Does Reduction of Number of Intradetrusor Injection Sites of aboBoNTA (Dysport?) Impact Efficacy and Safety in a Rat Model of Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity?

Intradetrusor injections of Botulinum toxin A—currently onabotulinumtoxinA—is registered as a second-line treatment to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). The common clinical practice is 30 × 1 mL injections in the detrusor; however, protocols remain variable and standardization is warranted. The effect of reducing the number of injection sites of Dysport^® abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNTA) was assessed in the spinal cord-injured rat (SCI). Nineteen days post-spinalization, female rats received intradetrusor injections of saline or aboBoNTA 22.5 U distributed among four or eight sites. Two days after injection, continuous cystometry was performed in conscious rats. Efficacy of aboBoNTA 22.5 U was assessed versus aggregated saline groups on clinically-relevant parameters: maximal pressure, bladder capacity, compliance, voiding efficiency, as well as amplitude, frequency, and volume threshold for nonvoiding contractions (NVC). AboBoNTA 22.5 U significantly decreased maximal pressure, without affecting voiding efficiency. Injected in four sites, aboBoNTA significantly increased bladder capacity and compliance while only the latter when in eight sites. AboBoNTA significantly reduced NVC frequency and amplitude. This preclinical investigation showed similar inhibiting effects of aboBoNTA despite the number of sites reduction. Further studies are warranted to optimize dosing schemes to improve the risk-benefit ratio of BoNTA-based treatment modalities for NDO and further idiopathic overactive bladder.     

An assessment of weight change associated with the initiation of a protease or integrase strand transfer inhibitor in patients with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

Objective

Evidence suggests that integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are associated with greater weight gain than other antiretrovirals. This real-world study compares weight/body mass index (BMI) change between insured US patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) initiating a protease inhibitor (PI) or INSTI.     

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Regurgitation With Acute Refractory Cardiogenic Shock

From January 2013 to January 2017, 686 consecutive patients were referred to our centre for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, including 5 subjects with severe aortic regurgitation and acute refractory cardiogenic shock. These patients were contraindicated for surgical treatment by the heart team because of high surgical risk (median logistic EuroSCORE: 74.6/Society of Thoracic Surgeons score: 37.9). The success rate of valve implantation was 100% through transfemoral access with self-expandable devices. The observed 30-day mortality rate was 20%. Hence, the transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure might represent a successful and life-saving intervention for treatment of patients with severe aortic regurgitation who present with acute refractory cardiogenic shock.