Medicina clinica
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Methadone is largely used as the primary opioid substitution therapy for the treatment of heroin addiction; the objective of the study was to describe the clinical characteristics of heroin abusers admitted into a methadone maintenance program (MMP) in metropolitan Barcelona. ⋯ Age at first opioid substitution therapy is increasing over time, as well as the proportion of patients with psychiatric co-morbidity. There were significant reductions in blood-borne infections.
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Clinical Trial
[Nebulized colistin versus tobramycin in the treatment of chronic Pseudomonas colonization in cystic fibrosis patients].
To compare the efficacy, safety and treatment satisfaction with inhaled colistin versus tobramycin in the cure of chronic Pseudomonas colonization in cystic fibrosis patients. ⋯ Colistimethate sodium administered through the misting system I-neb(®) provides clinical benefits in terms of exacerbations and improvement of lung function and patient satisfaction for the nebulized antibiotic treatment.
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Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is the most frequent hereditary kidney disease. However it lacks a specific treatment. Its prevalence is 1/800 and causes the need for renal replacement therapy in 8-10% of patients on dialysis or kidney transplant. ⋯ Based on the accumulated experience the primary objective of the trials is the slowing of the increase in renal volume. Yet other renal end points such as renal function and hypertension are necessary. It is expected that in the coming years we can have specific, well tolerated, effective and affordable drugs for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
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Review
[Characteristics and types of GLP-1 receptor agonists. An opportunity for individualized therapy].
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is secreted from enteroendocrine L-cells in response to oral nutrient intake and elicits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion while suppressing glucagon secretion. Moreover slows gastric emptying -reducing postprandial glycemic excursions-, reduces body weight, systolic blood pressure and has beneficial effects in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Since the 1990s, the efficacy of GLP-1 in reducing blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes (DM2) was well known. ⋯ Hence, DPP-4 inhibitors -which increase pseudo-physiologically endogenous GLP-1 levels- were developed. In addition, several GLP-1 receptor agonists have been designed to avoid DPP-4-breakdown and/or rapid renal elimination and, therefore, induce a pharmacologic effect in the GLP-1 receptor: short-acting, long-acting, and prolonged-acting GLP-1 analogs. Each class has different structural, pharmacodynamic and clinical properties and could be administered in different therapeutical regimens giving us the opportunity to individualize the therapy of DM2.
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Modulation of the incretin effect has opened up a new strategy in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). To date, this physiological mechanism has been boosted in two ways: firstly, by pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme that physiologically degrades glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4); secondly, through the development of GLP-1 agonists (GLP-1a) that are resistant to the action of DPP-4. ⋯ On the other hand, this higher efficacy also seems to be associated with the higher rate of adverse effects associated with aGLP-1 therapy compared with DPP-4 inhibition. These and other differentiating characteristics of the two drug families will determine the choice of drug therapy in the personalized treatment of hyperglycemia in patients with DM2.