Current medical research and opinion
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Granisetron vs dolasetron for acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in high and moderately high emetogenic chemotherapy: an open-label pilot study.
Comparative studies examining the use of oral serotonin type 3 (5-HT(3)) receptor antagonists for the management of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are limited. Therefore, we performed an experiential open-label pilot study at Stony Brook Hospital to allow clinicians to make informed formulary decisions at our institution and to stimulate further study. Specifically, the objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of oral granisetron versus oral dolasetron for prophylaxis of acute CINV. ⋯ These data suggest that oral granisetron may demonstrate improved CINV outcomes compared with oral dolasetron in patients undergoing moderately high and highly emetogenic chemotherapy.
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Comparative Study
Cost-effectiveness analysis of escitalopram: a new SSRI in the first-line treatment of major depressive disorder in Austria.
To compare the cost-effectiveness of escitalopram, a new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), with (generic) citalopram in the first-line treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in Austria. ⋯ Escitalopram is a cost-effective alternative compared to (generic) citalopram in the first-line treatment of MDD in Austria.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Onset of pain relief with rofecoxib in chronic low back pain: results of two four-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
We recently reported the efficacy of rofecoxib in two randomized controlled trials in chronic low back pain (CLBP). The objectives of this report are to present data regarding the onset of efficacy of rofecoxib from these trials and propose methods for reporting onset. ⋯ Approximately 2/3 of patients achieved meaningful pain relief with rofecoxib time to onset of meaningful relief was about 2 days, but superior relief over placebo was seen by bedtime after the first dose. Onset of perceptible pain relief was within 2 h. We propose that measures of onset of analgesic effect include the proportion of patients who achieve meaningful pain relief and in this subgroup, the time-to-onset of confirmed meaningful reduction in pain intensity, time-to-onset of confirmed pain relief, and time to first separation from placebo in the proportion of patients who achieve meaningful pain relief.
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Multicenter Study
Evaluation of quality of life following treatment with etoricoxib in patients with arthritis or low-back pain: an open label, uncontrolled pilot study in Mexico.
An open-label study was undertaken at multiple centers in Mexico to assess the impact of treatment with etoricoxib - a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor - on quality of life (QoL) and pain relief among patients with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or chronic low-back pain (CLBP). The study involved 191 adult patients (aged > 18 years old) who had used non-selective non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the treatment of OA, RA or CLBP during the month prior to study enrolment. After discontinuation of prior therapy, patients were treated with etoricoxib 60 mg for OA and CLBP,or 90 mg for RA once daily for 2 weeks. ⋯ During etoricoxib therapy, use of concomitant medications was reduced. The results of this study are limited due to the lack of a control group, the un-blinded design, and the small number of patients. Large naturalistic trials are needed to confirm the results.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy of 750-mg, 5-day levofloxacin in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens.
Current recommended durations for treatment of atypical community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) range from 10 to 21 days. However, antibiotics such as the fluoroquinolones may allow for effective, short-course regimens. ⋯ The 750-mg, 5-day course of levofloxacin was at least as effective as the 500-mg, 10-day regimen for atypical CAP. Additionally, the 750-mg, short-course levofloxacin therapy may reduce total antimicrobial drug usage and more rapidly relieve pneumonia symptoms.