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The epidemiology of severe sepsis syndrome and its treatment with recombinant human activated protein C.

Severe sepsis syndrome has important consequences to healthcare systems as the incidence is increasing, there is significant attributed morbidity and mortality and there is a substantial cost for in-hospital and post-discharge care. Current treatment includes the use of antimicrobials, local source control and aggressive physiological support, usually in an intensive care unit setting. Drotrecogin-alpha (activated) or recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) is the only biological agent approved for use in severe sepsis syndrome that has demonstrated efficacy in reducing 28-day all-cause mortality and new data suggests a trend towards longer term survival. However, given the evidence of a variable effect on survival rates in patient subgroups and its acquisition cost, controversy has arisen concerning its appropriate use. This review discusses the epidemiology of sepsis, preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the use of rhAPC use, controversies about the evidence of efficacy in severe sepsis syndrome and cost-effectiveness data.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Assessing the relationship between antigenicity and immunogenicity of human rabies vaccines. Results of a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was done to study the relationship between antigenecity and immunogenecity of human rabies vaccines. The data of ten cell culture human rabies vaccine studies conducted at a single centre during 1993-2004 were used in the study. The vaccines studied included Purified Chick Embryo Cell Vaccine (Kaketsuken, Japan and Rabipur, India), Purified Vero cell Rabies Vaccine (Verorab, France), Human Diploid Cell Vaccine (MIRV, France and Rabivax, Adsorbed and Lyophilized, India) and Rhesus Diploid Rabies Vaccine (adsorbed, USA). Interestingly, it was revealed that an higher antigenecity of rabies vaccines viz. potency of > or = 5 IU per single intramuscular dose did not result in significantly higher immunogenecity, as measured by rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titers in the vaccinees, both on day 14 (t = 0.42, p > 0.66, GMR = 1.06, 95% CI of GMR = 0.82, 1.37) and day 90 (t = 0.80, p > 0.43, GMR = 1.15, 95% CI of GMR = 0.74, 1.14). However, as there are no reports of meta-analysis of cell culture human rabies vaccine trials, to confirm this observation the authors recommend further studies in this regard.

Adolescent↗

Efficacy of oxaliplatin in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death. The mainstay of chemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients for the past 40 years has been fluorouracil (5-FU). Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) is a novel platinum compound with promising activity in colorectal cancer. As a single agent, oxaliplatin has produced response rates of 12% to 24% in patients with previously untreated advanced colorectal cancer, and 10% to 11% in patients with relapsed or refractory advanced colorectal cancer. In phase II trials, oxaliplatin combined with 5-FU, with or without leucovorin, was associated with response rates of 60% and higher when used as front-line therapy, and when used in patients with relapsed or refractory advanced colorectal cancer, response rates ranged from 25% to 50%. In the front-line setting, two randomized trials of 5-FU and leucovorin, with or without oxaliplatin, demonstrated that the addition of oxaliplatin significantly increases response rate and time to tumor progression, but not survival, over 5-FU plus leucovorin alone. The reasons for this discrepancy are unclear, and several possibilities are being considered. Additional phase III trials are underway to clarify the contribution of oxaliplatin in the treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Evaluating new vaccines for developing countries. Efficacy or effectiveness?

Despite the profusion of promising new vaccines against illnesses prevalent in developing countries, uncertainties about the balance between costs and benefits of new vaccines have retarded their use in public health practice. Conventional prelicensure trials of vaccine protection exacerbate these uncertainties by focusing on measurement of vaccine efficacy--the performance of a vaccine under idealized conditions. Vaccine effectiveness trials provide a more pragmatic perspective by addressing the performance of a vaccine under the ordinary conditions of a public health program, by capturing direct as well as indirect effects of vaccination, and by comprehensively addressing outcomes of public health concern. The use of effectiveness trials should enable more rational triaging of new vaccines for developing countries and may accelerate the introduction of new vaccines into public health practice by resolving speculative debates about practical costs and benefits.

Case-Control Studies↗

FDA perspective on specifications for biotechnology products--from IND to PLA.

Quality standards are obligatory throughout development, approval and post-marketing phases of biotechnology-derived products, thus assuring product identity, purity, and potency/strength. The process of developing and setting specifications should be based on sound science and should represent a logical progression of actions based on the use of experiential data spanning manufacturing process validation, consistency in production, and characterization of relevant product properties/attributes, by multiple analytical means. This interactive process occurs in phases, varying in rigour. It is best described as encompassing a framework which starts with the implementation of realistic/practical operational quality limits, progressing to the establishment/adoption of more stringent specifications. The historical database is generated from preclinical, toxicology and early clinical lots. This supports the clinical development programme which, as it progresses, allows for further assay method validation/refinement, adoption/addition due to relevant or newly recognized product attributes or rejection due to irrelevance. In the next phase, (licensing/approval) specifications are set through extended experience and validation of both the preparative and analytical processes, to include availability of suitable reference standards and extensive product characterization throughout its proposed dating period. Subsequent to product approval, the incremental database of test results serves as a natural continuum for further evolving/refining specifications. While there is considerable latitude in the kinds of testing modalities finally adopted to establish product quality on a routine basis, for both drugs and drug products, it is important that the selection takes into consideration relevant (significant) product characteristics that appropriately reflect on identity, purity and potency.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

A new delivery system of clobetasol-17-propionate (lipid-loaded microspheres 0.025%) compared with a conventional formulation (lipophilic ointment in a hydrophilic phase 0.025%) in topical treatment of atrophic/erosive oral lichen planus. A Phase IV, randomized, observer-blinded, parallel group clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Topical application of clobetasol-17-propionate has been diffusely reported as an efficacious therapy in atrophic/erosive oral lichen planus (OLP), without exposing the patient to systemic side-effects. However, prolonged contact and respective topical effects on the oral mucosa should be avoided. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate efficacy and compliance of new lipid microspheres loaded with 0.025% of clobetasol propionate (formulation A) compared with a commonly used formulation (a sort of dispersion of a lipophilic ointment in a hydrophilic phase) with the same amount of drug (formulation B) in the topical treatment of OLP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with symptomatic OLP were enrolled in a controlled single-blind phase IV clinical trial. After a dropout of five patients, a total of 45 patients [12 males and 33 females; mean age 61.1 years (+/- 12.3 SD; range 25-82)] were treated (17 with formulation A and 28 with formulation B, matched for gender and age; P > 0.2) with the same dosage regimen. At times T0, T1 and T2 we evaluated the following parameters: (i) pain score (by linear visual analogue scale; 0-100); (ii) clinical score; (iii) clinical resolution; and (iv) patient compliance. Statistical analysis was calculated using S-Plus 4.0 and SPSS 9.0 (Student's t-test, chi(2), Kolmogorov-Smirnow, Friedman, Student-Newman-Keuls, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman tests). RESULTS: Both formulations were found to be similar for parameters ii, iii and iv, although with a better general trend for formulation A; a significant difference was registered for formulation A in terms of a reduction in painful symptoms (parameter i) at time T2 (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the new topical drug delivery system (formulation A) may enhance, at least in terms of symptom remission and compliance, the effectiveness of clobetasol propionate at a dose of 0.025% in OLP therapy.

Administration, Topical↗

Nicardipine in the prevention of migraine headaches.

The subjects, 104 patients who had experienced more than two migraine episodes per month during the previous 6 months, received 60 mg of nicardipine daily for 2 months in an uncontrolled, Phase-IV study. Eighty-nine patients (mean age, 40 years; 16 with and 73 without aura; 60 women) completed the treatment regimen. The patients' blood pressure did not change during treatment. The mean number of migraine attacks was reduced significantly from 6.7 per month during the 3 months before treatment to 4.0 per month during treatment. The number of severe attacks was also reduced significantly. The patients' subjective ratings of the frequency and intensity of the attacks and their need for analgesia were reduced significantly from before to after treatment. Side effects (flushing and shortness of breath) were reported by four patients. It is concluded that nicardipine is safe and effective in the prevention of migraine attacks.

Adult↗

Risperidone in the treatment of first episode psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of risperidone in Singapore patients with first-episode psychosis in an eight-week open label prospective study. METHOD: Previously untreated male and female patients aged 18 - 65 with DSM IV schizophreniform disorder or DSM IV schizophrenia for no longer than 12 months were recruited from Woodbridge Hospital and Geylang Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic. Patients were treated with risperidone for 56 days. Outcome was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI). Safety was assessed by monitoring of vital signs and by comparing the frequency of adverse events (AEs) before and after treatment. RESULTS: 24 patients with a mean age of 33.29+/-9.12 years and a mean duration of illness of 166.5+/-111.4 days (median 180 days) were included. The mean risperidone dosage was 2.7 mg +/- 1.0 at day 56. Mean PANSS total scores reduced by 50.21% from 88.29+/-21.55 at baseline to 43.96+/-7.5 at endpoint (p < 0.001). The responder rate (> or = 20% reduction in the total PANSS score) was 87.5%. 13 patients (54.2%) exhibited a 50% or greater reduction in total PANSS score. Except for item G5 (mannerisms and posturing) all single PANSS items were reduced significantly. The CGI scores of all patients improved at endpoint. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Overall the therapy of first-episode psychosis patients with risperidone was effective and safe.

Adult↗

Parent-reported outcomes for treatment of acute otitis media with cefdinir or amoxicillin/clavulanate oral suspensions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare parent-reported outcomes (satisfaction, tolerability, compliance, and work/daycare missed) for children (aged 6 months to 6 years) receiving either cefdinir or amoxicillin/clavulanate for acute otitis media. METHOD: In a phase IV, investigator-blinded, parallel-group, randomized, multicenter study, parents or legal guardians were asked to complete the Otitis Parent Questionnaire (OPQ) 12-14 days after the first dose of cefdinir or amoxicillin/clavulanate oral suspensions. Responses in each of the outcome domains were analyzed using non-parametric statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of 367 parents/guardians who completed the questionnaire, better ease of use (p = 0.009) and taste (p < 0.0001) were associated with cefdinir versus amoxicillin/clavulanate treatment, and children were significantly more likely to experience vomiting with amoxicillin/clavulanate (16% vs 8%; p = 0.016). Parents also reported that their children were much more likely to take all of their medication if receiving cefdinir (68% vs 53% for amoxicillin/clavulanate; p = 0.005). There were no statistically significant differences between groups in work/daycare missed. CONCLUSION: Based on parents' assessment using the OPQ, cefdinir was easier to administer and tasted better than amoxicillin/clavulanate. Children who received cefdinir also experienced less vomiting and had greater compliance than children who received amoxicillin/clavulanate.

Administration, Oral↗