Updating national diagnostic reference levels for interventional cardiology and methodological aspects.

The aim of this study is to propose national diagnostic reference levels (DRL) for updating in the field of interventional cardiology and to include technical details to help plan optimization. Medical physics experts and interventional cardiologists from 14 hospitals provided patient dose indicators from coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions. Information about X-ray system dose settings and image quality was also provided.

[Direct stent implantation in acute myocardial infarction. The DISCO 3 study].

Introduction And Objectives: An association has been reported between direct stenting in primary angioplasty and low incidences of the no-reflow phenomenon and distal embolization. The aims of this study were to determine the proportion of patients who can be treated by direct stent implantation and to identify factors that establish when the technique should be used in acute myocardial infarction in clinical practice.

Patients And Method: This prospective descriptive and multicenter study (DISCO 3) included 189 patients.

Comparison of aceclofenac with piroxicam in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

A multicentre, double-blind, randomised, parallel group study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy and safety of aceclofenac (123 patients, 100 mg twice daily) in comparison to piroxicam (117 patients, 20 mg once daily and placebo once daily) in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. The treatment period of two months was preceded by a washout period of one week duration. On completion of the study, patients in both aceclofenac and piroxicam-treated groups exhibited significant improvement in pain intensity and functional capacity of the affected knee, as represented by the Osteoarthritis Severity Index (OSI) (p < 0.