Efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids administered once daily for asthma.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most effective medications for the long term control of asthma. When first used in asthma management, these drugs were scheduled 3- or 4-times daily, but by the late 1980s, it became clear that most patients respond excellently to twice-daily dosing. Numerous recent double-blind, randomized trials have demonstrated the efficacy of once-daily ICS in the management of pediatric and adult asthma.

Darbepoetin alfa, a new therapy for the management of anemia of chronic kidney disease.

Anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) results primarily from a deficiency of the hormone erythropoietin. Treatment of anemia in the early stages of CKD is essential to reduce the risk of developing anemia-associated complications and to improve health-related quality of life. Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO, epoetin alfa) can correct erythropoietin deficiency and increase red blood cell production, but the short half-life of r-HuEPO necessitates frequent injections.

Lower serum digoxin concentrations in heart failure and reassessment of laboratory report forms.

Serum digoxin concentrations (SDC) have been used clinically since the early 1970s. Whereas the therapeutic range for SDC is frequently cited as either 0.8 to 2.