Effectiveness of a preschool asthma education programme, compared to usual care, on the frequency of acute asthma events: a community-based cluster randomised trial.

Aim: To determine whether an asthma intervention delivered within preschools can improve asthma outcomes in children aged 2-5 years with asthma or a high probability of asthma.

Methods: Between 2011 and 2013, we undertook a pragmatic, single-blind, cluster randomised trial in Auckland, New Zealand. We randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) preschools, and their children aged 2-5 years with asthma or a high probability of asthma, to receive an asthma intervention (a 12-month respiratory nurse-led asthma assessment using an evidence-based, web-based tool and a class-based asthma education programme for four months), or a control intervention (a class-based science education programme for four months).

Giving Asthma Support to Patients (GASP): a novel online asthma education, monitoring, assessment and management tool.

Background And Context: Giving Asthma Support to Patients (GASP) is a unique online tool developed to provide asthma education at point of care, and to provide health care professionals in primary care with skills and knowledge to undertake a structured asthma assessment.

Assessment Of Problem: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of GASP. Data for patients aged 5-64 years seen in primary care (Waitemata region of Auckland) with uncontrolled asthma who had completed a minimum of two GASP assessments between 1 November 2008 and 17 April 2011 were extracted from a secure, self-populating database.

Rectal adenocarcinoma with germ cell elements treated with chemotherapy.

A patient with adenocarcinoma of the rectum containing germ cell elements in the form of endodermal sinus tumor and choriocarcinoma is described, believed to be the first such tumor reported in the literature. The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin were markedly elevated. The source of the markers was localized to the neoplastic tissue by the immunoperoxidase technique.

Ranitidine and placebo in the treatment of reflux oesophagitis. A double-blind randomized trial.

A study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of ranitidine in the short-term treatment of reflux oesophagitis. In a double-blind randomized trial of 37 outpatients with symptomatic, endoscopically proven, moderate or severe reflux oesophagitis, 18 patients received ranitidine (150 mg twice a day) and 19 patients received identical-looking placebo tablets for a period of six weeks. Clinical, laboratory, and endoscopic assessments were made initially, and at the end of six weeks.