Long-term Safety and Effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Correcting Nasolabial Folds in Chinese Patients.

Background: Soft-tissue fillers, specifically hyaluronic acid fillers, can reduce many signs of aging by treating the associated loss of subcutaneous fat and midfacial contour deficiencies. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the effectiveness and safety of Belotero Volume Lidocaine (BVL) compared with Restylane (RES, control) is noninferior in the treatment of severe nasolabial folds (NLFs) in Chinese patients.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, split-face clinical study.

IncobotulinumtoxinA for Glabellar Frown Lines in Chinese Subjects: A Randomized, Double-blind, Active-Controlled Phase-3 Study.

Unlabelled: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of IncobotulinumtoxinA 20 U for treatment of glabellar frown lines in Chinese subjects.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, phase-3 study conducted in China. Subjects with moderate to severe glabellar frown lines at maximum frown were randomized to receive IncobotulinumtoxinA (N = 336) or OnabotulinumtoxinA (N = 167).

A Multicenter Noninferiority Study Comparing Safety and Effectiveness of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for Correction of Nasolabial Folds in Chinese Subjects.

Unlabelled: Hyaluronic acid fillers are the preferred choice for minimally invasive facial volume restoration. In this study, a split-face design was used to compare the effectiveness and safety results of Belotero Balance Lidocaine (BEL) and Restylane (RES, control) to investigate whether BEL is noninferior compared with RES in nasolabial fold (NLF) correction.

Methods: This was a prospective, controlled clinical study in Chinese subjects.

IncobotulinumtoxinA Demonstrates Safety and Prolonged Duration of Effect in a Dose-Ranging Study for Glabellar Lines.

Background: To further explore clinical trial results indicating increasing doses of botulinum toxin A prolong duration of effect, a 2-stage, phase 2, randomized, double-blind study investigated the duration of effect and safety of incobotulinumtoxinA (INCO; Xeomin®, Bocouture®) doses higher than the US Food and Drug Administration-approved 20 units (U) for glabellar frown lines (GFL). The stage 1 primary efficacy and safety results were reported previously. Here, we report the results of the final analysis (stage 1 and 2), including primary and secondary efficacy and safety endpoints.

IncobotulinumtoxinA Demonstrates Safety and Prolonged Duration of Effect in a Dose-Ranging Study for Glabellar Lines.

Background: Recently reported clinical data provides evidence that increasing the dose of botulinum toxin A increases the duration of efficacy. A 2-stage Phase 2, randomized, double-blind study investigated the duration of effect and safety of IncobotulinumtoxinA (INCO; Xeomin®, Bocouture®; Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) at doses higher than the approved 20 units (U) for glabellar frown lines (GFL). Primary safety and efficacy endpoints of Stage 1 are reported here.

Residual Renal Function and Effect of Low-Sodium Solution on Blood Pressure in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Residual renal function (RRF) affects sodium and fluid balance. The aim of this analysis was to examine the impact of RRF on the effect of a sodium-reduced peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF) on blood pressure (BP).This is a post-hoc analysis of a prospective, randomized, controlled double-blind clinical trial with 82 patients on continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) treated with a low-sodium (125 mmol/L Na) or a standard-sodium (134 mmol/L Na) PDF.

Effects of high-volume online mixed-hemodiafiltration on anemia management in dialysis patients.

Background: Anemia is a major comorbidity of patients with end-stage renal disease and poses an enormous economic burden to health-care systems. High dose erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have been associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. We explored whether mixed-dilution hemodiafiltration (Mixed-HDF), based on its innovative substitution modality, may improve anemia outcomes compared to the traditional post-dilution hemodiafiltration (Post-HDF).

Information and Training Needs Regarding Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Cross-sectional Study of Cancer Care Providers in Germany.

Background: Among cancer care providers (CCPs), lack of knowledge constitutes an important barrier to the discussion of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use with patients. This study assessed CCPs' needs and preferences regarding CAM information and training (I&T).

Methods: An online survey was completed by 209 general practitioners, 437 medical specialists, 159 oncology nurses and medical assistants, and 244 psychologists and social workers engaged in cancer care.

Oncologists' experiences of discussing complementary and alternative treatment options with their cancer patients. A qualitative analysis.

Purpose: The rising use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) means oncologists are increasingly asked by patients to discuss CAM treatment options. However, no formal training or established standards are available on the subject. The aim of this paper was to investigate real-world discussions of CAM treatments.

[WINHO quality indicators for outpatient oncology care in Germany].

The aim of the WINHO indicators project is to describe and enhance the quality of outpatient oncology care in Germany with indicators. This paper deals with the development of a set of evidence- and consensus-based meaningful indicators to assess the quality of outpatient oncology care in Germany. These indicators are intended to be applied in assessments of quality of patient care in oncology practices, in quality reports and in peer-to-peer benchmarking.

Adoption, reach and effectiveness of computer-based, practitioner delivered and combined smoking interventions in general medical practices: a three-arm cluster randomized trial.

Background: Brief advice for smoking patients has not been sufficiently integrated in routine care. Computer-based interventions emerged as a time saving option that might help to exhaust the potential population impact of the general practice setting.

Method: 151 practices were randomly assigned to one of three intervention programs consisting in the delivery of: (1) brief advice by the practitioner; (2) individually tailored computer-generated letters; or (3) a combination of both interventions.

Smokers' expectations toward the engagement of their general practitioner in discussing lifestyle behaviors.

Barriers associated with the sparse engagement of general practitioners (GPs) in lifestyle counseling are well investigated. The aim of the study was (a) to explore to what extent smoking patients want to discuss about lifestyle; and (b) to investigate whether patient characteristics might influence the expectations to discuss smoking, alcohol, nutrition, or physical activity. Data were collected during the 24-month follow-up of a smoking cessation efficacy study.

Effects of practitioner-delivered brief counseling and computer-generated tailored letters on cigarettes per day among smokers who do not quit--a quasi-randomized controlled trial.

Background: It is still unclear how brief counseling for smoking cessation, combined with proactive recruitment of participants, impacts on those smokers not reaching the primary treatment goal of tobacco abstinence. Thus, within a quasi-randomized controlled trial, we examined the effects of (1) practitioner-delivered brief advice and (2) computer-generated tailored letters on cigarettes per day (CPD) among participants not succeeding in quitting.

Methods: A total of 34 general practices (participation rate 87%) were randomly selected in a German region.

Workplace smoking restrictions: smoking behavior and the intention to change among continuing smokers.

Objectives: In this study, the association between three levels of workplace smoking restrictions and smoking behavior and variables related to the intention to quit among continuing smokers was examined.

Methods: Adult smokers were recruited from consecutive patients attending a random sample of 34 general medical practices from a pre-defined, north-eastern German region. Self-reported data were gathered in the waiting room by questionnaire.