Current medical research and opinion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of albiglutide, a long-acting GLP-1-receptor agonist, in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To investigate safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of albiglutide in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. ⋯ Weekly and biweekly albiglutide improved glycemic control and were well-tolerated in Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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Acromegaly is characterized by overproduction of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary gland. GH stimulates the synthesis of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and the somatic growth and metabolic dysfunction that characterize acromegaly are a consequence of elevated GH and IGF-I levels. Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are rare, slow-growing neoplasms that have usually metastasized by the time of diagnosis. The majority of GEP-NETs are carcinoid tumors whose syndrome is caused by the hypersecretion of biogenic amines, peptides and polypeptides responsible for the principal symptoms of diarrhea and flushing. ⋯ Octreotide is a potent synthetic somatostatin analogue that has become the mainstay of medical therapy for tumor control in neuroendocrine disorders such as acromegaly and GEP-NETs. The development of octreotide LAR offered a further advancement; less frequent dosing provided valuable benefits in quality of life to patients, with equivalent efficacy and tolerability. Moreover, recent results from the PROMID study have confirmed the antiproliferative effect of octreotide LAR in patients with well-differentiated metastatic GEP-NETs of the midgut. New therapeutic uses of octreotide are currently under investigation in a variety of clinical settings.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Postmarketing migraine survey of frovatriptan: effectiveness and tolerability vs previous triptans, NSAIDs or a combination.
Compare the effectiveness and tolerability of current therapy with frovatriptan 2.5-mg tablets (in 1-3 migraines) in patients with migraine previously using other triptans, analgesics/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or triptans and NSAIDs (T+NSAIDs). ⋯ Intrapatient comparisons showed that most patients with migraine reported significantly improved effectiveness and tolerability ratings with frovatriptan versus previous acute therapies.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in primary care: a European observational study.
To describe the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in primary care, as part of the RANGE (Retrospective ANalysis of GERD) study. ⋯ The findings of this pan-European study indicate that current management of primary care patients with GERD is far from optimal, and accounts for a marked burden on patients and healthcare systems alike. A more structured approach to GERD management, by tailoring treatment according to the impact of the disease, may reduce this burden.
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Review Comparative Study
Gastroduodenal toxicity of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid: a comparison with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; aspirin; 75-325 mg/day) is effective for the prevention of cardiovascular events, and its use in this indication is rapidly increasing. However, the use of ASA and, indeed, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is limited by the incidence of adverse gastroduodenal events. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE: To review the clinical evidence for, and the pharmacodynamic basis of, ASA-induced gastroduodenal toxicity in comparison with NSAIDs, and address the question of whether low-dose ASA is 'safe' from a gastroduodenal perspective. This was a narrative, descriptive review, rather than a formal systematic review. ⋯ Data suggest that ASA causes significant gastroduodenal damage even at the low doses used for cardiovascular protection. These effects (both systemic and possibly local) may be pharmacodynamically distinct from the gastroduodenal toxicity seen with NSAIDs. Studies are required to establish strategies for improving the tolerability of low-dose ASA, allowing patients to continue to benefit from the cardiovascular protection associated with such therapy.