Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Medication Requirements (medication + requirement)
Selected AbstractsMasitinib, a c-kit/PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, improves disease control in severe corticosteroid-dependent asthmaticsALLERGY, Issue 8 2009M. Humbert Background:, Masitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting stem cell factor receptor (c-kit) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor, which are expressed on several cell types including mast cells and bronchial structural cells, respectively. We hypothesized that c-kit and PDGF receptor inhibition may decrease bronchial inflammation and interfere with airway remodeling, which are crucial features of severe asthma. Objectives:, The primary endpoint was the percent change from baseline in oral corticosteroids after 16 weeks of treatment. Change in asthma control (asthma control questionnaire), exacerbation rate, pulmonary function tests, rescue medication requirement and safety were secondary endpoints. Methods:, A 16-week randomized, dose-ranging (3, 4.5, and 6 mg/kg/day), placebo-controlled study was undertaken in 44 patients with severe corticosteroid-dependent asthma who remained poorly controlled despite optimal asthma management. Results:, At 16 weeks of treatment, a comparable reduction in oral corticosteroids was achieved with masitinib and placebo (median reduction of 78% and 57% in the masitinib and placebo arms, respectively). Despite this similar reduction, the Asthma Control Questionnaire score was significantly better in the masitinib arm as compared to placebo with a reduction by 0.99 unit at week 16 (P < 0.001) vs 0.43 unit in the placebo arm. Masitinib therapy was associated with more transient skin rash and edema. Conclusions:, Masitinib, a c-kit and PDGF-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, may represent an innovative avenue of treatment in corticosteroid-dependent asthma. These preliminary results warrant further long-term clinical studies in severe asthma (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00842270). [source] BT02 LAPAROSCOPIC SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY AS A SINGLE-STAGE BARIATRIC PROCEDUREANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 2009T. Sammour Purpose: , Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is increasingly being recognised as a stand-alone procedure in bariatric surgery, with long term follow-up data now emerging. We present our early experience patients with a mean BMI in the super-obese range. Methodology: , Retrospective review of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies performed by two surgeons at Middlemore Hospital, between March 2007 and July 2008. Results: , One hundred and one patients were identified, with a mean age of 42.7 years (95% CI 40.9,44.5). Maori and Pacific Islanders made up 31% of the patient subset. Patients had a mean BMI of 50.2 kg/m2 (95% CI 48.8,51.7), and 45 patients were super-obese. They had a median hospital stay of 2 days (1,7 days), and a mean follow-up of 6.0 months. Mean excess BMI loss (excluding patients with a major complication) was 46% (95% CI 43.3,48.7). 64% of diabetics and 37% of hypertensives showed in an improvement in medication requirement. There was a major complication rate of 8%, including 3 staple line leaks (one of which required laparotomy), 2 staple line bleeds (one requiring laparotomy), 1 infected haematoma, and 1 critical stricture. There were no deaths. Conclusion: , Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has achieved satisfactory weight-loss results with an acceptable complication rate in the short to medium term. [source] BT03 SILASTIC RING MINI GASTRIC BYPASS FOR MORBID OBESITY: THE NEW ZEALAND EXPERIENCEANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 2009K. C. Wong Purpose: , The laparoscopic mini gastric bypass (LMGB) is purportedly a technically simpler, yet equally effective operation to the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass as treatment for morbid obesity. This study reports the early results of LMGB in a major New Zealand bariatric centre. Methodology: , Clinical data was prospectively collected on all patients undergoing LMGB over a two year period. Results: , 142 patients were studied. 77% were females. Mean age was 43.8. Pre-operative mean body weight and body mass index (BMI) were 121.3 kg and 45.4 kg/m2 respectively. Mean BMI at one and two years follow up had decreased to 27.35 and 25.72 kg/m2 respectively. 83% of patients reported obesity associated co-morbidities pre-operatively. Post-operatively, 78% of patients reported a reduction in medication requirement. All surgery was performed laparoscopically. There were no anastomotic leaks and zero mortality. 8% of patients required further operations for complications or revision to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. 20% of patients required subsequent endoscopic interventions, the majority for investigation of vomiting and/or pain. 22% of patients required re-admission. 14% of patients reported new onset reflux or worsening of pre-existing reflux after LMGB. 82% of patients reported increased exercise capability post LMGB. 54% of patients required vitamin supplementation. Conclusion: , LMGB achieves significant weight loss and resolution of obesity related co-morbidities with a low short term complication rate. LMGB should be considered as a safe and simple surgical option for morbid obesity. [source] Replacement of dopaminergic medication with subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease: Long-term observation,MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 4 2009Luigi M. Romito MD Abstract Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an effective treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), but the medication requirements after implant are poorly known. We performed a long-term prospective evaluation of 20 patients maintained at stable dopaminergic therapy for 5 years after bilateral STN implants, who were evaluated 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after surgery. We measured, during the entire observation period, the effect of deep brain stimulation on motor and functional outcome measures, the levodopa equivalent daily dose and the total electrical energy delivered. At 5 years, the UPDRS motor score had improved by 54.2% and levodopa equivalent dose was reduced by 61.9%, compared with preimplant. Dopaminergic medication remained stable during the observation period, but energy was progressively increased over time. Rest tremor, rigidity, gait, lower and upper limb akinesia, and total axial score were improved in decreasing order. Postural stability and speech improved transiently, whereas on-period freezing of gait, motor fluctuations and dyskinesias recovered durably. Functional measures did not show improvement in autonomy and daily living activities after STN implant. Chronic STN stimulation allows to replace for dopaminergic medications in the long-term at the expense of an increase of the total energy delivered. This is associated with marked improvement of motor features without a matching benefit in functional measures. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society [source] Long-term effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation on health-related quality of life in advanced Parkinson's diseaseMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 6 2006Andrew Siderowf MD, MSCE Abstract We evaluated the long-term effects of subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). STN stimulation improves motor function and decreases medication requirements in patients with advanced PD. The impact of STN stimulation on HRQL is less well established, especially beyond 1 year after surgery. We report HRQL outcomes for 18 patients with advanced PD. Patients were evaluated with the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39), the Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-36), and the EuroQol visual analogue scale (VAS) before surgery, 6 months postoperatively, and at a long-term follow-up visit (mean, 35.9 months; range, 18,57 months after surgery). Preoperative scores on HRQL measures were compared to results obtained at short- and long-term follow-up evaluations. The VAS and all domains of the PDQ-39 except for cognition, communication, and social support showed marked improvements at 6 months after surgery. At the long-term follow-up, there were sustained improvements in the VAS (63% improvement; P = 0.0009) and in several domains of the PDQ-39 [mobility: 20%, P = 0.01; activities of daily living (ADL): 29%, P = 0.005; emotional well-being: 26%, P = 0.02; stigma: 43%, P = 0.003; and bodily discomfort: 35%, P = 0.007]. At the long-term evaluation, only the vitality domain of the SF-36 was significantly improved from baseline (16%; P = 0.01). In this selected group of patients, many of the short-term gains in HRQL persist beyond 18 months after STN implantation. Benefits in nonmotor aspects of HRQL such as bodily discomfort and stigma appear to be among the most durable. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society [source] Intrathecal Catheter Granuloma Associated with Continuous Sufentanil InfusionPAIN MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010Anita Gupta DO, PharmD Abstract Intrathecal sufentanil is a minimally utilized opioid for patients with intractable pain refractory to traditional intrathecal medications. We present an 86-year-old female with a history of multiple spine surgeries who eventually progressed to having chronic, intractable, and diffuse low back pain. After failing medical management, she underwent a successful intrathecal trial of opioid therapy and was subsequently treated with an implantable drug delivery system (IDDS) or intrathecal pump. We describe the first reported case of formation of a catheter tip granuloma associated with intrathecal infusion of sufentanil. Due to increasing opioid requirements and gradually escalating pain, a computed tomography myelogram was performed to explore neuraxial etiologies of her symptoms. This investigation revealed the presence of a catheter tip-associated inflammatory mass (granuloma). All patients receiving intrathecal medications, including sufentanil, must be considered for the possibility of catheter-associated granuloma, particularly with symptoms of altered neurological function and/or increasing medication requirements associated with worsening pain. [source] The role of unilateral nephrectomy in the treatment of nephrogenic hypertension in childrenBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2005Navroop S. Johal OBJECTIVES To define the efficacy of unilateral nephrectomy in a large series of patients presenting with renal disease and hypertension, as the latter may be a prominent finding in children with nephrourological disease (renal parenchymal disease, renovascular disease, obstruction, renal dysplasia and cancer). PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the hospital and outpatient records of 118 children who presented for evaluation with hypertension, and who had a nephrectomy between 1968 and 2003. Patients included in the study were those who had a unilateral nephrectomy for benign renal hypertension with a normal contralateral kidney; in all, 21 had complete records and follow-up were evaluated. The hypertension was associated with primary renal disease, obstruction and renovascular disease. Blood pressure and medication requirements were compared before and after surgery, the blood pressure values also being compared with published nomograms. RESULTS Patients were diagnosed with hypertension at a median age of 5 years and had a nephrectomy at a median of 11 months after the diagnosis. The median follow-up after surgery was 39 months. Most patients responded well and became normotensive, or there was a reduction in the need for medication. The median time to normalization was 2, 10 and 11 days in patients with primary renal disease, obstruction and renovascular disease, respectively. CONCLUSION Nephrectomy is successful in normalizing blood pressure in children with benign renal hypertension and with a normal contralateral kidney. [source] Efficacy and safety of a recombinant anti-immunoglobulin E antibody (omalizumab) in severe allergic asthmaCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 4 2004S. T. Holgate Summary Background Patients with severe asthma are often inadequately controlled on existing anti-asthma therapy, constituting an unmet clinical need. Objective This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the ability of omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, to improve disease control sufficiently to enable inhaled corticosteroid reduction in patients with severe allergic asthma. Methods After a run-in period when an optimized fluticasone dose (1000 ,g/day) was received for 4 weeks, patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous omalizumab [minimum 0.016 mg/kg/IgE (IU/mL) per 4 weeks; n=126] or matching placebo (n=120) at intervals of 2 or 4 weeks. The study comprised a 16-week add-on phase of treatment followed by a 16-week fluticasone-reduction phase. Short-/long-acting ,2 -agonists were allowed as needed. Results Median reductions in fluticasone dose were significantly greater with omalizumab than placebo: 60% vs. 50% (P=0.003). Some 73.8% and 50.8% of patients, respectively, achieved a 50% dose reduction (P=0.001). Fluticasone dose reduction to 500 ,g/day occurred in 60.3% of omalizumab recipients vs. 45.8% of placebo-treated patients (P=0.026). Through both phases, omalizumab reduced rescue medication requirements, improved asthma symptoms and asthma-related quality of life compared to placebo. Conclusion Omalizumab treatment improves asthma control in severely allergic asthmatics, reducing inhaled corticosteroid requirements without worsening of symptom control or increase in rescue medication use. [source] | ||||||||||