The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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To evaluate data on anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE) therapy for asthma. ⋯ Anti-IgE therapy provides an effective and generally safe approach to the treatment of patients with IgE-mediated asthma who are not adequately controlled by conventional guideline-based medications. However, the potential benefit must be weighed against the cost and inconvenience of this new therapy.
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Several interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), but their implementation in clinical practice has not gained widespread acceptance. ⋯ Implementation of a VAP prevention protocol incorporating evidence-based interventions reduced the crude incidence of VAP, early-onset VAP, and late-onset VAP. However, when covariates were adjusted, the beneficial effect was no longer observed. Further research is needed to assess the impact of such measures on VAP, early-onset VAP, and late-onset VAP.
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Case Reports
Limited efficacy of gastrointestinal decontamination in severe slow-release carbamazepine overdose.
To report the limited efficacy of both multiple doses of activated charcoal (MDAC) and whole bowel irrigation (WBI) in a patient with severe overdose of slow-release carbamazepine. ⋯ Both MDAC and WBI may be ineffective in reducing absorption and enhancing elimination in overdose of slow-release carbamazepine. Repeated hemoperfusion or other elimination enhancement techniques should be considered when the clinical and toxicokinetic course suggests the presence of a refractory pharmacobezoar.
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Limited data exist concerning characteristics of community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections (CA-SAI) in central and eastern Kentucky. ⋯ A noticeable increase in CA-MRSA infections with cutaneous abscess between 2004 and 2005 was noted. In patients receiving inappropriate antibiotic therapy, treatment success was attributed to concomitant S/D and I/D. Further analysis should focus on the impact of antibiotic therapy alone or in combination with S/D and I/D on the incidence of subsequent CA-MRSA infections.
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Historical Article
Alzheimer's disease: will advances made in the past turn the tide?