COVID-19: State of the Vaccination
AbstractThe emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resulting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to rapid vaccine development and emergency use (EU) rollout. Six vaccines, including two using novel mRNA technology, are EU-listed by the World Health Organisation, and promising published trial data are available for nine more. While efficacy is good, there are various barriers to their global use. Long-term safety and immunogenicity data are being collected along the way. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - October 15, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) allergen powder-dnfp (Palforzia ™) in peanut allergy: a profile of its use
AbstractPeanut (Arachis hypogaea) allergen powder-dnfp (Palforzia ™; hereafter referred to as PTAH), is the first oral immunotherapy approved in the USA and European Commission for mitigating allergic reactions in children aged 4–17 years with peanut allergy. In the pivotal phase 3 studies in patients with peanut allergy, relative to placebo, PTAH significantl y desensitized to peanut protein and reduced severity of allergic reactions to accidental peanut exposure, together with improvements in food allergy-related quality of life. The clinical benefits of PTAH were maintained with continued treatment for up to 2 years...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - October 12, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Don ’t despair over difficult-to-treat warts
AbstractCutaneous warts, common in children and immunocompromised patients, can be painful and socially and functionally restricting. Caused by several human papillomavirus types, they may resolve spontaneously or respond to traditional treatments. If not, pharmacological options for difficult-to-treat warts include intralesional and/or topical immunological and antiviral agents, with clearance of all warts achieved in many patients. Vaccines,Candida albicans antigen, vitamin D analogues, cidofovir, imiquimod and chemotherapeutics are worth considering. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - October 11, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Intranasal metoclopramide for acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis in adults
AbstractMetoclopramide is a prokinetic agent used to promote gastrointestinal motility. It is available for intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous and oral administration. In June 2020, metoclopramide nasal spray (MNS) 15 mg (administered 30 min before each meal and at bedtime for 2 –8 weeks), received FDA-approval for the acute and chronic management of diabetic gastroparesis (DG) in adults. Four studies that evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of MNS in patients with DG were identified, but none evaluated MNS 15 mg. Of the four studies, one found MNS more effective than metoclopramide tablets: per-protocol patien...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - October 6, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Systematic review on the choice of antibiotics for management of complicated urinary tract bacterial infections and acute pyelonephritis
AbstractThe management of complicated urinary tract infections has been limited, with suboptimal success, treatment failure, recurrent infection, and the development of resistant bacterial strains. We reviewed the antimicrobial efficacy and safety and the microbial resistance of antibiotics for complicated urinary tract infections. This systematic review of 11 randomized controlled trials assessed the overall success rate and clinical cure rate of various antibiotics compared with conventional alternatives. Among the articles meeting inclusion criteria, we identified nine different agents, including ceftazidime –avibacta...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 26, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Trend and characteristics of medication errors in a Swiss academic hospital: an observational retrospective study
ConclusionIn a Swiss university hospital, preventable medication error events are frequent and their types have differing time occurrences, thereby suggesting the necessity for tailoring preventive measures to specific time patterns. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 25, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Novel formulations and technologies can improve the delivery of levodopa
AbstractThere is a need for levodopa formulations that can provide continuous levodopa delivery for continuous dopamine production in the brain. This would allow for maximal efficacy while avoiding the motor complications associated with the short and pulsatile action of standard oral levodopa. Novel approaches that have been explored include inhalation, intestinal and subcutaneous delivery of levodopa. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 21, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Don ’t delay wound-healing therapy for diabetic foot ulcers
AbstractDiabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) will affect up to one-third of people with diabetes, and not all ulcers heal despite gold standard management. DFUs carry a very high personal and financial cost, but studies of adjunctive wound healing therapies are sparse. Suggested adjuvant topical agents include sucrose octasulfate, placental membrane allografts and autologous patches containing leucocytes, fibrin and platelets. Systemic options are very limited. Promising treatments needing more study include topical oxygen, honey and nitric oxide, growth factors and other bioengineered skin products. Newer technologies may eventual...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 16, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Improve medication adherence in older adults with chronic kidney disease by identifying and addressing underlying factors
AbstractMedication adherence is crucial to slowing disease progression and death in older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, as much as half of older adults with CKD have low medication adherence. Common contributing factors include medication complexity, cognitive impairment, low health literacy and systems-based barriers. Understanding the factors underlying medication nonadherence allows clinicians to implement strategies tailored to patient needs to improve medication adherence. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 15, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Correction to: Metyrapone in Cushing ’s syndrome: a profile of its use
(Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - August 31, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
A survey in France about caregiver administered paracetamol to children under 12
ConclusionHalf of the children under 12 years old in this survey were in a situation of paracetamol misuse. There is a need to increase the knowledge of parents so as to ensure the safety of their children ’s. National health authorities, pharmacists and most of all doctors should play a key role in conducting information and health education activities. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - August 23, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Gout plus cardiovascular disease is painful, but treatable
AbstractGout often coexists with and worsens cardiovascular disease (CVD) or CVD risk factors. Effective gout management reduces CVD deterioration, which includes lifestyle advice, gout flare management and long-term urate-lowering therapy (ULT). Flares respond to anti-inflammatory agents such as colchicine or short-term corticosteroids, with interleukin antagonists for refractory cases. In CVD, NSAIDs are not recommended. Allopurinol is the first-line ULT, with probenecid added or substituted where needed. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - August 18, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Cost-effectiveness analysis of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort ®) as needed for mild asthma in Malaysia
ConclusionFrom the Malaysian healthcare payer perspective, budesonide/formoterol PRN is either a dominant or likely to be a cost-effective treatment option in managing mild asthma. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - August 12, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Risk of acute pancreatitis with methimazole use: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AbstractRecent pharmacovigilance reports suggested that thionamide compounds can increase the risk of acute pancreatitis (AP). Through this systematic review and meta-analysis, we comprehensively evaluated the association between methimazole use and new-onset AP. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus/Web of Science databases were searched from inception to August 2020. The pooled estimates were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Four observational studies, consisting of 202,800 participants and 15,721 cases of AP, were included in the analysis. Methimazole use increased the o...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - August 11, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
The role of the hospital pharmacist in immunocellular therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells
AbstractThe development and commercialization of genetically modified T-cell medicines using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells represents a new challenge for European Union hospital pharmacies. The aim of this article was to review the key aspects of these medicines, particularly those already available in the European Union (axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel), and to describe the hospital pharmacist ’s role within the multidisciplinary health team. Because CAR T-cell medicines are exclusively used at the hospital level, hospital pharmacists have a responsibility to contribute to their rational use, assu...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - August 11, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
