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News When to Suspect Dravet Syndrome?
In 2022, an international consensus panel of experts on the diagnosis and treatment of Dravet syndrome was published. This was created due to the recently approved specific treatments for this disease and the development of disease-modifying therapies. The goal of the consensus is to improve diagnosis, set therapeutic goals, and optimal treatment procedures. We summarize the symptoms of the disease and situations in which genetic testing of the causal mutation is appropriate.
News Invasive Pneumococcal Disease – Current Czech Data
The number of reported cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) returned to levels comparable to those before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Regarding age-specific morbidity, the most at-risk groups are children under 1 year of age and seniors over 65 years old. The specific data for 2022 is provided by a report from the Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the National Institute of Public Health (SZÚ).
News Intestinal Infection of Multi-Resistant NDM-Producing K. pneumoniae in a Patient with NK/T Lymphoma – Case Study
The incidence of NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae is increasing worldwide. NDM beta-lactamase is a significant cause of multidrug resistance in enterobacteria to various antibiotics, including carbapenems. Currently, the most suitable approach for the treatment of intestinal infections caused by NDM-producing K. pneumoniae is considered to be the combination of ceftazidime/avibactam with aztreonam. The following case study also illustrates its use in more complicated cases.
News Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets in the Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes
Anticoagulants and antiplatelets are a key part of the therapeutic strategies used in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). They reduce the risk of acute and late complications, morbidity, and mortality in patients. On the other hand, their main disadvantage is the potential occurrence of bleeding complications. Therefore, the goal of physicians is to use these medications appropriately, maximizing benefits for patients while minimizing the risk of bleeding.
News About Sartans: An Overview with Consideration of Their Position in the Current Coronavirus Situation
Sartans, or AT1 receptor blockers for angiotensin II (ARBs), are among the first-line antihypertensives, along with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). These are well-tested drugs with a good safety profile. We offer a brief overview of the position of sartans in the current therapeutic strategy, including comments on their possible association with COVID-19, based on the state of knowledge as of early May 2020.
News Effect of Telmisartan and Losartan on Bone Turnover Markers in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Stage I Hypertension
Telmisartan, an AT1 receptor blocker for angiotensin II and partial agonist of the PPAR-γ receptor, is a widely used antihypertensive. The PPAR-γ receptor plays a role in the genesis of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and antidiabetic drugs from the thiazolidinedione group, which act as agonists of this receptor, have a known inhibitory effect on bone metabolism and increase the risk of non-traumatic fractures. Knowledge regarding the potential similar effects of telmisartan is limited. The following study compared the effects of telmisartan and losartan (an AT1 blocker without agonistic effect on PPAR-γ) on bone turnover markers in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension.
News Kadcyla in a New Indication – Adjuvant Therapy for Early HER2+ Breast Cancer
In December, the European Commission approved the expansion of the indication for Roche's medicinal product Kadcyla, which contains the active substance trastuzumab emtansine. This expansion makes adjuvant treatment accessible to a much larger number of patients with early HER2-positive breast cancer and reduces the likelihood of disease recurrence or progression.
News Albuminuria as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Without Apparent Cardiovascular Disease
Albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and higher mortality. However, this association has not been thoroughly investigated in diabetics without evident atherosclerotic disease. A study with a large cohort of Danish patients helped fill in the missing data.
News Fixed combinations of Enerzair® and Atecura® may improve asthma treatment
The newly approved fixed triple combination Enerzair® and the fixed dual combination Atectura® have demonstrated improvements in lung function and a reduction in exacerbations in previously uncontrolled asthma patients. Administering once daily using the Breezhaler® inhaler along with the possibility of connecting a digital aid aims, among other things, to facilitate usage and proper adherence to the treatment.
News Pregabalin in Seniors Confirmed Its Safety and Effectiveness
A pooled analysis of 11 studies investigated the safety and effectiveness of pregabalin in seniors with neuropathic pain. Are the outcomes in these indicators different for older individuals than in the general population sample?
News Doc. Jiří Kubeš: The major benefit of proton therapy lies in protecting healthy tissues
Nearly 9,000 patients with oncological diseases have already undergone modern proton radiotherapy at the Proton Center in Prague. Which diagnoses are suitable for this treatment modality, what are its main benefits, and what is its place in the comprehensive therapy of malignant tumors? We discuss these topics with the chief physician of this medical facility, Doc. MUDr. Jiří Kubeš, Ph.D.
News Full Compensation of Seizures as the Main Goal of Epilepsy Therapy: Will Patients Achieve It More Easily Than 20 Years Ago?
What is the relationship between the quality of life of patients and the degree of seizure compensation? Have the new antiepileptics (ASM) developed over the last decades improved the overall success rate of therapy?
News Side Effects of Metformin: It's Not Just a Nocebo Effect?
If we were to name medications that have the greatest significance from a population standpoint, metformin would certainly be at the top of the list. We have known it for over fifty years and know a lot about it, including its negatives. But is it time to replace it with new drugs? Or is it worth staying with it?
News Summary of Recommendations for the Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a temporary or permanent reduction in the number of platelets, leading to an increased risk of bleeding. It also occurs in 1-5 out of 10,000 pregnant women. We summarize recommendations for the treatment of these patients.
News Bilastine as a reliable helper in the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria even in younger children
Until recently, bilastine was indicated for the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria only in patients over 12 years of age. However, current findings from valid studies demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its use even in younger individuals.
News STADA Brings Innovative Drug for Treatment of Advanced Parkinson's Disease to Czech Republic
STADA PHARMA CZ is introducing a new system for continuous delivery of 3 active substances for the treatment of advanced stages of Parkinson's disease (PD) to the Czech market. It is one of the major innovations in the care of PD patients in the last two decades. The drug, which STADA acquired the rights to in 2020, had already been introduced in the Nordic countries where this treatment is successfully underway. In the Czech Republic, it has been fully covered since April 1, 2022.
News Comparison of 5 Beta-Blockers in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
An analysis of 26 studies with beta-blockers in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction compared 5 drugs (bisoprolol, metoprolol-succinate, metoprolol-tartrate, carvedilol, and nebivolol). The results showed a more favorable prognosis with bisoprolol compared to carvedilol, a similar effect on prognosis for carvedilol, metoprolol-succinate, and nebivolol, and the least favorable prognosis with metoprolol-tartrate.
News The Potential of Vinpocetine in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Vinpocetine is a nootropic indicated for the symptomatic treatment of cerebral ischemic hypoperfusion, vascular dementia, and reducing the psychological and neurological consequences of cerebral blood supply disorders. Due to its excellent safety profile, tolerance, and complex mechanism of action, it is currently being studied in experimental models of various disorders such as obesity and cardiovascular (CV) diseases including atherosclerosis, neointimal hyperplasia, vasoconstriction, pathological heart remodeling, and ischemic stroke (iCMP). We present an overview of the research findings on vinpocetine in CV diseases.
News Lurasidone in Antipsychotic Therapy – A Case Study of a Virtual Patient from the Laurie Project
MUDr. Elis Bartečků, Ph.D., from the Department of Psychiatry at MU LF and FN Brno presented the current possibilities of telemedical education at the XIV congress of the Psychiatric Society of the CLS JEP in Mikulov, specifically the so-called virtual patient within the interactive online Laurie project by Angelini Pharma. The presentation involved the case of a 20-year-old man with a severe psychotic disorder and equally severe somatic comorbidity.
News Epstein-Barr Virus – Is the Culprit of MS Revealed?
Could the Epstein-Barr virus hold the answer to the etiology of multiple sclerosis? A dataset of over 10 million American recruits offered intriguing insights. You may have encountered the conclusions of one of the most extensive studies in modern history in the media. Let's take a closer look at the work of Kjetil Bjornevik and his colleagues.