Current medical research and opinion
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Review Comparative Study
A systematic review of the efficacy and safety outcomes of anti-VEGF agents used for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration: comparison of ranibizumab and bevacizumab.
To systematically review ocular and systemic events in treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibodies, ranibizumab and bevacizumab, and to provide a detailed perspective of their differences on clinical use, efficacy and safety. ⋯ In contrast to ranibizumab, current safety data for bevacizumab are incomplete and not yet robust. If the medical community remains committed to using intravitreal bevacizumab, it is critical to establish that it has an acceptable safety profile, supported by evidence-based medicine. Considerable further research is warranted to achieve this.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of a new safety peripheral IV catheter designed to reduce mucocutaneous blood exposure.
We evaluated performance and clinical acceptability of a new peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) designed to reduce blood exposure. ⋯ The PIVC with blood control demonstrated reduced blood leakage during insertion and was rated no different for clinical acceptability and insertion performance compared to the conventional PIVC. Clinicians agreed that the new design replaced the need for venous compression to control blood flow during IV catheter insertion.
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Review Meta Analysis
Can morphine still be considered to be the standard for treating chronic pain? A systematic review including pair-wise and network meta-analyses.
For chronic pain treatment many health care authorities consider morphine to be the reference standard for strategic decisions in pain therapy. Although morphine's effectiveness is clear and its cost is low, it's unclear whether morphine should remain the first choice or reference treatment. ⋯ The current evidence is moderate, both in respect to the number of directly comparative studies and in the quality of reporting of these studies. No clear superiority in efficacy and tolerability of morphine over other opioids was found in pair-wise and network analyses. Based on these results, a justification for the placement of morphine as the reference standard for the treatment of severe chronic pain cannot be supported.
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Review Meta Analysis
A systematic review of tacrolimus ointment compared with corticosteroids in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the efficacy and tolerability of tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) compared with topical corticosteroids. ⋯ The current review and meta-analysis showed tacrolimus ointment to be of similar efficacy to corticosteroids. The interpretation of available data is limited by heterogeneity in outcome measures between trials. Further trials are needed to assess the impact of treatments on patient reported outcomes.
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To explore the clinical dimensions of chronic constipation and the role played in its treatment by laxatives in general and by polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLAX * ) in particular. * MiraLAX is a registered trade name of Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc., Memphis, TN, USA, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. ⋯ Polyethylene glycol 3350, an osmotic laxative available over the counter, has been shown to be safe and effective in treating chronic constipation in children and adults, including the elderly, across multiple clinical trials, with a safety profile comparable to that of placebo. Polyethylene glycol 3350 received a grade A recommendation for improving stool frequency and consistency from the American College of Gastroenterology Task Force on Chronic Constipation.