Interferons are naturally occurring proteins that demonstrate immuno-modulatory, antiviral, and antiprolifera-tive biological activities. They exert their biological effects by binding to specific receptors on the surface of cells. The binding of interferon beta to its receptors initiates a complex cascade of intra-cellular events that leads to the expression of numerous interferon-induced gene products and markers, [...]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, debilitating illness that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It is presumed to be an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that results in acute focal inflammatory demyelination and axonal loss with limited remyelination, culminating in chronic multifocal sclerotic plaques. This leads to [...]

Selecting the best strategy for remedying medication errors is not easy. Even when system-based causes have been identified, often the most effective action is not obvious and the best error-prevention tools to use in each situation are not clear. In this article, examples of these tools are listed in order of their effectiveness for creating [...]

Peginterferon alfa-2a is contra-indicated in the following groups: patients with hypersensitivity to any of the components of the product, those with autoimmune hepatitis, and those with decompensated hepatic disease before or during treatment with this drug neonates and infants because of the ingredient benzyl alcohol, which has been reported to be associated with an increased [...]

The safety and efficacy of Pegasys® were assessed in three randomized, open-labeled, active-controlled clinical studies. All of the patients were adults, had compensated liver disease and detectable HCV, and had not been treated with interferon previously. All patients received therapy by subcutaneous (SQ) injection for 48 weeks and were monitored for an additional 24 weeks [...]

It is estimated that between 2.7 million and 4.0 million people in the U.S. have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Since the early 1980s, the use of injected drugs has been the greatest risk factor for HCV infection. Drug use currently accounts for 60% of cases of newly acquired infection, and 20% to 50% [...]

NSAIDs represent one of the most widely prescribed classes of drugs in the U.S. Although data on NSAIDs abound in randomized, controlled trials, they are limited in terms of patients’ experiences in actual practice. Ours is one of the first studies to examine patient-reported, NSAID-related experiences and behaviors in a primary care setting. We limited [...]