Financial consequences of a payment-by-results scheme in Catalonia: gefitinib in advanced EGFR-mutation positive non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: In 2011 the first payment-by-results (PbR) scheme in Catalonia was signed between the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), the Catalan Health Service, and AstraZeneca (AZ) for the introduction of gefitinib in the treatment of advanced EGFR-mutation positive non-small-cell lung cancer. The PbR scheme includes two evaluation points: at week 8, responses, stabilization and progression were evaluated, and at week 16 stabilization was confirmed. AZ was to reimburse the total treatment cost of patients that failed treatment, defined as progression at weeks 8 or 16.

Indacaterol, A Novel Once Daily Inhaled beta2-Adrenoreceptor Agonist.

In this article we will review the role of long acting beta2-adrenoreceptor agonists and long-acting muscarinic agents in the management of airflow obstruction. We will then focus our attention on indacaterol, one of the new once daily inhaled beta2-adrenoreceptor agonists. Pharmacologically this drug is a nearly full beta2-agonist without loss of efficacy after prolonged administration.

Assessment of the efficacy of phentolamine to prevent radial artery spasm during cardiac catheterization procedures: a randomized study comparing phentolamine vs. verapamil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate phentolamine as radial artery spasmolytic in transradial catheterization procedures. Radial artery spasm is a relatively frequent complication during transradial approach, causing patient discomfort or even making it impossible to continue the procedure. As radial artery spasm is mediated by the stimulation of alpha-adrenoreceptors, the use of the alpha-blocker phentolamine could make sense as spasmolytic.

[Radial artery spasm in transradial cardiac catheterization. Assessment of factors related to its occurrence, and of its consequences during follow-up].

Introduction And Objectives: Radial artery spasm is the most frequent complication of transradial cardiac catheterization. It causes patient discomfort and reduces the procedure's success rate. The aims of this study were to identify variables associated with this complication, such as clinical parameters, angiographic characteristics of the radial artery and factors related to the procedure, and to analyze the clinical consequences of spasm, both generally and for radial artery patency, during follow-up.