Biomedical subjects

John J Murray

Publications and source records attributed to John J Murray.

20 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Comprehensive evaluation of cetirizine in the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis: impact on symptoms, quality of life, productivity, and activity impairment.

Improvement in patient daily functioning and well-being resulting from disease-related symptom relief is increasingly viewed as a clinically relevant therapeutic outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQL) effects, safety and efficacy of cetirizine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis, and impact on self-reported work/school-related productivity and activity impairment (WPAI). This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Adult patients (n = 865) were randomized to daily treatment for 2 weeks with cetirizine or placebo. Patient disease-specific HRQL and WPAI were assessed at baseline and weeks 1 and 2 of treatment using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) and Allergy-Specific Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI-AS) Instrument, respectively. Treatment with cetirizine resulted in greater (p < 0.001) improvement in overall RQLQ and individual domain scores (activities, sleep, non-nose/eye symptoms, practical problems, nasal symptoms, eye symptoms, emotional), as compared with placebo. Cetirizine therapy produced a 28.9% mean reduction in total symptom severity complex (TSSC) score versus 12.7% with placebo at study end. Work/school productivity and activity impairment were significantly (p < 0.001) decreased from baseline for cetirizine-treated patients compared with placebo. The incidence of treatment-related side effects was similar between groups. Cetirizine provides safe and effective symptomatic relief in adults with SAR while significantly improving HRQL and providing a positive impact on work/school-related productivity and activity impairment. These results provide a more comprehensive assessment of cetirizine, indicating that its benefits extend beyond conventional measures of clinical outcome.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of once-daily triamcinolone acetonide aqueous and twice-daily beclomethasone dipropionate aqueous nasal sprays in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Ragweed pollen is the most frequent cause of allergic rhinitis in the late summer-fall in North America. The objectives of this multicenter, randomized, single-blind study are to assess the efficacy and safety of triamcinolone acetonide aqueous (TAA AQ) and beclomethasone dipropionate aqueous (BDP) in the treatment of adult patients with seasonal ragweed-induced allergic rhinitis. Patient's self-assessment of comfort with medication and health-related quality of life were also assessed. A total of 152 patients were randomized to treatment with TAA AQ 200 micrograms once daily in the morning (n = 75) or BDP twice-daily 336 micrograms/day (n = 77). Both treatments were shown to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, with no significant differences between the two treatments in mean reduction from baseline of nasal stuffiness, discharge, nasal index (sum of discharge, stuffiness, and sneezing), itching, and total eye symptoms. There were no significant differences between treatments in quality of life scores. However, TAA AQ was described by patients as having a better taste and smell than aqueous BDP (p < or = 0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated and associated with a similar incidence of adverse events. These results show that both once-daily TAA AQ 220 micrograms and twice-daily BDP 336 micrograms are well tolerated and effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. In addition, both treatments are equally as effective at improving patient health-related quality of life. However, patients preferred the odor and taste of TAA AQ over BDP. It is likely that once-daily dosing and patient preference for the sensory attributes of TAA AQ may enhance treatment compliance.

Administration, Intranasal↗