Advances in therapy
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Advances in therapy · Nov 2012
Comparative StudyRacial differences in weight loss, payment method, and complications following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.
Obesity affects approximately one-third of the US adult population. Although more black adults are considered to be obese compared to white adults, black adults are less likely to undergo bariatric surgery for weight loss. Black adults typically lose less weight and are more prone to adverse events following bariatric surgery than white adults. The objectives of this study were to compare weight loss, payment methods, and early postoperative complications between black and white adults. ⋯ WF appear to lose more weight than BF regardless of surgery, but both races experience surgical complications. Black patients may be less likely to undergo bariatric surgery without insurance coverage.
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Advances in therapy · Nov 2012
Comparative StudyPregabalin for alcohol dependence: a critical review of the literature.
Alcohol dependence represents a severe pathological disorder associated with a significant rate of morbidity and mortality. To date, limited pharmacological agents exist to treat this disorder, and there is a growing interest for new therapies. In this context, pregabalin represents a promising strategy. Pregabalin, like gabapentin, selectively binds to the α(2)δsubunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, inhibiting release of excessive levels of excitatory neurotransmitters. The main focus of this review is the clinical use of pregabalin in alcoholic patients, but the authors also reported some data about chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics of this drug. ⋯ Pregabalin, within a dosage of 150-450 mg/day, showed beneficial effects for alcohol relapse prevention and contrasting results for the treatment of the withdrawal syndrome. Its use appears to be safe and well tolerated.