Current medical research and opinion
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A narrative review of randomized, blinded, controlled studies assessing the antipyretic effect of ibuprofen versus acetaminophen or combined or alternating treatment in children was conducted. ⋯ Antipyretic effects of ibuprofen and acetaminophen are similar at physician-directed doses; ibuprofen may be modestly superior at over-the-counter doses.
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Real-world treatment sequencing and healthcare costs among CLL/SLL patients treated with Venetoclax.
This study aimed to describe treatment sequencing and healthcare costs among chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) patients treated with venetoclax in a US managed care population. ⋯ In this descriptive study, highest mean costs were observed during venetoclax initiation phase. Venetoclax patients previously receiving ibrutinib had lower mean total all-cause and clinical event-related (including TLS) costs during their venetoclax line of therapy than those previously receiving non-ibrutinib therapy.
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Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing skin disease. Although a definitive cure is not available, appropriate treatment can control the disease. The advent of biologic drugs has led to the need for a clear definition of the disease severity and treatment response. A standardized list of outcomes that defines clinician-reported disease severity and patients' reported severity are therefore essential. Solid criteria to define the response to treatment and treatment failure are lacking to date. ⋯ This systematic review highlights the need for collaboration between experts in order to define and optimize treatment outcomes. Despite considerable progress in harmonizing outcome measures, promoted by the foundation of the Harmonizing Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) initiative in 2008, our results demonstrate that this endpoint is still an unmet need. Based on the literature data we propose a minimum treatment goal algorithm for use in daily clinical practice aimed at stimulating a discussion on how the care of AD patients could be further improved.
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Docetaxel is a widely prescribed chemotherapy drug in oncology and post expiry of its patent, the drug has been marketed as a generic by multiple manufacturers. It is also classified as a narrow therapeutic window drug. Through enhanced permeability and retention effect, polymeric micelles can passively target agents to tumor tissue, thereby decreasing toxicity of the drug in normal tissue. ⋯ One study reported incidence of febrile neutropenia due to a switch in the formulation from branded to generic. The quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines will directly affect the life of patients, and therefore, use of docetaxel formulations that guarantee safety of patients are the necessity of the hour. Being an injectable anti-cancer drug, it is important to determine the consistency of the various formulations of docetaxel globally, conduct bioequivalence studies as per the regulatory standards, taking into account the permissible limits of the excipients or the presence of such unapproved excipients.