Search results: (10000)
News Register of Patients Treated with Growth Hormone (REPAR): Data Analysis as a Path to Further Optimization of Care
Treatment with recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) is available in the Czech Republic for all children meeting the indication criteria. A network of 10 centers covers the entire country, and all doctors authorized to prescribe growth hormone are united in the Pediatric Growth Hormone Working Group. The Czech national Register of Patients Treated with Growth Hormone (REPAR) has been collecting data on patients treated with rhGH since 2014. The aim of the presented work was to analyze selected data and present the basic demographics of patients included in this database during the first 5 years of its existence.
News Impact of Initial RAAS Inhibitor on Hospitalization Risk in HFrEF Patients
Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is considered a key step in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The preferred medication currently is the angiotensin II receptor and neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) sacubitril/valsartan, which has shown to improve the prognosis of patients with HFrEF. A recently published study compared the initiation of ARNI or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with HFrEF who were not previously treated with a RAAS inhibitor in real-world practice.
News Impact of Candesartan on Achieving Remission in Patients with Active IgA Nephropathy
IgA nephropathy is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide and in the Czech Republic. The effect of candesartan (an angiotensin receptor blocker) on the remission of active IgA nephropathy in patients treated with steroid pulses and tonsillectomy was investigated by the randomized study presented below.
News PHD 2022: In the treatment of multiple myeloma we have achieved significant progress, confirm real-world data
The treatment options for multiple myeloma (MM) have significantly advanced over the past 10 years, and patient outcomes have improved. However, the most accurate guide is needed to select the right treatment modality for each particular patient among the many available options. During the Prague Hematology Days (PHD) 2022, this topic was addressed by Prof. MUDr. Roman Hájek, CSc., from the Hemato-Oncology Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ostrava and FN Ostrava.
News Prognostic Significance of the Location of Colorectal Cancer Metastases
An Austrian study presented at the ESMO 2020 conference analyzed the relationship between the localization of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases and patient survival, the time of metastasis detection, and RAS mutations.
News Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduces the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 even in the era of predominant omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5
One of the first studies to evaluate the efficacy of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection during the period of predominant omicron variants including subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 has provided real-world data confirming the position of this antiviral in the first line of treatment for patients with mild to moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and a high risk of severe disease.
News Pharmacokinetics of Concentrates for the Treatment of von Willebrand’s Disease
Von Willebrand's disease (vWD) is characterized by a deficiency or reduced functional capacity of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and, in more severe cases, by a deficiency of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Treatment usually requires repeated infusions of vWF and FVIII concentrate, with available products having different factor ratios. Repeated infusions of concentrates can lead to different FVIII exposures when using different products. The pharmacokinetics of two products with varying vWF and FVIII ratios have been compared in experimental preclinical and clinical studies.
News Targeted DNA Sequencing Helps Find Targeted Therapy for Patients with NSCLC
Gene sequencing has become a key tool in deciding the treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At a university in Seoul, South Korea, a retrospective analysis of the benefits of targeted genetic testing in real clinical practice was conducted.
News Sequential administration of immunochemotherapy and venetoclax after failure of BCR inhibitor treatment – interactive video case study
The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is evolving. What was impossible years ago is now becoming a reality. From chemotherapy, through immunochemotherapy, to the use of molecules targeting apoptotic pathways of tumor cells, the prognosis for patients has markedly improved. However, the wide therapeutic spectrum also brings its own specifics and complications, and the correct sequencing of treatment lines and their selection for each individual is necessary, considering the nature of CLL, overall condition, and comorbidities.
News Targeted Treatment of HER2-Positive Breast Tumors – Updates from ESMO 2020 Congress
The recent European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress took place virtually. We bring you a brief summary of the presentations related to the treatment of HER2-positive breast tumors.
News Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency and Its Association with Atopy in Asthmatics
Literature mentions the coincidence of asthma and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, which is caused by a mutation in the SERPINA1 gene. The aim of the study presented below was to determine whether the clinical symptoms of asthma differ between patients with and without this mutation.
News Ocrelizumab in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in real-world practice – a systematic review of published studies
In controlled study programs, ocrelizumab has demonstrated beneficial effects on improving clinical parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis, such as the annual relapse rate or confirmed disability progression. However, to get a complete picture of its clinical benefit, real-world evidence in a broad patient population is also needed. A systematic review of real-world clinical practice studies with ocrelizumab, published in March 2023, demonstrates its benefits in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) in terms of relapse frequency, disease activity on MRI, disability, absence of disease activity (NEDA), and quality of life.
News No deficiency of essential fatty acids in home parenteral nutrition
A Dutch-British study, the results of which were published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, addressed the issue of potential deficiency of essential fatty acids in patients using home parenteral nutrition.
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 Safety of Urgent Initiation of Peritoneal Dialysis
In case of urgent need for kidney function replacement, hemodialysis (HD) with a temporary venous catheter has long been the standard solution. However, it has several disadvantages such as increased mortality or the risk of bacteremia and central venous stenosis. Additionally, multiple procedures are needed to create a permanent venous access. Therefore, there is a growing global interest in urgently initiated peritoneal dialysis (PD), with several clinical studies attesting to its safety, efficacy, and feasibility. However, little has been known about early PD complications and the long-term prognosis of patients in terms of technical and infectious complications.
News Deep stimulation of the globus pallidus improved clinical symptoms in a patient with refractory parkinsonism and genetic mutation
The authors of the presented work studied the effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in a patient with Parkinson's disease with a genetic mutation that manifests in early adulthood.
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 Doc. Tomáš Gabrhelík: Pain treatment should be seriously addressed by all fields, especially in seniors
Chronic pain is often underestimated, especially in older and polymorbid patients. On the other hand, during self-treatment, many patients use inappropriate medication for a long time. The treatment of prolonged and more intense pain should be managed by an algologist, and other specialists should not forget to monitor the patient's documentation to avoid medication duplication and other risks arising from inappropriate prescription. We discuss the pitfalls and benefits of analgesic treatment with doc. MUDr. Tomáš Gabrhelík, Ph.D., from the pain treatment clinic at the Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Intensive Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Palacký University and University Hospital Olomouc.
News INFOGRAPHIC: Mavacamten in the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is most commonly caused by disorders of cardiac muscle proteins. How does targeted treatment for this disease work? We bring a concise, graphically processed overview of the efficacy and mechanism of action of the first selective cardiac myosin inhibitor.
News Maintenance treatment with oral olaparib in women with BRCA1/2 mutation and relapsed ovarian cancer
In a phase III study published in the journal Lancet Oncology, data on the effectiveness of olaparib in patients with ovarian cancer and BRCA1/2 mutation were evaluated. The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib had previously demonstrated effectiveness in a phase II study in patients with prior sensitivity to platinum-based treatments.
News Risks Associated with Higher Residual Concentrations of Dabigatran in Seniors and Their Prevalence
Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor indicated for patients across the age spectrum. The benefit-risk assessment of anticoagulation is individual and depends on many factors. A Dutch observational pilot study examined residual concentrations of dabigatran in seniors of different ages with atrial fibrillation to clarify the relationship between study results and clinical practice.
News Debate on Sepsis Biomarkers 'on Blood'
Sepsis represents a major cause of death from infectious diseases. Early identification of patients with a prognosis of sepsis is therefore crucial for their survival and prognosis. In addition to traditional biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or procalcitonin (PCT), other markers are being sought that could be used in the differential diagnosis of sepsis. This issue was also addressed at a symposium organized by Beckmann Coulter, which took place on April 28, 2022, as part of the Colours of Sepsis congress in Ostrava.
News Dual therapy improves not only lung function but also quality of life in COPD patients
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reduces the quality of life of patients and is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality. According to international recommendations, the initial pharmacotherapy is recommended as monotherapy with LAMA (long-acting muscarinic antagonists) or LABA (long-acting beta-agonists), or their combination. A pooled analysis of 4 studies compared the early addition of LABA to LAMA in patients with moderate to severe COPD.