Metformin for lung cancer prevention and improved survival: a novel approach.

Diabetes mellitus has been associated with increased risk for the development of many types of cancer. Metformin, an oral medication and first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has been suggested to reduce cancer risk and mortality in various types of cancer. This study focuses on assessing metformin association with lung cancer as reported in the literature.

General practitioner management of shoulder pain in comparison with rheumatologist expectation of care and best evidence: an Australian national survey.

Objectives: To determine whether current care for common shoulder problems in Australian general practice is in keeping with rheumatologist expectations and the best available evidence.

Methods: We performed a mailed survey of a random sample of 3500 Australian GPs and an online survey of all 270 rheumatologists in Australia in June 2009. Each survey included four vignettes (first presentation of shoulder pain due to rotator cuff tendinopathy, acute rotator cuff tear in a 45 year-old labourer and early and later presentation of adhesive capsulitis).

Adverse effects of biologics: a network meta-analysis and Cochrane overview.

Background: Biologics are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and many other conditions. While the efficacy of biologics has been established, there is uncertainty regarding the adverse effects of this treatment. Since serious risks such as tuberculosis (TB) reactivation, serious infections, and lymphomas may be common to the biologics but occur in small numbers across the various indications, we planned to combine the results from biologics used in many conditions to obtain the much needed risk estimates.

Development of a sufficient design for estimation of fluconazole pharmacokinetics in people with HIV infection.

Aims: To assess an optimal design that is sufficient to gain precise estimates of the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters for fluconazole in people with HIV infection.

Methods: Two studies were identified, the first in healthy volunteers and the second in HIV patients. The investigators (J.

Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cefpirome in critically ill patients against Gram-negative bacteria.

Objectives: To develop a population pharmacokinetics model for cefpirome in ICU patients, to assess pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profiles vs. MIC distribution of likely ICU pathogens, and to assess their expected cumulative fraction of response (CFR).

Design And Setting: Prospective observational study in a multidisciplinary ICU.

Diagnostic accuracy of cystatin C compared to serum creatinine for the estimation of renal dysfunction in adults and children--a meta-analysis.

Objectives: To perform a systematic review comparing the diagnostic accuracy of CysC with SCr.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE (January 1984-February 2006) were searched. Studies included i) evaluated CysC against a recognised 'gold standard' method for determining GFR using a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis and ii) included data that could be extracted into a 2x2 table.

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic rationale for cefepime dosing regimens in intensive care units.

Objectives: (i) To develop a population pharmacokinetics (PK) model for cefepime in patients in intensive care units (ICUs). (ii) To assess the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profile of various cefepime dosing regimens and to assess their expected probability of target attainment (=PTA expectation value) against common ICU pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.

Methods: Thirteen ICU patients received cefepime 2 g 12 hourly intravenous (3 min).