A combination of high-dose vitamin C plus zinc for the common cold.

Vitamin C and zinc play important roles in nutrition, immune defence and maintenance of health. Intake of both is often inadequate, even in affluent populations. The common cold continues to place a great burden on society in terms of suffering and economic loss. After an overview of the literature on the effects of the separate administration of either vitamin C or zinc against the common cold, this article presents data from two preliminary, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials, conducted with a combination of 1000 mg vitamin C plus 10 mg zinc in patients with the common cold. In both studies, a nonsignificant reduction of rhinorrhoea duration (range 9-27%) was seen. In pooled analyses of both studies (n=94), vitamin C plus zinc was significantly more efficient than placebo at reducing rhinorrhoea over 5 days of treatment. Furthermore, symptom relief was quicker and the product was well tolerated. In view of the burden associated with the common cold, supplementation with vitamin C plus zinc may represent an efficacious measure, with a good safety profile, against this infectious viral disease.

Assistive devices and cerebral palsy: the use of assistive devices at school by children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Although the importance of providing disabled children with assistive devices has always been highlighted, most studies in the field of assistive device research seek the participation of adult users or adult carers. Accordingly, the opinions of young users themselves seem to be overlooked. To start to address the gap, this study aimed to understand the children's perspectives regarding device use in school and to explore the factors related to their device utilization in this setting. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were adopted as the main data collection instrument. A total of 44 participants were involved, including 15 Taiwanese children with cerebral palsy, aged between 8 and 15 years, 15 mothers and 14 teachers. RESULTS: The interview results show a high frequency of device use in school which can be attributed to children's willingness, teachers' attitudes, mothers' support, physical environmental factors and device-related features. CONCLUSIONS: The findings not only demonstrate the significance of child-environment interaction but also provide evidence that children's views may be different from those of adults because they are at a different developmental stage and act out different roles in their environment.

Assistive devices and cerebral palsy: factors influencing the use of assistive devices at home by children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing awareness of the significance of gaining insights into device users' needs in their everyday usage in order to maximize the potential of assistive device intervention. However, current studies in this field are likely to focus more upon adult users' or adult carers' perspectives and, accordingly, the opinions of young users seem to be overlooked. In order to take the gap into consideration, this study aimed to explore the usability of assistive devices at home by children with cerebral palsy and consider the underlying factors related to the device usage in this setting mainly from the children's perspectives. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were adopted as the main data collection instrument. A total of 30 participants were involved in the study, including 15 Taiwanese children with cerebral palsy and 15 mothers. RESULTS: The results showed a low frequency of device use at home by the participating children. Four factors leading to low device use at home were identified, including children's reluctance, mothers' perspectives, physical environmental barriers and device-related barriers. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the need, when considering the usability of assistive devices, to take into account three interactive factors, namely, the personal, device and environmental factors. They also demonstrate the importance of taking children's different developmental stages and unique personal experiences into consideration in understanding the influence of assistive device intervention for children with cerebral palsy.

Biodistribution of 64Cu in inflamed rats following administration of two anti-inflammatory copper complexes.

64Cu was administered in two anti-inflammatory formulations to normal rats and to rats with 2 forms of local inflammation, namely (a) an acute paw oedema (elicited with carrageenan) or (b) a chronic granulomatous response to an implanted irritant (Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a polyurethane sponge). The copper formulations used were (i) a slow release one consisting of Cu(II) salicylate applied dermally with ethanol/DMSO and (ii) short acting hydrophilic complex (Cu(I)Cu(II)-penicillamine)5- given subcutaneously. Three types of changes in copper biodistribution with these forms of inflammation were discerned based on determination of 64Cu and copper content in the following organs: inflammatory locus (foot or sponge implant), kidney, liver, spleen, adrenals, brain, blood, thymus, heart, and skin (site of application). The most evident changes were in the kidneys, liver, spleen, adrenals, thymus and serum from animals with chronic granulomatous inflammation. In contrast, a short term acute inflammatory stress (carrageenan paw oedema) had little effect. While copper D-penicillamine (applied subcutaneously) appeared to move as a bolus through the animals, the results with the percutaneous copper salicylate formulation are consistent with it providing a slow release source of copper(II). Exogenous 64Cu from both formulations was sequestered at inflammatory sites (relative to serum). This may partly explain how applied copper complexes can be anti-inflammatory.

Biodistribution of 64Cu in rats after topical application of two lipophilic anti-inflammatory Cu(II) formulations.

64Cu(II) is extensively absorbed and excreted, mainly in the faeces, when applied to the skin of rats as complexes with (a) salicylate in ethanol with dimethylsulphoxide and glycerol or (b) phenylbutazone in dimethyl sulphoxide and glycerol, previously found to be anti-inflammatory. 64Cu distribution paralleled that observed after administering aqueous 64Cu-salicylate i.m. It is concluded that copper(II) can pass rapidly through the dermal barriers when applied with an appropriate cupriphore and presented in a medium with low water content.

Lipophilic copper(II) formulations: some correlations between their composition and anti-inflammatory/anti-arthritic activity when applied to the skin of rats.

Copper complexes of phenols related to salicylic acid were prepared in DMSO and applied to the shaved dorsal skin of rats. The following activities were assayed: (i) suppression of the carrageenan or hydroxylapatite paw oedemas; (ii) reduction of chronic inflammation in established adjuvant arthritis; (iii) local skin toxicity. Cu(II) was an essential component. Some limited structure-activity correlations were made among alternative cupriphores. DMSO solutions of copper complexes were more potent than their solutions in ethanol. Glycerol was a beneficial additive. Reducing the acidity of some copper salicylate formulations also reduced their potency. Niflumic acid and phenylbutazone were effective non-salicylate transcutaneous cupriphores.

Dermal copper drugs: the copper bracelet and cu(II) salicylate complexes.

A review is presented of both published work and unpublished observations concerned with: a) the 'efficacy' of copper bracelets for arthritis; b) the bio-reactivity of metallic copper (especially with human sweat); c) permeation of the skin by Cu(II) when complexed with certain ligands (such as salicylates); d) the pharmacological and clinical activity of AlcusalR and DermcusalR, two formulations of copper salicylate with ethanol and dimethyl sulphoxide respectively that can be applied to the skin. Topical application promises to be a superior alternative to orally ingested drugs.

Anti-inflammatory activity of a dermally applied copper salicylate preparation (Alcusal).

In rats, dermal (dorsum) application of an ethanolic copper salicylate complex (ECS) in ethanol with glycerol (Alcusal) effectively suppressed established polyarthritis, carrageenan-induced paw oedema and the inflammatory response to hydroxylapatite microcrystals. These responses appear to be due to some degree of synergism between the copper(II) and salicylate, i.e. not solely due to either species alone. Evidence for transdermal absorption of 64Cu from 64Cu-ECS is provided. Some safety aspects of this novel drug are discussed.