The American journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Current and future management of serious skin and skin-structure infections.
The purpose of this study was to compare in a randomized, open-label clinical study, the efficacy and safety of cefepime (1 g every 12 hours) with that of ceftazidime (1 g every 8 hours) in patients with serious skin and skin-structure infections. Of 298 patients enrolled in the study, 130 with serious skin and skin-structure infections were evaluable. Demographics and underlying medical conditions were comparable in both groups. ⋯ Adverse events occurred with similar frequency in both groups. Events probably related to study drugs affected 3% (6 of 198) of patients treated with cefepime and 4% (4 of 100) of ceftazidime-treated patients. Cefepime, a new parenteral cephalosporin administered every 12 hours, is an extremely well tolerated and effective alternative to ceftazidime given every 8 hours for the treatment of serious skin and skin-structure infections.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A randomized, controlled trial of a clinical pharmacist intervention to improve inappropriate prescribing in elderly outpatients with polypharmacy.
To evaluate the effect of sustained clinical pharmacist interventions involving elderly outpatients with polypharmacy and their primary physicians. ⋯ This study demonstrates that a clinical pharmacist providing pharmaceutical care for elderly primary care patients can reduce inappropriate prescribing and possibly adverse drug effects without adversely affecting health-related quality of life.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Isoetharine versus albuterol for acute asthma: greater immediate effect, but more side effects.
To compare the magnitudes of the immediate effects of the nebulized beta-agonists isoetharine and albuterol in the treatment of acute severe asthma. ⋯ Both medications were equally effective in alleviating bronchospasm. The immediate effect of isoetharine was significantly greater, but equalized that of albuterol within an hour after treatment. There were more side effects with isoetharine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Long-term, nightly benzodiazepine treatment of injurious parasomnias and other disorders of disrupted nocturnal sleep in 170 adults.
To assess the efficacy, dose stability, safety, and abuse potential of long-term, nightly benzodiazepine treatment of chronic disorders of disrupted nocturnal sleep. ⋯ Long-term, nightly benzodiazepine treatment of injurious parasomnias and other disorders of disrupted nocturnal sleep resulted in sustained efficacy in most cases, with low risk of dosage tolerance, adverse effects, or abuse. Data from this study on the treatment of chronic, severe insomnia (a small subset of all insomnia) are not generalizable to the typical insomnia patient.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Nebulized bronchodilators for outpatient management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The bronchodilator efficacy, safety, and persistence of effect of the anticholinergic agent ipratropium bromide and the beta-adrenergic agonist albuterol, both given by nebulization, were compared in 223 patients with stable, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel group trial conducted over 85 days. Patients took the study drugs (either 500 micrograms of ipratropium bromide or 2.5 mg of albuterol) three times daily on an outpatient basis throughout the study. ⋯ Patients receiving ipratropium bromide scored higher on a quality-of-life questionnaire evaluating dyspnea, fatigue, emotional function, and mastery. Side effects were relatively infrequent and generally mild for both study drugs. These results show that ipratropium bromide, given by nebulization, is safe and effective in the outpatient treatment of COPD.