Current medical research and opinion
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Topical lidocaine patch 5% may target a novel underlying pain mechanism in osteoarthritis.
Recent literature and animal research has provided insight to potentially new analgesic targets for managing osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Primary afferent neurons located in affected joints express excessive amounts of abnormally functioning sodium (Na) channels on their surface in response to the inflammatory process. These Na channels may play an integral role in production of pain and hyperalgesia. ⋯ The lidocaine patch 5% was generally well tolerated and no patients discontinued due to treatment-related adverse events. Given the open-label design, lack of a control group, and small sample size, the findings from our pilot study need to be confirmed by larger randomized controlled trials. Topical lidocaine patch 5% may provide clinicians with a novel, non-systemic therapy for OA pain with a unique mechanism of action.
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Bleeding after heart operations remains a common complication and contributes to morbidity and death. Recent studies have suggested that antiplatelet therapy (APT) may not increase homologous blood requirements in coronary bypass surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of APT therapy on haemorrhage and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass (CABG) on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). ⋯ This study suggests consideration should be given to delaying elective CABG for patients who have received APT treatment until APT is discontinued for at least 5 days.
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Weight gain is an unwanted side effect of improved glycaemic control in type 1 diabetes, associated with increased blood pressure (BP) and worsening lipid profiles. While improved glycaemic control per se should improve long-term patient outcomes, increases in BP and worsening lipid profiles may counteract these benefits. The aim of this modelling study was to assess whether the increased body weight and associated worsening of lipid profile and blood pressure would negate the improvements in glycaemic control seen with intensive therapy in patients with type 1 diabetes. ⋯ Concerns about weight gain should not deter intensive insulin therapy. However, the value of improving glycaemic control without increasing body weight (and associated increased BP and worsening of lipid profile) has been confirmed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Clinical efficacy of olopatadine vs epinastine ophthalmic solution in the conjunctival allergen challenge model.
Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% ophthalmic solution (Patanol) and epinastine hydrochloride 0.05% ophthalmic solution (Elestat) are two topical antiallergic agents. Olopatadine is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis that include itching, redness, tearing, lid swelling, and chemosis. Epinastine is indicated for the prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. ⋯ Olopatadine is significantly more effective than epinastine in controlling itching, redness and chemosis associated with allergic conjunctivitis in the CAC model.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Oxaprozin versus diclofenac in NSAID-refractory periarthritis pain of the shoulder.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxaprozin in comparison with diclofenac in patients with periarthritis pain of the shoulder previously unsuccessfully treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs other than diclofenac and oxaprozin. ⋯ As expected, once-daily oxaprozin proved to be as effective as diclofenac three times daily in reducing the primary efficacy variable of patient-assessed shoulder pain score in patients with periarthritis of the shoulder refractory to previous treatments with other NSAIDs. Oxaprozin was shown to be superior to diclofenac in improving shoulder function and was considered by investigators and patients to have greater overall efficacy than diclofenac. In addition, oxaprozin showed a trend toward superior results in improving patients' quality of life compared with diclofenac. A trend towards better tolerability results for oxaprozin compared with diclofenac was also noted.