Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialCognitive improvement in mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia after treatment with the acetylcholine precursor choline alfoscerate: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Parallel with the development of hypotheses regarding cholinergic involvement in geriatric memory dysfunction, the first attempts to treat patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) involved the cholinergic-precursor loading approach. Despite encouraging early results, well-controlled clinical trials did not confirm a clinical utility of cholinergic precursors such as choline and lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) in AD. ⋯ The results of this study suggest the clinical usefulness and tolerability of CA in the treatment of the cognitive symptoms of dementia disorders of the Alzheimer type.
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Clinical therapeutics · Jan 2003
ReviewGabapentin dosing for neuropathic pain: evidence from randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
Pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical attention, and neuropathic pain is among the most common types of pain. Despite its prevalence, neuropathic pain is often underrecognized and inadequately treated. Many cases are refractory to the medications traditionally used for pain, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Tricyclic antidepressants are considered first-line agents for neuropathic pain, but their use is limited by unwanted side effects and a risk of cardiovascular mortality. ⋯ At doses of 1800 to 3600 mg/d, gabapentin was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of adults with neuropathic pain.
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Clinical therapeutics · Jan 2003
Clinical TrialQuality-of-life assessment in patients with hyperhidrosis before and after treatment with botulinum toxin: results of an open-label study.
Patients with hyperhidrosis, a disorder characterized by increased sweat production, experience substantial functional and emotional problems. Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) has been shown to be useful in the treatment of hyperhidrosis; however, few studies have considered the effects of treatment on patients' quality of life (QOL). ⋯ Further studies with a longer follow-up period are needed to assess the long-term effects of BTX-A; however, preliminary data from the present study suggest that BTX-A improves QOL in patients with focal hyperhidrosis, independent of the presenting clinical picture.
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Clinical therapeutics · Dec 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of once-daily extended-release ciprofloxacin and conventional twice-daily ciprofloxacin for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women.
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) is currently the first choice for empiric therapy of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in women. In areas where resistance to TMP/SMX is known to be high, ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones are recommended as first-line choices for the empiric therapy of UTI. ⋯ Extended-release ciprofloxacin 500 mg given once daily for 3 days was as effective and well tolerated as conventional ciprofloxacin 250 mg given twice daily for 3 days in the treatment of acute uncomplicated UTI in women.
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Clinical therapeutics · Dec 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA randomized, double-blind, single-dose, crossover clinical trial of the onset and duration of protection from exercise-induced bronchoconstriction by formoterol and albuterol.
Inhaled short-acting beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonists are the most commonly used treatment for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Formoterol, a long-acting beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, has been demonstrated to provide protection from EIB, although the onset and duration of this protection have not been defined. ⋯ Formoterol and albuterol, given as single-dose inhalations, both provided protection from EIB within 15 minutes in this group of patients. The bronchoprotection afforded by formoterol lasted up to 12 hours, whereas that of albuterol was no longer significant by 4 hours.