Search results: (10000)
News How Important is the Time Factor in the Treatment of Heart Failure?
Current guidelines emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and immediate treatment for patients with heart failure (HF). These patients are most vulnerable immediately after the decompensation of chronic HF, and intensive treatment can therefore reduce the risk of further hospitalization and mortality. The prognosis for these patients is unfavorable, and any delay in initiating therapy further worsens it. The treatment of chronic HF is often postponed if the symptoms are stable, and the risk of adverse outcomes and sudden death is underestimated. The time factor thus plays a significant role in all stages of HF.
News Mechanisms Connecting Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity
Obesity has a close relationship with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus (DM); weight gain is associated with a higher incidence of both type 1 and type 2 DM. In the development of type 2 DM, depletion of pancreatic β-cells plays a crucial role, which can no longer produce sufficient insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis. The development of diabetes is much more likely if β-cell failure is accompanied by increased insulin resistance. In obese patients, there is a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, glycerol, pro-inflammatory cytokines, hormones, and other substances in the blood, which have a fundamental impact on insulin resistance.
News Wireless Smart Devices Monitor Health by Detecting Sounds
The human body continuously emits various forms of acoustic-mechanical signals that can provide important information about its health. Researchers from Northwestern University in the USA have developed miniature wearable devices (wearables) capable of simultaneously detecting sounds from multiple locations on the body, thereby continuously monitoring the health of the wearer. In a pilot project, the devices were tested on prematurely born infants with breathing and intestinal motility disorders and on adults with chronic lung diseases.
News Reimbursement vs. Indication: Are They Clashing in Alzheimer's Disease?
Data from clinical trials and recommended procedures do not always align with insurance reimbursement criteria. Is this the case with Alzheimer's disease treatment?
News Benefit of Maintenance Therapy with Olaparib in Newly Diagnosed Advanced Ovarian Cancer
The SOLO-1 study evaluated whether the use of the PARP inhibitor olaparib in the maintenance treatment of patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer with BRCA 1/2 mutation leads to an improved prognosis for these patients.
News Why does the heart enlarge? Myosin mutation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be the culprits
The genetic basis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was discovered only about a quarter-century ago. Since then, researchers have gathered a wealth of knowledge about the effects of causal mutations. Today, new drugs are available that directly target the molecular basis of the disease. The following text explains how mutations in heart muscle proteins are linked to myocardial hypertrophy.
News Alopecia Areata – Autoimmune Inflammatory Disease and a New Targeted Treatment Option
Alopecia areata (AA) is one of the non-scarring focal alopecias. It is an autoimmune disease of the hair follicle, the etiopathogenesis of which is not entirely understood. At the hair root, a lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate develops, resulting in follicle miniaturization and the growth of a thin dystrophic hair. Recently, however, a new strategy for the treatment of AA has emerged, focusing on reducing inflammation of the hair follicle by inhibiting Janus kinases (JAK). This is the first therapeutic modality officially approved for this indication.
News How Does Myelodysplastic Syndrome Affect Patients' Quality of Life?
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous group of disorders of hematopoietic stem cells with varying degrees of risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The therapeutic options for this disease are continually evolving. But what is the impact of this diagnosis on patients' quality of life?
News Change in Release of Medication Pradaxa
Dear Doctor,
We would like to inform you that from April 1, 2021, based on the decision of the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL), the release of the medication (LP) Pradaxa (dabigatran-etexilate) 150 and 110 mg in the indication “Prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation” will be changed to first-line treatment.
We would like to inform you that from April 1, 2021, based on the decision of the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL), the release of the medication (LP) Pradaxa (dabigatran-etexilate) 150 and 110 mg in the indication “Prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation” will be changed to first-line treatment.
News Therapy of Chronic Leg Ulcers According to Evidence-Based Medicine
Chronic ulcers on the lower extremities are defined as trophic defects that show no signs of healing after 3 months of appropriate treatment or are not healed even after 12 months of treatment. Their incidence and prevalence are continuously increasing, and they currently represent not only a serious medical problem but also a socioeconomic issue. An overview article published by German physicians focuses on summarizing the therapy of leg ulcers according to the principles of evidence-based medicine.
News Memantine, Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors, and Their Combination in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease − Findings from Meta-Analyses
Is memantine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (donepezil), or their combination more advantageous in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease? Two meta-analyses tried to answer this question, and we summarize their conclusions in the following article.
News Modification of Criteria for Diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Clinical Practice
The Rome criteria for diagnosing disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) have recently been modified due to discrepancies with their use in clinical practice. The Rome Foundation board has created modified Rome IV diagnostic criteria. When caring for patients with DGBI, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it will be possible to diagnose even with shorter duration and lower frequency of symptoms.
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 Overview of Current Treatment Options for MRSA-Induced Pneumonia
Pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a disease with high mortality requiring urgent treatment, whether it is a community-acquired or nosocomial infection. Italian authors published a review article at the beginning of 2022, describing the current available treatment modalities for this infection based on a literature survey.
News Memantine in Dementia Therapy – Current Findings and Possible Future Applications
Memantine is an inhibitor of NMDA receptors, which are pathologically activated by excessive concentrations of glutamate in the synaptic cleft in Alzheimer's disease. It is indicated in the treatment of moderate to severe cases of Alzheimer's disease, often in combination with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. At the experimental level, its administration shows a number of promising effects, including an impact on diabetes associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
News Use of Bilastine in Pediatrics − Pathway to Improving Concentration and Performance of Young Allergy Sufferers
In the treatment of allergic diseases, especially in children, safety, good tolerability, simple dosing regimen, and non-sedative effects are the basic requirements for administered medications. Sedative side effects of treatment have a negative impact on sleep patterns and subsequently on children's performance in school. European professional societies recommend the use of modern second-generation antihistamines in the treatment of children. Studies confirm that bilastine, which meets these requirements, should be among the first-choice drugs.
News When You Say Amyloid…
The term 'amyloid' was first used by the German doctor Rudolf Virchow in the mid-19th century. He described it as a pathological substance which he originally thought was starch. Although it was quickly discovered that it was a substance of protein nature, the reference to starch (from the Greek amylon) remained in the name.
News Patient with Diabetes: When to Follow Up and When to Refer to a Specialist?
It is most often the general practitioner (GP) who first diagnoses diabetes. Whether during preventive check-ups, preoperative examinations, or based on the patient's clinical issues. After diagnosing diabetes, however, the GP faces a difficult decision: Will they continue to monitor and treat the patient themselves, or will they refer them to a diabetologist?
News Mechanism of Action of Venopharmaceuticals and Their Use in the Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Venopharmaceuticals are the cornerstone of conservative treatment for chronic venous insufficiency (CVD). Their mechanism of action is complex and not yet fully understood. They act on both micro- and macrocirculation, influence the tone of the venous wall, and their anti-inflammatory action is also significant.
News Reduction of Enthesitis in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Taking Tofacitinib
Inflammation in the area where a tendon, ligament, or joint capsule attaches to the bone occurs in 35–50% of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Its presence is associated with higher activity of PsA, and its intensity correlates with the degree of joint damage. Patients with enthesitis are generally in worse functional status and report greater fatigue, pain, and decreased productivity. How can treatment with tofacitinib affect this important domain of PsA?
News Medication in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis – What to Watch Out For?
According to current recommendations, the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) should be individualized, considering the severity of the disease, the type of autoantibodies, thymus pathology, and, last but not least, the patient's preferences and comorbidities. What are the usual treatment modalities? What specifics need to be considered when treating comorbidities or acute illnesses in patients with MG? The following text briefly summarizes the answers to these questions.
News Sequential Treatment of Schizophrenia – Interactive Case Study
Sequential treatment of schizophrenia helps psychiatrists clarify the stage of the patient's treatment and how to further guide pharmacotherapy. The following case study illustrates the possibilities for reducing negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia while adhering to a metabolically sparing treatment approach.