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Biomedical subjects

W W Hong

Publications and source records attributed to W W Hong.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Meta-analysis of the safety and tolerability of two dose regimens of buspirone in patients with persistent anxiety.

Buspirone is an azapirone with 5-HT1A partial agonist activity which has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, commonly referred to as persistent anxiety. In this meta-analysis report, safety results from two studies comparing buspirone 15 mg twice daily (BID) with buspirone 10 mg three times daily (TID) in patients with persistent anxiety are presented. In the study protocols, qualified patients completed a 7-day placebo lead-in phase and were randomized to receive buspirone 30 mg per day, as either a BID or TID regimen, for 6-8 weeks. A total of 289 patients received buspirone 15 mg BID (n = 144) or 10 mg TID (n = 145) at 15 sites. The incidence of adverse events was similar between the two treatment groups, except for a significantly greater incidence of palpitations in patients receiving buspirone BID (5%) compared to buspirone TID (1%). The most frequently reported adverse events for both buspirone BID- and TID-treated patients were dizziness, headache, and nausea. No appreciable differences between treatments were observed for vital signs, physical exam, ECG, or clinical laboratory results. A change to BID dosing for buspirone may offer convenience and possibly higher compliance in patients with persistent anxiety without compromising the excellent safety and tolerability profile of the medication.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1998

Medical-claims databases in the design of a health-outcomes comparison of quetiapine ('Seroquel') and usual-care antipsychotic medication.

Treating schizophrenia is expensive. Preventing rehospitalization of patients with schizophrenia provides an attractive opportunity for cost savings, especially for patients with 'revolving-door' or multiple-episode schizophrenia. Reducing the occurrence of extrapyramidal symptoms and other adverse events associated with standard antipsychotic agents may increase compliance and reduce the rate of rehospitalization of patients with schizophrenia. Quetiapine ('Seroquel', ICI 204,636, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals) is a new dibenzothiazepine antipsychotic agent with a low propensity for extrapyramidal symptoms. We describe here a unique methodology to compare quetiapine with usual-care medications in real-world treatment settings. The trial objective is to determine if therapy with this new atypical antipsychotic agent can reduce the rate of rehospitalization and, therefore, treatment costs. Using two secondary medical-claims databases, we defined the minimal threshold for revolving-door status as 1.0 admission per year; this definition allows our trial to focus on the subpopulation of schizophrenic patients with the greatest potential for cost savings by either the new atypical antipsychotic quetiapine or usual-care therapy. We describe here the approach used in our trial.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Idazoxan and response to typical neuroleptics in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Comparison with the atypical neuroleptic, clozapine.

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether antagonism of alpha 2 adrenergic receptors would augment treatment response in schizophrenia, by administering idazoxan, an alpha 2 antagonist drug, to treatment-resistant patients on typical neuroleptics. METHOD: Seventeen hospitalised treatment-resistant patients with DSM-III-R schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were studied on typical neuroleptic treatment, on treatment with idazoxan plus typical neuroleptic, and after discontinuation of idazoxan, in fixed, non-random order, and under double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions. RESULTS: The addition of idazoxan to fluphenazine treatment resulted in significant reductions of global psychosis and total, positive and negative symptoms on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, compared to neuroleptic treatment alone. Symptom improvement significantly correlated with idazoxan-induced changes in indices of noradrenergic function. In a subgroup of patients, idazoxan plus typical neuroleptic treatment compared favourably with clozapine treatment, when both were compared to typical neuroleptic treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS: The antagonism of alpha 2 receptors augmented therapeutic response to typical neuroleptic treatment in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia. This antagonism may contribute to clozapine's superior antipsychotic effects.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1996

Plasma prolactin in schizophrenia subjects treated with Seroquel (ICI 204,636).

Treatment with standard antipsychotic medications causes side effects such as hyperprolactinemia and extrapyramidal symptoms. Because these side effects can cause noncompliance with antipsychotic medication and consequent relapse, they add to the morbidity of schizophrenia. A compound with antipsychotic efficacy but without the side effects of standard antipsychotic agents would improve compliance and treatment outcomes and enhance quality of life. Improved compliance, reduced relapse, and decreased hospitalization would also reduce the cost of treatment of schizophrenia. Seroquel (ICI 204,636), an atypical antipsychotic compound in Phase III development, was found to be well tolerated and effective in treating subjects with DSM-III-R schizophrenia in three Phase II clinical trials. Analysis of plasma prolactin concentrations obtained during these trials revealed that ICI 204,636 did not differ from placebo in its effect on plasma prolactin after up to 6 weeks of treatment; no significant difference was found in the degree of decline of plasma prolactin levels when subjects treated with ICI 204,636 and placebo were compared. A significant difference was found, however, between ICI 204,636- and chlorpromazine-treated subjects; prolactin levels in ICI 204,636-treated subjects fell to a greater degree than they did in chlorpromazine-treated subjects, however in all three trials, ICI 204,636 did not cause sustained elevation of prolactin.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Idazoxan, an alpha 2 antagonist, augments fluphenazine in schizophrenic patients: a pilot study.

Idazoxan, a selective alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist, was added to stable doses of fluphenazine treatment in six patients with schizophrenia who participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmacologic study. Compared with fluphenazine alone, combining idazoxan (mean dose, 120 mg/day) with fluphenazine (mean dose, 28 mg/day) resulted in a significant decrease in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total symptoms (p < 0.05). Symptom ratings returned to baseline upon idazoxan discontinuation. No significant effects of idazoxan were observed on fluphenazine levels in plasma or on extrapyramidal symptoms. These pilot data are compatible with the notion that increased noradrenergic neurotransmission may enhance the therapeutic effects of typical neuroleptics in schizophrenia.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1992

Maximal mydriasis evaluation in cataract surgery.

We propose the maximal mydriasis test (MMT) as a simple and safe means to provide the cataract surgeon with objective and dependable preoperative information on the idiosyncratic mydriatic response of the pupil. The MMT results of a consecutive series of 165 eyes from 100 adults referred for cataract evaluation are presented to illustrate the test's practical applications and value. The results enable the surgeon to anticipate problem eyes preoperatively so he or she can plan an appropriate and effective surgical strategy. The MMT has also improved out cost-effectiveness by cutting down unnecessary delays in the operating room and enabling better utilization of restricted costly resources.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Maximal mydriasis evaluation in cataract surgery.

We propose the Maximal Mydriasis Test (MMT) as a simple and safe means to provide the cataract surgeon with objective and dependable pre-operative information on the idiosyncratic mydriatic response of the pupil. The MMT results of a consecutive series of 165 eyes from 100 adults referred for cataract evaluation are presented to illustrate its practical applications and value. The results of the MMT allows the surgeon to anticipate problem eyes pre-operatively so that he can plan his surgical strategy more appropriately and effectively. Conversely, the surgeon can also appropriately and confidently plan surgical procedures where wide pupillary dilation is important. The MMT has also helped improve our cost-effectiveness by cutting down unnecessary delays in the operating room and enabling better utilisation of restricted costly resources.

Aged↗