Clinical Therapeutics

PURPOSE: Fimasartan, one of the newest angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) available worldwide, has been investigated extensively since its initial development. Our study group conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating fimasartan and comparators for their blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect. Moreover, we employed a cross-inference (frequentist and Bayesian inference) system, which has never been used in the medical field, to confirm the results of our study...

PURPOSE: Rifaximin is indicated for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults. The current aim was to evaluate rifaximin efficacy on individual and composite IBS-D symptoms using definitions not previously examined. METHODS: Phase III post hoc analyses of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and the open-label phase of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial were conducted. Adults with IBS-D received a 2-week course of rifaximin 550 mg TID...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: Bezlotoxumab is approved for prevention of recurrent Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) in adults receiving antibacterial treatment for CDI who are at high risk for recurrent CDI. Previous studies have shown that although serum albumin levels are an important predictor for bezlotoxumab exposure, this has no clinically meaningful impact on efficacy. This pharmacokinetic modeling study assessed whether hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, at increased risk of CDI and exhibiting decreased albumin levels within the first month posttransplant, are at risk of clinically relevant reductions in bezlotoxumab exposure...

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health concern that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. In previous studies of MetS management, low-carbohydrate diets have been strongly emphasized, despite the fact that many apparently healthy individuals have difficulties adhering to these diets on a long-term basis. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the effects of a moderately restricted carbohydrate diet (MRCD) on cardiometabolic risk factors in women with MetS...

PURPOSE: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and now tirzepatide, a dual GLP-1 RA/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide agonist, have numerous advantages in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, yet only 11% of patients with type 2 diabetes are prescribed a GLP-1 RA. This narrative review addresses the complexity and cost issues surrounding incretin mimetics to support clinicians. METHODS: This narrative review summarizes key trials on the differing effects of incretin mimetics on glycosylated hemoglobin and weight, provides a table with rationale for how to interchange among agents, and summarizes the key factors that guide drug selection beyond guidance from the American Diabetes Association...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: It has been reported that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) have a role in modulation of inflammation associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study assessed the effect of these drug classes on COVID-19-related outcomes. METHODS: Using a COVID-19 linkable administrative database, we selected patients aged ≥40 years with at least 2 prescriptions of DPP-4i, GLP-1 RA, or SGLT-2i or any other antihyperglycemic drug and a diagnosis of COVID-19 from February 15, 2020, to March 15, 2021...

Dialysis care in the United States is expensive and is mostly paid for by Medicare. To reduce the cost of providing dialysis services, the federal government has relied on a law that designates Medicare as a secondary payer in the first 30 months of dialysis. During this period, private health insurers are the primary payer and pay for the majority of dialysis-related costs. Private health insurers often pay substantially higher prices for dialysis care than does Medicare, possibly due to highly concentrated dialysis-provider markets...

PURPOSE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the world. However, biomarkers for NAFLD diagnosis and liver-specific drugs for treatment are lacking. This article reviews the possibility of circulating miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD diseases and focuses on several well-studied miRNAs to provide preclinical data for subsequent related studies. METHODS: Related articles were identified through searches of the PubMed database for literature published from 2010 to December 2022...

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that occurs in people of all genetic ancestries. CF is caused by variants in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that result in decreased, absent, or nonfunctional CFTR protein at the cell surface of the mucous membranes. Clinical manifestations include chronic respiratory disease, malabsorption, and decreased fertility. Historically, therapies for CF were focused on the signs and symptoms of the disease. However, more recently, CFTR modulators, therapies directed at the basic defect, are improving the quality and duration of the lives of people with CF...

PURPOSE: Pharmacologic cardioversion is an effective clinical strategy for fibrillation. Vernakalant is a novel drug used to treat atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy- and tolerability-related data on vernakalant from clinical trials. METHODS: Literature from PubMed and the Cochrane Library was systematically reviewed, and 139 eligible studies were found after specific key words were identified. Twelve randomized clinical trials discussing vernakalant cardioversion in patients with AF were chosen for the meta-analysis after scrutiny...

PURPOSE: The optimal perioperative antithrombosis management for carotid artery stenting (CAS) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) hybrid surgeries remains unclear; however, a more aggressive antithrombotic therapy might be required after a hybrid CAS + CABG duo stent-related intimal injury or the use of protamine-neutralizing heparin. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of tirofiban as a bridging therapy after a hybrid CAS + CABG surgery. METHODS: Between June 2018 and February 2022, a total of 45 patients undergoing a hybrid CAS + off-pump CABG surgery were divided into either the control group (standard dual antiplatelet therapy postsurgery, n = 27) or the tirofiban group (tirofiban bridging + dual antiplatelet therapy, n = 18)...

PURPOSE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are main issues after same-day surgery. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the electronic medical records of patients who underwent same-day operations under general anesthesia to identify the potential risk factors for PONV. METHODS: Records of 7759 adult patients who received general anesthesia with remifentanil were reviewed. The patients were assessed for the incidence and severity of PONV. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for PONV...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are well-recognized, chronic, multidimensional issues that have defied efforts to make substantial reductions in the burden of effects on patients and the health care system. This Commentary offers a stakeholder approach to characterizing the problem and identifying potential ways to address the risks posed by DDIs. Stakeholders may comprise 2 groups: a triad consisting of the patient, the prescriber, and the pharmacist and a pentad of institutional stakeholders consisting of institutions of education and training for prescribers and pharmacists, drug development sector companies, regulatory agencies, payer institutions, and publishing companies of journals on healthcare topics...

PURPOSE: This study examines the impact of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) as treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) on the use and cost of health care services and pharmacotherapy. METHODS: Using a large US health care claims database, we identified all patients with DRE who underwent VNS between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2019. VNS implantation date was designated as the index date, and patients had to be continuously enrolled for the 24-month period before this date (preindex period)...

PURPOSE: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common type of inflammatory arthritis. Patients with PsA present with certain extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities (often collectively called psoriatic disease). The purpose of the present review was to highlight the main comorbidities in the setting of PsA. METHODS: A narrative review was performed using data from articles found in a search of PubMed and Scopus using the terms psoriatic arthritis and comorbidities...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.