Current medical research and opinion
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Reversible defunctionalisation of nociceptors by the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin in high concentration is an emerging new concept for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain. ⋯ The study did not include a control group; therefore, a comparison of the results with that of therapeutic alternatives is not justified.
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The different operational definitions of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) has generated unclear epidemiological data. ⋯ Patients having good pain control after optimization of the analgesic regimen may have a decrease in number, intensity, and duration of BTcP, although the general prevalence of BTcP remains unchanged.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
The predictive role of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss, phosphoinositol-3 (PI3) kinase (PIK3CA) mutation, and PI3K pathway activation in sensitivity to trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer: a meta-analysis.
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss or activating mutations of phosphoinositol-3 (PI3) kinase (PIK3CA) may be related to trastuzumab resistance in in vitro studies; however, this issue in clinical studies is controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association between PTEN loss, PIK3CA mutation and the efficacy of trastuzumab-based treatment in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. ⋯ In HER2-positive recurrent or metastatic breast cancer patients PTEN loss might indicate resistance to trastuzumab-based salvage treatment. Due to the small sample size and the considerable heterogeneity in the chemotherapy treatment regimens, further research is needed to clarify the association between PTEN loss, PIK3CA mutation and the efficacy of trastuzumab-based treatment in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings.
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Multicenter Study
Semiological evaluation of pain according to its origin: a prospective, observational, and national study of current French medical practice.
To determine how the origin of acute pain influences its semiological characteristics, and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two Level 2 analgesic combinations in general practice. ⋯ Acute pain should not be understood as a single entity but as multiple entities with specific characteristics related to its underlying origin. Furthermore, our data suggest that, as already demonstrated in clinical trials, Level 2 analgesia provides effective relief of acute pain in 'real life' conditions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Association of baseline C-reactive protein and prior anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy with need for weekly dosing during maintenance therapy with adalimumab in patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease.
A post hoc analysis of data from the adalimumab Crohn's disease (CD) maintenance trial (CHARM, NCT00077779), examining the relationship between adalimumab dosing and maintenance of remission and response in subgroups stratified by previous anti-TNF use and baseline CRP. ⋯ These subgroup analyses suggest that in patients with moderately to severely active CD, weekly dosing may be most effective in the anti-TNF-experienced patients with elevated CRP at baseline.