Current medical research and opinion
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Real-world utilization of DMARDs and biologics in rheumatoid arthritis: the RADIUS (Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug Intervention and Utilization Study) study.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) Intervention and Utilization Study (RADIUS) is a unique, real-world, prospective, 5-year, observational study of over 10 000 patients with RA. RADIUS provides a snapshot of use patterns, effectiveness, and safety of DMARDs, biologics, and combination therapies used to manage RA in clinical practice. ⋯ These real-world data provide evidence of the prescribing practices of rheumatologists in 2001-2003. Future analyses will allow evidence-based comparisons of the long-term safety and effectiveness of DMARDs, biologics, and combination therapies to assist physicians in clinical decision-making.
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Delayed healing and non-union remain common problems in the treatment of open tibial shaft fractures. Additional surgical treatments may be required to facilitate healing. The efficacy of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), as an adjunct to the standard of care, has been investigated in the BMP-2 Evaluation in Surgery for Tibial Trauma (BESTT) study. ⋯ In a subgroup analysis of 131 patients with Gustilo-Anderson grade IIIA or IIIB open tibial fractures, using data combined from the BESTT study and a study conducted at 10 level I US trauma centres, a significant reduction in the incidence of secondary autologous bone graft procedures was observed with 1.50 mg/mL rhBMP-2 compared with the standard of care (p = 0.0005). The influence of fracture gap on the re-operation rate has also been examined in the BESTT study. In the 1.50 mg/mL rhBMP-2 group, patients with a 0 mm fracture gap had significantly less re-operations compared with those patients with a greater than 2 mm gap (p = 0.048).
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While correction of hyperglycemia remains central to the management of type 2 diabetes, current management approaches address an integrated constellation of disorders that predispose patients to the risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications. ⋯ Concerted efforts are necessary to increase the proportion of patients achieving current treatment targets. Such measures must aim to educate patients and physicians, remove barriers due to health care organization and access, and improve the monitoring of cardiovascular disease risk indicators. The poly-pharmacy 'pill burden' may be alleviated through the use of drugs that are effective against multiple aspects of the metabolic syndrome, and by co-formulation of agents with established efficacy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A multicentre, randomized, controlled trial of oseltamivir in the treatment of influenza in a high-risk Chinese population.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir treatment in a population at high risk for influenza. ⋯ Oseltamivir is effective and well tolerated in high-risk patients with chronic respiratory or cardiac diseases. It can reduce the duration and severity of influenza symptoms and decrease the incidence of secondary complications and antibiotic use, without increasing the total medical cost.
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Comparative Study
Pharmacoeconomic analysis of recombinant factor VIIa versus APCC in the treatment of minor-to-moderate bleeds in hemophilia patients with inhibitors.
To compare the cost-effectiveness of three treatment regimens using recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa), NovoSeven, and activated prothrombin-complex concentrate (APCC), FEIBA VH, for home treatment of minor-to-moderate bleeds in hemophilia patients with inhibitors. ⋯ The management of minor-to-moderate bleeds extends beyond the initial line of treatment, and should include the economic impact of re-bleeding and failures over multiple lines of treatment. In the majority of cases, the rFVIIa-only regimen appears to be a less expensive treatment option in inhibitor patients with minor-to-moderate bleeds over three lines of treatment.