Effect of sitagliptin on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Data are lacking on the long-term effect on cardiovascular events of adding sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, to usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind study, we assigned 14,671 patients to add either sitagliptin or placebo to their existing therapy. Open-label use of antihyperglycemic therapy was encouraged as required, aimed at reaching individually appropriate glycemic targets in all patients. To determine whether sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo, we used a relative risk of 1.3 as the marginal upper boundary. The primary cardiovascular outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.0 years, there was a small difference in glycated hemoglobin levels (least-squares mean difference for sitagliptin vs. placebo, -0.29 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.32 to -0.27). Overall, the primary outcome occurred in 839 patients in the sitagliptin group (11.4%; 4.06 per 100 person-years) and 851 patients in the placebo group (11.6%; 4.17 per 100 person-years). Sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo for the primary composite cardiovascular outcome (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.09; P<0.001). Rates of hospitalization for heart failure did not differ between the two groups (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.20; P = 0.98). There were no significant between-group differences in rates of acute pancreatitis (P = 0.07) or pancreatic cancer (P = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, adding sitagliptin to usual care did not appear to increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, hospitalization for heart failure, or other adverse events

Modern Aspects of Diagnosis and Treatment of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in Children (Literature Review)

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) includes different types of the disease that are heterogeneous according to clinical, morphological, immunological, cytogenetic and molecular biological features. The review demonstrates not only main clinical and morphoimmunological characteristics of ALCL, but also presents data about expression and prognostic significance of STAT3, pSTAT3tyr705, and survivin (transcription factor). It demonstrates the value of defining the minimal disseminated disease (the minimal disseminated disease is evaluated using the PCR test before initiation of the treatment, and the minimal residual disease is evaluated during the treatment and after its completion), and clinical and molecular biological prognostic factors are also identified. There is still no a standard therapeutic regimen for pediatric ALCL patients. However, the following therapeutic protocols are considered most effective: NHL-BFM 90/95, CCG5941, SFOP-LM 89/91, UKCCSG, ALCL99-Vinblastine, POG АРО 9315, AIEOP LNH-92/97. Treatment outcomes are presented in this paper. Particular attention is paid to different molecular biological markers that allow further improvement of patients’ stratification in risk groups and possible use of target medications (multikinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies) improving the therapy outcomes

Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Children

Background & Aims. Most children with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) can be cured irrespective of the disease stage using modern risk adapted protocols. But 3–5 % of children develop relapse of the disease or refractoriness to the treatment performed. The aim of the study was to perform a comparative analysis of ViGePP vs ICE antitumor treatment regimens in patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as to evaluate the need in auto-HSCT and the site for a combined chemoradiation therapy in this patient population. Methods. From June, 2003, till December, 2014, 35 patients with relapsed (18) and refractory (17) HL received chemotherapy based on two regimes: ICE (n = 14; 40 %) and ViGePP (n = 14; 40 %). 7 (20 %) children were switched to another regimen due to a poor antitumor response to the first two courses of chemotherapy. Results. The direct effectiveness of the therapy was significantly higher in patients on ViGePP as compared to ICE irrespective of the disease status (relapsed or refractory). A complete response was achieved more often in those children with relapse HL whose initial treatment included radiation therapy. Higher survival rates were registered in girls, as well as in children with a complete overall response to the antirelapse therapy. In case of relapses, delayed treatment effects (disease free survival and overall survival) were higher in children treated with 4 courses of ViGePP than 2 courses of ICE. High-dose chemotherapy with subsequent auto-HSCT is not able to overcome refractoriness to the chemotherapy. Conclusion. Children with relapsed and refractory HL need an intensive antirelapse chemotherapy with subsequent HDC and auto-HSCT to achieve CR

Brain delivery of proteins via their fatty acid and block copolymer modifications

It is well known that hydrophobic small molecules penetrate cell membranes better than hydrophilic molecules. Amphiphilic molecules that dissolve both in lipid and aqueous phases are best suited for membrane transport. Transport of biomacromolecules across physiological barriers, e.g. the blood-brain barrier, is greatly complicated by the unique structure and function of such barriers. Two decades ago we adopted a simple philosophy that to increase protein delivery to the brain one needs to modify this protein with hydrophobic moieties. With this general idea we began modifying proteins (antibodies, enzymes, hormones, etc.) with either hydrophobic fatty acid residues or amphiphilic block copolymer moieties, such as poy(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (pluronics or poloxamers) and more recently, poly(2-oxasolines). This simple approach has resulted in impressive successes in CNS drug delivery. We present a retrospective overview of these works initiated in the Soviet Union in 1980s, and then continued in the United States and other countries. Notably some of the early findings were later corroborated by brain pharmacokinetic data. Industrial development of several drug candidates employing these strategies has followed. Overall modification by hydrophobic fatty acids residues or amphiphilic block copolymers represents a promising and relatively safe strategy to deliver proteins to the brain