***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
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    Input: This study aims to evaluate the effect of foot massage for decreasing physiological lower leg oedema  in late pregnancy . Eighty pregnant women were r and omly divided into two groups ; study group had a 20 min foot massage daily for 5 days whereas the control group did not receive any intervention beyond st and ard prenatal care . The research was conducted between March and August 2007 in Manisa Province Health Ministry Central Primary Health Care Clinic 1 , in Manisa , Western Turkey . Compared with the control group , women in the experimental group had a significantly smaller lower leg circumference ( right and left , ankle , instep and metatarsal-phalanges joint ) after 5 days of massage . The results obtained from our research show that foot massage was found to have a positive effect on decreasing normal physiological lower leg oedema in late pregnancy In a double-blind trial involving 69 patients , the effect of O-(β-hydroxyethyl ) rutoside ( HR ) * in the treatment of varicosis of pregnancy has been investigated . The number of patients subjectively improving in the active drug group was significantly greater than in the placebo group ; patients receiving HR also showed a small but significant decrease in leg circumference . Throughout the eight-week period of the trial , there were only minimal side-effects and healthy babies were delivered with good Apgar-scores Summary The action of 0-beta-hydroxyethyl-rutosides ( HR ) on diabetic retinopathy has been evaluated on 20 diabetic patients by means of fluoresceinography . — The natural evolution and the evolution after treatment with HR ( 2400 mg orally per day ) have been compared during periods of observation of 2 months . The administration of the medication and placebo , as well as the interpretation of the results , has been carried out on a double-blind basis . — The administration of HR causes a statistically significant reduction of the retinal vascular permeability to fluorescein . RésuméL'action de l'0-beta-hydroxyethyl-rutoside ( HR ) sur la rétinopathie diabétique a été évaluée chez 20 malades diabétiques au moyen de la fluorescéinographie . — L'évolution naturelle et aprés traitement par HR ( 2400 mg/jourper os ) a été comparée au cours de périodes d'observation de deux mois . L'administration du médicament et du placebo , de même que l'interprétation des résultats ont été effectuées selon la méthode du double insu . — L'administration de HR entraîne une diminution statistiquement significative de la perméabilité vasculaire à la fluorescéine . ZusammenfassungBei 20 Diabetikern wurde die Wirkung von 0-beta-hydroxyaethyl-rutosidea ( HR ) bei Retinopathia diabetica mit Hilfe der Fluoresceinographie geprüft . — Die natürliche Entwicklung wurde mit derjenigen unter Beh and lung mit HR ( 2400 mg pro Tag peroral ) nach Beobachtungszeiten von 2 Monaten verglichen . Die Verabreichung von Medikament und Placebo sowie die Interpretation der Result ate wurden als Doppelblind-Versuch durchgeführt . — Die Zufuhr von HR verursacht eine statistisch signifikante Senkung der vaskulären Fluorescein-Permeabilität QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY To determine the efficacy of compression stockings in preventing  emergent varicose veins in pregnancy . METHODS A prospect i ve r and omised controlled study in the outpatient department of the University Hospital of Zurich , Switzerl and , including women with uncomplicated pregnancies < 12 weeks at outset of study . A  no-stockings control group ( n = 15 ) was compared with two treatment groups : group 1 ( n = 12 ) wore compression class I stockings ( 18 - 21 mm Hg ) on the left leg and class II stockings ( 25 - 32 mm Hg ) on the right ; in group 2 ( n = 15 ) , the compression classes were reversed . Stockings were worn from study entry to term . Endpoints were emergence and worsening of superficial varicose veins , long saphenous vein reflux at the sapheno-femoral junction , and leg symptoms ( pain , discomfort , cramps ) during pregnancy . RESULTS Both classes of compression stockings failed to prevent the emergence of superficial varicose veins . However , long saphenous vein reflux at the sapheno-femoral junction was observed in the third trimester in only 1/27 treated women vs. 4/15 controls ( p = 0.047 ) ; in addition , more treated women reported improved leg symptoms ( 7/27 vs. 0/15 controls ; p = 0.045 ) . Emergent varicose changes , however , did not differ significantly ( 7/14 controls vs. 5/12 in group 1 and 8/14 in group 2 ; 3x3 table , Fisher 's exact = 0.94 ) . CONCLUSIONS Although compression stockings do not prevent the emergence of gestational varicose veins , they significantly decrease the incidence of long saphenous vein reflux at the sapheno-femoral junction and improve leg symptoms . Our results also suggest that superficial varices and deep venous insufficiency may have a different aetiology Pregnancy is a critical risk for development of varicosis , therefore early detection and treatment are strongly recommended . In our study we examined 51 patients subdivided into three groups . One group underwent physical therapy ( cold foot-baths in the morning an in the evening ) , the other group was administered beta-hydroxyethyl rutosides , and the patients of the third group had appeared only once for examination . Leg circumference and diameter of vein ( by sonography ) were measured , and the subjective criteria evaluated . In the group of patients who were additionally given drugs , a significant reduction of all parameters was found : leg circumference was reduced by 3 % and diameters of veins were reduced by 15 % on average , the reduction of the subjective criteria was by 34 % . Provided the veins were prevented from further extension through progressive varicosis , apparent beneficial clinical effects can be achieved by administration of beta-hydroxyethyl rutosides Critical care can be considered to be a stressful environment at both physiological and psychological levels for patients . In this article , a research study in which a five-minute foot massage was offered to 25 patients ( 68 sessions in total ) as a stress-reduction intervention is described . A quasi-experimental repeated measures design was used to collect data before , during and after the intervention . Physiological data ( heart rate , mean arterial blood pressure , respirations and peripheral oxygen saturation ) were obtained from the patient bedside monitoring system . Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated there was no significant effect from the intervention on peripheral oxygen saturation . However , a significant decrease in heart rate , blood pressure and respirations was observed during the foot massage intervention . Results indicated foot massage had the potential effect of increasing relaxation as evidence d by physiological changes during the brief intervention administered to critically ill patients in intensive care This study explored the differential effects of external pneumatic intermittent compression ( EPIC ) and posturing on leg volume changes in healthy pregnant women with dependent leg edema . Thirty-five healthy pregnant women with severe pedal edema were r and omly assigned to one of two treatment groups . The experimental group ( n = 17 ) received EPIC for 30 minutes at 40 torr while in the left lateral recumbent position . Control women ( n = 18 ) were similarly positioned , but received no EPIC . Both groups walked for 10 minutes following left lateral posturing . Circumference measures required for leg volume estimates were made : prior to posturing ( Time 1 ) , immediately after posturing ( Time 2 ) , and following the ambulation period ( Time 3 ) . Volume losses for the experimental group were greater than for the control group at Time 2 . Although volume losses for the experimental group had reversed somewhat at Time 3 , they remained greater than control group losses , which did not change from Time 2 to Time 3 . Analysis of covariance revealed significant mean volume losses for both experimental and control groups , with ponderal index the only significant covariate In 3 controlled clinical trials , double blind versus placebo , the activity of Daflon 500 mg , a new micronised flavonoid fraction , has been evaluated on venous tone using venous plethysmography . A double-blind , r and omized cross-over Phase II pharmaco- clinical trial has shown that Daflon 500 mg is statistically more effective than placebo on pathological legs , as well as normal legs . In this study , which included 20 patients suffering from post-thrombotic syndrome , Daflon 500 mg decreased : 1 ) venous capacity ( p less than 0.001 ) ; 2 ) venous distensibility ( p less than 0.001 ) ; 3 ) venous outflow time , measured by the two parameters total emptying venous time ( p less than 0.001 ) and T2p ( p less than 0.001 ) . These modifications have been observed 2 hours after administration without any significant change in T50 outflow , cardiad index , capillary filtration index , blood pressure , cardiac or respiratory rate . The same acute effect of increasing venous tone has been demonstrated in another pharmaco clinical trial , 1 and 2 hours after ingestion in 3 groups of 10 women suffering from venous insufficiency : group I without varicose , group II during pregnancy and group III with a post-thrombotic syndrome . Finally , in a Phase III clinical trial , in 2 parallel groups of 20 patients each with functional chronic venous insufficiency , Daflon 500 mg has been compared to placebo . It was then demonstrated after 1 and 2 months treatment an improvement in the functional symptoms and edema accompanied by a statistically significant increase of the venous tone . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS PURPOSE We studied pregnancy-induced changes in lower limb venous function . METHODS We used plethysmography and sonography to assess the changes in venous wall distensibility , saphenous vein diameters , and spontaneous blood flow echogenicity in the common femoral veins in 190 consecutive women during and after uncomplicated pregnancies ( total of 409 examinations ) . RESULTS The percentage of women with clinical symptoms and signs of venous insufficiency  increased significantly during pregnancy . The mean diameters of the great and small saphenous veins also increased significantly , while occlusive venous plethysmography showed a decrease in parameters indicating vein distensibility . Spontaneous blood flow echogenicity in the common femoral veins was clearly visible or marked in 6 % of cases during the first trimester of pregnancy , 63 % during the second trimester , and 96 % during the third trimester , versus 6 % after delivery ( p < 0.0001 ) . The mean hematocrit decreased and the mean fibrinogen concentration increased during pregnancy . CONCLUSIONS The increase in lower limb venous pressure seen during pregnancy leads to venous overdistention and worsens blood stasis . Decreased venous flow velocity and rheological alterations result in increased red cell aggregation , giving rise to spontaneous blood flow echogenicity . Spontaneous blood flow echogenicity is therefore a normal finding during pregnancy and should not be mistaken for venous thrombosis This single-blind r and omised controlled trial explored the differential effects of two different foot reflexology techniques with a period of rest on oedema-relieving effects and symptom relief in healthy pregnant women with foot oedema . Fifty-five women in the third trimester were r and omly assigned to one of the three groups : a period of rest , ' relaxing ' reflexology techniques or a specific ' lymphatic ' reflexology technique for 15 min with pre- and post-therapy ankle and foot circumference measurements and participant question naire . There was no statistically significant difference in the circumference measurements between the three groups ; however , the lymphatic technique reflexology group mean circumference measurements were all decreased . A significant reduction in the women 's symptom mean measurements in all groups ( p<0.0001 ) was apparent . A ' perceived wellbeing ' score revealed the lymphatic technique group ( p<0.0001 ) significantly increased their wellbeing the most , followed closely by relaxing techniques ( p<0.001 ) and then the control rest group ( p<0.03 ) . Lymphatic reflexology techniques , relaxing reflexology techniques and a period of rest had a non-significant oedema-relieving effect . From the women 's viewpoint , lymphatic reflexology was the preferred therapy with significant increase in symptom relief 
    Output:
    
There is moderate quality evidence to suggest that rutosides appear to help relieve the symptoms of varicose veins in late pregnancy .