Arch Intern Med
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Donepezil improves cognition and global function in Alzheimer disease: a 15-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Donepezil Study Group.
Donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) is a selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor developed for the treatment of Alzheimer disease. This phase 3 study was 1 of 2 pivotal trials undertaken to establish the efficacy and safety of using donepezil in patients with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer disease. ⋯ Donepezil hydrochloride (5 and 10 mg) administered once daily is a well-tolerated and efficacious agent for treating the symptoms of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer disease.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Sumatriptan injection reduces productivity loss during a migraine attack: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
To evaluate the impact of sumatriptan succinate injection compared with placebo on productivity loss during a migraine attack in the workplace. ⋯ Sumatriptan reduced migraine-associated productivity loss during a minimum 8-hour work shift by approximately 50% compared with placebo and alleviated headache in more than three fourths of patients.
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Hyperkalemia is a common, potentially life-threatening disorder. Electrocardiograms are considered to be sensitive indicators of the presence of hyperkalemia. Since the treatment of hyperkalemia involves relatively few maneuvers and because its success can be objectively scored, we investigated how physicians manage this disorder and how successful their prescribed therapy is. We also sought to determine whether treatment could be improved by providing the treating physicians with therapy guidelines on a real-time basis. ⋯ Although treatment of hyperkalemia was frequently suboptimal, no serious arrhythmias and no deaths complicated management of 242 episodes of severe hyperkalemia. A narrowly targeted effort to improve physician management of a disorder with discrete treatment options did not improve therapy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Cost savings in duodenal ulcer therapy through Helicobacter pylori eradication compared with conventional therapies: results of a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial. Gastrointestinal Utilization Trial Study Group.
We hypothesized that treatment of duodenal ulcer disease with antibiotic therapy directed toward Helicobacter pylori infection is more cost-effective than therapy with antisecretory agents. ⋯ Combination therapy with clarithromycin and omeprazole resulted in significantly fewer uses of ulcer-related health care resources than conventional antisecretory therapy during a 1-year follow-up and significant savings in associated costs during the same period. Patients who received clarithromycin plus omeprazole also showed a significantly improved clinical outcome compared with patients who received only omeprazole or ranitidine.
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Despite low molecular weight heparin prophylaxis, the incidence of venographically detected, residual deep vein thrombosis after hip and knee arthroplasty remains high, at approximately 15% and 30%, respectively. Most of these thrombi are asymptomatic and of unknown clinical significance. Nevertheless, because they have the potential to grow, limiting prophylaxis to the in-hospital period may provide inadequate protection. ⋯ Postoperative prophylaxis with enoxaparin for a mean of 9 days is associated with a clinically acceptable rate of symptomatic venous thromboembolism and major hemorrhage. Predischarge compression ultrasonography cannot be justified.