Acupuncture in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized sham-controlled trial.

The purpose of the present trial was to evaluate semi-standardized acupuncture efficacy in migraine prophylaxis. Twenty-eight subjects with migraine were randomized to the real or sham acupuncture groups. Semi-standardized and standardized minimal acupuncture were used, respectively, in the two groups of patients. They were all treated with 16 acupuncture sessions in 12 weeks. Both groups exhibited similar reductions in: percentage of patients with reduction of migraine>or=40% and >or=50% regarding frequency of migraine attacks, days with migraine, frequency of migraine attacks, average duration of a migraine attack, rate of rescue medication used, average headache severity rate and other parameters compared with the baseline period. Associated symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, also showed equal estimates in both groups. These findings showed that semi-standardized acupuncture shows no difference from sham acupuncture in preventing migraine attacks.

[Prophylaxis secondary to retinitis by CMV in patients with AIDS: the efficacy of an intermittent schedule of 3 days/week]. / Profilaxis secundaria de la retinitis por citomegalovirus en pacientes con sida: eficacia de una pauta intermitente de 3 días por semana.

BACKGROUND: An approach of daily or 5 days per week treatment as maintenance therapy is mandatory among HIV patients with CMV retinitis. We evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of thrice weekly maintenance therapy for CMV retinitis in AIDS patients. METHODS: Sixty nine consecutive patients with CMV disease were eligible for a prospective open clinical trial. Thirty three completed the induction treatment of CMV retinitis, agreed on maintenance thrice weekly and were included. Twenty nine received Ganciclovir (10 mg/kg/day) and 4 foscarnet (100 mg/kg/day) thrice weekly. RESULTS: The mean age was 34 years. Twenty nine of the 33 (87%) were males and 13 (39%) drug addicts. Mean CD4+ lymphocyte count at inclusion was 44 cells per relapsed and 22 (66%) died. The median time to relapse, survival free of CMV retinitis and the median survival was 18, 14 and 34 weeks respectively. CONCLUSION: Since the outcome of our patients with thrice weekly maintenance therapy was similar to historical controls our study at least provides the rational for this hypothesis to be tested in a future randomised trial.