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Background/aim In our previous study, first-line eribulin (ERI) showed 25 weeks of progression-free survival (PFS). This study investigated the efficacy and safety of ERI re-administration in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. Patients and methods HER2-negative MBC patients who had never received chemotherapy for MBC received first-line ERI for 18 weeks if they did not have disease progression, and then one cycle of S-1 before ERI re-administration. Results Twelve patients received ERI re-administration. The PFS of re-administered ERI was 13 weeks. Total duration of ERI use was 30 weeks. The incidence and severity of adverse events were consistent with previous reports. Conclusion In the first-line setting, the total PFS of eribulin was extended by S-1 administration before disease progression, compared with that of our previous report.

Luliconazole is a novel topical antifungal imidazole with broad-spectrum and potent antifungal activity. The drug is under clinical development in the United States for management of dermatophytosis with a short-term treatment regimen. The present study was undertaken to investigate the clinical benefit of short-term therapy with luliconazole cream in guinea pig models of tinea corporis and tinea pedis induced with Trichophyton mentagrophytes . The dose-dependent therapeutic efficacy of topical luliconazole cream (0.02 to 1%), measured by macroscopic improvement of skin lesions and by fungal eradication as determined by a culture assay, was demonstrated using a tinea corporis model. The improvement in skin lesions seen with luliconazole cream was observed even at a concentration of 0.02%, and its efficacy at 0.1% was equal to that of 1% bifonazole cream. The efficacy of short-term therapy with 1% luliconazole cream, which is used for clinical management, was investigated using the tinea corporis model (4- and 8-day treatment regimens) and the tinea pedis model (7- and 14-day treatment regimens). The 1% luliconazole cream completely eradicated the fungus in half or less of the treatment time required for 1% terbinafine cream and 1% bifonazole cream, as determined by a culture assay for both models. These results clearly indicate that 1% luliconazole cream is sufficiently potent for short-term treatment for dermatophytosis compared to existing drugs. Luliconazole is expected to be useful in the clinical management of dermatophytosis.

Objectives The aims of this study were to determine the benefits of short-term empirical proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication on laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and to determine whether scores on the reflux symptom index (RSI) and the reflux finding score (RFS) could be combined to identify subgroups of patients that will more likely to improve with this medication. Methods Fifty-one Korean Otolaryngology Board-certified specialists joined this prospective, multi-center, and open-label observational study. A total of 1,142 adult patients with LPR was enrolled for 12 weeks of rabeprazol medication. According to pre-treatment scores on RSI and RFS, patients were divided into 4 subgroups. RFS and RSI were measured repeatedly with a month interval along the treatment period. Changes of RSI and RFS were analyzed in an overall study cohort as well as in each subgroup. Results Approximately 40% (n=455) of enrolled patients were followed up until 12 weeks of PPI treatment. Significant improvement in RSI was obtained in 29%, 58%, and 75% of patients after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of PPI medication. RFS was improved in 16%, 42%, and 57% of the patients with 4, 8, and 12 weeks of PPI medication. All subgroups showed improvement regardless of their pre-treatment scores on the RSI and RFS. Conclusion Even though RSI and RFS may be used as a general guideline for LPR management, pre-treatment RSI and RFS are not useful in predicting the patients' response to short-term PPI medication in the usual pattern of practice for LPR, which is mostly based on the physical evaluation and history taking.

Background: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative short-term therapy (for 2 weeks) of topical bevacizumab in recurrent pterygium surgery regarding to corneal vascularization and pterygium recurrence. Methods: This prospective randomized comparative study included two groups of patients with recurrent pterygium, all eyes were subjected to pterygium excision with conjunctiva auto graft, and group A (30 eyes of 30 patients) was treated with postoperative topical tobramycine and dexamethazone for 2 weeks. Group B (30 eyes of 30 patients) was treated also with postoperative topical tobramycine and dexamethazone in addition to topical bevacizumab 5 mg/mL 4 times daily for 2 weeks. Follow-up of cases up to 6 months was performed recording corneal vascularization and pterygium recurrence. Results: The results revealed that after 6 months, group A treated with postoperative tobramycine and dexamethazone reported 5 eyes of recurrence (16.7%) which not significantly (P=0.44726) (P>0.05) different from group B treated with the addition of topical bevacizumab which reported 3 eyes of recurrence (10%). But group B showed significantly different in decreasing corneal neovascularization than group A (P=0.000805) (P Conclusions: Postoperative short-term therapy of topical bevacizumab in recurrent pterygium surgery by conjunctiva auto graft showed lower recurrence rate but not statistically significant, But it reduced significantly corneal neovascularization.

Short-term therapy of tamoxifen-induced severe hypertriglyceridemia and acute pancreatitis in a patient with breast cancer is described in this article. Interestingly, no pre-existing history of dyslipidemia was noted in comparison to the relevant literature review. Tamoxifen is the most widely used anti-estrogen in adjuvant endocrine treatment of primary breast cancer. However, due to its estrogen-like activity in lipid metabolism, a small increase in serum triglycerides is also commonly found in long-term users. This finding is usually insignificant and without clinical manifestations.

The introduction of the immunomodulatory drug lenalidomide as revolutionized the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic yndromes and interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome [del5(q) MDS]. Treatment with lenalidomide results in transfuion independence in the vast majority of patients [1]. Despite these mpressive results some questions remain unresolved, among them he duration of treatment. Adding to this discussion has been the bservation of a number of unexpected long term remissions in atients who stopped lenalidomide for various reasons. Here we eport two additional such cases that add some new information o this interesting phenomenon.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar las posibles modificaciones en la presión arterial, peso corporal y depuración de creatinina en orina recolectada durante 24 horas, en sujetos jóvenes sanos, que han sido sometidos a terapia con dos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINES); uno de ellos no selectivo de Ciclooxigenasa (Ibuprofeno) y un inhibidor selectivo de Ciclooxigenasa – 2 (Celecoxib), durante tres días en dosis estandarizadas, frente a un grupo control al que se le administró placebo, en un estudio doble ciego. Los resultados indican que no existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los tres grupos, para los parámetros clínicos y de laboratorio evaluados (p< 0,05). Se concluye que la terapia de corto plazo con los AINES empleados, no producen modificaciones de impacto clínico en la presión arterial, peso corporal y depuración de creatinina en orina de 24 horas.

У статті наведено результати багатоцентрових міжнародних досліджень RECORD з вивчення ефективності клінічного застосування препарату «Ксарелто®» (ривароксабан) для профілактики тромбоутворення. Автор зазначає, що тривале застосування «Ксарелто» істотно знижує частоту розвитку венозної тромбоемболії, зокрема симптомних тромбозів, у пацієнтів, які перенесли тотальне ендопротезування кульшового суглоба, порівняно з короткочасною профілактикою еноксапарином плюс плацебо.

To investigate the possibility of shortening the duration of peginterferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy by incorporating interferon-β (IFN-β) induction therapy.A one treatment arm, cohort prospective study was conducted on seventy one patients. The patients were Japanese adults with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C, HCV-RNA levels of ≥ 5.0 Log IU/mL or 100 KIU/mL, and platelet counts of ≥ 90 000/μL. The treatment regimen consisted of a 2 wk course of twice-daily administration of IFN-β followed by 24 wk Peg-IFN plus RBV combination therapy. We prolonged the duration of the Peg-IFN plus RBV therapy to 48 wk if the patient requested it.The patients, including 44% males, were characterized by an median age of 63 years (range: 32-78 years), an median platelet count of 13.9 (range: 9.1-30.6) × 10(4)/μL, 62% IFN-naïve, and median HCV-RNA of 6.1 (range: 5.1-7.2) Log IU/mL. The sustained virologic response (SVR) rates were 34% (Peg-IFN: 1-24 wk, n = 61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 24%-47%) and 55% (Peg-IFN: 20-24 wk, n = 31, 95% CI: 38%-71%, P0.001; vs Peg-IFN: 1-19 wk). The SVR rate when the administration was discontinued early was 13% (Peg-IFN: 1-19 wk, n = 30, 95% CI: 5%-30%), and that when the administration was prolonged was 50% (Peg-IFN: 25-48 wk, n = 10, 95% CI: 24%-76%, P0.05; vs Peg-IFN: 1-19 wk). In the patients who received 20-24 wk of Peg-IFN plus RBV, only the higher platelet count (≥ 130 000/μL) was significantly correlated with the SVR (odds ratio: 11.680, 95% CI: 2.3064-79.474, P = 0.0024). In 45% (14/31) of the patients with a higher platelet count (≥ 130 000/μL) before therapy, the HCV-RNA level decreased to below 3.3 Log IU/mL at the completion of IFN-β, and their SVR rate was 93% (13/14) after 20-24 wk administration of Peg-IFN plus RBV.These results suggest the possibilities of shortening the duration of Peg-IFN plus RBV combination therapy by actively reducing HCV-RNA levels using the IFN-β induction regimen.

Terbinafine (Lamisil®) is a new fungicidal agent of the allylamine class of drugs that is available as an oral or topical (1% cream) treatment. A study was designed to assess the efficacy of the topical formulation, in patients who had tinea cruris/corporis, compared with placebo when used once daily for only 1 week. Follow-ups were at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. At the end of follow-up (4 weeks), 84% and 12.5% of terbinafine- and placebo-treated patients, respectively, were completely (mycolog-ically and clinically) cured. Furthermore, side-effects were rarely reported during the study.

The effect of two doses only of tobramycin (or gentamicin) plus lincomycin timed to cover the operative and immediate postoperative period was tested in a double blind trial. Evidence is presented that wound infection was reduced. No acquired bacterial resistance was encountered nor is this likely after such short term therapy. Routine use of this régime is recommended for all operations in which colonized viscera or infected body cavities have to be handled or opened.

One of the surprises of the flood of placebocontrolled, endoscopic, double-blind studies of duodenal ulcer healing in the last 10 yr has been the realization that placebo therapy results in healing in up to 50% of patients treated for 4-6 wk and may approach the rate of healing noted with active therapy* after this time (;1,2). For example, in a large American multicenter double-blind study of cimetidine versus placebo for duodenal ulcer (3), a significant difference in healing rates was evident only at 2 wk but not at 4 or 6 wk. Even more striking is the similarity in symptom relief between placebo and active agents: no statistically significant differences are demonstrable in most studies (4-6). These observations have led some to conclude that ulcer therapy with currently available drugs such as antacids, antisecretory agents, or sucralfate may not be truly efficacious (7) and others to conclude that placebo treatment for peptic ulcer might be the ideal therapy: safe, cheap, and effective (8). These conclusions, however, may be wrong. Because of the relatively small size of each individual study, the good overall results with placebo might mask rare but important complications or problems that might be avoided by using active agents. To evaluate this, we examined the results of 48 double

Purpose We pooled data from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to determine the frequency of adverse reactions among patients treated with cimetidine for acute acid-peptic disorders. Methods Meta-analysis was used to analyze data obtained from a search of English language reports of trials of cimetidine in the ambulatory treatment of acute acid-peptic disorders that were published between January 1982 and April 1987. Results Of 161 trials of cimetidine that we identified, 84 provided complete reporting of data on adverse reactions and, of these, 24 employed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Across these 24 trials, the overall rate of reported adverse reactions among 622 patients randomly assigned to receive cimetidine was 10.9%; the corresponding rate among 516 patients randomly assigned to receive placebo was 10.1%. This difference was not statistically significant (p >0.10), nor were any significant differences noted in the frequencies of reported central nervous system or gastrointestinal adverse reactions (p >0.10). Rates of adverse reactions also did not differ by dosage or trial duration. The overall rate of adverse reactions reported in the 60 trials that did not utilize a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design was similar to the rate reported in those that did. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the frequency of adverse reactions among patients receiving cimetidine for acute acid-peptic disorders is not significantly different from that of patients receiving placebo.

The discovery of penicillin and its use in the treatment of bacterial endocarditis was the first major advance in the management of this very serious disease. The demonstration that concurrent penicillin and streptomycin are usually more effective than penicillin alone accounted for the next therapeutic achievement. This combination, generally considered to be the most effective bactericidal therapy now available for penicillin-sensitive α-hemolytic streptococcal endocarditis, has shortened the duration of antimicrobial treatment for this entity. It has also proved to be significantly more effective for enterococcal endocarditis than penicillin alone. The third advance in the therapy of bacterial endocarditis was the successful short-term therapy of enterococcal endocarditis with ristocetin, first reported at the Antibiotic Symposium in 1957. 1 This report revealed the adequacy of 14 days of therapy with ristocetin, and indicated a greater effectiveness than that achieved using penicillin and streptomycin for 6 or more weeks. The purpose of this

Objective: To report our experience on long-term treatment with recombinant-human-IGF-I (rhIGF-I) of a female patient with Laron syndrome (mutation G223G in the GH receptor gene), who received short-term treatment (1 yr) with LHRH analogue at the start of puberty and subsequently with oxandrolone. Case report: The patient started IGF-I therapy (dose 40 pg/kg bid for 9 months, 80 pg/kg bid until 13.7 yr of age and 120 pg/kg bid thereafter) when she was 7.6 yr old (height −6 sds), and was treated for 9.4 yr until final height (cm 129.7; −5.5 sds). At first signs of puberty (age 12.7 yr; height 116.3; −5.3 sds), LHRH analogue was started (3.75 mg/28 days) and bone age progressed by 6 months in the 12-month period. Growth velocity decreased in the 6–12th month of combined treatment (0.9 cm/6 months), and treatment was suspended. At age 14.8 (height 124.5; −6.6 sds), oxandrolone was added (0.1 mg/kg/day), but after 12 months (height 128 cm; −5.7 sds) bone age increased from 11.5 to 13.5 yr and the drug was stopped. No side effects occurred during the various treatments. Body segments progressed harmonically: there was a tendency towards improvement in the upper to lower body segment ratio and in cranial growth. Only biiliac diameter did not increase during LHRH treatment. During the 9-yr period, body mass index (BMI), subscapular and triceps skinfold centiles did not show any significant variations. Conclusions: Our patient with Laron syndrome after long-term treatment showed a final result below the initial expectations, confirming that IGF-I used with the present schedule is less effective than GH in GH-deficient patients. LHRH analogue therapy at puberty was associated with a slower bone age maturation but with an almost complete arrest of growth. On the contrary, oxandrolone sustained growth but caused an excessive maturation of bone age. Other strategies are necessary to improve final height in these patients.