Use of Fondaparinux Off-Label or Approved Anticoagulants for Management of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

Background: Life-threatening heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is treated with the alternative nonheparin anticoagulants argatroban, lepirudin, or danaparoid. Frequently, the pentasaccharide fondaparinux is used off-label.

Objectives: The authors sought to investigate the safety and efficacy of the different anticoagulants for treating HIT.

SAfety of Fondaparinux in transoesophageal echocardiography-guided Electric cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation (SAFE-AF) study: a pilot study.

Background: Current guidelines recommend unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin plus an oral anticoagulant for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients undergoing electric cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF). Selective factor Xa inhibitors, such as fondaparinux, which has a favourable benefit-risk profile in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and the management of acute coronary syndromes, have not been systematically evaluated in this setting.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fondaparinux versus standard treatment in patients undergoing echocardiographically-guided cardioversion of AF.

Effects of pumpkin seed in men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia in the one-year, randomized, placebo-controlled GRANU study.

Introduction: The German Research Activities on Natural Urologicals (GRANU) study was a randomized, partially blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial that investigated the efficacy of pumpkin seed in men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH/LUTS).

Subjects And Methods: A total of 1,431 men (50-80 years) with BPH/LUTS were randomly assigned to either pumpkin seed (5 g b.i.

Influence of salmeterol/fluticasone via single versus separate inhalers on exacerbations in severe/very severe COPD.

Background: Patients with severe or very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently suffer repeated exacerbations generating high health care utilization costs. Combined corticosteroid and bronchodilator treatment using a single inhaler might - via improved compliance - reduce exacerbation rates.

Objectives: Our aim was to obtain descriptive data on exacerbation rates in patients with severe or very severe COPD (GOLD Stages III and IV as per GOLD 2009 classification) receiving salmeterol xinafoate/fluticasone propionate via a single inhaler (SFC) or via separate inhalers (Sal/FP) in addition to individual existing therapy in order to investigate the potential benefit of a fixed combination device as compared with two separate devices due to potentially improved patients' compliance.

Comparisons of health status scores with MRC grades in COPD: implications for the GOLD 2011 classification.

The 2011 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy document recommends assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using symptoms and future exacerbation risk, employing two score cut-points: COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score ≥ 10 or modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (mMRC) grade ≥ 2. To explore the equivalence of these two symptom cut-points, the relationship between the CAT and the mMRC and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the Short-form Health Survey and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue scores were retrospectively analysed using a primary care dataset. Data from 1817 patients (mean ± SD forced expiratory volume in 1 s 1.

Topotecan/cisplatin compared with cisplatin/etoposide as first-line treatment for patients with extensive disease small-cell lung cancer: final results of a randomized phase III trial.

Introduction: This phase III study compared efficacy and safety of topotecan-cisplatin (TP) versus topotecan-etoposide (TE) versus cisplatin-etoposide (PE) in chemo-naïve extensive disease small-cell lung cancer patients.

Methods: Seven hundred and ninety-five previously untreated patients were randomly assigned to TP (topotecan 1mg/m IV, d1-5; cisplatin 75 mg/m IV, d5; n = 358), PE (cisplatin 75 mg/m IV, d1; etoposide 100 mg/m IV, d1-3; n = 345) or TE (topotecan 1mg/m IV, d1-5; etoposide 80 mg/m IV, d3-5; n = 92). Primary endpoint was superiority of TP compared with PE, with the possibility to switch to a noninferiority test.

Patient-centred assessment of COPD in primary care: experience from a cross-sectional study of health-related quality of life in Europe.

Background: Most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Europe are treated in primary care, but perceptions on what guides primary care physicians (PCPs) in managing patients are lacking.

Aims: To describe factors associated with the assessment by PCPs of COPD severity and those associated with impaired health status, as assessed by patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQL) in 2,294 COPD patients from five European countries.

Ropinirole improves depressive symptoms and restless legs syndrome severity in RLS patients: a multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Comorbid depressive symptoms in restless legs syndrome (RLS) remain a treatment challenge, as some antidepressants aggravate RLS symptoms. Preliminary data in depressive patients suggest antidepressant properties of ropinirole. The present study investigates the effects of ropinirole immediate release (IR) on depressive symptoms and RLS severity.

Prevalence of low-risk and high-risk types of human papillomavirus and other risk factors for HPV infection in Germany within different age groups in women up to 30 years of age: an epidemiological observational study.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is frequent in young women and persistent infection may lead to cervical cancer. Therefore, vaccination against HPV is recommended for young women in the age group from 12-17 years in Germany. However, epidemiological data on the prevalence of HPV types and risk factors for infection for younger women in Germany is scarce.

Randomized comparison of eptifibatide versus abciximab in primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results of the EVA-AMI Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare eptifibatide and abciximab as adjuncts to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: The glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor abciximab as adjunct to primary PCI in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions has been shown to reduce ischemic complications and improve clinical outcomes. So far, no trial has been performed to compare the efficacy of another GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor, eptifibatide, and abciximab in primary PCI.

Fosamprenavir/ritonavir plus tenofovir does not affect amprenavir pharmacokinetics: no effect of tenofovir.

The effect of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in combination with two boosted fosamprenavir regimens on amprenavir pharmacokinetic parameters was assessed in this prospective phase I crossover study with 30 healthy volunteers. The co-administration of TDF 300 mg once a day with fosamprenavir/ritonavir 1400/200 mg or 1400/100 mg once a day has no effect on the pharmacokinetics of amprenavir and results in non-significant increases of ritonavir pharmacokinetic parameters, suggesting that no dose modification is necessary when combining fosamprenavir/ritonavir with TDF.

National survey of guideline-compliant COPD management among pneumologists and primary care physicians.

The aim of this survey was to investigate guideline-compliant COPD management among pneumologists and primary care physicians (PCPs). A multiple-choice questionnaire was sent out to 1836 PCPs and 863 pneumologists in Germany. The questions focused on the key aspects of current national and international COPD guidelines.