Current medical research and opinion
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Review
The influence of female gender on cardiac arrest outcomes: a systematic review of the literature.
Sudden cardiac arrest is an important cause of cardiovascular mortality. The impact of gender on the outcome of cardiac arrest is not clear and data about that is limited. ⋯ In the reported literature female gender seems to offer survival and outcome advantages following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest over male gender. This is in contrast to most other aspects of heart disease in which women tend to have a worse prognosis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Impact of low-grade adverse events on health-related quality of life in adult patients receiving imatinib or nilotinib for newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treatment relies on tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), but their use can be associated with low-grade adverse events (AEs). This analysis aimed to identify the low-grade AEs which significantly impact the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of CML patients in chronic phase (CP) and to compare the incidence of such AEs among nilotinib- and imatinib-treated patients. ⋯ The impact of low-grade AEs on HRQoL should be taken into account, along with other factors, when selecting the optimal treatment for patients newly diagnosed with CML-CP.
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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) comprises both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. VTE is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and its increasing incidence and prevalence are a major health concern. The primary medical objective during the acute phase of VTE treatment is to prevent thrombus extension and embolization. Extended treatment aims to prevent or minimize long-term complications, such as recurrent VTE, post-thrombotic syndrome and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. ⋯ Rivaroxaban is the first TSOAC to gain widespread approval for the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and the long-term prevention of recurrent VTE as monotherapy. Dabigatran has also been approved for this indication recently. TSOACs, especially as monotherapy, represent a paradigm shift in clinical practice for the management of patients with VTE.
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Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Infliximab efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis after an inadequate response to etanercept or adalimumab: results of a target-driven active switch study.
Evaluate efficacy of infliximab with response-driven dosing in patients with active RA. ⋯ Given the relatively short duration of study follow-up, these safety findings require confirmation in a longer-term study.