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Experts from around the world discussed how to best manage the clinical issues presented by patients with refractory chronic cough, who often spend years trying to find effective relief.

Isabelle Arnulf, MD, PhD, senior neurologist, and professor, Neurology, Sorbonne Universités, Pierre and Marie Curie University, discusses findings of significant improvement observed in patients with idiopathic hypersomnia undergoing lower-sodium oxybate treatment.

An overview of the latest news in Parkinson disease (PD) reported across MJH Life Sciences™.

The novel agents are a result of a greater understanding of the conditions and may modify the diseases’ course and cytoreduction, researchers said.

Katharine Simon, PhD, clinical pediatric psychologist, and postdoctoral researcher, Sleep and Cognition Lab, UC Irvine, explains the influence of the autonomic nervous system on body functions and recommendations for patients experiencing autonomic imbalance and sleep dysregulation.

New antitussive trials are challenged by large placebo effects and the risk of the trial being unblinded due to adverse effects, explained Ron Eccles, BSc, PhD, DSc, emeritus professor at Cardiff University.

Using limited data from the ASPEN trial, investigators estimated survival probability and cost-effectiveness for zanubrutinib vs other agents in Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

The study explores data on liquid biopsy approaches outside of circulating tumor DNA—a commonly used approach for liquid biopsy—and includes novel methods like non-coding RNA.

A session presented at Virtual SLEEP 2021 highlights the social and environmental factors that impact sleep health.

Updated guidelines for adults and children highlight confusion over the name of the condition and the need for greater evidence.

Ivo Abraham, PhD, RN, a professor with the University of Arizona Health Sciences in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, discusses the current state of the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) sector of the biosimilar market.

Shalini Paruthi, MD, medical codirector, St. Luke’s Hospital, Sleep Medicine and Research Center, and cochair of SLEEP 2021, highlights discussion topics that will address best practices for evaluating, diagnosing, and treating common sleep disorders.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis taking secukinumab saw improvements in enthesitis, and some achieved complete resolution, suggesting the drug could be a viable option for patients intolerant of or unresponsive to other enthesitis-improving medications.

The study authors hope their findings inform future interventions whose goal is to minimize the comorbidity burden of adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), thereby improving their quality of life and ultimate health outcomes.

The placebo effect is a major problem in cough trials and can make it impossible to tell the true pharmacological effect of the medicine being studied, said Ron Eccles, BSc, PhD, DSc, emeritus professor at Cardiff University.

An interim analysis of the phase 3 ALPINE study demonstrated that zanubrutinib has a superior response rate, improved progressive-free survival, and lower rate of atrial fibrillation/flutter compared with ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/ small lymphocytic leukemia (CLL/SLL).

A new study from Milliman investigated the potential financial impact if H.R.3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, was fully implemented.

Results from 2 studies presented at this year’s European Hematology Association meeting demonstrate the long-term tolerability and efficacy of the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

The P2X3 antagonists are the furthest along in the drug development process, but there are other potential drugs being evaluated to treat chronic cough, which currently has no FDA-approved therapies on the market, said Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD, chair of the American Cough Conference.

Desensitizing the cough reflex and new technologies based on artificial intelligence are some of the oral abstracts that Jacky Smith, MB, ChB, FRCP, PhD, professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Manchester and an honorary consultant at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, who chairs that session, is looking forward to at the American Cough Conference.

Michael Thorpy, MD, director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center, Montefiore, and professor of neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses aspects of the Idiopathic Hypersomnia Severity Scale, and how it fared in measuring symptoms of idiopathic hypersomnia compared with traditional scales.

The populations represented in randomized controlled trials often do not match the populations being treated in the real world due to eligibility criteria, which can be challenging when translating those results to real-world decisions, explained speakers during a session at the European Hematology Association 2021 Virtual Congress.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

Abstracts presented at SLEEP 2021 include real-world data characterizing individuals with central disorders of hypersomnolence.

The phase 2 ZUMA-3 trial of brexucabtagene autoleucel showed that it is possible to intervene early to prevent some toxicity, said Bijal Shah, MD, associate member in the Department of Malignant Hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center.

The pandemic led to decreased rates of routine childhood vaccinations; changes could inhibit use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); officials extend the shelf-life of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.

Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis point to higher rates of metabolic syndrome among patients with psoriatic arthritis.

The interim results on the first 415 patients randomized in the phase 3 ALPINE study showed a significantly better response for zanubrutinib compared with ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic leukemia, said Peter Hillmen, PhD, MB ChB, professor at the University of Leeds.

There are many unknowns for third-line chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treatment and beyond, speakers said at the EHA2021 Virtual Congress.

Patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) use significant health care resources, and mavacamten can help to reduce their symptoms and improve their function, noted Jay Edelberg, MD, PhD, head of Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Development at Bristol Myers Squibb.