Efficacy and Safety of Bilastine in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Bilastine is a non-sedating second generation H1 oral antihistamine (OAH) for treating allergic rhinitis (AR) patients. The effect of bilastine has not previously been evaluated in a meta-analysis. The aim of this review was to determine the efficacy and safety of bilastine in treating AR. An electronic literature search was performed using Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Science Direct and Google Scholar up to March 2021. Randomized controlled trials comparing bilastine with placebo and standard pharmacotherapy were included. The included studies must have diagnosis of AR established by clinicians and the outcomes must have a minimum of 2 weeks of follow-up period. The primary outcomes assessed were total symptom score (TSS), nasal symptom score (NSS) and non-nasal symptom score (NNSS). The secondary outcomes were discomfort due to rhinitis, quality of life (QOL) and adverse events. The risk of bias and quality of evidence for all studies were appraised. The meta-analysis was done using Review Manager 5.3 software based on the random-effects model. The search identified 135 records after removal of duplicates. Following screening and review of the records, fifteen full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Five trials involving 3,329 patients met the inclusion criteria. Bilastine was superior to placebo in improving TSS, NSS, NNSS, rhinitis discomfort score and QOL but has comparable efficacy with other OAHs in TSS, NSS, NNS, rhinitis discomfort score and QOL. There was no difference in adverse effects when bilastine was compared against placebo and other OAHs except for somnolence. Bilastine has fewer incidence of somnolence compared to cetirizine. The overall quality of evidence ranged from moderate to high quality. Bilastine is effective and safe in treating the overall symptoms of AR with comparable efficacy and safety with other OAHs except somnolence. Whilst bilastine has similar efficacy to cetirizine, somnolence is notably less in bilastine.

Simplified Chinese Version of the International Prostate Symptom Score and the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index: Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity for Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to translate and cross-cultural adapt the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia impact index (BII) into simplified Chinese for mainland Chinese patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods: The original English IPSS and BII were translated into simplified Chinese versions, based on cross-cultural adaptation guidelines. Internal consistency was evaluated with Cronbach’ α, then test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) in stable patients. The validity of these two adaptations was tested by the correlation between the IPSS, and BII with visual prostate symptom score (VPSS), and 36 items Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The floor and ceiling effects were calculated by the proportion of participants who obtained the highest and lowest possible score.Results: A total of 105 native Chinese-speaking patients with BPH were enrolled. Cronbach’ α were over 0.75 for the simplified Chinese IPSS (IPSS 0.815; IPSS-symptom 0.782), and 0.709 for the simplified Chinese BII, indicating acceptable internal consistency. The ICCs for the test-retest reliability were over 0.75 (IPSS, r = 0.836; IPSS-symptom, r = 0.801; IPSS-quality of life, r = 0.794; BII, r = 0.758), indicating excellent test-retest reliability. There were very good positive correlations between IPSS and BII (r = 0.605), as well as VPSS (r = 0.634), and very good or good negative correlations between IPSS-Qol and SF-36 physical functioning (r = -0.621), and vitality (r = -0.659), and between BII and SF-36 physical functioning (r = -0.421). No floor or ceiling effect was detected in the simplified Chinese IPSS and BII.Conclusions: This study indicates that the simplified Chinese IPSS and BII are reliable and valid measurement of the symptom and quality of life among Chinese patients with BPH, which is likely to be widely used in this population.

Concussion Subtyping in Patients With Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms Using a New Concussion Clinical Profile Screen Tool (CP Screen)

ObjectiveTo identify the prevalence of subtypes in Persistent Post Concussion Symptoms (PPCS) and investigate their potential relationships.BackgroundThe CP-Screen is designed to evaluate 5 clinical profiles and 2 modifiers that are predominant within concussion patients. The CP screen includes 29 items that are expressed as weighted outcome scores for each of the 7 concussion subtypes.Design/MethodsThis was a retrospective-chart review of 1,136 visits for 362 patients with PPCS at a concussion center. Age range was 12–81 and average age was 32, 65.7% were female and 34.3% male. 360 visits were in the 12–21 pediatric age range. Each patient completed an electronic CP-Screen prior to each visit, which was uploaded to the EHR. All patients were seen between October 2020 and April 2021.ResultsOverall, the most common subtypes were cognitive (34.0%), neck (17.8%), and mood (16.8%). The highest overall observed subtype average CP symptom score was mood (32.8/89) and the lowest was visual (23.6/89). For pediatric the most common phenotypes were cognitive (36.7%), mood (17.9%), and visual (15.4%). The highest observed pediatric average CP symptom score was mood (30.8/89) and the lowest was sleep (20.1/89). For those with cognitive primary profile, neck and ocular were the most common secondary and tertiary profiles in both groups. Females presented with cognitive, mood, neck as their most common profiles compared to cognitive, neck, ocular in males in both groups. Neck, mood, and visual primary profiles all presented with cognitive fatigue as their secondary profile.ConclusionsCP screen was overall a useful tool in helping identify clinical profiles in PPCS. Cognitive fatigue was a predominant profile in PPCS across all ages and sexes. Those with predominant mood profiles presented with the highest symptom scores. Mood profile was more predominant in females. Cognitive primary profile was found to be most linked to cervical, mood, and visual profiles.

A prospective multicentric observational study to evolve the usefulness of 13 predefined homoeopathic medicines in the management of acute rhinitis in children.

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a group of homeopathic medicines in children with acute rhinitis. Materials and methods: In this multi-centric open clinical trial, a total of 784 children (408 males; 384 females) aged 6 months to 15 years, presenting symptoms of acute rhinitis were enrolled from 7 Institutes/ Units under the Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (India). Symptoms were assessed using an acute rhinitis symptom score (ARSS). A total of 13 homeopathic medicines were shortlisted after repertorizing the nosological symptoms of acute rhinitis in children and the results were analyzed. The medicines were prescribed in dilution 6c (10-12) and doses were repeated from few minutes to few hours as per the need of the case. Appearance of any change (improvement or worsening) was followed by placebo / change in dilution or change in medicine according to the response of the patient. The follow up period was up to the 7th day of illness. Results: Out of 784 children enrolled, 638 children were followed up and analyzed. A significant change in the score from the baseline (p

Validation of the Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 in the German language

Background The Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 (COMPASS 31) is a validated, 31-item self-assessment questionnaire assessing autonomic symptoms in six domains, orthostatic intolerance, vasomotor, secretomotor, gastrointestinal, bladder, and pupillomotor function. So far, there is no validated German COMPASS 31 version. This study aimed at developing and validating a German COMPASS 31. Methods Two autonomic experts with command of German and English independently translated the English COMPASS 31 into German. One agreed-upon German version was translated back into English to assure conformity with the original version. Twenty patients with possible autonomic symptoms and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy persons completed the English and German COMPASS 31 in a randomized order with a 4-week interval. To evaluate reliability of the German COMPASS 31, total scores and sub-scores of the domains assessed with the German version were correlated with corresponding scores of the English version using Pearson’s or Spearman’s test. The Cronbach alpha-coefficient evaluated the internal consistency of the questions. Total- and sub-scores of both COMPASS 31 versions were compared between patients and controls by analysis of variance with post-hoc analysis (significance: p < 0.05). Results Total scores and sub-scores of the German and English COMPASS 31 correlated significantly (p < 0.001) and closely (correlation coefficients: 0.757–0.934). Cronbach alpha-coefficients were above 0.7 in all domains except for the secretomotor domain. In the German and English COMPASS 31, total scores were significantly higher in patients than controls. Conclusions The German COMPASS 31 is reliable, internally consistent, and valid to detect and quantify autonomic symptoms in patients with neurological disorders.

Comparative Analysis between Monopolar and Bipolar TURP - A Single Institute Prospective Controlled Study

Background: The ‘gold standard’ surgical treatment of clinically obstructive BPH is TURP, but life-threatening complications such as transurethral resection syndrome are occasionally observed. This has traditionally been provided as monopolar TURP, but morbidity associated with MTURP has led to the introduction of other surgical techniques. Objectives: To compare the effects of bipolar and monopolar TURP. Methods: In this prospective comparative study, 50 patients of each group undergo transurethral resection of prostate were enrolled and randomized to surgery by M‑TURP or B-TURP. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, ultrasonography, prevoid, postvoid and international prostate symptom score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine (PVRU) volume, and prostate volume (PV). Complications and sequelae also assessed. Comparisons performed. Results:No significant differences found in baseline characteristics or operative data, No differences found in IPSS, Qmax or PVRU volume. Conclusions:Based on this controlled trial, there is not significant variation in effectiveness and safety between M-TURP and Bipolar -TURP for the treatment of BPH. Accordingly, M-TURP continues to be a valid option for the treatment of BPE. Keywords: Transurethral resection of prostate, Monopolar, Bipolar.

Patient Reported Outcomes in Penile Cancer

Objective: Patient reports of their symptom burden (i.e., patient-reported outcomes or PROs) have been shown to direct clinicians’ ability to personalize care and improve outcomes. A disciplined assessment of PRO in the population of patients with penile cancer (PeCa) has not previously been undertaken. Our center has both a significant cadre of patients with PeCa and a significant experience with a well-established PRO: the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS).Methods: After IRB approval, we screened ESAS surveys of 14,781 patients completed between 2/2017 and 2/2021. Of these, those with PeCa were divided into three cohorts: (A) Those after any partial penectomy procedure without lymph node dissection (LND); (B) Those after partial penectomy procedure with LND; and (C) Those after total penectomy and LND. Patients with recurrent disease were analyzed separately. ESAS scores were collated and compared both by individual symptom and cumulatively.Results: 22 PeCa patients completed 122 ESAS surveys in this time and are included in this analysis: a median of 4 ESAS surveys (mean=5, range=1-19) were completed by each patient. The symptom with the highest median ESAS score was Tiredness (3.00). Patients with recurrent disease had the highest cumulative symptom score (median score = 30). Patients after total penectomy with LND had a higher cumulative symptom score (14.4) than those with partial penectomy and LND (7.9).Conclusions: PROs provide an insight into the morbidity of therapies for PeCa, and the most symptoms are reported by patients with recurrent disease.