Multidrug infusions in a Swiss palliative care unit: assessment of frequent combinations in terms of clinical effectiveness, compatibility, and stability.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to trace, monitor, and assess for clinical effectiveness, visual compatibility, and stability of commonly used combinations of drugs for patients hospitalized in a Swiss palliative care unit, over a 12-month period.

Methods: In this longitudinal analysis, commonly used multidrug combinations were monitored with a duly created data collection sheet for healthcare professionals. Assessment of visual changes of the mixtures and the evaluation of major changes in the overall symptom control over time were recorded.

Assessment of potential drug-drug interactions at hospital discharge.

Objective: The evaluation of the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions and assessment of their clinical relevance in patients' discharge medication in the medical ward of a community teaching hospital. The relevant clinical information was reported to the treating physicians.

Methods: 200 patients at discharge from a medical ward were included.

Effect of PEX, a noncatalytic metalloproteinase fragment with integrin-binding activity, on experimental Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection.

Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a pathogen that is involved in acute and chronic respiratory infections and that is associated with asthma and coronary artery diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of PEX, a noncatalytic metalloproteinase fragment with integrin-binding activity, against experimental infections caused by C. pneumoniae.

Glucocorticoids increase in vitro and in vivo activities of antibiotics against Chlamydophila pneumoniae.

The in vitro and in vivo antichlamydial activities of dexamethasone and beclomethasone alone and in combination with an antibiotic were tested. In vitro, dexamethasone and beclomethasone decreased the number of inclusion-forming units versus the control number (P < 0.001).

Combinatorial administration of molecules that simultaneously inhibit angiogenesis and invasion leads to increased therapeutic efficacy in mouse models of malignant glioma.

Purpose: We investigated the ability of the combinatorial administration of different inhibitors with activities on glioma angiogenesis, migration, and proliferation to produce a prolonged inhibition of glioma growth.

Experimental Design: We combined inhibitors affecting solely tumor angiogenesis (PF-4/CTF, cyclo-VEGI) or inhibitors affecting both angiogenesis and invasion together (PEX, PF-4/DLR).

Results: When administered in combination, these drugs produced a prolonged and increased inhibition of glioma growth independently from the type of inhibitor used.