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Therapeutic Agents Used (therapeutic + agent_used)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

A review of the therapeutic agents used in the management of polycythaemia vera

HEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
Mary Frances McMullin
Abstract The acquired clonal disorder Polycythaemia Vera leads to increased erythropoiesis, myelopoiesis and megakaryopoeisis. These anomalies result in an increased incidence of thromboembolic events, transformation to acute leukaemia and myelofibrosis. Treatments which aim to reduce the event rate may increase anaemia but may also affect the rate of complications. This paper reviews the evidence for the treatments which have been used in the management of the disorders over a 50 plus year period. Assessment of this evidence and its limitations form the basis for the current suggested management plans. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Present and future therapeutic strategies for idiopathic oligozoospermia

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 6 2000
Dimitrios A. Adamopoulos
The effectiveness of medical treatment for idiopathic oligozoospermia (IO) has been at best doubtful until now and a logical consequence of this unsatisfactory situation has been the partial displacement of this approach by assisted reproduction techniques. This state of affairs has resulted from insufficient investigation, inappropriately designed clinical trials and consistent disregard for the principles of evidence-based medicine. Protocol-related shortcomings and wrong interpretation of the data available have also been some of the all too frequent problems encountered in this therapeutic approach. In this rather misty situation, it appears that, of the therapeutic agents used so far, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (mainly FSH-secretagogues) may exert some beneficial effects on a number of biological endpoints related to spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. The short and medium term prospects of medical treatment for IO rest mainly with improvement of investigative procedures to a higher degree of sophistication, with emphasis placed on identifying the causes rather than the results of dysfunction so that a better selection of candidates can be made. Moreover, the introduction of prognostic indices for evaluation of the beneficial effects of a therapeutic agent may be of paramount importance. Finally, a better assessment of the preparations available and, possibly, the introduction of new more specific agents may also be an important step forward in this field. This type of large-scale effort should not be left to individual investigators or special centres working independently, but it may come under the auspices of a central regulating agency so that undisputed results from large, multicentre and uniform studies might be obtained, if medical treatment is to remain a good option. In this context, it may also be emphasized that andrology's main task should always be to treat the male with the problem rather than his healthy female partner, whenever this is possible. [source]

A survey of the scope of therapeutic practice by UK optometrists and their attitudes to an extended prescribing role

OPHTHALMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS, Issue 3 2008
Justin J. Needle
Abstract Purpose:, Recent changes in medicines legislation in the UK have broadened the opportunities for optometrists to use and supply therapeutic drugs. We set out to investigate the current therapeutic practice of UK optometrists and to elicit their views on an extended prescribing role. Methods:, Members of the College of Optometrists were invited via email to take part in an online survey. The survey questions covered four areas: mode of practice, proximity and relationship to other providers of eye care, scope of current therapeutic practice and future plans regarding prescriber training. Results:, Of the 1288 responses received (response rate 24%), over 90% were from optometrists working in community practice. Common, non-sight-threatening conditions were managed frequently or occasionally by between 69 and 96% of respondents. Blepharitis and dry eye were the most common (managed routinely by >70%). In terms of therapeutic agents used, large numbers of optometrists reported that they commonly supplied or recommended over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, particularly lubricants and anti-allergic agents. However, fewer respondents supplied antibiotics (only 14% supplying chloramphenicol or fusidic acid frequently). Overall, relatively few respondents (14%) expressed no interest in undertaking further training for extended prescribing, although several barriers were identified, including cost and time taken for training, lack of remuneration and fear of litigation. Conclusion:, Significant numbers of community optometrists are currently managing a range of common ocular conditions using a limited formulary. Enabling optometrists to train as independent prescribers will further develop this role, allowing greater use of their skills and providing patients with quicker access to medicines. [source]

Proanthocyanidin protects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 12 2009
Ahmed Amir Radwan Sayed
Abstract Cisplatin (CP) [cis -diamminedichloroplatinum (II)] is one of the most widely therapeutic agents used for treating many types of cancer. At effective doses, CP causes nephrotoxicity which has been attributed to the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present investigation proanthocyanidin (PA) was studied to demonstrate its therapeutic efficacy against CP-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Cp treatment caused significant elevation of urea, creatinine and IL-6. In addition, CP enhanced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and lowered the glutathione (GSH) content in kidney. On the other hand, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was decreased. These alterations were reversed by PA in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggested a beneficial role of PA in attenuating CP-induced oxidative renal toxicity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]