Adrenal function recovery after durable oral corticosteroid sparing with benralizumab in the PONENTE study.

Background: Oral corticosteroid (OCS) dependence among patients with severe eosinophilic asthma can cause adverse outcomes, including adrenal insufficiency. PONENTE's OCS reduction phase showed that, following benralizumab initiation, 91.5% of patients eliminated corticosteroids or achieved a final dosage ≤5 mg·day (median (range) 0.

Oral corticosteroid elimination via a personalised reduction algorithm in adults with severe, eosinophilic asthma treated with benralizumab (PONENTE): a multicentre, open-label, single-arm study.

Background: No consensus exists on how to reduce oral corticosteroids after the initiation of biologics in severe asthma. The PONENTE trial evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a rapid, individualised steroid-reduction algorithm, including adrenal insufficiency monitoring, after benralizumab initiation.

Methods: This multicentre, open-label, single-arm study was done at 138 clinical asthma treatment centres across 17 countries.

Heterogeneity within and between physician-diagnosed asthma and/or COPD: NOVELTY cohort.

Background: Studies of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically focus on these diagnoses separately, limiting understanding of disease mechanisms and treatment options. NOVELTY is a global, 3-year, prospective observational study of patients with asthma and/or COPD from real-world clinical practice. We investigated heterogeneity and overlap by diagnosis and severity in this cohort.

Inhibition of procollagen C-proteinase reduces scar hypertrophy in a rabbit model of cutaneous scarring.

Hypertrophic scarring, which results from excessive collagen deposition at sites of dermal wound repair, can be functionally and cosmetically debilitating to the surgical patient. Pharmacological regulation of collagen synthesis and deposition is a direct approach to the control of scar tissue formation. One of the key steps in collagen stabilization is the cleavage of the C-terminal propeptide from the precursor molecule to form collagen fibrils, a reaction catalyzed by procollagen C-proteinase (PCP).

Dermal changes in the lower leg skin of patients with venous hypertension.

Patients with chronic venous disease may develop characteristic changes in the skin of the lower limb known as lipodermatosclerosis (LDS). The affected skin becomes indurated and pigmented and often ulcerates. The degree of induration associated with LDS correlates directly with ulcer formation and leads to a subsequent delayed rate of healing.