Comprehensive translational assessment of human-induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes for evaluating drug-induced arrhythmias

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM) hold promise for assessment of drug-induced arrhythmias and are being considered for use under the comprehensive in vitro proarrhythmia assay (CiPA). We studied the effects of 26 drugs and 3 drug combinations on 2 commercially available iPSC-CM types using high-throughput voltage-sensitive dye and microelectrode-array assays being studied for the CiPA initiative and compared the results with clinical QT prolongation and torsade de pointes (TdP) risk. Concentration-dependent analysis comparing iPSC-CMs to clinical trial results demonstrated good correlation between drug-induced rate-corrected action potential duration and field potential duration (APDc and FPDc) prolongation and clinical trial QTc prolongation. Of 20 drugs studied that exhibit clinical QTc prolongation, 17 caused APDc prolongation (16 in Cor.4U and 13 in iCell cardiomyocytes) and 16 caused FPDc prolongation (16 in Cor.4U and 10 in iCell cardiomyocytes). Of 14 drugs that cause TdP, arrhythmias occurred with 10 drugs. Lack of arrhythmic beating in iPSC-CMs for the four remaining drugs could be due to differences in relative levels of expression of individual ion channels. iPSC-CMs responded consistently to human ether-a-go-go potassium channel blocking drugs (APD prolongation and arrhythmias) and calcium channel blocking drugs (APD shortening and prevention of arrhythmias), with a more variable response to late sodium current blocking drugs. Current results confirm the potential of iPSC-CMs for proarrhythmia prediction under CiPA, where iPSC-CM results would serve as a check to ion channel and in silico modeling prediction of proarrhythmic risk. A multi-site validation study is warranted

Effectiveness of an mHealth intervention combining a smartphone app and smart band on body composition in an overweight and obese population: Randomized controlled trial (EVIDENT 3 study)

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) is currently among the supporting elements that may contribute to an improvement in health markers by helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. mHealth interventions have been widely reported to achieve greater weight loss than other approaches, but their effect on body composition remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to assess the short-term (3 months) effectiveness of a mobile app and a smart band for losing weight and changing body composition in sedentary Spanish adults who are overweight or obese. Methods: A randomized controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted involving the participation of 440 subjects from primary care centers, with 231 subjects in the intervention group (IG; counselling with smartphone app and smart band) and 209 in the control group (CG; counselling only). Both groups were counselled about healthy diet and physical activity. For the 3-month intervention period, the IG was trained to use a smartphone app that involved self-monitoring and tailored feedback, as well as a smart band that recorded daily physical activity (Mi Band 2, Xiaomi). Body composition was measured using the InBody 230 bioimpedance device (InBody Co., Ltd), and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The mHealth intervention produced a greater loss of body weight (–1.97 kg, 95% CI –2.39 to –1.54) relative to standard counselling at 3 months (–1.13 kg, 95% CI –1.56 to –0.69). Comparing groups, the IG achieved a weight loss of 0.84 kg more than the CG at 3 months. The IG showed a decrease in body fat mass (BFM; –1.84 kg, 95% CI –2.48 to –1.20), percentage of body fat (PBF; –1.22%, 95% CI –1.82% to 0.62%), and BMI (–0.77 kg/m2, 95% CI –0.96 to 0.57). No significant changes were observed in any of these parameters in men; among women, there was a significant decrease in BMI in the IG compared with the CG. When subjects were grouped according to baseline BMI, the overweight group experienced a change in BFM of –1.18 kg (95% CI –2.30 to –0.06) and BMI of –0.47 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.80 to –0.13), whereas the obese group only experienced a change in BMI of –0.53 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.86 to –0.19). When the data were analyzed according to physical activity, the moderate-vigorous physical activity group showed significant changes in BFM of –1.03 kg (95% CI –1.74 to –0.33), PBF of –0.76% (95% CI –1.32% to –0.20%), and BMI of –0.5 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.83 to –0.19). Conclusions: The results from this multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial study show that compared with standard counselling alone, adding a self-reported app and a smart band obtained beneficial results in terms of weight loss and a reduction in BFM and PBF in female subjects with a BMI less than 30 kg/m2 and a moderate-vigorous physical activity level. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to ensure that this profile benefits more than others from this intervention and to investigate modifications of this intervention to achieve a global effect

Optimized non-bismuth quadruple therapies cure most patients infected with Helicobacter pylori despite resistance to Clarithromycin and Metronidazole

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Strategies to eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection could be improved by suppressing acid and extending the duration of therapy (optimization). We compared the efficacy of 2 different optimized nonbismuth quadruple regimens in areas of high resistance to antimicrobial agents. METHODS: We performed a prospective noninferiority multicenter trial in which 343 consecutive individuals with H pylori infection were assigned randomly to groups given hybrid therapy (40 mg omeprazole and 1 g amoxicillin, twice daily for 14 days; 500 mg clarithromycin and 500 mg nitroimidazole were added, twice daily for the final 7 days) or concomitant therapy (same 4 drugs taken concurrently, twice daily for 14 days). We assessed bacterial resistance to these drugs in a subset of patients using the E-test. Efficacy, side effects, and compliance were determined. RESULTS: In per-protocol analysis, rates of eradication for hybrid and concomitant therapies were 92% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87%95%) and 96.1% (95% CI, 93%–99%), respectively (P ¼ .07). In intention-to-treat analysis, rates were 90% (95% CI, 86%93%) and 91.7% (95% CI, 87%–95%), respectively (P ¼ .35). Almost all patients (95.5%) were fully compliant; 23.5% of patients had H pylori strains that were resistant to clarithromycin (Italy, 26%; Spain, 19.5%), 33% were resistant to metronidazole (Italy, 33%; Spain, 34%), and 8.8% were resistant to both drugs (Italy, 7.1%; Spain, 11.5%). Side effects (only mild) were reported in 51.5% of patients (47% hybrid vs 56% concomitant; P ¼ .06). Compliance greater than 80% was the only significant predictor of eradication (odds ratio, 12.5; 95% CI, 3.152; P ¼ .001). Significantly more patients were compliant with hybrid therapy (98.8%) than concomitant therapy (95.2%; P ¼ .05). CONCLUSIONS: Optimized nonbismuth quadruple hybrid and concomitant therapies cured more than 90% of patients with H pylori infections in areas of high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01464060

Optimized nonbismuth quadruple therapies cure most patients with Helicobacter pylori infection in populations with high rates of antibiotic resistance

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Strategies to eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection could be improved by suppressing acid and extending the duration of therapy (optimization). We compared the efficacy of 2 different optimized nonbismuth quadruple regimens in areas of high resistance to antimicrobial agents. METHODS: We performed a prospective noninferiority multicenter trial in which 343 consecutive individuals with H pylori infection were assigned randomly to groups given hybrid therapy (40 mg omeprazole and 1 g amoxicillin, twice daily for 14 days; 500 mg clarithromycin and 500 mg nitroimidazole were added, twice daily for the final 7 days) or concomitant therapy (same 4 drugs taken concurrently, twice daily for 14 days). We assessed bacterial resistance to these drugs in a subset of patients using the E-test. Efficacy, side effects, and compliance were determined. RESULTS: In per-protocol analysis, rates of eradication for hybrid and concomitant therapies were 92% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87%-95%) and 96.1% (95% CI, 93%-99%), respectively (P = .07). In intention-to-treat analysis, rates were 90% (95% CI, 86%-93%) and 91.7% (95% CI, 87%-95%), respectively (P = .35). Almost all patients (95.5%) were fully compliant; 23.5% of patients had H pylori strains that were resistant to clarithromycin (Italy, 26%; Spain, 19.5%), 33% were resistant to metronidazole (Italy, 33%; Spain, 34%), and 8.8% were resistant to both drugs (Italy, 7.1%; Spain, 11.5%). Side effects (only mild) were reported in 51.5% of patients (47% hybrid vs 56% concomitant; P = .06). Compliance greater than 80% was the only significant predictor of eradication (odds ratio, 12.5; 95% CI, 3.1-52; P = .001). Significantly more patients were compliant with hybrid therapy (98.8%) than concomitant therapy (95.2%; P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Optimized nonbismuth quadruple hybrid and concomitant therapies cured more than 90% of patients with H pylori infections in areas of high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01464060