26 research outputs found
Incident Use of Hydroxychloroquine for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Objective: We studied whether the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for COVID-19 resulted in supply shortages for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: We used US claims data (IQVIA PHARMETRICS® Plus for Academics [PHARMETRICS]) and hospital electronic records from Spain (Institut Municipal d'Assistència Sanitària Information System [IMASIS]) to estimate monthly rates of HCQ use between January 2019 and March 2022, in the general population and in patients with RA and SLE. Methotrexate (MTX) use was estimated as a control. Results: More than 13.5 million individuals (13,311,811 PHARMETRICS, 207,646 IMASIS) were included in the general population cohort. RA and SLE cohorts enrolled 135,259 and 39,295 patients, respectively, in PHARMETRICS. Incidence of MTX and HCQ were stable before March 2020. On March 2020, the incidence of HCQ increased by 9- and 67-fold in PHARMETRICS and IMASIS, respectively, and decreased in May 2020. Usage rates of HCQ went back to prepandemic trends in Spain but remained high in the United States, mimicking waves of COVID-19. No significant changes in HCQ use were noted among patients with RA and SLE. MTX use rates decreased during HCQ approval period for COVID-19 treatment. Conclusion: Use of HCQ increased dramatically in the general population in both Spain and the United States during March and April 2020. Whereas Spain returned to prepandemic rates after the first wave, use of HCQ remained high and followed waves of COVID-19 in the United States. However, we found no evidence of general shortages in the use of HCQ for both RA and SLE in the United States.</p
Synthesis of surfactant-free silica microcapsules via a silica-precondensate for smart control of their strength and release
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Model food soils for investigating cleaning: A review
Cleaning operations are performed regularly throughout the food industry. This review focuses on the removal of strongly adherent fouling deposits which compromise the performance and hygienic status of equipment and processes. Identifying and understanding the key mechanisms involved in cleaning food deposits is essential for selecting and optimising cleaning protocols. The complexity of these materials has prompted the use of model soil-surface systems for experimental investigations of cleaning. The factors that need to be considered in selecting model soil systems, the techniques used to measure and characterise cleaning, and the formulations that have been used to model food fouling deposits are discussed. Particular focus is given to deposits formed from liquid foods high in protein, starch, sugar and lipids. Biofilms, fouling layers generated in membrane operations and corrosion fouling are not considered.No UK fundin