Is concomitant treatment with steroids and radiotherapy more favorable than sequential treatment in moderate-to-severe graves orbitopathy?

PURPOSE: Glucocorticoids (GCs) and external radiotherapy (RT) are used for treating moderate-to-severe Graves' orbitopathy (GO). We aimed to assess whether GCs and RT were more effective when administered concomitantly or sequentially. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes [assessed by Clinical Activity Score (CAS) and NOSPECS classification] in 73 patients treated with both i.v. GCs and RT. The patients were divided in two groups: In group A (53 patients), RT was delivered concomitantly with GCs, and in group B (20 patients) RT was administered subsequently to the end of methylprednisolone. RESULTS: At baseline, CAS (median 4.0) and the percentage of patients encompassing the various grades of the classes 2, 3 and 4 of the NOSPECS score were similar in both groups. Six months after RT, CAS decreased to 2 in both groups (p = 0.0003 vs baseline) as well as NOSPECS class 4 (p < 0.0001 vs baseline). NOSPECS class 2 improved more in group A than in group B (p = 0.016). The median cumulative dose of GCs was lower in group A than in group B (median 4.500 vs 6000 mg, p < 0.007); the overall length of therapy was shorter in group A than in group B (68 vs 106 days, p < 0,02). The most common acute adverse effect was transient conjunctivitis (five in group A and three in group B); seven patients (five in group A and two in group B, age between 60 and 66 years) developed cataract, requiring surgery in five cases. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant administration of GC and RT showed a favorable effect in moderate-to-severe GO, thus suggesting that RT should be carried out early during steroid therapy, when clinical symptoms do not improve or deteriorate after the first i.v. administrations of GCs.

The influence of smoking on asthma in the real-life.

BACKGROUND: Asthmatic smokers have reduced quality of life and need frequent specialist visits/hospitalization. Smoking habit represents for asthmatics a higher risk for comorbidities and lung function impairment. The impact of cigarette smoking on asthmatics should be addressed to evaluate the related risk factors. METHODS: This real-life observational study evaluated demographic, clinical/functional, and biological parameters of 521 asthmatic patients stratified as never (0 PY), light (1-10 PY), and heavy smokers (>10PY). RESULTS: The heavy smokers with asthma were more frequently older, male, overweight, and non-allergic than other asthmatics. Although similar ICS dose and severity among groups, heavy smokers had more significant airflow limitation (FEV1/FVC = 0.65 ± 0.10, p < 0.01; FEV1%pred = 79.20 ± 21.20, p < 0.01), air trapping (RV %pred. = 135.6 ± 44.8, p < 0.05; RV/TLC = 0.48 ± 0.12, p < 0.05), and fixed airflow obstruction (post-bronchodilation FEV1/FVC = 0.66 ± 0.10; p = 0.01) than never and light smokers with asthma. Heavy smokers also demonstrated reduced blood eosinophils (p < 0.05) and FeNO (p < 0.01), increased frequency of type-2 low inflammation and LABA/LAMA use but had less frequently persistent rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Heavy smokers showed higher prevalence of paraseptal/bullous emphysema and arterial hypertension. Considering the risk analysis, heavy smokers showed less chance to have allergy (OR = 0.5), persistent rhinitis (OR = 0.6), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (OR = 0.3), or high FeNO (OR = 0.4), but they were prone to develop fixed airflow obstruction (post-bronchodilation FEV1%pred<80%, OR = 2.0, and post-bronchodilation FEV1/FVC≤0.70, OR = 2.0). CONCLUSIONS: Heavy smokers had more severe obstructive impairments than light and never smokers with similar ICS dose, showing a steroid insensitivity, but displayed less allergy with low FeNO and blood eosinophil count, thus being a definite phenotype.

Dimethylaminoethanol affects the viability of human cultured fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) has been used in the fight against wrinkles and flaccidity in the cervicofacial region. The firming action of DMAE is explained by the fact that its molecule, considered to be a precursor of acetylcholine, alters muscle contraction. However, no experimental studies have confirmed this theory. Because the actual mechanism of DMAE action was not defined and there were no references in the literature regarding its direct action on fibroblasts, this study was performed to evaluate the direct action of DMAE on cultured human fibroblasts. METHODS: Human fibroblasts obtained from discarded fragments of total skin from patients undergoing plastic or reconstructive surgical procedures performed within the Plastic Surgery Division at the Federal University of São Paulo were used for this study. The explant technique was used. The culture medium was supplemented with different concentrations of DMAE on the fourth cell passage, and the cell proliferation rate, cytosolic calcium levels, and cell cycle were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a Newman-Keuls test for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: A decrease in fibroblast proliferation was associated with an increase in DMAE concentration. A longer treatment time with trypsin was required for the groups treated with DMAE in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of DMAE, cytosolic calcium increased in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis also increased in groups treated with DMAE. CONCLUSION: Dimethylaminoethanol reduced the proliferation of fibroblasts, increased cytosolic calcium, and changed the cell cycle, causing an increase in apoptosis in cultured human fibroblasts.