Current medical research and opinion
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To investigate the relationship between time spent in the recommended target International Normalised Ratio (INR) range and the setting and intensity of anti coagulant monitoring, in both treatment-experienced and treatment-naive atrial fibrillation (AF) patients receiving oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy for the prevention of ischaemic stroke. ⋯ INR control is variable and dependent on monitoring intensity and duration of anticoagulant therapy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Functionality and health-status benefits associated with reduction of osteoarthritis pain.
To evaluate the association between pain intensity improvement and improvements in functionality and health status in patients with chronic osteoarthritis pain of the hip or knee. ⋯ Pain intensity improvement is associated with corresponding improvements in function and health status. While large improvements in pain intensity are associated with large improvements in health status and functionality, modest pain reductions are also associated with improvement of certain health status parameters.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Brimonidine purite 0.1% versus brinzolamide 1% as adjunctive therapy to latanoprost in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of brimonidine purite 0.1% in comparison to brinzolamide 1% when used as adjunctive therapy to latanoprost 0.005% in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. ⋯ Brimonidine purite 0.1% provided significantly lower IOP compared with brinzolamide 1% when used as adjunctive therapy to latanoprost. Both adjunctive therapies were well tolerated. Limitations of this study include the use of a single site and the sample size. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate these drugs as adjunctive therapy to prostaglandin analogs.
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This prospective, observational, open study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of hylan G-F 20 in a large cohort of patients with symptomatic hip osteoarthritis (OA), and identify predictors of clinical response. ⋯ This study supports the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of hylan G-F 20 in the treatment of symptomatic hip OA. Hylan G-F 20 may also offer economic benefits due to a reduction in NSAID usage and the resultant reduction in management costs of NSAID related side-effects. These data reflect those obtained in previous studies of hylan G-F 20 in patients with knee OA.
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a common chronic disease with a lifetime prevalence estimated to range from 4.2% to 12.7%. GAD places a substantial burden upon patients and healthcare resources. ⋯ Escitalopram was found to be cost-effective compared with paroxetine in treatment of GAD from the Canadian MoH perspective, and dominating paroxetine from the SOC perspective. Therefore, a possible advantage may exist at the population level in the treatment of GAD with escitalopram in Canada.