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Biomedical subjects

E Kyllönen

Publications and source records attributed to E Kyllönen.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Cost effectiveness of periradicular infiltration for sciatica: subgroup analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

STUDY DESIGN: A subgroup analysis of a prospective, randomized controlled trial was performed. OBJECTIVE: To describe the cost effectiveness of periradicular infiltration with steroid in subgroups of patients with sciatica. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A recent trial on periradicular infiltration indicated that a methylprednisolone-bupivacaine combination had a short-term effect, as compared with that of saline. This report describes the efficacy and cost effectiveness of steroid in subgroups of patients with sciatic. METHODS: This study involved 160 patients with unilateral sciatica. Outcome assessments were leg pain (100-mm visual analog scale), disability on the Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire, and the Nottingham Health Profile. Data on medical costs and sick leaves also were gathered. Patients were randomized for periradicular infiltration with either methylprednisolone-bupivacaine or saline. The adjusted between-group treatment differences at each follow-up assessment, the number of patients free of leg pain (responders, cutoff 75%), and efficacy by the area-under-the-curve method were calculated. For the cost-effectiveness estimate, the total costs were divided by the number of responders. The rate of operations in different subgroups was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: In the case of contained herniations, the steroid injection produced significant treatment effects and short-term efficacy in leg pain and in Nottingham Health Profile emotional reactions. For symptomatic lesions at L3-L4-L5, steroid was superior to saline for leg pain, disability, and straight leg raising in the short term. By 1 year, steroid seemed to have prevented operations for contained herniations, costing $12,666 less per responder in the steroid group (P < 0.01). For extrusions, steroid seemed to increase the operation rate, and the steroid infiltration was more expensive, costing $4445 per responder (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to short-term effectiveness for contained herniations and lesions at L3-L4-L5, steroid treatment also prevented surgery for contained herniations. However, steroid was countereffective for extrusions. The results of the subgroup analyses call for a verification study.

Adult↗

Periradicular infiltration for sciatica: a randomized controlled trial.

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind trial was conducted. OBJECTIVES: To test the efficacy of periradicular corticosteroid injection for sciatica. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The efficacy of epidural corticosteroids for sciatica is controversial. Periradicular infiltration is a targeted technique, but there are no randomized controlled trials of its efficacy. METHODS: In this study 160 consecutive, eligible patients with sciatica who had unilateral symptoms of 1 to 6 months duration, and who never underwent surgery were randomized for double-blind injection with methylprednisolone bupivacaine combination or saline. Objective and self-reported outcome parameters and costs were recorded at baseline, at 2 and 4 weeks, at 3 and 6 months, and at 1 year. RESULTS: Recovery was better in the steroid group at 2 weeks for leg pain (P = 0.02), straight leg raising (P = 0.03), lumbar flexion (P = 0.05), and patient satisfaction (P = 0.03). Back pain was significantly lower in the saline group at 3 and 6 months (P = 0.03 and 0.002, respectively), and leg pain at 6 months (13.5, P = 0.02). Sick leaves and medical costs were similar for both treatments, except for cost of therapy visits and drugs at 4 weeks, which were in favor of the steroid injection (P = 0.05 and 0.005, respectively). By 1 year, 18 patients in the steroid group and 15 in the saline group underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement during the follow-up period was found in both the methylprednisolone and saline groups. The combination of methylprednisolone and bupivacaine seems to have a short-term effect, but at 3 and 6 months, the steroid group seems to experience a "rebound" phenomenon.

Adult↗

HRT and exercise: effects on bone density, muscle strength and lipid metabolism. A placebo controlled 2-year prospective trial on two estrogen-progestin regimens in healthy postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of 1- or 3-monthly sequential combinations of estradiol valerate (E2V) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on menopausal symptoms, bone density, muscle strength and lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Changes in bone mineral density (BMD), isometric muscle strength, serum lipids and climacteric symptoms were evaluated in 78 women, 49-55 years of age, with a spontaneous menopause 0.5-3 years earlier. Treatment group I received 2 mg E2V tablets for 11 days, followed by 2 mg E2V + 10 mg MPA for 10 days and placebo for an additional 7 days; treatment group II received 2 mg E2V for 70 days, 2 mg E2V + 20 mg MPA for 14 days, and placebo for 7 days. The placebo group received placebo continuously for 24 months. Each group was further randomised to exercise and non-exercise subgroups. RESULTS: Both hormone regimens significantly reduced menopausal symptoms, and prevented equally well the decrease of BMD both in the lumbar spine and proximal femur. A positive effect of exercise on BMD was observed in the placebo group. No synergistic effect of exercise and estrogen on BMD could be shown. Both hormone regimens increased the isometric strength of back extensor muscles. Serum total and LDL cholesterol decreased during the first year with both estrogen regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen-progestin regimens were equally effective in the control of menopausal symptoms and preventing bone loss, increasing muscle strength and lowering serum cholesterol.

Bone Density↗

A study of the effects of lisinopril when used in addition to atenolol.

A double-blind, parallel group multicentre study was carried out to compare the effects of adding once daily treatment with lisinopril 10 or 20 mg and placebo to the treatment of 100 patients whose blood pressure was inadequately controlled with once daily atenolol 50 mg. Following a two-week run-in period, patients with a lying DBP between 95 mmHg and 115 mmHg were randomised to either lisinopril 10 mg or placebo once daily for four weeks. Blood pressure measurements were made approximately 24 h after the previous dose of study medication. After four weeks' treatment the dose of study medication was doubled for those patients whose lying DBP was greater than or equal to 90 mmHg and a final assessment was made after a further two weeks of treatment. Overall, six weeks' treatment with lisinopril produced a greater fall in lying blood pressures than placebo when added to atenolol therapy. The difference in favour of the additional ACE inhibitor therapy was 7.1 +/- 2.6/5.4 +/- 1.5 mmHg (mean +/- SEM) (P less than 0.01). Standing blood pressures showed similar behaviour in favour of the additional ACE inhibitor treatment (7.6 +/- 2.4/4.7 +/- 1.6 mmHg) (P less than 0.005). Heart rate was not altered significantly by either lisinopril or placebo treatment. The addition of lisinopril to treatment with atenolol produced a slight increase in the reported number of adverse events compared with placebo. The results of this study indicate that the addition of lisinopril 10-20 mg once daily to treatment with a beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug produces a worthwhile decrease in blood pressure in patients not responsive to beta-blocker therapy alone.

Adolescent↗

Moderate exercise does not enhance the positive effect of estrogen on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

We studied the effects of physical activity and two types of estrogen treatment in a prospective study in 78 healthy postmenopausal women. A control group and two treatment groups receiving estradiol valerate and medroxyprogesterone acetate in 1- or 3-month cycles were monitored for 1 year. Half of each group took part in an exercise program. Lumbar and femoral bone mineral density increased in both of the estrogen-treatment groups. Physical exercise with estrogen treatment did not result in further increases in bone mineral densities.

Bone Density↗