The Annals of pharmacotherapy
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To review the use of number needed to treat (NNT) and/or number needed to harm (NNH) values to determine their relevance in helping clinicians evaluate cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs). ⋯ CEA studies sometimes include NNT ratios. Although it has several limitations, clinicians often use NNT for decision-making, so including NNT information alongside CEA findings may help clinicians better understand and apply CEA results. Further research is needed to assess how NNT/NNH might meaningfully be incorporated into CEA publications.
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To evaluate the published clinical literature on the role of pirfenidone for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). ⋯ Although pirfenidone appears to be an effective treatment for IPF, additional clinical trials are needed to better delineate its risk-benefit profile.
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To review the literature pertaining to the efficacy of alteplase for restoration of patency of occluded venous and dialysis catheters in pediatric patients. ⋯ Alteplase appears to show efficacy for treatment of thrombus-related venous catheter occlusion in pediatric patients; however, data regarding its use in occluded dialysis catheters are limited.
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As rates of polypharmacy rise and medication regimens become more complex, the risk of potential cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) is a growing clinical concern for older adults. ⋯ The prevalence of potential CYP-mediated DDIs is high in geriatric patients with polypharmacy. The risk of DDIs increases as a function of the number of medications dispensed. Pharmacists' decision to intervene for potential CYP-mediated DDIs depends on clinical judgment in addition to the output from drug alert software programs, but may be facilitated by a single multicomponent, multidrug potential CYP-mediated DDI assessment.
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Comparative Study
A comparison of initial monotherapy with norepinephrine versus vasopressin for resuscitation in septic shock.
Early goal-directed therapy is a time-sensitive therapeutic algorithm with a tiered approach to target hypoperfusion and cardiovascular collapse within the first 6 hours of septic shock. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend norepinephrine or dopamine as the initial vasoactive agent for resuscitation in septic shock, reserving the administration of vasopressin as adjunctive therapy. ⋯ Vasopressin was noninferior to norepinephrine for the achievement of a MAP goal in the first 6 hours from onset of septic shock. Further prospective analysis is warranted; however, the results are useful for consideration of alternative vasopressors in the setting of drug shortages.