International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Feb 2009
Multicenter StudyPrevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in general clinics in terms of FEV1/FVC.
The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continues to increase all over the world. Nonetheless, COPD is often misdiagnosed in general clinics because of insufficient use of spirometry. ⋯ We showed that there are potentially a number of cases with COPD that are undiagnosed by general physicians in Japan. Measuring airflow limitation by spirometry in smokers with coexisting diseases, such as hypertension and chronic hepatitis, may be very beneficial because COPD is thought to be a systemic disease. The distribution of spirometers to general clinics is definitely needed to detect undiagnosed COPD.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEfficacy and safety of adding the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor alogliptin to metformin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of alogliptin, a new dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, for 26 weeks at once-daily doses of 12.5 and 25 mg in combination with metformin in patients whose HbA(1c) levels were inadequately controlled on metformin alone. ⋯ Alogliptin is an effective and safe treatment for type 2 diabetes when added to metformin for patients not sufficiently controlled on metformin monotherapy.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Jan 2009
Multicenter StudyEfficacy and tolerability of ready-to-use intravenous paracetamol solution as monotherapy or as an adjunct analgesic therapy for postoperative pain in patients undergoing elective ambulatory surgery: open, prospective study.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is one of the most widely used drugs for analgesia. We aimed to investigate the use of a ready-to-use intravenous (i.v.) paracetamol 1 g solution (Perfalgan) as monotherapy or as adjunct therapy in patients undergoing elective ambulatory surgery. ⋯ Ready-to-use i.v. paracetamol, used as monotherapy or in combination with other analgesics, may be effective for alleviating postoperative pain and well tolerated in patients undergoing ambulatory surgery.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Dec 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyLipid-modifying efficacy and tolerability of extended-release niacin/laropiprant in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia.
Improving lipids beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering with statin monotherapy may further reduce cardiovascular risk. Niacin has complementary lipid-modifying efficacy to statins and cardiovascular benefit, but is underutilised because of flushing, mediated primarily by prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)). Laropiprant (LRPT), a PGD(2) receptor (DP1) antagonist that reduces niacin-induced flushing has been combined with extended-release niacin (ERN) into a fixed-dose tablet. ⋯ Extended-release niacin/LRPT 2 g produced significant, durable improvements in multiple lipid/lipoprotein parameters. The improved tolerability of ERN/LRPT supports a simplified 1 g-->2 g dosing regimen of niacin, a therapy proven to reduce cardiovascular risk.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Dec 2008
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA retrospective database study comparing treatment outcomes and cost associated with choice of fixed-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonists for asthma maintenance treatment in Germany.
This retrospective, observational cohort study aimed to compare treatment outcomes and healthcare costs in the year after initiation of maintenance treatment with budesonide/formoterol or salmeterol/fluticasone in a German healthcare setting. ⋯ This study suggests that for patients with chronic asthma in Germany, budesonide/formoterol rather than salmeterol/fluticasone had a higher likelihood of treatment success, and that budesonide/formoterol is the less costly option. Although the cohorts appeared to be well matched at baseline, the results should be interpreted with caution given the observational nature of the study.