Pazopanib may reduce bleeding in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Pazopanib (Votrient) is an orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks VEGF receptors potentially serving as anti-angiogenic treatment for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). We report a prospective, multi-center, open-label, dose-escalating study [50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg], designed as a proof-of-concept study to demonstrate efficacy of pazopanib on HHT-related bleeding, and to measure safety. Patients, recruited at 5 HHT Centers, required ≥ 2 Curacao criteria AND [anemia OR severe epistaxis with iron deficiency].

Cardiovascular safety of albiglutide in the Harmony programme: a meta-analysis.

Background: Albiglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, a new class of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes. We did a prospective meta-analysis of the cardiovascular safety of albiglutide as stipulated by the US Food and Drug Administration recommendations for the assessment of new treatments for diabetes.

Methods: We did a meta-analysis of eight phase 3 trials and one phase 2b trial in which patients were randomly assigned to albiglutide, placebo, or active comparators (glimepiride, insulin glargine, insulin lispro, liraglutide, pioglitazone, or sitagliptin).

Venous thromboembolism knowledge among older post-hip fracture patients and their caregivers.

Patient education about venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention is needed to prevent complications and costly re-hospitalization. Nurses are uniquely positioned to provide vital education as patients transition from the inpatient setting to after discharge. Still, little is known about patient knowledge deficits and those of their caregivers.

Rosiglitazone reduces office and diastolic ambulatory blood pressure following 1-year treatment in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance.

Objective: Rosiglitazone (RSG) has been reported to reduce blood pressure (BP) in patients with type-2 diabetes, but similar effects in non-diabetic people with insulin resistance is less clear. Our aim was to test the long-term BP-lowering effects of RSG compared with placebo.

Methods: We recruited participants for BP evaluation of RSG treatment from a larger intervention trial.

Rosiglitazone/metformin fixed-dose combination compared with uptitrated metformin alone in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 24-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study.

Background: Management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) that involves uptitration of monotherapy to the maximum dose has been associated with delays in achieving glycemic control and an increased number of adverse events (AEs). Studies have reported the benefits of adding a thiazolidinedione to metformin (MET), but none has compared the effect of adding a thiazolidinedione to MET versus increasing the daily dose of MET to 3 g.

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the benefits of fixed-dose combination rosiglitazone and MET (RSG/MET) compared with high-dose MET monotherapy in patients with type 2 DM.

Multiple-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 546C88: effect on survival in patients with septic shock.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 546C88 in patients with septic shock. The predefined primary efficacy objective was survival at day 28.

Design: Multiple-center, randomized, two-stage, double-blind, placebo-controlled, safety and efficacy study.

Cardiovascular effects of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-methyl-L-arginine hydrochloride (546C88) in patients with septic shock: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study (study no. 144-002).

Objective: To assess the hemodynamic effects of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 546C88 in patients with septic shock, although this was not a stated aim of the protocol. The predefined primary efficacy objective of the protocol was resolution of shock determined at the end of a 72-hr treatment period.

Design: Multicentered, randomized, placebo-controlled, safety and efficacy study.

Administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-methyl-L-arginine hydrochloride (546C88) by intravenous infusion for up to 72 hours can promote the resolution of shock in patients with severe sepsis: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study (study no. 144-002).

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 546C88 in patients with septic shock. The predefined primary efficacy objective was resolution of shock, defined as a mean arterial pressure > or =70 mm Hg in the absence of both conventional vasopressors and study drug, determined at the end of the 72-hr treatment period.

Design: Multicentered, randomized, placebo-controlled, safety and efficacy study.

Treatment of acute intracranial vertebrobasilar dissection with angioplasty and stent placement: report of two cases.

Acute vertebrobasilar dissection may cause subarachnoid hemorrhage by rupturing through the adventia or cerebral infarct by progressive occlusion of the true lumen. Recent reports on the endovascular management of this condition have focused on treatment of pseudoaneurysms. We report two cases where angioplasty or stent placement was successfully used to improve compromised blood flow secondary to vertebrobasilar dissection.

Anterior cervical discectomy without interbody fusion.

Background: The use of an interbody bone graft during anterior cervical discectomy remains a controversial topic. This study presents the outcome of 64 consecutive patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy without an interbody fusion.

Methods: Sixty-four consecutive patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy without interbody fusion by one surgeon at Indiana University School of Medicine between April 1994 and February 1998.

Polyethylene glycol rapidly restores physiological functions in damaged sciatic nerves of guinea pigs.

Objective: We have studied the ability of the hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) to anatomically and physiologically reconnect damaged axons of the adult guinea pig spinal cord. Here we have extended this approach to test whether completely severed guinea pig sciatic nerves in isolation could be fused and whether PEG was able to repair severe standardized crush injuries to sciatic nerves in vivo.

Methods: The fusion test was performed with isolated sciatic nerves maintained in a double-sucrose gap recording chamber.