bmj.com -- Press Releases

Press Releases Saturday 22 May 1999
No 7195 Volume 318

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(1) BENEFITS ARE LIKELY FROM VITAMIN B-6 IN PREMENSTRUAL
SYNDROME

(2) GPS OF THE FUTURE WILL BE INFORMATION SPECIALISTS

(3) EMAIL IS A POWERFUL TOOL IN DOCTOR PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP

(4) FINE TOOTHED COMBS NOT CHEMICALS SHOULD BE
USED TO TREAT HEAD LICE

(1) BENEFITS ARE LIKELY FROM VITAMIN B-6 IN PREMENSTRUAL
SYNDROME

(Efficacy of vitamin B-6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome:
systematic review)
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7195/1375

A dose of no more than 100mg/day of vitamin B-6 is likely to be a
benefit in treating premenstrual symptoms and premenstrual depression,
say researchers in this week's BMJ. However, they warn that their
findings are based on an analysis of previously conducted trials, the
quality of which is uncertain and therefore the authors call for further
research to corroborate their findings.

Dr Katrina Wyatt and colleagues from North Staffordshire Hospital
along with Keele University set out to ascertain the efficacy of vitamin
B-6 in light of recent UK government recommendations to restrict
dosage. They based their study on nine published trials representing
940 women with premenstrual syndrome and found some evidence to
suggest that 100mg of vitamin B-6 daily (and possibly only 50mg)
seemed to be beneficial in the management of premenstrual syndrome
(PMS) - it was more than two times more effective than a placebo
treatment.

Wyatt et al found that the improvements in symptoms did not seem to
be dose dependent and therefore conclude that there is no rationale for
giving doses of vitamin B-6 in excess of 100mg/day. Excessive
ingestion of the vitamin can cause nerve damage, but the authors found
no conclusive evidence of neurological side effects with the doses they
examined (ie less than 100mg/day).

Dr Wyatt and colleagues call for a randomised controlled trial of
sufficient power and quality to compare vitamin B-6 with placebo to
establish definitive recommendations for this treatment.

Contact:

Dr Katrina Wyatt, Non-Clinical Lecturer in Reproductive
Endocrinology, Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
North Staffordshire Hospital, Stoke on Trent
Email: mea10{at}keele.ac.uk

(2) GPS OF THE FUTURE WILL BE INFORMATION SPECIALISTS

(Is there a clinical future for the general practitioner?)
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7195/1420/a

The general practitioners of the future will be "..highly skilled medical
generalists and information specialists and the only essential doctors at
the whole of healthcare practice" writes Dr Toby Lipman in this week's
BMJ. Commenting on recent claims that the role of the general
practitioner in the future will become redundant, Dr Lipman writes that
"...the exponential growth of information and technical capability will
need expert management". He believes that "...general practitioners will
have a key role in helping patients make complex decisions about
diagnosis and treatment." Everything else, he says, "..will be done by
nurses, technicians and robots."

Contact:

Dr Toby Lipman, General Practitioner and Northern and Yorkshire
Research Training Fellow, Westerhope Medical Group, Westerhope,
Newcastle upon Tyne
Email: toby{at}tobylipm.demon.co.uk

(3) EMAIL IS A POWERFUL TOOL IN DOCTOR PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP

(Email contact between doctor and patient)
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7195/1428

Rapid communication is now available to patients and healthcare
professionals via email, writes Dr Badal Pal in a personal view in this
week's BMJ. Dr Pal says that with email, doctors can provide followup
and continuity of care which is unavailable through other means. "They
can clarify advice previously given and point patients to patient
information materials and other resources available on the internet" he
says and "..they can respond to more questions from patients in a
shorter time."

The author concludes that despite some reservations from doctors that
email would further increase their workload, there is great potential to
allow email contact with patients under appropriate circumstances.

Contact:

Dr Badal Pal, Consultant Rheumatologist, Manchester
Email: bpal{at}fs1.with.man.ac.uk

(4) FINE TOOTHED COMBS NOT CHEMICALS SHOULD BE
USED TO TREAT HEAD LICE

(Head lice can be controlled without application of insecticide lotions)
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7195/1422

Regular "wetcombing" through children's hair is more effective and
environmentally friendly than repeat prescribing of insecticide lotion for
the treatment of head lice, writes Dr Gill Lewendon in this week's BMJ.
The Senior Clinical Medical Officer in South and West Devon Health
Authority, Dr Lewendon says that combing through wet, well
conditioned hair with a fine toothed comb every three days, physically
removes lice, without the need for repeated chemical treatments, which
do not prevent reinfection.

Contact:

Dr Gill Lewendon, Senior Clinical Medical Officer in South and West
Devon Health Authority, Dartington
Email: Gill.Lewendon{at}sw-devon-ha.swest.nhs.uk

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