Current medical research and opinion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of oral tapentadol extended release in Japanese and Korean patients with moderate to severe, chronic malignant tumor-related pain.
This phase 3 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of tapentadol extended release (ER) compared with oxycodone controlled release (CR) for the management of moderate to severe, chronic malignant tumor-related cancer pain. ⋯ Tapentadol ER (25-200 mg bid) provides analgesic efficacy that is non-inferior to that provided by oxycodone HCl CR (5-40 mg bid) for the management of moderate to severe, chronic malignant tumor-related pain, and is well tolerated overall, with a better gastrointestinal tolerability profile than oxycodone CR.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Superiority of fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate versus fluticasone propionate alone in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma: a randomised controlled trial.
To demonstrate the efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate (flutiform) in a pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) compared to two formulations of the fluticasone propionate component (Skyepharma fluticasone [SKP FP] or Flovent, GlaxoSmithKline [GSK FP]) in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe asthma. ⋯ Results from this study demonstrate that fluticasone/formoterol 250/10 µg b.i.d. provides superior efficacy compared to fluticasone alone for the management of moderate-to-severe asthma, with a safety profile similar to that of fluticasone monotherapy.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Long-term treatment of anxiety disorders with pregabalin: a 1 year open-label study of safety and tolerability.
Short-term clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of pregabalin in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This study examined long-term safety and tolerability of pregabalin in patients with GAD, social anxiety disorder (SAD), or panic disorder (PD). ⋯ Pregabalin was generally well tolerated in the long-term treatment of anxiety disorders. Improvement in illness severity was maintained over time. The key limitations of this study were that it was not randomized and neither placebo- nor active-comparator-controlled.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Impact of adding prophylactic probiotics to a bundle of standard preventative measures for Clostridium difficile infections: enhanced and sustained decrease in the incidence and severity of infection at a community hospital.
In 2003, hospitals in Quebec, Canada experienced an increase of NAP1/027 Clostridium difficile infections following antibiotic administration (CDIAA). At Pierre-Le Gardeur Hospital (PLGH), the incidence increased from 10 to over 25 cases per 1000 patient admissions. ⋯ Specific probiotic product added to SPM and antibiotic stewardship activities resulted in a further reduction in CDI rates and was shown to be safe.
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Medical professionals are often challenged by lack of patient compliance with pharmaceutical treatments. Research has shown that patients with diabetes have one of the lowest medication adherence rates at 65% to 85%. Some causes have been identified in the literature, but the influence of type of medication is unknown. This study assessed the impact of a broad range of factors on medication adherence and persistence among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. ⋯ Identified risk factors can guide medical professionals in their attempts to increase the likelihood of patient adherence to drug treatment regimens.