10 research outputs found
Double-blind controlled trials of cronassial in chronic neuromuscular diseases and ataxia
Recurrent herpes simplex virus type 2 infection of the hand complicated by persistent lymphoedema
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Self-Assessment examination of the American Academy of Dermatology
Specific survivin dual fluorescence resonance energy transfer molecular beacons for detection of human bladder cancer cells
The palindromic DNA-bound USP/EcR nuclear receptor adopts an asymmetric organization with allosteric domain positioning
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A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of subcutaneous recombinant human ciliary neurotrophic factor (rHCNTF) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a neuroactive cytokine found in Schwann cells, which appears to be released in response to nerve injury. The ALS CNTF Treatment Study (ACTS) clinical trial was a phase II-III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of subcutaneous administration of recombinantly produced human CNTF (rHCNTF) in slowing disease progression in 730 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Patients were randomized to receive 30 mu g/kg or 15 mu g/kg rHCNTF or placebo subcutaneously three times a week for 9 months, The primary endpoint of the study, the slope of decline of isometric muscle strength in treated versus placebo patients, showed no statistically significant difference between rHCNTF and placebo-treated patients, and was complicated by an initial statistically significant decrease in strength early in rHCNTF-treated patients. Mortality was similar in all three study arms. There were no statistically significant treatment effects among the secondary measures. Side effects of rHCNTF included anorexia, weight loss, and cough and were sufficient to limit dosing in many patients