Vildagliptin caused no hypoglycaemia, was well adhered to and improved HbA(1c), making it a suitable treatment option for managing fasting. Study limitations are the sample size and the lack of diet and exercise data. When extrapolated to the global Muslim population with a similar clinical background, these findings could have considerable public health and clinical implications.

Summary Myelofibrosis is characterized by splenomegaly and debilitating constitutional symptoms that negatively impact patients’ quality of life. ROBUST, a UK, open‐label, phase II study, evaluated the safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis (N = 48), including intermediate‐1 risk patients. The primary composite endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving treatment success [≥50% reduction in palpable spleen length and/or a ≥50% decrease in Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score (MF‐SAF TSS)] at 48 weeks. This was the first time that efficacy of ruxolitinib in myelofibrosis has been evaluated based on these criteria and the first time the MF‐SAF was used in a population of patients solely from the United Kingdom. Overall, 50% of patients and 57% of intermediate‐1 risk patients, achieved treatment success; reductions in spleen length and symptoms were observed in all risk groups. The majority of patients (66·7%) experienced ≥50% reductions from baseline in spleen length at any time. Improvements in MF‐SAF TSS were seen in 80·0%, 72·7%, and 72·2% of intermediate‐1, intermediate‐2, and high‐risk patients, respectively. Consistent with other studies of ruxolitinib, the most common haematological adverse events were anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Results indicate that most patients with myelofibrosis, including intermediate‐1 risk patients, may benefit from ruxolitinib treatment.

The aim of this multicenter, prospective, longitudinal phase IV study was to establish the optimal duration of neoadjuvant letrozole that would allow breast conservation surgery (BCS) in patients with early breast cancer who were initially unsuitable. Primary, invasive, estrogen-receptor- and/or progesterone-receptor-positive breast cancer patients, with large tumors (≥T2 i.e., >20 mm) not initially suitable for BCS, received 2.5 mg letrozole p.o. daily. Patients continued treatment until they became eligible for BCS, progressed, failed to meet criteria for BCS and withdrew for scheduled mastectomy, withdrew for other reasons, or completed 12 months of letrozole treatment without a BCS decision being made. A total of 146 patients were enrolled; seven patients who did not have a valid postbaseline tumor assessment were excluded from the final efficacy analysis. At study closure, 69 % of patients (96 of 139) were eligible for BCS. The median time to achieve a tumor response sufficient to allow BCS with neoadjuvant letrozole was 7.5 months (95 % CI 6.3-8.5 months). Letrozole was well tolerated, and most adverse events were mild-to-moderate (grade 1-2). The results from this trial suggest that extended letrozole therapy in the neoadjuvant setting (7.5 months), as opposed to conventional treatment of 4 months, is optimal to achieve maximum reduction in tumor volume sufficient for BCS.

Aims To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab in patients with choroidal neovascularisation secondary to pathological myopia (myopic CNV). Data are from a pre-planned, 6-month interim analysis. Methods Phase II, open-label, single arm, multicentre, 12-month study, recruiting patients (aged Z18 years) with active primary or recurrent subfoveal or juxtafoveal myopic CNV, with a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) score of 24-78 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters in the study eye and a diagnosis of high myopia of at least À 6 dioptres. Patients received 0.5 mg ranibizumab administered intravitreally to the study eye, followed by monthly injections given as needed (based on a predefined algorithm) for up to 11 months. Results At 6 months, mean BCVA improved from baseline by 12.2 letters, as did central macular thickness (in this interim analysis defined as a measure of either central subfield macular thickness or centre point macular thickness) from baseline by 108 mm in the 48 study eyes of 48 patients. Fewer patients had centre-involving intraretinal oedema (13.0% vs 91.5%), intraretinal cysts (10.9% vs 57.4%), or subretinal fluid (13.0% vs 66.0%) at 6 months than at baseline. Patients received a mean of 1.9 retreatments, were satisfied with ranibizumab treatment, and well being was maintained. No new safety signals were identified. Conclusions Results from the planned interim analysis support the role of ranibizumab in the treatment of myopic CNV, with excellent efficacy achieved with a low number of injections and few serious adverse events.

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