Evaluating the transparency of pharmaceutical company disclosure of payments to patient organisations in the UK

Patient organisations contribute to many areas of pharmaceutical policy. In developing their organisational capacity, many turn to financial support from pharmaceutical companies, which may create conflicts of interests. However, the transparency of the industry’s self-regulatory approach to the disclosure of payments to patient organisations has evaded scrutiny. Using company reports disclosing payments to UK patient organisations in 2012–2016, we evaluate the transparency of reporting using indicators derived from industry’s European patient organisation Code. We found a large proportion of companies did not have any disclosure reports available despite many having made payments, confirmed by comparing with annual financial accounts of patient organisations registered as charities. Where disclosure reports were available, many payments were not adequately described, resulting in large portions of money being disclosed without clarity as to the payment type and purpose. We found companies were clearer regarding whether payments were financial or benefits-in-kind, but transparency was particularly inadequate as to whether it could be determined if payments were indirect or direct and restricted or unrestricted, and almost no companies mentioned the VAT status of payments. Our findings suggest that the industry’s self-regulatory approach to transparency has not been working efficiently. We suggest ways for standardising and increasing the precision of information by pharmaceutical companies and advocate for the introduction of a centralised, and easily accessible national-level payment database.     

重度苯妥英钠中毒的药学监护

目的首先确定中毒药物,然后通过测定血药浓度以了解中毒程度,为重度苯妥英钠中毒患者临床抢救治疗提供依据。方法间隔一定时间采集患者静脉血,萃取血中药物,在211 nm处以反相高效液相色谱法定性,明确中毒药物并测定血药浓度。结果在苯妥英中毒患者中最高血药浓度为68.94 mg.L-1,接近治疗浓度上限的3.5倍。结论患者为重度中毒,危及生命,需临床药师与临床医师积极配合,施行全程药学监护。     

Acute myocardial infarction after sumatriptan administration for cluster headache

Abstract The pain of cluster headache attacks is severe, excruciating and selectively responsive to subcutaneous sumatriptan. Serious cardiovascular events attributed to sumatriptan are extremely rare and have most often been reported in patients at significant cardiovascular risk, or in overt cardiovascular disease. They also have occurred, however, in patients without evidence of cardiovascular disease. We describe a 42-year-old man with episodic cluster headache without history of coronary artery disease who was admitted to our coronary care unit for acute myocardial infarction after 3 h of subcutaneous injection of sumatriptan. During hospitalisation cluster headache attacks were successfully treated with e.v. indomethacin.     

Guillain-Barré syndrome in South-West Stockholm, 1973–1991, 3. Clinicoepidemiological subgroups

Using hierarchical cluster analysis, applied to 47 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) incident in South-West Stockholm (SWS) during the period from January 1973 to June 1992, we identified three major clinicoepidemiological subgroups. The first subgroup, 25.5% of the cases (26.7 ± 6.7 years), recorded a peak incidence at ages 20–29 years and presented significant differences from other subgroups, a high proportion of cases with onset at low age preceded by respiratory infection (83.3%) and with normal motor conduction velocity (50.0%). Also found, were less affected biological parameters, a rapidly progressive course and independence in gait at one month after onset. A second subgroup, 27.7% of cases, was severely affected, clinically and functionally. It consisted predominantly of young individuals (22.7 ± 11.1 years), with a high incidence (69.2% of cases) in autumn. A third subgroup, comprising 40.47; of cases, was older (61.1 ± 11.0 years) and, in general, also severely affected. The incidence of this form appeared to be invariant with time.     

放射性碘标记的抗肺癌单克隆抗体在载瘤裸鼠体内的代谢

放射性碘标记的抗人肺癌单克隆抗体2E3和6DI注入载人肺癌移植瘤裸鼠体内,静脉血放射性-时间曲线符合二室开放模型;血放射性清除半减期为3.4d,表观分布容积636ml/kg;标记抗体在体内的脱碘率为18.6％,脱落的放射性碘绝大部分从尿排出。腹腔给药吸收快,半吸收期2.08h,生物利用度89％。~(125)I标记的单克隆抗体注射后1～3d,放射性主要分布在肿瘤、血、肝、脾中,其次为肺、肾、胃、小肠;此后,血和正常组织的放射性下降,肿瘤中的放射性较高。~(131)I标记的单克隆抗体能使移植瘤清晰显像。     

从产业组织学角度看中国医疗广告

随着医疗卫生体制改革的全面推行,医疗行业竞争日趋激烈,众多医院采取不同的策略组合以提高其核心竞争力,而广告正是其主要的营销策略之一.本文在对医疗广告特性、类别、作用进行分析的基础上,从产业组织学角度阐述了医疗广告与医疗市场结构、市场效益的关系,提出了中国医疗广告的发展趋势.     

Immunomodulatory activity of Asparagus racemosus on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity: Implications for immunoadjuvant potential

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatavari in vernacular) are widely used in Ayurveda as Rasayana for immunostimulation, galactogogue as also in treatment of conditions like ulcers and cancer. Various studies have indicated immunomodulatory properties of Shatavari root extracts and formulations.

Aim of the study

To study the effect of standardized Asparagus racemosus root aqueous extract (ARE) on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity of SRBC sensitized animals.

Materials and methods

We used HPTLC to quantify steroidal saponins (Shatavarin IV, Immunoside^®) and flow cytometry to study effects of ARE on Th1/Th2 immunity. SRBC specific antibody titres and DTH responses were also monitored as markers of Th2 and Th1 responses, respectively. We also studied lymphocyte proliferation. Cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide and levamisole were used as controls.

Results

Treatment with ARE (100 mg/(kg b.w. p.o.)) resulted in significant increase of CD3⁺ and CD4/CD8⁺ percentages suggesting its effect on T cell activation. ARE treated animals showed significant up-regulation of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-g) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines suggesting its mixed Th1/Th2 adjuvant activity. Consistent to this, ARE also showed higher antibody titres and DTH responses. ARE, in combination with LPS, Con A or SRBC, produced a significant proliferation suggesting effect on activated lymphocytes.

Conclusion

The study suggests mixed Th1/Th2 activity of ARE supports its immunoadjuvant potential.     

Fluorimetric assay of rufloxacin in serum and in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple and rapid fluorimetric method for the determination of 9-fluoro-10-[N-(4′-methyl)piperazinyl]-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H-pyrido[1,2,3-d,e][1–4]benzothyazin-6-carboxylic acid hydrochloride (MF 934), in serum and in pharmaceutical formulations, has been developed based on its strong fluorescence, in 0.1 N H₂SO₄, at 526 nm (excitation wavelength at 340 nm). The procedure which involves the direct dilution of the sample requires only a few minutes and the sample volume is only 20–100 μl of serum, depending on the drug concentration. Tedious sample preparation procedures such as extraction, deproteinization, or centrifugation are not necessary. The minimum concentration that can be detected is 0.3 ng ml⁻¹, the standard curve in 0.1 N H₂SO₄ was found to be linear from 0.005 to 1.5 μg ml⁻¹ and from 0.01 to 0.07 g in plasma after dilution with 0.1 N H₂SO₄.     

川产贝母种质资源遗传多样性的ISSR分析

目的:为阐明川产贝母资源间亲缘关系提供更多证据.方法:利用ISSR分子标记技术对川产10个种1变种共19份材料进行分析,采用NTSYS软件计算材料间相似系数,并用UPGMA法构建了系统树.结果:从35个ISSR引物中共筛选出11个多态性明显、反应稳定的引物,在19份供试材料DNA中共扩增出179条谱带,其中多态性条带163条,占86.8%.材料间ISSR标记遗传相似性系数(GS)在0.569～0.855.聚类分析结果显示,所有供试材料均可区分开,并聚为4组.第1组包括川贝母、甘肃贝母、长腺贝母和短丝贝母,第Ⅱ组由暗紫贝母和浓蜜贝母组成,槽鳞贝母、浙贝母、瓦布贝母和梭砂贝母聚为第Ⅲ组,湖北贝母单独为第Ⅳ组.试验结果还表明,来源于同一地区的多数川产贝母材料可分别聚在一起.结论:ISSR标记适用于川产贝母资源的遗传多样性研究,但药典收载的川贝母药材的4种基原植物种间及其与其他川产贝母属各物种间尚不能仅通过采用ISSR标记技术进行分子鉴定.此外,ISSR聚类结果同川产贝母资源的地理分布有一定关系.