A study of 2,588 Finnish schizophrenic patients found that antidepressive treatment reduced mortality risk by 43%, whereas bensodiazepine use increased the risk of early death and suicide by 91%. The researchers also found no association between taking multiple antipsychotics and increased mortality.
A study published in the Anesthesia-Analgesia Journal found that Pressure Right's acupressure device enhanced the efficacy of a popular antiemetic drug combination in reducing PONV among high-risk patients. The device resulted in higher patient satisfaction and lower emesis rates compared to a sham device.
A study by Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology reveals a potential new strategy to boost efficacy and break down resistance in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer. The combination of two drugs shows promise as a third treatment option, offering hope for patients with advanced tumours.
The BWH Center for LAM Research and Clinical Care has been awarded a four-year grant to conduct a phase I clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of a combination of hydroxychloroquine and sirolimus in treating LAM. This is the first time this drug combination has been tested in women with LAM.
A combination of lamotrigine and valproate significantly reduced seizure frequency in patients with very difficult-to-control epilepsy. The treatment regimen, out of 32 tested combinations, showed superior efficacy compared to other regimens.
Three artemisinin-based combination therapies were found to be highly effective in clearing the Plasmodium falciparum parasite in African children. DHAPQ was shown to have the longest post-treatment prophylaxis, making it a valid third option for treatment.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have developed a computer program that can rapidly identify ideal drug combinations to prevent inflammation and combat severe diseases. By analyzing billions of potential combinations, they hope to create tailored therapies for conditions such as stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer's.
A new drug combination of fludarabine and alemtuzumab significantly increases progression-free survival and prolongs the lives of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The treatment spares patients from toxicities and offers a more convenient dosing schedule.
A commentary in New England Journal of Medicine suggests fibrates do not lower heart risk in diabetic patients taking statins; doctors recommend prescription only to high-risk patients after optimal LDL control achieved
Researchers have developed super-mini vehicles that can carry drugs and imaging agents into the body, revolutionizing medicine by improving drug solubility and bio-distribution. The devices use self-assembling nano-sized structures to cross membrane barriers and enable combination therapies.
A new two-drug combination of phentermine and topiramate achieves more than double the weight loss of orlistat and compares favorably with emerging drugs. The treatment also improves blood pressure, lipids, glycaemia, and inflammatory markers.
Researchers found that hospitals with low AMI mortality rates shared an overall vision of excellence and had more senior management involvement, broad staff presence, and better communication among physicians. A new low-radiation alternative to CT angiography also shows promise in diagnosing coronary artery disease, with good specifici...
Researchers have found a new drug combination that enhances anti-tumor efficacy and protects the heart from damage caused by doxorubicin, a powerful anti-cancer drug. The combination of Viagra and doxorubicin significantly reduces tumor size in prostate cancer patients without harming healthy cells.
A study published in PLoS One suggests that minocycline plus N-acetylcysteine may be a valuable treatment for traumatic brain injury. Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center found a synergistic improvement of cognition and memory after experimental traumatic brain injury, and are planning to bring this combination to clinical trials.
A recent study by researchers at UCLA Health Sciences has found that over a third of drinkers aged 60 and older consume excessive amounts of alcohol, posing health risks. The study also highlights demographic factors, such as age, education level, and income, that contribute to at-risk drinking among the elderly.
A new investigational treatment, DMQ, has been shown to effectively control pseudobulbar affect (PBA) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study found a significant improvement in test scores after 12 weeks of treatment.
A recent study from UT Southwestern Medical Center found that combination therapy yielded better results than individual drugs in treating enlarged prostate. The treatment, which combined dutasteride and tamsulosin, reduced the risk of BPH progression by 25% and PSA levels by 50%.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine have developed a combination drug that regulates the release of morphine and its antagonist, improving pain management for patients with chronic illnesses. The nanoparticle-based system uses a pro drug to sense oxygen levels and trigger the release of Naloxone, allowing for safer treatment in combat zones.
A new drug combination, nifurtimox-eflornithine therapy (NECT), has shown to be non-inferior to the best current treatment in curing sleeping sickness and is better tolerated, with fewer major adverse events. NECT's safety advantages and ease of administration make it a suitable option for resource-poor settings.
A study found that combining aspirin and dipyridamole significantly reduced blockages and extended the life of hemodialysis artery-vein access grafts. The treatment decreased graft loss by 18% and stenosis development by 28%.
A phase II study found that moxifloxacin, in combination with other drugs, significantly improved sputum culture conversion rates, potentially shortening tuberculosis treatment time. The results demonstrate moxifloxacin's antimycobacterial activity and suggest a new regimen could cure drug-resistant TB strains.
A combination of two antihypertensive drugs lowers the risk of kidney disease in diabetics, even among those with normal blood pressure. The study found a 21% lower rate of kidney disease events in patients receiving the combination therapy.
A survey of 200 community-based schizophrenic patients found that 74.5% were treated with off-label medication, with the most common combination being an antipsychotic and mood stabilizer. The study highlights the limitations of first- and second-generation antipsychotics and the need for improved treatment outcomes.
California officials have identified 18 cases of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) between 1993 and 2006. The state has also seen a rising trend of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) cases, with XDR TB being resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics.
A study examining two medications and two behavioral treatments found that medication adherence is still essential for success in treating alcohol dependence. High medication adherents fared better than low adherents across all treatment combinations.
A recent study found that prenatal drug exposure is associated with greater sleep problems in children. Early sleep problems also predict later sleep problems, and nicotine has a unique effect on sleep patterns.
Researchers have discovered a better method for treating patients with portal hypertension, combining spironolactone and propranolol. The study found that this combination reduces the risk of variceal re-bleeding and is effective in patients who have never bled or have had previous episodes.
A combination of common anti-HIV drugs tenofovir and emtricitabine with nevirapine during labor significantly reduces the risk of HIV-positive pregnant women developing resistance to a class of drugs, potentially improving future treatment options.
A new clinical trial in Uganda has found that a combination of nifurtimox and eflornithine is effective in treating African sleeping sickness without treatment failure or deaths. The novel treatment approach holds promise for stage 2 HAT patients, and further evaluation with larger trials is ongoing.
A new TB drug, SQ109, has been given special status by the US and European regulators for its potential to combat drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. The orphan designation will accelerate clinical testing of the drug, which may lead to simpler and more effective treatment regimens for the disease.
A new antibiotic combination could dramatically shorten TB treatment time from six months to four months, with a cure rate increasing by 17 percent after two months of therapy. Researchers say the shorter treatment period may also reduce transmission and improve drug compliance.
Researchers have confirmed that tamoxifen prevents breast cancer in high-risk women, while a combination of three HER inhibitors slows down tumor growth. Additionally, chemotherapy with rituximab improves overall survival rates for patients with indolent lymphoma, and new lung cancer risk prediction models offer modest accuracy.
A randomized, multi-center study found that adding inhaled iloprost to bosentan treatment increases exercise capability and reduces clinical deterioration in PAH patients. In some cases, the combination also improves diagnostic functional class by one stage.
A combination therapy of tolterodine ER and tamsulosin resulted in statistically significant treatment benefits for men with overactive bladder and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Eighty percent of patients reported improvement in symptoms, compared to 62% on placebo, highlighting the potential for combination therapy in managing lower u...
Researchers from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that a combination of artemether and lumefantrine was the most cost-effective option, despite being the most expensive in the short term. This approach may delay the emergence of resistance to malaria drugs.
Researchers found that using budesonide-formoterol as a reliever therapy significantly reduced the risk of severe asthma attacks in patients already on a preventive drug combination. This approach may lead to fewer hospitalizations and improved patient outcomes.
University of Iowa experts are warning that a commonly prescribed asthma medication combination can be deadly for certain patients. The long-acting asthma drug salmeterol used in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid can worsen asthma symptoms for those who do not need the combination, leading to life-threatening problems.
Majority of healthcare opinion leaders support the Medicare Part D program, but favor changes to reduce complexity and improve coverage for vulnerable populations. Opinion leaders recommend policy changes such as filling the donut hole and eliminating the asset test to benefit low-income beneficiaries.
The FDA approves REVLIMID(R) (lenalidomide) for treating patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. Key findings include a higher risk of hematologic toxicity and thromboembolic events in patients receiving the combination treatment.
Researchers found combining atorvastatin with glatiramer acetate significantly improved treatment outcomes for multiple sclerosis. The study showed a synergistic effect between the two medications, leading to better control of CNS autoimmunity.
A new study found that using a combination of sedative and paralytic drugs improves the success rate of airway intubation by 3.7 times, making it the most effective method for patients in critical condition. The research used data from 49 patients transported by air ambulance over a year.
A new combination treatment for glioblastoma has been found to improve survival rates without negatively affecting patients' quality of life. The study, which involved 573 patients, found no significant differences in six out of seven health-related quality of life measures after three months.
The Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (ASCOT) found that newer antihypertensive drugs, such as amlodipine and perindopril, were more effective than standard diuretic or ß-blocker therapy in reducing blood pressure and preventing major cardiovascular events. The study showed a significant reduction in stroke events and fewer cas...
Takeda has submitted a new drug application for its combination type 2 diabetes medication, ACTOS (pioglitazone HCl) and glimepiride. This treatment aims to help patients manage their blood glucose levels by targeting insulin resistance and increasing insulin production.
A recent study has found that a combination of artemether-lumefantrine to be highly effective in treating malaria in children aged 4-59 months. The treatment showed an impressive success rate of over 96% in a Tanzanian trial, paving the way for its potential use as a substitute for failing therapies in African countries.
Researchers at Queen's University discovered that a combination of gabapentin and morphine provides better pain relief for patients with diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia, while also minimizing side effects. The study used a clinical trial to compare the treatment to individual medications and a placebo.
Researchers have developed a new treatment that significantly reduces morphine use after hysterectomies, leading to improved lung function and more consistent pain relief. The treatment combines two non-opioid drugs, gabapentin and rofecoxib, which work together to alleviate movement-related pain and promote better breathing.
A Ugandan clinical trial has identified the most effective drug combinations for treating malaria in Africa, with amodiaquine+sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine proving to be a highly efficacious and economical option. The findings highlight the need for continued research into artemisinin-combination therapies in African field conditions.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found a significant decrease in liver rejection rates using a monoclonal antibody, basiliximab, in combination with tacrolimus and low-dose steroids. The one-year survival rate improved to 88%, with no complications reported.
A recent study found that combining EGFR inhibitors like Erbitux with Iressa or Tarceva hinders cancer cell growth more effectively than single drug treatments. The tandem application of these drugs amplified control of cancer cell signaling, leading to increased apoptosis and tumor development limitation.
Early administration of reteplase plus abciximab did not reduce infarct size compared to abciximab alone in patients with acute MI referred for PCI. The study also found comparable clinical outcomes between the two treatment groups, but more major bleeding events occurred in the combination therapy group.
Researchers found that a combined drug therapy of finasteride and doxazosin significantly reduced the risk of BPH progression by 66 percent, compared to placebo. The treatment also provided greater symptom relief and improved urinary flow rate. Men at highest risk for BPH progression, such as those with larger prostates or elevated ser...
Researchers found that a combination of ZDV, 3TC, and EFV was the most successful initial treatment regimen, with participants experiencing delayed failure and faster viral load suppression. However, using four drugs in combination did not prove more effective than sequential three-drug regimens, but did delay failure longer.
Scientists identify several novel pairings with significant therapeutic promise, including a combination that kills drug-resistant yeast while harming human cells. The approach uses high-throughput screens to rapidly identify synergistic combinations that produce desired therapeutic effects.
Researchers found that both nortriptyline and bupropion, when combined with counseling, helped smokers attain periods of abstinence but had limited effectiveness in quitting for a year. The study showed that antidepressant therapy and counseling can aid in achieving short-term abstinence for cigarette smokers.
A recent study found a decrease in thymidine analog mutations and an increase in K65R and Y115F mutations associated with HIV treatment failure. The study analyzed data from 1999-2002 and identified trends in antiretroviral therapy usage and mutation incidence.
Duke University Medical Center researchers found that a new drug combination, combining eptifibatide and tenecteplase, speeds up and sustains restored blood flow to the heart. The study showed significant improvements in ECG readings, with patients receiving the combination therapy returning to stable levels within 55 minutes.
A study assessing existing data on HIV/AIDS interventions found that cost-effectiveness varies greatly between interventions. Some interventions, such as selective blood safety measures and targeted condom distribution, can prevent a case of HIV/AIDS for under $11 and gain over $1 in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per dollar spent
A new treatment combination of amodiaquine and artesunate has shown high cure rates for uncomplicated malaria in children under 11 years old. The study found that the treatment was more effective than amodiaquine alone, with higher cure rates in Gabon compared to Kenya and Senegal.
Dr. Duane Grandgenett receives nearly a million dollars in grants to study ways of inhibiting HIV replication in humans. He aims to develop an HIV inhibitor targeting the integrase protein, which plays a crucial role in the virus's survival.