Stable measurement of chemistry, immunochemistry, and hematology analytes in a heparin-based anticoagulant with iloprost additive: A promising candidate for the polyvalent blood collection tube.

Introduction: A polyvalent blood collection tube could potentially reduce the number and volume of blood samples drawn from patients and reduce the risk of tube mix-ups in a point-of-care setting in the emergency department and the intensive care unit.

Methods: Four different concentrations of our experimental heparin anticoagulant with iloprost additive (HEP-ILOP 50 nM, 150 nM, 1000 nM, and 10 μM, respectively) were tested for significant differences and bias performance specifications against EDTA for 29 hematology analytes, and the highest concentration (HEP-ILOP 10 μM) against lithium heparin for 14 chemistry and immunochemistry analytes. Samples were drawn from 79 consenting subjects from the Oncology Department (n = 38) and the Intensive and Intermediary Care Unit (n = 41).

Comparison of 3 Treatment Strategies for Medication Overuse Headache: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a disabling, globally prevalent disorder representing a well-known and debated clinical problem. Evidence for the most effective treatment strategy is needed.

Objective: To compare 3 treatment strategies for MOH.

Complete withdrawal is the most feasible treatment for medication-overuse headache: A randomized controlled open-label trial.

Background: Complete stop of acute medication and/or migraine medication for treatment of medication-overuse headache (MOH) has previously been reported more effective in reducing headache days and migraine days per month compared with restricted intake of acute medication. However, it is unknown whether complete stop or restricted intake is the most feasible treatment for patients.

Objectives: To investigate whether feasibility of withdrawal in MOH is different between complete stop of acute medication and restricted intake, and whether reductions in headache-related medication dependence, anxiety and depression differ between the treatments.

Complete withdrawal is the most effective approach to reduce disability in patients with medication-overuse headache: A randomized controlled open-label trial.

Background: Medication-overuse headache leads to high disability and decreased quality of life, and the best approach for withdrawal has been debated.

Aim: To compare change in disability and quality of life between two withdrawal programs.

Methods: We randomized medication-overuse headache patients to program A (two months without acute analgesics or migraine medications) or program B (two months with acute medications restricted to two days/week) in a prospective, outpatient study.