Merrill Blue

The views expressed on this twitter account are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

A new role for RCTs? Conducting RCTs to evaluate health care delivery in the U.S. Could these provide evidence to change the way we deliver health care? #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Despite the prominence of randomized, controlled trials in medical research, they have rarely been used to evaluate health care delivery. But researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are starting to find ways to overcome barriers to the widespread use of such trials.

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

In patients with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia, a novel oral agent with agonist activity at trace amine–associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) and 5-hydroxytryptamine type 1A (5-HT1A) receptors resulted in greater symptom reduction compared with placebo. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

In a RT involving schizophrenic patients with acute psychosis, a new oral drug that does not have a dopamine D2-receptor–binding mechanism of action led to a greater reduction in the severity of overall symptoms than placebo over 4 weeks.

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

PARP inhibitor olaparib resulted in longer progression-free survival and patient-reported end points in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had disease progression while receiving enzalutamide or abiraterone. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Original Article: Olaparib for Metastatic Prostate Cancer

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

In patients with ASCVD with elevated LDL despite maximally tolerated statin dose, inclisiran administered subcutaneously every 6 months reduced LDL cholesterol levels by approximately 50% compared with placebo. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Visual Abstract: Inclisiran in Patients with Elevated LDL Cholesterol

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

In open-label trial comparing ruxolitinib with the investigator’s choice of therapy from a list of nine options in patients with glucocorticoid-refractory acute GVHD after allogeneic stem-cell transplant, overall response at day 28 was higher in the ruxolitinib group. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Original Article: Ruxolitinib for Acute Graft-vs.-Host Disease

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

Even among those with CKD, invasive strategy as opposed to medical management did not reduce the rate of death or non-fatal MI. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Visual Abstract: Managing Coronary Disease in Advanced Kidney Disease

[Joanne Loethen, MD @JoanneLoethenMD]

“From the cashier to the emergency room nurse to the drugstore pharmacist to the home health aide taking the bus to check on her older client, the soldier on the front lines of the current national emergency is most likely a woman.��� ⁦@nytimes⁩ https://t.co/N4uPHboDVa

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

Patients with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infection who received fostemsavir had a significantly greater decrease in the HIV-1 RNA level during the first 8 days compared to those who received placebo. Trial included randomized & non-randomized group. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Original Article: Fostemsavir in Multidrug-Resistant HIV-1 Infection. #GlobalHealth

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

Liraglutide + lifestyle therapy resulted in greater reduction in BMI compared with placebo + lifestyle therapy in adolescents ages 12-18. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Original Article: Liraglutide for Adolescents with Obesity. #Pediatrics

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

Article discussing the importance of clinical trials even during the time of a pandemic for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of drugs. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Perspective: Drug Evaluation during the Covid-19 Pandemic #COVID19 #SARSCoV2

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

#UMKCRCT

[Michael Nassif @MichaelNassifMD]

Its difficult to reconcile the media's interpretation that 66% of people improve with Remdesivir. While simultaneously $GILD is saying they likely cant show benefit with a 400 person trial and need a 600% increase in sample size. ( https://t.co/BYDw5z8bjE )

[Michael Nassif @MichaelNassifMD]

Its difficult to reconcile the media's interpretation that 66% of people improve with Remdesivir. While simultaneously $GILD is saying they likely cant show benefit with a 400 person trial and need a 600% increase in sample size. ( https://t.co/BYDw5z8bjE )

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

In this double-blind RCT, patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia who received luspatercept had a significantly greater reduction in transfusion burden compared to patients who received placebo. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

#VisualAbstract: Phase 3 Trial of Luspatercept for Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

In an RCT comparing intra-articular glucocorticoid injection to PT in primary care patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, patients who underwent PT had less pain and functional disability at 1 year. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

A RT that compared PT with a glucocorticoid injection showed that at 1 year, scores on scales that assessed pain and functional ability and scores on timed performance tests were better among patients who underwent PT than among patients who received glucocorticoids.

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

Results of 53 patients who received compassionate use Remdesivir shows 68% had clinical improvement. We await results of RCTs for further data. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

A cohort of patients with severe Covid-19 received treatment with remdesivir under a compassionate-use protocol. Improvement in oxygen-support status was observed in 68% of patients, and overall mortality was 13% over a median follow-up of 26 days. #COVID19

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

Patients with stable ischemic heart disease and moderate or severe ischemia assigned to the invasive strategy did not experience a reduction clinical events but did have greater improvement in angina-related health status than those assigned to the conservative strategy. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Original Article: Health-Status Outcomes in the ISCHEMIA Trial

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

This RCT found no difference in 30-day mortality in high-risk patients with acute upper GI bleed who were randomly assigned to urgent (within 6 hours of GI consult) vs early (between 6-24 hours of GI consult) endoscopy. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Original Article: Timing of Endoscopy for Acute Upper GI Bleeding

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

Article discussing conducting randomized controlled trials during disease outbreaks and uses examples from the Ebola outbreak. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

As in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, global outbreaks of infectious illnesses often develop quickly and resolve in unpredictable ways. In this report, strategies to develop high-quality evidence to guide the development of new therapies are proposed.

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

In this RCT, HFrEF patients who received daily oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, vericiguat, vs placebo in addition to GDMT had lower rates of the combined primary outcome, CV death or first HF hospitalization. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Original Article: Vericiguat in Patients with Heart Failure #ACC20 #WCCardio

[Merrill Blue @MerrillBlue7]

In this non-inferiority, open-label RCT, oral apixaban was found to be non-inferior to SQ dalteparin for treatment of cancer-related VTE with no difference in major bleeding. #UMKCRCT

[NEJM @NEJM]

Original Article: Apixaban for Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer #ACC20 #WCCardio