The prevalence of polypharmacy in older Europeans: A multi-national database study of general practitioner prescribing.

Aims: The aims of this study were to measure the prevalence of polypharmacy and describe the prescribing of selected medications known for overuse in older people with polypharmacy in primary care.

Methods: This was a multinational retrospective cohort study across six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. We used anonymized longitudinal patient-level information from general practice databases hosted by IQVIA.

A drug utilization study of thiocolchicoside-containing medicinal products for systemic use in France and Italy: A cross-sectional electronic medical records database study.

Purpose: The risk minimization measures (RMM) for systemic use of thiocolchicoside (TCC) was implemented across Europe during 2014-2016. RMM included restriction of use in age <16 years, maximum dose and duration, chronic conditions, contraindication in pregnancy, lactation or in women of childbearing potential [WOCBP] without appropriate contraception. The current Drug Utilization Study was aimed to describe the prescribing practices of TCC in France and Italy.

A review of the sampling methodology used in studies evaluating the effectiveness of risk minimisation measures in Europe.

Purpose: This review aims to describe the sampling methodology used in studies assessing effectiveness of risk minimisation measures (RMMs) in the European Union.

Methods: The European Union electronic Register of Post-Authorization Studies (EU PAS Register) was searched to identify studies that assessed the effectiveness of RMMs and recruited a target population of healthcare professionals (HCPs), sites or patients. Studies with both protocol and report were included and data was extracted from these documents to describe study characteristics and variables involved in the sampling methodology.

Endothelin-B receptor activation triggers an endogenous analgesic cascade at sites of peripheral injury.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a newly described pain mediator that is involved in the pathogenesis of pain states ranging from trauma to cancer. ET-1 is synthesized by keratinocytes in normal skin and is locally released after cutaneous injury. While it is able to trigger pain through its actions on endothelin-A (ET(A)) receptors of local nociceptors, it can coincidentally produce analgesia through endothelin-B (ET(B)) receptors.