Evaluating the impact of early vs delayed ofatumumab initiation and estimating the long-term outcomes of ofatumumab vs teriflunomide in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients in Spain.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of early (at first-line) vs delayed (3-year delay) ofatumumab initiation and long-term clinical, societal, and economic outcomes of ofatumumab vs teriflunomide in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) patients from a Spanish societal perspective.

Methods: A cost-consequence analysis was conducted using an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)-based Markov model. Inputs were sourced from ASCLEPIOS I and II trials and published literature.

Comparing the long-term clinical and economic impact of ofatumumab versus dimethyl fumarate and glatiramer acetate in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: A cost-consequence analysis from a societal perspective in Germany.

Background: Evidence suggests that early highly efficacious therapy in relapsing multiple sclerosis is superior to escalation strategies.

Objective: A cost-consequence analysis simulated different treatment scenarios with ofatumumab (OMB), dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and glatiramer acetate (GA): immediate OMB initiation as first treatment, early switch to OMB after 1 year on DMF/GA, late switch after 5 years or no switch.

Methods: An EDSS-based Markov model with a 10-year time horizon was applied.

Cost Effectiveness and Budget Impact of Siponimod Compared to Interferon Beta-1a in the Treatment of Adult Patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis with Active Disease in Switzerland.

Objective: The study aim was to evaluate the cost effectiveness and budget impact of siponimod compared to interferon beta-1a for adult patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) with active disease, from a Swiss health insurance perspective.

Methods: We conducted an analysis using a Markov cohort model with a cycle length of 1 year, life-long time horizon, and discount rate of 3% for cost and health outcomes. We used a matching-adjusted indirect comparison to estimate clinical outcomes using data from the EXPAND randomised controlled trial of siponimod vs placebo and the Nordic SPMS randomised controlled trial of interferon beta-1a vs placebo as the basis for estimates of disability progression and relapse outcomes.

Development, validation and evaluation of a novel self-instructional module in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is ranked highest in terms of disability-adjusted life-years lived. Patient education and self-management have shown to play a crucial role in the overall pain management. However, the literature on the same with respect to Indian context is still lacking.

Hindi version of short form of douleur neuropathique 4 (S-DN4) questionnaire for assessment of neuropathic pain component: a cross-cultural validation study.

Background: Pain with neuropathic characteristics is generally more severe and associated with a lower quality of life compared to nociceptive pain (NcP). Short form of the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions (S-DN4) is one of the most used and reliable screening questionnaires and is reported to have good diagnostic properties. This study was aimed to cross-culturally validate the Hindi version of the S-DN4 in patients with various chronic pain conditions.

High Prevalence of Neuropathic Pain Component in Patients with Low Back Pain: Evidence from Meta-Analysis.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a complex syndrome which includes a nociceptive (NcP) component, a neuropathic (NeP) component, or a mixture of components (mixed pain). The NeP component (NePC) in LBP is defined as the presence of NeP with or without an NcP.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed at assessing the pooled prevalence of NePC in patients with LBP and at identifying the factors causing significant heterogeneity in reported prevalence.

Predictors of health related quality of life in childhood epilepsy and comparison with healthy children: findings from an Indian study.

Background/aim: Children with epilepsy have reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) due to disease and medications. We aimed to assess child-reported HRQOL in Indian children with epilepsy and compare it with that in healthy children.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 256 children with epilepsy aged between 5 and 18 years on antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment for at least 3 months was performed and 125 age and sex matched healthy children were included.

Neuropathic Pain Assessment with the PainDETECT Questionnaire: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation to Hindi.

Objective: The contribution of neuropathic pain (NeP) in chronic pain conditions is increasingly emphasized with the development of multiple questionnaire-based measurement scales. The painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ) is a frequently used self-reported outcome measure to assess NeP in patients with chronic pain conditions in research and regular clinical practice. The aim of the study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the PDQ into Hindi (Hi-PDQ) for use in India and to investigate its psychometric properties.

Usefulness of four commonly used neuropathic pain screening questionnaires in patients with chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Recently symptoms-based screening questionnaires have gained attention for screening for a neuropathic pain component (NePC) in various chronic pain conditions. The present study assessed the usefulness of four commonly used NePC screening questionnaires including the Self-completed douleur neuropathique 4 (S-DN4), the ID Pain, the painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ), and the Self-completed Leeds Assessment of neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) questionnaire in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) to assess the presence of NePC.

Methods: This is a single-center cross-sectional study where patients with CLBP, with or without leg pain, were included.

Vitamin D Supplementation in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: An Open Label, Single Arm Clinical Trial.

Background: Vitamin-D deficiency may possibly be related to chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Objective: The study is aimed to assess the impact of vitamin-D supplementation on pain intensity, functional disability, and vitamin-D levels in patients with CLBP.

Study Design: Single arm open-label study.

Risk of Parkinson's Disease in the Users of Antihypertensive Agents: An Evidence from the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Background. Antihypertensive agents have been shown to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammatory response and thus neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease (PD). Epidemiological evidence suggests inconsistency between use of antihypertensives and risk of PD.

Translation, Adaptation, and Validation of Hindi Version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain for Use in India.

OBJECTIVES : This study translates the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) into Hindi and examines the psychometric properties of the translated version (Hindi PCS [Hi-PCS]) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). METHODS : Forward and backward translations were performed from English to Hindi according to standard methodology. A final version was evaluated by a committee of clinical experts and Hi-PCS was then pilot-tested in 10 patients with CLBP.

Reduced Risk of Parkinson's Disease in Users of Calcium Channel Blockers: A Meta-Analysis.

Aim. To pool the data currently available to determine the association between calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods.

High Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D in Indian Chronic Low Back Patients.

Background: Vitamin D has a significant role to play in bone metabolism and neuromuscular function. Several researchers have indicated that Vitamin D deficiency may be possibly related to chronic musculoskeletal pain including chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and its contribution to chronic lower back pain.

Agreement between Framingham Risk Score and United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study Risk Engine in Identifying High Coronary Heart Disease Risk in North Indian Population.

Background: The aim of the study is to evaluate the concurrence between Framingham Risk score (FRS) and United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk engine in identifying coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in newly detected diabetes mellitus patients and to explore the characteristics associated with the discrepancy between them.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 489 subjects newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus was conducted. Agreement between FRS and UKPDS in classifying patients as high risk was calculated using kappa statistic.

Role of patient-reported outcomes and other efficacy endpoints in the drug approval process in Europe (2008-2012).

The present study aimed at systematically reviewing the role and extent of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) usage within the package of scientific evidence considered for marketing authorization (MA). All regulatory information published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for products authorized between January 2008 and December 2012 and appearing in the European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) database was examined for efficacy endpoints. The endpoints here considered included: PROs, clinician reported outcomes (CROs), and laboratory reported outcomes (LROs).

Prevalence and risk factors of development of peripheral diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care setting.

Aims/introduction: The study was carried out to assess the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), compare the prevalence between known diabetes mellitus (KDM) and newly detected diabetes mellitus (NDDM), identify risk factors associated, its prevalence pattern and to assess if any sex-specific differences are present.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital. Patients with duration of diabetes ≤6 months were considered to be NDDM.

Diabetes mellitus and risk of dementia: A meta-analysis of prospective observational studies.

Aims/introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between diabetes and the risk of all type dementia (ATD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD).

Materials And Methods: Prospective observational studies describing the incidence of ATD, AD and VaD in patients with diabetes mellitus were extracted from PubMed, EMBASE and other databases up to January 2012. Pooled relative risk (RR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model.

Microvascular Complications and Their Associated Risk Factors in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

The study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of microvascular complications and associated risk factors in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a public tertiary care hospital. All the recruited patients underwent extensive examination for the presence of microvascular complications like neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy.

Comparative efficacy and safety of six antidepressants and anticonvulsants in painful diabetic neuropathy: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Anticonvulsants and antidepressants are mostly used in management of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN). However there are few direct comparisons between drugs of these classes, making evidence-based decision-making in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy difficult.

Objectives: This study aimed to perform a network meta-analysis and benefit-risk analysis to evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of these drugs in PDN treatment.