Minerva medica
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The goal of this economic evaluation was to compare the cost-efficacy of oral triptans currently used in the treatment of migraine in Italy. ⋯ On the basis of published data and within the limitations of this model analysis that included several assumptions, results suggest the economical advantage of almotriptan 12.5 mg among the oral triptans approved for the treatment of migraine in Italy. This evidence could drive selection of the most appropriate oral treatment for acute migraine attacks based on both individual patient's needs and cost-effective drugs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
[Effect of treatment with a food supplement (containing: selected sea fish cartilage, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, zinc, copper) in women with iron deficiency: double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial].
The term iron deficiency is used to indicate a condition in which the content of iron (Fe) in the organism is low, even before the consequent reduction in erythropoiesis comes about. This clinical situation is very frequent in patients in fertile age. The therapy commonly used (Fe salts) is often poorly tolerated. The use of a food supplement containing nutrients useful for improving the bioavailability of Fe and that is well tolerated can represent a valid alternative to iron therapy. ⋯ This study has shown that, in patients with iron deficiency, the use of a food supplement, consisting of nutrients that improve the bioavailability of Fe, leads to a significant improvement in blood iron and blood ferritin levels.
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Corticosteroids, antidopaminergig agents and 5-HT3 antagonists are the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced vomiting. Acupuncture and acupressure have also appeared to exert antiemetic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupressure in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced vomiting resistant to the standard antiemetic therapies. ⋯ This preliminary study seems to suggest that a bioenergetic approach by acupressure on PC6 point may be effective in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced vomiting resistant to the conventional pharmacological strategies, as previously demonstrated for vomiting occurring during pregnancy.
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Review Comparative Study
Pathophysiology and medical management of systemic hypertension and pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.
Hypertension in pregnancy includes a group of distinct disorders that require special consideration in both prevention and pharmacological treatment. In recent years, there have been few advances regarding the pathophysiology and prevention of pre-eclampsia, however there have been some promising studies regarding possible modes of screening women for preeclampsia before clinical signs and symptoms are apparent. The recommendations for first-line drug therapy for the hypertensive complications of pre-eclampsia, and the recommendations for pharmacological treatment of women with chronic hypertension antedating pregnancy, have changed little primarily because first-line medications have the advantage of having had more extensive research experience. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of various second-line drugs for the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; whether these therapies can eventually replace the standard recommended medications will require more extensive long-term investigation.
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The preoperative laboratory screening is commonplace in clinical practice and is traditionally defined as the practice of prescribing laboratory testing before surgery on patients undergoing a given procedure. The wide heterogeneity of the solutions prospected over the past decades emphasizes the objective difficulty at issuing definitive guidelines and recommendations. ⋯ Three major difficulties can be identified when issuing reliable recommendations: articulation and appropriateness of diagnostic protocols, contestualization, in terms of surgical procedures and suitable clinical contests that might achieve the greatest advantages from results of laboratory testing, and impact of these tests on clinical management and outcome. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current literature on this topic, attempting to suggest a suitable approach to the puzzling issue of preoperative laboratory testing.