Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation: Clinical Results Between Single Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Conventional 3-Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Prospective Case-Matched Analysis in Single Institution.

Clinical results between single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy and conventional 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy: prospective case-matched analysis in single institution.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

J Korean Surg Soc. 2012 Dec; 83(6): 374-80
Jung GO, Park DE, Chae KM

The aim of our study was to compare single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) with respect to clinical outcomes.Patients with less than a 28 body mass index (BMI) and a benign gall bladder disease were enrolled in this study. From January 2011 to February 2012, 30 consecutive patients who underwent SILC were compared with 30 patients who underwent CLC during the same period. In this study, all operations were performed by one surgeon. In each group, patient characteristics and perioperative data were collected.There was no significant difference in the preoperative characteristics. There was no significant difference in the postoperative laboratory result (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase), number of conversion and complication cases, and length of hospital stay. The operation time was significantly longer in the SILC group (78.5 ± 17.8 minutes in SILC group vs. 34.9 ± 5.75 minutes in CLC group, P < 0.0001). The total nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug usage during perioperative period showed significantly higher in SILC groups (162 ± 51 mg in the SILC group vs. 138 ± 30 mg in the CLC group), but there was no statistically significant difference in opioid usage between two groups. The postoperative pain score was significantly higher in the SILC group at second, third, and tenth postoperative day. Satisfaction of postoperative wound showed superiority in SILC group.SILC seems to be an acceptable alternative to CLC with acceptable results. However, it is not enough to propose any real benefits of SILC when compared with CLC in terms of operation time and postoperative pain. HubMed – drug

 

The importance of an independent oversight committee to preserve treatment fidelity, ensure protocol compliance, and adjudicate safety endpoints in the ATACH II trial.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

J Vasc Interv Neurol. 2012 Aug; 5(supp): 10-13
McBee N, Hanley D, Kase C, Lane K, Carhuapoma J

In response to growing trends and accepted U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance, the ATACH II trial leadership developed the independent oversight committee (IOC) as a mechanism to adjudicate the trial safety endpoints and to evaluate treatment fidelity and protocol compliance. To accomplish these tasks, the IOC reviews the first three subjects enrolled at each study center and all serious adverse events that occur across all study centers. The IOC makes recommendations to the steering committee regarding the aggregation of, or trend in, adverse events at particular sites and discusses homogeneity, or lack thereof, in the principles and intensity of the overall care. Based on the IOC findings, the steering committee will contact individual sites, as needed, to discuss potential remedial measures.
HubMed – drug

 

Development of a flow cytometry live cell assay for the screening of inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Open Virol J. 2012; 6: 97-102
Garcia-Rivera JA, Lin K, Hopkins S, Gregory MA, Wilkinson B, Gallay PA

In this study, we established a flow cytometry live cell-based assay that permits the screening of hepatitis C virus (HCV) inhibitors. Specifically, we created a stable cell line, which harbors a subgenomic replicon encoding an NS5A-YFP fusion protein. This system allows direct measurement of YFP fluorescence in live hepatoma cells in which the HCV replicon replicates. We demonstrated that this stable fluorescent system permits the rapid and sensitive quantification of HCV replication inhibition by direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) including protease and NS5A inhibitors and host-targeting antiviral agents (HTA) including cyclophilin inhibitors. This flow cytometry-based live cell assay is well suited for multiple applications such as the evaluation of HCV replication as well as antiviral drug screening.
HubMed – drug

 

Annexin A1 and the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity.

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Front Immunol. 2012; 3: 354
Gavins FN, Hickey MJ

Inflammation is the body’s way of defending itself against noxious stimuli and pathogens. Under normal circumstances, the body is able to eliminate the insult and subsequently promote the resolution of inflammation and the repair of damaged tissues. The concept of homeostasis is one that not only requires a fine balance between both pro-inflammatory mediators and pro-resolving/anti-inflammatory mediators, but also that this balance occurs in a time and space-specific manner. This review examines annexin A1, an anti-inflammatory protein that, when used as an exogenous therapeutic, has been shown to be very effective in limiting inflammation in a diverse range of experimental models, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, arthritis, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and sepsis. Notably, this glucocorticoid-inducible protein, along with another anti-inflammatory mediator, lipoxin A(4), is starting to help explain and shape our understanding of the resolution phase of inflammation. In so doing, these molecules are carving the way for innovative drug discovery, based on the stimulation of endogenous pro-resolving pathways.
HubMed – drug

 

The use of rhBMP in spine surgery: is there a cancer risk?

Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Evid Based Spine Care J. 2012 May; 3(2): 35-41
Devine JG, Dettori JR, France JC, Brodt E, McGuire RA

Study design:?Systematic review.Study rationale:?Some have noted several safety issues associated with the use of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), including cancer risk, stating both BMP and their receptors had been isolated from human tumors. In addition, data presented to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the product AMPLIFY™ (rhBMP-2, 40 mg) revealed a higher number of cancers in the investigational group compared with the control.Objective:?To independently review the cancer risk of rhBMP-2 use in spine fusion as published in the peer-reviewed literature and in the publicly available FDA data summaries.Methods:?A systematic review of the literature was undertaken for articles published through January 2012. Pubmed, Cochrane, National Guideline Clearinghouse Databases as well as bibliographies of key articles were searched. Two independent reviewers revised articles. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were set and each article was subjected to a predefined quality-rating scheme.Results:?Five published peer-reviewed studies and two FDA safety summaries reported the occurrence of cancer in patients treated with spinal fusion using rhBMP-2 or rhBMP-7. Cancer data for on-label use of rhBMP-2 (InFUSE™) were reported in the FDA data summary but not in one published pivotal study. The risk of cancer was same in both the rhBMP-2 and control groups, 0.7% after 24 months. Off-label use of rhBMP for posterolateral fusion (PLF) was associated with a slightly higher risk of cancer compared with controls in three randomized controlled trials and one poorly conducted retrospective cohort study at various follow-ups. In PLF the risk of cancer was 3.8% using 40 mg of BMP-2 compared with 0.9% in the control group. Two RCTs evaluating rhBMP-7 reported a cancer risk of 12.5% and 5.6% in the rhBMP-7 group compared with 8.3% and 0% in the control groups, respectively. The differences in these studies were not statistically significant; however, the sample sizes for these studies were small.Conclusions:?Cancer risk with BMP-2 may be dose dependent, illustrating the need to continue to study this technology and obtain longer follow-up on patients currently enrolled in the FDA trials. Additionally, refined guidelines regarding the routine use of BMPs should be developed, taking into account the FDA summary data that is not routinely scrutinized by the practicing surgeon.
HubMed – drug

 

 

Getonset: Message in a Bottle – Title: “Message in a Bottle” (March 2008) Genre: Drama/Educational resource “Message in a Bottle” was an original script written by Getonset for the client, a local NSW Council. Funded by The Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, the end product is a training DVD for health professionals involved in the care of Over 55s, to ensure that their patients and clients understand the implications of drinking alcohol while under certain prescribed medication. Shot in local hospital and community centres and using professional actors as well as local seniors as extras, Message in a Bottle is a comprehensive training manual and a short film with real impact. For more information on our corporate videos, and other services we offer, go to www.getonset.com.au.

 

Find More Drug And Alcohol Rehabilitation Information…