The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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To review the evidence for statin secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in patients with near-optimal or optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). ⋯ Statin secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in patients near goal LDL-C is controversial, but recent trial results show promise.
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Injudicious use of antibiotics is associated with the reported rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. With an estimated 26 million antibiotics being prescribed annually in the emergency department (ED), the ED represents an important setting for targeting interventions. ⋯ ED antibiotic prescribing for ARTIs has decreased from 1995 to 2000, but still is occurring in well over half of ED visits for ARTI. Further research assessing knowledge and attitudes of patients and providers about antibiotic prescribing is needed.
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Clinical Trial
Incidence of hepatotoxicity due to antitubercular medicines and assessment of risk factors.
Antitubercular drugs cause derangement of hepatic function revealed by clinical examination and abnormal liver function test results. Potential hepatotoxicity of some of the first-line antitubercular agents remains a problem, especially during the initial period of treatment. ⋯ A finding of an 8% incidence of hepatotoxicity is considerably high. Risk factors of hepatotoxicity included female gender, disease extent, and poor nutritional status. Timely detection and temporary withdrawal of the offending agent can completely cure antitubercular drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
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Smoking cigarettes and other forms of nicotine administration appear to blunt the perception of pain. Abrupt discontinuation of nicotine in nicotine-dependent patients appears to increase the perception of pain. The clinical importance of nicotine's effect on pain perception is not fully understood. ⋯ In this study, smokers deprived of nicotine required a greater amount of opiates in the first 48 hours after CABG than did nonsmokers. Healthcare providers need to be aware of the potential for increased narcotic requirements among nicotine-deprived smokers. Further study is needed to determine whether nicotine replacement lessens the requirement for postoperative analgesics in smokers.