According to a recent study, children who received infant formula to 12 months of age with added bovine milk fat globule membrane and bovine lactoferrin, showed improved neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5.5 years of age. This study’s results were published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

This randomized, controlled trial enrolled 116 participants who completed the assessments. The participants were divided into a cow milk-based infant formula (n= 59; control) or a similar formula (n= 57; milk fat globule membrane + lactoferrin). The primary outcome included the Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence, 4th Edition assessment.

It was seen that the children who showed Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence, 4th Edition composite scores for Visual Spatial, Processing Speed, and Full-Scale IQ, were significantly higher for milk fat globule membrane + lactoferrin versus control. Likewise, Stroop Task scores were also significantly higher in milk fat globule membrane + lactoferrin versus control. More children passed the Higher Dimensional Change Card Sort scores in the border phase for milk fat globule membrane versus control.

Based on the above results, it can be concluded that the children who received infant formula with added bovine milk fat globule membrane and bovine lactoferrin, may demonstrate improved cognitive outcomes in multiple domains after attaining 5.5 years of age.

A recent study suggests that lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25% is safe and efficacious for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis. The results of this study were published in the journal, Opthalmology.

This was a multicenter, phase 3, prospective, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled trial that included 412 patients with Demodex blepharitis. They were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25% (study group; n=203) or to receive vehicle without lotilaner bilaterally twice daily for 6 weeks (control group; n=209). At screening and on days 15, 22, and 43, four or more eyelashes were epilated from each eye and the mite density was calculated as the number of mites per lash.

At day 43, it was found that the study group achieved a statistically significant higher proportion of patients with collarette cure, clinically meaningful collarette reduction to 10 collarettes or fewer, mite eradication, erythema cure, and composite cure when compared to the control group. Also, the study group observed high compliance with the drop regimen, with 90.7% of the patients finding the drops to be neutral to very comfortable.

From the above results, it can be concluded that twice-daily treatment with lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25% for 6 weeks may be safe and well tolerated for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis compared with vehicle control.

A recent study found that exercise-based rehabilitation programs improve exercise capacity in patients with persistent dyspnea following pulmonary embolism (PE). This study was published in the Journal, Chest.

This randomized controlled trial included 211 patients with persistent dyspnea following PE diagnosis, without cardiopulmonary comorbidities who were randomized 1:1 to either the rehabilitation group (n=108) or control group (n=103). The rehabilitation group patients received two weekly sessions of physical exercise for 8 weeks and 1 educational session. The control group patients received routine care. The primary and secondary endpoints of the study were Incremental Shuttle Walk Tests (ISWT) between groups at follow-up and differences in the Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (ESWT), quality of life (EQ-5D and PE-QoL questionnaire), and dyspnea (Shortness of Breath questionnaire).

During follow-up, it was observed that participants allocated to the rehabilitation group performed better on the ISWT and had better scores on the PE-QoL questionnaire compared to the participants allocated to the control group.

Based on the above results, it can be concluded that patients with persistent dyspnea following PE, who underwent rehabilitation had a better exercise capacity during follow-up than those who received routine care.

A recent study suggests that an efficient and convenient model to predict stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP), following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was developed to give better predictive performance than previous models. This study was published in the journal, BMC Geriatrics.

This study involved 1333 patients who were randomly divided in a 3:1 ratio into the derivative cohort (n=1000) and validation cohort (n=333). Various parameters were screened to develop the prediction model. While the derivation cohort created a prediction model with multivariable logistic regression analysis, the validation cohort assessed by comparison, the model performance when compared to previously reported models.

At the end of the study, it was seen that the clinical decision-making ability of the prediction model was based on significantly higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Also, compared to previous models, this model had better reclassification ability because of improved net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination index (IDI). There was a positive net benefit for predicted probability thresholds between 10% and 73% in decision curve analysis (DCA).

Hence, it can be concluded from the above results that a simple, valid, and clinically useful model to predict SAP following ICH, may be developed that can optimize clinical decision-making.

A recent study suggests that 1.5% levofloxacin ((LVFX) otic solution is safe and effective for treating patients with otitis media. This study was published in the Journal, of Auris, Nasus, Larynx.

This trial was a phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study that included 202 patients suffering from chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) or acute otitis media (AOM). They were randomized to receive either 6-10 drops of 1.5% otic solution of LVFX (n=99) or a corresponding placebo (n=102), twice daily for up to 10 days. Evaluation of purulent otorrhea, hyperemia (redness), and granulation tissue formation was done using digital endoscopy.

The disappearance or improvement rate of the above three clinical findings was 46.5% and 23.5% in the LVFX and placebo groups, respectively. LVFX group showed a slightly higher improvement rate, demonstrating its efficacy. The rate of bacterial eradication was 93.9% in the LVFX group and 12.5% in the placebo group. Treatment-related adverse events were significantly less in the LVFX group when compared to the placebo group.

From the above findings, it may be clear that using 1.5% LVFX otic solution for CSOM and AOM can be safe and efficacious in resolving inflammation. It also helped in relieving bacterial eradication, thus making it well-tolerated by the patients.

A recent study suggests that weekly tirzepatide, when given to inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes patients, as an adjunctive treatment with insulin glargine, resulted in reductions in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and body weight with less hypoglycemia. The results of this study were published in the journal, JAMA. 

This phase 3b, open-label clinical trial included 1304 participants with type 2 diabetes taking basal insulin. They were randomized in a 1:1:1:3 ratio to receive once-weekly subcutaneous injections of tirzepatide at 5mg (n=243), 10mg (n=238), or 15mg (n=236) doses or prandial thrice-daily insulin lispro (n = 708). Outcomes to be measured were non-inferiority of tirzepatide vs insulin lispro, both as an adjunctive therapy to insulin glargine and change in HbA1c from baseline at week 52. Key secondary endpoints measured were changes in body weight and percentage of participants achieving the HbA1c target of less than 7.0%.

At the end of the study (week 52), it was seen that estimated mean change from baseline in HbA1c with tirzepatide along with insulin lispro was -2.1% vs -1.1% and mean HbA1c levels of 6.7% vs 7.7%. The mean change from baseline in body weight with tirzepatide and insulin lispro was estimated to be -9.0 kg and 3.2 kg, respectively. Participants having less than 7.0% HbA1c was 68% and 36% with tirzepatide and insulin lispro, respectively.

From the above results, it can be concluded that tirzepatide met the criteria for noninferiority and was statistically superior. Hence, tirzepatide may be used as an additional treatment with insulin glargine in people with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes treated with basal insulin as it may show reductions in HbA1c and body weight with less hypoglycemia.

A recent study found that supplementation with a modest amount of protein and multiple micronutrients from two milk-cereal mixes may lead to short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants aged 12 and 24 months. The results of this study were published in The British Journal of Nutrition.

This randomized controlled trial divided infants into three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio i.e. modest-protein group, high-protein group, and no-supplementation group. 1134 and 1214 children were available at 12 and 24 months, respectively.

It was observed that at 12 months of age, an increase in the motor scores and a decrease in the infant temperament scores was seen in the modest-protein group. Those infants who were in the high-protein group had lower socio-emotional scores and higher scores on the Infant Temperament Scale.

Based on the above results, it can be concluded that supplementation with a modest amount of protein and multiple micronutrients may lead to short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes such as small improvements in motor function and infant temperament.

According to a recent study the use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) has been demonstrated to reduce the symptoms and functional impairment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a variety of populations. This study’s findings were published in the journal, Nature medicine.

In this phase 3 trial, a total of 104 participants were randomized to either the MDMA-AT group (n = 53) or placebo with the therapy group (n = 51). The proportion of participants with moderate PTSD was 26.9%, and the proportion with severe PTSD was 73.1%. The primary and secondary endpoints of the study assessed by blinded independent assessors were changes in the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) total severity score and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) functional impairment score respectively.

At the end of the study, it was observed that in the MDMA-AT group least squares (LS) mean change in CAPS-5 score was -23.7 compared to -14.8 in the placebo with therapy group. Additionally, the LS mean change in SDS score was -3.3 for MDMA-AT group compared to -2.1 in the placebo with therapy group. No deaths or severe treatment emergent adverse event (TEAEs) were reported.

Based on the above results, it can be concluded that MDMA-AT was effective and well-tolerated in reducing PTSD symptoms and functional impairment in a diverse population with moderate to severe PTSD.