Comparison of long-lasting therapeutic effects between succimer and penicillamine on hepatolenticular degeneration

AIM To compare the long term effect of succimer (Suc) with that of penicillamine (Pen) in treating hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD). METHODS One hundred and twenty patients with HLD were divided into 2 groups. Group A ( n =60) received Suc 750mg , po. bid. Group B ( n =60) received Pen 250mg , po. qid. The period of maintenance treatment varied from 6 months to 3 years, averaging 1 5 years. Symptoms and therapeutic effects were evaluated by modified Goldstein scale. RESULTS The total effectiveness of group A in two different periods of treatment were 80% and 85% respectively, higher than those of group B (58% and 59% respectively) ( P <0 05). Suc also had obvious curative effects for the patients who failed in the use of Pen. There were fewer side effect in group A than in group B ( P <0 05). Suc and Pen could increase urinary copper excretion effectively and continually. CONCLUSION Suc is more effective and safer than Pen. Clinically, it can replace Pen as first choice drug for long term maintenance therapy of HLD.

Functional dyspepsia of ulcer-dysmotility type:clinical incidence and therapeutic strategy

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The role of drug utilization evaluation in medical sciences

Background:Drug utilization evaluation(DUE)is defined by the World Health Organization(WHO)and focuses on the medical,social,and economic consequences of pharmaceutical marketing,distribution,prescribing,and usage in society.The WHO recommends a physician to every 1000 people.According to the recent data from the Health Ministry in 2019,in which 1.16 million doctors are of active population with just 80%,or 0.9 million,practicing.As a result,a ratio of 0.68 doctors for every 1000 people,which is much below as per the WHO reports.This article describes history,types,WHO guidelines,need and purpose of DUE.Objective:The main aim of this paper is to provide information about the rational use of medication in outpa­tient and inpatient department with special emphasis of DUEs.It also provides awareness directly to healthcare professionals,researchers,academicians,pharmacist and nurses to reduce the irrationality of medicines.Methods:The method used to compile this review information gathered from websites,Google scholar,PubMed,Research gate,and studies published on DUE from July 20 to Oct 22 were included as source of information.Results:We studied more than 35 published study on DUE,that reveals most of the physicians prescribed branded drugs not generic drugs,but WHO prescribing indicator allows to prescribe generic drugs in the hospital pharmacy to maintain better inventory control.It may also help to prevent pharmacist misunderstanding during dispensing.Conclusion:The use of generic prescription names avoids the possibility of medication product duplication and lowers patient costs.It is important to remember that incorrect medication prescriptions have impact on both patients and their family members.WHO indicators identify irrational prescribing behaviours to make therapy more rational and cost-effective.

Dosing strategies for de novo once-daily extended release tacrolimus in kidney transplant recipients based on CYP3A5 genotype

BACKGROUND Tacrolimus extended-release tablets have been Food and Drug Administrationapproved for use in the de novo kidney transplant population.Dosing requirements often vary for tacrolimus based on several factors including variation in metabolism based on CYP3A5 expression.Patients who express CYP3A5 often require higher dosing of immediate-release tacrolimus,but this has not been established for tacrolimus extended-release tablets in the de novo setting.AIM To obtain target trough concentrations of extended-release tacrolimus in de novo kidney transplant recipients according to CYP3A5 genotype.METHODS Single-arm,prospective,single-center,open-label,observational study(ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT037-13645).Life cycle pharma tacrolimus(LCPT)orally once daily at a starting dose of 0.13 mg/kg/day based on actual body weight.If weight is more than 120%of ideal body weight,an adjusted body weight was used.LCPT dose was adjusted to maintain tacrolimus trough concentrations of 8-10 ng/mL.Pharmacogenetic analysis of CYP3A5 genotype was performed at study conclusion.RESULTS Mean time to therapeutic tacrolimus trough concentration was longer in CYP3A5 intermediate and extensive metabolizers vs CYP3A5 non-expressers(6 d vs 13.5 d vs 4.5 d;P=0.025).Mean tacrolimus doses and weight-based doses to achieve therapeutic concentration were higher in CYP3A5 intermediate and extensive metabolizers vs CYP3A5 non-expressers(16 mg vs 16 mg vs 12 mg;P=0.010)(0.20 mg/kg vs 0.19 mg/kg vs 0.13 mg/kg;P=0.018).CYP3A5 extensive metabolizers experienced lower mean tacrolimus trough concentrations throughout the study period compared to CYP3A5 intermediate metabolizers and non-expressers(7.98 ng/mL vs 9.18 ng/mL vs 10.78 ng/mL;P=00.008).No differences were identified with regards to kidney graft function at 30-d post-transplant.Serious adverse events were reported for 13(36%)patients.CONCLUSION Expression of CYP3A5 leads to higher starting doses and incremental dosage titration of extended-release tacrolimus to achieve target trough concentrations.We suggest a higher starting dose of 0.2 mg/kg/d for CYP3A5 expressers.

Combination of "low-dose" ribavirin and interferon alfa-2a therapy followed by interferon alfa-2a monotherapy in chronic HCV-infected nonresponders and relapsers after interferon alfa-2a monotherapy

AIM To report on the efficacy, safety and tolerability of interferon alfa-2a combined with a "low dose" of ribavirin for relapsers and non responders to alpha interferon monotherapy.METHODS Thirty-four chronic hepatitis C virus-infected non-responders to interferon alfa2a monotherapy (a course of at least 3 months treatment) and 13 relapsers to interferon alfa 2a monotherapy (a dose of 3 to 6 million units three times per week for at least 20 weeks but not more than 18 months) were treated with the same dose of interferon alfa-2a used before (3 to 6 million units three times per week) and ribavirin (10 mg/ kg daily) for 6 months. In complete responders, interferon alfa-2a was administered for further 6 months at the same dose used before as monotherapy.RESULTS Seven (20.6%) of 34 non-responders stopped the combined therapy due to adverse events, including two patients with histological and clinical Child A cirrhosis. In 17/27 (63%)non-responders, the combined therapy was stopped after three months because of non-response. Ten of the 27 non-responders completed the 1;2-month treatment course. At a mean follow up of 28 months (16- 37 months)after the treatment, 4/10 (15%) previous non-responders still remained complete responders,All 13 previous relapsers completed the 12-month treatment course. At a mean follow up of 22months (9 - 36 months) after treatment, 6/13(46%) the previous relapsers were stillsustained complete responders.CONCLUSION Our treatment schedule of the combined therapy for 6 months of interferon alfa2a with a low dose of ribavirin (10 mg/kg/day)followed by 6 months of interferon alfa-2amonotherapy is able to induce a sustainedcomplete response rate in 15% of non-responders and 46% of relapsers with chronic hepatitis C virus-related liver diseases comparable to those obtained with the standarddoses of ribavirin 1000 - 1200 mg/day.Randomized prospective controlled trials using lower total amounts of ribavirin in combination with interferon should be performed.

Treatment of rotaviral gastroenteritis with Qiwei Baizhu powder

AIM To observe the effects of Qiwei Baizhu Powder ( QWBZP) on rotaviral gastroenteritis in children and in animal models.``METHODS Enrolled patients were divided into two groups, and one group was treated with oral rehydration solution(ORS) and the other treated with oral liquid of QWBZP. Neonate mice were orally infected with 50 μLrotavirus suspension (4 × l0s PFU/mL) and treated with ORS or oral liquid of QWBZP, respectively.``RESULTS Eighty-three cases of rotaviral gastroenteritis treated with QWBZP revealed a better efficacy than that treated with ORS (x2 - 10.8T, P<0.05). The contents of sodium and glucose as well as number of patients with positive human rotavirus antigen in stool in QWBZP group were all less than that in ORS group. In animal models,QWBZP was found effective in treating rotavirus gastroenteritis in neonate NIH mice, as compared with control groups. In QWBZP group, the mortality of infected mice was decreased by 73.3%, the body weight of infected mice was increased, the contents of sodium and glucose as well as number of mice with positive rotavirus antigen in feces were significantly reduced, and the pathological changes such as damage of small intestinal mucosa and villi were also obviously alleviated.``CONCLUSION QWBZP has effects on improving the absorptive function of small intestine, shortening the duration of diarrhea and rotavirus shedding from stool and alleviating the pathological changes of small intestine induced by rotavirus.

Diabetes treatment in patients with renal disease: Is the landscape clear enough?

Diabetes is the most important risk factors for chronic kidney disease(CKD). The risk of CKD attributable to diabetes continues to rise worldwide. Diabetic patients with CKD need complicated treatment for their metabolic disorders as well as for related comorbidities. They have to treat, often intensively, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, bone disease, anaemia, and frequently established cardiovascular disease. The treatment of hypoglycaemia in diabetic persons with CKD must tie their individual goals of glycaemia(usually less tight glycaemic control) and knowledge on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs available to a person with kidney disease. The problem is complicated from the fact that in many efficacy studies patients with CKD are excluded so data of safety and efficacy for these patients are missing. This results in fear of use by lack of evidence. Metformin is globally accepted as the first choice in practically all therapeutic algorithms for diabetic subjects. The advantages of metformin are low risk of hypoglycaemia, modest weight loss, effectiveness and low cost. Data of UKPDS indicate that treatment based on metformin results in less total as well cardiovascular mortality. Metformin remains the drug of choice for patients with diabetes and CKD provided that their estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate(eGFR) remains above 30 mL/min per square meter. For diabetic patients with eGFR between 30-60 mL/min per square meter more frequent monitoring of renal function and dose reduction of metformin is needed. The use of sulfonylureas, glinides and insulin carry a higher risk of hypoglycemia in these patients and must be very careful. Lower doses and slower titration of the dose is needed. Is better to avoid sulfonylureas with active hepatic metabolites, which are renally excreted. Very useful drugs for this group of patients emerge dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors. These drugs do not cause hypoglycemia and most of them(linagliptin is an exception) require dose reduction in various stages of renal disease.

Randomized clinical study of five days apostrophe therapy with mebendazole compared to quinacrine in the treatment of symptomatic giardiasis in children

AIM： To compare the efficacy and safety of five days apostrophe therapy of mebendazole （MBZ） versus quinacrine （QC） on human giardiasis in children.METHODS： A clinical trial was carried out in paediatric patients （aged 5-15 years） with confirmed symptomatic G. duodenalis mono-infection. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either MBZ [200 mg taken three times per day GRID） （n = 61）] or QC [2 mg/kg bodyweight tid （n = 61）], both for five days. Follow-up faecal samples were obtained at 3, 5 and 7 d after the end of the treatment.RESULTS： Although the frequency of cure was higher for QC （83.6%） than for MBZ （78.7%）, the difference was not statistically significant （P 〉 0.05）. Adverse events were reported more in the QC group （P 〈 0.05）, all of them transient and self-limiting.CONCLUSION： Despite final cure rates ocurring lower than expected, the overall results of this study reconfirmed the efficacy of MBZ in giardiasis and also indicate that, although comparable to QC, at least in this setting the 5 d course of MBZ did not appear to improve the cure rates in this intestinal parasitic infection.

Improvement of lenvatinib-induced nephrotic syndrome after adaptation to sorafenib in thyroid cancer:A case report

BACKGROUND Target therapy is licensed by United States Food and Drug Administration on certain cancers.Both sorafenib and lenvatinib are tyrosine kinase inhibitor and indicated on radioactive iodine(RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC).Lenvatinib is more effective in cancers'control than sorafenib,but causes more nephrotoxicity than sorafenib does.This case is the second published case about the serial adaptions from lenvatinib to sorafenib for improving the proteinuria and,meanwhile,achieving the therapeutic goal.CASE SUMMARY A 56-year-old man suffered from bilateral edematous lower extremities after 1-mo prescription of lenvatinib of 20 mg/d for RAI-refractory DTC.Aside from this symptom,he also developed hypertension.His laboratory showed grade-3 proteinuria(estimated 24-h urine protein:9993 mg),hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesterolemia.Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)therapyinduced nephrotic syndrome was impressed.After reduced dosage of lenvatinib of 10 mg/d and related symptomatic drugs,limited improvement was observed in both adverse effects and caner control.Under this condition,we substituted sorafenib of 400 mg/d for lenvatinib of 10 mg/d.After a 5-mo prescription,not only hypertension and peripheral edema were greatly improved,but also proteinuria was improved from grade three to grade one(estimated 24-h urine protein:962 mg).At the same time the cancer control was achieved,judged from computed tomography and laboratory evidence[thyroglobulin(Tg)before prescription of sorafenib:354.7 ng/m L;Tg after prescription of sorafenib:108.9 ng/m L].CONCLUSION Adaption from lenvatinib to sorafenib is a feasible method to improve the antiVEGF therapy-induced nephrotic syndrome and achieve the therapeutic goal at the same time.

Efficacy and safety of Shaoyang Xibi decoction in patients with knee osteoarthritis:a multi-center,single-blind,randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: To observe the efficacy and safety of Shaoyang Xibi decoction(SYXBD) in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA), and to verify that the theory of "Shaoyang dominating bone" in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) can be applied to KOA treatment.METHODS: Participants were randomly allocated to two groups: SYXBD(treatment group, n = 66)and Meloxicam(control group, n = 66). Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36) were used to assess efficacy before the treatment and 8 weeks after the treatment.RESULTS: Baseline data before the treatment between the two groups were similar. The WOMAC scores significantly decreased and the SF-36 scores significantly increased after 8-week treatment in both groups compared with before the treatment(P < 0.05). SYXBD significantly decreased pain scores(P < 0.001), physical function scores(P <0.001) and the total scores(P < 0.001) in WOMAC compared to Meloxicam. SYXBD significantly improved physical function(P = 0.021), bodily pain(P = 0.002) and general health(P = 0.014), with no significant difference in role emotional(P = 0.053),role physical(P = 0.517), vitality(P = 0.241), social function(P = 0.712) and mental health(P = 0.800)in SF-36 compared to Meloxicam. No adverse events were reported in the treatment group while13 adverse events happened in the control group during the study.CONCLUSION: SYXBD, prepared based on the theory of "Shaoyang dominating bone", has a better curative efficay and safety in patients with KOA compared with Meloxicam. The TCM theory of "Shaoyang dominating bone" may be useful in KOA treatment.