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News Monocyte Distribution Width Indicates Sepsis Regardless of Sepsis Etiology
Patients in intensive care units represent a high-risk population for the development of sepsis, which is one of the primary causes of mortality in these settings. The aim of the recently published study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic properties of the monocyte distribution width parameter in septic patients.
News What affects the elimination of bisoprolol in diabetics and patients with acute coronary syndrome?
Beta-blockers are widely used to reduce cardiovascular (CV) risk in a number of diseases. However, information about the pharmacokinetics of these drugs is still far from complete. Two studies focused on the population pharmacokinetics (PopPK) of bisoprolol in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and ischemic heart disease (IHD), and we summarize their conclusions.
News Diagnosis and Management of Therapy for a Breastfeeding Patient with Significant Elevation of Liver Enzymes Postpartum – Interactive Case Study
In the following case study, we present a specific approach to a patient who developed a significant elevation of liver enzymes after childbirth. Through interactive elements, you can try out how you would proceed in diagnosing and treating this case.
News How to Communicate and Receive an Oncological Diagnosis
Communicating the truth to a patient about their health condition does not have a very long tradition in the Czech Republic. The Czech healthcare system started emphasizing this aspect, i.e., honest and open communication between doctor and patient, several years after the Velvet Revolution.
News ESC 2022: Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction as an Underdiagnosed Problem: How to Increase Its Detection in Everyday Practice?
During this year's European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC 2022), alarming information was shared, indicating that heart failure with preserved ejection fraction of the left ventricle (HFpEF) is likely underdiagnosed in clinical practice, necessitating improved identification and detection of patients with this condition. One of the symposiums addressed not only the reasons why many patients with HFpEF are misdiagnosed.
News Expanded Hemodialysis and Its Impact on Reducing Hospitalization Rates and Medication Usage
The number of patients with end-stage kidney disease is increasing. New approaches and technological advancements in recent decades have contributed to improving hemodialysis treatment. Does the use of so-called expanded hemodialysis lead to better outcomes?
News Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Their Reversal Agents – Current Options
In the last 10 years, the options for anticoagulant therapy have expanded with the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). It appears that DOACs may soon replace warfarin in the first line of prevention of venous thromboembolism, not only due to their clinical advantages but also thanks to newly available reversal agents that can be administered in case of major bleeding in patients taking DOACs. A recently published review article summarizes the current situation in this area.
News Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Cardiac Amyloidosis
Cardiac amyloidosis remains a diagnostic challenge that requires great clinical vigilance. The imaging method of choice for evaluating heart failure suspected of amyloidosis is echocardiography. What findings are typical for patients with amyloidosis?
News OCA in Second-Line Treatment of PBC: Analysis Results and Real-World Data
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the cornerstone treatment for PBC according to the guidelines of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). However, many patients (25–50%) do not achieve an adequate response to it, and some patients develop intolerance leading to the necessity of discontinuation (in the phase III POISE study, this concerned 7% of participants). Then, obeticholic acid (OCA) is indicated, which is recommended as the only registered second-line treatment option for PBC by current professional guidelines both European (EASL 2017) and Czech (2018). The latest data on OCA from clinical studies as well as real-world practice was also presented at this year's XLVIII May Hepatology Days.
News Longer survival without liver transplant in patients with PBC treated with OCA?
Obeticholic acid (OCA) is a second-line treatment for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who have an inadequate response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or intolerance to it. The study presented below, the results of which were recently published, examined the effectiveness of OCA in reducing cholestatic enzymes as well as the length of survival without liver transplant in patients with PBC.
News Can the use of sartans reduce mortality and severity of COVID-19 in hypertensives?
Existing scientific and clinical evidence suggests the involvement of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Some of the initial experimental therapy proposals included various interventions in the RAAS.
News Can SGLT2 Inhibition Also Reduce the Risk of Nephrolithiasis?
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for the development of nephrolithiasis. Recent studies associated with nephrolithiasis suggest a possible beneficial effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i, also known as gliflozins), a significant group of modern antidiabetics. Below we summarize findings from a study that explored this potential in empagliflozin using conducted phase I–IV studies, including EMPA-REG OUTCOME.
News Current Recommendations of the American Society of Hematology for the Prevention of Thromboembolic Disease and Duration of Prophylaxis in Patients Undergoing Major Surgery
At the end of 2019, new recommendations were published by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) for the prevention of thromboembolic disease (VTE) in hospitalized patients. The new guidelines also addressed the duration of VTE prophylaxis in patients undergoing major surgical procedures.
News Comparison of Three Thromboprophylactic Regimens in Patients Post Pancreatic Surgery
Post-pancreatectomy bleeding and thromboembolic disease are among the serious complications of pancreatic surgeries. The aim of the study published last year in the British Journal of Surgery was to compare the efficacy and safety of different dosing regimens of low-molecular-weight heparin nadroparin in patients undergoing oncologic pancreatic surgery.
News From Biomarker Testing to NSCLC Treatment Selection
During a satellite symposium at this year's European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC 2022), Prof. Martin Reck from the Department of Thoracic Oncology at the hospital in Grosshansdorf, Germany, discussed precision medicine in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have selected an overview of advancements in next-generation sequencing from his presentation for you.
News Reducing Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetics Through Hypertension Treatment
The presence of hypertension in patients with diabetes worsens overall cardiovascular (CV) prognosis and increases the prevalence of chronic renal failure. Adequate treatment of hypertension can significantly influence the development and severity of these complications. What target blood pressure (BP) values should we aim for in diabetics, which antihypertensive therapy to choose, and why not forget about 24-hour BP monitoring?
News Dust Mite Allergy and the Risk of Sleep-Disordered Breathing
New York authors in their recently published retrospective analysis tested the hypothesis that individuals with allergic rhinitis caused by dust mite allergy have an increased risk of breathing disorders during the REM phase of sleep, based on objective polysomnography evaluation.
News Treatment Options for Advanced Parkinson's Disease Using Medical Devices (DAT)
A new treatment option for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) using medical devices (DAT − device-aided therapy) is the intestinal infusion gel containing levodopa, entacapone, and carbidopa (LECIG). An article published in 2022 in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders provides an overview of current DAT modalities in PD patients and presents LECIG as the latest extension of options in this area.
News Recurring allergy symptoms after waking up? It could be due to dust mites
Allergens that are part of the feces and exoskeleton of dust mites, invisible members of human households, can cause milder symptoms like mucosal swelling, itching of the nose or throat, but also a stronger immune reaction, asthma, or severe allergic rhinitis. It is stated that 1−2% of the global population suffers from dust mite allergy, which corresponds to 65−130 million people. Why does it arise and what can be done in its prevention and treatment?
News Vaccination Against COVID-19 in Patients Treated With Anticoagulants
Canadian professional societies and the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom recommend COVID-19 vaccination even for patients treated with anticoagulants. The benefit of vaccination in these patients significantly outweighs the risk of hematoma associated with intramuscular injection. The recommendation applies to both warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).
News Alzheimer's Disease – Another Pandemic on the Horizon?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, other current problems often get pushed into the background. One of these is the aging population and the increasing prevalence of dementia. The key question thus becomes how to extend the period of active aging as much as possible.
News New Strategies in the Treatment of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia was primarily associated with dopamine dysfunction. Previous and current treatments have mainly targeted the mesolimbic dopamine pathway in the CNS and D2 receptors. However, the cited review article primarily addresses newer treatment targets and strategies beyond the dopamine hypothesis.
News Administration of aPCC as a Prevention of Bleeding After Major Cardiac Surgical Procedures
The possibility of actively preventing severe bleeding after a major cardiac surgical procedure using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) by administering a concentrate of activated procoagulant complex seems feasible, although a larger study will be needed to confirm its effect.