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Top Medical News
Delafloxacin appears noninferior to moxifloxacin in the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), according to the phase III DEFINE-CABP* study.
A single infusion of infliximab effectively resolves fever in paediatric patients with acute Kawasaki disease (KD) refractory to conventional therapies, a Japan study performed in the real-world clinical setting has shown. In addition, it is well tolerated, with no new safety concerns seen.
In children with recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM), the presence of bacterial otopathogen, particularly nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi), in the middle ear during ventilation tube insertion (VTI) is associated with repeat surgery, according to a recent study.
Metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components contribute to an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in individuals with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a study has found.
Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection who are HBeAg-negative are more likely to have advanced liver fibrosis than those with a positive HBeAg status, a study has found.
Helicobacter pylori-eradication therapy in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) leads to greater improvement in homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance but exerts comparable effects on hepatic steatosis and liver enzymes as compared with diet and exercise alone, a study has shown.
Infectious fungal diseases (IFDs) are potentially lethal complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and are primarily caused by Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus, a new study has found. Prolonged hyperglycaemia may further worsen outcomes.
Special Reports
Macrolide antibiotics are derived from the Streptomycesspecies. These contain either 14-membered (erythromycin [ERM],clarithromycin [CAM], roxithromycin [RXM]), 15-membered(azithromycin [AZM]) or 16-membered (spiramycin, josamycin,midecamycin) macrocyclic lactone rings. They inhibit proteinsynthesis by reversibly binding to the 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)in the 50s subunit of the bacterial ribosome. Traditionally,macrolides are used as first-line agents in respiratory, skin,soft tissue, and urogenital infections, and they are also activeagainst gram-positive cocci and atypical pathogens.
Invasive meningococcal disease is a life-threatening bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis that can progress rapidly and cause permanent disability.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains as one of the world’s leading causes of mortality in global public health. Dr Charles Hicks shared his insights into the increasing role of dolutegravir (DTG; Tivicay, GSK) – an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) – in HIV therapy during the 4th National AIDS Conference 2018 at Swiss Garden International Hotel and Residences, Kuala Lumpur.
Urogenital infections remain a major reason for women to visit their family physician and their subsequent referral to obstetrics and gynaecology or urology specialists. The association between abnormal vaginal microbiota and an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), as well as an increased rate of preterm labour, indicates the need to better understand and manage urogenital health in women. Probiotics are “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”. As such, there is a sound rationale for using probiotics to maintain female vaginal and bladder health.
At the 40th Malaysian Paediatric Association Annual Congress held on 6 September 2018 at the Ipoh Convention Centre, Dr Yong Junina Fadzil discussed the applications of a hexavalent vaccine in optimizing paediatric vaccination schedules. Meanwhile, Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin shared his insights into the paediatric influenza ‘landscape’ in the region and highlighted the importance of regularly vaccinating paediatric patients.
SKYCELLFLU – Inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (inj) 0.5 mL - AJ Biologics
Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease, which is primarily spread through water droplets containing strains of the virus. Dr Leong Chee Loon shares his insights into the management of influenza in Malaysia, highlighting the importance of improving vaccination coverage in populations at high-risk of influenza-related complications, such as elderly patients and healthcare practitioners.
Conference Reports
Dolutegravir demonstrated noninferiority to low-dose efavirenz in antiretroviral (ART)-naïve patients with HIV-1 infection in a resource-limited setting, according to the NAMSAL ANRS 12313* study presented at IAS 2019.
Children born to women receiving dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV since conception have an uptick of neural-tube defects compared with those whose mothers took non-dolutegravir ART at conception, additional follow-up data from the Tsepamo surveillance study show.
The combination of emtricitabine and dolutegravir with either a tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based regimen fared similarly to a TDF-emtricitabine-efavirenz regimen in reducing HIV-1 RNA levels, according to results of the phase III ADVANCE* study presented at IAS 2019.
The investigational first-in-class attachment inhibitor prodrug fostemsavir (FTR) continues to improve virologic and immunologic response from weeks 48 to 96 in patients with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 who had been heavily treated, according to the BRIGHTE* study presented at IAS 2019.
Individuals with HIV-1 who demonstrate virologic suppression on a tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF)-based three- or four-drug regimen (TBR) could safely switch to a two-drug regimen comprising dolutegravir and lamivudine, according to results from the phase III TANGO* study presented at the recent International AIDS Society conference (IAS 2019).
The guideline-recommended, single-tablet, fixed-dose regimen comprising bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) was noninferior to the dolutegravir and F/TAF (D/F/TAF) regimen in persons living with HIV (PLHIV), according to data presented at IAS 2019.
Persons living with HIV (PLHIV) who received monthly long-acting (LA) intramuscular formulations of the INSTI* cabotegravir and the NNRTI** rilpivirine reported higher levels of treatment satisfaction and treatment acceptance, and greater willingness to continue therapy as opposed to a daily oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen, according to patient-reported outcomes of the ATLAS*** and FLAIR# trials presented at IAS 2019.
