The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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To review the prospective evidence surrounding the issue of tight glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and resultant long-term complications. ⋯ In type 2 diabetes, limited prospective evidence does support tight glycemic control to help prevent or slow the progression of microvascular and neuropathic complications. It is uncertain whether tight glycemic control decreases macrovascular complications and which pharmacotherapeutic agent(s) is/are the best options. However, therapy that improves glucose control in combination with aggressive risk factor management should be initiated and enforced in patients with type 2 diabetes in an effort to reduce long-term complications.
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To determine the degree to which a dual-lumen peripheral catheter prevented precipitation of solutions known to be incompatible due to pH during simultaneous infusion in an in vitro model. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that using a dual-lumen peripheral catheter, such as the Twin Cath, may allow solutions incompatible due to pH to be administered simultaneously.
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To provide an overview of key pharmacotherapeutic issues in epilepsy for the woman of childbearing potential. ⋯ Drug interactions between enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs and contraceptives are well documented. Higher doses of oral contraceptives or a second contraceptive method are suggested if epileptic women use an enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drug. Planned pregnancy is highly recommended and counseling before conception is crucial. Prepregnancy counseling should include, but is not limited to, folic acid supplementation, optimal control of seizure activity, monotherapy with the lowest effective antiepileptic drug dose, and medication adherence. Patient information should be provided about the risk of teratogenicity and the importance of prenatal care. Antiepileptic drug dosage adjustments may be necessary and should be based on clinical symptoms, not solely on serum drug concentrations. While the future holds promise for many aforementioned women's issues in epilepsy, many questions remain to be answered.
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To assess the efficacy of using an iodized talc slurry as a sclerosing agent instilled into the pleural space via a 12-French pigtail catheter for controlling malignant pleural effusions. ⋯ Iodized talc slurry instilled through a small-bore pigtail catheter is a safe, economical, and effective treatment for malignant pleural effusion.
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To discuss the use of statistical graphics in the analysis of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics data. ⋯ Graphic techniques enable the data analyst to explore data thoroughly, look for patterns and relationships, confirm or disprove the expected, and discover new phenomena. An important element of statistical graphic techniques is flexibility, both in tailoring the analysis to the structure of the data and in responding to patterns that successive steps of analysis uncover. Statistical graphics can and should be used to enhance numeric statistical analyses.