The New England journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of sustained-release bupropion and placebo for smoking cessation.
Trials of antidepressant medications for smoking cessation have had mixed results. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a sustained-release form of bupropion for smoking cessation. We excluded smokers with current depression, but not those with a history of major depression. The 615 subjects were randomly assigned to receive placebo or bupropion at a dose of 100, 150, or 300 mg per day for seven weeks. The target quitting date (or "target quit date") was one week after the beginning of treatment. Brief counseling was provided at base line, weekly during treatment, and at 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks. Self-reported abstinence was confirmed by a carbon monoxide concentration in expired air of 10 ppm or less. ⋯ A sustained-release form of bupropion was effective for smoking cessation and was accompanied by reduced weight gain and minimal side effects. Many participants in all groups were smoking at one year.
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Current methods of disease staging often fail to detect small numbers of tumor cells in lymph nodes. Metastatic relapse may arise from these few cells. ⋯ Immunohistochemical examination of lymph nodes may improve the pathological staging of esophageal cancer.