Publications by authors named "Antoun Houranieh"
Chronic pain is a debilitating condition for many military Veterans and is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in 144 Veterans (88.2% male, mean age = 57.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOnce-weekly administration of bortezomib has reduced bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy without affecting response rates, but this has only been demonstrated prospectively in three- and four- drug combinations. We report a phase II trial of alternate dosing and schedule of bortezomib and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients who are not eligible for or refused autologous stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib 1·6 mg/m(2) intravenously was given once-weekly for six cycles, together with dexamethasone 40 mg on the day of and day after bortezomib.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate whether use of a bisphosphonate (risedronate) in addition to calcium and vitamin D in male veterans with epilepsy who were taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) long term can prevent the loss of bone mass (BMD, bone mineral density) associated with AED use compared to patients who were treated with a placebo plus calcium and vitamin D. As a secondary end point we studied the incidence of new morphometric vertebral and nonvertebral fractures.
Methods: Antiepileptic drug and osteoporosis prevention trial (ADOPT) was designed as a prospective 2-year double-blind, randomized placebo controlled study involving 80 male veterans with epilepsy who were being treated with AEDs such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, sodium valproate, or carbamazepine for a minimum of 2 years.
Risk profile of hepatocellular carcinoma reveals dichotomy among US veterans.
J Gastrointest Cancer
September 2013
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is traditionally associated with chronic liver injury resulting from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or excessive consumption of alcohol. In addition, recent evidence links HCC to diabetes.
Aims: Since these risk factors are prevalent among US veterans, we analyzedcontribution of various etiologies toHCC incidence in this population.
Purpose: To report early outcomes of a prospective, double-masked, controlled trial comparing bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, California, USA) to ranibizumab (Lucentis; Genentech Inc) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.
Design: Prospective, double-masked, randomized clinical trial.
Methods: This is a single-center, randomized clinical trial at the Boston Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.
Objectives: To investigate prescribers' rationales for overriding drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts and to determine whether these reasons were helpful to pharmacists as a part of prescription order verification.
Study Design: An observational retrospective database analysis was conducted using override reasons derived from a computerized system at 6 Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Methods: Data on DDI alerts (for interactions designated as "critical" and "significant") were obtained from ambulatory care pharmacy records from July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004.
Objectives: To assess Veterans Affairs (VA) prescribers' and pharmacists' opinions about computer-generated drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts and obtain suggestions for improving DDI alerts.
Design: A mail survey of 725 prescribers and 142 pharmacists from seven VA medical centers across the United States.
Measurements: A questionnaire asked respondents about their sources of drug and DDI information, satisfaction with the combined inpatient and outpatient computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE) system, attitude toward DDI alerts, and suggestions for improving DDI alerts.