No 10 (2010)

The article summarizes data for the use of Milgamma in neurological practice, particularly for neuropathic pain and acute low-back pain. The drug includes vitamin B complex, which in therapeutic doses has a marked neuroprotective effect and, at the same time potentiates analgesia. Recommendations on dosage and duration of therapy with Milgamma are presented.

Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is one of most common diseases of upper respiratory tract. The article presents information for the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods and principles of treatment of this disease. The drug of choice for treatment of ARS is amoxicillin, and the use of amoxycillin/clavulanate slow-release provides higher activity against etiologically significant pathogens, which unfolds additional features for improvement of efficiency of antibiotic treatment of ARS.

The article presents clinical observation of hepatic cirrhosis caused by vitamin A intoxication as a result of its long-term uncontrolled use. The mechanisms of organ damage during intoxication with vitamin A are discussed.

The open randomized 4-month study was aimed to assessment of efficacy and safety of Piascledine compared with Ibuprofen in patients with osteoarthrosis (OA) of hand joints. The study included 40 patients of both sexes (mean age, 65.3 ± 6.9 years), 20 patients (study group) have received Piascledine 300 mg/day + Ibuprofen 1200 mg/day, while the remaining 20 patients (control group) - Ibuprofen 1200 mg/day. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated by the functional AUSCAN index, the modified functional Dreiser's index (FIHOA), and assessment of therapy effectiveness by the doctor and patient monthly. After 2 months of therapy, the decrease of joint pain was observed in all patients (p<0.05), but indexes, against the background of Piascledine administration, were lower (97.6±63.9 and 131.5±89.4, respectively). Significant reduction in joint stiffness was observed only in the study group in a month later and lasted until the end of treatment. There was a significant improvement of hand joints function at the end of the study in patients who have received Piascledine + Ibuprofen, compared with Ibuprofen only (235.5±116.8 vs 318.3±131.0, p <0.05). By the end of treatment, 100% of patients of study group have estimated their condition as improvement in contrast with only 65% of patients of control group. Thus, Piascledine demonstrates efficacy in OA of hand joints (reduction of pain and joint stiffness, and improvement of joint function), having a good tolerability.

The data for screening examination of iron metabolism in 289 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are presented. Screening was aimed to identify the category of patients who may benefit from chelator therapy. The data analysis suggests that iron overload is one of the characteristic symptoms in patients with low risk MDS, especially in the case of donor red blood cells transfusion. Thereby, chelator therapy should be an integral part of treatment in patients with MDS. Administration of iron chelators for patients with MDS should be preceded by analyses of the clinical and laboratory indices, including the number of packed red blood cell unit transfusions, serum ferritin level, and transferrin saturation level.

The present article is concerned with the questions of pathogenesis and treatment of intestinal dyspepsia. The results of the use of probiotic Lactiv-ratiofarm in 40 patients with symptoms of intestinal dyspepsia and suffering from diseases of the digestive system are presented. After 2-week course of the use of Lactiv-ratiofarm, positive therapeutic effect was observed in all 40 patients enrolled in the study (discomfort in the abdomen, borborygmus and bloating, and abdominal wall pain tenderness were significantly decreased or disappeared). The use of Lactiv-ratiofarm was not accompanied by the development of any adverse events. As a result, all 40 patients have expressed satisfaction with the therapy.

The present article is dedicated to the description of history of vasospastic Prinzmetal's angina. The features of the mechanisms of its development and treatment are discussed. The development of vasospastic angina attacks is associated, primarily, with episodes of local spasm of the coronary arteries in the absence of hemodynamically significant atherosclerotic lesions, but prevalence of spasm in patients with coronary atherosclerosis is also assumed.