Current medical research and opinion
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intramuscular aripiprazole or haloperidol and transition to oral therapy in patients with agitation associated with schizophrenia: sub-analysis of a double-blind study.
A sub-population analysis of 325 patients with agitation (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale Excited Component [PEC] score > or = 15 and < or = 32; score of > or = 4 on > or = 2 items) associated with schizophrenia in a randomized, double-blind study investigating the efficacy and tolerability of intramuscular (IM) aripiprazole 9.75 mg, IM haloperidol 6.5 mg, or IM placebo and the transition to oral therapy. ⋯ Intramuscular aripiprazole is effective in patients with acute agitation associated with schizophrenia, comparable to IM haloperidol, and enables convenient transfer to oral aripiprazole therapy.
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To examine factors affecting the size of the HbA(1c) response to thiazolidinedione (TZD) therapy. ⋯ Baseline HbA(1c) and trial duration significantly impacted the effect size of TZD therapy on HbA(1c). Age, gender, duration of diabetes and prior use of anti-diabetic therapy were not associated with the TZD effect size.
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In two recent osteoarthritis trials, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations were observed more frequently in patients receiving acetaminophen 3.9 g daily than in patients receiving placebo, and the rates were higher than aminotransferase values observed in some previous osteoarthritis studies with acetaminophen. ⋯ This analysis involving > 1000 acetaminophen-treated patients shows that low-level, transient ALT elevations usually resolve or decrease with continued acetaminophen treatment, are unaccompanied by signs or symptoms of liver injury, and, as such, appear to be clinically insignificant. Maximum recommended daily doses of acetaminophen did not cause liver failure or dysfunction.
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The goals of diabetes management have evolved over the past decade to become the attainment of near-normal glucose and cardiovascular risk factor levels. Improved metabolic control is achieved through optimized medication regimens, but costs specifically associated with such optimization have not been examined. ⋯ Average yearly incremental cost of optimizing drug regimens to achieve recommended treatment goals for type 2 diabetes was approximately 600 dollars/patient. These results provide valuable input for assessing the cost-effectiveness of improving comprehensive diabetes care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Comparing bimatoprost and travoprost in black Americans.
To compare the intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of topical bimatoprost 0.03% with that of travoprost 0.004% for the treatment of black patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). ⋯ Bimatoprost and travoprost each effectively lowered IOP in this population of black patients. More patients achieved clinically relevant IOP reductions with bimatoprost.