Current medical research and opinion
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Review Comparative Study
Potential mechanisms of stroke benefit favoring losartan in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study.
The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study is the first, and, so far, the only endpoint trial in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) to show a divergent therapeutic outcome of one treatment modality over another with equivalent blood pressure control. The purpose of this article is to review post hoc sub-analyses of LIFE study data and other clinical studies that offer some insight into possible treatment-related differences contributing to the superior stroke outcome of losartan versus atenolol beyond blood pressure reduction. ⋯ Sub-analyses of the LIFE study data suggest that losartan's stroke benefit may arise from a mosaic of mechanisms rather than a single action. Further studies are expected to continue to delineate the mechanisms of differential responses to treatments in LIFE.
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Review Comparative Study
Erythropoietic therapy for the treatment of anemia in patients with cancer: a valuable clinical and economic option.
Healthcare organizations must evaluate the cost effectiveness of the alternative therapies that are available to treat anemia and improve quality of life (QoL) of patients with cancer, that is, erythropoietic protein therapy and blood transfusion. ⋯ Significant costs are incurred when anemia in cancer is not treated. Erythropoietic protein therapy is more cost effective than blood transfusion for the treatment of cancer-related anemia. Transfusion should be reserved for patients with poor responses to erythropoietic protein or for the emergency setting, when rapid improvement in Hb is required.