Current medical research and opinion
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Limited post-crizotinib treatment options for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) might lead to poor survival and high economic burden. ⋯ After crizotinib monotherapy, most patients either received radiotherapy only or discontinued antineoplastic treatment altogether. OS after discontinuing crizotinib was poor and shorter among those with brain metastases than without, and among those without subsequent antineoplastic treatment than with. Patients who continued antineoplastic treatment incurred substantial healthcare costs.
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Comparative efficacy of antibiotics for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI): a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
The objective was to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of existing treatments for ABSSSI focusing on the novel lipoglycopeptide oritavancin. ⋯ This NMA provides a unified framework for the comparison of all available antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of ABSSSI and is the first to assess the ECR end-point. The results suggest equivalence of clinical efficacy between vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, and novel antimicrobial agents including oritavancin for the treatment of ABSSSI at TOC. The wide uncertainty margins indicate the heterogeneity of the available evidence and the need for further research.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Effect of nefopam- versus fentanyl-based patient-controlled analgesia on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial.
This study comparatively evaluated the effect of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) regimens using equipotent doses of nefopam or fentanyl during laparoscopic gynecological surgery on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). ⋯ Use of a PCA regimen with nefopam for analgesia was associated with a similar degree of pain control and superior PONV outcomes 24 hours after PACU discharge and no adverse events compared with a PCA regimen using an equipotent dose of fentanyl.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Effect of adjustable gastric banding on quality of life and weight loss in the Helping Evaluate Reduction in Obesity (HERO) registry study: 2 year analysis.
This report from the Helping Evaluate Reduction in Obesity (HERO) Study investigated weight loss, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and factors predictive of HRQOL improvement during a 2 year period following Lap-Band AP implantation (post-LBAP). ⋯ NCT00953173.
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Ticagrelor is recommended in local and international guidelines as first-line therapy in combination with aspirin in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The purpose of this article is to provide practical guidance regarding the use of ticagrelor in this setting. ⋯ When switching from clopidogrel to ticagrelor, patients established on clopidogrel therapy can be switched directly without loading; patients not loaded with clopidogrel and not taking maintenance dose clopidogrel for at least 5 days should first be loaded with ticagrelor. Guidelines recommend discontinuing ticagrelor 5 days before surgery if antiplatelet effects are not desired and recommencing therapy as soon as safe following surgery. Ticagrelor should be avoided in individuals with a history of intracranial hemorrhage, moderate-to-severe hepatic impairment, high bleeding risk, within 24 hours of thrombolytic therapy, and in those treated with oral anticoagulants. Local, real-world experience suggests low bleeding rates with ticagrelor therapy. Dyspnoea is a common symptom in patients with ACS and is also a side-effect of ticagrelor therapy. Discontinuation of ticagrelor due to dyspnoea has been uncommon in clinical trials. However, local registry data suggest higher discontinuation rates (2-9%) related to dyspnoea in the real-world setting, indicating that clinicians may need to consider other potential causes of dyspnoea before discontinuing ticagrelor.