Drug Des Dev Ther
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Review Meta Analysis
The influence of prebiotic or probiotic supplementation on antibody titers after influenza vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Influenza infection is a common disease with a huge disease burden. Influenza vaccination has been widely used, but concerns regarding vaccine efficacy exist, especially in the elderly. Probiotics are live microorganisms with immunomodulatory effects and may enhance the immune responses to influenza vaccination. ⋯ Supplementation with prebiotics or probiotics may enhance the influenza hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers in all A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B strains (20%, 19.5%, and 13.6% increases, respectively). Concomitant prebiotics or probiotics supplementation with influenza vaccination may hold great promise for improving vaccine efficacy. However, high heterogeneity was observed and further studies are warranted.
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Meta Analysis
Effect and safety of antithrombotic therapies for secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome: a network meta-analysis.
Dual antiplatelet therapy is a standard protocol for secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome, but despite a variety of new dual antithrombotic strategies, there is a dearth of studies evaluating the effects and safety of some popular therapies. This study used a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of all available antithrombotic therapies. ⋯ We concluded the following from our study: 1) an aspirin + new P2Y12 inhibitor/ clopidogrel conversion treatment strategy was not inferior to aspirin + new P2Y12 inhibitor; 2) compared with aspirin + clopidogrel, the conversion strategy may further reduce the risk of myocardial infarction without increasing the risk of bleeding; and 3) compared with aspirin + clopidogrel, treatment with aspirin + new P2Y12 inhibitors may result in reduced risk of death.
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Review
Benralizumab in the treatment of severe asthma: design, development and potential place in therapy.
Asthma is a widespread and heterogeneous inflammatory disease of the airways, which is characterized by several different phenotypes and endotypes. In particular, eosinophilic airway inflammation is a common pathologic trait of both allergic and nonallergic asthma. The key cytokine responsible for maturation, activation, recruitment, and survival of eosinophils is interleukin (IL)-5, which is mainly produced by T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes and group 2 innate lymphoid cells. ⋯ Among these new treatments, anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibodies such as mepolizumab and reslizumab have been developed and clinically evaluated. Furthermore, benralizumab is currently the only available biologic drug that specifically binds to the IL-5 receptor, thus preventing the interaction with its ligand and the consequent pro-inflammatory effects. The effectiveness of benralizumab in improving severe eosinophilic asthma has been well-documented by many randomized controlled trials.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Bioequivalence of a biosimilar enoxaparin sodium to Clexane® after single 100 mg subcutaneous dose: results of a randomized, double-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers.
To demonstrate the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) equivalence of a biosimilar enoxaparin to the reference drug, and to assess its safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers. ⋯ The results conclusively showed that the enoxaparin manufactured by Rovi is equivalent to the reference enoxaparin in all primary and secondary PK/PD parameters, as required by the European Medicines Agency to grant marketing authorization to a biosimilar low molecular-weight heparin.
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A small percentage of patients with asthma have uncontrolled symptoms and frequent exacerbations, despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and other agents. It has become clear that different subtypes of this severe, treatment-resistant group exist due to different mechanisms of the disease. All such patients require detailed assessment in specialist centers to characterize the disease and assess treatment adherence. ⋯ Reslizumab is a newly licensed antibody that blocks binding of IL-5 to its receptor. Here, we discuss the significance of clinical data of this drug, which show up to 50% reduction in exacerbation rates, together with modest but significant improvements in lung function and quality of life, in those with persistent eosinophilia. The combination of reslizumab with mepolizumab and benralizumab, which also target IL-5, may be a useful addition to the therapeutic armamentarium in a selected group of patients with severe asthma.