Efficacy and safety of secukinumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis: A meta-analysis of different dosing regimens

The appropriate dosing regimens of secukinumab for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are not well defined. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different dosing regimens of secukinumab in the treatment of PsA. A systematic search was conducted using major electronic databases to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing secukinumab 300 mg versus secukinumab 150 mg in patients with PsA. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software (version 5.3). Six studies with a total of 1141 patients were included. At week 24, secukinumab 300 mg was associated with a higher American College of Rheumatology 20% response (ACR 20), ACR 50, PASI 75 response rate, and dactylitis resolution rate than secukinumab 150 mg, especially in the anti-TNF-IR subgroup. At week 52, secukinumab 300 mg was associated with a higher psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) 75 and PASI 90 response rate than secukinumab 150 mg. There was no significant difference between secukinumab 300 mg and secukinumab 150 mg in the risk of any adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs at either week 24 or week 52. Secukinumab 300 mg was significantly more effective than 150 mg, especially for patients with PsA who have failed TNF therapy, and it was well tolerated

A nomogram for predicting mortality of patients initially diagnosed with primary pulmonary tuberculosis in Hunan province, China: a retrospective study

ObjectiveAccording to the Global Tuberculosis Report for three consecutive years, tuberculosis (TB) is the second leading infectious killer. Primary pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) leads to the highest mortality among TB diseases. Regretfully, no previous studies targeted the PTB of a specific type or in a specific course, so models established in previous studies cannot be accurately feasible for clinical treatments. This study aimed to construct a nomogram prognostic model to quickly recognize death-related risk factors in patients initially diagnosed with PTB to intervene and treat high-risk patients as early as possible in the clinic to reduce mortality.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1,809 in-hospital patients initially diagnosed with primary PTB at Hunan Chest Hospital from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors. A nomogram prognostic model for mortality prediction was constructed using R software and was validated using a validation set.ResultsUnivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that drinking, hepatitis B virus (HBV), body mass index (BMI), age, albumin (ALB), and hemoglobin (Hb) were six independent predictors of death in in-hospital patients initially diagnosed with primary PTB. Based on these predictors, a nomogram prognostic model was established with high prediction accuracy, of which the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.881 (95% confidence interval [Cl]: 0.777-0.847), the sensitivity was 84.7%, and the specificity was 77.7%.Internal and external validations confirmed that the constructed model fit the real situation well.ConclusionThe constructed nomogram prognostic model can recognize risk factors and accurately predict the mortality of patients initially diagnosed with primary PTB. This is expected to guide early clinical intervention and treatment for high-risk patients

Jiang Tang Xiao Ke Granule, a Classic Chinese Herbal Formula, Improves the Effect of Metformin on Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Diabetic Mice

In the present study, the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidative effects of metformin (MET) combined with Jiang Tang Xiao Ke (JTXK) granule derived from the “Di Huang Tang” were evaluated in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) induced by high-fat diet/streptozotocin. DM mice were orally treated with MET (0.19 g/kg) either alone or combined with different doses (1.75, 3.5, or 7 g/kg) of JTXK for 4 weeks. Results showed that the serum and hepatic glucose, lipids, and oxidative stress levels were elevated in DM mice, when compared with the normal mice. MET treatment decreased FBG and serum glucagon levels of DM mice. Combination treatment with MET and JTXK 3.5 g/kg increased the hypoglycemia and insulin sensitivity at 4 weeks when compared with the DM mice treated with MET alone. However, neither MET nor MET/JTXK treatment could completely reverse the hyperglycemia in DM mice. JTXK enhanced the serum triglyceride (TG) and hepatic lipid-lowering effect of MET in a dose-dependent manner in DM mice. JTXK 1.75 and 3.5 g/kg improved the hepatoprotective effect of MET in DM mice. Synergistic effect of combination treatment with MET and JTXK on antioxidant stress was also found in DM mice compared with MET alone

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of medication and its influencing factors among residents in western China: a large-scale cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis study aimed to understand the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of drug use among residents in western China and its influencing factors for accurately designing the knowledge, contents, and methods of popular science activities for safe drug use among residents to provide a reference for conducting rational drug use educational activities and improving residents’ level of safe drug use.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the KAP of medication among western China residents and its influencing factors from March to April 2023. Each question option was assigned a score according to logic, and the risk factors for resident medication safety KAP were explored through univariate and logistic regression analyses.ResultsA total of 7,557 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective recovery rate of 96.7%. The average scores of KAP were 72.77 ± 22.91, 32.89 ± 10.64, and 71.27 ± 19.09, respectively. In the evaluation criteria of the questionnaire, the score of medication knowledge reached “good,” and the score of attitude and practice was “average.” Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that male sex and low education level were significant factors affecting the lack of drug knowledge among residents. Old age and low education level were the factors of poor attitude toward medication. The low condition of medical security was a factor in residents’ irregular drug use behavior.ConclusionThe overall level of rational drug use among residents in western China is good, but there are still some inconsistencies. Rational drug use education should be conducted according to the risk points of residents in drug safety KAP to further improve the level of rational drug use of residents

The LAMOST Survey of Background Quasars in the Vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum Galaxies -- II. Results from the Commissioning Observations and the Pilot Surveys

We present new quasars discovered in the vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies with the LAMOST during the 2010 and 2011 observational seasons. Quasar candidates are selected based on the available SDSS, KPNO 4 m telescope, XSTPS optical, and WISE near infrared photometric data. We present 509 new quasars discovered in a stripe of ~135 sq. deg from M31 to M33 along the Giant Stellar Stream in the 2011 pilot survey datasets, and also 17 new quasars discovered in an area of ~100 sq. deg that covers the central region and the southeastern halo of M31 in the 2010 commissioning datasets. These 526 new quasars have i magnitudes ranging from 15.5 to 20.0, redshifts from 0.1 to 3.2. They represent a significant increase of the number of identified quasars in the vicinity of M31 and M33. There are now 26, 62 and 139 known quasars in this region of the sky with i magnitudes brighter than 17.0, 17.5 and 18.0 respectively, of which 5, 20 and 75 are newly-discovered. These bright quasars provide an invaluable collection with which to probe the kinematics and chemistry of the ISM/IGM in the Local Group of galaxies. A total of 93 quasars are now known with locations within 2.5 deg of M31, of which 73 are newly discovered. Tens of quasars are now known to be located behind the Giant Stellar Stream, and hundreds behind the extended halo and its associated substructures of M31. The much enlarged sample of known quasars in the vicinity of M31 and M33 can potentially be utilized to construct a perfect astrometric reference frame to measure the minute PMs of M31 and M33, along with the PMs of substructures associated with the Local Group of galaxies. Those PMs are some of the most fundamental properties of the Local Group.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, AJ accepte