Darolutamide improves survival in patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

According to a new study, darolutamide provided significant improvement in survival and was favorably tolerated in patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) who have stopped responding to standard hormonal therapy. This study was published in the journal, European Urology.

1509 patients were enrolled, 469 had prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSADT) >6 months (darolutamide n = 286; placebo n = 183) and 1040 had PSADT ≤6 months (darolutamide n = 669; placebo n = 371). Patients were randomized to either receive oral darolutamide 600 mg twice in a day or placebo, while continuing androgen-deprivation therapy. Primary endpoint of this study was metastasis-free survival (MFS) and safety was recorded throughout the study.

Darolutamide significantly prolonged MFS compared to placebo in both subgroups PSADT >6 months and PSADT ≤6 months. Overall survival (OS), other efficacy and quality of life (QoL) endpoints showed significant improvement in the darolutamide subgroups versus the placebo subgroups.

This study demonstrated that darolutamide provided a favorable benefit/risk ratio characterized by significant improvements in MFS, OS, and other clinically relevant endpoints. It also maintained QoL and was favorably tolerated in patients with nmCRPC and PSADT >6 months.

Dietary fibre improves renal anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease

A recent study suggested that application of dietary fibre (DF) may improve renal anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The results of this study were published in the Journal of Translational Medicine.

The prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study aimed to explore the effect of DF on renal anemia by regulating the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). A total of 162 ESRD patients were enrolled in the study and randomly distributed into a DF or a control group, who received oral DF or potato starch (10 g/day) for 8 weeks. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (Fe2+), serum ferritin (SF), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), hepcidin, and the dosage of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) were measured in patients before and after intervention. The gut microbiota and SCFAs in both groups were analyzed.

In comparison with the control group, the DF group had higher Hb, Fe2+, and SF levels. It was found that Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Lactobacillus and Lactobacillaceae increased in the DF group, and Lactobacillus and Lactobacillaceae were positively correlated with Hb and Fe2+ levels.

Thus, it can be concluded that the prebiotic effects of DF improves renal anemia in ESRD patients.

Vitamin B12 deficiency linked to development of restless leg syndrome

A recent study found that patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) have vitamin B12 deficiency and thus a possible association between these two. The results of this study are published in the journal, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery.

The retrospective study aimed to determine whether vitamin B12 levels are independently related to the occurrence of RLS. The serum vitamin B12 levels of 80 patients with RLS and 80 age- and gender- matched healthy controls (HC) were analyzed.

Serum vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in the RLS group, while creatinine and homocysteine levels were higher. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression revealed that serum vitamin B12 was independently related to RLS. Thus, the results concluded that patients with RLS had significant vitamin B12 deficiency compared to HC. Furthermore, low serum vitamin B12 levels have been linked to the development of RLS. Such deficiency explains severity of symptoms.