Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2017
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA novel electromechanical autoinjector, AutoTouch™, for self-injection of etanercept: real-world use and benefits.
We assessed the ability of patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases to successfully use the investigational AutoTouch™ reusable autoinjector as well as patient preference for AutoTouch™ versus the currently marketed single-use prefilled etanercept SureClick® autoinjector. ⋯ The introduction of the AutoTouch™ will give patients a choice between two different autoinjectors for self-administration of etanercept.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2017
ReviewBone effects of canagliflozin, a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Canagliflozin, a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), lowers blood glucose by inhibiting renal glucose reabsorption and increasing urinary glucose excretion. It has been reported that SGLT2 inhibitors may have potential adverse effects on bone, including increased fracture risk and decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Across clinical studies, canagliflozin was not associated with meaningful changes in serum or urine calcium, vitamin D, or parathyroid hormone. ⋯ Fractures tended to occur as early as 12 weeks after initiating treatment and were primarily located in the distal parts of the upper and lower extremities. The reason for increased fracture risk with canagliflozin treatment is unknown, but is likely not related to a direct effect of canagliflozin on bone-related biomarkers. Data from ongoing canagliflozin studies, including CANVAS, will provide additional information on fracture risk in patients with T2DM.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2017
Impact of breakthrough pain on community-dwelling cancer patients: results from the National Breakthrough Pain Study.
To characterize cancer-related breakthrough pain (BTcP) among community-dwelling patients with cancer. ⋯ Results indicate that BTcP among community-dwelling patients with cancer continues to be a health burden and reveals opportunities to improve its management.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2017
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyIncreased plasma/serum levels of prolactin in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Prolactin (PRL), a polypeptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland, is involved in the regulation of humoral and cell mediated immune responses. PRL levels have been investigated in several autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), however, yielded different and inconsistent results. This study aims to derive a more precise evaluation on plasma/serum PRL levels in SLE patients, as well as the potential influential factors. ⋯ Overall, our study suggests that SLE patients have higher plasma/serum PRL level, but with a regional difference.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2017
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialPrescription opioid abuse and misuse: gap between primary-care investigator assessment and actual extent of these behaviors among patients with chronic pain.
To compare the results of two open-label primary care-based studies that examined investigator assessment of patient risk for prescription opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion relative to patient self-reports and urine drug tests (UDTs). ⋯ www.clinicaltrials.gov identifiers: NCT00640042 and NCT01179191.