Evidence-based medicine: facts and controversies.

Evidence-based medicine is a paradigm shift in the biomedical field toward scientific-based clinical practice. It is recognized as the process of acquiring and applying into practice the best available research findings in a defined filed. Although the roots of evidenced-based medicine date back more than 150 years, the modern evidenced-based medicine concept has been rapidly and constantly developing in the past two decades.

Bioequivalence of a novel high-dose oral formulation of alpha-dihydroergocryptine.

The plasma pharmacokinetics of alpha-dihydroergocryptine (DHEC, CAS 14271-05-7) were investigated in 24 patients with Parkinson disease after the administration of repeated oral doses of 40 mg DHEC twice daily by means of a novel 40 mg DHEC tablet (Almirid 40 mg test T) and an established 20 mg DHEC tablet (Almirid 20 mg - reference R). The trial was conducted according to a randomised, controlled, open, within-subject cross-over design; steady-state was established by means of a stepwise up-titration from 5 to 40 mg b.i.

Bioequivalence studies with metformin: comparability of reference tablets from different origins.

Background: The choice of an appropriate reference product is still a problem within the European Union. When no direct comparisons between originator products in different countries are available, registration authorities are sometimes only prepared to grant registration for a generic product on the basis of a comparison with the originator product in the respective country. The aim of the investigation was therefore to evaluate the bioequivalence of reference products from different origins in two different bioequivalence trials with the same test drug.

Evaluation of the efficacy of a combined formulation (Grippostad-C) in the therapy of symptoms of common cold: a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial.

Background: The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a combined product in the treatment of common cold and to examine the contribution of the separate components. In the published literature there is conflicting data on the efficacy of agents used in the treatment of common cold, especially when given in drug combinations.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, 4-arm, controlled trial was carried out in 1,167 patients with common cold treated with one of the following medications: Grippostad-C, a combination of acetaminophen, caffeine, chlorpheniramine and ascorbic acid (verum), ascorbic acid (control), chlorpheniramine and ascorbic acid (reference 1), as well as acetaminophen, caffeine, and ascorbic acid (reference 2).

Influence of the cytochrome P4502D6*4 allele on the pharmacokinetics of controlled-release metoprolol.

Aim: The aim of the present paper was to compare the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol in homozygous Caucasian volunteers for the wild-type CYP2D6 allele (CYP2D6*1/CYP2D6*1) and heterozygous (CYP2D6*1/CYP2D6*4) Caucasians.

Methods: Thirty-six unrelated healthy male Caucasians were screened for two of the most frequently occurring mutant alleles (CYP2D6*3 and CYP2D6*4) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twenty-four volunteers with a genotype suggesting a rapid hydroxylator phenotype were enrolled in a bioequivalence trial and each received in a randomized, cross-over fashion one of the three formulations compared.