A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial on the effect of zinc supplementation on bronchial asthma as measured by sputum eosinophil levels and asthma control test (ACT) in children ages 12-18 y/o

Objectives. To study the role of the ADRB2 gene polymorphism (rs1042713) in the impaired external respiratory function in children with bronchial asthma (BA). Material and methods. The study group included 60 children aged 3-17 years with allergic (n=37) and mixed form of BA (n=23). The genotyping of the investigated gene locus was performed by PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism), BA control was exercised using the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Results. The analysis of allele frequencies showed an association of allele A with normal spirogram parameters in patients with BA (p=0.042). In children under 12 years, there were statistically significant differences in spirogram indices when comparing patients with genotypes AA and GG (p=0.045). An association of allele A with the absence of pathological changes was revealed when evaluating the results of spirometry (p=0.021). There was a moderate positive correlation (r=0.615, p=0.011) between the assessment of nocturnal symptoms (Asthma Control Test) and the genotype of the ADRB2 gene polymorphism in children aged 12 years and older. Conclusions. An association of the ADRΒ2 gene polymorphism (rs1042713) with the external respiratory function was revealed in an objective study by spirometry and a subjective assessment of this indicator by the patient himself/herself or by his/her parents. This gene locus can be included in the BA target panel in order to determine the likelihood of uncontrolled course development of the disease with impaired external respiratory function and in the future to develop an individual program for dispensary observation of the patient.

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The effects of zinc supplementation on clinical response and metabolic profiles in pregnant women at risk for intrauterine growth restriction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine ◽

10.1080/14767058.2019.1637847 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Elaheh Mesdaghinia ◽

Fatemeh Naderi ◽

Fereshteh Bahmani ◽

Maryam Chamani ◽

Amir Ghaderi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Clinical Response ◽

Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽

Zinc Supplementation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Growth Restriction ◽

Metabolic Profiles ◽

Double Blind ◽

Double Blind Placebo ◽

Intrauterine Growth

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Zinc supplementation and the effects on metabolic status in gestational diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Journal of Diabetes and its Complications ◽

10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2015.07.001 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (8) ◽

pp. 1314-1319 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Maryam Karamali ◽

Zahra Heidarzadeh ◽

Seyed Morteza Seifati ◽

Mansooreh Samimi ◽

Zohreh Tabassi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gestational Diabetes ◽

Zinc Supplementation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Metabolic Status ◽

Double Blind ◽

Double Blind Placebo

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Role of a Community Pharmacy Service in Care of Bronchial Asthma Patients in Lithuania

Canadian Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1155/2018/6060581 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Arturas Nastaravičius ◽

Kristina Ramanauskienė

Keyword(s):

Asthma Control ◽

Bronchial Asthma ◽

Pharmacy Service ◽

Control Test ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽

Asthmatic Patients ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Community Pharmacy Service ◽

Asthma Patients

Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases, and its care is often complex. In this research, we tested the proposal that participation of pharmacists in the management of bronchial asthma can improve patient outcomes. A two-stage study was constructed consisting of a training element and a service element, using the Asthma Control Test and a structured questionnaire about the patients’ disease condition (based on the results of a qualitative study). The study was conducted in 21 pharmacies in Lithuania and involved 338 asthmatic patients (age 18–88 years). It was found that before the pharmacy service was provided, the average number of mistakes patients made in administration of asthma medications was 2.03; this number decreased to 1.12 after the service was provided (p<0.05). Disease control paralleled the improvement in number of mistakes: 26.1% of patients who previously exerted no control over the disease symptoms began to exert sufficient control over their asthma symptoms (Asthma Control Test >20) after the service was provided (p<0.05). The reduced number of mistakes probably can be attributed to the positive effects of the provided services. By reducing the number of patient mistakes, pharmacists may improve the outcomes of asthmatic patients.

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Novel pharmacist-led intervention secures the minimally important difference (MID) in Asthma Control Test (ACT) score: better outcomes for patients and the healthcare provider

BMJ Open Respiratory Research ◽

10.1136/bmjresp-2018-000322 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000322

Author(s):

Michela Tinelli ◽

John White ◽

Andrea Manfrin

Keyword(s):

Asthma Control ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Published Data ◽

Minimally Important Difference ◽

Control Test ◽

Traffic Light ◽

Asthma Control Test ◽

Life Years ◽

Act Score

IntroductionA key priority in asthma management is achieving control. The Asthma Control Test (ACT) is a validated tool showing a numerical indicator which has the potential to provide a target to drive management. A novel pharmacist-led intervention recently evaluated and introduced in the Italian setting with a cluster randomised controlled trial (C-RCT) showed effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. This paper evaluates whether the intervention is successful in securing the minimally important difference (MID) in the ACT score and provides better health outcomes and economic savings.MethodsClinical data were sourced from 816 adult patients with asthma participating in the C-RCT. The success of the intervention was measured looking at the proportion of patients reaching MID in the ACT score. Different levels of asthma control were grouped according to international guidelines and graded using the traffic light rating system. Asthma control levels were linked to economic (National Health Service (NHS) costs) and quality-adjusted life years outcomes using published data.ResultsThe median ACT score was 19 (partially controlled) at baseline, and 20 and 21 (controlled) at 3-month and 6-month-follow up, respectively (p<0.01). The percentage of patients reaching MID at 3 and 6 months was 15.8% (129) and 19.9% (162), respectively. The overall annual NHS cost savings per 1000 patients attached to the shift towards the MID target were equal to €346 012 at 3 months and increased to €425 483 at 6 months. Health utility gains were equal to 35.42 and 45.12 years in full health gained, respectively.DiscussionThe pharmacist-led intervention secured the MID in the ACT score and provided better outcomes for both patients and providers.

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