Current medical research and opinion
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic condition and a major public health concern. Moreover, its prevalence is increasing. COPD commonly affects patient performance of daily activities that people perform in order to meet basic needs, fulfill usual roles, and maintain their health and well-being. What types of activities are affected and to what degree? How do these effects change over time? What impact, positive or negative, do various treatments have on the capacity of patients to perform activities? To address these questions, the concept of activity performance must be defined and appropriately measured. ⋯ Selection of endpoints and instruments for clinical studies of COPD and its treatment must be driven by a clear definition of concepts of interest and the relevance of content areas to patients. Some existing instruments may provide adequate coverage of endpoints or content areas under investigation. Others clearly will not.
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Obesity is highly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, weight gain may also be a consequence of some antidiabetic medications. Although clinical benefits of weight loss have been established, the economic consequence of weight change among patients with type 2 diabetes is unclear. ⋯ Weight loss significantly reduced diabetes-related costs. Controlling for baseline factors in the regression model, the 1-year total health care cost following 1% weight loss (or gain) was $213 cost decrease (or increase). Diabetes-related cost did not appear to be associated with weight gain. Economic benefit of weight loss was evident among type 2 diabetic patients on antidiabetic therapy, especially among obese patients.
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The purpose of this manuscript is to provide clinicians with highlights of key findings pertaining to our current understanding and treatment of the condition of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). This includes a review of the disease, patient characteristics, current treatment options, challenges for managed care and patients, and opportunities for improvements in care. This is not intended as a comprehensive review of VUR. ⋯ The second article considers the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in reducing the likelihood of urinary tract infections (UTIs) when compared with endoscopic injection with dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (Endoscopic injection versus antibiotic prophylaxis in the reduction of urinary tract infection in patients with vesicoureteral reflux: Elder JS, Shah MB, Batiste LR, et al.). The third article explores the role medication noncompliance plays in contributing to antibiotic resistance, the consequences associated with resistance (longer lasting illness and costs), and the difficulties with resistance specific to UTI pathogens in children (Considerations regarding the medical management of VUR: what have we really learned?: Koyle MA, Caldamone A). This supplement is intended to provide the clinician with valuable information regarding the treatment patterns, the role of compliance, and the efficacy of treatments for pediatric patients with VUR.
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To compare real-world dosing patterns, drug costs, and hematologic outcome in anemic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, not receiving dialysis, who switched from darbepoetin alfa (DARB) to epoetin alfa (EPO) in a community practice setting. ⋯ The reverse direction (EPO to DARB) was not investigated. Although treatment outcomes were not assessed in a randomized, controlled setting, the study's observational nature provided actual evidence in a real-world setting.
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex, heterogeneous disease. Standard treatment of relapsing MS includes interferon beta (IFNbeta) and glatiramer acetate. These agents reduce relapse rates, and IFNbeta-1a is associated with a slowing of disease progression. Despite treatment, many patients experience disease progression, prompting neurologists to use combination therapies to delay this progression. Agents that may be considered for combination therapy are those with unique mechanisms of action that exert additive or synergistic efficacy. This article reviews combination treatment with immunosuppressive therapies and new agents for the management of MS. ⋯ Combination of standard therapies with immunosuppressive agents or with new therapies may provide synergistic effects that will likely benefit patients with MS. Larger, well-controlled trials need to be conducted.