Publications by authors named "Nicholas Halfpenny"

Article Synopsis
  • This study compared the effectiveness and safety of biologics and small molecules for treating adults with moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis (UC).
  • A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis were conducted, including data from 30 studies for induction dosing and 22 for maintenance dosing of various treatments.
  • Results showed that while many treatments had similar efficacy, mirikizumab and upadacitinib stood out for improving clinical response and remission, suggesting mirikizumab is a promising option for ongoing treatment.
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Article Synopsis
  • Some serious medicines called biologics help treat severe asthma, and many can be given by patients at home instead of going to a clinic.
  • A study looked at how well these home treatments work, finding that most patients (over 95%) were successful at giving themselves the medicine and preferred doing it at home.
  • Patients felt confident and found it easy to use the self-administration devices, which also helped their asthma control and health quality, although more research is needed.
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Background: We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify clinical evidence on treatments in advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) after the failure of prior therapy with cytokines, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Herein, we summarise the evidence for axitinib in aRCC after the failure of prior therapy with cytokines or sunitinib.

Methods: This SLR was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023492931) and followed the 2020 PRISMA statement and the Cochrane guidelines.

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Background: The objective of this study was to assess the durability of response of dolutegravir (DTG) as an antiretroviral core agent by comparing its efficacy and safety with other recommended or commonly used core agents up to 96-weeks (W96).

Methods: A previously published systematic review was updated to identify phase 3/4 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of core agents in treatment-naïve HIV-1 patients. Efficacy [virologic suppression (VS), CD4 cell change from baseline] and safety [adverse events [AEs], discontinuations, drug-related AEs [DRAEs]] were analysed at W96 using Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) adjusting for nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors' (NRTIs') backbone.

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Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a statistical method used to produce comparable estimates of efficacy across a range of treatments that may not be compared directly within any single trial. NMA feasibility is determined by the comparability of the data and presence of a connected network. In rapidly evolving treatment landscapes, evidence networks can change substantially in a short period of time.

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Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: When randomized controlled trial data are limited or unavailable, or to supplement randomized controlled trial evidence, health technology assessment (HTA) agencies may rely on systematic reviews of nonrandomized studies (NRSs) for evidence of the effectiveness of health care interventions. NRS designs may introduce considerable bias into systematic reviews, and several methodologies by which to evaluate this risk of bias are available. This study aimed to identify tools commonly used to assess bias in NRS and determine those recommended by HTA bodies.

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Peer-reviewed publications and conference proceedings are the mainstay of data sources for systematic reviews and network meta-analyses (NMA), but access to informative unpublished data is now becoming commonplace. To explore the usefulness of three types of 'grey' literature-clinical trials registries, clinical study reports and data from regulatory authorities-we conducted four case studies. The reporting of outcome data in peer-reviewed publications, the clinical trials registries and the clinical study reports for two clinical trials-one in melanoma, one in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-was examined.

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Tuberculosis remains a major global health challenge despite extensive vaccination schemes with the current live vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin. Tuberculosis vaccine research has been hampered by a scarcity of animal models which replicate human disease and are suitable for large-scale studies. We have shown recently that Mycobacterium marinum, a close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causes an infection resembling human tuberculosis in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).

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The mechanisms leading to latency and reactivation of human tuberculosis are still unclear, mainly due to the lack of standardized animal models for latent mycobacterial infection. In this longitudinal study of the progression of a mycobacterial disease in adult zebrafish, we show that an experimental intraperitoneal infection with a low dose (≈ 35 bacteria) of Mycobacterium marinum, results in the development of a latent disease in most individuals. The infection is characterized by limited mortality (25%), stable bacterial loads 4 weeks following infection and constant numbers of highly organized granulomas in few target organs.

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