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News Do Asthma Bronchiale and COPD Represent a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19 and Death?
It is well known that patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a higher risk of severe course of common viral respiratory diseases. A study by Belgian authors involving several hundred individuals evaluated the risk of ICU admission and death due to COVID-19 in patients with asthma and COPD compared to patients without these conditions. The other goal was to determine whether these risks are influenced by inhalation corticosteroid therapy or not.
News End of Unnecessary Biopsies? Prostate Health Index (PHI) in Detecting Aggressive Carcinoma
The Prostate Health Index (PHI) combines the results of three blood-derived parameters: total PSA (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), and [-2]proPSA (p2PSA) into a single numerical score: PHI = (p2PSA / fPSA × √tPSA). It is a marker used to differentiate patients indicated for prostate biopsy, enabling prediction of cancer aggressiveness and helping to choose the optimal course of action for a particular patient. Its benefit in distinguishing aggressive prostate cancer from indolent tumors or benign lesions was already proven in 2015.
News Current ASH Guidelines for Management of ITP 2019 − Recommendations for Newly Diagnosed ITP in Adults
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) published current guidelines for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) at the end of 2019, where a panel of experts attempted to define evidence-based recommendations for the management of these patients.
News Efficacy and Safety of Romosozumab in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis and Renal Impairment
The coexistence of osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk of fractures and overall mortality in patients. A recent post-hoc analysis of two controlled randomized multicenter studies (FRAME and ARCH) investigated the efficacy and safety of romosozumab in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and mild to moderate CKD.
News Focus on the Connections Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and COPD Exacerbations
In recent years, evidence has emerged of a higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). GERD symptoms are more common in them, especially in patients with severe COPD and frequent exacerbations. Why is this, and what direct links can be traced between the two diseases?
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 Compressive Therapy in Wound Treatment: Which Aids to Choose and How to Use Them Correctly?
If a patient is dealing with a chronic wound, it is necessary to support its healing with proper compressive therapy. The main goal is to reduce swelling and improve venous flow in the body.
By applying compression immediately in the morning, before any movement, we prevent blood from pooling in the lower limbs. But be careful! It must be done with the correct technique.
News Fixed Combination of Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab for Subcutaneous Administration in Patients with Early Breast Cancer
At a symposium focused on breast cancer, held in December 2019 in San Antonio, Texas, preliminary results of the FeDeriCa clinical study were presented – comparing the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of a fixed combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab for subcutaneous administration versus intravenous administration in patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. Based on the presented results, the drug received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
News Benefits of Combining Olopatadine and Mometasone in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis
Ryaltris is indicated for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older for the treatment of moderate to severe nasal symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis (AR). The active ingredient of the preparation is a fixed combination of locally acting antihistamine olopatadine hydrochloride and corticosteroid mometasone furoate. Its efficacy and safety have been confirmed by numerous clinical studies, compared to placebo, as well as other drugs used in the treatment of AR.
News Different doses of LMWH in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 – interim experience
Many experts recommend administering heparin to patients with COVID-19 as part of anticoagulant prophylaxis, especially in severe forms of this infection. However, data on dosage, administration duration, and the effectiveness of this approach are limited. Therefore, authors from Bologna, Italy, investigated the relationship between various doses of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
News What Shape and Size of Tablets Do Our Patients Prefer?
The size and shape of tablets can affect patients' compliance with treatment. The following article provides an overview of conclusions from two foreign studies focused on influencing the difficulty of swallowing and handling tablets depending on their shape and size.
News Complex Impacts of Obesity on the Brains of People with Psychiatric Disorders
Obesity in individuals with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia is closely linked not only to higher mortality but also to worse progression of the psychiatric illness, lower response to psychiatric treatment, more frequent fatal outcomes (suicide), deterioration in cognitive functions, and structural brain damage. In his lecture at the XIV Congress of the Psychiatric Society of the Czech Medical Association J.E. Purkyně in Mikulov in June 2022, Professor Tomáš Hájek from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, focused on these connections.
News Effect of Denosumab and Zoledronic Acid on Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic Lung Cancer
In 30-40% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), bone metastases develop during the course of the disease, causing so-called skeletal-related events (SREs). These events cause pain, increase morbidity, and reduce quality of life and mobility in patients. Antiresorptive agents, such as the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid or the osteoclast maturation and differentiation inhibitor denosumab, are used to prevent the occurrence of SREs. An exploratory analysis compared the effect of administering denosumab and zoledronic acid on the survival of patients with metastatic disease.
News Inhibitor of Activated Factor XII Garadacimab in Prophylaxis of HAE Attacks
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by a deficiency of C1 inhibitor. This condition leads to excessive production of bradykinin, which is responsible for the development of soft tissue edema. Garadacimab represents a human antibody, the first of its class, aimed at inhibiting activated factor XII, a key initiator of bradykinin formation. The phase II study presented below, whose results were recently published, evaluated the efficacy and safety of this innovative HAE therapy.
News Efficacy and Safety of an Activated FXII Inhibitor in Preventing HAE Attacks
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare, potentially life-threatening inherited disorder characterized by dysregulation of the kallikrein-kinin system. This results in excessive production of bradykinin, which is responsible for soft tissue edema. Garadacimab, a human antibody inhibiting activated factor XII, is utilized in the prevention of these attacks. Its efficacy and safety were verified in a phase III clinical trial.
News Empagliflozin will be funded from May for symptomatic heart failure regardless of EF LK value
Empagliflozin entered the market as an antidiabetic drug operating on the principle of reducing glucose reabsorption by the kidneys from the urine and increasing its excretion through urine. Thanks to its very favorable impact on cardiovascular (CV) risks, it has gradually become an important part of treatment in cardiology as well. On May 1st, the long-awaited expansion of its reimbursement from public health insurance (ZP) for symptomatic heart failure with mildly reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (EF LK) will take place. It will thus be possible to improve the prognosis and quality of life for patients with this diagnosis. However, upon the availability of clinically verified therapy, another challenge arises in the form of underdiagnosis of patients with heart failure with preserved EF LK.
News Adherence to Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: How to Enhance It and What Interesting Insights Emerged from Current Research?
Therapeutic options for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) utilizing disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) have continued to expand in recent years. However, achieving their full benefit is critically dependent on adherence to treatment. Nonadherence is demonstrably linked to an increased risk of relapses, faster progression of disability, higher treatment costs, and higher mortality. We present a summary of factors affecting adherence to treatment in MS patients, including the influence of the chosen therapy from a 2022 review and subsequent studies.
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 HAE in the Otolaryngologist's Office: How to Handle a Laryngeal Attack?
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) can be encountered in emergency rooms and specialist offices. Patients with this rare disorder are often misdiagnosed with a more common condition, and they may learn their correct diagnosis only after many years. This is because HAE manifests with a combination of symptoms that are typical of various other diseases. What should pediatricians, otorhinolaryngologists, and gastroenterologists be aware of? Providing better understanding of HAE symptoms from different specializations' perspectives and emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for accurate diagnosis and patient care was the focus of a professional webinar we have summarized for you.
News Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients on ECMO During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In the past 2 years, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in intensive care units (ICU) has increased in connection with the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Dr. Pilar Marcos Neira from the ICU at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital in Barcelona has compiled a summary of updated knowledge on anticoagulation therapy in these patients.
News How Does Erdosteine Perform in Combination with Antibiotics?
Erdosteine is an oral mucoactive drug that reduces mucus viscosity by degrading disulfide bonds in the mucin polymer. It achieves this effect through a free thiol group in its main active metabolite, N-thiodiglycolyl-homocysteine. In addition to its mucolytic action, erdosteine exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and reduces bacterial adhesion, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of certain antibiotics. We provide a summary of study results demonstrating its effect on enhancing the efficacy of drugs administered in the treatment of respiratory diseases.
News Educational Quiz (For Downtime)
The following quiz has been prepared for you as an activity for relaxation and unwinding from today's hectic days. In an easy manner, it will refresh your knowledge about immune cells and may even offer some education or entertainment.