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New Treatment Paradigm (new + treatment_paradigm)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	66%

Selected Abstracts

The Treatment of Melasma with Fractional Photothermolysis: A Pilot Study

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 12 2005
Cameron K. Rokhsar MD
Background. Melasma is a common pigmentary disorder that remains resistant to available therapies. Facial resurfacing with the pulsed CO2 laser has been reported successful but requires significant downtime, and there is a risk of adverse sequelae. Objective. To determine if melasma will respond to a new treatment paradigm, fractional resurfacing. Methods. Ten female patients (Fitzpatrick skin types III,V) who were unresponsive to previous treatment were treated at 1- to 2-week intervals with the Fraxel laser (Reliant Technologies, Palo Alto, CA, USA). Wavelengths of 1,535 and 1,550 nm were both used, and 6 to 12 mJ per microthermal zone with 2,000 to 3,500 mtz/cm2 were the treatment parameters. Four to six treatment sessions were performed. Responses were evaluated according to the percentage of lightening of original pigmentation. Two physicians evaluated the photographs, and each patient evaluated her own response. Results. The physician evaluation was that 60% of patients achieved 75 to 100% clearing and 30% had less than 25% improvement. The patients' evaluations agreed, except for one patient, who graded herself as 50 to 75% improved as opposed to the physician grading of over 75%. There was one patient with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and no patient with hypopigmentation. No downtime was necessary for wound healing. Conclusions. Fractional resurfacing affords a new treatment algorithm for the treatment of melasma that combines decreased risk and downtime with significant efficacy. This treatment modality deserves further exploration to maximize benefits. RELIANT technologies LOANED THE FRAXEL LASER FOR THE STUDY. RICHARD E. FITZPATRICK, MD, IS A PAID CONSULTANT FOR RELIANT AND A STOCKHOLDER. [source]

Neuroprotection in emerging psychotic disorders

EARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2007
Gregor Berger
Abstract Aim:, The emerging phase of psychotic disorders is pleomorphic and fluctuates in presentation. Hence, from a clinical perspective, treatment modalities are often unclear. This paper investigates the rational and potential use of neuroprotective agents in emerging psychotic disorders. Methods:, Medline databases were searched from 1966 to 2006 followed by the cross-checking of references using following keywords: neuroprotection, apoptosis, natural cell death, neurodevelopment, plasticity, neurogenesis, combined with brain and schizophrenia. Results:, Agents such as atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, omega-3 fatty acids, modulators of glutamateric neurotransmission (e.g. ampakines, glycine, memantine), erythropoietin, N -acetylcysteine, COX-2 inhibitors or antioxidants have neuroprotective (anti-apoptotic) properties and may therefore be able to protect brain maturational processes disturbed in emerging psychotic disorders. Clinical trials suggest that atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, omega-3 fatty acids and low-dose lithium as sole treatments were able to improve symptoms and functioning, and delay or in some cases even prevent the onset of frank psychosis. Initially these substances have been chosen because they have been used either as sole or augmentation treatments in established psychotic disorders. However, chronicity and already effective treatments may overshadow their potential clinical use in emerging (prodromal) psychosis. Conclusion:, Neuroprotection as a new treatment paradigm for at-risk mental states seems to be promising and pilot data are suggestive that more benign interventions may already be sufficient to delay or even prevent the onset of frank psychosis. A coordinated research effort will be necessary to address the question which agents should be used under which circumstances. [source]

Mathematical modelling of the impact of haematopoietic stem cell-delivered gene therapy for HIV

THE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 12 2009
John M. Murray
Abstract Background Gene therapy represents a new treatment paradigm for HIV that is potentially delivered by a safe, once-only therapeutic intervention. Methods Using mathematical modelling, we assessed the possible impact of autologous haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) delivered, anti-HIV gene therapy. The therapy comprises a ribozyme construct (OZ1) directed to a conserved region of HIV-1 delivered by transduced HSC (OZ1+HSC). OZ1+HSC contributes to the CD4+ T lymphocyte and monocyte/macrophage cell pools that preferentially expand under the selective pressure of HIV infection. The model was used to predict the efficacy of OZ1 in a highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) naïve individual and a HAART-experienced individual undergoing two structured treatment operations. In the standard scenario, OZ1+HSC was taken as 20% of total body HSC. Results For a HAART-naïve individual, modelling predicts a reduction of HIV RNA at 1 and 2 years post-OZ1 therapy of 0.5 log10 and 1 log10, respectively. Eight years after OZ1 therapy, the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count was 271 cells/mm3 compared to 96 cells/mm3 for an untreated individual. In a HAART-experienced individual HIV RNA was reduced by 0.34 log10 and 0.86 log10 at 1 and 2 years. The OZ1 effect was maximal when both CD4+ T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages were protected from successful, productive infection by OZ1. Conclusions The modelling indicates a single infusion of HSC cell-delivered gene therapy can impact on HIV viral load and CD4 T-lymphocyte count. Given that gene therapy avoids the complications associated with HAART, there is significant potential for this approach in the treatment of HIV. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Gene therapy for HIV/AIDS: the potential for a new therapeutic regimen

THE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 8 2003
Greg Fanning
Abstract Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the etiologic agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV/AIDS is a disease that, compared with the not so distant past, is now better held in check by current antiretroviral drugs. However, it remains a disease not solved. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) generally uses two non-nucleoside and one nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor or two non-nucleoside RT and one protease inhibitor. HAART is far more effective than the mono- or duo-therapy of the past, which used compounds like the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor AZT or two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. However, even with the relatively potent drug cocktails that comprise HAART, there are the issues of (i) HIV escape mutants, (ii) an apparent need to take the drugs in an ongoing manner, and (iii) the drugs' side effects that are often severe. This review speaks to the potential addition to these potent regimens of another regimen, namely the genetic modification of target hematopoietic cells. Such a new treatment paradigm is conceptually attractive as it may yield the constant intracellular expression of an anti-HIV gene that acts to inhibit HIV replication and pathogenicity. A body of preclinical work exists showing the inhibition of HIV replication and decreased HIV pathogenicity by anti-HIV genetic agents. This preclinical work used hematopoietic cell lines and primary cells as the target tissue. More recently, several clinical trials have sought to test this concept in vivo. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

HIV-1 infection: new treatment paradigms

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 3 2001
Y. Persidsky
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Treatment Strategies in Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: An Evidence-Based Review of Clinical Trial Results and Treatment Guidelines: Report on a Roundtable Discussion

JOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
F.A.C.C., MARC COHEN M.D.
With the availability of new data and the recent release of new European and US guidelines, contemporary care paradigms for the treatment of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS), including those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, are likely to undergo substantial changes. In recognition of this shifting landscape as well as the impact of new guidelines on care models for the treatment of patients with NSTE ACS, a roundtable was convened on October 25, 2007, to discuss the implications of these changes. The purpose of this review is to summarize the presentations and subsequent discussions from the roundtable, which examined the guidelines and evidence from a variety of perspectives, and to explore the best ways to incorporate new treatment paradigms into everyday clinical care. The multiple viewpoints expressed by the roundtable attendees illustrate the recognition that at this point, consensus has not been reached on the optimum algorithm for treatment of these patients. This article focuses on issues discussed during the roundtable from the perspective of the practicing cardiologist. [source]