Evaluating Trastuzumab and Lapatinib's Economic Impact in the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer in Veneto Region Cohort

n/

Investigating the obesogenic effects of marketing snacks with toys: an experimental study in Latin America

BACKGROUND: The inclusion of toys in food packages is a common marketing practice, and it is suspected of promoting obesogenic behaviours. This study aimed to determine whether toys packaged with food are indeed increasing the amount of food eaten by children, and if this effect is enhanced by contemporary exposure to TV and/or advertising. METHODS: A total of 600 children (balanced according to gender and age groups, 3–6 and 7–10 years old) were randomized in three school facilities in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico and exposed to food (snacks) alone or food associated with toys in an experimental setting. All of the children received the same meal at lunchtime. The products were packages in which chocolate was associated with toys in an egg-shaped container partially filled by chocolate. The children were asked to eat ad libitum for 20 minutes during the afternoon break. In addition, the children were randomized into two groups and either shown or not shown a movie cartoon, with three different levels of exposure to commercials in the TV viewing condition (1, 2 or 3 advertisements). RESULTS: No significant differences emerged between the “toys” and “no toys” groups even after taking into account exposure to TV, commercials and other confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of toys in food packages was not shown per se to lead to an increase in the caloric intake of children

The "Snacking Child" and its social network: some insights from an italian survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The hypothesis underlying this work is that the social network of a child might have an impact on the alimentary behaviors, in particular for what concerns snack consumption patterns.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>1215 Italian children 6-10 ys old were interviewed using a CATI facility in January 2010. 608 "snackers" and 607 "no-snackers" were identified. Information regarding family composition, child and relatives BMI, mother perception of child weight, child, father and mother physical activity, TV watching, social network, leisure time habits and dietary habits of peers, were collected. Association of variables with the status of snacker was investigated using a multivariable logistic regression model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Snackers children seem to be part of more numerous social network (1.40 friends vs 1.14, p = 0.042) where the majority of peers are also eating snacks, this percentage being significantly higher (89.5 vs 76.3, p < 0.001) than in the "no-snacker" group. The snacking group is identified by the fact that it tends to practice at least 4 hours per week of physical activity (OR: 1.36, CI: 1.03-1.9). No evidence of an association between snacking consumption and overweight status has been shown by our study.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The snacking child has more active peer-to-peer social relationships, mostly related with sport activities. However, spending leisure time in sportive activities implies being part of a social environment which is definitely a positive one from the point of view of obesity control, and indeed, no increase of overweight/obesity is seen in relation to snack consumption.</p

Economic Impact of Sunitinib and Sorafenib Use in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treatment in Veneto Region, Italy

Objective: To evaluate the impact of multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) considering 1st and 2nd line treatment for a full period of 3 years in the eligible patients of Veneto Region. Methods: A Markov state decision model was selected to evaluate the cost impact of sunitinib and sorafenib use for a lapse of time of three years in Veneto public hospitals, considering transition probabilities from three different states and by comparing the expected deaths and the monthly survival rates in treatment and no-treatment groups. Results: From the initial cohort of 357 patients eligible for sunitinib treatment, stable ones (139) were considered in order to evaluate the impact of the multitargeted agent on overall progression of the disease. Results showed that a smaller portion of patients receiving sunitinib transited from a stable to a progressive state, with respect to the patients who were not receiving sunitinib. The cost of 6 months treatment with sunitinib reached a median value of 2532666\u20ac, increasing till 3607807\u20ac, as cumulative amount at 12 months. Costs after the 1st year flattened around the same figure (3800000\u20ac) due to the transition towards death or 2nd line treatments. Discussion: the costs of the first 6 months therapy with sunitinib have a very high impact on public health expenses in the Regione Veneto. 2nd line treatment with sorafenib instead increased overall expenses of a reduced proportion, due to the small proportion of patients undergoing this treatment and the relative inferior cost of the drug. Conclusion: From what came out from our simulated model on costs borne by the SSN for the treatment of patients with mRCC, we can conclude that they are effective on the progression of the disease the greatest impact being the cost for the 1st line pharmacological treatment

Cost Impact of Bevacizumab and Cetuximab Associated Therapies in Colorectal Cancer in Veneto Region

Objective: To assess the economic impact of the introduction of bevacizumab and cetuximab, in 1st and 2nd line treatment of mCRC patients in Veneto region (North-East of Italy). Methods: A Markov state decision model was implemented to evaluate the cost impact of bevacizumab and cetuximab use in patients with mCRC for a lapse of time of three years in Veneto public hospitals. The Markov model expressed transition probabilities from three different states, comparing in addition the expected deaths and the monthly survival rates in treatment and no-treatment groups, along the lines of previously published studies. Results: The cost impact of bevacizumab administration in patients with mCRC accounted a mean value of 18268788 \u20ac within the first 6 months. Cetuximab therapy for those refractory to 1st line treatment, increased costs of almost 833340 \u20ac in the first 6 months, increasing in the following period due to a higher portion of patients switching from a stable status to a progressive one. Discussion: The cost impact of monoclonal antibodies on health expenses is very high. For a regional cohort like the Veneto's one, figure sets around 19000000 \u20ac in 6 months, when considering 1st and 2nd line treatment, reaching the level of 50000000 \u20ac within three years