Efficacy and safety of topical WBI-1001 in patients with mild to severe atopic dermatitis: results from a 12-week, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial

BACKGROUND

There is a need for the development of novel nonsteroidal topical drugs for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of WBI-1001 over 6 weeks of treatment of mild to severe AD.

METHODS

  Patients with AD affecting 3-20% of their body surface area and with an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) of 2-4 were randomized (1 : 1 : 1) to receive placebo, WBI-1001 0·5% or WBI-1001 1·0% in a cream formulation applied twice daily for 6 weeks. At the end of this phase, patients receiving WBI-1001 continued the same treatment for an additional 6 weeks. Patients receiving placebo entered into a 6-week double-blind phase with re-randomization (1 : 1) to WBI-1001 0·5% or 1·0% cream. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of WBI-1001 over 6 weeks of treatment of mild to severe AD. The primary endpoint was the mean change from baseline in IGA at day 42 (week 6).

RESULTS

In total, 148 patients were randomized and analysed in the placebo (51), WBI-1001 0·5% (50) and WBI-1001 1·0% (47) groups. There was a decrease of 1·3 [43%; P < 0·001; 95% confidence interval (CI) -1·2 to -0·5] and 1·8 (56·3%; P < 0·001; 95% CI -1·6 to -0·9) in IGA at day 42 in the WBI-1001 0·5% and 1·0% groups, respectively, as compared with a decrease of 0·5 (14·7%) in the placebo group. Adverse drug reactions included a few cases of folliculitis and contact dermatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

WBI-1001 is an efficacious novel topical anti-inflammatory molecule for the treatment of AD.

Definition and measurement of rider-intrinsic physical attributes influencing all-terrain vehicle safety

Object

All-terrain vehicle (ATV) usage has grown tremendously over the years, reaching 9.5 million vehicles in use in 2007. Accompanying this growth has been a concomitant increase in rider morbidity (including traumatic brain and spine injuries) and death, especially in children. The purpose of this study was to define and measure, through field testing, those physical attributes intrinsic to riders, such as height, weight, and wingspan, which may have implications for ATV riders' safety.

Methods

Three field tests (J-hook, brake, and bump) were developed and performed to allow direct measurement of the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical dynamics in 5 riders of varying heights, weights, and wingspans. Two ATVs, a utility and a sport model, were tested for further comparisons. Data were acquired using a comprehensive data acquisition system attached to the ATVs. Assignment of individual rider/ATV test safety ratings and a rider/ATV Total Safety Rating were made from the results of these field tests.

Results

The J-hook test results demonstrated that larger rider wingspans positively influence ATV rider safety and mitigate against lateral instability. From the brake test it was determined that a 10-in (25.4-cm) longitudinal displacement, such as that experienced during a sharp deceleration, for a rider of any height or weight, breached the level of defined safety. As rider weight increased, displacement decreased. The bump test provided evidence that increased rider weight also mitigates against vertical displacement.

Conclusions

Individuals with light weights and small wingspans, such as those in the pediatric population, are under considerable risk of injury when operating an ATV due to lateral, longitudinal, and vertical operational instability.

Neurological sequalae and toxoplasma infection: Possible mechanisms to explain associations with schizophrenia

Latent infection with the common intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been shown to result in altered behaviour of its host. This behaviour manipulation has been proposed to increase predation of the intermediate host (e.g. rodents and birds) enhancing parasite transmission. Other psychologicalsequalae have also been associated with latent toxoplasmosis including human affective disorders, as human are accidental hosts for Toxoplasma. During cyst stages of the life cycle found in the brain and other tissues, there is a complex interaction between the parasite and the host. Our research is concerned with the possibility that the parasite-induced behavioural changes are mediated by neurotransmitters. Potential factors in neurotransmitter levels include the location of the cyst, the host immune response, and direct parasite products. The cyst is found in many brain regions but elevated numbers have been reported in the hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens. The host response involves interferon gamma suppressing growth through tryptophan degradation that could decrease serotonin levels. The parasite could directly manipulate the host brain through altering dopamine levels. We have found a change in dopamine associated with infection. Indeed, the parasite itself encodes the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis, tyrosine hydroxylase. Dopamine's role is also supported by finding haloperidol, a dopamine antagonist, blocks manipulation of rodents by Toxoplasma. Our current investigations of alterations in neurotransmitter levels during chronic infection and association with brain cysts will be presented. Our data presents an interesting interplay with the ‘dopamine hypothesis’ that has postulated a link between elevated dopamine and schizophrenia.

Synergistic effects of ascorbic acid and thiazolidinedione on secretion of high molecular weight adiponectin from human adipocytes

AIM

To test the hypothesis that ascorbic acid (AA) and thiazolidinedione (TZD) would have additive effects on HMW adiponectin secretion by virtue of different modes of action.

METHODS

We determined the effects of supplementation of AA and/or TZD on expression and secretion of total and HMW adiponectin from human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) adipocytes in the absence or presence of the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα.

RESULTS

AA supplementation significantly increased secretion of HMW adiponectin (1.7-fold) without altering adiponectin expression or total adiponectin secretion. TZD significantly increased expression (3-fold) and secretion of total (1.4-fold) but not HMW adiponectin. Combined supplementation resulted in a significant increase in expression (3-fold) and secretion of total (1.8-fold) and HMW (5-fold) adiponectin. Similar results were seen in cells co-treated with TNFα.

CONCLUSIONS

These data show that AA and TZD have synergistic rather than simple additive effects on secretion of HMW adiponectin from human adipocytes and raise the possibility that differences in AA levels may contribute to the variability in adiponectin multimer profiles and efficacy of TZD in humans. Our results also provide a rationale for longitudinal clinical trials investigating the effects of AA supplementation with or without TZD on adiponectin and metabolic profiles.

An assessment of microbiological water quality of six water source categories in north-east Uganda

Target 7C of the Millennium Development Goals is to "halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation". However, the corresponding indicator measures the "proportion of population using an improved drinking water source". This raises the question of whether "safe" and "improved" can be used interchangeably. This paper tests this hypothesis by comparing microbiological water quality in 346 different water sources across the District of Amuria in Uganda to each other and to defined standards, including the WHO drinking water standard of zero TTC per 100 ml, and the Ugandan national standard of 50 TTC per 100 ml. The water sources were grouped into six different categories: boreholes, protected springs, covered hand dug wells, open hand dug wells, open water and roofwater harvesting. The paper concludes that the ranking from the highest to the lowest microbiological quality water was: boreholes, protected springs and roofwater harvesting, open and covered hand dug wells, open water. It also concludes that sanitary surveys cannot be used to predict water quality precisely; however they are an essential component of the monitoring of safe water supplies.

Agrocin-Producing Agrobacterium tumefaciens Strain Active against Grapevine Isolates

Agrobacterium tumefaciens J73, a biotype 2 strain harboring a nopaline Ti plasmid, was found to produce an agrocin active against a broad range of A. tumefaciens strains, including grapevine isolates. Sensitivity to J73 is not encoded by a Ti plasmid. Optimal conditions for the production of the agrocin were determined.

Investigation into a new softening agent for use on formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded tissue

The use of tissue softening agents to improve microtomy of keratotic tissues is employed widely. Many of these softeners contain hazardous constituents such as phenol. In this study, the use of non-ionic surfactants or non-toxic ingredients are investigated with the aim of creating a new softening agent. The new agent should be more effective in facilitating the sectioning of hardened tissue while reducing toxicity and complications associated with sectioning hard tissue compared to a commercially available phenol-based formulation. Four formulations are compared against the commercial product for their capability to section routinely processed paraffin-embedded tissue under standard operating procedure parameters. The trial formulations were shown to be fast acting and enabled improved serial sectioning of hard keratotic tissue in nearly all the cases tested. There was no evidence of adverse staining using either tinctorial or immunohistochemical methods. The new formulations had advantages over the commercially available solutions, improving on the number and quality of sections attainable from the tissue blocks, as well as offering a composition less toxic than phenol-based products.

The prevalence of a raised aldosterone–renin ratio (ARR) among new referrals to a hypertension clinic

The wider application of the plasma aldosterone to renin activity ratio (ARR) test has led independent groups to report a 10-fold or higher prevalence in the detection and prevalence of primary aldosteronism than previously suggested, although such figures have been contested. We determined the prevalence of a raised ARR in an unselected group of patients who were referred to the hypertension clinic at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Over a 4-month period, all newly referred patients had an ARR, urea and electrolytes, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) performed in addition to a detailed clinical examination. One hundred and twenty-two patients (mean age 51 +/- 16 years) were examined over the study period; 57 (47%) were receiving no anti-hypertensive medication, 32(26% of total) had a normal 24-h ABPM of which 15 patients were receiving antihypertensive medication ("controlled" hypertensives) and 17(14%) were receiving no anti-hypertensive medication ("white-coat hypertensives). Twenty patients (mean age 58 +/- 11 years) were found to have a raised ARR (> 750), of which 10 patients were receiving beta-blocker therapy as part of their anti-hypertensive regimen. Patients with a raised ARR were more likely (odds ratio 3.6, 95% confidence interval 1.2-13.2, p < 0.05) to be classified as a "non-dipper" compared with those whose blood pressure fell at night. The proportion of newly referred hypertensive patients with a raised ARR is still significant and confirms that of previous studies The ratio appears to be significantly driven by a suppressed renin value and further investigation is required to clarify the status of those patients receiving anti-hypertensive medications, particularly beta-blockers.

A new transferrin allele in sheep

An electrophoretic variant of sheep transferrin, TfL, has been described. Transferrin L has been shown to be controlled by a single codominant allele, TfL, at the Tf locus. Transferrin L is electrophoretically distinguishable from the very similar transferrin TfKCzech. The value of gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for transferrin phenotyping in sheep is discussed.

The changing role of cell culture in the generation of transgenic livestock

Transgenesis may allow the generation of farm animals with altered phenotype, animal models for research and animal bioreactors. Although such animals have been produced, the time and expense involved in generating transgenic livestock and then evaluating the transgene expression pattern is very restrictive. If questions about the ability and efficiency of expression could be asked solely in vitro rapid progress could be achieved. Unfortunately, experiments addressing transcriptional control in vitro have proved unreliable in their ability to indicate whether a transgene will be transcribed or not. However, initial studies suggest that cell culture may be able to predict in vivo post-transcriptional events. We review these issues and propose that strategies which engineer the transgene integration site could enhance the probability for efficient expression. This approach has now become feasible with the development of techniques allowing animals to be generated from somatic cells by nuclear transfer. The important step in this procedure is the use of cells grown in culture as the source of genetic information, allowing the selection of specific transgene integration events. This technology which has dramatically increased the potential use of transgenic livestock for both agricultural and biotechnological applications, is based on standard cell culture methodology. We are now at the start of a new era in large animal transgenics.

Phenotypic consequences of variation across the aldosterone synthase and 11-beta hydroxylase locus in a hypertensive cohort: data from the MRC BRIGHT Study

BACKGROUND

Aldosterone is an important cardiovascular hormone; 15% of hypertensive subjects have alteration in aldosterone regulation, defined by a raised ratio of aldosterone to renin (ARR). Studies of the aldosterone synthase gene (CYP11B2) have focused on a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5'promoter region (-344 C/T). In normotensive subjects, the T allele associates with raised levels of the 11-deoxysteroids, deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol which are substrates for 11beta-hydroxylase, encoded by the adjacent and homologous gene, CYP11B1. We have speculated that this altered 11beta-hydroxylase efficiency leads to increased ACTH drive to the adrenal gland to maintain cortisol production and reported herein the association between the -344 C/T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and adrenal steroid production in subjects with essential hypertension.

METHODS

The CYP11B2-344 C/T polymorphism was genotyped and urinary excretion of adrenal steroid metabolites was measured (by GCMS) in 511 unrelated hypertensives from the Medical Research Council (MRC) British Genetics of Hypertension (BRIGHT) study.

RESULTS

Thirty-five per cent of subjects were homozygous for the -344T allele whilst 16% were CC homozygotes. There was no difference in cortisol excretion rate between the two genotype groups but the index of adrenal 11beta-hydroxylation (ratio of tetrahydrodeoxycortisol/total cortisol) was significantly higher in the TT group (P < 0.005) than in the CC group. Excretion rates of the major urinary metabolite of aldosterone (tetrahydroaldosterone) correlated strongly with the ACTH-regulated steroids, cortisol (r = 0.437, P < 0.0001) and total androgen metabolites (r = 0.4, P < 0.0001) in TT but not CC subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertensives homozygous for the -344 T allele of CYP11B2 demonstrate altered 11beta-hydroxylase efficiency (CYP11B1); this is consistent with the hypothesis of a genetically determined increase in adrenal ACTH drive in these subjects. The correlation between excretion of aldosterone and cortisol metabolites and suggests that, in TT subjects, ACTH exerts an important common regulatory influence on adrenal corticosteroid production in subjects with hypertension.

Use of plastic adhesive drapes during surgery for preventing surgical site infection

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection has been estimated to occur in about 15% of clean surgery and 30% of contaminated surgery. Using plastic adhesive drapes to protect the wound from organisms that may be present on the surrounding skin during surgery is one strategy used to prevent surgical site infection. Results from non-randomised studies have produced conflicting results about the efficacy of this approach but no systematic review has been conducted to date to guide clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of adhesive drapes used during surgery on surgical site infection, cost, mortality and morbidity.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (last searched 24/4/07), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 2,2007), Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to April Week 2, 2007), Ovid EMBASE (1980 to 2007 Week 16), and Ovid CINAHL (1982 to 1980 to April Week 2 2007).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials comparing any plastic adhesive drape with no adhesive drape, used alone or in combination with woven (material) drapes or disposable (paper) drapes in patients undergoing any type of surgery.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently selected and assessed studies for trial quality and both independently extracted data. Study authors were contacted for additional information.

MAIN RESULTS

This review includes five studies involving 3,082 participants comparing adhesive drapes with no drape and two studies involving 1,113 participants comparing iodine-impregnated adhesive drapes with no drape. A significantly higher proportion of patients in the adhesive drape group developed a surgical site infection when compared with no drape. (Relative Risk (RR) 1.23, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) 1.02 to 1.48, p=0.03). Iodine-impregnated adhesive drapes had no effect on the surgical site infection rate (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.064 to 1.66, p=0.89). Length of hospital stay was similar in adhesive drape and non-adhesive drape groups.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There was no evidence from the seven trials that plastic adhesive drapes reduces surgical site infection rate and some evidence that they increase infection rates. Further trials may be justified using blinded outcome assessment to examine the effect of adhesive drapes on surgical site infection based on different wound classifications.

Preoperative bathing or showering with skin antiseptics to prevent surgical site infection

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are wound infections that occur after invasive (surgical) procedures. Preoperative bathing or showering with an antiseptic skin wash product is a well-accepted procedure for reducing skin bacteria (microflora). It is less clear whether reducing skin microflora leads to a lower incidence of surgical site infection.

OBJECTIVES

To review the evidence for preoperative bathing or showering with antiseptics for the prevention of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) surgical site infection.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (December 2005), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2005), MEDLINE (January 1966 to December 2005) and reference lists of articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials comparing any antiseptic preparation used for preoperative full-body bathing or showering with non-antiseptic preparations in patients undergoing surgery.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed studies for selection, trial quality and extracted data. Study authors were contacted for additional information.

MAIN RESULTS

Six trials involving a total of 10,007 participants were included. Three of the included trials had three comparison groups. The antiseptic used in all trials was 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (Hibiscrub). Three trials involving 7691 participants compared chlorhexidine with a placebo. Bathing with chlorhexidine compared with a placebo did not result in a statistically significant reduction in SSIs; the relative risk of SSI (RR) was 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80 to 1.04). When only trials of high quality were included in this comparison, the RR of SSI was 0.95 (95%CI 0.82 to 1.10). Three trials of 1443 participants compared bar soap with chlorhexidine; when combined there was no difference in the risk of SSIs (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.84). Two trials of 1092 patients compared bathing with chlorhexidine with no washing, one large study found a statistically significant difference in favour of bathing with chlorhexidine (RR 0.36, 95%CI 0.17 to 0.79). The second smaller study found no difference between patients who washed with chlorhexidine and those who did not wash preoperatively.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review provides no clear evidence of benefit for preoperative showering or bathing with chlorhexidine over other wash products, to reduce surgical site infection. Efforts to reduce the incidence of nosocomial surgical site infection should focus on interventions where effect has been demonstrated.