Omalizumab-induced decrease of FcξRI expression in patients with severe allergic asthma.

Background: It is documented that omalizumab treatment reduces the cell surface expression of immunoglobulin E high-affinity receptor (FcɛRI) on several cell types. This has not been investigated in patients with uncontrolled severe persistent allergic asthma.

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, patients with severe allergic asthma uncontrolled by high dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β(2)-agonist received either omalizumab (n = 20) or placebo (n = 11) over 16 weeks at appropriate doses and frequencies.

Amlodipine-valsartan combination decreases central systolic blood pressure more effectively than the amlodipine-atenolol combination: the EXPLOR study.

The beta-blocker atenolol is less effective than angiotensin-receptor blockers and calcium-channel blockers for reducing central blood pressure (BP). The trial was designed to determine whether the advantages of angiotensin-receptor blockers over atenolol remained significant when both were combined with the calcium-channel blocker amlodipine. A prospective, randomized, blinded endpoint (PROBE design) parallel group, multicenter trial including 393 patients with essential hypertension resistant to 4 weeks of 5 mg of amlodipine was set out.