1,721,176 research outputs found
Beta-adrenergic receptor changes during tertatolol treatment in healthy volunteers: Relevance for beta-blocking therapy
No full text[No abstract available
Progress of anticancer drugs in reducing mortality from selected cancers in Europe: an assessment
No full textTrends in mortality from four groups of cancers amenable to anti-cancer treatments (testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, leukemias and childhood cancers) between the late 1950s and the late 1980s were analyzed for the 23 larger European countries. In Western Europe, newer treatments led to the avoidance of approximately 1000 deaths from testicular cancer, 4000 from Hodgkin's disease, 4000 from leukemias, and 2500 from childhood cancers. In Eastern Europe, declines in mortality were observed only for childhood cancers, for a total of about 500 fewer deaths per year. Thus, approximately 11,000 deaths per year were avoided in Europe by newer cancer treatments, corresponding to 1% cancer deaths registered in the 23 larger European countries. A few thousand further deaths from these cancers could be avoided through more widespread and rational utilization of currently available therapies, particularly in Eastern Europe
Most appropriate animal models to study the efficacy of statins: a systematic review
No full textBackground: In animal models and clinical trials, statins are reported as effective in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. We have aggregated the findings in animal models - mice, rats and rabbits - using the technique of systematic review and meta-analysis to highlight differences in the efficacy of statins. Materials and methods: We searched Medline and Embase. After examining all eligible articles, we extracted results about total cholesterol and other blood parameters, blood pressure, myocardial infarction and survival. Weighted and standard mean difference random effects meta-analysis was used to measure overall efficacy in prespecified species, strains and subgroups. Results: We included in systematic review 161 animal studies and we analysed 120 studies, accounting for 2432 animals. Statins lowered the total cholesterol across all species, although with large differences in the effect size: -30% in rabbits, -20% in mice and -10% in rats. The reduction was larger in animals fed on a high-cholesterol diet. Statins reduced infarct volume but did not consistently reduce the blood pressure or effect the overall survival. Few studies considered strains at high risk of cardiovascular diseases or hard outcomes. Conclusions: Although statins showed substantial efficacy in animal models, few preclinical data considered conditions mimicking human pathologies for which the drugs are clinically indicated and utilized. The empirical finding that statins are more effective in lowering cholesterol derived from an external source (i.e. diet) conflicts with statin's supposed primary mechanism of action
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