High pH of Wounds is Associated with Poorer Burn Healing
British scientists have shown that the pH of burn wounds decreases during healing and that higher pH at the second dressing change is associated with poorer healing and the subsequent need for skin grafts. Determining the pH of wounds at the beginning of treatment could help identify poorly healing burns that require more aggressive treatment.
A 12-month non-interventional study confirmed the efficacy and safety of buprenorphine-naloxone substitution therapy in opioid-dependent patients in real-world practice. Treated drug addicts showed significant reductions in the misuse of other substances and improvements in quality of life with very good tolerability.
Based on favorable clinical study results with buprenorphine-naloxone in opioid dependence cessation, a non-interventional study was conducted in Germany to assess the benefits and safety of this substitution therapy. This was a nationwide prospective non-interventional post-marketing study. A total of 384 opioid-dependent individuals were included and monitored at 12 time intervals at 69 hospital and outpatient facilities and in general practices.
Analysis was performed on 337 patients. There was a significant reduction in the use of all illegal substances during substitution therapy. Mental health and quality of life significantly improved based on questionnaires filled out by the patients themselves. After 12 months, 57.1% of the observed patients were still taking buprenorphine-naloxone. No patient died during the study, and there was only one hospitalization. Serious adverse effects were recorded in 1.2% and non-serious adverse effects in 17.5% of the enrolled patients.
This German study demonstrated that the substitution therapy of opioid-dependent individuals using buprenorphine-naloxone is effective and safe not only in the context of clinical studies but also in routine practice.
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Source: Apelt S. M., Scherbaum N., Gölz J., et al. Safety, Effectiveness and Tolerance of Buprenorphine-Naloxone in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence: Results from a Nationwide Non-Interventional Study in Routine Care. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2013 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]
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