A Prospective, Double-Blind, Multicenter, Randomized Trial Comparing Ertapenem 3 Vs ≥5 Days in Community-Acquired Intraabdominal Infection

Abstract: Severe secondary peritonitis is diagnosed in only 20-30% of all patients, but studies to date have persisted in using a standard fixed duration of antibiotic therapy. This prospective, double-blind, multicenter, randomized clinical study compared the clinical and bacteriological efficacy and tolerability of ertapenem (1 g/day) 3 days (group I) vs >= 5 days (group II) in 111 patients with localized peritonitis (appendicitis vs non-appendicitis) of mild to moderate severity, requiring surgical intervention. In evaluable patients, the clinical response as primary efficacy outcome were assessed at the test-of-cure 2 and 4 weeks after discontinuation of antibacterial therapy. Ninety patients were evaluable. In groups I and II, 92.9 and 89.6% of patients were cured, respectively; 95.3% in group I and 93.7% in group II showed eradication. These differences were not statistically significant. The most frequent bacteria recovered were Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis. A wound infection developed in seven patients (7.7%) and an intraabdominal infection in one patient (1.1%). There was a low frequency of drug-related clinical or laboratory adverse effects in both groups. Our study demonstrated that, in patients with localized community-acquired intraabdominal infection, a 3-day course of ertapenem had the same clinical and bacteriological efficacy as a standard duration

Etizolam in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Controlled Clinical Trial

A total of 45 patients with generalized anxiety disorder were treated twice daily for 2 weeks, on a double-blind basis, with 0.5 mg etizolam, 0.5 mg alprazolam or 3 mg bromazepam, and symptoms were assessed using Hamilton's rating scale for anxiety and Hamilton's rating scale for depression. Patients then received the same drug for a further 2 weeks, the drugs being given three times daily if a poor response was observed during the first 2 weeks. All drugs displayed equivalent anxiolytic activity after 2 weeks, but etizolam displayed a progressive increase in anxiolytic activity over 4 weeks of treatment. Etizolam also possessed a more marked antidepressant effect than did alprazolam or bromazepam. There were no differences in the tolerability of the three drugs. </jats:p

Supportive strategies to improve adherence to IFN β-1b in multiple sclerosis - Results of the βPlus observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Low adherence to treatment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has been shown to lead to poor health outcomes. Various strategies to improve adherence have been suggested including educative programs, injection devices and dedicated nurse assistance. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of elements of the patient support program on adherence; to explore disease factors affecting adherence; and to determine whether these factors influence the choices of supportive elements. METHODS: A prospective, observational cohort study was conducted. MS patients were eligible if they had switched to Interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b) between 1 and 3 months prior to inclusion. Data were collected at months 6, 12, 18 and 24 after inclusion. Adherence was defined as completion of both study protocol and medication at 24 months. Patients underwent evaluations of disability, quality of life, depression, and coping styles. RESULTS: A total of 1077 patients from 15 countries were included, of which 61.8% were adherent to IFNB-1b after 24-months. Depression, quality of life and autoinjector devices were baseline predictors of adherence at 24-months. Coping styles did not show to have substantial impact on adherence. Lower quality of life increased the probability of choosing supportive elements. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the usage of autoinjector devices chosen during the study was the strongest predictor of drug adherence of all the supportive elements tested in this study