What crosses the mind of a parent when they notice their epileptic child or adolescent is having a convulsive seizure? They want it to be over quickly and safely. What constitutes the integral part that makes this wish a reality? And how does the newest treatment modality, buccally administered midazolam (Buccolam), address these needs?

According to new work by Japanese authors, it appears that the risk factors for the development of hypocalcemia in patients treated with denosumab and calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D) are different from those when natural vitamin D is added to denosumab.

Osteoporosis represents a serious societal problem generating numerous health and social complications as well as considerable economic costs. In the Czech Republic, it is estimated to affect 500−750 thousand people, or 5−7% of the population. From January 1, 2024, the prescription restriction for the indication and reimbursement conditions for the medicinal products Osagrand (ibandronic acid) and Risendros (risedronic acid) will be lifted, allowing general practitioners to prescribe them as well, under the prescription conditions listed below.

Modern surgery aims to shorten postoperative hospitalization by providing faster recovery from surgical consequences. Due to principles of asepsis and antisepsis, wound healing has significantly improved and the occurrence of infectious complications has decreased. However, smoking significantly prolongs recovery. We present new study results comparing wound healing in smokers and non-smokers.

We provide a brief overview of the definition and classification of chronic kidney disease based on the updated KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) clinical practice guidelines from 2012 (published in 2013).

One of the common complications of diabetes mellitus is a motility disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which can affect any part of the digestive tube, and therefore has various forms. Among these therapeutically challenging conditions is diabetic gastroparesis, which involves impaired stomach emptying.

Ocrelizumab is not only a pioneer but also a highly effective and still promising modality for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) with excellent patient adherence and persistence.

The ongoing debate about changing the approach to treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) from an escalation strategy to the early implementation of highly effective therapy (HET) is based on the documented high inflammatory activity of the disease in its early stages and the concept of a therapeutic window for its suppression shortly after diagnosis. We bring you a summary of several recent pieces of information about the benefits and safety of HET as an initial treatment for RRMS.

The simple, validated H₂FPEF scoring system based on clinical and echocardiographic parameters, developed by experts from the Mayo Clinic, allows the differentiation of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) from dyspnea of other etiologies and helps decide whether further examinations are necessary. The score can be calculated online and in the Czech language.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global issue. Does it create the same burden everywhere? How does it contribute to premature deaths? How do women cope with COPD, and what significant problem does it pose for them? What factors contribute to it not being considered solely a smoker's disease? Why is it appropriate to add mucoactive agents when trying to eliminate COPD exacerbations? What emerged from early COPD screening conducted in the Czech Republic, and what do Czech real-world data show regarding the effectiveness of erdosteine in exacerbations? And what should be included in the proper diagnosis and treatment of this disease? All these topics were covered in a lecture by the head of the Pulmonary Clinic of the Medical Faculty of Charles University and University Hospital Hradec Králové, Associate Professor Vladimír Koblížek, M.D., Ph.D., during the XXVIII Hradec Pneumology Days held from April 24-26, 2024.

The American Heart Association (AHA) report provides an updated summary of knowledge on the safety of statin use. Despite warnings appearing in professional literature and general media, it assures that statins are an effective and safe modality for treating hypercholesterolemia.

According to the 2022 opinion of the ESCEO (European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases) working group, it is advisable to identify patients with osteoporosis who have a very high risk of fracture and to use an anabolic antiosteoporotic drug as the initial pharmacotherapeutic intervention, followed by necessary antiresorptive treatment to be addressed over the entire expected length of life.

Bipolar disorder is among the most severe psychiatric illnesses, and if not treated properly, it can negatively affect the patient's quality of life. Does switching therapy from other valproates to Depakine Chrono lead to better outcomes in treating this disease? The following study aimed to find the answer to this question.

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia remains a clinical and pharmacological challenge. Clozapine remains the gold standard in these cases. Unfortunately, a significant portion of patients respond only partially to it. The solution is often an augmentation strategy with another atypical antipsychotic. According to current findings, adjunctive therapy with lurasidone appears promising —⁠ two recently published studies have brought interesting data.