Use of biological drugs in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in italy: Results from the PSONG survey

This Italian multicenter retrospective study compared the drug survival and efficacy of differentanti-TNF agents in psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. A database of PsO/PsApatients treated with adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab from May 2013 to May 2014 wasanalyzed. PASI 75, 90, and 100 was calculated at each time point to evaluate efficacy. Drug sur-vival rate and probability of maintaining PASI response were evaluated. The impact of dependentvariables on probability of PASI 75 loss was evaluated by logistic regression. 1,235 patients wereincluded, 577 with PsO and 658 with PsA. Highest survival rates were observed with adalimumabfollowed by etanercept and infliximab in PsO and PsA patients. The probability of maintainingPASI response was significantly higher for adalimumab followed by infliximab. For PsO patients,the odds of losing PASI 75 was higher in etanercept-treated patients (OR: 8.1; 95% CI: 4.2–15.6,p<.001) or infliximab (OR: 6.6; 95% CI: 2.6–16.3,p<.001) vs. adalimumab. Likewise, for PsApatients the odds of losing PASI 75 was higher in etanercept-treated patients (OR: 2.3; 95% CI:1.4–3.8,p5.01) or infliximab (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1–4.1,p5.018) vs. adalimumab. Adalimumabcould be the best therapeutic option over other anti-TNF agents for the treatment of PsO and PsApatients

Evaluation of Clinical and Ultrasonographic Parameters in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Treated with Adalimumab: A Retrospective Study

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and US-PD parameters in PsA during adalimumab treatment. Methods. A retrospective study has been conducted in forty patients affected by moderate-to-severe peripheral PsA. Clinical, laboratory, and US-PD evaluations were performed at baseline, after 4, 12, and 24 weeks of treatment. They included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), visual analogue scale (VAS), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) modified for Spondyloarthritis, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS 28), and US-PD assessment. US-PD findings were scored according to a semiquantitative scale (ranging 0–3) for synovial proliferation (SP), joint effusion (SE), bone erosions (BE), and PD. Results. Data obtained for clinical, laboratory findings and US-PD evaluation showed statistical significant improvement in all the measures performed except for BE. A significant parallel decrease in SE, SP, and PD values were demonstrated. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that US-PD is a valid technique in monitoring the response to adalimumab in moderate-to-severe PsA

NANOASSEMBLED COMPLEXES OF NUCLEIC ACIDS, AVIDIN AND POLYMERS, USE AND PREPARATION THEREOF

The present invention discloses new nanoassembled complexes consisting of a central nucleus formed by a high-affinity interaction from nucleic acids and avidin, wherein said nucleus is stabilized in aqueous solutions, even saline, and protected from further unspecific unwanted interactions by means of suitable polymeric agents capable to mask totally or partially the nucleus itself. The nanocomplexes obtained have been shown to be stable in aqueous solutions and to have nanoparticle features. In addition, the nano-complexes have shown characteristics useful for use in biotechnological field and in nanomedicine

sol-gel derived silica gels for the controlled release of drugs: influence of synthesis and processing conditions in the release

The influence of processing parameters and synthetic strategies in the properties of sol-gel derived silica matrices intended for the release of bioactive compounds was investigated. The time-evolution of the matrix properties during its aging at room temperature in the dry and wet forms was investigated by measuring some of its physical and drug retaining properties. The results indicate that long term gel aging in the wet form is fundamental for the obtainment of dry matrices that are stable upon storage, a fundamental requirement for any practical application. In the case of hybrid matrices obtained by replacing part of the tetraethoxysilane precursor with mono-methyl trimethoxysilane, the order of addition of the reaction component is also important in determining the properties of the final dry gel, probably by influencing the polymer structural properties. This parameter acts synergistically with the matrix composition in determining the release properties of xerogels embedded with bioactive compounds