Biomedical subjects

S E Easthope

Publications and source records attributed to S E Easthope.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Effect of repeated intradermal injections of heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin in adult asthma.

BACKGROUND: There are a number of reports in the Chinese medical literature from the last 30 years regarding the efficacy of repeated doses of heat-inactivated bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in established asthma. There is also epidemiological and experimental evidence that exposure to mycobacteria has the potential to suppress the development of asthma/atopy. METHODS: Thirty-one Mantoux-negative adults with stable moderately severe asthma who were skin prick test positive to house dust mite were randomized to receive one injection (0.1 mL) a week for 4 weeks of heat-inactivated BCG or normal saline. Markers of asthma severity (including peak flow, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, major and minor exacerbations, symptom scores and beta-agonist use), blood eosinophil and IgE levels were monitored for 3 months. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the treatment group and placebo for any of the outcome variables. The recruitment to the trial was halted early and the number of injections reduced in a number of patients due to excessive local reactions to BCG. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the lack of efficacy of repeated heat-inactivated BCG injections, the occurrence of severe local reactions will limit the therapeutic application of this approach in asthma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

The effect of delipidated deglycolipidated (DDMV) and heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae in asthma.

Experimental and epidemiological evidence supports the hypothesis that exposure to mycobacteria has the potential to suppress the development of asthma and/or atopy and there are reports in the Chinese medical literature of repeated vaccination with inactivated BCG being effective in the management of asthma. Forty-three patients with stable moderately severe asthma who were skin prick test positive to house dust mite were randomized to receive two intradermal injections of either phosphate-buffered saline (placebo), heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae (0.5 mg), or delipidated deglycolipidated Mycobacterium vaccae (DDMV) (0.05 mg). Markers of asthma severity were measured for 3 mo and blood eosinophil, IgE levels, and the T cell proliferative and cytokine responses were monitored. There were no significant differences between either treatment group and the placebo group for any of the outcome variables. There was also no difference between the treatment groups and placebo for eosinophil, IgE levels, or the T cell proliferative and cytokine response. The results indicate no effect of low dose intradermal DDMV or M. vaccae on asthma severity in patients with established asthma.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Frovatriptan.

black triangle Frovatriptan, a new serotonin receptor agonist developed for the acute treatment of migraine, has high affinity for serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptor subtypes and is a potent stimulator of contraction in human basilar arteries. black triangle A long terminal elimination half-life (approximately 26 hours) is a distinctive pharmacokinetic feature of frovatriptan which appears to be independent of dose, age, gender and renal function. black triangle A single oral dose of frovatriptan 2.5mg was effective in the acute treatment of migraine providing meaningful relief within 2 hours to approximately twice as many recipients as placebo in clinical trials. black triangle Consistent relief of migraine symptoms was achieved in patients who treated a number of consecutive attacks with frovatriptan and the incidence of 24-hour migraine recurrence was reduced. black triangle Frovatriptan was well tolerated in clinical trials, with the overall incidence of adverse events occurring with frovatriptan 2.5mg only slightly higher than that reported with placebo. Mild to moderate fatigue, nausea and paraesthesia were the most commonly reported drug-related adverse events.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Clopidogrel: potential in the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Clopidogrel is a selective inhibitor of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. A large, multicenter, randomized study in 12 562 patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation demonstrated that treatment with clopidogrel (loading dose of 300 mg followed by once daily treatment with 75 mg) in addition to standard therapy including aspirin (75 to 325 mg/day) significantly reduced the risk of the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke compared with treatment with standard therapy. Furthermore, the composite risk of these outcomes or refractory ischemia was also significantly reduced in patients treated with clopidogrel plus aspirin. The effects of clopidogrel were independent of background treatment with cardiovascular medications and/or interventions. The risk of severe ischemia, recurrent angina or heart failure was also significantly reduced in patients receiving clopidogrel plus aspirin. There was also a significant reduction in the need for coronary revascularization during the initial period of hospitalization. In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the relative risk of the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or urgent target-vessel revascularization within 30 days of the intervention was significantly reduced. Moreover, the relative risk of the single endpoint of myocardial infarction within 30 days of PCI was significantly in favor of clopidogrel-treated patients. Hemorrhagic events (both major and minor) were significantly more frequent in patients with acute coronary syndromes receiving treatment with clopidogrel plus aspirin than in patients treated with aspirin alone. This was largely attributable to an increased incidence in the rate of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and bleeding at the site of arterial puncture. However, there was no difference between the two groups in the incidence of bleeding episodes that were considered to be life-threatening.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗