Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Jun 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyLow-dose SoluMatrix diclofenac in the treatment of osteoarthritis: A 1-year, open-label, Phase III safety study.
Diclofenac is used for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA); however, like other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) it can be associated with serious dose-related adverse events (AEs). Low-dose SoluMatrix® diclofenac has been developed to provide efficacy at lower diclofenac doses. A recently published Phase III study evaluated the efficacy and safety of SoluMatrix diclofenac 35 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) and thrice daily (t.i.d.) in patients with OA pain treated for 12 weeks. ⋯ SoluMatrix diclofenac treatment for up to 1 year was generally well tolerated in patients with OA pain and associated with improvement in quality of life measures.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jun 2015
Type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment patterns in U.S. nursing home residents.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes) in nursing home residents (NHRs) is increasing, concurrently with obesity and other comorbid conditions. NHR would benefit greatly from antidiabetic medications that would improve glycemic control and give a lower risk of hypoglycemia but that do not contribute to weight gain in obese individuals. ⋯ Considerations other than glycemic control may drive prescribing decisions, contrary to recommendations from the American Diabetes Association, American Medical Directors Association, and European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jun 2015
Individual and societal consequences of hypoglycemia: A cross-sectional survey.
Hypoglycemia and fear of hypoglycemia threaten individuals' ability to work and drive. We studied the effect of hypoglycemia on the individual and society, with a focus on possible implications of new European union legislation on patients' continued ability to drive. ⋯ A high proportion of insulin-treated patients experience hypoglycemia resulting in fear of hypoglycemia and changes in self-care behavior that may compromise glycemic control. Many patients with a history of severe hypoglycemia consider underreporting hypoglycemic events through concern over retaining their driving license.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jun 2015
Meta AnalysisEfficacy and safety of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin in black/African American patients with type 2 diabetes: Pooled analysis from eight Phase III trials.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in black/African Americans from North and South America is high; yet data evaluating antidiabetic agents in this population is scarce. To address this gap, we pooled data from the clinical development program for linagliptin. ⋯ Linagliptin provided clinically significant improvements in glycemic control without increased risk of hypoglycemia and without weight gain, representing a useful type 2 diabetes therapy option for the black/African American population.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jun 2015
Meta AnalysisDiagnostic accuracy of endostatin for malignant pleural effusion: A clinical study and meta-analysis.
The diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) remains a clinical challenge. Many studies suggest that endostatin is a potential marker for MPE. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of endostatin with respect to MPE and to summarize the overall diagnostic performance of endostatin via a meta-analysis. ⋯ Pleural levels of endostatin are increased in the setting of MPE. However, endostatin exhibits a limited efficacy for the diagnosis of MPE and shows a relatively low sensitivity. The assessment of endostatin in combination with CEA may enhance diagnostic accuracy with respect to MPE.