Objective: Our aim was to assess the role of the body mass index (BMI) in the clinical response to systemic treatment for psoriasis. Methods: A nationwide cohort study of patients receiving a new systemic treatment for plaque psoriasis at reference centres in Italy was conducted. Information was gathered through a web-based electronic form. Patients being maintained on the same medication and with data available at 8 and 16 weeks by March 31, 2007, were eligible. The outcome was a reduction in the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) of at least 75% at follow-up compared to baseline (PASI-75). Results: Out of 8,072 patients enrolled, 2,368 were eligible and analysable at 8 weeks and 2,042 at 16 weeks. PASI-75 was achieved by 819 patients (34.5%) at 8 weeks and 1,034 (50.6%) at 16 weeks. The proportion steadily decreased with increased values of BMI. Compared to normal weight (BMI = 20–24) the adjusted odds ratio for achieving PASI-75 in obese patients was 0.73 (95% CI = 0.58–0.93) at 8 weeks and 0.62 (95% CI = 0.49–0.79) at 16 weeks. The impact of the BMI did not show remarkable variations according to the drug prescribed at entry. Conclusion: The BMI affects the early clinical response to systemic treatment for psoriasis.

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The objective of Integrated Care Pathways for Airway Diseases (AIRWAYS-ICPs) is to launch a collaboration to develop multi-sectoral care pathways for chronic respiratory diseases in European countries and regions. AIRWAYS-ICPs has strategic relevance to the European Union Health Strategy and will add value to existing public health knowledge by: 1) proposing a common framework of care pathways for chronic respiratory diseases, which will facilitate comparability and trans-national initiatives; 2) informing cost-effective policy development, strengthening in particular those on smoking and environmental exposure; 3) aiding risk stratification in chronic disease patients, using a common strategy; 4) having a significant impact on the health of citizens in the short term (reduction of morbidity, improvement of education in children and of work in adults) and in the long-term (healthy ageing); 5) proposing a common simulation tool to assist physicians; and 6) ultimately reducing the healthcare burden (emergency visits, avoidable hospitalisations, disability and costs) while improving quality of life. In the longer term, the incidence of disease may be reduced by innovative prevention strategies. AIRWAYSICPs was initiated by Area 5 of the Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. All stakeholders are involved (health and social care, patients, and policy makers). @ERSpublications AIRWAYS-ICPs: launch of a collaboration to develop multi-sectoral integrated care pathways for respiratory disease http://ow.ly/v35Gh PERSPECTIVE INTEGRATED CARE PATHWAYS FOR AIRWAY DISEASES

Objective: To determine if exposure to benzodiazepines during the first trimester of pregnancy increases risk of major malformations or cleft lip or palate. Design: Meta-analysis. Setting: Studies from 1966 to present. Subjects: Studies were located with Medline, Embase, Reprotox, and from references of textbooks, reviews, and included articles. Included studies were original, concurrently controlled studies in any language. Interventions: Data extraction and quality assessment were done independently and in duplicate. Main outcome measures: Maternal exposure to benzodiazepines in at least the first trimester; incidence of major malformations or oral cleft alone, measured as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals with a random effects model.

These results suggest that the use of venlafaxine during pregnancy does not increase the rates of major malformations above the baseline rate of 1%-3%.

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Differences in category allocation for the same drug can be a source of great confusion among users of the classification systems as well as for those who require information regarding risk for drug use during pregnancy, and may limit the usefulness and reliability of risk classification systems.