Adalimumab for long-term treatment of psoriatic arthritis: 2-year data from the Adalimumab Effectiveness in Psoriatic Arthritis Trial (ADEPT)

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness and tolerability of adalimumab in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods: Patients with PsA who completed a 24-week, double-blind study of adalimumab versus placebo were eligible to enroll in an open-label extension study and receive adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously every other week for up to an additional 120 weeks. At the time of this analysis, available efficacy evaluations throughout 2 years of treatment (n = 245) included American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20%, 50% and 70% improvement scores, measures of joint disease and skin disease, disability and quality of life; modified total Sharp scores (mTSS) were available for 2.75 years of treatment for patients who received adalimumab in the 24-week study. Results: After 24 weeks of double- blind treatment, the mean change in mTSS was -20.2 for the adalimumab group (N = 144) and 1.0 for the placebo group (N = 152; p20% of patients achieving the strict criterion of psoriasis area and severity index 100. The nature and frequency of adverse events during long-term adalimumab treatment were consistent with the safety profile during short-term treatment. Conclusions: The clinical and radiographic efficacy of adalimumab demonstrated during short-term treatment was sustained during long-term treatment. Adalimumab has a favourable risk-benefit profile in patients with PsA

Uncertainty analysis in MCNP5 calculations for brachytherapy treatment

The Monte Carlo (MC) method can be applied to simulate brachytherapy treatment planning. The MCNP5 code gives, together with results, a statistical uncertainty associated with them. However, the latter is not the only existing uncertainty related to the simulation and other uncertainties must be taken into account. A complete analysis of all sources of uncertainty having some influence on results of the simulation of brachytherapy treatment is presented in this paper. This analysis has been based on the recommendations of the American Association for Physicist in Medicine (AAPM) and of the International Standard Organisation (ISO).This work received financial support from the Generalitat Valenciana as well as from the Research Vice-Rector Office of the "Universidad Politecnica de Valencia" (Spain) for the stay of Isabelle Gerardy in Valencia at the "Departamento de Ingenieria Quimica y Nuclear" of the "Universidad Politecnica de Valencia".Gerardy, IYJ.; Ródenas Diago, J.; Gallardo Bermell, S. (2011). Uncertainty analysis in MCNP5 calculations for brachytherapy treatment. Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 69(8):1108-1111. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2011.02.003S1108111169