Treatment strategies for endometriosis.

Background: Endometriosis is a common chronic disease that causes symptoms of pain and infertility. The pain syndrome can be quite incapacitating. The pain symptoms usually originate in the reproductive organs but can also involve the urinary or intestinal tracts if endometriosis implantation has occurred there.

Randomized clinical trial of honey-impregnated dressings for venous leg ulcers.

Background: The efficacy of honey as a treatment for venous ulcers has not been evaluated, despite widespread interest. This trial aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of honey as a dressing for venous ulcers.

Methods: This community-based open-label randomized trial allocated people with a venous ulcer to calcium alginate dressings impregnated with manuka honey or usual care.

Prevention of cardiovascular disease in high-risk individuals in low-income and middle-income countries: health effects and costs.

In 2005, a global goal of reducing chronic disease death rates by an additional 2% per year was established. Scaling up coverage of evidence-based interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease in high-risk individuals in low-income and middle-income countries could play a major part in reaching this goal. We aimed to estimate the number of deaths that could be averted and the financial cost of scaling up, above current coverage levels, a multidrug regimen for prevention of cardiovascular disease (a statin, aspirin, and two blood-pressure-lowering medicines) in 23 such countries.

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and New Zealand Physical Activity Questionnaire (NZPAQ): a doubly labelled water validation.

Background: Accurate measurement of physical activity is a pre-requisite for monitoring population health and for evaluating effective interventions. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is used as a comparable and standardised self-report measure of habitual physical activity of populations from different countries and socio-cultural contexts. The IPAQ has been modified to produce a New Zealand physical activity questionnaire (NZPAQ).

Elimination of migraine-associated nausea in patients treated with rizatriptan orally disintegrating tablet (ODT): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To confirm the efficacy of rizatriptan 10 mg orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) for the elimination of migraine-associated nausea.

Background: Pooled studies of rizatriptan analyzing elimination of nausea as a secondary endpoint showed that 65% of rizatriptan patients reported elimination of nausea at 2 hours compared with 41% of patients taking placebo.

Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled single-attack trial enrolling adult patients with at least a 6-month history of migraine who typically experience migraine-associated nausea.

Energy expended playing video console games: an opportunity to increase children's physical activity?

This study sought to quantify the energy expenditure and physical activity associated with playing the "new generation" active and nonactive console-based video games in 21 children ages 10-14 years. Energy expenditure (kcal) derived from oxygen consumption (VO2) was continuously assessed while children played nonactive and active console video games. Physical activity was assessed continuously using the Actigraph accelerometer.

Efficacy of rizatriptan for menstrual migraine in an early intervention model: a prospective subgroup analysis of the rizatriptan TAME (Treat A Migraine Early) studies.

Objective: A prospective subgroup analysis of the TAME (Treat A Migraine Early) studies examined the efficacy of rizatriptan in patients treating a menstrual migraine attack.

Methods: Both TAME studies were randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind. Adults with migraine were assigned (2:1) to either rizatriptan 10-mg tablet or placebo.

Effects of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide on macrovascular and microvascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (the ADVANCE trial): a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Blood pressure is an important determinant of the risks of macrovascular and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes, and guidelines recommend intensive lowering of blood pressure for diabetic patients with hypertension. We assessed the effects of the routine administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-diuretic combination on serious vascular events in patients with diabetes, irrespective of initial blood pressure levels or the use of other blood pressure lowering drugs.

Methods: The trial was done by 215 collaborating centres in 20 countries.

The impact of modifiable risk factors on mortality from prostate cancer in populations of the Asia-Pacific region.

Mortality from cancer of the prostate is increasing in the Asia-Pacific, when much of this region is undergoing a transition to a Western lifestyle. The role that lifestyle factors play in prostate cancer appears limited, but existing data mainly are from the West. We conducted an individual participant data analysis of 24 cohort studies involving 320,852 men (83% in Asia).

The role of lifestyle risk factors on mortality from colorectal cancer in populations of the Asia-Pacific region.

Although colorectal cancer is one of the leading malignancies worldwide, there are few data on aetiological relationships from the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, a collaborative study was conducted involving over half a million subjects from 33 cohort studies in the region. Age-adjusted death rates from colorectal cancer, over an average of 6.

Symptoms of cutaneous sensitivity pre-treatment and post-treatment: results from the rizatriptan TAME studies.

The presence of cutaneous allodynia may predict response to triptans. Identical randomized double-blind studies were conducted comparing the efficacy of rizatriptan 10 mg or placebo administered within 1 h of headache onset, while pain was mild. The primary endpoint was freedom from pain at 2 h.

Psychological functioning and health-related quality of life in adulthood after preterm birth.

The aim of this study was to determine if preterm birth is associated with socioeconomic status (SES), psychological functioning, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adulthood. We used prospective follow-up of 192 adult offspring of mothers who took part in a randomized controlled trial of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (66 born at term [33 males, 33 females] 126 born preterm [66 males, 60 females]). Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence.

Perioperative complications in obese women vs normal-weight women who undergo vaginal surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of perioperative complications in obese and normal-weight patients who undergo vaginal urogynecologic surgery.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted for obese patients (body mass index, > or = 30 kg/m2) who underwent vaginal surgery and who were matched with patients with normal body mass indices (> 18.5 kg/m2 but < 30 kg/m2) by surgical procedures.

Characteristics of latrine promotion participants and non-participants; inspection of latrines; and perceptions of household latrines in Northern Ghana.

Objectives: To examine characteristics of household heads in two districts of Northern Ghana who had or had not participated in latrine promotion programmes; to inspect latrines; and to explore perceptions of latrine ownership.

Methods: One hundred and twenty latrine owners and 120 non-owners were randomly selected from all trachoma-endemic villages and interviewed. Structured questionnaires assessed demographics, household data, wealth indicators, and perceptions of latrine ownership.

Tubal anastomosis by robotic compared with outpatient minilaparotomy.

Objective: To compare tubal anastomosis by robotic system compared with outpatient minilaparotomy.

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, women were identified by current procedural terminology code for tubal anastomosis. We included all cases of tubal anastomosis for reversal of a prior tubal ligation by either outpatient minilaparotomy or robotic system technique.

Cardiovascular risk factors at age 30 following pre-term birth.

Background: Recent epidemiological evidence has shown increased rates of cardiovascular mortality and associated risk factors in those born small. However, scarce information exists concerning cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood following pre-term birth, or distinguishing the relative contributions of length of gestation and fetal growth to small size at birth.

Methods: Prospective follow-up of 458 30-year-olds whose mothers took part in a randomized controlled trial of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (147 born at term, 311 born pre-term).

Rizatriptan for the acute treatment of ICHD-II proposed menstrual migraine: two prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies.

These are the first prospective studies to use criteria for menstrual migraine proposed in the 2004 revision of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II) to examine the efficacy of rizatriptan for treatment of a menstrual attack. Two identical protocols (MM1 and MM2) were randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies. Adult women with ICHD-II menstrual migraine were assigned to either rizatriptan 10-mg tablet or placebo in a 2 : 1 ratio.

CRP correlates with clinical score in ulcerative colitis but not in Crohn's disease.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the correlation between clinical scoring systems and C-reactive protein (CRP) in inflammatory bowel disease. The modified Harvey-Bradshaw index was used in 40 patients (58 assessments) with Crohn's disease, and the Lichtiger score in 29 patients (36 assessments) with ulcerative colitis. In ulcerative colitis, CRP was elevated in 14%, 42%, 64%, and 83%, respectively, of subjects with quiescent, mild, moderate, and severe disease.

Developing organ offer and acceptance measures: when 'good' organs are turned down.

Turndowns of offers of deceased donor kidneys for transplantation can contribute to inefficiencies in the organ distribution system and inequality in access to donated organs. Match run data were obtained for 4967 'good' kidneys placed and transplanted in 2005 after fewer than 50 offers. These kidneys were not recovered from donation after cardiac death or expanded criteria donors, or from donors with a history of substance abuse.

Strategies to promote healthier food purchases: a pilot supermarket intervention study.

Objective: To pilot the design and methodology for a large randomised controlled trial (RCT) of two interventions to promote healthier food purchasing: culturally appropriate nutrition education and price discounts.

Design: A 12-week, single-blind, pilot RCT. Effects on food purchases were measured using individualised electronic shopping data ('Shop 'N Go' system).

Communicating healthy eating: lessons learned and future directions.

Achieving and maintaining wide-scale positive dietary change is a complex and formidable endeavor, given the current food environment. Moreover, for positive change to occur, nutrition messages should be communicated in a scientifically precise, yet practical and motivating manner. This challenge was the impetus for the organization of a 2-day workshop hosted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Division of Nutrition Research Coordination (DNRC), both of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What can communication science tell us about promoting optimal dietary behavior?

Four of the 10 leading causes of death can be attributed to poor dietary behaviors. Nutrition professionals continue to struggle with the most effective ways to deliver nutrition messages that will result in changes in dietary behavior. On July 14-15, 2005, the National Cancer Institute and the Division of Nutrition Research Coordination, both of the National Institutes of Health, hosted a meeting to explore the state of the science concerning this issue.