Virginia Commonwealth University

About: Virginia Commonwealth University is a education organization based out in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 23822 authors who have published 49587 publications receiving 1787046 citations. The organization is also known as: VCU.

Crizanlizumab for the Prevention of Pain Crises in Sickle Cell Disease.

Abstract: BackgroundThe up-regulation of P-selectin in endothelial cells and platelets contributes to the cell–cell interactions that are involved in the pathogenesis of vaso-occlusion and sickle cell–related pain crises. The safety and efficacy of crizanlizumab, an antibody against the adhesion molecule P-selectin, were evaluated in patients with sickle cell disease. MethodsIn this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, we assigned patients to receive low-dose crizanlizumab (2.5 mg per kilogram of body weight), high-dose crizanlizumab (5.0 mg per kilogram), or placebo, administered intravenously 14 times over a period of 52 weeks. Patients who were receiving concomitant hydroxyurea as well as those not receiving hydroxyurea were included in the study. The primary end point was the annual rate of sickle cell–related pain crises with high-dose crizanlizumab versus placebo. The annual rate of days hospitalized, the times to first and second crises, annual rates of uncomplicated crises (defined a...

The impact of medication regimen factors on adherence to chronic treatment: a review of literature

Abstract: This article reviews recent literature in chronic illness or long-term health management including asthma, contraception, diabetes, HIV disease, and hypertension/cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, pain, and other diseases to determine the relationship between regimen factors and adherence to medications. The authors conducted an electronic literature search to detect articles published between 1998 and 2007. Articles were included if they pertained to a chronic illness or to contraception, included a clear definition of how adherence was measured, and included regimen factors as primary or secondary explanatory variables. Methodology of the studies varied greatly, as did methods of measuring adherence and regimen factors. Surprisingly few of these articles concerned (1) chronic treatment, (2) regimen factors such as dosing, pill burden, and regimen complexity, and (3) adherence measured in a clear manner. Most studies failed to use state-of-the-art methods of measuring adherence. Despite these flaws, a suggestive pattern of the importance of regimen factors, specifically dose frequency and regimen complexity, emerged from this review.

A controlled trial of rasagiline in early Parkinson disease: The tempo study

Abstract: CONTEXT Monotherapy with rasagiline mesylate may be useful in early Parkinson disease (PD). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the selective monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor rasagiline. DESIGN Multicenter, 26-week, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. SETTING Academically based movement disorders clinics. PATIENTS Patients with early PD not requiring dopaminergic therapy (n = 404). INTERVENTION Research participants were randomized to rasagiline mesylate at dosages of 1 mg or 2 mg per day or matching placebo. A 1-week escalation period was followed by a 25-week maintenance period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The primary prespecified measure of efficacy was the change in the total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scal score between baseline and 26 weeks of treatment, comparing each active treatment group with the placebo group. RESULTS Monotherapy with rasagiline was effective in this 26-week study. The adjusted effect size for the total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale was -4.20 units comparing 1 mg of rasagiline and placebo (95% confidence interval, -5.66 to -2.73 units; P<.001) and -3.56 units comparing a 2-mg dosage and placebo (95% confidence interval, -5.04 to -2.08 units; P<.001). There were no meaningful differences in the frequency of adverse events or premature withdrawals among the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Rasagiline is effective as monotherapy for patients with early PD. The 2 dosages in this trial were both effective relative to placebo. Further study is warranted to evaluate the longer-term effects of rasagiline in PD.

Electrospinning of Nanofiber Fibrinogen Structures

Abstract: The first results of electrospinning fibrinogen nanofibers for use as a tissue-engineering scaffold, wound dressing, or hemostatic bandage are reported. Structures composed of fibrinogen fibers with an average diameter of 80−700 nm were electrospun from solutions composed of human or bovine fibrinogen fraction I dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol and minimal essential medium (Earle's salts). In summary, the electrospinning process is a simple and efficient technique for the fabrication of 3D structures composed of fibrinogen fibers, as would be present in the physiologic environment.