Areas covered: Since platinum free interval (PFI) represents the most important predictive factor for response to platinum re-treatment in ROC, non-platinum regimens are conventionally considered the most appropriate approaches.
Impressive progress has been made in recent decades, resulting in the identification of most effective cytotoxic agents and in the development of new target strategies.
However, the efficacy of most of these drugs for the treatment of PR disease is still limited.
Expert opinion: The most favorable benefit for the treatment of PR disease, has been described by the AURELIA trial that showed a 3.3 months increase in progression free survival (PFS) when bevacizumab was combined with non-platinum single agent chemotherapy in bevacizumab-naïve patients.
Nevertheless, the use of novel agents is associated to important costs for just little gains in survival.
Thus, in our opinion the economic evaluation, such as the incorporation of quality of life into the clinical studies is crucial for the development of future trials for PR-ROC. 相似文献
A pooled analysis of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggested that increased bodyweight and body mass index (BMI) may be associated with a greater probability of pregnancy. To address this issue we investigated whether higher bodyweight and/or BMI negatively impacted the risk of pregnancy in women receiving LNG-EC (levonorgestrel – emergency contraception) after unprotected sexual intercourse in a pooled analysis of three large multinational RCTs conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Methods:
A pooled analysis of three double-blind, multinational RCTs conducted by the WHO to investigate the efficacy of LNG-EC in the general population. All analyses were done on the per-protocol set (PPS) which included 5812 women who received LNG-EC within 72 hours following unprotected sexual intercourse. The analysis was based on logistic regression, with pregnancy as the outcome. BMI and weight were represented in the same model.
Results:
A total of 56 pregnancies were available for analysis in the PPS. Increasing bodyweight and BMI were not correlated with an increased risk of pregnancy in the studied population. A limitation of this study is that despite the large study population in the pooled analysis there were relatively small numbers of women in the high-BMI and high-bodyweight subgroups.
Conclusion:
LNG-EC is effective for preventing pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure and no evidence was found to support the hypothesis of a loss of EC efficacy in subjects with high BMI or bodyweight. Therefore, access to LNG-EC should not be limited only to women of lower bodyweight or BMI. 相似文献
Objective: This study aimed to determine the protective effects of the osmolyte taurine against blue light-induced apoptosis in retinal neuronal cells in vitro.
Methods: Real-time PCR was used to measure osmolyte transport. Radioimmunoassays were performed to measure osmolyte uptake. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays were conducted to measure cellular viability. Flow cytometry analysis was used to measure apoptosis.
Results: Compared with normotonic stress, hypertonic stress-induced uptake of osmolytes, including betaine, myoinositol, and taurine, into the retinal neuronal cells. Blue light increased osmolyte transporter mRNA expression together with osmolyte uptake. Furthermore, taurine significantly suppressed blue light-induced retinal neuronal cell apoptosis.
Conclusion: The compatible osmolyte taurine may have an important role in cell resistance to blue light and cell survival. 相似文献
Objective: The purpose of this research is to investigate the protective role of taurine on retina under UVB radiation.
Methods: Osmolytes transporters were measured by quantitative realtime PCR. Osmolytes uptake was estimated by radioimmunoassay. Cell viability was calculated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry analysis.
Results: Hypertonicity accelerated osmolytes uptake into retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) including taurine, betadine, and myoinositol. UVB radiation increased osmolytes transporter expression and osmolytes uptake. In addition, osmolyte taurine remarkably prevented UVB radiation induced cell apoptosis in RGCs.
Conclusions: The effect of compatible osmolyte taurine on cell survival rate may play an important role in cell resistance and adaption to UVB exposure. 相似文献
Areas Covered: Experimental data have been mainly obtained in acute laboratory animal models. It is questionable whether animals’ data can be translated into clinical settings with patients with chronic HF who have concomitant pathologies.
The idea of a common inflammatory pathway that characterizes all different forms of clinical HF is unrealistic. It seems realistic that inflammation differs in non-cardiac and cardiac diseases.
Research therapeutic options address the use of inhibitors of cytokines, of agents antagonizing oxidative stress, of MMP and of PI3K signaling pathways.
Expert Opinion: Considering the many unknowns in our knowledge it is not surprising that early trials aimed to antagonize inflammation in HF have been disappointing. We are far away from having solid therapeutic schedules to use immunomodulation in all subtypes of HF. However, modern trials on HF due to virus infections have proven that immunomodulation is therapeutically effective.
We should wisely use the known facts and accept that we have many unknowns. By appropriate selection of the subtypes of HF we may be able to find the appropriate therapy against inflammation in HF. 相似文献
Objectives: To collate the studies on medicinal plants and natural products with arsenic toxicity ameliorative effect, active pre-clinically and/or clinically.
Methods: Literature survey was carried out by using Google, Scholar Google and Pub-Med. Only the scientific journal articles found on the internet for last two decades were considered. Minerals and semi-synthetic or synthetic analogs of natural products were excluded.
Results: Literature study revealed that 34 medicinal plants and 14 natural products exhibited significant protection from arsenic toxicity, mostly in preclinical trials and a few in clinical studies.
Conclusion: This research could lead to development of a potentially useful agent in clinical management of arsenicosis in humans. 相似文献
The objective of this study was to assess the timely disclosure of results of company-sponsored clinical trials related to all new medicines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) during 2012. This is an extension of the previously reported study of trials related to all new medicines approved in Europe in 2009, 2010 and 2011, which found that over three-quarters of all these trials were disclosed within 12 months and almost 90% were disclosed by the end of the study.
Methods:
The methodology used was exactly as previously reported. Various publicly available information sources were searched for both clinical trial registration and disclosure of results. All completed company-sponsored trials related to each new medicine approved for marketing by the EMA in 2012, carried out in patients and recorded on a clinical trials registry and/or included in an EMA European Public Assessment Report (EPAR), were included. Information sources were searched between 1 May and 31 July 2014.
Outcome measures and results:
The main outcome measure was the proportion of trials for which results had been disclosed on a registry or in the scientific literature either within 12 months of the later of either first regulatory approval or trial completion, or by 31 July 2014 (end of survey). Of the completed trials associated with 23 new medicines licensed to 17 different companies in 2012, results of 90% (307/340) had been disclosed within 12 months, and results of 92% (312/340) had been disclosed by 31 July 2014.
Conclusions:
The disclosure rate within 12 months of 90% suggests the industry is now achieving disclosure in a timely manner more consistently than before. The overall disclosure rate at study end of 92% indicates that the improvement in transparency amongst company-sponsored trials has been maintained in the trials associated with new medicines approved in 2012. 相似文献
Areas covered: Here we outline the existing approved treatments for advanced pancreatic disease and discuss a range of novel therapies currently under development including cell cycle inhibitors, stromal modifiers and conjugated therapies. We also describe the current state of the pancreatic cancer therapeutics market both past and future.
Expert opinion: Despite the recent explosion of novel therapies with an array of unique targets, the core treatment of pancreatic cancer still with traditional cytotoxic agents with a few exceptions. However, as these novel treatments move through the pipeline, we are hopeful that there will soon be a number of effective options for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. 相似文献
Methods: We compared the mutational status of a customized gene panel, including 41 genes involved in immunity checkpoint, inflammation and control of leukocytes, B and T cells proliferation of PDAC and ASCP. Moreover, we evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1).
Results: We observed a status of ‘hypermutation’ of genes included in our panel in ASCP (22/41 mutated genes). Furtheremore, PD-L1 was found to be expressed in about 15% of the squamous component of ASCP tissue.
Conclusion: Due to genetic characteristics and to PD-L1 expression in ASCP compared to PDAC tissue, we can conclude that ASCP presents a potential sensitivity to immunological therapy. 相似文献
Objectives: To determine the economic impact of screening for type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
Data sources: We systematically reviewed health economic analyses of screening programs for T2DM/pre-diabetes.
Study eligibility criteria: Published between 2000 and 2015 in any language. Articles must have reported costs of screening, test/patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Participants and interventions: Any type of screening (universal, targeted, opportunistic) was accepted.
Methods: Data were extracted from Scopus/Medline/Embase, then tabulated.
Results: There were 137 studies identified, 108 rejected; 29 were analyzed. Screening types included 18 universal, 8 targeted and 8 opportunistic. One study screened for pre-diabetes, 16 for T2DM and 12 examined both. Fourteen (48%) reported costs of screening only, 9 (31%) costs of screening combined with interventions and 6 (21%) presented all costs separately. Screening was compared to no screening in 13 studies (45%); screening was cost-effective in 8 (62%), not cost-effective in 4 (31%) and neither in 1 (8%). When comparing different screening methods, 6 found targeted screening was cost-effective compared with universal screening (none found the opposite), 2 found opportunistic superior to universal. Sensitivity analyses generally confirmed primary findings. Cost drivers included prevalence of T2DM/pre-diabetes, type of blood test used and uptake of testing. For optimal cost-effectiveness, screening for both T2DM and pre-diabetes should be initiated around age 45–50, with repeated testing every 5 years.
Conclusions/implications: Targeted screening appears to be cost-effective compared to universal screening. 相似文献
Areas covered: This review summarizes the available data for orally administered antimicrobials routinely used as monotherapy for MRSA infections. We make recommendations and highlight the current gaps in the literature. A PubMed (1966 – Present) search was performed to identify relevant literature for this review.
Expert commentary: There is a vast divide in the amount of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data to guide dosing decisions for older MRSA agents compared with the oxazolidenones.
Five-year view: Additional retrospective data will become available for the older MRSA agents in severe MRSA infections. 相似文献
Objectives: To characterize asthma in patients with concomitant fibromyalgia to assess whether fibromyalgia is an independent factor of asthma severity that influences poor asthma control. We also evaluated how dyspnea is perceived by patients in order to demonstrate that alterations in the perception of airway obstruction may be responsible for poor asthma control.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional case–control multicenter study, in which 56 patients in the asthma and fibromyalgia group were matched to 36 asthmatics by sex, approximate age, and asthma severity level. All patients were women. Study variables included the Asthma Control Test (ACT), the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ), the Nijmegen hyperventilation syndrome questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and perception of dyspnea after acute bronchoconstriction.
Results: Although patients in both study groups showed similar asthma severity and use of anti-asthmatic drugs, patients in the asthma and fibromyalgia group showed lower scores on the ACT and MiniAQLQ questionnaires, and higher scores of anxiety and depression as well as hyperventilation compared to asthma patients without fibromyalgia. All these differences were statistically significant.
Conclusions: Fibromyalgia in patients with asthma influences poor control of the respiratory disease and is associated with altered perception of dyspnea, hyperventilation syndrome, high prevalence of depression and anxiety, and impaired quality of life.
Clinical implications: Fibromyalgia may be considered a risk factor for uncontrolled asthma in patients suffering from asthma and fibromyalgia concomitantly. 相似文献
Objective: This review analyzes and summarizes the ethnopharmacological applications, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms of L. coreana.
Methods: Related literature (from 1998 to 2016) was obtained and compiled via searching databases including Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CNKI and PubMed. Keywords (Litsea coreana, hawk tea, eagle tea and laoying cha) were used to select the articles.
Results: Studies indicate that L. coreana contains characteristic polysaccharides, polyphenols, essential oils, and numerious flavonoids, which exhibit remarkable bioactivities, such as hepatoprotection, hyperglycaemia, anti-inflammation, antioxidation and antibacterial, through multiple molecular mechanisms.
Conclusion: This paper provides a systematic review on the phytochemicals and pharmacological activities of L. coreana which should be useful for further study and application of this medicinal herb. 相似文献
Objective: Identification of compounds from C. rotundus rhizomes responsible for the inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase.
Materials and methods: Compounds were identified by a phytochemical investigation using combined chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities were evaluated by in vitro enzyme inhibition assays.
Results: A new (2RS,3SR)-3,4′,5,6,7,8-hexahydroxyflavane (1), together with three known stilbene dimers cassigarol E (2), scirpusin A (3) and B (4) were isolated. Compound 2 inhibited both α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities while the flavane 1 only showed effect on α-amylase, and compounds 3 and 4 were active on α-glucosidase. All four compounds showed significant 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity.
Discussion: The inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase of the C. rotundus rhizomes were reported for the first time. Stilbene dimers are considered as potent inhibitors of α-glucosidase and promising antihyperglycemic agents.
Conclusion: The isolated compounds may contribute to the antidiabetic property of C. rotundus. 相似文献
Objectives: The current study aimed to determine if one component of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive defusion, could be useful in reducing smoking behaviour in a sample of students.
Methods: The study employed a between-subjects three-arm design. For one week, participants were asked to reduce their cigarette consumption. To aid them in their reduction, participants were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: the first received a defusion procedure, the second received an experiential avoidance procedure and a control condition received no procedure. For a second week, the instruction to reduce cigarette consumption was lifted. During both weeks participants were required to monitor their smoking behaviour via a tally diary system.
Results: The defusion condition smoked significantly less than the control condition during week one and significantly less than the control and experiential avoidance conditions during week two.
Conclusion: Results are discussed in terms of the potential utility of defusion in this domain, and the limitations of this preliminary research that would need to be addressed in future investigations. 相似文献
Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the efficacy of lidocaine 5% medicated plaster (Lido5%P) in the treatment of LNP in thoracic surgical patients.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of sixteen cancer and noncancer thoracic patients treated with Lido5%P for LNP. Patients had been assessed before and during treatment with standardized forms and questionnaires for pain intensity, sleep quality, drug dosages and adverse events.
Results: Treatment with Lido5%P yielded a significant and lasting improvement in pain symptomatology. In oncological patients as an add-on therapy, Lido5%P improved pain intensity and sleep quality, and delayed opioid dose escalation. In non-oncological patients as monotherapy or in association with antineuropathic drugs, Lido5%P attenuated LNP. No local or systemic adverse events were recorded.
Conclusions: Lido5%P was effective in relieving thoracic LNP, and was well tolerated. 相似文献
Areas covered: Preclinical and clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of several mAbs in pancreatic cancer treatment. This review will underline the most important targeted pathways by mAbs involved in this disease, including EGFR, HER-2, IGF-1 R, VEGF/VEGFR, NOTCH, WNT and immune checkpoints.
Expert opinion: Despite the promising results of preclinical and phase I trials, the addition of mAbs to standard chemotherapy or in association with other target agents seems not to confirm these results in the following phase II and III trials in pancreatic cancer patients. However, an improved patient selection before treatment based on molecular characteristics in association with reliable predictive biomarkers can identified more efficacious treatment approaches, minimizing toxicity profile of these drugs. 相似文献
Methods: A total of 949 volunteers collected urine samples for one entire menstrual cycle. Luteinizing hormone was measured to assign surge day, enabling probability of ovulation to be determined across different cycle lengths. Cycle-tracking apps were downloaded. As none provided their methodology, four published calendar-based methods were also examined: standard days, rhythm, alternative rhythm and simple calendar method. The volunteer ovulation data was applied to the app/calendar methods to determine their accuracy.
Results: Mean cycle length was 28 days (range: 23–35); 34% of women believed they had a 28-day cycle, but only 15% did. No LH surge was seen for 99 women. Most likely day of ovulation for a 28-day cycle was day 16 (21%). Accuracy of ovulation prediction was no better than 21% by the apps. The standard days and rhythm methods were most likely to predict ovulation (70% and 89%, respectively) but had very low accuracy.
Conclusions: Ovulation day varies considerably for any given menstrual cycle length, thus it is not possible for calendar/app methods that use cycle-length information alone to accurately predict the day of ovulation.
National Clinical Trial Code: NCT01577147. Registry website: www.clinicaltrials.gov. 相似文献
Methods: The tool was developed by a panel of pharmacovigilance experts. It includes four domains: ADR, chronology of the ADR, suspected drug and patient characteristics. The final score categorizes reports into: excellent, well, moderately or poorly documented.
In two rounds, eight pharmacovigilance assessors of different countries made a total of 224 assessments using the tool, with the expert panels judgement as a standard. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated.
Results: The tool with four outcome-categories demonstrated low sensitivity. A lack of distinctiveness was demonstrated between the categories moderate and well. Results for the second round were re-analysed using three categories. This demonstrated a better validity.
Conclusion: This is the first tool to give insight in the level of relevant clinical information present in ADR reports. It can be used internationally to compare reports coming from different reporting methods and different types of reporters in pharmacovigilance. 相似文献
Research design and methods: Comprehensive database searches were performed to identify studies investigating medication adherence and/or persistence in adults with RA receiving conventional synthetic or biologic agents. Similar searches were performed for studies of patients with dyslipidemia receiving statins. Studies had to be published after 1998 in English and involve ≥6 months’ follow up.
Main outcome measures: Adherence and persistence were compared between the different routes of drug administration in RA, and between the two diseases for oral medications.
Results: A total of 35 and 28 papers underwent data extraction for RA and dyslipidemia, respectively. Within the constraints of the analysis, adherence and persistence rates appeared broadly similar for the different routes of drug administration in RA. Adherence to oral medications was also broadly similar across the two diseases, but persistence was lower in dyslipidemia. Poor adherence has clinical consequences in both diseases: greater disease activity and risk of flare in RA, and increased serum cholesterol levels and risk of heart and cerebrovascular disease in dyslipidemia. Over 1–3 years, poor adherence to biologic RA medications led to increased resource use and medical costs but lower total direct costs due to reduced biologic drug costs. Conversely, poor adherence to dyslipidemia medications resulted in increased total direct costs. In both diseases, adherence improved with patient education/support.
Conclusions: The route of drug administration and the symptomatic (pain) nature of the disease do not appear to be dominant factors for drug adherence or persistence in RA.
Limitation: The wide range of adherence and persistence values and definitions across studies made comparisons between drug formulations and diseases difficult. 相似文献