Brodalumab can Lead to Significant Clinical Response in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

PsA is a chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis which significantly impacts health-related quality of life in patients, and increases risk of co-morbid cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.2 Psoriasis occurs in 2-3% of the population, with PsA occurring in up to 30% of those of cases.3

IL-17 induces production of anti-microbial peptides and pro-inflammatory cytokines that in turn may help sustain immune responses in the skin.4 With similar pathways impacting skin and joint diseases, data suggest that cytokine-targeting strategies aimed at blocking signalling through the IL-17 receptor may be a beneficial new strategy in the treatment of PsA.

Lead author of the study Dr Mease, Swedish Medical Center and University of Washington, Seattle, US commented "PsA is a progressive disease associated with a number of co-morbidities, disability and disfigurement. There is a need for therapies to better manage patient outcomes, and prevent long-term bone loss and permanent joint damage, especially in those patients for whom anti-TNF therapy is not effective or tolerated." Dr Mease continued, "these significant patient responses support continued evaluation of brodalumab for the treatment of PsA and clearly show that cytokine-targeting strategies aimed at blocking signalling through the IL-17 receptor may represent an important new treatment strategy."

The study involving 168 patients with at least a 6 month history of PsA demonstrated that 37% and 39% of subjects in the 140- and 280-mg brodalumab groups respectively, achieved the primary endpoint of ACR20* response rates at week 12 compared with 18% of subjects in the placebo group (p <0.05).

A further analysis determined the ACR20 response rates in biologic-na?ve subjects were 36% in the 140 mg group, 37% in the 280 mg group, and 20% in the placebo group; comparable with the respective rates of 37%, 42%, and 16%, in subjects with prior biologic exposure. There were consistent improvements in secondary endpoints including ACR50?, DAS 28 and components of the ACR including CRP.?

Source-Eurekalert

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Simple Eye Exam Reveals Pleasure Response

Dr. Jennifer Nasser, an associate professor in the department of Nutrition Sciences in Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions, led the study testing the use of electroretinography (ERG) to indicate increases in the neurotransmitter dopamine in the retina.

Dopamine is associated with a variety of pleasure-related effects in the brain, including the expectation of reward.

In the eye's retina, dopamine is released when the optical nerve activates in response to light exposure.

Nasser and her colleagues found that electrical signals in the retina spiked high in response to a flash of light when a food stimulus (a small piece of chocolate brownie) was placed in participants' mouths.

The increase was as great as that seen when participants had received the stimulant drug methylphenidate to induce a strong dopamine response. These responses in the presence of food and drug stimuli were each significantly greater than the response to light when participants ingested a control substance, water.

The study is published in the journal Obesity.

Source-ANI

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