A retrospective analysis omalizumab treatment patterns in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: a real-world study in Belgium.

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by the repeated occurrence of persistent hives and/or angioedema for ≥6 weeks, without specific external stimuli. H -antihistamines have long been the standard of care of CSU, but many patients remain uncontrolled even at 4× the approved dose. Add-on therapy with omalizumab has proven effective in clinical trials, but little is known about omalizumab treatment in Belgium.

Clinical, Quality of Life, Patient Adherence, and Safety Outcomes of Short-Course (12 Weeks) Treatment with Cyclosporine in Patients with Severe Psoriasis (the Practice Study).

Background: Apart from clinical outcomes, the "real-world" outcomes of intermittent short-course cyclosporine treatment remain poorly documented.

Objective: To evaluate various outcomes of short-course cyclosporine treatment for severe psoriasis; and to describe dermatologists' use of the Rule of Tens.

Methods: A 12-week pharmacoepidemiological study; 112 evaluable patients recruited by 43 dermatologists.

Antagonistic activity of 24-oxa-analogs of vitamin D.

24-Oxa-vitamin D3 (24-oxa-D3) and 24-oxa-1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 were designed as possible inhibitors of the vitamin D metabolic activation pathway. Their affinity for the vitamin D receptor (from pig intestine) and human vitamin binding protein were reduced, and their potency to induce cell differentiation of human leukemia cells (HL 60) or osteosarcoma cells (MG 63) was markedly reduced (19% and 3%, respectively), in comparison with calcitriol. A single or chronic injection of 24-oxa-D3 had no biological activity, whereas chronic administration of 24-oxa-1 alpha-hydroxy-D3 showed weak agonist activity in rachitic chicks.