Current medical research and opinion
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In 150 hypercholesterolemic patients, unable to tolerate ≥1 statin because of myositis-myalgia, selected by low (<32 ng/ml) serum 25 (OH) vitamin D, we prospectively assessed whether vitamin D supplementation with resolution of vitamin D deficiency would result in statin tolerance, free of myositis-myalgia. ⋯ Symptomatic myositis-myalgia in hypercholesterolemic statin-treated patients with concurrent serum 25 (OH) vitamin D deficiency may reflect a reversible interaction between vitamin D deficiency and statins on skeletal muscle causing myalgia.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of ambrisentan in Japanese adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
To investigate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of ambrisentan in Japanese adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). ⋯ Ambrisentan is considered as safe and effective for Japanese adults with PAH.
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To examine medication dosing patterns of duloxetine and pregabalin among patients with fibromyalgia. ⋯ Among patients with fibromyalgia, duloxetine and pregabalin initiators had different dosing patterns. The average daily dose for duloxetine was relatively stable over time, while pregabalin patients had significant dose increase over the 12-month post-index period.
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Pain is still one of the most prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with chronic pain. Opioids are the most potent existing analgesics available in clinical practice. However, they are not always effective, particularly in the non-cancer population. ⋯ Several different drug-development strategies have attempted to reduce side effects by exploiting anatomic barriers to drug distribution and to provide different analgesic mechanisms, as in the case of the oxycodone-naloxone combination or tapentadol. New delivery systems have been developed for a more effective management of breakthrough pain. Pharmacogenetics could play a critical role in personalizing pain management in the future.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Efficacy and safety of alogliptin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging comparison with placebo, followed by a long-term extension study.
To compare the efficacy and safety of different dosages of alogliptin with that of placebo and voglibose in drug-naïve Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by diet and exercise. ⋯ Alogliptin was well tolerated and dose-dependently improved glycemic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on diet and exercise.