Current medical research and opinion
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Polypharmacy is associated with negative clinical consequences. The efficacy of deprescribing interventions within medical specialist outpatient clinics remains unclear. Here, we reviewed the research on the effectiveness of deprescribing interventions implemented within specialist outpatient clinics for patients ≥ 60 years. ⋯ Specialist outpatient clinics may provide valuable settings for implementing deprescribing interventions. The addition of a multidisciplinary team including a pharmacist and the use of validated medication assessment tools appear to be enablers. Further research is warranted.
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Scarce data examined the associations of circulating calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in humans. We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study to evaluate the associations of serum Ca, Mg, and Ca/Mg ratio with hsCRP and examine the mediating roles of body mass index (BMI). ⋯ Generally, our study showed significant inverse associations of serum Ca and Mg with hsCRP in CAD patients. Our findings provided further support for the anti-inflammatory effects of Ca and Mg in CAD patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Early outcomes, associated factors and predictive values of clinical outcomes of tandospirone in generalized anxiety disorder: a post-hoc analysis of a randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial.
To examine the early outcomes, associated factors and predictive values of clinical outcomes of different tandospirone doses in patients with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). ⋯ The early outcomes of high-dose tandospirone in the treatment of GAD are better than those of the low-dose group. Patients with younger age at onset, milder anxiety symptoms and better physiological functions administered high-dose tandospirone showed rapid onset, great early outcomes, high recovery rate and good prognosis. Drug onset time had a good predictive effect on treatment outcome.
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Comparative Study
Treatment persistence among bio-naïve patients with Crohn's disease initiated on ustekinumab or adalimumab.
To compare persistence and describe dose titration among bio-naïve patients with Crohn's disease (CD) initiated on ustekinumab or adalimumab. ⋯ Bio-naïve patients with CD initiated on ustekinumab were more persistent than patients initiated on adalimumab; moreover, these patients had numerically lower dose escalation and higher de-escalation rates than patients initiated on adalimumab. Findings support the use of ustekinumab as a first-line treatment for bio-naïve patients with CD.
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Observational Study
Extemporaneous combination of donepezil and memantine to treat dementia in Alzheimer disease: evidence from Italian real-world data.
Providing evidence on donepezil and memantine administration as extemporaneous combination (DM-EXT) to treat Alzheimer Disease (AD) in Italy, and describing demographic and clinical features of AD patients prescribed DM-EXT. ⋯ Prescription of DM-EXT is a common practice in Italy. Because the administration of fixed-dose (FDCs) instead of extemporaneous combinations improves treatment adherence, the introduction of an FDC containing donepezil and memantine might enhance AD patients' management and reduce caregiver burden.