The American journal of managed care
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Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), known to actively reduce relapses and delay disability progression, have been used for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) for over a decade. These well-known therapies include intramuscular (IM) interferon (IFN) beta-1a (Avonex), subcutaneous (SC) IFN beta-1a (Rebif), SC IFN beta- 1b (Betaseron; Extavia), and SC glatiramer acetate (Copaxone). These first-line therapies have shown only partial benefits for controlling multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity and are often associated with inadequate patient adherence. ⋯ Recently, 2 new oral DMTs received FDA approval for the treatment of RRMS: teriflunomide (Aubagio) and dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera). In addition, oral laquinimod, several monoclonal antibodies (eg, alemtuzumab, daclizumab, and ocrelizumab), and other agents have shown preliminary beneficial results in relapsing MS in phase 3 clinical trials. These new and emerging DMTs may provide a more efficacious individualized therapeutic approach, more favorable methods of administration (eg, oral administration), and/or a lower frequency of infusions (eg, annually, 3-5 daily infusions over a year for alemtuzumab) that may improve patient adherence and clinical outcomes.
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Review Comparative Study
An overview of pain management: the clinical efficacy and value of treatment.
Appropriate treatment of pain requires an understanding of the characteristics of pain, including the severity and the nature of the pain-for example, acute versus chronic pain or nociceptive versus neuropathic pain. Appropriate treatment requires an understanding of the efficacies of the available agents in different pain models, and their adverse events, to best match them to the type of pain. While numerous classes of drugs are used to treat pain, 3 categories in particular-acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opioids-are most often used for the treatment of pain, along with adjuvants (eg, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants). ⋯ At the same time, acetaminophen use can cause acute liver failure, and NSAIDs are associated with serious complications impacting the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal systems. Opioids can cause cognitive deficiency, motor impairment, and respiratory depression, among other problems; they also represent a significant addiction risk in certain groups of patients. This article reviews the safety and efficacy of NSAIDs relative to other therapeutic agents in the treatment of 4 common types of pain, summarizes clinical treatment guidelines in these types of pain, and compares the relative roles of NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and opioids in treating pain.
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Observational Study
Use and perceived value of health information exchange: one public healthcare system's experience.
To describe health information exchange (HIE) use and providers' perceptions of value in a public healthcare system using a commercial electronic health record (EHR). ⋯ Early HIE use varied by care setting, patient characteristics, and insurance. Providers perceived HIE acceptable to patients, and helpful in avoiding redundant testing and unnecessary hospitalizations. Lower HIE use among commercially insured patients reinforces concerns that financial incentives may inhibit adoption.
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To examine regional variation in the service quality of physician practices and to assess the association of this variation with the supply and organization of physicians. ⋯ Cross-site variation in service quality of care in primary care has been large, persistent, and associated with the organization of practices. Areas with higher primary care physician-to-population ratios had longer, not shorter, appointment lags.
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that results in neurological dysfunction and disability. The initiation of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) early in the course of MS may improve the prognosis for patients with MS and reduce the occurrence of neurological damage. In patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), DMT reduces the rate of relapses, reduces the appearance of magnetic resonance imaging markers of disease activity, and slows the course of disability progression. ⋯ Further, even after initiating DMT, continued adherence to treatment is often poor. These delays in treatment and a lack of adherence to treatment are associated with poor patient outcomes. The objectives of this review are to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of CIS or RRMS and discuss the favorable outcomes associated with early initiation of DMT.