A PIL for every ill? Patient information leaflets (PILs): a review of past, present and future use

This article reviews the usefulness and importance of written information, specifically leaflets, being given to patients. Evidence suggesting how both patient and doctor may benefit from the giving of written information is reviewed. Identification of good practice relating to the content and readability of leaflets is discussed. An argument is put forward that the giving of written information is an under-utilized resource in contributing to improving patient outcomes but that this may be changing with the increasing use of patient leaflet databases. The advantages and disadvantages of computer- generated patient leaflets are discussed and desirable further areas of research on computer-generated leaflets are proposed.      

Effects of Arecoline on Calcium Channel Currents and Caffeine-induced Calcium Release in Isolated Single Ventricular

The cholinergic system plays an importantrole in the control of heart rate and myocardialcontractility[1] .The inotropic and chronotropic ef-fects are partly regulated by the cytosolic Ca2 + lev-el( [Ca2 + ]i) .Muscarine receptor agonist,Arecol-ine ( Are) ,is a kind of alkaloid extracted from theseeds of areca.It had been reported that Are hadnegative inotropic and negative chronotropic effectson isolated guinea pig atria[2 ] ,but its effects oncalcium mobilization was unclear. In order to i…     

Efficacy and tolerability of pantoprazole 40 mg versus 80 mg in patients with reflux oesophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Pantoprazole is a substituted benzimidazole which is a potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion by its action upon H+, K+- ATPase. METHODS: Pantoprazole 40 mg and 80 mg were compared in a randomized double-blind study in 192 out-patients with stage II or III (Savary-Miller classification) reflux oesophagitis. Patients received either pantoprazole 40 mg (n = 97) or pantoprazole 80 mg (n = 95), once daily before breakfast for 4 weeks. Treatment was extended for a further 4 weeks if the oesophagitis had not healed. RESULTS: After 4 weeks complete healing of the reflux oesophagitis was seen in 78% of protocol-correct patients given pantoprazole 40 mg daily (n = 86), and in 72% in the 80 mg (n = 87) group. The cumulative healing rates after 8 weeks were 95 and 94%, respectively (P > 0.05, Cochran-Mantel- Haenszel), and time until healing of oesophagitis comparable in both groups. Differences between doses were also not significant in an intention-to-treat analysis. Both dosing schedules were well tolerated and the patients experienced remarkable symptom relief. No adverse event or changes in laboratory values of clinical significance could definitely be ascribed to the trial medication. CONCLUSION: The 40 mg pantoprazole dosage is comparable to 80 mg in reflux oesophagitis, both in efficacy and tolerability.     

The role of Pneumococcus in the development of acute bronchitis in young children]

To study the etiological role of Streptococcus pneumoniae in bronchial inflammation, 49 children with acute bronchitis and 21 children with acute nasopharyngitis were examined. The given patients' groups manifested no significant differences in the microflora of the upper respiratory tract, serotype landscape of pneumococcus, the level and dynamics of the immunologic characteristics. The growth of the titer of pneumococcal antibodies in the saliva in the early times of the disease as well as the lack of its changes in blood serum suggest that interaction of pneumococcus with the host is restricted in the given case by the bronchial lumen.