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Muraglitazar: A dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist
Muraglitazar is a new agent under investigation for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a novel class of drugs that target the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, both alpha and gamma subtypes. Available clinical data describe improvements in glycemic parameters similar to available thiazolidinediones. Safety data are limited, but in available abstracts, there are reports of moderately elevated rates of edema, weight gain, and hypoglycemia with muraglitazar compared with placebo or pioglitazone.
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Once-daily tablet treats iron overload
The Food & Drug Administration has approved deferasirox for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions (transfusional hemosiderosis) in adults and children age two and older. "Iron overload is a potentially fatal consequence among patients with sickle cell disease, myelodysplastic syndromes, and thalassemia who regularly receive blood transfusions," said Alice Cohen, M.D., director of the division of hematology and oncology at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, N.J.
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Interactions between saw palmetto and prescription medications
Patients over age 50 typically present with one chronic disease per decade. Each chronic disease typically requires long-term drug therapy, meaning most older patients require several drugs to maintain health. Simultaneously, use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased in the United States in the last 20 years, reaching 36% in 2002; herbal medicine use accounts for approximately 22% of all CAM use.
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Focus On: Exubera An Orally inhaled insulin
Long-term glycemic control substantially reduces the risk of diabetes mellitus-related complications. Insulin is a mainstay in therapy in type 1 and later-stage type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although insulin is effective in controlling blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c concentrations, the need for subcutaneous injection can be a burden for patients, which can impact compliance. Exubera (Nektar Therapeutics/Pfizer/Sanofi-Aventis) is an inhaled insulin that has demonstrated results similar to conventional short-acting insulin products while also increasing overall patient satisfaction.
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