Current medical research and opinion
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Paracetamol is the commonest analgesic worldwide in primary care. Despite evidence-based recommendations for management of acute and chronic pain with paracetamol, practices seem to vary considerably in its modalities of use, with or without restrictions, between renowned scientific societies and over time. ⋯ Most migraine guidelines now recommend paracetamol for mild to moderate pain. Knee OA guidelines vary on the use of paracetamol: a more holistic approach is needed for this condition, considering patient profile, disease stage, and pain management during physical activity to clarify its appropriate use.
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Open Access (OA) to research publications is a fundamental resource for the advancement of scientific research. To facilitate the transition to OA, publishers and institutions have begun negotiating the so-called transformative agreements, contracts combining access to subscription journals with the ability to publish OA. While the debate on transformative agreements is very much alive, little attention is being paid to the "green road," the practice of openly self-archiving manuscripts that have been accepted by journals but not yet typeset. Here we focus on medical literature, showing how the green road could outperform transformative agreements as a means of increasing the full and free availability of peer-reviewed scientific papers.
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This study was aimed to assess the magnitude of failed induction of labor and associated factors among mothers delivered in Eastern Ethiopia. ⋯ The magnitude of failed induction of labor was relatively high in the study setting. Failed induction of labor was significantly associated with age, rural residency, primipara, gestational age, multiple pregnancy, premature rapture of membrane, PIH, and bishop score less than six. Prior to initiating the induction of labor, proper pelvis assessment and cervical ripening for bishop score might be considered. Beside to this, adherence to locally available induction protocols and guidelines might also be needed.
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To examine whether QT interval shortening is an overlooked adverse event as compared to QT prolongation through a review of preclinical, clinical and post-marketing adverse event data available to the regulator for centrally and nationally authorized medicinal products. ⋯ From a regulatory perspective one cannot refute the possibility of a clinically relevant risk from QT shortening through the current testing requirements. Lack of further investigations into any potential morphological changes to the AP, or APD90 shortening beyond a specified threshold in our opinion does not fully exclude the possibility of proarrhythmic effects of active substances.
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To provide recommendations for overcoming the challenges associated with the generation and use of real-world evidence (RWE) in regulatory approvals, health technology assessments (HTAs), and reimbursement decision-making in East Asia. ⋯ We recommend approaches and initiatives that aim to drive improvements in the utilization of RWE in healthcare decision-making in East Asia and other regions. We encourage large-scale collaborations that leverage the full range of skills offered by different stakeholders. Government agencies, hospitals, research organizations, patient groups, and the pharmaceutical industry must collaborate to ensure appropriate access to robust and reliable real-world data and seek alignment on how to address prioritized evidence needs. Increasingly, we believe that this work will be conducted by multidisciplinary teams with expertise in healthcare research and delivery, data science, and information technology. We hope this work will encourage further discussion among all stakeholders seeking to shape the RWE landscape in East Asia and other regions and drive next-generation healthcare.