Search results for "AGENTS"
showing 10 items of 7330 documents
Adherence, compliance and persistence to oral antineoplastic therapy: a review focused on chemotherapeutic and biologic agents
2011
Introduction: To date, orally administered chemotherapy and biologic agents represent a significant percentage of all antineoplastic treatments in several types of cancer, which are most likely to increase in the near future. In this scenario, the issue of adherence and persistence to oral therapy is a key issue since poor compliance to oral antineoplastic treatments may negatively influence patients' clinical outcomes and, in turn, cause an increase in costs, number of hospitalizations and time spent in the hospital. Areas covered: The issue of adherence to new oral chemotherapeutic and/or biologic agents has not been deeply evaluated and data published in medical literature are quite scar…
Beyond Statins: New Lipid Lowering Strategies to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk
2014
Statins are the first-line therapy in LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction and its clinical use has contributed to significant prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Yet, a significant proportion of patients remain at high risk. Recently, a number of new therapies have been developed to further lower LDL-C. These agents may provide clinical benefit on top of statin therapy in patients with high residual risk, severe hypercholesterolemia or as an alternative for patients who are intolerant to statins. We review four novel approaches based on the inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), apolipoprotein-B100 (apoB), Cholesteryl ester transport pro…
Is 5-ASA Still the Treatment of Choice for Ulcerative Colitis?
2010
5-Amino-salacylic acid (5-ASA) is up to now the treatment of choice in the induction and maintenance of remission of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). Sulfasalazine, despite similar efficacy, is hampered by more side effects, but in presence of peripheral arthopaties it remains the treatment of choice. The new delayed release MMX formulation seems to be promising in reducing compliance problems, but further studies are warranted to show the superiority of new MMX formulation compared with the older formulations of 5-ASA. Some trials evaluated also the efficacy and safety of once-daily dosing of older 5-ASA formulations in maintenance of remission, finding a greater adherence to ther…
Optimization of the treatment with immunosuppressants and biologics in inflammatory bowel disease
2014
Many placebo controlled trials and meta-analyses evaluated the efficacy of different drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including immunosuppressants and biologics. Their use is indicated in moderate to severe disease in non responders to corticosteroids and in steroid-dependent patients, as induction and maintainance treatment. Infliximab, as well as cyclosporine, is considered a second line therapy in the case of severe ulcerative colitis, or non-responders to intravenous corticosteroids. An adequate dosage and duration of therapy with thiopurines should be reached before evaluating their efficacy. Methotrexate is a valid option in patients with Crohn’s disease bu…
Obesity and cardiovascular risk: the new public health problem of worldwide proportions
2004
Obesity could be considered a new global health epidemic above all others, especially when it is characterized by central fat distribution. This is illustrated by dramatic provisional data, indicating a continuous increase in the trend of overweight and obese individuals in several countries, including the USA and countries in Europe. Several epidemiological, pathophysiological and clinical studies clearly indicate that two of the major independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease or events are being overweight, and obesity. Accordingly, weight loss and prevention of weight gain has to be considered one of the most important strategies to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseas…
Determinants of adherence to osteoporosis treatment in clinical practice.
2006
Introduction: Poor adherence to prescribed treatments is widespread in clinical practice and this can lead to potentially life-threatening events. This problem is apparently very common for osteoporosis treatment but the causes of discontinuation and low compliance are complex and poorly defined. Methods: Global adherence to osteoporosis treatment was specifically addressed in a nation-wide survey carried out in 9851 postmenopausal women referred to 141 Italian centres for osteoporosis management for a follow-up assessment, at least one year after having been prescribed a treatment with one of the following drugs: calcium±vitamin D supplements alone (CaVitD), hormone replacement therapy (HR…
Long-term efficacy of lipoprotein apheresis and lomitapide in the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH): a cross-national retr…
2021
Abstract Background Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare life-threatening condition that represents a therapeutic challenge. The vast majority of HoFH patients fail to achieve LDL-C targets when treated with the standard protocol, which associates maximally tolerated dose of lipid-lowering medications with lipoprotein apheresis (LA). Lomitapide is an emerging therapy in HoFH, but its place in the treatment algorithm is disputed because a comparison of its long-term efficacy versus LA in reducing LDL-C burden is not available. We assessed changes in long-term LDL-C burden and goals achievement in two independent HoFH patients’ cohorts, one treated with lomitapide in Ita…
Antibiotic resistance among Shigella serogroups isolated in Tehran, Iran (2002-2004)
2009
Shigellosis, one of the most common bacterial diarrhoeal diseases, is endemic throughout the world. It is one of the major causes of morbidity in children with diarrhoea in Iran [1-4]. Antibiotic therapy is useful and effective for shigellosis. Treatment is critical for persons with severe disease, particularly children and immunosuppressed patients. Use of an appropriate antibiotic therapy can shorten the duration of symptoms, significantly reduce the risk of transmission, and also prevent potentially lethal complications [5-7]. However, high frequencies of resistance in
A pragmatic window of opportunity to minimise the risk of MRONJ development in individuals with osteoporosis on Denosumab therapy: a hypothesis
2021
Abstract Denosumab is associated with the development of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), an uncommon but severe oral side effect with a higher prevalence in metastatic cancer patients than in patients with metabolic bone fragility. Although several oral triggers can initiate MRONJ, invasive oral treatments and tooth extraction still remain the most common precipitating event. In general, tooth extraction and oral surgery should be avoided in patients at increased risk of MRONJ, while extraction of non-restorable teeth should be performed based on specific risk reduction protocols to eliminate dental/periodontal infections, still protecting from MRONJ onset. Based on th…
The addition of simvastatin administration to cold storage solution of explanted whole liver grafts for facing ischemia/reperfusion injury in an area…
2018
Abstract Background Liver transplantation is the best treatment for end-stage liver disease. The interruption of the blood supply to the donor liver during cold storage damages the liver, affecting how well the liver will function after transplant. The drug Simvastatin may help to protect donor livers against this damage and improve outcomes for transplant recipients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefits of treating the donor liver with Simvastatin compared with the standard transplant procedure. Patient and methods We propose a prospective, double-blinded, randomized phase 2 study of 2 parallel groups of eligible adult patients. We will compare 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month g…