BACKGROUND Epidural clonidine produces analgesia without motor impairment, and is associated with a local anesthetic-sparing effect during labor. The authors have recently demonstrated that epidural neostigmine initiates selective labor analgesia devoid of adverse effects. Both drugs possess common analgesic mechanisms mediated through spinal acetylcholine release. This study evaluates their ep...

BACKGROUND Multimodal pain management has been suggested to improve postoperative analgesia. In this study, we evaluated the quality of analgesia in women undergoing day-case gynaecological laparoscopic surgery, after premedication with pregabalin 75 mg (P75) or 150 mg (P150), compared with diazepam 5 mg (D5). All patients were given ibuprofen 800 mg orally. METHODS Altogether 90 consenting w...

Background Secukinumab treatment has previously been shown to significantly improve the signs and symptoms of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS), with responses sustained through 2 years. Here, we report the long-term (3 years) efficacy and safety of secukinumab in the MEASURE 2 study. Methods MEASURE 2 (NCT01649375) is a 5-year phase III, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-grou...

AIM To compare amounts of salicyluric acid (SU) and salicylic acid (SA) excreted daily in the urine of non-vegetarians and vegetarians not taking salicylate drugs, and patients taking 75 or 150 mg aspirin/day. METHODS Urine excreted over 24 hours was collected from volunteers in the four groups. The volumes were recorded and the concentrations of SU and SA were determined electrochemically af...

Objectives To assess long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability of secukinumab up to 104 weeks in patients with active PsA. Methods Patients with PsA (n = 397) were randomized to s.c. secukinumab 300, 150 or 75 mg or placebo at baseline, weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter. Placebo-treated patients were re-randomized to receive secukinumab 300 or 150 mg s.c. from week 16 (placeb...

BACKGROUND The degree of antiplatelet response to clopidogrel has been associated with clinical outcomes. Studies have investigated whether adjustment of antiplatelet therapies based on a single platelet function test is beneficial. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to test the stability of platelet reactivity measurements over time among patients treated with standard and double doses of c...

The excessive use of fertilizer has resulted in serious environmental degradation and a high health cost China. Understanding the reasons for overuse is critical to sustainable development Chinese agriculture, large-scale operation considered as one measures deal with use. Under premise fully considering resource endowment heterogeneity farmers small-scale production management, different decis...

BACKGROUND After treatment with clopidogrel, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have reduced platelet inhibition compared with patients who are not diabetic. Whether platelet inhibition can be enhanced by increasing clopidogrel maintenance dosage in T2DM patients is unknown. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the functional impact of a high maintenance dose in T2DM patients wi...