A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of canakinumab in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Extensive atherosclerotic plaque burden in the lower extremities often leads to symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) including impaired walking performance and claudication. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) may play an important pro-inflammatory role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Interruption of IL-1β signaling was hypothesized to decrease plaque progression in the leg macrovasculature and improve the mobility of patients with PAD with intermittent claudication.

An open-label study to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of lanadelumab for prevention of attacks in hereditary angioedema: design of the HELP study extension.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by recurrent attacks of subcutaneous or submucosal edema. Attacks are unpredictable, debilitating, and have a significant impact on quality of life. Patients may be prescribed prophylactic therapy to prevent angioedema attacks.

Comparison of gastric emptying parameters between asymptomatic volunteers and patients with functional dyspepsia in Middle Eastern population.

Objective: To derive the normal reference values for Middle East population using a standard method, and to validate its performance in functional dyspepsia.

Methods: A prospective study was designed to derive gastric emptying parameters in 36 healthy control subjects. We measured the lag phase, half time, and gastric retention at the first, second, and third hours.

Clinico-radiological correlates of achalasia.

Objective: To study the clinical and radiographic characteristics of achalasia in a cohort Jordanian patients and to investigate the presence of any clinico-radiological relationships.

Methods: Thirty-five cases of recently diagnosed untreated achalasia patients were studied at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan during the period of January 1999 to December 2002. Measurements of maximum esophageal and gastroesophageal (GE) junction diameters, as radiographic features, were obtained from films.