Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Mar 2015
Meta AnalysisEffect of the urinary tryptin inhibitor ulinastatin on cardiopulmonary bypass-related inflammatory response and clinical outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can cause systemic inflammatory responses and a series of subsequent complications that may harm patients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of ulinastatin on inflammatory responses and clinical outcomes of CPB via a meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials. ⋯ This meta-analysis found that changes in inflammatory cytokines occurred in a time-dependent manner and that the use of ulinastatin resulted in decreased duration of mechanical ventilation with CPB compared with placebo.
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Clinical therapeutics · Mar 2015
Observational StudyEffects of rivaroxaban versus warfarin on hospitalization days and other health care resource utilization in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: an observational study from a cohort of matched users.
Compared with warfarin, the new target-specific oral anticoagulant agents may have advantages, such as shorter hospital length of stay, in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The objective of the present study was to assess, among patients with NVAF, the effects of rivaroxaban versus warfarin on the number of hospitalization days and other health care resource utilization in a cohort of rivaroxaban users and matched warfarin users. ⋯ In this study conducted in clinical practice, the estimated mean numbers of hospitalization days, outpatient visits, and AF-related hospitalizations associated with rivaroxaban were significantly less than were those associated with warfarin in these patients with NVAF. The corresponding estimated difference in all-cause ED visits was not statistically significant.
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Clinical therapeutics · Mar 2015
ReviewEmerging new therapies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.
The goal of this article was to review the safety, efficacy, and potential for utilization of the newly approved once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. ⋯ The GLP-1 receptor agonists have proven efficacy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and may provide patients with additional nonglycemic benefits, including significant weight loss and decreased systolic blood pressure. The newer once-weekly formulations are more convenient than the BID and once-daily medications, which could improve adherence and may be more attractive to providers and patients.
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease in adults. It is almost invariably lethal within a few years after the onset of symptoms. No effective treatment is currently available beyond supportive care and riluzole, a putative glutamate release blocker linked to modestly prolonged survival. This review provides a general overview of preclinical and clinical advances during recent years and summarizes the literature regarding emerging therapeutic approaches, focusing on their molecular targets. ⋯ Currently, no therapeutic effort seems to be efficient, but recent findings in ALS could help accelerate the discovery of an effective treatment for this disease.
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Clinical therapeutics · Mar 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy and tolerability of intranasal fentanyl spray in cancer patients with breakthrough pain.
The aims of this study were to explore the efficacy of intranasal fentanyl spray* (INFS) 400 μg to evaluate 12-week tolerability of the nasal mucosa and to explore safety data for all dose strengths of INFS in patients with cancer-related breakthrough pain (BTP). ⋯ INFS 400 μg is effective and nasal tolerability and overall safety profile is acceptable during 12 weeks of use. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01429051.