We systematically assessed benefits and harms of tocilizumab (TCZ), which is an antibody blocking IL-6 receptors, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Five electronic databases and two preprint ...webpages were searched until March 4, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) cohorts assessing TCZ effects in hospitalized, COVID-19 adult patients were included. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, clinical worsening, clinical improvement, need for mechanical ventilation, and adverse events (AE). Inverse variance random-effects meta-analyses were performed with quality of evidence (QoE) evaluated using GRADE methodology.
Nine RCTs (n = 7,021) and nine IPTW cohorts (n = 7,796) were included. TCZ significantly reduced all-cause mortality in RCTs (RR 0.89, 95%CI 0.81-0.98, p = 0.03; moderate QoE) and non-significantly in cohorts (RR 0.67, 95%CI 0.44-1.02, p = 0.08; very low QoE) vs. control (standard of care SOC or placebo). TCZ significantly reduced the need for mechanical ventilation (RR 0.80, 95%CI 0.71-0.90, p = 0.001; moderate QoE) and length of stay (MD -1.92 days, 95%CI -3.46 to -0.38, p = 0.01; low QoE) vs. control in RCTs. There was no significant difference in clinical improvement or worsening between treatments. AEs, severe AEs, bleeding and thrombotic events were similar between arms in RCTs, but there was higher neutropenia risk with TCZ (very low QoE). Subgroup analyses by disease severity or risk of bias (RoB) were consistent with main analyses. Quality of evidence was moderate to very low in both RCTs and cohorts.
In comparison to SOC or placebo, TCZ reduced all-cause mortality in all studies and reduced mechanical ventilation and length of stay in RCTs in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Other clinical outcomes were not significantly impacted. TCZ did not have effect on AEs, except a significant increased neutropenia risk in RCTs. TCZ has a potential role in the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
•Home-time was the most frequently evaluated proxy of post-stroke functional outcome.•Discharge to a location other than home was strongly predictive of poor outcome.•Discharge destination and ...home-time are reasonable proxies of functional outcome.
To perform a systematic review of studies evaluating prognostic factors (proxy measures) to predict patients’ post-stroke functional outcome status recommended by clinical guidelines.
MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched from January 1, 2000, through January 8, 2021. Studies that evaluated stroke survivors and assessed a proxy measure's ability to predict functional outcome status as measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index (BI), Glasgow Outcomes Scale, and/or Functional Independence Measure between 30 and 365 days post-stroke were included.
Nine studies met inclusion criteria (median N per study = 1699; range: 530–6809). Seven studies evaluated ischemic stroke ± transient ischemic attack (TIA), 1 evaluated subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 1 evaluated both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and TIA (each reported separately). All studies utilized mRS score to assess post-stroke functional outcome, while 3 utilized the BI. Home-time was the most frequently evaluated proxy (7/9, 77.8%) and had moderate-to-strong correlation/discriminative ability with 3- to 12-month post-stroke functional outcome measurement. Home-time was less able to discriminate between neighboring mRS score values >3 and was only weakly-to-moderately correlated with mRS in TIA patients. Discharge to a location other than home or a relative's home was assessed in 2 of 9 studies (22.2%) and was found to be a moderate-to-strong correlate/predictor of unfavorable mRS score. In a single study, index hospital length of stay weakly correlated with post-stroke function status.
This systematic review provides evidence supporting the use of home-time and discharge destination as proxy measures for predicting post-stroke functional outcome.
We systematically reviewed the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine as treatment for hospitalized COVID-19. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating hydroxychloroquine as treatment for ...hospitalized COVID-19 patients were searched until 2nd of December 2020. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, need of mechanical ventilation, need of non-invasive ventilation, ICU admission and oxygen support at 14 and 30 days. Secondary outcomes were clinical recovery and worsening, discharge, radiological progression of pneumonia, virologic clearance, serious adverse events (SAE) and adverse events. Inverse variance random effects meta-analyses were performed. Thirteen RCTs (
=18,540) were included. Hydroxychloroquine total doses ranged between 2000 and 12,400 mg; treatment durations were from 5 to 16 days and follow up times between 5 and 30 days. Compared to controls, hydroxychloroquine non-significantly increased mortality at 14 days (RR 1.07, 95%CI 0.92-1.25) or 30 days (RR 1.08, 95%CI 1.00-1.16). Hydroxychloroquine did not affect other primary or secondary outcomes, except SAEs that were significantly higher than the control (RR 1.24, 95%CI 1.05-1.46). Eleven RCTs had high or some concerns of bias. Subgroup analyses were consistent with main analyses. Hydroxychloroquine was not efficacious for treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients and caused more severe adverse events. Hydroxychloroquine should not be recommended as treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Introduction: Risankizumab, a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody, specifically inhibits the p19 subunit of human interleukin 23 and is approved for treatment of active psoriatic ...arthritis (PsA) in adults. This post hoc analysis evaluated the long-term maintenance of clinical response through ~3 years of risankizumab treatment using data from 2 ongoing phase 3 trials, KEEPsAKE 1 and KEEPsAKE 2.
Methods: Eligible patients had active PsA with inadequate response or intolerance to ≥1 conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (KEEPsAKE 1 NCT03675308; KEEPsAKE 2 NCT03671148) and/or inadequate response or intolerance to 1–2 biologic therapies (KEEPsAKE 2 only). Patients received double-blinded risankizumab 150 mg or placebo at weeks 0, 4, and 16 and open-label risankizumab 150 mg every 12 weeks thereafter. This analysis includes patients who received continuous risankizumab through both treatment periods. Assessments included improvement of ≥20%/50%/70% in PsA symptoms using American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20/50/70), achievement of minimal disease activity (MDA), reduction of ≥90% in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90; in patients with ≥3% body surface area affected by psoriasis at baseline), and clinically meaningful reduction in pain (≥10 mm on a visual analog scale VAS). Maintenance of response analyses were based on patients who were responders at weeks 24 or 52 for each endpoint. Nonresponder imputation incorporating multiple imputation (NRI-MI) for missing data due to COVID-19 or geopolitical conflict was used. As-observed data were also reported.
Results: Among patients receiving continuous risankizumab, ACR20 was achieved at week 24 in 267/454 (KEEPsAKE 1, 58.8%) and 111/208 (KEEPsAKE 2, 53.4%) patients (as observed). Maintenance of response in week 24 ACR20 responders (NRI-MI) was achieved for ACR20 by most patients at week 52 (KEEPsAKE 1, 89.1%; KEEPsAKE 2, 77.0 %) and week 148 (KEEPsAKE 1, 74.7%; KEEPsAKE 2; 68.5%). Similar patterns of maintenance of response were observed for ACR50 and ACR70. Week 24 responders also maintained MDA at weeks 52 (KEEPsAKE 1, 82.2%; KEEPsAKE 2, 66.7%) and 148 (KEEPsAKE 1, 77.1%; KEEPsAKE 2, 71.9%). The PASI 90 response was maintained at weeks 52 (KEEPsAKE 1, 86.6%; KEEPsAKE 2, 88.4%) and 148 (KEEPsAKE 1, 76.3%; KEEPsAKE 2, 81.2%). Week 24 responders maintained clinically meaningful reductions in pain VAS at weeks 52 (KEEPsAKE 1, 83.9%; KEEPsAKE 2, 74.4%) and 148 (KEEPsAKE 1, 75.0%; KEEPsAKE 2, 72.0%). Comparable maintenance of response was recorded at week 148 for each endpoint among week 52 responders (NRI-MI).
Conclusion: Risankizumab demonstrated durable long-term efficacy in patients with active PsA. A high proportion of patients receiving continuous risankizumab treatment in KEEPsAKE 1 and KEEPsAKE 2 achieved responses in ACR20/50/70, MDA, PASI 90, or pain VAS at weeks 24 or 52 and maintained responses through week 148.
Introduction We systematically assessed benefits and harms of tocilizumab (TCZ), which is an antibody blocking IL-6 receptors, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods Five electronic databases and ...two preprint webpages were searched until March 4, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) cohorts assessing TCZ effects in hospitalized, COVID-19 adult patients were included. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, clinical worsening, clinical improvement, need for mechanical ventilation, and adverse events (AE). Inverse variance random-effects meta-analyses were performed with quality of evidence (QoE) evaluated using GRADE methodology. Results Nine RCTs (n = 7,021) and nine IPTW cohorts (n = 7,796) were included. TCZ significantly reduced all-cause mortality in RCTs (RR 0.89, 95%CI 0.81–0.98, p = 0.03; moderate QoE) and non-significantly in cohorts (RR 0.67, 95%CI 0.44–1.02, p = 0.08; very low QoE) vs. control (standard of care SOC or placebo). TCZ significantly reduced the need for mechanical ventilation (RR 0.80, 95%CI 0.71–0.90, p = 0.001; moderate QoE) and length of stay (MD -1.92 days, 95%CI -3.46 to -0.38, p = 0.01; low QoE) vs. control in RCTs. There was no significant difference in clinical improvement or worsening between treatments. AEs, severe AEs, bleeding and thrombotic events were similar between arms in RCTs, but there was higher neutropenia risk with TCZ (very low QoE). Subgroup analyses by disease severity or risk of bias (RoB) were consistent with main analyses. Quality of evidence was moderate to very low in both RCTs and cohorts. Conclusions In comparison to SOC or placebo, TCZ reduced all-cause mortality in all studies and reduced mechanical ventilation and length of stay in RCTs in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Other clinical outcomes were not significantly impacted. TCZ did not have effect on AEs, except a significant increased neutropenia risk in RCTs. TCZ has a potential role in the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
There is a need for continued drug development for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Bergamot is a plant whose fruit juice is enriched with flavonoids and phenolic compounds which improves ...dyslipidemia and markers of systemic inflammation in patients with Metabolic Syndrome. The aim of this study was to perform a preclinical "proof of concept" study of Bergamot polyphenolic formulation (BPF99) for the treatment of NASH. A disease reversal study was performed in the diet-induced animal model of NAFLD (DIAMOND). Groups of 8 weeks old mice were randomly assigned to receive chow diet, high fat diet with sugar in drinking water (Western diet- WD). Mice on WD were further randomized to continue on WD gavaged with vehicle or continue on WD with additional gavage of BPF99 (50 mg/kg) after 16 weeks of diet. Mice were euthanized after 11 additional weeks. The primary endpoint was resolution of NASH. Secondary endpoints included changes in individual histological features, body weight, liver enzymes, dyslipidemia, markers of oxidative stress and molecular markers of disease activity and fibrosis. The results showed that BPF99 reduced ALT (mean 71.6 vs 44.6 IU/l, p < 0.01), triglycerides (38.8 vs 28.1 mg/dl, p < 0.05), LDL-C (39.2 vs 23.7 mg/dl, p < 0.001). It significantly improved NASH resolution (p < 0.001) and the SAF scores (p < 0.05) while the NAS improvement approached significance. BPF99 reduced markers of oxidative stress, along with reduced JNK and p38 MAP kinase activity. BPF99 did not reduce the number of mice with fibrosis but improved collagen proportional area (p < 0.04) and procollagen I and III expression. Collectively our results showed that BPF99 resolves NASH and ameliorates key histological and pathophysiological features of NASH along with improvement in ALT and dyslipidemia in the DIAMOND mice.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is unlike anything seen before by modern science-based medicine. Health systems across the world are struggling to manage it. Added to this struggle ...are the effects of social confinement and isolation. This brings into question whether the latest guidelines are relevant in this crisis. We aim to support urologists in this difficult situation by providing tools that can facilitate decision making, and to minimise the impact and risks for both patients and health professionals delivering urological care, whenever possible. We hope that the revised recommendations will assist urologist surgeons across the globe to guide the management of urological conditions during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is unlike anything seen before by modern science-based medicine. As a scientific society, the European Association of Urology, via the guidelines, section offices, and the European Urology family of journals, we believe that it is important that we try to support urologists in this difficult situation. We aim to do this by providing tools that can facilitate decision making with the goal to minimise the impact and risks for both patients and health professionals delivering urological care, whenever possible, although it is clear that it is not always possible to mitigate them entirely. We hope that these revised recommendations will fill an important urological practice void and assist urologist surgeons across the globe as they do their very best to deal with the crisis of our generation.
Background
Pregnancy and early childhood represent critical periods that impact health throughout the life‐course. The Ontario Birth Study (OBS) is a pregnancy cohort study designed as a platform for ...research on pregnancy complications, maternal and infant health, and the developmental origins of health and disease.
Methods
Pregnant women <17 weeks gestational age were recruited between 2013 and 2015 from antenatal clinics at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Life style and diet questionnaires, biospecimens, and clinical data were collected throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period at the time of clinical care. The OBS was integrated into clinical care to reduce participant burden, improve efficiency, and increase research potential.
Results
There were 3181 eligible women approached for recruitment and 1374 (43%) participated in the study. Among the 1374 participants, 1272 (93%) delivered a liveborn infant and were followed to 6‐10 weeks postpartum. Of the 1272 women who completed the study, 98% had at least one pregnancy blood sample collected, 97% had vaginal swabs collected, 90% completed the prenatal life style questionnaires, and 78% completed the Diet History Questionnaire. Most women (88%) were ≥30 years of age, 55% had no previous children, 24% were overweight or obese pre‐pregnancy and 78% of parents had postsecondary education. Most pregnancies were singleton (3% twins), 34% delivered by caesarean section, and 6% preterm (<37 weeks gestation).
Conclusions
The OBS is a contemporary cohort with detailed data including banked biospecimens for studies of pregnancy health and the gene‐environment interactions that establish developmental trajectories to health, learning, and social functioning.
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