Trends in peptic ulcer pharmacotherapy

Considering the diseases of the stomach and duodenum, peptic ulcer has been the one with a significant clinical impact. The pathophysiology of peptic ulcer has centred on an imbalance between aggressive and protective factors. The discovery of Helicobacter pylori as a cause of peptic ulcer has changed our approach greatly towards this disease. Despite the decreasing frequency of H. pylori-induced peptic ulcers, peptic ulcer remains a major clinical problem partly because nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-related ulcers and hospital admissions for ulcer complications associated with NSAIDs have increased in frequency. The interaction between H. pylori and NSAIDs is one of the most controversial issues in peptic ulcer. In this article, current concepts of peptic ulcer etiopathogenesis and the management of peptic ulcer according to the etiology were reviewed.     

多沙唑嗪联合托特罗定治疗前列腺增生合并膀胱过度活动症的疗效分析

目的探讨多沙唑嗪联合托特罗定治疗男性前列腺增生合并膀胱过度活动症的疗效。方法共167例诊断为前列腺增生合并膀胱过度活动症的患者,随机分为两组,分别给予甲磺酸多沙唑嗪＋托特罗定和单独服用甲磺酸多沙唑嗪,于用药前和用药1、6、12周时观察患者前列腺症状评分,生活质量评分,最大尿流率、平均尿流率和尿急相关症状评分。结果两组患者均较治疗前有所好转。联合用药组患者的生活质量评分和尿急相关症状评分较单独用药组明显好转,且残余尿量并不明显增加。结论多沙唑嗪联合托特罗定治疗男性前列腺增生合并膀胱过度活动症是一种效果显著而安全的方法。     

Extended-release naltrexone plus medical management alcohol treatment in primary care: findings at 15 months

The feasibility of long-term extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) alcohol treatment is unknown. Following an initial 12-week, single-arm, observational trial of XR-NTX plus medical management (MM) in primary care, we offered 48 additional weeks of XR-NTX treatment (12 additional monthly injections) in two public primary care clinics as a naturalistic extension study. Of 65 alcohol dependent adults initiating XR-NTX treatment, 40 (62%) completed the initial 12-week XR-NTX observational trial, and 19 (29%) continued treatment for a median of 38 weeks total (range, 16–72 weeks; median 8 total XR-NTX injections). Among active extension phase participants, self-reported rates of drinking days (vs. last 30 days pre-treatment baseline) were low: median 0.2 vs. 6.0 drinks per day; 82 vs. 38% days abstinent; 11 vs. 61% heavy drinking days. Long-term XR-NTX treatment in a primary care MM model was feasible and may promote lasting drinking reductions or alcohol abstinence (clinical trial: NCT00620750).     

Working with reactant patients: are we prescribing nonadherence?

Objective: In spite of high levels of antidepressant nonadherence frequently observed among depressed samples, relatively little research has investigated psychosocial predictors of adherence. Fostering greater collaboration in depression treatment to increase adherence has been advocated, but this strategy has not been adequately studied. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of provider collaboration and patient reactance in the prediction of antidepressant adherence during the acute treatment phase. Method: Fifty outpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder beginning antidepressant treatment within psychiatry clinics of the VA San Diego Healthcare System comprised the study sample. Patients were administered questionnaires following their medication evaluations to measure predictor variables. Antidepressant adherence was assessed via brief telephone interviews 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after treatment initiation. The roles of provider collaboration, patient reactance, and their interaction in adherence were examined using multiple regression analyses. Results: The interaction between provider collaboration and patient reactance accounted for 18.3% of the variance in 3‐week adherence (P<.01). Among more reactant patients, greater levels of collaboration predicted better adherence, whereas among patients lower in reactance less collaboration predicted better adherence. No relationships were observed beyond the initial 3 weeks of treatment. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that interpersonal process variables are important in influencing antidepressant adherence and challenges the advocacy of more collaboration in antidepressant treatment as a “blanket strategy.” Establishing a more collaborative set with reactant patients may ensure greater early treatment adherence, a critical period during which antidepressants have typically not yet taken effect. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Donepezil in the treatment of musical hallucinations

Musical hallucinations (MH) typically occur among elderly individuals and are associated with hearing impairment. The authors describe a patient with features of typical MH who was successfully treated with donepezil, a cholinesterase inhibitor, as a combination therapy and who has not shown any subsequent cognitive decline for approximately 5 years. The efficacy of donepezil in this patient indicates that age-dependent dysfunction of cholinergic neurons might be related to the development of MH.     

临床药师参与内分泌科药物治疗工作的实践与体会

目的:介绍我院临床药师在内分泌科参与药物治疗工作中所起的作用。方法:对临床药师在医师查房、护士配药、患者药物咨询等日常工作中遇到的部分典型事例进行阐述及分析。结果:临床药师对该科用药所遇到的各种问题及时处理并提出建议,取得了较好的效果。结论:临床药师在参与药物治疗工作中不但提高了疗效,也减轻了患者的负担;在医师、护士紧密配合下,临床药师在药物治疗中将会发挥更大的作用。     

Sample bias from different recruitment strategies in a randomised controlled trial for alcohol dependence

Introduction and Aims . Participants may be recruited from diverse sources for randomised controlled trials (RCT) of treatments for alcohol dependence. A mixed recruitment strategy might facilitate recruitment and increase generalisability at the expense of introducing systematic selection bias. The current study aims to compare the effects of recruitment method on socio‐demographics, baseline illness characteristics, treatment retention and treatment outcome measures. Design and Methods . A secondary analysis from a previous 12 week RCT of naltrexone, acamprosate and placebo for alcohol dependence was conducted. Participants (n = 169) were obtained via four channels of recruitment including in‐patient and outpatient referral, live media and print media solicitation. Baseline parameters, retention in treatment and treatment outcomes were compared in these groups. Results . Relative to in‐patient subjects, those recruited via live and print media had significantly lower scores on taking steps, less in‐patient rehabilitation admissions and less previous abstinence before entering the trial. Subjects recruited via print media had significantly lower scores of alcohol dependence relative to all other modes recruitment. There were no differences between recruitment strategies on treatment retention or compliance. At outcome, no significant effect of recruitment method was detected. Discussion and Conclusions . These results suggest that different recruitment methods may be sourcing subjects with different baseline characteristics of illness. Nonetheless, these differences did not significantly impact on treatment retention or outcome, suggesting that in this population it was appropriate to recruit subjects from mixed sources.[Morley KC, Teesson M, Sannibale C, Haber PS. Sample bias from different recruitment strategies in a randomised controlled trial for alcohol dependence. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009]     

Effect of Learner-Centered Teaching on Motivation and Learning Strategies in a Third-Year Pharmacotherapy Course

Objectives

To develop, implement, and assess a learner-centered approach to teaching a third-year pharmacotherapy course in a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program.

Methods

The pharmacotherapy course was restructured according to the learner-centered approach. The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) was administered to students before and after taking the course, and changes in MSLQ subscales from baseline were evaluated. Students’ response to the learner-centered approach and characteristics associated with MSLQ scores were also evaluated.

Results

Compared to baseline, students’ intrinsic goal orientation control of learning beliefs, self-efficacy, critical thinking, and metacognitive self-regulation improved after taking the course. Students responded positively to the learner-centered approach. Additionally, students with a clinical practice career orientation or who prepared frequently for classes scored higher on several MSLQ domains.

Conclusions

The learner-centered approach was effective in promoting several domains of motivation and learning strategies in a third-year pharmacotherapy course.