Current medical research and opinion
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INDEPTH is an integrated database of five trials enrolling patients with severe sepsis. It was created to better understand safety of drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DrotAA) in severe sepsis, examine factors impacting management of sepsis patients, and improve design of future clinical trials. The results of safety analyses are reported. ⋯ Although SBEs occurred more often, non-bleeding SAEs (e.g., arterial thrombotic events, arrhythmias) occurred less frequently with DrotAA. Overall, incidence of SAEs was not increased with DrotAA.
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The haemostatic matrix (FloSeal) is a topical agent that provides effective haemostasis in a range of surgical applications. We evaluated this sealant for intraoperative haemostatic effectiveness in an observational series of patients undergoing surgery for the resection of primary and metastatic liver tumours. ⋯ In this prospective, uncontrolled study of 237 consecutive patients undergoing major hepatic surgery to remove primary or metastatic tumours, application of a haemostatic matrix provided rapid and effective intraoperative control of mild to severe bleeding from the liver edge, even in patients with prolonged bleeding times resulting from cirrhosis. This preliminary evidence warrants a randomised, controlled clinical trial with a larger sample size.
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To estimate the costs and quality-adjusted life weeks of duloxetine and escitalopram. ⋯ This analysis suggests that escitalopram was more effective in terms of QALWs and less costly than duloxetine for treatment of depression.