Methods: Ten COPD patients were interviewed to collect feedback on the interpretation, relevance and language of the questionnaire. This questionnaire was then used in ADVANTAGE to compare patients’ perception (n?=?100) of both devices. Patients completed the questionnaire after a single inhalation of placebo through each inhaler.
Results: Using the final questionnaire, patients reported being more confident of the feedback mechanism of Breezhaler than that of the Ellipta device (mean score 4.3 versus 3.6 respectively, estimated difference [95% CI]: 0.75 [0.51, 0.99], p?<?.0001). Patients also reported better comfort (ease to form a tight seal with the lips) with the Breezhaler mouthpiece than the Ellipta mouthpiece (mean score 4.3 versus 3.9 respectively, estimated difference [95% CI]: 0.41 [0.21, 0.61], p?<?.0001). There were no safety concerns associated with either device.
Conclusion: COPD patients showed greater preference for the Breezhaler over the Ellipta inhaler for confidence of dose delivery and comfort of the mouthpiece.
Trial registration: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02551224). 相似文献
Objective: Evaluation of the peripapillary choroidal layer in the patients receiving oral isotretinoin therapy may aid in explaining the pathophysiology of ocular side effects.
Methods: In this study, peripapillary choroidal thickness was assessed in the patients receiving oral isotretinoin treatment via optical coherent tomography technique.
Results: Significant difference was found in the superotemporal and temporal areas.
Conclusion: Oral isotretinoin treatment may affect the thickness of the peripapillary choroidal layer. 相似文献
Aim: Microencapsulate lavender oil by spray drying using a biocompatible polymeric blend of gum acacia and maltodextrin to protect the oil components. Effect of total polymer content, oil loading, gum acacia, and maltodextrin proportions on the size, yield, loading, and encapsulation efficiency of the microparticles was investigated.
Methods: Morphology and oil localisation within microparticles were assessed by confocal laser scanning electron microscope. Structural preservation and compatibility were assessed using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.
Results: Lavender microparticles of size 12.42?±?1.79?µm prepared at 30 w/w% polymer concentration, 16.67 w/w% oil loading, and 25w/w% gum acacia showed maximum oil protection at high loading (12?mg w/w%), and encapsulation efficiency (77.89 w/w%).
Conclusion: Lavender oil was successfully microencapsulated into stable microparticles by spray drying using gum acacia/maltodextrin polymeric blend. 相似文献
Methods: We studied 200 patients: 100 hypertensive and 100 normotensive. The parameters we evaluated included: patient age, ABI, IMT, PWV, serum uric acid and serum C-reactive protein (CRP). In addition, the cardiovascular risk according to the SCORE and Framingham scales was assessed.
Results: In the hypertensive group, there were significant correlations between ABI and the Framingham scale in both sexes. In hypertensive women, there were also significant correlations between IMT and the SCORE scale risk, and IMT and the Framingham scale risk.
In normotensive women, there were significant correlations between ABI and the SCORE scale risk, and between ABI and the Framingham scale risk. In normotensive men, there were significant correlations between PWV and the SCORE scale risk, and between PWV and the Framingham scale risk. Lastly, in the group of normotensive men, there were significant correlations between IMT and the SCORE scale risk, and IMT and the Framingham scale risk.
The possibility of correctly classifying a patient into the high-risk category by a logistic regression model using synchronous ABI, IMT and PWV was high – 74% for the risk according to the SCORE scale (66% in men, 88% in women), and 98% for the Framingham scale.
Conclusions: The addition of recognized subclinical target organ damage tests to the estimation of cardiovascular risk can significantly strengthen the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular risk estimation follow-up with ABI, PWV and IMT increased the probability of correctly classifying people, especially women, into an at least high-risk category according to the SCORE scale, which has valuable therapeutic implications. 相似文献
Methods: A randomized crossover study in healthy subjects (N = 161) examined the bioequivalence, safety, and tolerability of tocilizumab after a single subcutaneous injection by AI versus PFS. A nonrandomized observational, real-life human factors study in RA patients (N = 54) assessed user (RA patients, caregivers, health care providers) ability to administer tocilizumab effectively by AI.
Results: Bioequivalence criteria for tocilizumab AI versus PFS were met for key pharmacokinetic parameters. Safety was comparable between devices and consistent with the established tocilizumab profile. In the real-life human factors study, the proportion of users who successfully performed all essential tasks required to operate the AI to deliver the full dose was 92.3% at first assessment and 98.1% at second assessment, with no safety concerns.
Conclusions: Tocilizumab administration by AI was bioequivalent to administration by PFS. Intended users were successful in performing the tasks required to administer tocilizumab by AI. No new safety signals were observed in either study.
Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02678988, NCT02682823 相似文献
Areas covered: The authors provide pharmacological profiles of fluticasone furoate, vilanterol and the FF/VI fixed dose combination. Salient clinical trials evaluating efficacy and safety of the FF/VI combination, and studies demonstrating the impact on COPD exacerbation risk and mortality are also discussed.
Expert opinion: ICS/LABA combinations provide bronchodilation and decrease the frequency of COPD exacerbations. Individualizing treatment of each COPD patient based on unique phenotypes will maximize chances of therapeutic responsiveness. Asthma-COPD overlap (ACO), patients with sputum and/or blood eosinophilia, patients with a brisk bronchodilator response, and patients with frequent exacerbations are more likely to show a therapeutic response to ICS than populations who have none of these features. FF/VI will likely remain a popular ICS/LBA combination to treat COPD, as a once-daily inhaled therapy delivered via the Ellipta device popular with COPD patients, with extensive clinical trial and real-world data to support its use. 相似文献
Research design and methods: This multicenter, open-label, single-group, prospective interventional study evaluated changes in total gait-related scores of the Part II/III Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q) in 31 Parkinson’s disease patients treated with istradefylline. Gait analysis by portable gait rhythmogram was performed.
Results: MDS-UPDRS Part III gait-related total scores significantly decreased at Weeks 4–12 from baseline with significant improvements in gait, freezing of gait, and postural stability. Significant decreases in MDS-UPDRS Part II total scores and individual item scores at Week 12 indicated improved daily living activities. At Week 12, there were significant improvements in FOG-Q, new FOG-Q, and overall movement per 48 h measured by portable gait rhythmogram. Adverse events occurred in 7/31 patients.
Conclusions: Istradefylline improved gait disorders in Parkinson’s disease patients complicated with freezing of gait, improving their quality of life. No unexpected adverse drug reactions were identified.
Trial registration: UMIN-CTR (UMIN000020288). 相似文献
Areas covered: This paper focuses on the pathophysiology of transplantation-related AKI and recent findings on cellular stress responses at the intersection of 1. The Unfolded protein response; 2. Mitochondrial dysfunction; 3. The benefits of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. Lastly, perspectives are offered to the readers.
Expert opinion: Renal IRI is caused by a sudden and temporary impairment of blood flow to the organ.
Defining the underlying cellular cascades involved in IRI will assist us in the identification of novel interventional targets to attenuate IRI with the potential to improve transplantation outcomes. Targeting mitochondrial function and cellular bioenergetics upstream of cellular damage may offer several advantages compared to targeting downstream inflammatory and fibrosis processes.
An improved understanding of the cellular pathophysiological mechanisms leading to kidney injury will hopefully offer improved targeted therapies to prevent and treat the injury in the future. 相似文献
Materials and methods: The study was developed in an installed additive manufacturing machine, having controlled temperature and humidity in an industrial unit where metal parts were being produced using stainless steel powders of granulometry of 10 to 35?μm.
Results and discussion: Monitoring of airborne nanoparticles emission was made using adequate equipment, which showed considerable number of nanoparticles over the baseline, having the same composition as the steel powder used.
Conclusion: It is concluded that the values of professional exposure to nanoparticles are high in these workstations and that the nanoparticles to which the workers are exposed are small in size (around 15?nm), thus having a strong capacity for alveolar penetration and, consequently, with a strong possibility of passing to the bloodstream, accumulating in the body. 相似文献
Objectives: To investigate levels of secondary cannabis use among drug treatment clients and perceived need for support addressing this use among clients and staff.
Methods: Cross-sectional surveys of clients (N?=?295) and staff (N?=?33) were conducted in 2015 at four London drug and alcohol treatment services. Client measures included recent drug use, type of cannabis used, Severity of Dependence Scale for cannabis, and views on secondary cannabis use treatment. Staff measures included definition of problem cannabis use, importance and timing for addressing secondary cannabis use.
Results: Among clients, 39.7% reported recent secondary cannabis use, with 30.8% of these clients meeting criteria for problem use. Problem users were more likely to be interested in receiving treatment for cannabis use than non-problem users (51.4% versus 10.8%, p?<?.001). Nearly half of staff (48.5%) thought secondary cannabis use should be addressed early in treatment.
Conclusions: Two out of five drug treatment clients used cannabis and a third experienced cannabis-related problems. Many are willing to address cannabis use, but defined treatment pathways are needed. 相似文献
Design and methods: Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the experiences of 31 Greek addiction professionals who participated in focus groups.
Findings: Professionals adopted various interventions which included (a) respond to parents quest for help, (b) involvement of the distant parent in treatment, (c) boundary setting, (d) facilitation of parent-child communication, and (e) support of parental changes. These interventions were perceived as necessary, both for motivating and sustaining the client’s change, and for alleviating the parents’ chronic grief and distress over their child’s addiction.
Conclusion: Overall, addiction professionals perceived low intensity interventions, information giving, and non- judgmental informal interactions as catalysts for the parents involvement in addiction treatment. 相似文献
Purpose: Characteristics of the main safety parameters of biosimilar hormone preparations licensed by EMA.
Methods: This paper analyzes the results demonstrating the similarities and differences between biosimilar and reference hormone products indicated in the EPAR (public assessment report) for the examination of materials presented for the licensing of biosimilar products.
Results: During the development of biosimilar hormone medicines, differences in the glycosylation profile between biosimilar and reference preparations are revealed. As biotherapeutical preparations are produced by cells, the differences in glycosylation profile between biosimilar and referent preparation are predictable. While carrying out clinical studies, a high similarity of biosimilar and reference product effectiveness is shown, but some differences between them in the safety profile are revealed.
Conclusions: The study of biosimilar product safety has shown the necessity of further improvement in safety and standard approaches for the assessment of the immunogenicity of biosimilar products. 相似文献
2. Mass balance of a single intravenous WTX101 dose, measured as molybdenum (Mo), was assessed over 168?h in control (Long Evans Agouti [LEA]) and Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, a WD model.
3. In LEC rats, Mo was partially excreted (up to 45%); 29% by renal clearance, and faecal clearance, still ongoing at 168?h, accounted for 16%. In contrast, in LEA rats, Mo was almost fully excreted (~87%); 79% was renally cleared with only 7% faecal excretion.
4. In LEC rats, the proportion of faecal to renal Mo excretion was enhanced (4:6) compared to controls (1:9).
5. Substantially more Mo was found in LEC liver and kidney compared with LEA tissues, in line with tissue Cu distribution.
6. These findings are consistent with the WTX101 mechanism of action: in the WD model, excess Cu is removed from hepatic metallothionein and retained within the stable tetrathiomolybdate-Cu-albumin tripartite complex, preventing tetrathiomolybdate degradation and resulting in less urinary elimination and greater faecal excretion than in controls. 相似文献
Areas covered: In this paper, the chemical properties, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of Revefenacin was introduced, and the evolution of muscarinic antagonists is also briefly described.
Expert commentary: Revefenacin is a new M3 muscarinic receptor antagonist, which could prevent acetylcholine from binding with the muscarinic receptor, making bronchodilation and relieving COPD symptoms. Revefenacin has a rapid onset of action, and the curative effect is to maintain a long time. Clinical trials showed that Revefenacin could significantly increase forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in patients with COPD and improve their quality of life. The recommended dose of Revefenacin inhalation solution is 175 μg once daily. Adverse reactions were mild and the drug was well tolerated. 相似文献
Areas covered: The role of PDE inhibitors in asthma treatment and the possible mechanism of action via their anti-inflammatory and/or bronchodilating effect are discussed.
Expert opinion: Novel PDE inhibitors exhibiting fewer adverse events may have a role as add-on therapies in asthma treatment in the future. More clinical trials are necessary to prove their efficacy and evaluate their safety profile before approval by regulatory bodies is granted. 相似文献
Methods: TD-MN system consisted of an array of tearable dissolving microneedles (TD-MN) and micro-pillars. The microneedle tips had a female part to integrate with the micro-pillars. The micro-pillars exerted a vertical force to cause the separation of the tips from the base. The separation force exerted by six TD-MN arrays with different thicknesses of separation region was measured. The TD-MN system with trypan blue was inserted into porcine skin to observe the separation of the microneedle tips, and then calcein was added separately to observe drug diffusion into the skin.
Results: The thickness of the tearable region and the depth of the female part were a function of the concentration and volume of the molding solution. The separation force increased as the thickness of the tearable region increased. Nine tips were successfully separated from the base by applying a force of through the micro-pillars.
Conclusions: The TD-MN system could provide immediate administration of a drug, resulting in improved patient convenience as well as delivery of the correct drug dose. 相似文献
Methods: We conducted a pooled cross-sectional statistical analysis using the 2012–2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. We focused on adults 18 years of age and older and excluded pregnant women. We employed an adjusted logit regression model, where the primary outcomes were dichotomous indicators on healthcare utilizations including ED visits and hospital stays. A key covariate was a four-category variable: 1) no asthma or COPD; 2) asthma only; 3) COPD only; and 4) ACO. Other covariates included age, sex, race, education level, marital status, household income level, medical insurance status, smoking status, body mass index (BMI) category, region, year and comorbidities (cancer, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and ulcer).
Results: Adults with ACO were 134%, 53% and 21% more likely to have ED visits than the general population, asthma group and COPD group, respectively. For hospital stay, the ACO group was 120% and 86% more likely to be hospitalized than the general population and the asthma group respectively. In addition, adults with ACO were 61% and 130% more likely to have asthma exacerbations and asthma-related ED visits than the asthma group.
Conclusions: ACO is a considerable risk factor for healthcare utilization versus the general population, the asthma population and the COPD population. Future focus should be placed on the ACO population to identify ways to reduce their healthcare utilization. 相似文献
Aim: The goal of the present study was to assess the effects of cigarette smoking on kidney oxidative stress, inflammation, and remodeling in streptozotocin (STZ) rat model of diabetes.
Methods: Rats were randomized into control (intraperitoneal (i.p.) citrate buffer injection and exposure to fresh air), cigarette smoking (1?h daily for 6?d/week, citrate buffer), DM (single dose STZ 35?mg/kg i.p. and exposure to fresh air), and DM?+?smoking groups for a period of 4?weeks. Kidney biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and remodeling were measured.
Results: A significant increase in kidney to body weight ratio was observed in diabetic groups. Diabetes but not smoking increased blood urea nitrogen levels without changes in creatinine levels. Kidney levels of thiobarbituric acid substances, nitrite, endothelin-1, and C-reactive protein were increased significantly in the DM?+?smoking groups. Smoking induced GSH expression and activity of superoxide dismutase. A significant increase in kidney fibrosis was observed in the DM?+?smoking group coupled with a similar increase in transforming growth factor beta. Protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, (MMP-2), mitogen-activated protein kinases, and c-Jun N terminal kinase were elevated in Smoking and DM?+?smoking groups.
Conclusion: Cigarette smoke might promote risk of kidney dysfunction in DM by augmentation of renal inflammation, oxidant radicals and fibrosis. The kidney promotes compensatory increase in MMP-2 in response to smoking probably to prevent pro-fibrotic factors induced-fibrosis. 相似文献
Methods: Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) MPs loaded with pIGF-1 were prepared, characterised and evaluated using double emulsion solvent evaporation method.
Results: Spherical MPs showed an average particle size of 2?µm, encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 67% and 50% degradation over 15?days. With a view to enhancing retention in the myocardium, the MP formulation was encapsulated in a cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogel. pIGF-1 released from MPs and from MPs suspended in hyaluronic acid hydrogel remained bioactive, determined by a significant increase in cellular proliferation of c-kit+ cells.
Conclusion: This formulation has potential for loco-regional delivery to damaged myocardium to promote the survival of cardiomyocytes. 相似文献