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News Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Can This Disease Be Named More Precisely?
Much about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is still unknown. Some experts would like to reclassify this disease. What classification options are available? What would a focus on the "progressive fibrotic phenotype" in research mean? And what would a change in classification mean for patients?
News Patient with a History of DOAC Usage in Neurological ICU with Stroke – Case Study
How should we approach patients with a stroke who are taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and correctly assess the situation? When should we administer the available antidote according to guidelines? The following case study from the Regional Hospital Liberec illustrates this increasingly common situation.
News Options for Reducing or Discontinuing TPO-RA Therapy in ITP Patients − Expert Consensus
There are currently no clear recommendations regarding dose reduction or discontinuation of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A consensus by British authors offers insights into current clinical practice and the related issues.
News New ESMO Recommendations for Investigating Circulating Tumor DNA
Liquid biopsy has been discussed in oncology for several decades. As we move from conference abstracts to its real-world application in clinical practice, the new recommendations of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) describe the examination of circulating tumor DNA from peripheral blood.
News Finding Balance Between Intracranial Efficacy and Adverse Effects of ALK Kinase Inhibition
More than 7 years – that is the current median survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a mutation in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene who are receiving targeted therapy. Therefore, the quality of life of patients on treatment and the search for a balance between its antitumor efficacy and adverse effects (AEs) is becoming the focus of clinical research. Recently, lorlatinib has been discussed in this context.
News Lorlatinib as an Alternative to CNS Radiotherapy in Patients with NSCLC − Case Studies
Two remarkable case studies from authors at the Netherlands Cancer Institute Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in Amsterdam present patients with advanced NSCLC with metastatic CNS involvement. Treatment with crizotinib led to good control of pulmonary involvement but did not affect metastatic CNS involvement. The introduction of lorlatinib subsequently led to rapid improvement in neurological symptoms, which was also confirmed by CNS imaging.
News Cognitive changes in MS – what can teriflunomide do?
In Phase III clinical trials, teriflunomide demonstrated its ability to slow down brain tissue atrophy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). What impact did the treatment have on the cognitive state of these patients?
News Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
The COVID-19 pandemic has a far-reaching impact on the physical and mental health of the global population. The current situation poses an undue burden on patients suffering from schizophrenia as well as other psychiatric disorders. According to recent studies, individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders have higher mortality rates and worsening disease progression or overall quality of life.
News From Hell to the Light at the End of the Tunnel – A Task for Eletriptan
In recent months, under the spotlight of new biological treatments, the focus has been predominantly on the prophylactic treatment of migraines. However, we should not forget about acute therapy. In this indication, the pharmacological group of triptans is dominant. So, does eletriptan reliably stop the hell named a migraine attack? And is the response to this drug consistent?
News Spectrum of Mechanisms of Action of Fenfluramine in the Treatment of Rare Epilepsies
Fenfluramine (FFA) is an anticonvulsant used in the treatment of rare epilepsies such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. In addition to effectively reducing seizure frequency, it also mitigates non-seizure comorbidities in patients with these conditions. Last year, Belgian authors published a detailed review of all its described mechanisms of action. They also explain how these mechanisms might contribute to the clinical benefits of FFA beyond seizure suppression, such as reducing the risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) or improving executive functions.
News Potential of Aloe to Reduce Severity of Symptoms in Patients with IBS − What Emerged from the Analysis of Fecal Microflora and Metabolite Profiles?
Current treatment options for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS − irritable bowel syndrome) are relatively limited. This increases interest in complementary and alternative therapy options with plant preparations. One modality used to alleviate IBS symptoms is Aloe barbadensis Mill. The aim of a clinical study by Swedish researchers was to assess the effect of aloe on IBS symptoms compared to a control treatment with inulin.
News Subclinical Hypothyroidism Associated with the Use of Allopurinol? What the Results of a Large Multicenter Study Suggested
Allopurinol is a widely used drug for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. The retrospective study presented below investigated whether its long-term use is associated with an increased risk of developing subclinical hypothyroidism.
News Risk of Subsequent Fractures in Postmenopausal Women After Initial Fracture
Osteoporosis is associated with an increased risk of fractures. The prospective analysis presented below examined the risk of subsequent fractures in postmenopausal women after an initial fracture depending on its location.
News Polatuzumab Vedotin in Combination Treatment of Patients with R/R DLBCL
Polatuzumab Vedotin is a conjugate of a cytostatic agent and an antibody against CD79b, a component of the B-lymphocyte receptor typically expressed by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells. In combination with bendamustine and rituximab (pola-BR), this drug is administered in the 3rd and subsequent lines of treatment for relapsed or refractory (R/R) DLBCL. If allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is not feasible, patients with R/R DLBCL generally have a very poor prognosis, with limited further treatment options. However, at the 61st American Society of Hematology (ASH) congress held in December 2019 in Orlando, promising results were presented from extended follow-up of patients treated in clinical studies with the pola-BR combination.
News Impact of Lifestyle on the Benefit of Pharmacotherapy for Hypertension and Dyslipidemia
Antihypertensive and hypolipidemic therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Observational studies have shown that factors of a healthy lifestyle also have this influence. But is the benefit of pharmacotherapy for hypertension and dyslipidemia influenced by adherence to a healthy lifestyle? This question was attempted to be answered by an analysis of data from the clinical study HOPE-3.
News Enoxaparin in Weight-Based Dosing for Thromboprophylaxis in Hospitalized Cancer Patients
Cancer patients are at higher risk of developing thromboembolic disease during hospitalization. Currently, there is not enough evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of the standard fixed dose of low molecular weight heparin in individuals at high risk of thromboembolic disease. Therefore, a Phase II clinical study evaluated the efficacy and safety of weight-adjusted dosing in these patients.
News New Era in Migraine Therapy
Migraine is the most common type of primary headache. It affects about 10% of the world population. Recurring migraine attacks significantly reduce quality of life. Therefore, research in pharmacotherapy in recent years has logically focused on preventing attacks. The result is the latest possibility of biological treatment for migraines using monoclonal antibodies against CGRP receptors.
News MS, NMOSD and COVID-19: What Did a Year of Pandemic in Czechia Mean for Our Patients and Which Risk Factors Were Confirmed?
What is the incidence and course of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and diseases from the broader spectrum of neuromyelitis optica (NMOSD) in Czechia? And which risk factors pertain to this specific population? Data from the ReMuS registry, summarized in an article by Czech authors recently published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, revealed this and more. We offer a unique insight into the issue of COVID-19 in these patients in our conditions.
News Biosimilar Bevacizumab in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Biosimilar drugs are essentially analogous to generics for biological medicines. The patent protection for the original bevacizumab product will expire in the European Union in 2022. Consequently, several companies have already embarked on developing a biosimilar molecule.
News Clinical Results of the Pinnacle Acetabular System: Data from the UK Joint Replacement Registry
The Pinnacle Acetabular System has been available on the market for nearly two decades. Since then, it has been implanted in numerous healthcare facilities worldwide. Clinical outcomes of the acetabular system were evaluated by analyzing data from the National Joint Replacement Registry of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man.
News Does Dosage Frequency Matter for Adherence to Anticholinergic Treatment in Patients with COPD?
A study by Spanish authors compared the adherence of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to anticholinergic treatment administered once every 12 hours and once every 24 hours.
News Pegylated Liposomal Irinotecan + 5-FU/LV in the Treatment of mPDAC in Czech Clinical Practice – Results from the VILP Registry
At last year's annual congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and this year's 15th PragueONCO, results from the Czech VILP registry were presented. This registry collected data on patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) treated with pegylated liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV). The efficacy and safety of nal-IRI + 5-FU/LV in patients with mPDAC after failure or intolerance to gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, as found in the randomized controlled study NAPOLI-1, are thus confirmed in real clinical practice in the Czech Republic.
News Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic CRC During 1st-Line Anti-EGFR Treatment Depending on the Presence or Absence of Hypomagnesemia
Hypomagnesemia is one of the side effects of monoclonal antibody therapy against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The study presented below examined overall survival in patients with metastatic primarily unresectable colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with anti-EGFR therapy depending on the presence or absence of hypomagnesemia.
News Meta-analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Antidiabetics in Treating Gestational DM
What efficacy and safety do insulin, metformin, or the sulfonylurea derivative glibenclamide (glyburide) offer in lowering glucose levels in women with gestational diabetes? The authors of a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials used a probabilistic model – a Bayesian network – to answer this question.
News Curative Potential of Neoadjuvant Denosumab in the Treatment of Giant Cell Spinal Tumor? A Case Study
Portuguese authors present a case study of a young woman diagnosed with a giant cell spinal tumor who achieved complete histological remission following denosumab treatment.