Current medical research and opinion
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The aim was to assess demographic and clinical factors as predictors of short (6 months) and long term (18 months) HbA1c levels in diabetes patients initiating metformin treatment. ⋯ Diabetes duration was a relevant predictor of HbA1c levels after 6 and 18 months of follow-up in patients initiating metformin treatment. Given the study design, no causal inference can be made. Our study suggests that prompt treatment intensification may be needed in patients who have a longer diabetes duration at treatment initiation.
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Patients with chronic pain may experience difficulty swallowing, in part due to worsening disease, comorbid conditions, iatrogenic etiology, or age. Patients or caregivers may manipulate extended-release (ER) opioid formulations to facilitate oral dosing due to a lack of therapeutic options that allow for sprinkle or enteral feeding tube administration. If crushed or broken, current oral ER opioids can be associated with adverse sequelae, including risk of potentially fatal overdose. ⋯ Oxycodone DETERx is the first ER oxycodone formulation that can be administered either intact, sprinkled onto soft foods, or via NG/G tubes, thereby providing options for treating pain in patients who have difficulty swallowing.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Therapeutic compliance with rivaroxaban in preventing stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: CUMRIVAFA study.
To assess compliance with treatment with rivaroxaban in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. ⋯ The percentage of compliance with rivaroxaban was high. A profile of variables that need to be modified in current medical practice, associated with non-compliance, was detected.
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To compare the effects of an erlotinib-based targeted dual agent with erlotinib alone in previously treated patients with advanced non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ Compared with erlotinib alone, the erlotinib-based targeted dual agent showed a minimal magnitude of improvement in PFS but did not improve OS. The role of erlotinib-based combinations in previously treated patients with NSCLC seemed insignificant.
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Little data exists regarding the effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban or apixaban versus warfarin in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients treated outside of clinical trials. ⋯ Rivaroxaban and apixaban were associated with less ICH than warfarin and both are likely associated with reductions in the combined endpoint. Further investigation to validate the numerically higher rate of ischemic stroke with apixaban versus warfarin is required.