Background:Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),a chronic systemic autoimmune disease,is characterized by synovitis and progressive damage to the bone and cartilage of the joints,leading to disability and reduced quality of life....Background:Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),a chronic systemic autoimmune disease,is characterized by synovitis and progressive damage to the bone and cartilage of the joints,leading to disability and reduced quality of life.This study was a randomized clinical trial comparing the outcomes between withdrawal and dose reduction of tofacitinib in patients with RA who achieved sustained disease control.Methods:The study was designed as a multicenter,open-label,randomized controlled trial.Eligible patients who were taking tofacitinib(5 mg twice daily)and had achieved sustained RA remission or low disease activity(disease activity score in 28 joints[DAS28]≤3.2)for at least 3 months were enrolled at six centers in Shanghai,China.Patients were randomly assigned(1:1:1)to one of three treatment groups:continuation of tofacitinib(5 mg twice daily);reduction in tofacitinib dose(5 mg daily);and withdrawal of tofacitinib.Efficacy and safety were assessed up to 6 months.Results:Overall,122 eligible patients were enrolled,with 41 in the continuation group,42 in the dose-reduction group,and 39 in the withdrawal group.After 6 months,the percentage of patients with a DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)of<3.2 was significantly lower in the withdrawal group than that in the reduction and continuation groups(20.5%,64.3%,and 95.1%,respectively;P<0.0001 for both comparisons).The average flare-free time was 5.8 months for the continuation group,4.7 months for the dose reduction group,and 2.4 months for the withdrawal group.Conclusion:Withdrawal of tofacitinib in patients with RA with stable disease control resulted in a rapid and significant loss of efficacy,while standard or reduced doses of tofacitinib maintained a favorable state.Trial Registration:Chictr.org,ChiCTR2000039799.展开更多
Venous ulcers are a common chronic problem in many countries especially in Northern Europe and USA. The overall prevalence of this condition is 1% rising to 3% in the over 65 years of age. Over the last 25 years, ther...Venous ulcers are a common chronic problem in many countries especially in Northern Europe and USA. The overall prevalence of this condition is 1% rising to 3% in the over 65 years of age. Over the last 25 years, there have been many developments applicable to its diagnosis and treatment. These advances, notwithstanding healing response and recurrence, are variable, and the venous ulcer continues to be a clinical challenge. The pathogenesis of venous ulcers is unrelieved or ambulatory venous hypertension resulting mostly from deep venous thrombosis leading to venous incompetence, lipodermatosclerosis, leucocyte plugging of the capillaries, tissue hypoxia and microvascular dysfunction. It is not known what initiates venous ulcers. Triggers vary from trauma of the lower extremity to scratching to relieve itchy skin over the ankle region. Venous ulcers can be painful, and this condition presents an increasing burden of care. A systematic analysis of the role of technology used for diagnosis and management strongly supports the use of compression as a mainstay of standardised care. It further shows good evidence for the potential of some treatment procedures to accelerate healing. This article reviews the pathogenetic mechanisms, current diagnostic methods and standard care and its limitations.展开更多
文摘Background:Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),a chronic systemic autoimmune disease,is characterized by synovitis and progressive damage to the bone and cartilage of the joints,leading to disability and reduced quality of life.This study was a randomized clinical trial comparing the outcomes between withdrawal and dose reduction of tofacitinib in patients with RA who achieved sustained disease control.Methods:The study was designed as a multicenter,open-label,randomized controlled trial.Eligible patients who were taking tofacitinib(5 mg twice daily)and had achieved sustained RA remission or low disease activity(disease activity score in 28 joints[DAS28]≤3.2)for at least 3 months were enrolled at six centers in Shanghai,China.Patients were randomly assigned(1:1:1)to one of three treatment groups:continuation of tofacitinib(5 mg twice daily);reduction in tofacitinib dose(5 mg daily);and withdrawal of tofacitinib.Efficacy and safety were assessed up to 6 months.Results:Overall,122 eligible patients were enrolled,with 41 in the continuation group,42 in the dose-reduction group,and 39 in the withdrawal group.After 6 months,the percentage of patients with a DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)of<3.2 was significantly lower in the withdrawal group than that in the reduction and continuation groups(20.5%,64.3%,and 95.1%,respectively;P<0.0001 for both comparisons).The average flare-free time was 5.8 months for the continuation group,4.7 months for the dose reduction group,and 2.4 months for the withdrawal group.Conclusion:Withdrawal of tofacitinib in patients with RA with stable disease control resulted in a rapid and significant loss of efficacy,while standard or reduced doses of tofacitinib maintained a favorable state.Trial Registration:Chictr.org,ChiCTR2000039799.
文摘Venous ulcers are a common chronic problem in many countries especially in Northern Europe and USA. The overall prevalence of this condition is 1% rising to 3% in the over 65 years of age. Over the last 25 years, there have been many developments applicable to its diagnosis and treatment. These advances, notwithstanding healing response and recurrence, are variable, and the venous ulcer continues to be a clinical challenge. The pathogenesis of venous ulcers is unrelieved or ambulatory venous hypertension resulting mostly from deep venous thrombosis leading to venous incompetence, lipodermatosclerosis, leucocyte plugging of the capillaries, tissue hypoxia and microvascular dysfunction. It is not known what initiates venous ulcers. Triggers vary from trauma of the lower extremity to scratching to relieve itchy skin over the ankle region. Venous ulcers can be painful, and this condition presents an increasing burden of care. A systematic analysis of the role of technology used for diagnosis and management strongly supports the use of compression as a mainstay of standardised care. It further shows good evidence for the potential of some treatment procedures to accelerate healing. This article reviews the pathogenetic mechanisms, current diagnostic methods and standard care and its limitations.
