Current medical research and opinion
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Case Reports
Management of a patient with heart failure by sacubitril/valsartan: improvement of functional capacity.
The main objectives of the treatment of heart failure (HF) are to improve patient clinical status, functional capacity and quality of life, as well as reducing re-hospitalization rate and mortality. A new compound, consisting of an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) (valsartan) and a neprilysin (NEP) inhibitor (sacubitril), belonging to the newly established class of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) showed marked efficacy, without any relevant safety issue, in the treatment of patients with HF. ⋯ Therapy with sacubitril/valsartan was initiated after some years of other treatments, which did not lead to any positive outcome in HF, quality of life and clinical functions. After only 1 month of sacubitril/valsartan therapy, the patient reported a significant improvement in quality of life, and in 6 months his NYHA class switched from III to I.
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We evaluated the role of sacubitril/valsartan in heart rate variability, T-peak to T-end index, external cell mass, internal cell mass and total body water in elderly patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). ⋯ Based on our preliminary results, sacubitril/valsartan could be a new effective approach in the treatment of elderly patients with chronic HFrEF. However, further studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.
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We investigated the effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan by performing laboratory tests and a 6-minute walking test (6-MWT) at 1 and 6 months after treatment initiation. ⋯ The present experience showed that angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) might represent a new valuable therapeutic strategy, even at the earlier stages of stabilized acute HF. Therefore, we suggest a clinical practice algorithm, to consider before discharge, which should be validated by further analyses.
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Severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and increased health care costs. Treatment recommendations for IBS-D often start with traditional pharmacotherapy (TP), with escalation to alosetron, rifaximin or eluxadoline if there is no success. There has been no previous head-to-head clinical trial comparing IBS-D treatment outcome for alosetron versus TP. This study, GSK protocol S3B30020, evaluated resource use, work productivity, health-related quality of life and global symptom response in women with IBS-D who were treated with alosetron or TP. ⋯ Alosetron 1 mg BID significantly reduced health care utilization and lost productivity, and significantly improved global IBS symptoms, HRQOL, and participation in outdoor and social activities compared with treatment response to TP.
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To describe the characteristics of patients treated with the capsaicin 8% patch, prescribing conditions, long-term effects of repeat treatment on pain intensity and perception, quality of life, and impact on concomitant medication. ⋯ The data of this post-marketing study meets the request by the French authorities for additional data on conditions of use in everyday practice. They confirmed the tolerance and long-term effect of capsaicin 8% patch in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain in real-world conditions.