Efficacy and safety of colchicine for the treatment of myopericarditis

Objective Clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of colchicine only in simple pericarditis, excluding cases of concomitant myocarditis. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of colchicine for the treatment of the first attack of acute pericarditis with concomitant myocardial involvement. Methods Double-centre retrospective cohort study analysing consecutive patients admitted for first attack of pericarditis with myocarditis and treated with or without colchicine. The primary efficacy end point was the time to the first recurrence. Propensity score matching was used to generate two groups of patients with similar baseline characteristics. Colchicine-associated side effects were analysed as safety end-point. Results A total of 175 patients (mean age 46.2±20.1 years, 25.1% females, 88.6% with idiopathic/viral aetiology) were included. Seventy-nine (45.1%) patients were treated with colchicine. After a median follow-up of 25.3 (IQR 8.3-45.6) months, 58 (33.1%) patients had recurrences. The propensity score generated two groups of 73 patients with similar baseline characteristics but the use of colchicine. Patients treated with colchicine had a lower incidence of recurrences (respectively, 19.2% vs 43.8%; p=0.001) and a longer event-free survival (p=0.005). In multivariable analysis, women (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.73; p=0.037) and corticosteroid use (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.15 to 4.47; p=0.018) were independent risk factors for recurrences. Colchicine-associated side effects were mild and occurred in 3 (1.7%) patients. Conclusion In patients with first attack of pericarditis associated with myocardial involvement, colchicine was safe and efficacious for the reduction of recurrences

Shoe-Leather Costs in the Euro Area and the Foreign Demand for Euro Banknotes

We estimate the shoe-leather costs of inflation in the euro area using monetary data adjusted for holdings of euro banknotes abroad. While we find evidence of marginally negative shoe-leather costs for very low levels of the nominal interest rate, our estimates suggest that the shoe-leather costs are non-negligible even for relatively moderate levels of anticipated inflation. We conclude that, despite the increased circulation of euro banknotes abroad, in the euro area the inflation tax is still predominantly borne by domestic agents, with transfers of resources from abroad remaining small

Bank Risk and Monetary Policy

We find evidence of a bank lending channel for the euro area operating via bank risk. Financial innovation and the new ways to transfer credit risk have tended to diminish the informational content of standard bank balance-sheet indicators. We show that bank risk conditions, as perceived by financial market investors, need to be considered, together with the other indicators (i.e. size, liquidity and capitalization), traditionally used in the bank lending channel literature to assess a bank’s ability and willingness to supply new loans. Using a large sample of European banks, we find that banks characterized by lower expected default frequency are able to offer a larger amount of credit and to better insulate their loan supply from monetary policy changes

Therapeutic approach of children with endocrine diseases in otorhinolaryngoiatric surgery

Almost all endocrine disorders may cause adverse complications or a difficult postoperative course if they are not recognized or adequately managed. Diabetes is the most commonly encountered endocrinopathy and there is increasing evidence that maintenance of normal blood glucose in the perioperative period is necessary to reduce adverse events. The perioperative management of diabetes should be based on the type of diabetes, the medications taken and degree of diabetes control. Thyrotoxicosis is a potentially severe condition that requires medical intervention before surgery. The preparation of a patient with hyperthyroidism depends on the time available before surgery and on the severity of the thyrotoxicosis. Generally, treatment involves a combination of medications that influence the synthesis, secretion and peripheral actions of thyroid hormones. Patients with mild hypothyroidism can undergo elective or emergency surgery without specific perioperative preparation. In case of adrenal insufficiency, supplementation of glucocorticoids (and possibly mineralocorticoids) should be adequately given and individualized on the basis of size and the type of surgical procedure to be performed. Finally, the management of children with diabetes insipidus, before or after a surgical procedure, or with the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of ADH is complicated and may cause severe electrolytic imbalances as well as problems of over- or under-hydration which can be difficult to treat. \ua9 Copyright 2006, CIC Edizioni Internazionali, Roma