Search results: (10000)
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 Pilot Program for Lung Cancer Screening in the Czech Republic – Current Interim Results
Since January 1, 2022, a pilot population program for lung cancer screening has been underway in the Czech Republic. At the 7th PREVON conference in December 2023, updates on the progress as of March 31, 2023, were presented. Data for 2022 show a 4.4% detection rate of positive findings using low-dose CT in the targeted population of current or former smokers aged 55-74 years, who have so far undergone screening.
News Can We Lump All Gabapentinoids Together?
General practitioners often encounter peripheral neuropathic pain in their practice. One of the primary modalities for treating both painful diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia is gabapentinoids, specifically gabapentin and pregabalin. Are these substances completely interchangeable, or do their efficacy and practical application differ?
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 Micronized Diosmin Obtained Reimbursement, Based on Its Therapeutic Interchangeability with MPFF
On January 11, 2022, the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) issued a decision on the determination of the amount and conditions of reimbursement from health insurance for a drug containing micronized diosmin. The reimbursement is valid from March 1, 2022.
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 How to Save a Leg from Amputation?
Feared complications in diabetics include defects in typical locations on the lower limbs. Their presence and frequent recurrences increase the risk of possible amputation of varying degrees, mainly depending on the involvement of deep structures, i.e., tendons, joint capsules, joints, and bones. How can this scenario be avoided? One answer might be HydroTherapy.
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 Reference Intervals of Prostate Health Index (PHI) in Healthy Men
For more specific prostate cancer screening, apart from prostate-specific antigen (PSA), its free fraction (fPSA) and one of its precursors, [-2]proPSA (p2PSA), are used today. From these parameters, the so-called Prostate Health Index (PHI) can be calculated. However, reference intervals for these parameters in a healthy population were not known until now.
News Lactobacillus reuteri − a natural probiotic with lifelong significance
Probiotics are often given to newborns within the first few days of life to alleviate infantile colic. However, the role of probiotic treatment in protecting infants from infections, even into their adult life, is a growing area of research interest. Which natural probiotic strains have verified immunomodulatory properties and is it suitable to administer them alongside breast milk?
News Interchangeability of Diosmin and Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction
Among the medicinal products reimbursed for chronic venous disease, those containing micronized diosmin (Diozen 180 tbl.) have been newly included. Which substances are available for this indication, and what determined the interchangeability of micronized diosmin with micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) and other selected venotonics stabilizing capillaries?
News Inosine pranobex in the treatment of influenza and other respiratory infections of viral etiology
The antiviral inosine pranobex is a clinically proven immunomodulator for the treatment of patients from 1 year of age, indicated for a wide range of diseases with manifestations of immune insufficiency and viral infections. It acts by a direct antiviral effect, modulates the immune system, and also finds application in the treatment of acute viral respiratory diseases, such as influenza and other seasonal viral infections.
News The Patient Will Feel Comfortable Only with a Properly Chosen Absorption Aid
While before the approval of the amendment to the Public Health Insurance Act, it was possible to issue a prescription only for one type of aid firmly tied to a particular level of incontinence, now it is allowed to freely combine aids according to the individual needs of the patient. The modern market offers a wide range of aids − but how to choose a product that matches specific needs?
News Intermittent Fasting May Carry Significant Health Risks
Results from an observational study presented at this year’s American Heart Association (AHA) Congress revealed surprising findings. Eating restricted to an 8-hour window daily—a popular form of intermittent fasting—may be associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) death compared to regular eating within a 12–16-hour window.
News More Patients Will Now Have Access to Incontinence Aids
Since December of last year, new rules have been in effect for the prescription of medical aids prescribed through vouchers, including aids for urine collection and voiding. The new rules are governed by the current wording of Act No. 48/1997 Coll., on Public Health Insurance, which also includes a new categorization tree (Appendix No. 3 to the Act).
News The Brain, Too, Has Its Midlife Crisis. How Do These Changes Relate to the Risk of Dementia in Old Age?
The human brain undergoes rapid changes during certain developmental periods. Childhood, adolescence, and advanced old age undoubtedly belong to these. For much of adulthood, it seems that nothing much actually happens. However, it turns out that the brain’s clock begins to accelerate around 40–50 years of age. What impact do these gradual changes have on our future health?
News Targeting HER2 is Clinically Meaningful Even with Its Low Expression
Distinguishing HER2 receptor expression status on the surface of breast cancer tumor cells as simply positive or negative is now proving insufficient. Ultimately, it can lead to the non-administration of effective targeted therapy. What do we actually know about the “gray zone” between HER2 positivity and negativity?
News Hypotension during treatment with sacubitril/valsartan: practical tips for prevention and management
Despite the undeniable benefits of sacubitril/valsartan in terms of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure, its administration can be complicated by side effects. The most common of these is hypotension. Although it is an unpleasant complication, it does not – and should not – always be a reason to discontinue therapy. Fear of hypotension should not lead to not prescribing sacubitril/valsartan at all. We provide practical guidance on how to approach this clinical situation.
News Prokinetics in the Treatment of Diabetic Gastroparesis
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.