context of patient-described trade-offs of fatigue and burdens of attending hospital. Trial design elements including at-home data capture, regular multicentre nurse meetings and qualitative enquiry improved recruitment/data capture, and should be considered for future studies. Future work Further studies are required to identify interventions that improve stent efficacy and to address the multidimensional challenges of eating and nutrition in this patient population. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN12376468 and Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01915693. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 25, No. 31. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Ultrasound-guided foam sclero -therapy of the small saphenous vein

Phlebologie ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (02) ◽  
pp. 60-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Murena-Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Saphenous Vein ◽  
Clinical Investigation ◽  
Varicose Veins ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Patient’S Satisfaction ◽  
Cost Effective Treatment

SummaryUltrasound guided sclerotherapy (UGFS) of varicose veins is a worldwide spread method, in many countries recognized by guidelines. Important for the outcome is the patients history, clinical investigation and a detailed colour coded ultrasound mapping previous to UGFS.In previous studies varicose small saphenous vein (SSV) treatment with UGFS were reported to have worse results compared to GSV. Other studies report good outcome after UGFS of SSV varicose veins up to 12 months follow up.In my experience UGFS of insufficient SSV is safe and effective with high patient‘s satisfaction, good longterm results and improvement in quality of life. UGFS can be used in all age groups. UGFS has the additional benefit that repeated treatments are easy to perform if needed and that this method is very cost effective. Treatment sessions last 20 to 30 minutes so that patients do not need significant time off work.

scholarly journals Evaluation of efficacy and safety of terbinafine and itraconazole in superficial mycoses: a prospective, randomized, controlled and cost-effective analysis study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1222
Author(s):  
D. Aruna ◽  
M. Padmaja ◽  
S. P. Vijayalakshmi
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Clinical Score ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Fungal Culture ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Superficial Mycoses ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Background: Superficial mycoses are common worldwide. Dermatophytic infections can greatly affect quality of life. Several newer antimycotic agents, have been reported effective and safe. Hence this study was planned to analyse effectiveness as well as cost effectiveness of these treatments.Methods: It were a prospective, randomized, parallel, open label, comparative study. Fifty patients were included in the study and divided into 2 groups. They were randomized to receive either oral terbinafine 250 mg or itraconazole 100 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Scaling, erythema and pruritus were rated as clinical score 0 to 3: 0 - absent, 1 - mild, 2 - moderate, and 3 - severe for the above three target symptoms. Total symptom score was assessed. Pruritus was also graded on visual analogue scale (VAS). Mycological cure was assessed by skin scraping with KOH mounts and fungal culture. Clinical efficacy scoring and VAS were assessed before the study and at each follow up visit at 2 and 4 weeks. Patients were followed up for another 4 weeks after completion of the treatment.Results: There was highly significant decrease p<000.1 in the mean total symptoms scores in both the study groups from baseline. No significant difference in the mean total symptoms score was observed when compared between groups. ADRs were more in terbinafine group.Conclusions: Both terbinafine and itraconazole are effective and safe against superficial mycoses, but adverse effects are more with terbinafine. Itraconazole was found to be cost effective compared to terbinafine.

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