Comparative Efficacy (DAS28 Remission) of Targeted Immune Modulators for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative efficacy of targeted immune modulators (TIMs) in TIM-naïve/mixed populations (≤ 20% TIM-experienced) and TIM-experienced (> 20% TIM-experienced) adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis with an inadequate response to or intolerance of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs).

Methods: A fixed-effects Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using published study-level data from 41 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified from two recent systematic literature reviews conducted by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, and two additional phase III trials for filgotinib (FINCH-1, FINCH-2). RCTs that compared TIMs with each other, cDMARD therapy, or placebo were included.

Evidence synthesis in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a systematic review and critical appraisal.

Background: The clinical landscape of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has evolved in terms of disease definition and classification, trial designs, available therapies and treatment strategies as well as clinical guidelines. This study critically appraises published evidence synthesis studies, i.e.

Incidence of residual neuromuscular blockade and use of neuromuscular blocking agents with or without antagonists: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) have revolutionized the field of anesthesiology as they facilitate airway management and ensure optimal surgical conditions. Despite their beneficial and ubiquitous use during surgery, delayed or partial recovery from NMBAs, referred to as residual neuromuscular block (rNMB), is a common clinical problem. While it is well accepted that the antagonist sugammadex, compared to neostigmine, can more rapidly reverse rocuronium-induced NMB regardless of depth of block, the occurrence of rNMB for routinely used combinations of NMBAs with sugammadex or neostigmine has not yet been quantified or evaluated systematically.

Correction to: Secukinumab Versus Adalimumab for Psoriatic Arthritis: Comparative Effectiveness up to 48 Weeks Using a Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison.

Under Methods section, heading Analyses: Pairwise Comparisons, one of the probability value was published incorrectly in a sentence. The correct sentence should read as follows.

Secukinumab Versus Adalimumab for Psoriatic Arthritis: Comparative Effectiveness up to 48 Weeks Using a Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison.

Introduction: Secukinumab and adalimumab are approved for adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). In the absence of direct randomized controlled trial (RCT) data, matching-adjusted indirect comparison can estimate the comparative effectiveness in anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-naïve populations.

Methods: Individual patient data from the FUTURE 2 RCT (secukinumab vs.

A systematic literature review of cysteamine bitartrate in the treatment of nephropathic cystinosis.

Objectives: To summarize available clinical evidence for cysteamine bitartrate preparations in the treatment of nephropathic cystinosis as identified through a systematic literature review (SLR).

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process and Embase using Ovid with a predefined search strategy through 19 January 2016. All publicly available clinical reports on the use of delayed-release (DR) cysteamine bitartrate (Procysbi ) or immediate-release (IR) cysteamine bitartrate (Cystagon ) in patients with cystinosis were included.

Comparative efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological and somatic interventions in adult patients with treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects about 10-15% of the general population in a lifetime. A considerable number of patients fail to achieve full symptom remission despite adequate treatment and are considered treatment resistant (TRD). The current study compared the relative efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological and somatic TRD interventions by means of a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

High correlation of VAS pain scores after 2 and 6 weeks of treatment with VAS pain scores at 12 weeks in randomised controlled trials in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: meta-analysis and implications.

Background: Researchers in clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) often measure pain levels with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Of interest to clinical practice and future clinical trial design are associations of change from baseline (CFB) between time points with predictive ability of earlier response for long-term treatment benefit. We assessed the association and predictive ability of CFB in VAS pain between 2, 6 and 12 weeks in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Efficacy and Safety of Aclidinium/Formoterol versus Tiotropium in COPD: Results of an Indirect Treatment Comparison.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to estimate the relative efficacy and safety of fixed-dose combination aclidinium/formoterol 400/12 μg twice daily compared to tiotropium 18 μg once daily in adult patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: A systematic literature review performed in March 2014, using a predefined search strategy in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library, identified 17 randomized placebo-controlled trials, (tiotropium n = 15; aclidinium/formoterol n = 2). Outcomes of interest were: bronchodilation (peak and trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)), COPD symptoms [Transition Dyspnea Index (TDI) focal score and % of responders (>1 unit improvement)] and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) [St.

Comparative efficacy of long-acting muscarinic antagonist monotherapies in COPD: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Randomized, controlled trials comparing long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) efficacy in COPD are limited. This network meta-analysis (NMA) assessed the relative efficacy of tiotropium 18 µg once-daily (OD) and newer agents (aclidinium 400 µg twice-daily, glycopyrronium 50 µg OD, and umeclidinium 62.5 µg OD).

Comparative efficacy of combination bronchodilator therapies in COPD: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Several new fixed-dose combination bronchodilators have been recently launched, and assessing their efficacy relative to each other, and with open dual combinations is desirable. This network meta-analysis (NMA) assessed the efficacy of umeclidinium and vilanterol (UMEC/VI) with that of available dual bronchodilators in single/separate inhalers.

Methods: A systematic literature review identified randomized controlled trials of ≥10 weeks among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (≥40 years), assessing the efficacy of combination bronchodilators in single or separate inhalers.

Relative benefit-risk comparing diclofenac to other traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis: a network meta-analysis.

Introduction: There is argument over the benefits and risks of drugs for treating chronic musculoskeletal pain. This study compared the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, and etoricoxib for patients with pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A systematic literature review used Medline and EMBASE to identify randomised controlled trials.

Uterine-sparing minimally invasive interventions in women with uterine fibroids: a systematic review and indirect treatment comparison meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of uterine-sparing interventions for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who wish to preserve their uterus.

Design: Systematic review and indirect comparison meta-analysis.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, conference proceedings, trial registers and reference lists were searched up to October 2013 for randomized controlled trials.

Economic evaluation of aclidinium bromide in the management of moderate to severe COPD: an analysis over 5 years.

Purpose: Aclidinium bromide is a long-acting muscarinic antagonistic used in maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A model-based health economic study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of aclidinium 400 μg bid as an alternative to tiotropium 18 μg od for this indication in the US.

Patients And Methods: PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS IN THIS MODEL REFLECT THOSE IN THE ACLIDINIUM CLINICAL STUDIES: age >40 years, stable moderate-to-severe COPD, current or ex-smokers (>10 pack-years), post-salbutamol forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥30% and <80% of predicted normal value, and FEV1/forced vital capacity <70%.

Comparison of different fractionation schedules toward a single fraction in high-dose-rate brachytherapy as monotherapy for low-risk prostate cancer using 3-dimensional radiobiological models.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was the investigation of different fractionation schemes to estimate their clinical impact. For this purpose, widely applied radiobiological models and dosimetric measures were used to associate their results with clinical findings.

Methods And Materials: The dose distributions of 12 clinical high-dose-rate brachytherapy implants for prostate were evaluated in relation to different fractionation schemes.

Comparative efficacy of aclidinium versus glycopyrronium and tiotropium, as maintenance treatment of moderate to severe COPD patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Aclidinium bromide is a new long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) indicated for maintenance bronchodilator treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The efficacy of aclidinium was compared with tiotropium and glycopyrronium, using a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in moderate-to-severe COPD patients.

Methods: A systematic review was performed to identify RCTs evaluating aclidinium 400 μg twice daily (BID), glycopyrronium 50 μg once daily (OD), tiotropium 18 μg OD, or tiotropium 5 μg OD in adults with moderate-to-severe COPD.

A detailed dosimetric comparison between manual and inverse plans in HDR intracavitary/interstitial cervical cancer brachytherapy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare two inverse planning algorithms for cervical cancer brachytherapy and a conventional manual treatment planning according to the MUW (Medical University of Vienna) protocol.

Material And Methods: For 20 patients, manually optimized, and, inversely optimized treatment plans with Hybrid Inverse treatment Planning and Optimization (HIPO) and with Inverse Planning Simulated Annealing (IPSA) were created. Dosimetric parameters, absolute volumes of normal tissue receiving reference doses, absolute loading times of tandem, ring and interstitial needles, Paddick and COIN conformity indices were evaluated.

Radiobiological evaluation of the influence of dwell time modulation restriction in HIPO optimized HDR prostate brachytherapy implants.

Purpose: One of the issues that a planner is often facing in HDR brachytherapy is the selective existence of high dose volumes around some few dominating dwell positions. If there is no information available about its necessity (e.g.

New inverse planning technology for image-guided cervical cancer brachytherapy: description and evaluation within a clinical frame.

Purpose: To test the feasibility of a new inverse planning technology based on the Hybrid Inverse treatment Planning and Optimisation (HIPO) algorithm for image-guided cervical cancer brachytherapy in comparison to conventional manual optimisation as applied in recent clinical practice based on long-term intracavitary cervical cancer brachytherapy experience.

Materials And Methods: The clinically applied treatment plans of 10 tandem/ring (T/R) and 10 cases with additional needles (T/R+N) planned with PLATO v14.3 were included.