Achieving therapeutic targets in renal anaemia: considering cost-efficacy

SUMMARY

Erythropoietin treatment for anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) brings important clinical benefits, but restricted healthcare budgets necessitate value-for-money therapies, requiring economic considerations also to be taken into account when selecting a treatment regimen. Subcutaneous (SC) administration of epoetin is effective at a lower dose than intravenous (IV) administration, offering the potential for substantial reductions in costs of treatment. Unlike epoetin alfa, which is contra-indicated by the SC route in Europe in patients with CKD, epoetin beta (NeoRecormon*) can be safely and effectively given by either route. The multidose presentations of epoetin beta (Reco-Pen?, multidose vials) may provide further opportunity for dose reduction. The tolerability of SC epoetin beta is excellent and superior compared with epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa. Epoetin beta given once weekly is as effective as two- or three-times weekly, and the dosing frequency can be further reduced to once every 2^?weeks in patients who are stable on once-weekly dosing. Reduced dosing frequency is more convenient for the patient and may save nursing time in dialysis units. Overall, SC epoetin beta, compared with alternative treatments, may represent a cost-effective treatment option for anaemia management as it combines a well-established safety and efficacy record, favourable local tolerability, and the convenience of once-weekly dosing with the potential to reduce treatment costs by up to 30%.     

Subcutaneous tunneling technique to improve outcomes for patients undergoing chemotherapy with peripherally inserted central catheters: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo compare the value of the subcutaneous tunneling technique versus the normal technique in improving the outcomes of patients undergoing chemotherapy with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs).MethodsOne hundred thirty patients were randomly divided into an experimental group (subcutaneous tunneling technique) and control group (normal technique) according to the PICC placement technique, and clinical data were compared between the groups.ResultsIn total, 129 PICCs were successfully inserted. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had a lower occurrence of complications after placement (especially catheter dislodgement: 3.1% vs. 15.4%, venous thrombosis: 3.1% vs. 15.4%, and wound oozing: 14.1% vs. 27.7%), lower occurrence of unscheduled PICC removal (3.1% vs. 13.8%), greater comfort during placement (14.16 ± 2.21 vs. 15.09 ± 2.49 on a scale ranging from 6 to 30 points, with higher scores indicating lower degrees of comfort), and lower costs of PICC maintenance (median (interquartile range) per-day maintenance cost: 13.90 (10.99–32.83) vs. 15.69 (10.51–57.46) Yuan). The occurrence of complications and amount of bleeding during placement were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionsThe subcutaneous tunneling technique can improve PICC placement by reducing complications and costs of maintenance with better patient comfort during placement.     

Primary leiomyosarcomas of the skin

We report four cases of cutaneous, and one of subcutaneous, leiomyosarcoma with the results of histological examinations and immunohistochemical studies. likelihood of metastases than the cutaneous type. Only one of our cutaneous leiomyosarcomas recurred after 18 months and the patient with a subcutaneous lesion had lung metastases after five years. Subcutaneous leiomyosarcomas have more     

注射低分子肝素致皮下出血的原因分析与护理进展（综述）

注射低分子肝素造成患者皮下出血是常见的不良反应，该文从注射前、注射时、注射后三个阶段分析了注射低分子肝素致皮下出血的相关因素，并针对相关因素提出护理改进措施，旨在降低注射所致皮下出血发生率。     

Recurrent ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow: Correlation of surgical findings and 3-Tesla magnetic resonance neurography

The authors describe the correlation between 3-Tesla magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) and surgical findings in two patients who underwent multiple previous failed ulnar nerve surgeries. MRN correctly localized the site of the abnormality. Prospectively observed MRN findings of perineural fibrosis, ulnar nerve re-entrapment abnormalities, medial antebrachial cutaneous neuroma and additional median nerve entrapment were confirmed surgically.     

Reduced theophylline clearance due to hepatic congestion secondary to right heart failure - A population pharmacokinetic study

Theophylline, a beneficial drug with bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects, is used for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Pulmonary (PC) and hepatic congestion (HC) are secondary to the development of left- and right-sided heart failure (HF), respectively. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PC and HC on theophylline clearance (CL) by population pharmacokinetic (PPK) analysis with consideration of the severity of HF assessed by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. We obtained 710 minimum steady-state concentrations from 201 Japanese bronchial asthma patients with and without HF. PPK analysis was performed by NONMEM. In the analysis, the left ventricular ejection fraction, smoking (SMK), clarithromycin (CAM), sex, and age were also considered as covariates. The final model of apparent theophylline clearance (CL/F) was as follows: CL/F (L/hr/kg) = 0.0465 × 1.40^SMK × 0.870^CAM × 0.863^{HC(+)NYHA II} × 0.634^{HC(+)NYHA III} × 0.586^{HC(−)NYHA IV} × 0.467^{HC(+)NYHA IV}. SMK is a well-known factor that markedly enhances theophylline clearance through the induction of CYP1A enzymes, while CAM has been reported to inhibit CYP3A4. The final model indicates that HF patients with HC show reduced clearance of theophylline depending on the severity of HF. In this study, no effects of PC were observed.