Current medical research and opinion
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The FDA recently issued guidance for the types of infections that should be included in trials to support an indication for antibacterial treatment. The latest FDA guidance recommends assessing response to drug therapy at 48 to 72 hours as the primary endpoint in clinical trials. This study evaluated clinical and economic outcomes among acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) patients hospitalized at a 3000-bed healthcare system in New Jersey. ⋯ This had the inherent limitations associated with a retrospective chart review; because data was initially collected for clinical rather than research purposes, certain information may have been absent, incomplete, or missed by data abstractors.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of gastrointestinal safety and tolerability of aceclofenac with diclofenac: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
To compare the gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability and efficacy of aceclofenac with diclofenac in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ Aceclofenac was better tolerated in terms of incidence and severity of GI AEs and GPA requirement and was as efficacious as diclofenac. The need for GPAs increased with the increase in duration of treatment with NSAIDs. Hence, it could be concluded that usual practice of co-prescription of GPAs with aceclofenac could be avoided to improve patient compliance and reduce cost of treatment. However, long term trials with endoscopic evaluation in the wider population are required to assess the GI tolerability of aceclofenac and diclofenac in detail.
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To determine risk factors for both warfarin discontinuation and bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ Risk factors for warfarin discontinuation include older age, recent bleeding, and a high number of concomitant medications. Risk factors associated with bleeding events are older age, use of a warfarin-potentiating medication, previous bleeding, and higher CHADS2 scores.
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Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States and its prevalence continues to increase. Adjunctive treatment with pharmacotherapy is often reserved for individuals who fail to achieve their intended weight goals with diet and exercise alone. Current approved therapies for weight loss include phentermine, diethylpropion, orlistat, and phentermine/topiramate. The objective of this paper was to review the place of lorcaserin, a novel serotonin 2C agonist, which was FDA approved in July 2012. Unlike contemporary lipase inhibitors and sympathomimetic amines, lorcaserin is purported to reduce food consumption and increase satiety. ⋯ For now, pharmacists should continue to recommend the use of lorcaserin as a complement to, not in lieu of, ongoing lifestyle and behavioral modification.