Current medical research and opinion
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of doripenem versus piperacillin/tazobactam in nosocomial pneumonia: a randomized, open-label, multicenter study.
Doripenem is a new carbapenem that has broad-spectrum activity against bacterial pathogens commonly responsible for nosocomial pneumonia (NP). It has several advantages over currently available carbapenems and other classes of drugs used in this indication. This prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter study was designed to establish whether doripenem was noninferior to piperacillin/tazobactam in NP. ⋯ Adults (n=448) with signs and symptoms of NP, including non-ventilated patients and those ventilated for <5 days, were stratified by ventilation mode, illness severity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score), and geographic region and then randomly allocated to treatment with doripenem 500 mg every 8 h by a 1-h intravenous (IV) infusion or piperacillin/tazobactam 4.5 g every 6 h by 30-min IV infusion. After receiving IV study drug for at least 72 h, eligible patients could be switched to oral levofloxacin 750 mg once daily. Antibiotic therapy was continued for a total of 7-14 days. The primary endpoint was the clinical cure rate, assessed 7-14 days after treatment completion, in clinically evaluable patients and in the clinical modified intent-to-treat population (cMITT).
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of pantoprazole 20 mg once daily treatment in patients with ulcer-like functional dyspepsia.
To investigate the efficacy of pantoprazole 20 mg once daily (o.d.) in relieving epigastric pain associated with ulcer-like functional dyspepsia. ⋯ Results of this study suggest that pantoprazole 20 mg is more efficacious than placebo, and is a well-tolerated treatment for relieving epigastric pain in patients with ulcer-like functional dyspepsia. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The efficacy and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation using a flexible dosing strategy in adult smokers: a randomized controlled trial.
To determine whether self-regulated flexible dosing with varenicline tartrate is safe and effective for smoking cessation. ⋯ A self-regulated, flexible dosing regimen of varenicline is well tolerated, with superior effectiveness versus placebo for smoking cessation.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Asthma exacerbations in African Americans treated for 1 year with combination fluticasone propionate and salmeterol or fluticasone propionate alone.
This long-term prospective study was conducted in African Americans with persistent asthma to examine the safety and effectiveness of the combination of the inhaled corticosteroid, fluticasone propionate (FP), and the long-acting beta-agonist, salmeterol, compared with FP alone. ⋯ In this large, prospective study among African Americans with asthma, the addition of salmeterol to FP resulted in a similar low rate of exacerbations and improved other markers of asthma control. Both FSC 100/50 mcg and FP 100 mcg were well-tolerated, and the overall safety-profiles were similar over 1 year of treatment.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
The effect of budesonide and formoterol in one pressurized metered-dose inhaler on patient-reported outcomes in adults with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma.
To determine the effects of budesonide and formoterol administered via one pressurized metered-dose inhaler (budesonide/formoterol pMDI) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and to determine the contributions of budesonide and formoterol to those effects in adults with asthma. ⋯ Patients receiving treatment with budesonide/formoterol pMDI experienced significantly greater improvements from baseline in asthma-related quality of life, quality of sleep, and asthma control and greater satisfaction with treatment than patients receiving placebo. The combination of budesonide and formoterol in one pMDI is beneficial in improving how a patient feels and functions as a result of treatment.