Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyAn 18-week, prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of amlodipine/ramipril combination versus amlodipine monotherapy in the treatment of hypertension: the assessment of combination therapy of amlodipine/ramipril (ATAR) study.
A combination of antihypertensive agents of different drug classes in a fixed-dose combination (FDC) may offer advantages in terms of efficacy, tolerability, and treatment compliance. Combination of a calcium channel blocker with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor may act synergistically to reduce blood pressure (BP). ⋯ In this population of patients with essential hypertension, the amlodipine/ramipril FDC was associated with significantly reduced ambulatory and office-measured BP compared with amlodipine monotherapy, with the exception of office DBP. Both treatments were well tolerated.
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Clinical therapeutics · Sep 2008
ReviewCognitive and psychomotor effects of risperidone in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
The aim of this review was to discuss data from double-blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have investigated the effects of oral and long-acting injectable risperidone on cognitive and psychomotor functioning in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. ⋯ The results of this review of within-group comparisons of oral risperidone suggest that the agent appeared to be associated with improved functioning in the cognitive domains of processing speed, attention/vigilance, verbal and visual learning and memory, and reasoning and problem solving in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Long-acting injectable risperidone seemed to be associated with improved functioning in the domains of attention/vigilance, verbal learning and memory, and reasoning and problem solving, as well as psychomotor functioning, in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
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Clinical therapeutics · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyBioavailability of two sublingual formulations of ketorolac tromethamine 30 mg: a randomized, open-label, single-dose, two-period crossover comparison in healthy Mexican adult volunteers.
Ketorolac tromethamine (ie, ketorolac) is an NSAID that appears to have several mechanisms of action, including inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, modulatory effect on opioid receptors, and nitric oxide synthesis. Ketorolac is used in the treatment of pain. There are various generic formulations of sublingual ketorolac available in Mexico. However, a literature search did not identify published data concerning the bioavailability of these formulations in the Mexican population. ⋯ In this small study in 27 healthy Mexican adult volunteers, the test formulation of a single, 30-mg sublingual tablet of ketorolac appeared to be bioequivalent to the reference formulation based on the rate and extent of absorption. Both formulations were well tolerated.
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Clinical therapeutics · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyLow fresh gas flow balanced anesthesia versus target controlled intravenous infusion anesthesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a cost-minimization analysis.
Laparoscopic surgery is widely recognized as a well-tolerated and effective method for cholecystectomy. It is also considered cost saving because it has been associated with a decreased hospital length of stay. Variables that might lead to increased costs in laparoscopic surgery are the technique and drugs used in anesthesia. ⋯ The results from this cost analysis in these patients who underwent elective LC suggest that the use of sevoflurane through the LFGF technique would be cost saving in this outpatient surgical department.
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Clinical therapeutics · Sep 2008
Direct hospital resource utilization and costs of treating patients with multiple myeloma in Southwest Sweden: a 5-year retrospective analysis.
Approximately 570 patients are diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) in Sweden each year. Few studies have estimated the cost of treatment for these patients. ⋯ The cost of treating Swedish patients with MM varied greatly between individuals but, overall, chemotherapy drugs constituted only a minor part of the total monthly cost (2%), whereas costs for inpatient stays and therapy-induced adverse events or comorbidity-related events accounted for 35% and42%, respectively. There was no significant differencein monthly cost between treatment lines.