Long-term add-on therapy (compassionate use) with oral artesunate in patients with metastatic breast cancer after participating in a phase I study (ARTIC M33/2).

Background: The antimalarial artesunate (ART), a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin from the Chinese herb artemisia annua has remarkable anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo. Its excellent safety profile known from short-term therapy in malaria was confirmed in an open phase I trial (ARTIC M33/2) for dose-finding as add-on therapy for four weeks.

Purpose: Patients with metastatic breast cancer, who had not experienced any clinically relevant adverse events (AE) during participation in ARTIC M33/2, were offered to continue ART as compassionate use (CU).

Prospective open uncontrolled phase I study to define a well-tolerated dose of oral artesunate as add-on therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (ARTIC M33/2).

Purpose: The antimalarial drug artesunate (ART) is a promising candidate for cancer treatment as it displays anticancer effects in various models. While in short-term treatment of malaria, an excellent safety profile has been found for ART, the potential long-term treatment of cancer patients demands a phase I dose-finding clinical trial determining the daily ART dose which would be well tolerated as add-on therapy.

Methods: Patients with metastatic breast cancer were to receive either 100 or 150 or 200 mg oral ART daily as add-on to their guideline-based oncological therapy for a study period of four weeks with frequent clinical and laboratory monitoring until 4-8 weeks thereafter.

Education to a Healthy Lifestyle Improves Symptoms and Cardiovascular Risk Factors - AsuRiesgo Study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the current leading causes of death and disability globally.

Objective: To assess the effects of a basic educational program for cardiovascular prevention in an unselected outpatient population.

Methods: All participants received an educational program to change to a healthy lifestyle.

Prevalence of rotator cuff tear in paraplegic patients compared with controls.

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries of the shoulder in paraplegic patients with long-term survival can result from overuse and/or inappropriate use of wheelchairs. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk of pathological changes in the weight-bearing shoulder girdle of paraplegic patients who have been wheelchair-dependent for more than thirty years in comparison with able-bodied volunteers.

Methods: One hundred paraplegic patients were matched for sex and age with a group of 100 able-bodied volunteers.