Current medical research and opinion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A multicentre, randomized, controlled trial of oseltamivir in the treatment of influenza in a high-risk Chinese population.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir treatment in a population at high risk for influenza. ⋯ Oseltamivir is effective and well tolerated in high-risk patients with chronic respiratory or cardiac diseases. It can reduce the duration and severity of influenza symptoms and decrease the incidence of secondary complications and antibiotic use, without increasing the total medical cost.
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While correction of hyperglycemia remains central to the management of type 2 diabetes, current management approaches address an integrated constellation of disorders that predispose patients to the risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications. ⋯ Concerted efforts are necessary to increase the proportion of patients achieving current treatment targets. Such measures must aim to educate patients and physicians, remove barriers due to health care organization and access, and improve the monitoring of cardiovascular disease risk indicators. The poly-pharmacy 'pill burden' may be alleviated through the use of drugs that are effective against multiple aspects of the metabolic syndrome, and by co-formulation of agents with established efficacy.
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Comparative Study
Pharmacoeconomic analysis of recombinant factor VIIa versus APCC in the treatment of minor-to-moderate bleeds in hemophilia patients with inhibitors.
To compare the cost-effectiveness of three treatment regimens using recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa), NovoSeven, and activated prothrombin-complex concentrate (APCC), FEIBA VH, for home treatment of minor-to-moderate bleeds in hemophilia patients with inhibitors. ⋯ The management of minor-to-moderate bleeds extends beyond the initial line of treatment, and should include the economic impact of re-bleeding and failures over multiple lines of treatment. In the majority of cases, the rFVIIa-only regimen appears to be a less expensive treatment option in inhibitor patients with minor-to-moderate bleeds over three lines of treatment.
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The efficacy of antimuscarinic drug therapy in patients who have more severe symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) at baseline has not been evaluated thoroughly. ⋯ Solifenacin was significantly more effective than placebo for patients with severe symptoms of OAB. The significant and consistent response was observed for all endpoints with solifenacin 10 mg and for most endpoints with solifenacin 5 mg using different definitions of baseline disease severity, and supports the overall effectiveness of solifenacin in highly symptomatic patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Efficacy and safety of rofecoxib 12.5 mg and celecoxib 200 mg in two similarly designed osteoarthritis studies.
To compare the lower osteoarthritis (OA) dose of rofecoxib to the recommended dose of celecoxib in two identically designed studies. ⋯ Rofecoxib 12.5 mg and celecoxib 200 mg provided comparable efficacy over 6 weeks, and both were significantly more efficacious than placebo. The medications demonstrated similar safety compared to one another and placebo. The primary limitations of these studies were that they were only 6 weeks long and were powered for efficacy. Therefore, conclusions about long-term safety cannot be inferred.