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Quantities Used (quantity + used)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Use of non-prescribed methadone and other illicit drugs during methadone maintenance treatment

DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 1 2000
Dr. DAVID BEST
Abstract Patterns of illicit and non-prescribed drug use among a cohort of 100 patients in methadone maintenance treatment were tracked over a 6-month period. While there were no statistically significant changes in alcohol or heroin use, there were significant increases in the frequency of crack cocaine and cannabis use. Use of non-prescribed methadone had also increased. Twenty-one percent reported non-prescribed methadone use at follow-up who had not done so at the first interview, with increases also in the mean quantities used. Non-prescribed methadone use at the second interview was strongly associated with the amounts of both methadone and diazepam prescribed at each of the data collecting points. [source]

Model-based synthesis of nonlinear PI and PID controllers

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 8 2001
Raymond A. Wright
PI and PID controllers continue to be popular methods in industrial applications. It is well known that linear PI and PID controllers result from the application of model-based controller design methods to linear first- and second-order systems. It is shown that nonlinear PI and PID controllers result from the application of nonlinear controller design methods to nonlinear first- and second-order systems. As a result, the controllers resulting from nonlinear model-based control theory are put in a convenient form, more amenable to industrial implementation. Additionally, the quantities used in the controller are useful for monitoring the process and quantifying modeling error. Chemical engineering examples are used to illustrate the resulting control laws. A simulation example further demonstrates the performance of the nonlinear controllers, as well as their useful process monitoring quantities. [source]

Use of albumin in three French university hospitals: is prescription monitoring still useful in 2004?,

PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 1 2007
Vincent Pradel MD
Abstract Purpose Use of albumin (indications and quantities involved) has not been assessed in France since major changes occurred after the publication of Cochrane group meta-analysis. The objectives of this study were to measure the repartition of albumin indications in three French university hospitals in 2004 and to assess the feasibility and usefulness to implement a prescription-monitoring program. Methods Exhaustive record of albumin prescription during 2 months in three French university hospitals of Marseille. Inclusion of all patients with a first prescription of albumin between 15 March 2004 and 15 May 2004. Indication, formulation and quantity prescribed were recorded for each prescription. Results One hundred and eighty-seven patients received a total of 426 prescriptions for a total quantity of 21,094 g of albumin during the study. The first indications were hypoalbuminemia (33% of total quantity), plasmapheresis (30.2%) and ascites or hepatorenal syndrome (13.7%). Fifty per cent of total quantity was used by 14 patients (7.5% of included patients). Conclusions Most of albumin consumption in our study is concentrated on recognized indications or indications without alternative to albumin. The different levels of analysis (number of patient treated, number of prescription and quantities used) must be taken into account when analyzing medications such as albumin. Only a marginal proportion of consumption is expected to be saved with close monitoring of indications. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Comparison of parent knowledge, therapy utilization and severity of atopic eczema before and after explanation and demonstration of topical therapies by a specialist dermatology nurse

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2003
M.J. Cork
Summary Background The failure of patients to take medicines in a way that leads to clinical benefit is a major challenge. A consensus has emerged that, on average, compliance sufficient to obtain therapeutic objectives occurs about half the time, with noncompliance contributing to therapeutic failure in the other half. These figures refer to simple oral regimens. There has been little work assessing compliance/concordance with complex treatment regimens for atopic eczema. Asthma schools led by specialist nurses have been shown to improve knowledge, use of therapies and clinical outcome. Objectives To determine the effect of education and demonstration of topical therapies by specialist dermatology nurses on therapy utilization and severity of atopic eczema. Methods Fifty-one children with atopic eczema attending a paediatric dermatology clinic were followed for up to 1 year. At each visit the parent's knowledge about atopic eczema and its treatment and therapy utilization was recorded. The severity of the eczema was recorded using the six area, six sign atopic dermatitis severity score (SASSAD) and parental assessment of itch, sleep disturbance and irritability. At the first visit a specialist dermatology nurse explained and demonstrated how to use all of the topical treatments. This education was repeated at subsequent visits depending on the knowledge of the parent. Results At baseline less than 5% of parents had received/recalled receiving any explanation of the causes of eczema or demonstration of how to apply topical treatments. The eczema was poorly controlled in all children (mean SASSAD 42·9). Of the children, 24% were not being treated with any emollient cream/ointment; the mean use was 54 g weekly. Of the children, 25% were being inappropriately treated with potent or very potent topical steroids. Following repeated education and demonstration of topical therapies by a specialist dermatology nurse, there was an 89% reduction in the severity of the eczema. The main change in therapy utilization was an 800% increase in the use of emollients (to 426 g weekly of emollient cream/ointment) and no overall increase in the use of topical steroids, accounting for potency and quantity used. Conclusions, This study reinforces the importance of specialist dermatology nurses in the management of atopic eczema. It also confirms the opinion of patients, patient support groups, dermatologists and best practice guidelines that the most important intervention in the management of atopic eczema is to spend time to listen and explain its causes and demonstrate how to apply topical therapies. [source]