Episodic nature of symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine whether the symptoms of diarrhea (defined as loose or watery stools), constipation (hard or lumpy stools), abdominal pain, and bloating occur in episodes rather than sporadically in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); to identify rules for defining the onset and termination of symptom episodes; and to assess the overlap of these episodes.

Methods: IBS patients kept a symptom log in which they rated the consistency of each bowel movement (BM) on the Bristol Stool Scale for 3 months. Each night they transferred these data to an internet website and also rated abdominal pain and bloating for that day.

Evaluation of correlation between dose and clinical outcomes in subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy.

The importance of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G concentration in IgG replacement therapy for primary immunodeficiency diseases is established in certain settings. Generally, IgG is infused via the intravenous (IVIG) or subcutaneous (SCIG) route. For IVIG infusion, published data demonstrate that higher IgG doses and trough levels provide patients with improved protection from infection.

Safety of L-proline as a stabilizer for immunoglobulin products.

Privigen(®) (immune globulin intravenous [human], 10% liquid) and Hizentra(®) (immune globulin subcutaneous [human], 20% liquid) are stabilized by proline. The clinical implications of administering proline-containing immunoglobulin products to patients with defects of proline metabolism have not been addressed; Privigen and Hizentra are contraindicated in these patients. Some patients with chromosome 22q11.

Higher doses of subcutaneous IgG reduce resource utilization in patients with primary immunodeficiency.

The recommended dose of IgG in primary immunodeficiency (PID) has been increasing since its first use. This study aimed to determine if higher subcutaneous IgG doses resulted in improved patient outcomes by comparing results from two parallel clinical studies with similar design. One patient cohort received subcutaneous IgG doses that were 1.

IBS patients show frequent fluctuations between loose/watery and hard/lumpy stools: implications for treatment.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine how variable stool consistency is in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to assess the relationship between stool consistency and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Methods: Individuals with a physician diagnosis of IBS were recruited by advertisement. Enrollment questionnaires included the Rome III Diagnostic Questionnaire and IBS Symptom Severity Scale.

Retrospective analysis of transient elevations in alanine aminotransferase during long-term treatment with acetaminophen in osteoarthritis clinical trials.

Background: In two recent osteoarthritis trials, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations were observed more frequently in patients receiving acetaminophen 3.9 g daily than in patients receiving placebo, and the rates were higher than aminotransferase values observed in some previous osteoarthritis studies with acetaminophen.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze ALT data from McNeil osteoarthritis clinical studies involving acetaminophen in order to assess the frequency and magnitude of ALT elevations and rate of ALT resolution while patients remained on acetaminophen treatment.

Acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine versus sumatriptan succinate in the early treatment of migraine: results from the ASSET trial.

Objective: To address the need for a rigorous, direct comparison of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) migraine drugs and to expand the database on early treatment of migraine.

Background: Most people who experience migraine use OTC medications to treat their symptoms, but no head-to-head clinical trials comparing these agents with prescription migraine therapies have been published. In addition, even though most migraineurs treat early in the attack, few studies have been conducted to reflect this treatment pattern.

Analysis of risk of bleeding complications after different doses of aspirin in 192,036 patients enrolled in 31 randomized controlled trials.

We sought to compare the risk of hemorrhage due to the low (<100 mg), moderate (100 to 200 mg), and high (>200 mg) doses of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid [ASA]) in 192,036 patients enrolled in 31 clinical trials. Despite substantial differences in the reporting patterns of bleeding complications, low-dose ASA was associated with the lowest risk, and moderate doses caused a relatively high hemorrhagic event rate, especially with regard to minor, gastrointestinal, and total bleeding, and stroke. These findings should be considered when using combination antiplatelets, anticoagulant therapy, or both, with ASA, especially with the daily dose of >100 mg.

Aspirin is efficacious for the treatment of acute migraine.

Background: More than 50% of migraine sufferers rely on over-the-counter medications for the treatment of migraine. Along with other over-the-counter products, aspirin is considered by the US Headache Consortium to be an option for first-line migraine treatment. This study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of aspirin versus placebo for the acute treatment of a single acute attack of migraine.

Coping strategies and health care-seeking behavior in a US national sample of adults with symptoms suggestive of overactive bladder.

Background: Although millions of individuals have symptoms suggestive of overactive bladder (OAB), few ever seek or receive medical treatment for their condition.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe coping strategies and health care-seeking behavior in a community-based sample of adults with symptoms suggestive of OAB.

Methods: A cross-sectional household telephone survey of an age- and sex-stratified sample of adults was conducted.

Efficacy and safety of acetaminophen in the treatment of migraine: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, population-based study.

Background: Although most persons with migraine treat their headaches with over-the-counter medication, systematic data on the safety and efficacy of widely used treatment, including acetaminophen, are sparse.

Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing oral acetaminophen, 1000 mg (two 500-mg Extra Strength Tylenol tablets), with identical placebo in the treatment of a single acute migraine attack. Eligible subjects met International Headache Society diagnostic criteria for migraine with or without aura.