Omalizumab in patients with severe asthma: the XCLUSIVE study.

Background And Aims: Although the efficacy and safety of omalizumab (OMA) in uncontrolled severe allergic asthma has been demonstrated in several randomised controlled trials (RCTs), information on the treatment in a practice-related setting is limited. Thus, the purpose of this prospective multi-centre study (XCLUSIVE) was to investigate the efficacy, compliance and utilisation of OMA therapy in real-life clinical practice in Germany.

Methods: One hundred ninety-five asthmatic patients initiated on anti-Immunoglobulin E (IgE) IgE treatment were followed-up for 6 months.

Long term effects of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation in an inpatient and outpatient setting.

Objectives: To compare the long-term effects of comprehensive outpatient versus inpatient rehabilitation with respect to morbidity and mortality, as well as to changes in physical performance and physical activity.

Design: A total of 163 consecutive patients were enrolled for comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CCR) following a recent coronary event, to outpatient or inpatient CCR according to treatment preference because randomisation was accepted by only 4 patients. CCR was six hours per day for 4 weeks and consisted of exercise training, education, psychological support, and nutritional and occupational advice.

Effectiveness of omalizumab in patients 50 years and older with severe persistent allergic asthma.

Background: Omalizumab is approved for the treatment of severe allergic asthma.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of omalizumab therapy in patients 50 years or older with patients younger than 50 years.

Methods: Between November 2005 and November 2007 a total of 174 asthma patients 50 years or older (40.

Circulating biomarkers of tissue remodelling in pulmonary hypertension.

Objective: Besides persisting high pulmonary arterial pressure and increased pulmonary vascular resistance, remodelling of pulmonary tissues and subsequently the right heart are the key pathomechanisms of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Extracellular matrix maintenance in this context plays a central role.

Methods: We tested the hypothesis that plasma concentration of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-4 and tenascin C (TNC) might be useful as biomarkers for assessing the severity of PH.

Efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy with mitomycin and vinorelbine for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy, toxicity and tolerability of chemotherapy with a combination of mitomycin and vinorelbine (M/V) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We enrolled 110 patients (median age 67 years) with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, who had no prior chemotherapy or progressive disease after at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. 45 patients (41%) were > or =70 years old.