Effectiveness of vortioxetine in real-world clinical practice: French cohort results from the global RELIEVE study

Introduction

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects around 10% of the French population annually and significantly impacts patient functioning. Efficacy of vortioxetine was demonstrated in randomised controlled trials, data on its real-world performance is needed.

Objectives

To describe the effectiveness and safety of vortioxetine in real-world setting from patients enrolled from France in the global RELIEVE study.

Methods

RELIEVE was a prospective, multi-national, observational study of outpatients initiating vortioxetine treatment for MDD at physician’s discretion. Data were collected at routine clinical visits. Here we present the outcomes of treatment of patients in France. The primary outcome was functioning measured by SDS. Secondary outcomes included depressive symptoms measured by PHQ-9, cognitive symptoms measured by PDQ-5 and DSST. Changes from baseline to month 6 were estimated with a linear mixed model of repeated measures approach.

Results

A total of 184 patients (mean age, 50.2 years, 65% female, 67.9% of patients had at least one comorbidity) were enrolled from France and included in the analysis. Mean(SD) SDS total score, PHQ-9, PDQ-5 scores at baseline were 21.1(5.4), 17.5(4.7) and 11.7(4.4), the scores(SE) decreased by 10.9(0.59), 9.3(0.48) and 6.1(0.37) from baseline to month 6. Mean(SD) DSST improved from 41.6(15.2) at baseline to 49.1(19.0) at month 6. Safety and tolerability profile of vortioxetine was in line with previous studies.

Conclusions

Sustained improvements in overall functioning, depressive symptoms, cognitive function were observed in patients treated with vortioxetine in a real-world setting, which provided further evidence of effectiveness and safety of vortioxetine in a broad MDD population in France.

Disclosure

M. Rabbani is an employee of Lundbeck France. K. Simonsen and H. Ren are employees of H. Lundbeck A/S.

Effectiveness of vortioxetine in real-world clinical practice: Italian cohort results from the global RELIEVE study

Introduction

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating disease in Italy affects 5.4% of people over 15 and 11.6% for the elderly. Efficacy of vortioxetine in adult patients with MDD was demonstrated in randomised controlled trials, there is a need for data on treatment in daily practice in Italy.

Objectives

To present the effectiveness and safety data of vortioxetine in real-world setting from patients enrolled from Italy in the RELIEVE study.

Methods

RELIEVE was a prospective, multi-national, observational study of outpatients initiating vortioxetine treatment for MDD at physician’s discretion. Data and outcomes of treatment of patients were collected at routine clinical visits. The primary outcome was functioning measured by SDS. Secondary outcomes included depressive symptoms measured by PHQ-9, cognitive funcion measured by PDQ-5, quality of life measured by EQ-5D-5L. Changes from baseline to month 6 were estimated with a linear mixed model of repeated measures approach.

Results

A total of 231 patients (mean age, 55.5 years, 27.3% over 65 years, 62% female) were enrolled from Italy and included in the analysis. Mean(SD) SDS total score, PHQ-9, PDQ-5 scores at baseline were 17.8(7.58), 15.7(5.97) and 9.8(4.99), the scores(SE) decreased by 6.6(0.64), 5.9(0.47) and 3.6(0.36) from baseline to last visit. Mean(SE) EQ-5D-5L utility index increased by 0.13(0.01). Safety and tolerability profile of vortioxetine was in line with the established profile.

Conclusions

Improvements in overall functioning, depressive symptoms, cognitive function and quality of life were observed in patients treated with vortioxetine, including a wide proportion of elderly patients in a real-world setting.

Disclosure

A. Pugliese is an employee of Lundbeck Italy. K. Simonsen and H. Ren are employees of H. Lundbeck A/S.

Effectiveness of vortioxetine in real-world clinical practice: Interim results from the relieve study

Introduction

Vortioxetine has demonstrated sustained efficacy and favorable safety profile in multiple clinical trials.

Objectives

This study aims to describe the effectiveness and safety of vortioxetine in real-world clinical practice.

Methods

RELIEVE is a prospective, multi-national, observational cohort study of outpatients initiating vortioxetine treatment for MDD at physician’s discretion and followed for 6 months. Data were collected at routine clinical visits. The primary outcome was functioning measured by Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Depressive symptoms measured by Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9), cognitive symptoms measured by PDQ-5 and DSST were key secondary outcomes. Safety outcomes including adverse events were reported. This interim analysis presents results of 527 patients who completed the study and were followed for 6 months. Mixed models of repeated measures were used to assess improvements between baseline and month 6, adjusted for relevant confounders.

Results

A total of 527 patients (mean age, 50.2 years, 65% female) were enrolled from US, Canada, France and Italy, and included in the analysis. Mean SDS total score, PHQ-9, PDQ-5 scores decreased by 8.6, 7.4 and 4.7 respectively from baseline to last visit. Mean DSST score improved by 6.5 from baseline to last visit. Patients’ overall functioning and quality of life significantly improved, sick leave days and underproductive days (both absenteeism and presenteeism) decreased over the entire follow up period. The overall incidence of adverse events(AE) was 25%, with the most common AEs being nausea and headache.

Conclusions

The results confirm the effectiveness and good tolerability of vortioxetine in a broad range of patients in routine clinical practice.

Conflict of interest

Dr. Mattingly has served as researcher, consultant or speaker for Akili, Alcobra, Alkermes, Allergan, Axsome, Boehringer, Forum, Genentech, Jansen, Lundbeck, Medgenics, Merck, Neos, NLS Pharma, Otsuka, Reckitt Benckiser, Roche, Sage, Shire, Sunovion, Supe

Perspectives in allergen immunotherapy: 2017 and beyond

The Future of the Allergists and Specific Immunotherapy (FASIT) workshop provides a regular platform for global experts from academia, allergy clinics, regulatory authorities and industry to review developments in the field of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). The most recent meeting, held in February 2017, had two main themes: advances in AIT and hot topics in AIT from the regulatory point of view. The first theme covered opportunities for personalized AIT, advances in adjuvants and delivery systems, and the development of new molecules and future vaccines for AIT. Key topics in the second part of the meeting were the effects of the enactment of European Directive 2001/83 on the availability of allergens for therapy and diagnosis across the EU, the challenges of conducting Phase 3 studies in the field, the future role of allergen exposure chambers in AIT studies and specific considerations in performing AIT studies in the paediatric population. Finally, the group highlighted the forthcoming EAACI guidelines and their particular importance for the standardization of practice in the treatment of allergies. This review presents a comprehensive insight into those panel discussions and highlights unmet needs and also possible solutions to them for the future.

Novel approaches and perspectives in allergen immunotherapy

In this review, we report on relevant current topics in allergen immunotherapy (AIT) which were broadly discussed during the first Aarhus Immunotherapy Symposium (Aarhus, Denmark) in December 2015 by leading clinicians, scientists and industry representatives in the field. The aim of this symposium was to highlight AIT-related aspects of public health, clinical efficacy evaluation, mechanisms, development of new biomarkers and an overview of novel therapeutic approaches. Allergy is a public health issue of high socioeconomic relevance, and development of evidence-based action plans to address allergy as a public health issue ought to be on national and regional agendas. The underlying mechanisms are in the focus of current research that lays the ground for innovative therapies. Standardization and harmonization of clinical endpoints in AIT trials as well as current knowledge about potential biomarkers have substantiated proof of effectiveness of this disease-modifying therapeutic option. Novel treatments such as peptide immunotherapy, intralymphatic immunotherapy and use of recombinant allergens herald a new age in which AIT may address treatment of allergy as a public health issue by reaching a large fraction of patients.

Effect of exercise training in patients with essential hypertension

After 12 weeks of regular exercise training in 34 patients with moderate essential hypertension, supine systolic blood pressure at rest decrease from 152 +/- 2 (means +/- SEM) to 149 +/- 2 mmHg (p less than 0.05), and diastolic blood pressure from 106 +/- 1 to 102 +/- 1 mmHg (p less than 0.001). At corresponding submaximal exercise levels, diastolic blood pressure also decreased significantly from 110 +/- 2 to 98 +/- 3 mmHg (p less than 0.001), but no significant reduction in systolic blood pressure was observed. Heart rate at the same submaximal work load was significantly reduced (p less than 0.01). This data shows that exercise training might have blood pressure lowering effect in patients with moderate essential hypertension, and might in some patients be an alternative to pharmacological treatment.

Comparison of conventional Papanicolaou smear and SurePath liquid-based cytology in the Copenhagen population screening programme for cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

To compare diagnostic performance of conventional Papanicolaou smear with SurePath liquid-based cytology in a population screening programme.

METHODS

A retrospective comparison was performed on data from two 18-month periods of the screening programme for cervical cancer in the municipality of Copenhagen with conventional Papanicolaou technique (n = 82,116) and liquid-based cytology (n = 84,414).

RESULTS

After the conversion to liquid-based cytology the percentage of unsatisfactory samples decreased from 2.3% to 0.3% (P < 0.001), whereas the number of normal cervical samples lacking an endocervical component increased from 8.5% to 8.9% (P < 0.005). The percentage of samples with atypical cells and cells suspicious for malignancy increased from 3% to 4.2% (P < 0.001) and from 1.9% to 2.4% (P < 0.001), respectively. The subsequent histological follow-up showed normal findings decreased from 70.5% to 68.9% and from 28.0% to 26.1%, respectively. However, in relation to the entire screening populations, there was an increase of normal findings from 2.12% to 2.89% after primary atypical diagnosis and from 0.53% to 0.62% after diagnosis of suspicious cells after conversion to the liquid-based technique.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed the number of unsatisfactory samples to be significantly reduced with the liquid-based technique. The data suggest that there is an increased detection rate of cervical precancerous lesions with liquid-based cytology, but the number of false positive tests is still high. The specificity of the two tests seems similar, but this cannot be ascertained exactly, because of the fact that follow-up of negative cases is unavailable.

HFE mutations and hemochromatosis in Danish patients admitted for HFE genotyping

Analysis of the common C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene is widely used to diagnose hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency with which different hospitals and general practitioners select patients for HH genotype and to determine the distribution of HFE mutations in such patients. Nine hundred unrelated patients from Danish hospitals and general practitioners (group A) and 69 consecutive patients from a specialized liver unit (group B) were examined for HFE substitutions using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction. In group A we found 13.0% (0%) C282Y homozygotes, 5.8% (2.6%) H63D/C282Y compound heterozygotes and 1.9% (3.1%) S65C heterozygotes. The values for 420 Danish blood donors are shown in parentheses. The distribution of genotypes in group B was similar to that of the blood donors. Serum ferritin, transferrin iron saturation and pathological data were collected from 38 randomly selected C282Y homozygotes, 36 H63D/C282Y compound heterozygotes, 19 H63D heterozygotes, 17 S65C heterozygotes and 144 wild-types. All of the C282Y homozygotes and 28% of the compound heterozygotes were diagnosed as HH patients. There was no evidence of HH in the H63D homozygotes or S65C heterozygotes. Moreover, 7 wild-type patients, 2 C282Y heterozygote patients and one H63D heterozygote patient fulfilled the criteria for HH. The significant enrichment of HH among associated genotype samples submitted for HFE testing indicates that the clinical selection is generally adequate. However, the study showed substantial deviation in the selection efficiency among the various hospitals and general practitioners.

Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of isradipine after oral and intravenous administration: half-life shorter than expected?

Isradipine is a calcium channel-blocking agent of the dihydropyridine type, used in the treatment of hypertension. A terminal half-life of 8-9 hr has been reported, in several pharmacokinetic studies after oral administration of isradipine. In a yet unpublished study a much shorter half-life was observed, and the present trial was therefore conducted in order to estimate the half-life after intravenous administration of isradipine. The bioavailability was estimated as well. In a randomised cross-over design ten healthy young volunteers were given either isradipine orally or an intravenous infusion. The two study periods were separated by at least 3 days. Blood samples for measurement of isradipine concentration were collected for 10-12 hr after administration and half-life and bioavailability were estimated. Mean terminal half-life after intravenous administration was calculated to be 2.8 hr, and the bioavailability to be 0.28. None of the 10 subjects suffered from side effects. In the present intravenous study the half-life of isradipine seems to be of much shorter than demonstrated in previous oral studies.

Evaluation of pneumonia diagnosis in intensive care patients

The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of bronchopneumonia diagnosed by histological criteria among autopsied intensive care unit (ICU) patients and to compare these with rates of pneumonia diagnosed by conventional clinical methods. The study material comprised 141 autopsied ICU patients from 7 ICUs in university hospitals in Copenhagen from a 1-y period. A total of 20 lung tissue specimens were sampled from each patient and the histopathological diagnoses were classified as no, mild, moderate or severe bronchopneumonia. Inter-observer variation was calculated using kappa statistics. Demographic data and diagnoses of pneumonia were registered from the patient files. Twenty-six percent of the patients had pneumonia diagnosed whilst in the ICU. Histological evidence of pneumonia, found for every second patient, was regarded as the gold standard. Diagnosis of pneumonia in the ICU had a sensitivity of 29% and if diagnoses of pneumonia during the month before ICU-admission were included, a sensitivity of 60% was found. Specificity for pneumonia diagnosed in the ICU was 77%. The percentage of all ICU-patients with pneumonia was calculated to be between 36% and 56%, depending on the extent of excess mortality attributable to pneumonia. Pulmonary segments with histologically diagnosed pneumonic lesions were distributed diffusely, although the upper segments tended to be affected less. Nearly all patients had other histopathological findings than bronchopneumonia. The reliability coefficient among the 6 pathologists was found to be moderately good (kappa = 0.45).

Rapid and simple determination of hereditary haemochromatosis mutations by multiplex PCR-SSCP: detection of a new polymorphic mutation

Hereditary haemochromatosis is a common inherited disorder leading to excessive accumulation of iron in various organs. Two missense substitutions at the HFE-gene have recently been associated with the disease, 187C G and 845G-->A (mutations H63D and C282Y, respectively). We present a simple, rapid PCR-SSCP multiplex screening method allowing the simultaneous detection of both substitutions. Furthermore, testing the method on 420 Danish blood donors revealed the presence of a hitherto undetected third substitution in 13 individuals. The new substitution, a 193A-->T transversion, affects codon 65 changing the code for serine to that of cysteine (S65C). It may thus have functional consequences for the HLA class protein encoded by the HFE-gene. The allele frequencies observed were: H63D 14.8%, C282Y 6.2% and S65C 1.5%, which for the two former alleles are in agreement with frequencies reported for other North European population samples.

Citalopram concentrations in samples from autopsies and living persons

Concentrations of citalopram in medicolegal samples from 92 autopsies and 27 living persons are described. In autopsy cases in which citalopram alone was the cause of death, concentrations ranged from 2.0 to 6.2 mg/kg whole blood. In autopsy cases in which citalopram together with other substances was considered to be the cause of death, the concentrations of citalopram ranged from 0.6 to 5.2 mg/kg whole blood. In autopsy cases toxic concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 0.9 mg/kg whole blood and therapeutic concentrations from 0.03 to 0.6 mg/kg whole blood. In samples from living persons the concentrations of citalopram in whole blood were 0.02 to 0.3 mg/kg.

Nerve growth factor receptor expression in heterotransplanted vestibular schwannoma in athymic nude mice

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has the potential to induce cellular differentiation in various neoplastic and non-neoplastic cell lines. The purpose of the present study was to determine by immunohistochemistry: the presence/distribution of nerve growth factor receptor (NGFr), cellular proliferation expressed by Ki-67, and intratumoral vascularization visualized by the endothelial marker CD 31, in a series of 61 human vestibular schwannoma heterotransplants in athymic nude mice. The immunohistochemical results were correlated to the observed macroscopic growth in 22 heterotransplants (36%) with obvious macroscopic growth, versus 39 heterotransplants (64%), that were stationary or regressed. The positive immunoreactivity to NGFr, number of Ki-67 positive nuclei and number of intratumoral vessels were significantly higher in the 22 (36%) growing heterotransplants than in the 39 heterotransplants (64%), which were stationary or regressed (p < 0.00005, p = 0.046, p < 0.00001). NGFr was statistically related to the vascularity of the heterotransplants expressed by CD 31 (p<0.00001). No significant relation was observed between NGFr and the proliferation, as estimated by Ki-67. The results revealed that the macroscopic growth of VS in athymic nude mice was associated with strong positive expression of NGFr, high cellular proliferation expressed by Ki-67 and vivid neovascularization expressed by CD 31. The possible clinical applicability of the achieved results is discussed.

Iatrogenic radiant heat burns in severely asphyxic newborns

We report two cases of newborns who developed second-degree burns following resuscitation under infra-red heating lamps. Both infants were asphyxic and suffered from insufficient peripheral circulation which, combined with the long duration of the exposure to the light, contributed to the development of the lesions. Both infants died shortly after birth for reasons other than the burns.

Priming and treatment with molgramostim (rhGM-CSF) in adult high-risk acute myeloid leukemia during induction chemotherapy: a prospective, randomized pilot study

In a randomized study of 18 adult patients with high-risk or advanced acute myeloid leukemia (AML) we investigated the effect of supplementing conventional induction chemotherapy with recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF). For comparison, a historical control group of 90 patients treated for de novo AML with conventional chemotherapy during the previous period, 1984-1990, was also analyzed. Before induction chemotherapy, 10 patients were randomized to receiving rhGM-CSF, starting on day 1 to 3 before chemotherapy and continued for a maximum of 21 days after the start of induction treatment. Fatal complications and treatment outcome did not differ between the study groups and historical controls. Nor were there any differences between the groups in terms of hematological toxicity, e.g. time to three-lineage regeneration and need for supportive therapy. However, sequential weekly bone marrow examinations revealed a prolonged reduction of the relative number of myeloid (CD33-positive) marrow cells in the rhGM-CSF treated group. Although the small number of patients studied may not permit a definite conclusion, this randomized study did not demonstrate major beneficial effects of combining rhGM-CSF with standard induction chemotherapy in high-risk patients with AML.

[Malignant lymphoma of the heart]

A case of malignant lymphoma in the heart is presented. A 75-year-old man was admitted to hospital for dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed a right atrial tumour and enlargement of the right ventricular wall. Myxoma was suspected clinically. The patient died from rapidly progressing congestive heart failure. Autopsy revealed massive infiltration of the myocardium in the right atrium, right ventricle and the tricuspid valves by a high grade malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma of B-cell type. Malignant lymphoma was found at no other sites except for a five mm tumour in the thyroid gland and a larger six by five by four cm mediastinal tumour.

Pharmacokinetics and dynamic response of plain and slow release isradipine formulations in moderately hypertensive patients

The pharmacokinetic variables and antihypertensive effect of the calcium antagonist isradipine, were investigated in 30 hypertensive patients. Isradipine was given orally in parallel group design in plain and slow release formulations in doses of 2.5 mg twice daily and 5.0 mg once daily, respectively. Isradipine concentration in serum was measured by a sensitive RIA method after the first dose and after 6 weeks of treatment. The pharmacokinetics and concentration/effect relationship after the first dose and after 6 weeks of treatment were compared. No differences in pharmacokinetics were observed between single and multiple dosing. Data were in accordance with results from studies in healthy volunteers. Rate, but not extent of bioavailability differs between the two isradipine formulations. Antihypertensive efficacy of the two formulations was similar (16/11 and 19/15 mmHg), and a significant time dependent increase in Emax from 10/3 mmHg to 23/14 mmHg after 6 weeks of treatment was observed.

Recycling with nicotine patches in smoking cessation

The aim was to evaluate if recycling of failures from a smoking cessation study may be of value. The study comprised 126 smokers (50%) of 252 failures, from a double-blind smoking cessation trial with nicotine patch, who accepted recycling after 1 year. Subjects were allocated nicotine patches delivering 15, 20 or 25 mg of nicotine (over 16 hours) according to their base-line saliva cotinine concentrations in an open trial. The treatment period was 12 weeks followed by tapering over 6 weeks. The percentage of quitters after 3, 12, 26, and 52 weeks was 44, 20, 7 and 6%, respectively. After 26 weeks, all subjects had relapsed in the group previously treated with active nicotine patch compared with 12% abstainers in the previous placebo subjects. The sustained abstinence rate without slips after one year was 2%. Recycling does not seem to be of long-term clinical relevance in our set-up for subjects initially treated with nicotine, but of some value in subjects quitting without nicotine therapy initially.

Smoking habits in relapsed subjects from a smoking cessation trial after one year

Reports of smoking cessation studies often claim that many relapsed subjects reduce their smoking. We investigated the smoking habits of relapsers 1 year after quitting in a smoking cessation trial using nicotine or placebo patches. All 289 participants in that study were summoned to a 1-year follow-up visit--148 (57%) of 259 relapsers attended, as did all 30 sustained abstainers. Fewer than 1% of the subjects had quit spontaneously after the primary relapse. Daily cigarette consumption, standard nicotine yield per cigarette, saliva cotinine concentration, expired carbon monoxide level and two nicotine dependency scales were assessed at entry and at the 1-year follow-up. In five of these six smoking-related characteristics, there was a small but significant mean reduction of 7%-27%. A significant weight gain of 0.5 +/- 2.9 kg (mean +/- SD) was recorded in the relapsers compared with 4.8 +/- 4.2 kg for abstainers (p less than 0.001). It is concluded that smoking habits in relapsers are relatively unchanged, and thus the most important outcome measure in smoking cessation trials is abstinent subjects.

Long-term nicotine substitution after application of a 16-hour nicotine patch in smoking cessation

The purpose of the study was to examine long-term nicotine substitution and its variability during use of a nicotine patch. In two smoking cessation studies a 16-h nicotine patch, releasing 15 mg nicotine, was applied daily for 16 h over 12 weeks, to 167 smokers. Salivary cotinine was highly correlated with plasma cotinine (r = 0.93), and the concentration of cotinine in a single sample in the afternoon was well correlated with the AUCcontinine over 24 h (r = 0.94). The salivary cotinine concentration after 1 week in 60 abstainers was 183 ng.ml-1. After 3,6 and 12 weeks the cotinine concentrations were 86%, 79% and 59% of the 1-week value. The degree of nicotine compensation attained by the patch after 1 week was 52% (SD 24%) in subjects who succeeded in stopping smoking for at least 3 weeks. A quarter of the subjects achieved a compensation of less than 35% of their usual nicotine intake. Nicotine substitution with this 16-h nicotine patch was stable and the risk of overcompensation was small in this group of smokers.

[Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease)]

We report a typical case of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease). To our knowledge this is the first reported case in Denmark. Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a benign self-limiting disorder, which mainly involves the cervical lymph nodes. The disease commonly affects young women of Asian origin, but it is seen more and more often in other populations. Clinically and histologically it can be misdiagnosed as malignant lymphoma. The etiology is unknown.

A double-blind trial of a 16-hour transdermal nicotine patch in smoking cessation

BACKGROUND

The use of nicotine chewing gum combined with psychological support improves the success rate in quitting smoking. We studied the safety and efficacy of a transdermal nicotine patch in smoking cessation.

METHODS

We conducted a double-blind randomized study comparing the effects of a 16-hour nicotine patch (15 +/- 3.5 mg of nicotine in 16 hours) with those of a placebo patch. Of the 289 smokers (207 women and 82 men) enrolled in the study, 145 were treated with nicotine patches and 144 with placebo patches for 16 weeks.

RESULTS

Rates of sustained abstinence were significantly better with active treatment than with placebo: 53, 41, 24, and 17 percent of those in the nicotine-patch group were abstinent after 6, 12, 26, and 52 weeks, respectively, as compared with 17, 10, 5, and 4 percent of those in the placebo-patch group (P less than 0.0001). Only two subjects with the nicotine patch and one with the placebo patch had to withdraw from the study because of side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The nicotine skin patch proved to be safe and effective, as demonstrated by a higher rate of abstinence than with placebo. However, the absolute rate of abstinence after one year was only 17 percent, which is lower than the rate in studies that have combined the use of nicotine chewing gum with behavioral therapy.

A randomized comparison of isradipine slow release given once daily with isradipine twice daily on 24 hour blood pressure in hypertensive patients

Isradipine, a new calcium channel blocker, was given to 32 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. After a run-in period of three weeks, 32 patients were randomized double-blindly to six weeks' treatment with either isradipine 2.5 mg twice daily or isradipine 5.0 mg once daily in a modified release formulation. Based on conventional 'clinic' BP measurements 12 or 24 hours postdose, the two treatments resulted in clinically relevant BP reduction (16/11 and 19/15 mmHg) without reflex tachycardia. No differences were seen between the groups. Efficacy increased throughout the study period. By determination of the 24 hour BP profile with a noninvasive method, the two groups were comparable during the placebo period, and no differences were seen between the two treatments. Both treatments resulted in satisfactory BP reduction during 24 hours (daily reduction of 4/6 and 12/9 mmHg twice daily and once daily dosing respectively). One third of the patients had 'white-coat' hypertension based on ambulatory daytime mean BPs, compared with conventional measurements. No relationship was found between the initial BP lowering effect and the effect after long-term treatment with isradipine in either dose.

[Registration of postoperative wound complications at a department of vascular surgery]

During the period 1 March 1987 to 31 December 1988, current registration of all vascular surgical operations in the Department of Vascular Surgery RK, Rigshospitalet, was undertaken employing a PC-based programme (DANOP-DATA). A total of 1,898 primary vascular surgical operations were performed on 1,335 patients. During the entire period, 48 (2.5%) patients with wound infection were registered. In half of these, the infection was superficial and in the remainder the infection was deep. Comparison between 1987 and 1988 revealed a non-significant tendency towards a lower incidence of infection in 1988. Significantly more wound infections were found after non-sterile operations (p = 0.005). Significantly more deep infections were found on employing synthetic vascular prostheses (p less than 0.00001) and with inguinal incisions (less than 0.05). No significant connection could be found with age, duration of preoperative hospitalization, duration of operation and the degree of planning of the operation. The authors find that computer-based monitoring of the surgical activity is a good which renders current assessment and analysis of the pattern of complications possible. The authors did not find that DANOP-DATA was sufficient for registration in a special department for vascular surgery and a programmel (KARBASE) has been developed which is more suitable for this purpose.

Sudden death due to bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax caused by rupture of congenital lung cysts

A case of sudden death of a 35-year-old woman due to spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax from rupture of congenital lung cysts is reported. The woman had been attended by two doctors before the lethal outcome. The medicolegal aspects pertaining to medical negligence, the diagnostic difficulties and the rare occurrence of the condition are discussed, as is the autopsy procedure.

PEEP-masks in patients with severe obstructive pulmonary disease: a negative report

Positive pressure during expiration by face masks applied by the patient has gained wide acceptance in the treatment of chronic bronchitis, but the efficacy is still unproven. The effect of 6 months of treatment with PEEP-masks (positive end-expiratory pressure) was therefore studied in 47 patients with severe irreversible obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) about 1 l), and mucus hypersecretion. Patients were double-blindly randomized to at least 45 min daily treatment with PEEP-masks with either 10 or 0 cm water pressure. After 6 months of treatment, no statistical difference was found between the two groups in change of median values (month 6 - month 0) of FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), amount of sputum or dyspnoea. Median values of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) decreased significantly (0.03 kPa) in the placebo group. Cough intensity and dyspnoea during walking on staircases improved significantly in the placebo group. No difference among groups was found in number of days bedridden, hospitalized, number of exacerbations or antibiotic consumption. We conclude, that the use of PEEP-masks in these patients is without clinical documentation and cannot be recommended.

PEEP-masks in patients with severe obstructive pulmonary disease: a negative report

Positive pressure during expiration by face masks applied by the patient has gained wide acceptance in the treatment of chronic bronchitis, but the efficacy is still unproven. The effect of 6 months of treatment with PEEP-masks (positive end-expiratory pressure) was therefore studied in 47 patients with severe irreversible obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) about 1 l), and mucus hypersecretion. Patients were double-blindly randomized to at least 45 min daily treatment with PEEP-masks with either 10 or 0 cm water pressure. After 6 months of treatment, no statistical difference was found between the two groups in change of median values (month 6 - month 0) of FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), amount of sputum or dyspnoea. Median values of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) decreased significantly (0.03 kPa) in the placebo group. Cough intensity and dyspnoea during walking on staircases improved significantly in the placebo group. No difference among groups was found in number of days bedridden, hospitalized, number of exacerbations or antibiotic consumption. We conclude, that the use of PEEP-masks in these patients is without clinical documentation and cannot be recommended.

Influence of rifampicin on thyroid gland volume, thyroid hormones, and antipyrine metabolism

The influence of rifampicin (450 mg/day for 28 days) on the hepatic microsomal enzymes and thyroid function variables were investigated in 13 healthy male volunteers. After 14 and 28 days of treatment a significant increase in median thyroid volume (determined ultrasonically) was demonstrated (20 ml, range 13-28 before; 26 ml, range 18-48 at day 14, and 24 ml, range 17-40 at day 28) (p less than 0.01). A significant decrease in median serum free T4 index levels was seen (94.1 arbitrary units, range 80.1-123.4 before treatment; 86.8, range 71.7-102.0 at day 14, and 85.3, range 65.5-131.3 at day 28) (p less than 0.01). Serum T4, T3, T3 resin uptake, free T3 index and TSH levels were not significantly altered. Hepatic microsomal enzyme activity assessed by antipyrine clearance was significantly increased (approximately by 85%) at day 14 and 28, whereafter it normalized. The study supports the hypothesis that the increase in thyroid volume after treatment with rifampicin and other hepatic enzyme system inducers (e.g. phenytoin and carbamazepine) is a compensatory mechanism caused by an increased hepatic degradation of thyroid hormones.

Dose-response relationship and incidence of adverse drug reactions with isradipine in patients with essential hypertension

Based on pooled data from three randomized placebo-controlled dose-finding studies in a total of 489 patients, the dose-response relationship for efficacy and adverse events was estimated, using the Michaelis-Menten equation: Effect = maximal effect multiplied by dose/constant plus dose. Three conclusions were derived from the pooled data: (1) A marked increase in efficacy is seen when the reduction in diastolic blood pressure after one week of treatment is compared with that seen after five weeks of treatment, with both placebo and active treatment. Thus, dose increases should preferably be made at intervals of at least four weeks to avoid unnecessarily high doses. (2) Isradipine 2.5 mg twice daily offers an efficacy of approximately 80 percent of the maximum with an incidence of adverse events which, statistically, is not significantly different from the incidence seen in the placebo groups. (3) With continued treatment, a marked decrease in the incidence of adverse drug reactions is seen between the first and fifth weeks, especially with doses at 1.25 and 2.5 mg twice daily. However, with doses above 10 mg per day, this effect is no longer evident.

Sulfate transport in toad skin: evidence for mitochondria-rich cell pathways in common with halide ions

1. In short-circuited toad skin preparations exposed bilaterally to NaCl-Ringer's containing 1 mM SO2(-4), influx of sulfate was larger than efflux showing that the skin is capable of transporting sulfate actively in an inward direction. 2. This active transport was not abolished by substituting apical Na+ for K+. 3. Following voltage activation of the passive Cl- permeability of the mitochondria-rich (m.r.) cells sulfate flux-ratio increased to a value predicted from the Ussing flux-ratio equation for a monovalent anion. 4. In such skins, which were shown to exhibit vanishingly small leakage conductances, the variation of the rate coefficient for sulfate influx (y) was positively correlated with the rate coefficient for Cl- influx (x), y = 0.035 x - 0.0077 cm/sec (r = 0.9935, n = 15). 5. Addition of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine to the serosal bath of short-circuited preparations resulted in a significant stimulation of the passive Cl- and SO2(-4) permeabilities. 6. It is suggested that SO2(-4) and Cl- ions are transported along the same pathway of the m.r. cells. Depending on the transport mode of the apical Cl- transport system, electro-diffusion, active transport (sulfate:bicarbonate exchange) and self-exchange diffusion take place. Irrespective of the mechanism of transport, sulfate is probably transported as a monovalent anion species.

Therapeutic doses of codeine have no effect on acetaminophen clearance or metabolism

In nine healthy volunteers, the clearance and metabolism of acetaminophen 1000 mg i.v. was evaluated with and without two concomitant oral doses of codeine in order to investigate a possible interaction. Plasma acetaminophen was followed for 720 min and urine was collected for 24 h after each dose for determination of metabolites. When codeine was coadministered, the average total clearance of acetaminophen and its clearance by glucuronidation, sulphation and mercapturate formation were 0.58 to 1.12-times the control values. It is concluded that therapeutic doses of codeine do not influence the clearance or metabolism of acetaminophen.

Influence of prednisolone on antipyrine elimination in patients with obstructive lung disease

The influence of prednisolone on the elimination of antipyrine has been investigated. The one-sample antipyrine clearance was estimated in 23 outpatients with obstructive lung disease before and after treatment with prednisolone 30 or 50 mg/day for 7 days. During prednisolone administration antipyrine clearance decreased from 54.9 +/- 14.8 to 51.7 +/- 14.6 ml/min (mean +/- SD; p less than 0.05). The results indicate that prednisolone decreases the rate of antipyrine elimination, but not to an extent suggesting a clinically important change in hepatic drug metabolism.

Influence of dose and route of administration on disposition of metronidazole and its major metabolites

The influence of dose and route of administration on the kinetics of metronidazole and its major metabolites has been investigated in 8 healthy volunteers given 0.5 and 2.0 g i.v. and p.o. Metronidazole elimination kinetics from plasma could be described by an open two-compartment model. The systemic oral bioavailability of both doses was approximately 1. The total systemic clearance of the intravenous 2.0 g dose was 9% lower than that of the 0.5 g dose (p less than 0.05). There were no significant dose-related differences in volume or rate of distribution. The elimination half-life was similar after the four treatments with metronidazole. The major elimination pathways, renal excretion and hepatic oxidation and glucuronidation, accounted for more than 2/3 of the total systemic clearance. Clearance both by hepatic oxidative metabolism and renal excretion was significantly lower after 2.0 than after 0.5 g i.v., whereas there was no significant difference after the oral doses. The results indicate that a high therapeutic dose of metronidazole may be eliminated at a reduced rate, but this is probably not of clinical importance. No single saturable elimination pathway was identified.

Effect of exercise training in patients with essential hypertension

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of regular exercise training in moderate essential hypertension. Twenty subjects (one woman and 19 men) trained for 45 minutes three times a week for 12 weeks, to 60% of their maximal heart rate. Blood pressure was measured at rest and during a maximal exercise test on bicycle ergometer. All subjects achieved training effect measured as a significant reduction in heart rate at comparable submaximal work level and a significant increase in duration of exercise. Diastolic blood pressure at rest decreased from 107 +/- 7 to 101 +/- 5 mmHg (P < 0.01), and at corresponding submaximal exercise level 116 +/- 11 to 106 +/- 11 mmHg (P < 0.01). No significant reduction in systolic blood pressure was found. Exercise training might in some patients with moderate essential hypertension be an alternative to pharmacological treatment.