Current medical research and opinion
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Meta Analysis
Risk of Parkinson's disease in glaucoma patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between glaucoma and the risk of Parkinson's disease. ⋯ The hazard of developing Parkinson's disease was non-significantly different for those with glaucoma compared to controls; however, there were not enough studies available to draw definitive conclusions.
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The totality-of-evidence approach requires that similarity between a proposed biosimilar and a reference biologic is demonstrated across a range of analytical, preclinical, and clinical parameters to establish biosimilarity. We describe the totality of evidence for Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim (LA-EP2006 [marketed as Ziextenzo]) that supported its regulatory approval in Europe and the United States. ⋯ The totality of evidence confirms that Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim matches the reference biologic and will therefore provide equivalent efficacy and safety in all eligible indications.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Limitations of randomized, controlled, double-blinded studies in determining safety and effectiveness of treatments.
Randomized, controlled, double-blinded studies, in which treated subjects are randomly selected from the same pool as controlled (untreated) ones and neither the caregiver nor the patient knows which is which, are widely accepted as the gold standard of experimental medicine. There are well-documented advantages of such studies. ⋯ Some limitations of them are widely known and taught, such as inadequate sample size, failure of proper randomization, et cetera; others are less well-known. We shall focus on the latter.
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The 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) is widely used with Arabic-speaking pediatric populations. However, there is no data about its validity or reliability. Thus, the aims of this research were to translate the NRS-11 into Arabic and study its dimensionality and construct (convergent and discriminant) validity, and reliability. ⋯ The data provide preliminary evidence of the unidimensionality, validity and reliability of the NRS-11-Arabic scores, thus supporting its use in clinical and research activities involving Arabic-speaking pediatric samples.
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To assess patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) associated with authorized generics (AGs) and independent generics (IGs) use. ⋯ PRO differences were often small in magnitude and varied by therapeutic area. The impact of switching should consider observed PRO differences, patient preferences, and market availability of AG and IG alternatives.