Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2008
Long-term persistence with statin treatment in a not-for-profit health maintenance organization: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Israel.
Although discontinuing lipid-lowering treatment can cause preventable morbidity, previously published reports have indicated considerable variability in persistence with statin use. In general, such reports have been limited by short follow-up periods and modest study populations. ⋯ In this study in these patients receiving first-time statin treatment in Israel, we found poor persistence with statins among both the primary- and secondary-prevention cohorts, especially among new immigrants and patients with low SES despite low out-of-pocket prescription costs and free access to health services.
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The 2007 European Union (EU) regulation on medicinal products for pediatric use may change the present unsatisfying situation in the EU by stimulating research and development of medicines for use in children through rewards and incentives. ⋯ Similar to the research in pediatric drug formulations that was stimulated by the US legislation and incentives of the last decade, the 2007 EU legislation promises improvements in the availability of child-appropriate drugs in Europe.
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2008
Stability of doripenem in vitro in representative infusion solutions and infusion bags.
Doripenem, a new parenteral carbapenem with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, is indicated for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections and complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis. According to the US prescribing information, the carbapenems imipenem and meropenem are stable in sodium chloride for 4 hours. ⋯ Doripenem 5 mg/mL was stable for up to 12 hours in vitro in 0.9% sodium chloride at room temperature. Therefore, doripenem can be constituted, mixed with infusion fluids in the pharmacy, stored, delivered, and infused into a patient within a time frame suitable for 4-hour extended infusions.
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Clinical therapeutics · Oct 2008
Meta AnalysisShort- versus long-course antibiotic therapy for acute pyelonephritis in adolescents and adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Despite the high incidence of acute pyelonephritis in the community setting, there is no consensus on the optimal duration of treatment. A potential reduction in the duration of the administered antibiotic regimens could contribute to avoiding further development of antimicrobial resistance. ⋯ This meta-analysis failed to identify any significant differences, with regard to effectiveness and tolerability, between short- and long-course treatment with the same antibiotic.
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Clinical therapeutics · Oct 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEfficacy of cefditoren pivoxil and amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of pediatric patients with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in Thailand: a randomized, investigator-blinded, controlled trial.
The recommended treatment for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in adults and children is 10 to 14 days of high doses of oral cephalosporins or amoxicillin/clavulanate. ⋯ In these children with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, there were no significant differences between cefditoren and amoxicillin/clavulanate, the currently recommended treatment, in terms of rates of response, relapse, or recurrence.