Current medical research and opinion
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Editorial
Introduction: Recognition and management of some possible consequences of stopping smoking.
While stopping smoking has a range of profoundly beneficial consequences, the immediate aftermath of smoking cessation often generates at least some negative effects. This collection of review articles covers both sides of this often difficult equation to provide clinicians with guidance on recognising and managing a range of short-term sequelae of smoking cessation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
24-hour bronchodilator efficacy of single doses of indacaterol in subjects with COPD: comparison with placebo and formoterol.
To assess the bronchodilator efficacy, safety and tolerability of indacaterol, a novel, once-daily inhaled beta(2)-agonist bronchodilator, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ All doses of indacaterol were effective in providing 24-h bronchodilation and were well-tolerated in subjects with COPD. The bronchodilator efficacy of indacaterol (150, 300 and 600 microg) at 24 h post-dose was at least as efficacious as formoterol 12 microg twice daily.
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With the availability of multiple echinocandins in the US, recommended dosages and dosing schedules vary by agent but actual utilization practices are unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe the utilization and dosage pattern of intravenous echinocandins for treatment of fungal infections in US hospitals. ⋯ In hospital practice, the mean dosages were consistent with the recommended loading and maintenance dosages for caspofungin and anidulafungin. Patients frequently received a loading dose of > 150 mg on day 1 of micafungin which was inconsistent with recommended dosing schedules. Micafungin maintenance dosages > 100 mg were also commonly used. Lack of information on reason for initiating echinocandin therapy was an important study limitation.
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This survey estimated differences in staff time requirements between fentanyl HCl iontophoretic transdermal system (fentanyl ITS) and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) in post-operative pain management. ⋯ Fentanyl ITS use was estimated, by expert opinion, to require 44% less staff time than IV-PCA use.
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To assess the relative antidepressant efficacy of escitalopram and comparator antidepressants. ⋯ In this meta-analysis, superior efficacy of escitalopram compared to SSRIs and SNRIs was confirmed, although the superiority over SSRIs was largely explained by differences between escitalopram and citalopram.