No-medication Group Research Articles

Iron Deficiency in Newly Referred Patients With Chronic Renal Failure.

Addressing iron deficiency is the key to managing anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) are being prescribed to an increasing number of patients with CKD by primary physicians following the emergence of newer agents for the management of renal anemia. Among the 361 (average age: 76.8±12.1 years; 54.0% males) patients with stages 4 and 5 CKD newly referred to the nephrology department of our hospital between 2018 and 2023 who had evaluable transferrin saturation (TSAT) and ferritin levels, 169 patients (47%) had iron deficiency (ferritin <100 ng/mL or ferritin 100-300 ng/mL with TSAT <20%). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hemoglobin level, TSAT, and median ferritin level were 17.0±7.0 mL/min/1.73 m², 10.8±2.1 g/dL, 27.5±13.1%, and 130 ng/mL, respectively. ESAs, HIF-PHIs, and iron supplements were prescribed to 35 (9.7%), 17 (4.7%), and 35 (9.4%) patients, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the iron indices of the ESA group; however, the serum ferritin levels in the HIF-PHIs group were significantly lower than in those in the no-medication group (P=0.02). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that age, female sex, eGFR, medications for renal anemia, and a history of ischemic heart disease were associated with iron deficiency (P<0.05). Although patients with renal failure tend to exhibit anemia, attention should be paid to iron deficiency anemia in addition to renal anemia, especially in patients with renal failure and a history of ischemic heart disease.

Effects of medical therapy and age on cardiac output changes following balloon pulmonary angioplasty: Implications for combination therapy in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUNDSome patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) exhibit exercise intolerance due to reduced cardiac output (CO) even after successful balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA). Medical therapy is a potential option for such cases; however, it is unclear which patients necessitate it even after BPA. METHODSThis study included 286 patients with CTEPH who underwent BPA and right heart catheterization one year after the final BPA and classified them into No-medication and Withdrawal groups. The No-medication group comprised patients without pulmonary hypertension (PH) medications before and after BPA, while the Withdrawal group included patients who received PH medications before BPA and discontinued them after BPA. We assessed differences in the changes in CO after BPA from baseline (ΔCO) between the two groups. Additionally, we evaluated the ΔCO among different age categories within each group: younger (< 60 years), middle-aged (60 to 70 years), and older-adults (≥ 70 years). RESULTSAfter adjusting baseline covariates, overall ΔCO did not differ significantly. However, ΔCO was significantly increased in No-medication group but decreased in Withdrawal group (0.32 and −0.33, difference in ΔCO: −0.65, 95% confidence intervals: −0.90 to −0.40). A significantly positive effect on ΔCO was observed only in younger individuals, with a significant interaction between age and ΔCO in both groups. CONCLUSIONSIncreasing CO with BPA alone may be challenging with age in patients with CTEPH. Given that discontinuation of PH medication after BPA decreased CO more than the effect of BPA, medical therapy might be necessary even after successful BPA.

Effect of number of medications on the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults: A 3-year follow-up of the SONIC study.

This study examined the association between the number of prescribed medications and falls among community-dwelling older adults. We conducted a geriatric comprehensive health-checkup on community-dwelling adults aged 69-91 years who participated in the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, and Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians study. The final analysis of this study included 1,076 participants with complete data. The participants were divided into four groups based on the number of medications at baseline: 0, 1, 2-4, and ≥5. At the 3-year follow-up, the participants were asked whether they had fallen in the past year. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the number of medications taken and falls after adjusting for confounding factors. The prevalence rates of falls were 10.5%, 18.2%, 18.3%, and 19.8% in the no-medication, one-medication, comedication, and polypharmacy groups, respectively. In the one-medication prescription group, 59% of prescriptions were for fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRID). Multivariable analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of falls in the one-medication group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-3.54), co-medication (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.09-3.29), and polypharmacy groups (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.09-3.45) than in the no-medication group. The study showed that polypharmacy, as well as just taking one medication, can affect the occurrence of falls. This suggests that in addition to the number of medications and polypharmacy, the type of medication, such as FRID, affects the risk of falls. Therefore, pharmacotherapy should consider the risk of falls in older adults when prescribing medications. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 306-310.

Which characteristics are associated with changes in medication status for lower urinary tract symptoms among patients with prostate cancer receiving external beam radiotherapy?

We clarified the predictive factors for changes in the status of medications for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) 2 years after local radiotherapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer. We retrospectively included patients who underwent local external radiotherapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer in 8 institutions between April 2001 and March 2016. Patients were divided into the medication and no-medication group based on the use of drugs for LUTS before radiotherapy. We defined improvement of LUTS as when the patient did not require medication for LUTS at 24 months after radiotherapy in the medication group and as deterioration when medication was required in the no-medication group. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate predictive factors for changes in medication status. Altogether, 505 patients were divided into a no-medication group (n = 352) and a medication group (n = 153). The number of patients with deterioration and improvement in LUTS was 49 (14%) and 36 (23%), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the predictive variables for deterioration were the International Prostate Symptom Score (≥8; odds ratio [OR], 2.21; p = 0.014) and the biopsy Gleason score (≤3 + 4 = 7; OR, 2.430; p = 0.008) in the no-medication group, whereas those for improvement were age (<75 years old; OR, 5.81; p = 0.002), the quality of life score (<3; OR, 3.15; p = 0.028), and a positive biopsy core rate (≥50%; OR, 2.530; p = 0.027) in the medication group. These predictive factors for changes in the status of medications for LUTS at 2 years after external radiotherapy may help determine the definitive therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer.

Association between antidiabetic drugs and the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with type 2 diabetes: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea

BackgroundAlthough diabetes is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), studies on the AF risk according to the antidiabetic drugs are lacking. This study evaluated the effects of antidiabetic drugs on AF incidence in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. MethodsWe included 2,515,468 patients with type 2 diabetes from the Korean National Insurance Service database without a history of AF who underwent health check-ups between 2009 and 2012. Newly diagnosed AF incidence was recorded until December 2018 according to the main antidiabetic drug combinations used in the real world. ResultsOf the patients included (mean age, 62 ± 11 years; 60 % men), 89,125 were newly diagnosed with AF. Metformin (MET) alone (hazard ratio [HR] 0.959, 95 % CI 0.935–0.985) and MET combination therapy (HR < 1) significantly decreased the risk of AF compared to the no-medication group. The antidiabetic drugs consistently showing a protective effect against AF incidence were MET (HR 0.977, 95 % CI 0.964–0.99) and thiazolidinedione (TZD; HR 0.926, 95 % CI 0.898–0.956), even after adjusting for various factors. Moreover, this protective effect was more remarkable with MET and TZD combination therapy (HR 0.802, 95 % CI 0.754–0.853) than with other drug combinations. In the subgroup analysis, the preventive effect of MET and TZD treatment against AF remained consistent, regardless of age, sex, duration, and diabetes severity. ConclusionThe combination therapy of MET and TZD is the most effective antidiabetic drug for preventing AF in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Analysis of factors contributing to medication errors during self-management of medication in the rehabilitation ward: a case control study

BackgroundIn the rehabilitation ward, many elderly patients require continuous use of medication after a stroke or bone fracture, even after discharge. They are encouraged to self-manage their medications from the time of admission. Medication errors, such as a missed dose or incorrect administered medication can worsen conditions, resulting in recurrent strokes, fractures, or adverse effects. The study was aimed to identify risk factors, such as medication and prescription, contributing to errors in self-management of medication.MethodsThis study was conducted on patients who self-managed their medication in the rehabilitation ward of Higashinagoya National Hospital from April 2018 to March 2020. The patient background including age and sex were investigated. The medication factors examined include the number of medications and administrations per day, dosing frequency on indicated days, prescription and start date are the same, medications from multiple prescriptions, and one package or one tablet at each dosage. The group of medication error cases were defined as the medication error group and that of control cases as the no-medication error group. A logistic regression analysis was performed for factors related to medication errors.ResultsA total of 348 patients were included in the study, of which 154 patients made medication errors, with 374 total medication error cases. The median number of medications in the medication error group was six, and that in the no-medication error group was five. Statistically significant factors correlated with errors made during self-management of medication were the number of medications, number of administrations per day, dosing frequency on indicated days, and medication from multiple prescriptions.ConclusionsWhen a patient is self-managing their medications, errors are likely to occur due to a high number of medicines they are taking and the complexity of the dosage regimen. Therefore, to prevent medication errors, reviewing the prescribed medications and devise ways to simplify the dosage regimens is crucial.

Improvement of Depressive Symptoms Following Surgical Correction of Hallux Valgus and Hallux Rigidus via 1st MTP Fusion

Category:Bunion; Midfoot/ForefootIntroduction/Purpose:Psychiatric comorbidity has been shown to significantly impact postoperative course, leading to increasingly complicated hospitalizations, increased pain, and worse overall patient outcomes. Achieving adequate pain management is paramount in restoring mobility and ultimately reaching treatment goals, making an understanding of the interplay between psychiatric conditions and orthopedics vitally important. Specifically, deformity of the first MTP joint has been associated with increased psychiatric symptoms preoperatively. However, despite this particular population's vulnerability to depressive symptoms, the effects of surgical correction on mental function outcomes have not been well observed. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of psychotropic medication use in patients with diagnoses of hallux rigidus and hallux valgus undergoing first MTP fusion and differences in patient-reported pain and functionality scores.Methods:A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected patient outcomes for those undergoing MTP fusion for hallux valgus and hallux rigidus between August 1, 2015, and July 1, 2018, was conducted. A total of 95 patients were included in the study.Demographics and surgical data were collected from a review of the electronic medical record, and patients were grouped based on chronic use of psychotropic medications at the time of surgery. Patient-reported VAS, SF-36 Mental Component Scores (MCS), and Physical Component Scores (PCS) scores were collected at preoperative and routine 6-month and 12-month postoperative follow-up clinic appointments. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson's chi-squared test. For normally distributed data outcome scores were compared using the independent sample t-test while non-normal data comparisons were made with the Mann-Whitney U test. For all statistical tests, assumptions of α <.05 and β =.8 were made.Results:The average age of the patients in our cohort was 63.3 (range, 39 - 83), with 42 patients in the psychotropic medication (MED) and 53 patients non-psychotropic medication (NO MED) cohorts. Mean time to final follow-up was similar between NO MED and MED groups (p=.987). No differences in mean VAS scores were detected at preoperative (p=.455), 6-month (p=.505), nor 1-year (p=.269) visits. Similarly, no differences in SF-36 PCS were detected at preoperative (p=.087), 6-month (p=.314), nor 1- year (p=.103) postoperative visits. Patients taking psychotropic medications had significantly lower mean SF-36 MCS at preoperative and 6-month postoperative visits (p=.004, p=.033, respectively). No difference in mean mental component score was detected at the 1-year postoperative visit (p=.184).Conclusion:This study is the first to examine the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing 1st MTP fusion for hallux rigidus and hallux valgus while concurrently taking psychotropic medications. SF-36 mental component scores were depressed at preoperative baseline in the psychotropic medication cohort and improved postoperatively to a level similar to that of their non- psychotropically medicated peers. These findings suggest that psychiatric diagnoses should be considered in the discussion of conservative vs. surgical management of hallux valgus and rigidus, as a secondary benefit of surgical correction may be partial relief of depressive symptoms.

The effect of gemcitabine combined with AMD3100 applying to cholangiocarcinoma RBE cell lines to CXCR4/CXCL12 axis

Purpose To evaluate the effect of AMD3100 treatment to cholangiocarcinoma by analyzing the relationship between them, and provide experimental evidence for whether AMD3100 can become a clinical treatment drug for cholangiocarcinoma. Materials and methods Cholangiocarcinoma RBE cell lines were used in this study. MTT cell proliferation test was used for evaluating the effect of gemcitabine and AMD3100 to cell. CXCR4, N-cadherin, VEGF-C and MMP-9 were detect by RT-PCR and western. Transwell was used for evaluating the invasion effect. Results We demonstrated that as the concentration of gemcitabine increasing from 0.33, 3.33 to 33.33 uM, the cell survival rate was 76.65%, 71.40%, 52.25%, respectively. RT-PCR and Western blot that gemcitabine could affect the expression of CXCR4 protein and the level of mRNA transcription in a dose-dependent manner. N-cadherin VEGF-C, MMP-9 mRNA transcription level showed a significant upward trend in gemcitabine group. In Transwell test, the number of cells in the gemcitabine group was significantly higher than that in the no-medication group (p < .05), the AMD3100 group and the combination group of gemcitabine and AMD3100, the difference between the no-medication group and the AMD3100 monotherapy group was not significant, and the combination group was between them. Conclusions This study showed that gemcitabine significantly inhibited the growth of cholangiocarcinoma RBE cells in a dose-dependent manner, and gemcitabine can affect the expression of CXCR4, N-cadherin, VEGF-C, MMP-9 protein and mRNA. Cell invasion and metastasis-related factors decreased after AMD3100 combined with gemcitabine.

Fludrocortisone in Pediatric Vasovagal Syncope: A Retrospective, Single-Center Observational Study.

Background and PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the effect of fludrocortisone in patients with pediatric vasovagal syncope (VVS).MethodsThis retrospective observational single-tertiary-center study based on chart reviews included 74 patients who were newly diagnosed with VVS in the head-up tilt-table test (HUTT). Some of the patients had been treated with fludrocortisone. All patients were assessed using a brain and cardiac workup before treatment to rule out the syncope being due to other causes, which resulted in seven of them being excluded: two for epilepsy and five for brain pathologies. The remaining 67 patients were analyzed. The effect of fludrocortisone was evaluated based on the results of a follow-up HUTT, with a response to the treatment considered to be present if there was a negative change at the follow-up HUTT. Univariate logistic regression were used for statistical analyses, with the criterion for significance being p<0.05.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the characteristic of the patients between the no-medication (n=39) and fludrocortisone (n=28) groups, including age, sex, and duration of treatment. The recurrence rate of syncopal or presyncopal events was significantly lower in the fludrocortisone group (39.3%, 11 of 28) than in the no-medication group (64.1%, 25 of 39) (p=0.044), as was the rate of negative change at the follow-up HUTT: 57.1% (16 of 28) and 28.2% (11 of 39), respectively (p=0.017).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that fludrocortisone is more effective than no medication in pediatric patients with VVS.

The impact of tamsulosin on cognition in Alzheimer disease with benign prostate hyperplasia: A study using the Hallym Smart Clinical Data Warehouse.

Studies suggest that the use of alpha-blockers increases the risk of dementia in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Due to study limitations, the relationship between the use of alpha-blockers, such as tamsulosin, and the risk of dementia is still unclear. However, alpha1-adrenoreceptors are also present in the brain, so there is potential for adverse effects on cognitive function. Therefore, we investigated possible associations between the use of alpha-blockers and aggravation of cognitive decline in dementia patients using a clinical data analytic solution called the Smart Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW).We retrospectively investigated clinical data using the Smart CDW of Hallym University Medical Center from 2009 to 2019. We enrolled patients with probable Alzheimer disease (AD) who had completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at least twice during follow-up, and who had BPH. We compared the difference in MMSE scores between patients who took tamsulosin for >1000 days and those who did not take any alpha-blocker. We tested the effect of tamsulosin on cognitive decline in patients with AD, using propensity score-matched logistic regression analysis.Eligible cases were included in the tamsulosin (n = 68) or no-medication (n = 153) groups. After propensity score matching, clinical characteristics such as educational attainment and vascular risk factors were similar in the tamsulosin and no-medication groups. The MMSE scores did not differ significantly between the tamsulosin and no-medication groups (P = .470).The results suggest that tamsulosin for BPH is not associated with worsening of the cognitive decline in patients with AD.

Impact of the use of vasoactive drugs in cardiac death donors on the early postoperative renal function and related complications in renal transplant recipients.

To explore the impact of the use of vasoactive drugs in donation after cardiac death (DCD) donors on graft function, with an attempt to guide the clinical practices of organ preservation and DCD kidney transplantation. The clinical data of 187 DCD donors and 304 recipients who were operated on in our center from February 2018 to May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on whether vasoactive drugs were used for maintaining blood pressure in DCD donors, the renal donors and recipients were divided into a high-dose group (norepinephrine ≥1.3 µg/kg/min or in combination with dopamine), a low-dose group (norepinephrine <1.3 µg/kg/min or in conjunction with dopamine), and a no-medication group (without the use of vasoactive drugs). The clinical features, post-transplant renal function, and complications were compared among these three groups. The early renal function 1 and 7 days after surgery was significantly superior in the high-dose group and no-medication group (P<0.05) but showed no significant difference between the low-dose group and the no-medication group (P>0.05). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) on the 1st postoperative days was significantly higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group and the no-medication group (P<0.05). Renal function indicators, including serum creatinine (CRE), BUN, and blood uric acid (UA) on the 30th postoperative day, showed no significant difference among these three groups (P>0.05). The incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) after renal transplantation was significantly higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group and the no-medication group (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between the groups in the incidences of graft rejection and infections (P>0.05). The use of vasoactive drugs in DCD donors can affect the early recovery of renal function in renal transplant recipients, particularly for those donors who are administered a high dose of vasoactive drugs. Therefore, donor maintenance should be performed cautiously with vasoactive drugs.

Characteristics and Early Hypoglycemic Medications of Patients at Risk of Progression to Type 2 Diabetes in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Health Checkup and Claims Data.

Medication therapy management by tracking patients with risk of progression to type 2 diabetes has not been investigated in Japan. We aimed to assess the characteristics of these patients and their early medications. Claims (n = 190507) and health checkup data (n = 106984) between April 2005 and March 2015 in Japan were selected. We selected patients aged ≥40 years with fasting plasma glucose levels of 100-125 mg/dL or glycated hemoglobin A1c values of 5.7-6.4%. The early-medication group comprised patients who received hypoglycemic medications within 6 months after their first clinic visit, while the no-medication group comprised patients who did not receive any hypoglycemic medications. Main outcome measures were characteristics and early hypoglycemic medications of patients at risk of progression to type 2 diabetes. Of 5676 individuals, hypoglycemic medications were initiated in 276 (5%). The early-medication group had a higher proportion of individuals with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and current smokers and drinkers than the no-medication group. Approximately 83% of patients in the early-medication group were prescribed a single hypoglycemic medication, and since 2010, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors were prescribed to one-third of these patients. In our population, early hypoglycemic medication was initiated within 6 months of the first clinic visit, indicating that initiation took place earlier than recommended by current guidelines. Early hypoglycemic medications, especially dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors with low risks of hypoglycemia, might be prescribed based on patient characteristics. Further epidemiological studies are needed to confirm the suitability of early hypoglycemic medication.

Oral diabetes medication and risk of dementia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes

AimTo examine the effect of oral diabetes medication on the risk of dementia in an elderly cohort with type 2 diabetes. MethodsThis was a population-based cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance claims data from 2002 to 2013. Elderly subjects (60 years of age or older) with and without type 2 diabetes were included; patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes were further divided into the oral diabetes medication group and no-medication group. ResultsAmong 278,290 patients with type 2 diabetes, 56,587 developed dementia (20.3%) over 11 years of follow-up. Type 2 diabetes was associated with a 1.69-fold increased risk of dementia (95% CI 1.66–1.72). Among patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, the risk of dementia was lower in the oral diabetes medication group than in the no-medication group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.79; 95% CI 0.77–0.81). Lower risk of dementia was particularly noticeable in all of the combination therapy groups and especially lower in the combination therapy group treated with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor (aHR 0.48, 95% CI 0.45–0.51). ConclusionOverall, the use of oral diabetes medication in type 2 diabetes patients significantly decreased the risk of dementia.

Antipsychotic Use During Pregnancy and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review.

This study aimed to review the current literature examining a potential relationship between the use of antipsychotic drugs during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). PubMed was searched for English language reports between January 1, 1996, and March 31, 2018, by using combinations of the following key words: antipsychotics, pregnancy, FGAs, SGAs, GDM, obstetric outcomes, pregnancy outcomes, obstetric complications, maternal complications, clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, amisulpirde, ziprasidone, quetiapine, haloperidol, chlorpromazine, zuclopenthixol, and flupenthixol. Studies but not case reports, case series, or reviews published in a peer-reviewed journal were eligible for inclusion. A total of 10 relevant studies that met the review criteria were examined. Data from these studies indicated that the prevalence rates of GDM in pregnant women using antipsychotic drugs and the nomedication group were 2.6% to 22% and 0.95% to 10.7%, respectively. Most comparative studies reported that antipsychotic treatment during pregnancy was not significantly associated with increased in risk of GDM. In addition, the study results also suggested that underlying maternal psychopathologies might affect the risk of GDM. Findings from some studies suggesting a higher risk of GDM in pregnant women who were administered antipsychotic drugs were not confirmed by results of many other studies. The current evidence suggests no significant relationship between antipsychotic drugs, including second- and first-generation antipsychotics, and the risk of GDM.

Is there a relationship between periodontal conditions and number of medications among the elderly?

To investigate possible correlations of clinical attachment level and pocket depth with number of medications in elderly individuals. Intra-oral examinations for 139 patients visiting Tufts dental clinic were done. Periodontal assessments were performed with a manual UNC-15 periodontal probe to measure probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) at 6 sites. Complete lists of patients' medications were obtained during the examinations. Statistical analysis involved Kruskal-Wallis, chi square and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Age and health status attained statistical significance (p< 0.05), in contingency table analysis with number of medications. Number of medications had an effect on CAL: increased attachment loss was observed when 4 or more medications were being taken by the patient. Number of medications did not have any effect on periodontal PD. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, 6 or more medications had a higher risk of attachment loss (>3mm) when compared to the no-medication group, in crude OR (1.20, 95% CI:0.22-6.64), and age adjusted (OR=1.16, 95% CI:0.21-6.45), but not with the multivariate model (OR=0.71, 95% CI:0.11-4.39). CAL seems to be more sensitive to the number of medications taken, when compared to PD. However, it is not possible to discriminate at exactly what number of drug combinations the breakdown in CAL will happen. We need to do further analysis, including more subjects, to understand the possible synergistic mechanisms for different drug and periodontal responses.

Maintenance of remission with low-dose olopatadine hydrochloride for itch in well-controlled chronic urticaria

Background:The long-term follow-up of chronic urticaria (CU) is important to ensure the adequate treatment of patients. Olopatadine hydrochloride is one of the second-generation nonsedating antihistamines.Methods:This study was designed to assess the optimal dose of olopatadine to suppress symptoms of chronic urticarial itch in well-controlled patients. After CU patients were treated with 10 mg olopatadine, patients having a visual analog scale (VAS) itch score of less than 20 were randomly allocated into one of three groups: 10 mg/day (n = 35), 5 mg/day (n = 30), or no medication (n = 32).Results:The suppressive effects of both the 5 mg and 10 mg olopatadine treatments on the VAS itch score were more significant and longer lasting over a period of 4 weeks than the no-medication treatment. Both the 5-mg group and the 10-mg group showed improved urticarial symptoms and maintained their VAS itch score within normal limits compared to the no-medication group. The differences between the 5-mg and 10-mg groups were not significant.Conclusion:These results demonstrate that treatment with olopatadine at a dose of 5 mg once daily is effective and safe for the management and prevention of CU symptoms for itch in well-controlled patients.

A Comparison of the Effects of Alendronate and Alfacalcidol on Bone Mineral Density Around the Femoral Implant and in the Lumbar Spine After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Several previous studies have demonstrated that bone mineral density loss around femoral implants is common, particularly in the proximal part of the femur, soon after total hip arthroplasty. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of alendronate and alfacalcidol on bone mineral density loss around the femoral implant and in the lumbar spine after total hip arthroplasty. The present study included sixty patients with osteoarthritis of the hip who had undergone a primary cementless total hip arthroplasty. We assigned these individuals to treatment with alendronate (n = 20), alfacalcidol (n = 18), or no medication (n = 22). Periprosthetic and lumbar spine bone mineral density was measured one week after surgery, and biochemical markers (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and serum N-terminal telopeptides of type-1 collagen) were measured before surgery as a reference baseline. Subsequent measurements were performed at twelve, twenty-four, and forty-eight weeks after surgery. The periprosthetic measurement area in the femur was defined as Regions 1 to 7, which are consecutively located around the implant from the greater trochanter to the lesser trochanter and calcar. Bone mineral density in the alendronate group was maintained in all regions. In the alfacalcidol and no-medication groups, bone mineral density in Region 7 was lower than in Regions 3 to 6 throughout the study period (p < 0.0001 as a result of repeated measures analysis of variance). Bone mineral density in the lumbar spine in the alendronate and alfacalcidol groups was higher than in the no-medication group at forty-eight weeks. The serum level of N-terminal telopeptides of type-1 collagen in the alendronate group was lower than that in the no-medication group throughout the study period (p = 0.003, 0.02 and 0.005). Alendronate prevented bone mineral density loss around femoral implants, particularly in Region 7 (calcar), but alfacalcidol did not show any effects in any regions. However, bone mineral density losses in the lumbar spine were effectively prevented by either alendronate or alfacalcidol.

Mortality Risk in Patients With Dementia Treated With Antipsychotics Versus Other Psychiatric Medications

Mortality rates in the year following new antipsychotic medication starts for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia were compared with rates after starts of other psychiatric medications. The retrospective, cohort study used national data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (fiscal years 2001-2005) on patients older than 65 years who began outpatient treatment with psychiatric medication following a dementia diagnosis (N=10,615). Twelve-month mortality rates were compared in patients taking antipsychotics and those taking other psychiatric medications. The authors controlled for confounding by using multivariate models and propensity-scoring methods. Secondary analyses included a no-medication group and examination of mortality causes. All groups taking antipsychotics had significantly higher mortality rates (22.6%-29.1%) than patients taking nonantipsychotic medications (14.6%). Adjusted mortality risks for atypicals and for combined atypical and conventional antipsychotics were similar to those for conventional antipsychotics. The mortality risk was significantly lower for nonantipsychotic medications than conventional antipsychotics. Except for anticonvulsants, the adjusted risks for all individual classes of nonantipsychotics were significantly lower than the risk for antipsychotics. Mortality risks did not change over 12 months. The proportions of patients taking antipsychotics who died from cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, or infectious causes were not higher than rates for those taking nonantipsychotic psychiatric medications. Antipsychotic medications taken by patients with dementia were associated with higher mortality rates than were most other medications used for neuropsychiatric symptoms. The association between mortality and antipsychotics is not well understood and may be due to a direct medication effect or the pathophysiology underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms that prompt antipsychotic use.

Outcome analysis for conservative management of Peyronie's disease

We retrospectively analysed the outcomes of conservative management of Peyronie's disease and determined the factors predicting successful outcome. The study involved 31 patients with Peyronie's disease who were treated at our institute between 1985 and 2003. We assessed the efficacy of vitamin E for the improvement of the symptoms, and the factors which contributed to successful outcome with conservative management using multivariate analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in the relief rate between the vitamin E and no-medication groups. The overall estimated relief rate was 67.5% at 2 years from presentation. The multivariate analysis revealed plaque size to be the only significant factor predicting the relief from all symptoms in patients with conservative management. The rate was 100% in patients having a plaque size of 20 mm or smaller and 20.0% in those having a size of larger than 20 mm (P=0.005). We could not confirm the benefit of vitamin E for Peyronie's disease. Plaque size was the only significant factor predicting the relief from all symptoms. Patients with larger plaque might fail to respond to the conservative management.

Effectiveness of a Spot Urine Method in Evaluating Daily Salt Intake in Hypertensive Patients Taking Oral Antihypertensive Drugs

Kawasaki et al. developed a spot urine method (SUM) for evaluating daily salt intake using one pre-breakfast sample obtained after initial voiding upon arising. Their subjects were healthy persons who were not taking any regular medications. To determine whether SUM can be successfully used for patients taking antihypertensive drugs, we estimated daily salt intake in 73 hypertensive patients by SUM and by a food consumption method (FCM) when they were at home, and also by SUM in the hospital with a defined intake of 7 g of sodium chloride (NaCl). Forty-one patients took oral antihypertensive medications once daily, while 32 patients took none. Mean daily salt intakes by SUM during admission were 7-8 g of NaCl in both groups (95% confidence intervals: 5.0-10.6 g in the medication group; 5.2-11.1 g in the no-medication group), which corresponded well to the diet. In contrast, ambulatory daily salt intake by SUM varied widely (95% confidence intervals: 5.5-20.7 g in the medication group; 7.6-22.8 g in the no-medication group). However, the daily salt intakes determined by SUM and FCM correlated significantly with each other in the medication group (r=0.69, p<0.01) and the no-medication group (r=0.66, p<0.01). SUM is therefore a reliable method for evaluating daily salt intake in patients taking antihypertensive medication as well as unmedicated patients.