simethicone and Chronic-Disease

Chronic constipation is a risk factor of inadequate bowel preparation for colonoscopy; however, no large clinical trials have been performed in this subgroup of patients.. To compare bowel cleansing efficacy, tolerability and acceptability of 2-L polyethylene-glycol-citrate-simethicone (PEG-CS) plus 2-day bisacodyl (reinforced regimen) vs. 4-L PEG in patients with chronic constipation undergoing colonoscopy.. Randomized, observer-blind, parallel group study. Adult outpatients undergoing colonoscopy were randomly allocated to 2-L PEG-CS/bisacodyl or 4-L PEG, taken as split regimens before colonoscopy. Quality of bowel preparation was assessed by the Ottawa Bowel Cleansing Scale (OBCS). The amount of foam/bubble interfering with colonic visualization was also measured.. 400 patients were enrolled. There was no significant difference in successful cleansing (OBCS score ≤6): 80.2% in the 2-L PEG-CS/bisacodyl vs. 81.4% in the 4-L PEG group. Significantly more patients taking 2L PEG-CS/bisacodyl showed no or minimal foam/bubbles in all colonic segments (80% vs. 63%; p<0.001). 2-L PEG-CS/bisacodyl was significantly more acceptable for ease of administration (p<0.001), willingness to repeat (p<0.001) and showed better compliance (p=0.002).. Split 2-L PEG-CS plus bisacodyl was not superior to split 4-L PEG for colonoscopy bowel cleansing in patients with chronic constipation; however, it performed better than the standard regimen in terms of colonic mucosa visualization, patient acceptance and compliance.

Topics: Aged; Bisacodyl; Cathartics; Chronic Disease; Citric Acid; Colon; Colonoscopy; Constipation; Female; Humans; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Polyethylene Glycols; Simethicone

The foreign-made drug preparation maldroxal the formulation of which includes aluminium hydroxide, magnesia hydroxide and dimeticon, is an effective medicine making for the instant relief of pain and dyspeptic syndromes; it is capable of exerting an antiinflammatory effect. It has also been ascertained that maldroxal fails to influence much the elimination of H. p., which fact necessitates an additional prescription of antibacterial drugs.

Topics: Adult; Aluminum Hydroxide; Antacids; Chronic Disease; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Duodenal Ulcer; Duodenitis; Female; Gastritis; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Magnesium Hydroxide; Male; Middle Aged; Simethicone

The present multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled trial evaluates the therapeutic effectiveness of small-volume daily doses of an isosmotic polyethylene glycol (PEG) electrolyte solution in the treatment of chronic nonorganic constipation. After a complete diagnostic investigation, patients still constipated at the end of a four-week placebo-treatment run-in period were enrolled and randomized to receive either placebo or PEG solution 250 ml twice a day for the following eight weeks. Patients were assessed at four and eight weeks of treatment, and they reported frequency and modality of evacuation, use of laxatives, and relevant symptoms daily on a diary card. Oroanal and segmental large-bowel transit times were assessed with radiopaque markers during the fourth week of the run-in period and the last week of the treatment period. During the study period, dietary fiber and liquids were standardized and laxatives were allowed only after five consecutive days without a bowel movement. Of the 55 patients enrolled, five dropped out, three because of adverse events and two for reasons unrelated to therapy; another two were excluded from the efficacy analysis because of protocol violation. Of the remaining 48 patients (37 women, age 42 +/- 15 years, mean +/- SD), 23 were assigned to placebo and 25 to PEG treatment. In comparison to placebo, PEG solution induced a statistically significant increase in weekly bowel frequency at four weeks and at the end of the study (PEG: 4.8 +/- 2.3 vs placebo: 2.8 +/- 1.6; P < 0.002) and a significant decrease in straining at defecation (P < 0.01), stool consistency (P < 0.02), and use of laxatives (P < 0.03). Oroanal, left colon, and rectal transit times were significantly shortened by PEG treatment. There was no difference between controls and PEG-treated patients as far as abdominal symptoms and side effects were concerned. In conclusion, PEG solution at 250 ml twice a day is effective in increasing bowel frequency, accelerating colorectal transit times, and improving difficult evacuation in patients with chronic nonorganic constipation and is devoid of significant side effects.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Chronic Disease; Constipation; Defecation; Double-Blind Method; Electrolytes; Female; Gastrointestinal Transit; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polyethylene Glycols; Simethicone

While effective self-management of chronic pain is important, clinic-based studies exclude the more typical pattern of self-management that occurs in the community, often without reference to health professionals. We examined specific hypotheses about the use of self-management strategies in a population-based study of chronic pain subjects. Data came from an Australian population-based random digit dialling computer-assisted telephone survey and included 474 adults aged 18 or over with chronic pain (response rate 73.4%). Passive strategies were more often reported than active ones: passive strategies such as taking medication (47%), resting (31.5%), and using hot/cold packs (23.4%) were most commonly reported, while the most commonly reported active strategy was exercising (25.8%). Only 33.5% of those who used active behavioural and/or cognitive strategies used them exclusively, while 67.7% of those who used passive behavioural and/or conventional medical strategies did so exclusively. Self-management strategies were associated with both pain-related disability and use of health services in multiple logistic regression models. Using passive strategies increased the likelihood of having high levels of pain-related disability (adjusted OR 2.59) and more pain-related health care visits (adjusted OR 2.9); using active strategies substantially reduced the likelihood of having high levels of pain-related disability (adjusted OR 0.2). In conclusion, we have shown in a population-based study that clinical findings regarding self-management strategies apply to the broader population and advocate that more attention be given to community-based strategies for improving awareness and uptake of active self-management strategies for chronic pain.

Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cetrimonium Compounds; Chronic Disease; Cognition; Demography; Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons; Drug Combinations; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Surveys; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Myristates; Nicotinic Acids; Odds Ratio; Pain; Pain Measurement; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Residence Characteristics; Self Care; Simethicone; Stearic Acids; Surveys and Questionnaires

Irritant and/or allergic hand dermatitis in individuals who are unable to avoid causative exposures is difficult to control. Usefulness of protective creams has been generally unsatisfactory.. To determine if hand dermatitis, primarily of an occupational nature, could be improved by the use of a protective foam containing dimethicone and glycerin.. Adult male and female subjects with chronic hand dermatitis for at least 12 months, felt to be either allergic, irritant, or combined in nature were given the study foam for routine application after a 2-week observation period. At 2 and 6 weeks the skin was evaluated by the investigator and subject for parameters including redness, scaling, fissuring, blistering, and pruritus on a numerical scale. A global evaluation also was performed. Photographs were taken at each visit. Usage of topical corticosteroids was recorded. No systemic therapies other than antihistamines were allowed.. Thirty-one subjects were enrolled in the study and 28 completed it. The physician and subject's initial global evaluations averaged 6.13 and 5.48, respectively (0-10 scale). The final scores were 3.68 and 4.75, respectively (P < .001 for physician rating; P = .259 for subject rating). Topical corticosteroid usage was reduced in 16 of 30 (53.6%) subjects. Twenty-one of 30 subjects (70.0%) had improved over the course of the study. No adverse effects were noted.. This protective foam greatly or moderately improved chronic hand dermatitis in a sizable number of individuals with previously uncontrolled dermatitis despite continuing in their regular occupation.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Chronic Disease; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Irritant; Dermatitis, Occupational; Dimethylpolysiloxanes; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glycerol; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Occupations; Severity of Illness Index; Simethicone; Treatment Outcome