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News Gut-Brain Axis − Future of MS Treatment?
The relationship between the gut microbiome and multiple sclerosis has been a major topic recently. How far has current science progressed in decoding this issue? A recent review article published in the journal Neuroscience Research summarizes the existing findings on the relationship of the gut microbiome to the etiopathogenesis and course of multiple sclerosis (MS).
News Current and Future Possibilities for Influencing Immune Thrombocytopenia
The possibilities for treating immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are quite broad today, with a major advancement for many patients being the advent of thrombopoietin receptor agonists. However, for some patients, optimal treatment is still not available, and their hope lies in further research.
News Memantine and Donepezil – Unity is Strength
Memantine and donepezil are both used in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, how does the combination of these drugs fare in the treatment of moderate to severe AD?
News CASE STUDY: Oral Semaglutide in a Young Diabetic = Weight Loss and CV Risk Reduction, Better Adherence and Treatment Comfort
Diabetologist MUDr. Tomáš Pfohl from the Regional Hospital Liberec illustrates the benefits of therapy with oral semaglutide in a relatively young diabetic patient with type 2 DM after unsatisfactory disease compensation was not achieved with a combination of gliptin and metformin.
News CASE STUDY: Key Benefits of GLP-1RA in Diabetes Therapy in the Office of a General Practitioner
Modern therapy using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) offers diabetics highly effective management of their primary condition as well as several other advantages: it reduces the risk of hypoglycemia, aids in weight loss, and has a positive impact on the heart and blood vessels, including increasing the chances of preventing and delaying the progression of micro and macrovascular complications. Early initiation of this treatment not only significantly improves diabetes control but also helps in preventing or delaying the development of atherosclerosis and cardiometabolic syndrome.
News Colours of Sepsis 2023: Antimicrobial Stewardship is a Necessity. The Spectrum of Effective Antimicrobial Modalities has Expanded to Include Another Combination
Inappropriate antibiotic (ATB) treatment is associated with high mortality, while unrestricted use of broad-spectrum antibiotics drives resistance development. Thus, the decision to deploy antibiotics becomes a choice between the current and future patient. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is an essential strategy in daily operations. Extending the spectrum of antimicrobial agents is equally crucial in combatting resistant bacterial strains. A symposium on this theme was part of the expert program at this year's 'festival of intensive medicine' Colours of Sepsis, held in late January in Ostrava.
News Expression of PD-L1 as a Predictive Biomarker for Therapy Selection in mRCC
A newly published systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) evaluates the predictive significance of PD-L1 expression in the treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
News MUDr. Petr Majtan: Venofarmaka should receive at least partial coverage for hemorrhoidal disease − their benefit in this indication is clear
What is the use of venofarmaka before and after surgery for chronic venous disease (CVD), and what effects of this treatment does he observe in daily practice with his patients? We asked MUDr. Petr Majtan from the private surgical and proctological clinic DK Chirurgie in Prague 10.
News CASE STUDIES: Treatment Options for Wounds in Cancer Patients
Wounds arising due to generalized cancerous diseases or their treatments require specific procedures to support healing. To illustrate, we select three brief case studies from our practice, accompanied by rich visual material.
News Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis: Network Meta-Analysis
A literature review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published in the journal Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine demonstrates the high efficacy and good tolerability of 6 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including etoricoxib, celecoxib, meloxicam, diclofenac, naproxen, and ß-D-mannuronic acid in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
News Early Cytoreductive Treatment Delays Onset of Symptoms Associated with Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma
Managing symptoms associated with advanced cancer has a significant impact on patients' quality of life and influences decisions about appropriate therapy for an individual patient. An international team of authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 3 clinical trials of the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody panitumumab in the treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC) and assessed the relationship between tumor response to treatment and the occurrence of symptoms associated with the tumor.
News Spasmolytic Effect of Metamizole
A study aimed at clarifying the mechanism of action of metamizole suggested that the clinically proven effect of this analgesic on colicky pain originating from the biliary tract could be due to agonism on β2-adrenergic receptors in the smooth muscle of the bile ducts.
News What are the patients' needs during acute phase schizophrenia therapy and how to increase their adherence?
Treatment of an acute episode of schizophrenia usually requires hospitalization in a psychiatric ward. Even though hospitalization causes discomfort and represents a burden for many patients, it enables quick and relatively precise diagnosis and timely initiation of adequate treatment and monitoring of its effectiveness. Recommended practices guide how to conduct such diagnostics and therapy. One of the symposiums at the 65th Czech-Slovak Psychopharmacological Conference, which took place in mid-January 2023 in Mariánské Lázně, also focused on the management of care for these patients during the first days of hospitalization and after discharge from acute inpatient care.
News How do IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors fare in the treatment of psoriasis in direct comparison?
A recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology is only the second paper to provide a direct comparison of the efficacy and onset speed of treatment with IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The authors monitored the early response to treatment (at week 12), and the efficacy and safety of ixekizumab and guselkumab.
News Limits of Glycated Hemoglobin and the Importance of Other Glycated Proteins
Glycated hemoglobin is a gold standard in the diagnosis and management of diabetes treatment. However, its disadvantages include numerous factors that can cause false increases or decreases in its levels. Therefore, the scientific community is also interested in researching other glycated proteins that could be used in diabetes control. So, what should we keep in mind when collecting glycated hemoglobin?
News Economic Burden and Loss of Quality of Life as a Consequence of Dry Eye Syndrome
Canadian authors evaluated the direct and indirect financial costs associated with dry eye syndrome (DED − dry eye disease) and the impact of this condition on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The results were stratified according to the severity of the condition. The most significant was the loss of work productivity, highlighting the need for adequate solutions for DED.
News Estimated Worldwide Prevalence of Population with AAT Deficiency with MZ Alleles
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) with the MZ genotype was until recently associated with negligible or low risk for lung and liver tissue damage. However, growing evidence suggests that carriers of MZ alleles are at increased risk of organ damage when exposed to tobacco smoke, polluted air, or hepatotoxic substances. Moreover, according to a global epidemiological study, the prevalence of the MZ genotype is very common, especially among Caucasians in Europe and other continents.
News INFOGRAPHIC: Determining the Target Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma Therapy
The goal of glaucoma treatment is to preserve the visual field and the quality of life of patients. Currently, the only approach to preserving the visual field of patients is to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP). Its target value should be determined for each patient with consideration of individual risk factors. The following comprehensive infographic shows which factors should be considered according to the current recommendations of the European Glaucoma Society (EGS).
News Trazodone with Extended Release Improves Patient Compliance
Since 2015, the antidepressant trazodone is available in the Czech Republic in a controlled-release formulation. A sufficiently high plasma level for 24 hours without fluctuation allows for administration only once a day, while eliminating side effects.
News Preserving Quality of Life for Patients During Palliative Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
An analysis of the quality of life of patients treated with a combination of atezolizumab with nab-paclitaxel for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer was published in the Annals of Oncology journal.
News Specific treatment of pulmonary involvement in patients with AAT deficiency − why, how, and for whom?
For patients with emphysema and decreased lung function due to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), there is an approved specific treatment which involves the i.v. administration of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) derived from human plasma. This augmentation therapy slows the loss of lung tissue density. Its effects and impact on the frequency and duration of exacerbations, quality of life, lung functions, and patient mortality are less clear.
News Pharmacotherapy of Glaucoma in a Nutshell According to the Latest Recommendations of the European Glaucoma Society
The European Glaucoma Society published its latest, 5th version of recommendations for the treatment of glaucoma in 2021. The following text, based on these recommendations, focuses in a nutshell on the basic principles of pharmacotherapy for this disease according to current knowledge.
News Metformin − A Proven Helper That Effectively Protects the Heart of Diabetics
Metformin is one of the first-line medications for patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition to lowering blood glucose levels, it also affects other metabolic processes in the human body. Its antitumor, neuroprotective, and especially cardioprotective effects have been extensively studied, which can be advantageously utilized in the diabetic population.