BACKGROUND: Little data exist on the cause and treatment of subfacial pain and pressure and other discomfort attributed to the paranasal sinuses that develop early during the course of the common cold. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of the combination of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride with acetaminophen for the treatment of early symptoms during colds, which are attributed by the patient to the sinuses. METHODS: Four hundred thirty subjects (216, pseudoephedrine and acetaminophen recipients; 214, placebo recipients) with cold symptoms of 48 hours or less who reported overall "sinus" symptoms of at least moderate severity were enrolled in this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 2-dose study. Self-reported symptoms were scored (0 to 4, absent to severe) before and at 2 hours after the first and second doses. The 2 primary were measured 2 hours after the second dose were the overall sinus symptom assessment and a weighted composite assessment of sinus pressure, pain, and congestion (sinus symptoms). RESULTS: Compared with baseline, 2 hours after the second dose, the mean +/- SEM overall sinus symptom assessment score had decreased by 1.30 +/- 0. 06 in the pseudoephedrine and acetaminophen-treated subjects compared with 0.93 +/- 0.06 in the placebo-treated subjects (P< or = .029). The mean +/- SEM weighted average of sinus symptoms 2 hours after the second dose of study medication had decreased by 1.14 +/- 0.06 in the pseudoephedrine and acetaminophen-treated subjects compared with 0.84 +/- 0.06 in the placebo-treated subjects (P< or = .029). Reductions in similar magnitude were also observed for each of the individual sinus symptoms, and headache and rhinorrhea. Nervousness occurred in 4% of the pseudoephedrine and acetaminophen recipients compared with 0% of placebo recipients (P =.007). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that pseudoephedrine plus acetaminophen is effective for relief of symptoms attributable to the paranasal sinuses that may develop early in the course of a cold. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:979-985

Acetaminophen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Accessory equipment considerations with respect to MRI compatibility.

The MR Section of The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), in response to a request from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), recently issued a position paper to address generic issues related to the compatibility of accessory equipment produced by third party equipment manufacturers or MR equipment users and intended to be used in conjunction with MR equipment or within the MR scanning room. The recommendations concern scanning accessories, such as radiofrequency (RF) coils, patient monitoring equipment and injectors, as well as patient comfort accessories and positioning devices. The following issues related to safety performance are discussed: (a) the interaction of the equipment with the MR scanner, (b) interactions of the MR scanner with the equipment, and (c) potential safety hazards for patients and staff that can be posed by accessory equipment in the MR scan environment. The recommendations are based on combined input from NEMA member companies who manufacture MR systems and MR accessories and are presented for consideration in the design of MR accessory products and incorporation of these concepts into testing plans to ensure MR compatibility of third party devices.

Equipment Design↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pulmonary follicular lymphoid hyperplasia in a child with HTLV-III-related immunodeficiency.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Encouraging underscreened women to have cervical cancer screening: the effectiveness of a computer strategy.

BACKGROUND: Computers that collect data from patients and provide both patients and practitioners with printed feedback on a range of health risks are a tool for assisting general practitioners with preventive care. This study assessed the impact of computer-generated printed feedback on cervical screening among women who were underscreened for cervical cancer. METHOD: Female attenders at two Australian general practices were randomly allocated to Experimental or Control groups. Women in both groups completed a health risk survey on a touch screen computer prior to their consultation. Those in the Experimental group received printed pages summarizing their results, including their eligibility for cervical screening and last Pap test, for themselves and their doctor. The number and proportion of underscreened women who had a Pap test in the 6 months after completing the computer survey, as determined by pathology records, were examined. RESULTS: Of the 679 participants, 139 were classified as underscreened on the basis of self-report (74 Experimental, 65 Control) and 272 on the basis of their pathology records (148 Experimental, 124 Control). Overall about one-third of women had a test in the 6-month period, and the differences between the groups were not significant for women overall (18-70 years) or for women 18-49 years. Among women 50-70 who were underscreened based on self-report, those receiving the printout were more likely to have a Pap test in the next 6 months (P < 0.05). This pattern was also evident, but did not reach statistical significance, for older women who were underscreened based on pathology records. CONCLUSIONS: We are unable to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the computer system due to the modest proportions of women screened, the small numbers, and the fact that the computer survey may have created an intervention effect in the Control group. As the study suggests the computer system is acceptable to women and may be effective for encouraging screening among older women, further exploration of the system is desirable.

Adolescent↗