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News Mavacamten in the Treatment of HCM in Patients Referred for Septal Reduction
Extended 56-week follow-up of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) resistant to current pharmacotherapy in the VALOR-HCM study confirmed the lasting benefit of mavacamten – the first representative of a new class of selective reversible cardiac myosin inhibitors – as a new pharmacological treatment option reducing the need for invasive procedures.
News Nasal Smear as a Modern and Gentle Diagnostic Method for Allergic Rhinitis
Up to 130 million Europeans suffer from allergic rhinitis. Until now, standard diagnostic methods have been skin prick tests and laboratory blood tests. Both methods, however, present significant discomfort for many patients, and skin prick tests can also yield false-positive results. That's why researchers are focusing on new diagnostic possibilities for allergic rhinitis.
News Sjögren's Syndrome as a Cause of Dry Eye Syndrome
Primary Sjögren's syndrome represents a complex autoimmune disease primarily affecting glands with exocrine secretion. Dry eye syndrome ranks among the most common difficulties for patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Essential pillars of therapy include regular application of preservative-free artificial tears, escalated to anti-inflammatory treatment if necessary.
News Metamizole as an Analgesic with a Favorable Benefit-Risk Ratio
Metamizole is a well-established and widely used molecule in many countries worldwide, suitable as an alternative to opioids for patients with moderate to severe acute or chronic pain. The popularity of this drug is associated not only with its efficacy but also with its safety, with no contraindications for patients with cardiovascular, renal, or gastrointestinal comorbidities.
News Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as a Warning Sign of Cardiomyopathy Caused by Transthyretin Amyloidosis
Recent study results suggest that transthyretin amyloidosis is a more common cause of heart failure than previously thought. Early diagnosis and subsequent therapy are key to improving patient prognosis. A comprehensive study evaluating data from the Danish population registry suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome may be one of the initial symptoms of the disease.
News Treatment of COPD in Individuals with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
A mutation in the gene for alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), leading to its deficiency (AATD), causes progressive irreversible destruction of lung tissue. Patients develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and early emphysema. Several studies evaluating COPD treatment have excluded patients with AATD. The aim of the following systematic literature review was to find and analyze works that include patients with concurrent COPD and AATD and summarize key findings that may form the basis for treatment decisions.
News Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia and Their Assessment
Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric disorder with a prevalence of up to 1%. It can manifest with both negative and positive symptoms. We briefly summarize the clinical assessment and rating scales of negative symptoms in the following text.
News Viral or Bacterial Etiology? Old Question, New Methods...
The gold standard in the differential diagnosis of viral and bacterial respiratory infections is primarily C-reactive protein (CRP), followed by procalcitonin and interleukins. What are the pitfalls of their use, and what new methods of distinguishing the etiology of infectious diseases are currently being developed?
News Hemorrhoidal Disease – A Civilization Illness Responsible for Perianal Discomfort
According to estimates, almost every second Czech will experience at least one attack of hemorrhoidal disease. Symptomatic hemorrhoids are found in about 5% of the population. Prevalence depends to some extent on lifestyle and dietary habits.
News Medium to Long-term Results of PFC Sigma Total Knee Arthroplasty
The PFC Sigma knee implant was introduced in 1997. It is the most commonly used system for total knee arthroplasty in England and Wales, accounting for 34.9% of primary implantations in 2006. Studies evaluating medium to long-term implantation outcomes have shown that it is an implant with a high survival rate, low re-implantation rate, and very good clinical results.
News Impact of Thyroid Dysfunction on the Cardiovascular System in Elderly Patients
The incidence of thyroid disease increases with age. In the Czech Republic, up to 5% of the population suffers from hypothyroidism, and the prevalence of hyperthyroidism is estimated at 0.2-1%. The following text discusses the impact of these thyroid disorders on the cardiovascular (CV) system in elderly patients.
News Current Sequence of Treatment for Metastatic HER2+ Breast Cancer
In September 2023, experts from Miami Cancer Institute published their consensus statement on the treatment of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer (BC). The latest change in therapeutic strategy is the preference for the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan in the 2nd line.
News MUDr. Tomáš Mašek: In the prevention of hemorrhoids, more use of venopharmaceuticals is needed
While in the past the diagnosis of hemorrhoids was inextricably linked to traditional surgical solutions, today - thanks to the expansion of the indication for venopharmaceuticals for this condition - the number of patients who have to undergo these procedures is a minority. We asked coloproctologist MUDr. Tomáš Mašek how the potential of venopharmaceuticals can be utilized in the prevention and treatment of hemorrhoid disease.
News Thrombocytopenia Following mRNA Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2
In connection with the administration of mRNA-based vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, cases of secondary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have been described. A commentary published by a large team of authors in the American Journal of Hematology described a series of cases of low platelet counts identified within 2 weeks of vaccination. The data was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), as well as through direct communication with patients and their physicians.
News Depakine Chrono versus Other Valproates in the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
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.
News Treatment Options for Advanced Parkinson's Disease Using Medical Devices (DAT)
A new treatment option for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) using medical devices (DAT − device-aided therapy) is the intestinal infusion gel containing levodopa, entacapone, and carbidopa (LECIG). An article published in 2022 in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders provides an overview of current DAT modalities in PD patients and presents LECIG as the latest extension of options in this area.
News Tiapride versus Haloperidol in the Therapy of Aggressiveness and Agitation in Elderly Patients with Cognitive Impairment
Acute restlessness, agitation, and aggression can be associated with psychiatric disorders but also be manifestations of somatic illnesses. Psychomotor agitation combined with disorientation is typical, for example, in older individuals with cognitive impairments. The primary goal of therapy is to calm the patient, most often using antipsychotics. The clinical study presented below compared the efficacy and safety of the antipsychotics haloperidol and tiapride versus placebo in patients with acute agitation and aggression who were diagnosed with mild to moderate cognitive impairment.
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 COVID-19 and Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura − Spanish Experience Suggests Surprising Connections
In a retrospective study examining the impact of COVID-19 on immune thrombocytopenic purpura, Spanish authors surprisingly observed a paradoxical effect.
News Care of Surgical Wounds and Choice of Dressings − Main Findings of the Latest International Expert Consensus
In December 2022, Wounds International published a summary of consensus outputs from six international expert meetings dedicated to postoperative care of surgical wounds and the selection of their dressings.
News Composition of the Intestinal Microbiota of Patients with IBS May Predetermine the Success of a Diet with Low Fermentable Carbohydrates
Some patients with irritable bowel syndrome may benefit from a diet low in fermentable carbohydrates, but the mechanism of this intervention is not yet satisfactorily explained. A study published in Gut focused on the relationship between the composition of the intestinal microbiota and clinical response to dietary intervention.