The New England journal of medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis by inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha.
There are few effective treatments for ankylosing spondylitis, which causes substantial morbidity. Because of the central role of tumor necrosis factor alpha in the spondyloarthritides, we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of etanercept, a recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor (p75):Fc fusion protein, in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. ⋯ Treatment with etanercept for four months resulted in rapid, significant, and sustained improvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Myocardial gene expression in dilated cardiomyopathy treated with beta-blocking agents.
Beta-blocker therapy may improve cardiac function in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. We tested the hypothesis that beta-blocker therapy produces favorable functional effects in dilated cardiomyopathy by altering the expression of myocardial genes that regulate contractility and pathologic hypertrophy. ⋯ In idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, functional improvement related to treatment with beta-blockers is associated with changes in myocardial gene expression.
-
Although there is concern that minority groups and women are underrepresented in research involving patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the available data are inconclusive. ⋯ Among patients with HIV infection, participation in research trials and access to experimental treatment is influenced by race or ethnic group and type of health insurance.