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| September
7, 2000 |
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Ibuprofen
versus Indomethacin for Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus
The ductus arteriosus frequently remains patent in premature infants with
the respiratory distress syndrome and may contribute to medical complications.
Indomethacin can promote closure of the ductus, but its use is associated
with problems such as oliguria. In this study, ibuprofen was as effective
as indomethacin in inducing closure, with less risk of renal dysfunction.
These findings suggest that ibuprofen may be the preferred therapy. |
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Transdermal
Testosterone for Impaired Sexual Function after Oophorectomy
Women who have undergone bilateral oophorectomy have a deficiency not only
of estrogen but also of androgen, which may cause sexual dysfunction. This
study compared the effects of two doses of testosterone (150 and 300 µg
per day) and placebo, each administered through transdermal patches and
given in random order for 12 weeks to 75 women who had undergone bilateral
oophorectomy and hysterectomy and were already receiving estrogen. The testosterone
treatment raised serum testosterone concentrations to normal; during treatment
with the higher dose the womenıs sexual function and psychological well-being
improved substantially more than with placebo. |
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Treatment
of Severe Acute Asthma in Children
Acute asthma is the most common medical emergency in children. In this study,
inhaled corticosteroids were compared with oral corticosteroids for the
emergency treatment of children with severe acute asthma. The authors found
that children treated with oral prednisone had significantly greater improvement
in lung function over four hours and a significantly lower rate of hospitalization
than children treated with inhaled fluticasone. |
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Endemic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important cause of nosocomial infections
in neonatal intensive care units. Detailed studies in one such unit in which
the rate of colonization or infection with P. aeruginosa increased
during August 1998 revealed colonization of the hands of 6 percent of the
health care workers in the unit. The risk was highest among older workers
and those who used artificial fingernails. Several clones of the organism
were identified, but many of the infants carried the clone that was isolated
from one staff member. |
