[Comparative study of French drug data banks]

We proposed a set of 9 criteria to evaluate computerized French drug data banks currently available on the Minitel, medical software, or the Web. These criteria are used for testing the scientific quality of the information provided in terms of reliability and completeness. They round off the nine criteria proposed in a previous study for sole drug interactions. None of the drug data banks is better than the others on all the selected dimensions. But the methodology presented should allow a particular user with defined needs to weigh up the criteria and optimize his choice.

[Role of ondansetron in oncology]

The aim of this paper is to compare ondansetron to other antiemetic products used in cancerology. Twenty randomised trials studying ondansetron, and published in international reviews, were analyzed and synthesized. The conclusion is that ondansetron is of demonstrated short term efficiency. It seems to be slightly more efficient than metoclopramide, and its association with dexamethasone increases its efficiency. Doses of 8 mg or 24 mg do not differ from doses of 32 mg, and bolus administration from infusion administration. There are no data on the duration of the protection after the first course of chemotherapy.