Current medical research and opinion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Efficacy and safety of flupirtine modified release for the management of moderate to severe chronic low back pain: results of SUPREME, a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled parallel-group phase IV study.
To demonstrate non-inferior/superior efficacy of flupirtine modified release (MR) compared with tramadol/placebo for the management of moderate to severe chronic low back pain (LBP). ⋯ The analgesic efficacy of flupirtine MR 400 mg OD was comparable to that of tramadol ER 200 mg OD and superior to that of placebo.
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Lack of response in some patients and relapse during the course of therapy in the treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer continue to challenge researchers and clinicians towards a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of trastuzumab action and new therapies for HER2. The aim of this review is to discuss current and future treatment options with pertuzumab in the light of new insights into HER2-positive breast cancer. ⋯ Pertuzumab is the first HER dimerization inhibitor with a mechanism of action complementary to trastuzumab. Studies with anti-HER2 combination treatments indicate that the use of more than one HER2-targeted therapy was superior to one of these agents alone. Pertuzumab has produced impressive anti-tumor activity in combination with trastuzumab. There are ongoing studies with pertuzumab with an increasing tendency towards moving the study of these agents to earlier stages of the disease, namely in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Comparison of quetiapine and risperidone in Chinese Han patients with schizophrenia: results of a single-blind, randomized study.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 750 mg/day quetiapine fumarate (Seroquel) in the treatment of Chinese Han patients with schizophrenia. ⋯ Quetiapine fumarate (750 mg/day) has broad clinical efficacy comparable to 4 mg/day risperidone. Dizziness was common in the quetiapine group (P = 0.029), but the rate of somnolence was similar between the two groups (P = 0.114). EPS and hyperprolactinemia rates were significantly higher with risperidone (P < 0.001). Key limitations of this study include small sample size, short treatment periods, and no increase to 6 mg/day for risperidone because of its safety profile.
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Gefitinib is a well known therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to review clinical reports of gefitinib as maintenance therapy after first-line chemotherapy regardless of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, and assess its efficacy and safety in Chinese patients. ⋯ Gefitinib produced encouraging efficacy, safety and survival when delivered as maintenance therapy for NSCLC in Chinese patients after first-line chemotherapy regardless of EGFR mutation, especially for the patients who were female, non-smokers, LAC and with rash. Key limitations of this review include limited subgroup data, small sample sizes, and the lack of EGFR/KRAS data.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and safety of valsartan in reducing blood pressure and albuminuria in Chinese patients with essential hypertension: a multicenter prospective open-label observational study.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 80 or 160 mg/day valsartan in Chinese adult patients with essential hypertension and albuminuria. ⋯ Valsartan can safely and effectively reduce BP and albuminuria in Chinese adult patients with essential hypertension and albuminuria. Valsartan has the more dramatic effect on albuminuria in diabetic patients than non-diabetic patients.