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Emergency contraception access and sexual behaviour

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Three days of amoxicillin are enough for non-severe pneumonia

Rofecoxib approved for migraine

Emergency contraception access and sexual behaviour
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02 April 2004

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Emergency contraception access and sexual behaviour

Providing advance access to emergency contraception (EC) was not associated with increased unprotected sex or condom use, according to the results of a new randomized trialin the United States. Over a 5 year period, 301 predominantly minority, low-income, sexually active adolescent women, aged 15 to 20 years who were not using long-acting contraception, were randomized to receive either advance EC, or instruction on how to get EC. Follow-up interviews planned for 1 and 6 months revealed no differences between the advance EC and control groups in reported unprotected intercourse within the past month or at last intercourse. At last follow-up, 77% of the advance EC group and 62% of the control group reported condom use in the past month. However, there was no significant difference between groups in condom use at last intercourse or in hormonal contraception use in the past month or at last intercourse. Several study limitations were identified.

It was concluded that providing advance EC to adolescents is not associated with more unprotected intercourse or less condom or hormonal contraception use. In the first month after enrollment, adolescents provided with advance EC were nearly twice as likely to use it and began EC sooner, when it is known to be more effective.

Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology April 2004;17:87-96

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Three days of amoxicillin are enough for non-severe pneumonia

Rofecoxib approved for migraine

Emergency contraception access and sexual behaviour

Headlines on UKMiCentral Today 2nd & 8th April 2004

Headlines on UKMiCentral Today

Three days of amoxicillin are enough for non-severe pneumonia

Rofecoxib approved for migraine

Emergency contraception access and sexual behaviour
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08 April 2004

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Aggressive lipid lowering with statins better than moderate lowering
Aggressive lipid lowering with statins is better than moderate lowering, according to the results of the Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 22 (PROVE IT–TIMI 22) trial. In this study, 4,162 patients who had been hospitalised for an acute coronary syndrome within the preceding 10 days were randomised to receive standard therapy with 40 mg pravastatin daily or intensive therapy with 80 mg of atorvastatin daily. During treatment, the median LDL cholesterol level was 95 mg/dL (2.46 mmol/L) with standard therapy and 62 mg/dL (1.60 mmol/L) with aggressive therapy. At two years, rates of the primary end point were 26.3% in the pravastatin group and 22.4% in the atorvastatin group, based on Kaplan-Meier estimates. These rates corresponded to a 16% reduction in the hazard ratio favouring atorvastatin.

Although the study was designed to demonstrate equivalence of the two regimens, it actually demonstrated that the more intensive regimen was superior. Both drugs were generally well tolerated, but there were significantly more liver-related adverse effects with high-dose atorvastatin than with standard-dose pravastatin. Study limitations include lack of generalisability beyond a carefully selected and monitored study population to patients in clinical practice with more coexisting conditions. The authors conclude that, after an acute coronary syndrome, the target LDL cholesterol level may be lower than that recommended in the current guidelines.
New England Journal of Medicine 8 April 2004; 350: 1495-1504

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Headlines on UKMiCentral Today New health information website for patients Just trying to lose weight brings benefits for diabetics, too Ezetimibe-statin combination approved in Germany FDA clamps down on misleading weight-loss products New health information website for patients The DoH has announced a new website that will provide patients with the current best evidence on treatment of a range of chronic conditions. Best Treatments presents treatments for each condition along with their effectiveness, potential benefits, and possible risks; it is a joint initiative between BMJ Publications, who produce the Clinical Evidence series for healthcare professionals, and NHS Direct. The site aims to make some of the information already provided to clinicians available in terms and a format that lay people can understand, and it is hoped that it will provide a useful resource for healthcare professionals to recommend to patients. BBC News report; DoH media release New health information website for patients

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