Current medical research and opinion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Rivastigmine and donepezil treatment in moderate to moderately-severe Alzheimer's disease over a 2-year period.
Randomised controlled trials that directly compare cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease have been characterised by significant methodological limitations. As a consequence, they have failed to establish whether there are differences between agents in this class. To help address this question, a double-blind, randomised, controlled, multicentre trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of cholinesterase inhibitor treatment in patients with moderate to moderately-severe Alzheimer's disease over a 2-year period. ⋯ Cholinesterase inhibitor treatment may offer continued therapeutic benefit for up to 2 years in patients with moderate AD. Although both drugs performed similarly on cognition and behaviour, rivastigmine may provide greater benefit in activities of daily living and global functioning.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A comparative, randomised, double-blind study of trazodone prolonged-release and paroxetine in the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trazodone prolonged release compared with paroxetine in the treatment of patients with major depression. ⋯ This study showed that after a 6-week period trazodone and paroxetine are not different in reducing the symptoms of depression and, in many patients, in producing the remission of the illness. The known divergence in tolerability profile of the two medications, related to their differing pharmacological properties, was also confirmed. Trazodone may be of advantage in depressed patients with sleep difficulties.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Second-degree burns: a comparative, multicenter, randomized trial of hyaluronic acid plus silver sulfadiazine vs. silver sulfadiazine alone.
This multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind, controlled, parallel-group study, was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination topical medicinal product, containing 0.2% hyaluronic acid and 1% silver sulfadiazine (HA-SSD) (Connettivina Plus cream) versus 1% silver sulfadiazine cream alone (SSD), in the treatment of second-degree burns. ⋯ The observed shorter time to healing caused by the fixed combination is clinically relevant and further demonstrates the wound healing activity of HA.
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The objective of this post-marketing surveillance study was to collect effectiveness and safety data on the labelled use of buprenorphine transdermal patches (Transtec*) under routine clinical conditions. ⋯ Buprenorphine transdermal patches are well tolerated and effective in the treatment of chronic cancer and non-cancer pain, irrespective of the patients' age. There was no clinically relevant development of tolerance.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Cost effectiveness of duloxetine compared with venlafaxine-XR in the treatment of major depressive disorder.
To determine the cost effectiveness of duloxetine, a new serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, when compared with venlafaxine-XR in treating major depressive disorder. ⋯ Differences in pharmacoeconomic outcomes found were modest, but in all cases, favoured venlafaxine-XR over duloxetine. Therefore, a possible advantage may exist at the population level in the treatment of major depressive disorder in Canada. Ultimately, a head to head study of the two drugs would be needed to confirm these findings.