Advances in therapy
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D-Dimer (DD) has been described as a useful predictor of both morphologic changes in acute thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) and of TAD-associated mortality. This study analyzed the use of DD screening to screen patients with chest pain for acute (TAD) to determine if it improves diagnosis and cost effectiveness. This study also looked at the association of DD levels with diagnoses frequently seen in patients with dyspnea or chest pain. ⋯ Owing to the low incidence of TAD, DD screening increases diagnostic efforts and costs but it remains unclear whether it would actually speed up TAD diagnosis. In a clinical setting DD did not help to discriminate other relevant diagnoses. Despite the high sensitivity of DD for aortic dissection published in the literature, the physician's clinical judgment remains paramount.
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Advances in therapy · Nov 2011
ReviewOseltamivir in seasonal, pandemic, and avian influenza: a comprehensive review of 10-years clinical experience.
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland) is an orally administered antiviral for the treatment and prevention of influenza A and B infections that is registered in more than 100 countries worldwide. More than 83 million patients have been exposed to the product since its introduction. ⋯ The implications of changes in susceptibility of circulating influenza viruses to oseltamivir and other antiviral agents are also described, as is the emergence of antiviral resistance during and after the 2009 pandemic. The fourth main section deals with the safety profile of oseltamivir in standard and special patient populations, and reviews spontaneously reported adverse event data from the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods and the topical issue of neuropsychiatric adverse events. Finally, the article considers the pharmacoeconomics of oseltamivir in comparison with vaccination and usual care regimens, and as a component of pandemic influenza mitigation strategies.