This study sought to further evaluate the
efficacy of LED photomodulation in lessening radiation dermatitis.
MATERIALS & METHODS
After surgery, patients with breast cancer received LED photomodulation or sham treatments in conjunction with three-dimensional conformal RT. Reactions were evaluated using standardized photographs graded according to National Cancer Institute selleck chemicals criteria.
RESULTS
In the LED treatment group (n=18), no patients had grade 0 reactions, six (33.3%) had grade 1 reactions, 12 (66.7%) had grade 2 reactions, and none had a grade 3 reaction. In the sham treatment group (n=15), one (6.6%) patient had a grade 0 reaction, four (26.7%) had grade 1 reactions, 9 (60.0%) had grade 2 reactions, and one (6.7%) had a grade 3 reaction. Two (11.1%) patients in the LED treatment group and one (6.7%) in the control group had to interrupt treatment. Differences between groups were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
LED NCT-501 concentration photomodulation did not reduce the incidence of radiation-induced skin reactions or interruptions in therapy.
Funding was provided for this study through the Cutting Edge Research Grant, sponsored by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. The GentleWaves LED Select units were loaned for this study by Light BioScience.”
“Rationale: Although it is recommended to restrict long-term use of benzodiazepines. and considerable attention has been paid to this, long-term
use continues to be a problem. An informative discontinuation letter for patients has been shown to reduce long-term benzodiazepine use in general practice. However, little is known about its wide scale implementation in primary care.
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of an intensive Support programme for community pharmacies to send discontinuation letters to patients in cooperation with GPs.
Methods: In a Cluster randomized trial, 43 control pharmacies received a BI 6727 nmr written manual and 47 experimental pharmacies received an intensive Support programme. Primary outcome measures were the percentage
of GPs who reviewed and returned lists of eligible patients and the percentage of long-term users who were sent it discontinuation letter within 4 months.
Results: The outcomes did not differ for the experimental versus control groups: 38% and 31% of the GPs, respectively, returned the patient lists; 14% and 10% of all long-term users in the two groups, respectively, received the discontinuation letter within 4 months. Substantially more pharmacies in the experimental group than in the control group finally managed to send discontinuation letters (70% vs. 40%).
Conclusion: About one third of the pharmacies in the control group and two thirds of the pharmacies in the intervention group finally implemented the discontinuation letter. However, this difference was not apparent in the primary outcome measures. It seems crucial to involve GPs more effectively ill implementation of the discontinuation letter.