Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 03.01.2017, Qupperneq 64

X V I I I V Í S I N D A R Á Ð S T E F N A H Í
F Y L G I R I T 9 1
64 LÆKNAblaðið/Fylgirit 91 2017/103
V 4 Development of Drugs for Local Treatment of Oral Conditions
Peter Holbrook1, Þórdís Kristmundsdóttir2
1Faculty of Odontology, UI, 2Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UI
phol@hi.is
Objectives: There is an unmet need for topical treatments of specific oral
conditions, particularly in the oral mucosa.
Methods: Medications commonly prescribed for oral mucosal ad-
ministration are often intended for transdermal application. Many
conditions affecting the oral mucosa require long-term treatments and
some treatments are systemically applied. Clinical resistance and patient
intolerance of such treatments may develop. There is thus a need to address
these problems with drug development. Research at the University of
Iceland has developed new formulations for topical treatments of oral
mucosal conditions and carried out appropriate clinical trials. The main
area of this research has been the inhibition of matrix metallo-proteina-
se activity using topical doxycycline, initially in order to treat aphthous
ulceration. The anti-microbial compound monocaprin was also tested for
activity against herpes virus and, in combination with doxycycline, was
developed in an active formulation for treating cold sores. Monocaprin
also has anti-candidal activity that has been evaluated among geriatric
patients with denture stomatitis.
Results: Topical application of doxycycline was effective in promot-
ing healing of mucosal lesions. Monocaprin reduced counts of Candida
rapidly and significantly. Results of these clinical studies have been very
promising when compared to the conventional treatments available.
Conclusions: Stability of the active components has recently been effect-
ively addressed and current research is aimed at different types of drug
delivery systems in order to optimize drug delivery to the local mucosal
site. This includes drug release time and muco-adhesive capacity of the
formulation, thereby attempting to develop more disease-specific drug
delivery systems.
V 5 Association of fat mass-and obesity-associated (FTO) variant with
stearoyl-CoA desaturase activity following a high-carbohydrate meal
Harpa Óskarsdóttir1, Helgi Schiöth2, Guðrún Skúladóttir3
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, 2Department of Neuroscience, Functional
Pharmacology, 3Department of Physiology, University of Iceland
hao17@hi.is
Introduction: The human fat mass-and obesity-associated (FTO) gene has
been associated with obesity, and data suggests that individuals homozy-
gous for the FTO rs9939609 high-risk A allele weigh more on average than
individuals homozygous for the FTO rs9939609 low-risk T allele. The exact
mechanism of how it affects obesity has not been established. The enzyme
stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) plays an important role in the de novo
lipogenic pathway, and its activity has been positively correlated with
obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between
plasma SCD activity indices and rs9939609 variant of the FTO gene before
and after a high-carbohydrate meal.
Materials and methods: A total of 44 healthy individuals (median age 26
years, range 20-36) were divided into two groups, one homozygous for
the FTO rs9939609 high-risk allele (AA; n=18), and another homozygous
for the low-risk allele (TT; n=26). Fatty acid analysis was performed in
plasma phospholipid samples from fasting individuals and again 2 hours
following a high-carbohydrate breakfast to assess the SCD activity index
(16:1n-7/16:0 ratio). The changes in SCD activity indices following a high-
carbohydrate meal were compared between the two groups by F-test and
unpaired Welch’s t-.
Results: The SCD-16 activity index was significantly elevated (P < 0.05)
following a high-carbohydrate breakfast in the AA group compared to
the TT group.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the SCD-16 activity index in subjects
homozygous for the high-risk A allele is more affected than those homozy-
gous for the low-risk T allele following a high-carbohydrate meal.
V 6 Fast Diagnostic Track For Suspected Lung Cancer: A Patient
Centered Approach
Hrönn Harðardóttir1, Unnur A. Valdimarsdóttir2, Steinn Jónsson3
1School of Health Sciences, UI, 2Center for Public Health Sciences, UI , 3Landspitali – University
Hospital
hronnh@landspitali.is
Introduction: A Fast Diagnostic Track (FDT) for patients with clinical or
radiographic changes suggestive of lung cancer was launched at Landspít-
ali, Iceland, in 2008. Patients go through 24-hours of diagnostic work-up,
leading to a definite lung cancer diagnosis and staging. The aim of this
study is to describe the clinical procedures and characteristics of patients
going through the FDT.
Material and methods: A retrospective study on 550 patients (mean age
68.1 years, 57% female) going through the FDT during 7 years from Febru-
ary 1st 2008 - January 31st 2015. We further ascertained data on all pati-
ents diagnosed with lung cancer in Iceland in 2014 (N=167, mean age 69.3
years, 61.7% female). Hospital ascertained information on background
characteristics, diagnosis, staging, waiting-times and survival was collect-
ed. Descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazard-regression models
were used for statistical analyses.
Results: 426 of the FDT patients (77.5%) were diagnosed with lung cancer.
The national proportion of patients receiving their lung cancer diagnosis
through the FDT increased during the study period from 23% in 2008 to
48% in 2014. The median waiting time from referral to diagnosis was 10
days. One-year survival was 70.5% in the FDT group in comparison to
37.2% diagnosed outside the track in 2014; hazard ratio 1.60 (95% con-
fidence interval: 0.95 – 2.71) when adjusting for age, sex, histology, stage
at diagnosis and therapy.
Conclusion: Increasing proportion of lung cancer diagnosis in Iceland is
made through a fast diagnostic track with potential benefits for patient’s
well-being and survival.
V 7 Choice of analgesics in injectable form and reasons for the
selection in hospitalised patients
Hjördís B. Ólafsdóttir1, Pétur S. Gunnarsson1, Inga J. Arnardóttir2, Rannveig
Einarsdóttir3
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2Pharmacy, Landspitali – University Hospital, 3Division of
finance, Landspitali – University Hospital
psg@hi.is
Introduction: Opioid analgesics are recommended in clinical guidelines
for the treatment of pain. Strong opioid analgesics have similar efficacy,
side effects and safety. This study examined the frequency of use and the
reasons for the choice of opioids in injectable form in hospitalised patients
at LSH. The use of guidelines or SOPs for the selection and administration
of opioids was also reviewed.
Methods: The study was retrospective and descriptive. Data about use