Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Benralizumab: A Phase 1, Randomized, Single-Blind Study of Healthy Chinese Participants.

Purpose: Biological therapies targeting eosinophils have been shown to be effective in treating patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. Benralizumab (Fasenra, AstraZeneca) is a humanized monoclonal antibody binding to the alpha subunit of the interleukin-5 receptor, which rapidly depletes eosinophils via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The aim of this Phase 1 study was to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of benralizumab in healthy Chinese individuals.

Blood lead level and risk of hypertension in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2016.

Lead is a heavy metal without a biological role. High level of lead exposure is known to be associated with hypertension, but the risk at low levels of exposure is uncertain. In this study, data from US NHANES 1999-2016 were analyzed.

Prevalence and Impact of Reported Drug Allergies among Rheumatology Patients.

Background: Drug allergies (DA) are immunologically mediated adverse drug reactions and their manifestations depend on a variety of drug- and patient-specific factors. The dysregulated immune system underpinning rheumatological diseases may also lead to an increase in hypersensitivity reactions, including DA. The higher prevalence of reported DA, especially anti-microbials, also restricts the medication repertoire for these already immunocompromised patients.

Epidemiology of gout in Hong Kong: a population-based study from 2006 to 2016.

Objective: To determine the incidence and prevalence of gout in the general population and the utilisation of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) among patients with gout in Hong Kong.

Methods: A total of 2,741,862 subjects who attended any outpatient clinics or accident and emergency department (with or without hospitalisation) in 2005 and did not die before 2006 were identified from the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS) of the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong. All subjects were followed until the end of 2016 or death.

Blood and Urine Inorganic and Organic Mercury Levels in the United States from 1999 to 2016.

Background: Mercury is an environmental hazard. Organic mercury is biologically more toxic than inorganic mercury. Therefore, we studied recent trends in the blood levels of organic and inorganic mercury in the United States.

Management of rheumatoid arthritis: 2019 updated consensus recommendations from the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology.

The expanding range of treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), from conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to biological DMARDs (bDMARDs), biosimilar bDMARDs, and targeted synthetic DMARDs, has improved patient outcomes but increased the complexity of treatment decisions. These updated consensus recommendations from the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology provide guidance on the management of RA, with a focus on how to integrate newly available DMARDs into clinical practice. The recommendations were developed based on evidence from the literature along with local expert opinion.

A Phase I, Single- and Multiple-dose Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics of Elbasvir and Grazoprevir in Healthy Chinese Participants.

Purpose: This study evaluated the single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetic (PK) variables of elbasvir and grazoprevir in healthy Chinese individuals.

Methods: This study was a 2-part, parallel-arm, open-label trial. In part 1, single-dose PK variables of elbasvir 10/50/100 mg and grazoprevir 50/100/200 mg were evaluated in 10 participants per drug.

Network meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcomes in randomized controlled trials of new antidiabetic drugs.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly comparing cardiovascular outcomes of new antidiabetic drugs are lacking. We used network meta-analysis to compare new antidiabetic drug classes with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane database, and ClinicalTrials.

Future therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by persistent joint inflammation. Without adequate treatment, patients with RA will develop joint deformity and progressive functional impairment. With the implementation of treat-to-target strategies and availability of biologic therapies, the outcomes for patients with RA have significantly improved.

Continual Decrease in Blood Lead Level in Americans: United States National Health Nutrition and Examination Survey 1999-2014.

Background: Lead is toxic and affects neurodevelopment in children even at low levels. There has been a long-term effort in the United States to reduce exposure to lead in the environment. We studied the latest US population blood lead levels and analyzed its trend.

Optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent implantation: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: After implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES), patients usually receive 6-12months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). However, the optimal duration of DAPT is controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the risks and benefits of different DAPT durations.

Duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent implantation: Meta-analysis of large randomised controlled trials.

Patients receive dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 6-12 months after drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation. The efficacy and safety of prolonged DAPT has been questioned. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis on randomised trials comparing different DAPT durations.

Safety of antiobesity drugs.

Obesity is a major health problem worldwide. Although diet and physical activity are crucial in the management of obesity, the long-term success rate is low. Therefore antiobesity drugs are of great interest, especially when lifestyle modification has failed.

Managing blood pressure control in Asian patients: safety and efficacy of losartan.

Hypertension is common in Asian populations and is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of hypertension is increasing in many Asian countries. The overall prevalence of hypertension in India and the People's Republic of China has been estimated to be 20.

Identifying patients with resistant hypertension and options for clinical management.

In addition to the increasing prevalence of hypertension, the number of patients with treatment-resistant hypertension is also rising. It is important to identify these patients in order to improve the treatment outcomes and to screen for potential secondary causes. Clinical characteristics of patients with resistant hypertension include advanced age, male gender, obesity, high salt intake and alcohol consumption.

Adrenomedullin and cardiovascular diseases.

The cardiovascular system is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, nitric oxide (NO) and other factors including neuropeptides. Research in neurohumoral factors has led to the development of many cardiovascular drugs. Adrenomedullin (ADM), initially isolated from the adrenal gland, has diverse physiological and pathophysiological functions in the cardiovascular system.