Utility of illness severity scores to predict mortality in patients hospitalized with respiratory deterioration of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: In the context of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), respiratory-related admissions to hospital are associated with a high morbidity and short-term mortality with significant burden on secondary care services. It has yet to be determined how to accurately identify patients at risk of acute respiratory deterioration (ARD) or the prognosticating factors. AIM: We sought to define the characteristics of hospitalized ARD-IPF patients in a real-world cohort and investigate factors associated with worse outcomes. Specifically, we wished to determine the association between baseline CURB-65 and NEWS-2 and mortality in IPF, given illness severity scores have not previously been validated in this cohort. METHODS: Single-centre retrospective observational cohort study. RESULTS: Of 172 first hospitalizations for ARD, 27 admissions (15.7%) were due to an acute exacerbation of IPF (AE-IPF), 28 (16.3%) secondary to cardiac failure/fluid overload and 17 due to pneumonia (9.9%). Other admissions related to lower respiratory tract infection, extra-parenchymal causes and those without a specific trigger. Baseline patient characteristics were comparable for all underlying aetiologies of ARD-IPF. Treatment pathways did not differ significantly between AE-IPF and other causes of ARD-IPF. Short-term mortality was high, with ∼22% patients dying within 30 days. Illness severity scores (NEWS-2 and CURB-65) were independent predictors of mortality in multivariable logistic regression modelling. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest significant mortality related to hospitalization with ARD-IPF of any underlying cause. Our data support the use of CURB-65 and NEWS-2 scores as illness severity scores that can provide a simple tool to help future prognostication in IPF. Research should be aimed at refining the management of these episodes, to try to reduce mortality, where possible, or to facilitate palliative care for those with adverse prognostic characteristics.

Efficacy results of a 52-week, randomised, double-blind, safety study of a calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate two-compound product (Daivobet/Dovobet/Taclonex) in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: The calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate two-compound product is safe and effective in the short-term treatment of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to investigate the safety of two treatment regimens involving use of the two-compound product over 52 weeks. The efficacy results are presented here. METHODS: Six hundred and thirty-four patients were randomised double-blind to treatment (once daily, when required) with either: 52 weeks of two-compound product (two-compound group), 52 weeks of alternating 4-week periods of two-compound product and calcipotriol (alternating group), or 4 weeks of two-compound product followed by 48 weeks of calcipotriol (calcipotriol group). RESULTS: There was a trend towards a difference between treatments from the overall treatment effect for the percentage of satisfactory responses for each patient during the study (p = 0.071). This appeared to be due to the comparison of the two-compound and calcipotriol groups (p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: There was a trend towards the efficacy of the two-compound product used for up to 52 weeks being better than that of 4 weeks of the two-compound product followed by 48 weeks of calcipotriol.

A 52-week randomized safety study of a calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate two-compound product (Dovobet/Daivobet/Taclonex) in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: The calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate two-compound product Dovobet/Daivobet/Taclonex(LEO Pharma A/S, Ballerup, Denmark) has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of psoriasis for up to 8 weeks. As psoriasis is a chronic disease, long-term treatment may be required, so there is a need to investigate the safety of its use over a longer period of time. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the safety of two treatment regimens involving use of the two-compound product over 52 weeks in the treatment of patients with psoriasis. METHODS: Patients (n = 634) were randomized double-blind to treatment with: (i) 52 weeks of the two-compound product (two-compound group); (ii) 52 weeks of alternating 4-week periods of the two-compound product and calcipotriol (alternating group); or (iii) 4 weeks of the two-compound product followed by 48 weeks of calcipotriol (calcipotriol group). Treatments in all groups were used once daily when required. RESULTS: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred in 45 (21.7%) patients in the two-compound group, 63 (29.6%) in the alternating group and 78 (37.9%) in the calcipotriol group. The odds ratio for an ADR in the two-compound group relative to the calcipotriol group was 0.46 (95% confidence interval 0.30-0.70; P < 0.001). ADRs of concern associated with long-term topical corticosteroid use occurred in 10 (4.8%) patients in the two-compound group, six (2.8%) in the alternating group and six (2.9%) in the calcipotriol group; those with the highest incidence were skin atrophy, occurring in four (1.9%), one (0.5%) and two (1.0%) patients, respectively, and folliculitis, in three (1.4%), one (0.5%) and no patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with the two-compound product for up to 52 weeks appears to be safe and well tolerated whether used on its own or alternating every 4 weeks with calcipotriol treatment.

A new calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate formulation (Daivobet) is an effective once-daily treatment for psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids and calcipotriol have been used separately for many years to treat psoriasis. A new combination ointment has been formulated, which contains both calcipotriol and the corticosteroid betamethasone dipropionate. OBJECTIVE: To compare the combination ointment with betamethasone dipropionate ointment, calcipotriol ointment and ointment vehicle in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. METHODS: 1,603 patients were randomised to one of the 4 double-blind treatments used once daily for 4 weeks. RESULTS: The mean percentage change in the PASI at the end of treatment was -71.3 (combination), -57.2 (betamethasone), -46.1 (calcipotriol) and -22.7 (vehicle). The mean difference of combination minus betamethasone was -14.2 (95% CI: -17.6 to -10.8, p < 0.001), of combination minus calcipotriol -25.3 (95% CI: -28.7 to -21.9, p < 0.001) and of combination minus vehicle -48.3 (95% CI: -53.2 to -43.4, p < 0.001). 6.0% of patients (combination) reported local adverse reactions compared to 4.9% (betamethasone), 11.4% (calcipotriol) and 13.6% (vehicle). CONCLUSION: Calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate combination ointment used once daily is well tolerated and more effective than either active constituent used alone.

A new calcipotriol/betamethasone formulation with rapid onset of action was superior to monotherapy with betamethasone dipropionate or calcipotriol in psoriasis vulgaris.

In this study, we compared a new combination ointment containing both calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate with betamethasone dipropionate ointment (Diprosone) and calcipotriol ointment (Daivonex) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris; 1106 patients were randomized to twice daily double-blind treatment with combination, betamethasone dipropionate or calcipotriol for 4 weeks. Patients then received twice daily calcipotriol, unblinded, for a further 4 weeks. Mean percentage change in PASI at end of the double-blind phase was -74.4 (combination group), -61.3 (betamethasone group) and -55.3 (calcipotriol group). Mean difference (95% Cl) combination-betamethasone was -13.1 (-16.9 to -9.3, p < 0.001) and for combination-calcipotriol -19.0 (-22.8 to -15.2, p <0.001). The differences in PASI were also statistically significant after 1 week. In the double-blind phase, 8.1% of patients (combination) reported lesional/ perilesional adverse reactions compared to 4.7% (betamethasone) and 12.0% (calcipotriol). In the combination group, mean PASI at the end of the double-blind phase was 2.5, and at end of the unblinded phase 3.6, compared with 3.9 and 4.1 (betamethasone) and 4.4 and 3.7 (calcipotriol). Calcipotriol/betamethasone combination is more effective and has a more rapid onset of action than either active constituent used alone, and is well tolerated. It is safe to transfer patients from combination to calcipotriol, with maintenance of clinical effect.

Comparison of transmission and internal reflection infrared spectra of cocaine.

Comparing the infrared transmission spectrum of cocaine HCl to its attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectrum has raised questions about the use of ATR spectra for forensic drug analysis. Whenever infrared spectra are collected using different modes or sample preparation methods, small variations in peak intensity ratios or peak positions are possible. These variations in infrared spectra are small and do not interfere with qualitative analysis, but they can cause confusion when unrecognized as normal effects of the different spectroscopic techniques. Comparison of the absorption and ATR spectra of cocaine hydrochloride illustrates the type of differences that can be expected. These differences are explained by the fundamental differences in the collection techniques. For the best quantitative results, only spectra collected by the same technique should be compared.

Concordance between urinalysis results and self-reported drug use by applicants for methadone maintenance in Australia.

This study examined concordance between self-reported drug use and urinalysis data among 341 applicants for methadone treatment in Sydney, Australia. Rates of under-reporting of use of specific drugs were low (0% to 10%). Irregular drug use, short half-life of some abused drugs, and relatively low sensitivity of the TLC assay procedure led to most detected drugs being found in only one of two urine samples collected. Subjects reported having recently used nearly twice as many drugs as were detected in their urine. Agreement (kappa) between self-report and urinalysis results was in the fair to good range for most drugs. None of the six predictors of misreporting examined were found to be of practical value.

The incidence of first-dose hypotension with quinapril in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

A total of 2242 patients with mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic pressure 95-120 mmHg) were randomised on a double-blind basis to receive a single dose of placebo, 5 mg quinapril or 10 mg quinapril. Patients were identified who: (a) met the blood pressure (BP) criteria for first-dose hypotension (sitting or standing systolic BP < 100 mmHg, or a fall in systolic BP > or = 20 mmHg on standing); (b) had symptoms suggestive of hypotension; and (c) met the BP criteria and had symptoms. In all three classifications there were no statistically significant differences between the incidences in placebo and combined active treatment groups, or between those in the two quinapril groups. No associated serious adverse events were reported. In the low-risk population studied, it would appear that the incidence of first-dose hypotension with quinapril is similar to placebo and is not dose-related.