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 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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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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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.