Curr Ther Res Clin E
-
Curr Ther Res Clin E · Apr 2008
Preconditionin effects of dexmedetomidine on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
Preconditioning might protect the myocardium against ischemia/ reperfusion injury by reducing infarct size and preventing arrhythmias. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a highly selective α2-agonist used for sedoanalgesia in daily anesthetic practice. The cardioprotective effects of DEX on infarct size and on the incidence of arrhythmias observed after regional ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo have not been reported. ⋯ This small, experimental in vivo study found that DEX was associated with reduced infarct size in ischemia/reperfusion injury in regional ischemia in this rat model but had no effect on the incidence of arrhythmias. Future studies are needed to clarify these findings.
-
Curr Ther Res Clin E · Apr 2008
Self-reported influence of television-based direct-to-consumer advertising on patient seasonal allergy and asthma medication use: An internet survey.
Direct-to-consumer advertising (DDTCA) of medications, a marketing tool used by the pharmaceutical industry to increase patient awareness of products, affects both consumer behavior and, ultimately, physician prescribing practices. Billions of dollars are budgeted each year for DTCA, and its influence is far-reaching. However, little information is available about patient-initiated physician interactions in which television-bbased DTCA has played a role in consumer behavior. ⋯ Within th his limited, self-reported, survey sample, patient-initiated discussions with physicians regarding television-based DTCA of allergy and asthma medications resulted in a change of treatment in 44.0% and 39.1% of respondents, respectively.