Current medical research and opinion
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Meta Analysis
The effects of statin on atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of published data from randomized controlled trials.
Some clinical and experimental studies have shown the use of statins could protect against AF, but there are not adequate data at present. ⋯ Our meta-analysis suggests that the use of statins may be associated with preventing AF in short term trials and long term trials, but in the long term trials of more intensive versus standard statin, there was no evidence of a reduction in the risk of AF. However, we still need large-scale randomized double blind statin trials with AF occurrence as the main endpoint in order to finally confirm the benefits of statin in AF patients.
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Pain is still one of the most prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with chronic pain. Opioids are the most potent existing analgesics available in clinical practice. However, they are not always effective, particularly in the non-cancer population. ⋯ Several different drug-development strategies have attempted to reduce side effects by exploiting anatomic barriers to drug distribution and to provide different analgesic mechanisms, as in the case of the oxycodone-naloxone combination or tapentadol. New delivery systems have been developed for a more effective management of breakthrough pain. Pharmacogenetics could play a critical role in personalizing pain management in the future.
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There is a need for effective brief interventions in chronic pain patients, and the identification of mechanisms of change. ⋯ Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of MPEP and possible mechanisms through which MPEP is effective. Yet, further research is needed to investigate the efficacy of MPEP.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Impact of rosiglitazone therapy on the lipid profile, glycemic control, and medication costs among type 2 diabetes patients.
To investigate the impact of rosiglitazone therapy on lipid profiles, glycemic control, and costs associated with cholesterol-lowering and diabetic medications among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in a standard practice setting. ⋯ Addition of rosiglitazone to an existing antidiabetic medication regimen improved glycemic control to a lesser extent than metformin/sulfonylurea, and also deteriorated patients' lipid profiles, leading to significantly greater daily costs. Economic evaluations of alternative therapies should consider such costs to estimate the full impact of different therapeutic approaches in diabetes.
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Premature ejaculation (PE) is the most common male sexual dysfunction, occurring in 20-30% of men. Unlike erectile dysfunction, which increases with age, rates of PE remain constant across the adult life span. ⋯ Conclusions drawn from this review are limited due to inherent variations across studies, including criteria to define PE, study designs, outcome measures, populations, survey instruments, and study settings. While the psychological distress associated with PE suggests the appropriateness of at least minimal counseling for couples, limited data are available to support a combined psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic treatment approach. The paucity of well-designed psychotherapy or combination studies represents an important unmet need in the treatment of PE.