Researchers' choice of pain scales in trials of children undergoing surgery: A cross-sectional analysis of systematically searched randomized controlled trials and survey of authors.

Background: Many pain scales are used post-operatively in pediatric trials, making the comparison of trials, and the pooling of data for meta-analyses difficult. The Pediatric Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (PedIMMPACT) statement, published in 2008, attempted to address this issue. We aimed to investigate the reasons for authors' choice of pain scales and the potential impact of PedIMMPACT.

Acute alcohol intoxication and bispectral index monitoring.

Background: Bispectral index (BIS) monitoring is commonly used to decrease the risk of awareness during anaesthesia. We aimed to determine the relationship between blood alcohol concentration and brain function (as measured by BIS) in healthy adults.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 21 anaesthetic registrars self-regulated alcohol consumption over a 3-h period.

Management of labour and delivery in a woman with refractory supraventricular tachycardia.

Supraventricular tachycardia is uncommon in pregnancy. It is defined as intermittent pathological and usually narrow complex tachycardia >120 beats/min which originates above the ventricle, excluding atrial fibrillation, flutter and multifocal atrial tachycardia. It is usually self-limiting or relatively easily treated with most cases responding to physical or pharmacological therapies.

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor PHX1149 improves blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To determine the efficacy and tolerability of PHX1149, a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This is a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-week study in patients with type 2 diabetes with suboptimal metabolic control. Patients with a baseline haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) of 7.

Computerized assessment of self-monitored blood glucose results using a Glucometer reflectance photometer with memory and microcomputer.

A microcomputer software package to receive, analyse, and present blood glucose/time information has been developed. Data input is accomplished automatically via interface to Glucometer reflectance photometer instruments which have been specially modified to retain glucose/time results by addition of a clock and electronic memory. This new development in self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) has a number of advantages.