The cardiovascular response to the control of diabetes by sulphonylurea drugs has been investigated using systolic time intervals in a group of 19 diabetics. Before treatment a significantly greater heart rate and shortening of QS2 interval and left ventricular ejection time index were encountered among the more hyperglycaemic diabetic patients requiring drug therapy while all diabetics had a reduction of pre-ejection period index. There was a gradual return of resting heart rate and systolic time intervals to control values along with the fall in plasma sugar concentration during treatment. A likely explanation of the findings is that uncontrolled diabetics, particularly those more severely affected, are subjected to an increased adrenergic stimulus to the cardiovascular system which disappears with therapy. There is no evidence of positive inotropic action of sulphonylurea drugs in this study.

The clinical efficacy of xamoterol, alpha beta 1-adrenoceptor partial agonist, was determined in a multicentre double-blind, randomized, parallel group study of 240 patients with mild to moderate heart failure. At entry, 62% of patients were receiving diuretics (thiazides, or loop diuretics at a dose no greater than the equivalent of 80 mg of frusemide); 32% were taking nitrate formulations and 14% digoxin for control of atrial fibrillation. Assessments were carried out after a 1-week placebo run-in and after 3 months of treatment with either xamoterol or placebo. 198 patients completed the study of whom 186 had valid exercise tests. Mean exercise duration increased by 7% after placebo and by 19% after xamoterol during a progressive treadmill exercise protocol. Xamoterol significantly reduced peak exercise heart rate compared with placebo. Subjectively, there was improvement in breathlessness on the visual analogue scale after treatment with xamoterol compared with placebo, but no change in fatigue. We conclude that xamoterol produces sustained improvement in symptoms and exercise duration in mild to moderate heart failure.

Background In October 2015, 65 people came into direct contact with a healthcare worker presenting with a late reactivation of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the United Kingdom. Vaccination was offered to 45 individuals with an initial assessment of high exposure risk. Methods Approval for rapid expanded access to the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus–Zaire Ebola virus (rVSV-ZEBOV) vaccine as an unlicensed emergency medicine was obtained from the relevant authorities. An observational follow-up study was carried out for 1 year following vaccination. Results Twenty-six of 45 individuals elected to receive vaccination between 10 and 11 October 2015 following written informed consent. By day 14, 39% had seroconverted, increasing to 87% by day 28 and 100% by 3 months, although these responses were not always sustained. Neutralizing antibody responses were detectable in 36% by day 14 and 73% at 12 months. Common side effects included fatigue, myalgia, headache, arthralgia, and fever. These were positively associated with glycoprotein-specific T-cell but not immunoglobulin (Ig) M or IgG antibody responses. No severe vaccine-related adverse events were reported. No one exposed to the virus became infected. Conclusions This paper reports the use of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine given as an emergency intervention to individuals exposed to a patient presenting with a late reactivation of EVD. The vaccine was relatively well tolerated, but a high percentage developed a fever ≥37.5°C, necessitating urgent screening for Ebola virus, and a small number developed persistent arthralgia.

No abstract

7‐11 November 2010, Tenth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, Glasgow, UK