Atopic dermatitis occurrence and progression and allergen immunotherapy: A real-world, retrospective cohort study in Germany.

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) represents the sole causal and preventive disease-modifying therapy currently available for allergic diseases. However, it must be acknowledged that controlled studies feature inherent results bias due to specific criteria and monitoring during the study. This real-world evidence (RWE) study was therefore designed to analyse data on large longitudinal prescriptions of different types of AIT in order to evaluate the therapeutic effect on the progression and onset of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Unmet needs of patients with COPD in Germany: a retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Background: Earlier diagnosis and treatment of COPD, particularly preventing exacerbations, are key to slowing disease progression and reducing mortality. This study focused on the identification of patients in Germany with unstable COPD due to suboptimal treatments.

Methods: The IQVIA™ LRx database, capturing 80% of Statutory Health Insurance prescriptions was used to identify patients with COPD using a machine-learning model.

Long-term impact of a birch/alder/hazel or birch-only liquid sublingual immunotherapy on birch-family pollen respiratory allergy: A real-world study.

Background: Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and/or mild or moderate asthma derived from birch-family pollen allergy can be treated with liquid sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT-liquid). This study evaluated the impact of two SLIT extracts on AR and asthma progression or onset in these patients.

Methods: This was a sub-analysis of a retrospective, longitudinal comparative cohort study that used a German prescription database.

Quantifying the ‘distance to LDL-C goal’ in patients at very high cardiovascular risk with hyperlipidaemia in Germany: a retrospective claims database analysis.

Background And Objectives: This study quantified the 'distance to LDL-C goal' in patients at very high cardiovascular risk with uncontrolled hyperlipidaemia. 'Distance to LDL-C goal' was defined as the percentage by which low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels needed to be reduced to achieve the LDL-C goals specified in the 2016 or 2019 European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society guidelines.

Design And Methods: This retrospective analysis using data from the IQVIA Disease Analyzer database included patients who were predominantly treated by a primary care physician, diabetologist or cardiologist between 2014 and 2018, with a diagnosis of hyperlipidaemia and an initial LDL-C measurement (index event) and one or more cardiovascular risk factors.

House dust mite SCIT reduces asthma risk and significantly improves long-term rhinitis and asthma control-A RWE study.

Background: The German Therapy Allergen Ordinance (TAO) triggered an ongoing upheaval in the market for house dust mite (HDM) allergen immunotherapy (AIT) products. Three HDM subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) products hold approval in Germany and therefore will be available after the scheduled completion of the TAO procedure in 2026. In general, data from clinical trials on the long-term effectiveness of HDM AIT are rare.

An observational post-authorization safety study (PASS) of naloxegol drug utilization in four European countries.

Purpose: Naloxegol has been shown to be an efficient alternative to treat opioid-induced constipation (OIC). This study aimed at describing the characteristics of naloxegol users and assessing patterns of naloxegol use and associated factors.

Methods: This drug utilization cohort study used observational registry data on patients newly prescribed naloxegol in four European countries.

Persistence in allergen immunotherapy: A longitudinal, prescription data-based real-world analysis.

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a widespread disease with increasing prevalence in developed countries. The only treatment that tackles the underlying causes is allergen immunotherapy (AIT). This treatment is performed through two application routes, the subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) or the sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Paediatric Check-Ups and Vaccinations in Germany.

Paediatric check-ups and vaccinations are provided and free of charge in Germany. Despite being hitherto generally well-received and adhered to, it is possible that the lockdown implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in delays or even cancellations of critical paediatric visits with healthcare providers. This study attempts to quantify the rate and time to follow-up for check-ups in Germany using the retrospective IQVIA Disease Analyzer database.

Treatment patterns in adults with immune thrombocytopenia before, during and after use of thrombopoietin receptor agonists: a longitudinal prescription database study from Germany.

Objective: To assess real-world treatment patterns in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who received thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) in Germany.

Methods: This was a longitudinal, retrospective study using anonymized patient-level data (IQVIA healthcare prescription database, covering 82% of German statutory prescriptions). Eligible patients (aged ≥18 years) had received ≥1 TPO-RA prescription (romiplostim/eltrombopag) from July 2016 to June 2019 (treatment duration ≥30 days).

Antiherpetic medication and incident dementia: Observational cohort studies in four countries.

Background And Purpose: Several epidemiological studies from Taiwan, all using the same data resource, found significant associations between herpes virus infection, antiherpetic medication, and subsequent dementia. We conducted a multicenter observational cohort study using health registry data from Wales, Germany, Scotland, and Denmark to investigate potential associations between antiherpetic medication and incident dementia, and also to comprehensively investigate such associations broken down according to medication type and dose, type of herpes virus, and dementia subtype.

Methods: A total of 2.

Prescribing Pathways to Triple Therapy: A Multi-Country, Retrospective Observational Study of Adult Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Introduction: Maintenance treatment strategies in COPD recommend inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) + long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) + long-acting β-agonist (LABA) triple therapy after initial dual therapy. Little is known about how treatment pathways to triple therapy vary across countries in clinical practice.

Methods: This multi-country, retrospective cohort study (conducted 1 January 2005-1 May 2016) included patients with a COPD diagnosis, and (UK only) evidence of smoking history, or (France, Italy, Germany, and Australia) an indicator confirming COPD diagnosis, a first instance of triple therapy recorded during the study period and ≥ 12 months of data prior to this date.

Real-World Adherence and Evidence of Subcutaneous and Sublingual Immunotherapy in Grass and Tree Pollen-Induced Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma.

Purpose: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT), when continued for 3 years, is the only disease-modifying treatment for AR and asthma. Adherence is a key to ensure effectiveness, and poor adherence is a contraindication for AIT. The objective of this study was to evaluate real-world adherence to AIT with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) preparations in patients allergic to grass or tree pollen.

Real-world evidence of subcutaneous allergoid immunotherapy in house dust mite-induced allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) with an allergoid in the treatment of house dust mites (HDM)-induced allergic rhinitis and/or asthma based on recent real-life data. The outcomes were measured using asthma incidence and consumption of corresponding medications as the indicator of persisting symptoms.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort analysis of a German longitudinal prescription database, patients who received at least two relevant mite AIT prescriptions in two different successive seasonal cycles were compared with non-AIT patients who received at least three symptomatic allergic rhinitis (AR) prescriptions in successive mite seasons.

Real-world use of talimogene laherparepvec in Germany: a retrospective observational study using a prescription database.

There is a growing body of data on real-world use of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC). We aimed to characterize real-world T-VEC use using a nationally representative German prescription database covering 60% of prescriptions reimbursed. A retrospective analysis was conducted using the German IMS LRx prescription database, analyzing patients aged ≥18 years with an initial T-VEC prescription at 10 plaque-forming units (PFU)/ml and ≥1 subsequent prescription at 10 PFU/ml.

Utilization patterns of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Germany: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This retrospective database analysis complements previous research to understand treatment patterns for German patients newly-initiating or switching to subsequent GLP-1 RAs.

Methods: Adult patients (≥18 years) initiating GLP-1 RA (Cohort 1 [C1]) or switching from a previous GLP-1 RA (Cohort 2 [C2]) to exenatide twice-daily (exBID), exenatide once-weekly (exQW), dulaglutide (DULA), or liraglutide (LIRA) were included in this analysis using IQVIA LRx from January 1, 2014-March 31, 2017. Patients were required to have ≥1 oral anti-hyperglycemic prescription during the 6-month pre-index period and ≥12 months follow-up.

Real-world benefits of allergen immunotherapy for birch pollen-associated allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Background: Real-world evidence is sparse on the benefits of allergen immunotherapy [AIT; subcutaneous/sublingual immunotherapy (SCIT/SLIT)], the only disease-modifying intervention for allergic rhinitis (AR) with long-term efficacy. This real-life study evaluated the effect of six AITs (native pollen SLIT/SCIT, four allergoid SCITs) vs symptomatic medication use, on AR symptoms and asthma symptoms/onset, in patients with birch pollen-associated AR and/or asthma.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort analysis of a German longitudinal prescription database, AIT patients received ≥2 successive seasonal treatment cycles; non-AIT patients had ≥3 AR prescriptions in three seasons or previous month.

Microvascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Vildagliptin vs. Sulfonylurea: A Retrospective Study Using German Electronic Medical Records.

Introduction: Preliminary data suggest that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may reduce microvascular events, but there is a little evidence to support this from adequate real-world studies. This study aimed to compare microvascular outcomes between patients-prescribed vildagliptin and those prescribed sulfonylurea (SU).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on a large sample from the German electronic medical records database IMS Lifelink Disease Analyzer.

Use of a German longitudinal prescription database (LRx) in pharmacoepidemiology.

Large epidemiological databases are often used to examine matters pertaining to drug utilization, health services, and drug safety. The major strength of such databases is that they include large sample sizes, which allow precise estimates to be made. The IMS® LRx database has in recent years been used as a data source for epidemiological research.

Real-life dosage and clinical efficacy of biphasic insulin preparations in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: This retrospective study used data from a primary care database to compare two insulin products in routine clinical practice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in the UK.

Patients And Methods: Records were analyzed for patients with type 2 diabetes who had been initiated on biphasic insulin aspart 30 (BIAsp30) (n=632) or biphasic isophane human insulin 30 (BHI30) (n=762) and who had a glycated hemoglobin (HbA₁(c)) measurement at baseline (up to 6 months before the index date) and end of study (6-12 months after index date). Regression analyses were used to test for a statistically significant interaction between reduction in HbA₁(c) from baseline to end of study and the log-transformed average daily dose (logADD) of insulin.

Inhibition of cell proliferation by bacterial lipopolysaccharides in TLR4-positive epithelial cells: independence of nitric oxide and cytokine release.

Phylogenetically conserved toll-like receptors (TLR) recognize "pathogen-associated molecular patterns". Upon binding of ligands, TLR initiate innate immune response in immune and most likely epithelial cells. The TLR4 isoform is considered as a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor.

Effective spherical aberration compensation by use of a nematic liquid-crystal device.

The next generation of optical data storage system beyond DVDs will use blue laser light and an objective lens with a high numerical aperture of 0.85 to increase storage capacity. Such high numerical aperture systems have an inherent higher sensitivity to aberrations.

ESI Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR-MS): A Rapid High-Resolution Analytical Method for Combinatorial Compound Libraries.

The direct determination of the elemental compositions of the components of compound collections from combinatorial chemistry is achieved by ESI-FT-ICR mass spectrometry. Coupling with HPLC opens up a new dimension in high-resolution, informative analysis. The improved resolution of ESI-FT-ICR mass spectrometry in comparison to quadrupole mass spectrometry in the measurement of a compound obtained by solid-phase synthesis is illustrated.