Primer on clinical practice guidelines.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are valuable tools for health care providers and support evidence-based medicine (EBM). Many organizations, including medical associations and government-affiliated agencies, develop and publish guidelines using varying methods. Unfortunately, many guidelines are not appropriately developed and certain recommendations are not based on the best available evidence.

Sitagliptin phosphate: a DPP-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Sitagliptin phosphate, the first dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, provides a new treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, adverse effects, and cost of sitagliptin in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE (1966-May 10, 2007), Iowa Drug Information Service (1966-May 10, 2007), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-May 10, 2007) was performed using the terms sitagliptin and MK-0431.

Once-monthly ibandronate for postmenopausal osteoporosis: review of a new dosing regimen.

Background: Ibandronate, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2003 as a daily oral regimen for the treatment and prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis. In March 2005, the FDA approved once-monthly dosing with ibandronate for the same indications.

Objective: The purpose of this article was to review the efficacy and tolerability of ibandronate 150 mg once monthly in the treatment and prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis.