Combination antidepressant therapy for major depressive disorder: speed and probability of remission.

Introduction: Only about a third of patients with an episode of major depressive disorder remit with a given treatment and few remissions occur within the first weeks of treatment. This study tested whether combining escitalopram and bupropion as initial treatment would result in quicker remission and a higher remission rate than monotherapy with either drug.

Method: Two hundred forty-five outpatients aged 18-65 having non-psychotic, non-bipolar major depression were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with bupropion or escitalopram or the combination dosed to a maximum of bupropion 450 mg/d and/or escitalopram 40 mg/d for 12 weeks.

Local anesthesia for otoplasty in children.

Otoplasty can be performed safely and effectively under local anesthesia in children as young as 5 years of age. Child preparation, local anesthetics, detailed infiltration technique, surgical procedure, and complications are discussed.

Propranolol in the treatment of problematic infantile hemangioma: review of 35 consecutive patients from a vascular anomalies clinic.

Background: Propranolol, a nonselective β-blocker, has been reported as efficient for controlling the growth of complicated infantile hemangiomas (IHs). No uniformly accepted protocol exists regarding the administration of oral propranolol for IH.

Objective: We sought to share our experience using propranolol for problematic IH and to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment modality.

Propranolol in the treatment of problematic infantile hemangioma: review of 35 consecutive patients from a vascular anomalies clinic.

Background: Propranolol, a nonselective β-blocker, has been reported as efficient for controlling the growth of complicated infantile hemangiomas (IHs). No uniformly accepted protocol exists regarding the administration of oral propranolol for IH.

Objective: We sought to share our experience using propranolol for problematic IH and to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment modality.

Combination of antidepressant medications from treatment initiation for major depressive disorder: a double-blind randomized study.

Objective: Various classes of antidepressant medications generally induce remission of major depressive disorder in only about one-third of patients. In a previous study using mirtazapine or paroxetine alone or in combination from treatment initiation, the rate of patients who remitted within a 6-week period was twice that of patients using either drug alone. In this double-blind study, the authors sought to produce evidence for the superiority of different combinations of antidepressant drugs from treatment initiation.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in childhood and adolescence: report of eight patients.

We reviewed all occurrences of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in children under 17 years of age who were evaluated at Sainte-Justine Hospital, a tertiary-care pediatric center, between 1980 and 2002. The medical records and histologic features of all were reviewed. Eight patients were identified, three boys and five girls.

Palmoplantar keratoderma and skin grafting: postsurgical long-term follow-up of two cases with Olmsted syndrome.

Olmsted syndrome is a rare congenital mutilating palmoplantar keratoderma associated with periorificial keratotic plaques. Treatment options include topical keratolytics, systemic retinoids, and debulking procedures. Full-thickness excision of hyperkeratotic plaques followed by skin grafting has been reported in the medical literature, although long-term results have not been evaluated.

Unilateral cleft lip and palate: Simultaneous early repair of the nose, anterior palate and lip.

Unilateral cleft lip and palate is a defect involving the lip, nose and maxilla. These structures are inter-related, and simultaneous early correction of all the aspects of the defect is necessary to obtain a satisfactory result that will be maintained with growth. The surgical technique combining various procedures is presented and compared with previously published reports.

Alcoholic solution of zein (Ethibloc) sclerotherapy for treatment of lymphangiomas in children.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the experience and efficacy of Ethibloc sclerotherapy as treatment of lymphangiomas.

Methods: Between 1992 and 2004, 63 patients had Ethibloc sclerotherapy for lymphangiomas at our institution. Computed tomographic scan or magnetic resonance imaging and clinical evaluation determined efficacy of the treatment.