Multidisciplinary

Top Medical News
Ondansetron shows potential in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea
2 hours ago
A study on titrated ondansetron for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) has fallen short of meeting the endpoint due to being underpowered. However, when data from this study and two others were pooled in a meta-analysis, ondansetron appears to yield significant improvements in the composite endpoint set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), namely stool consistency and urgency.
VANGUARD sets the stage for a novel biologic in HAE
Elvira Manzano, 8 hours ago
Monthly injections of the investigational biologic garadacimab substantially reduced the mean attack rate in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) in the phase III VANGUARD trial.
non small cell lung cancer, xray
20 hours ago
Inhibiting the pathways of both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) leads to significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) but more adverse events (AEs), results of a meta-analysis have shown.
Maternal Crohn’s disease ups risk of infection in offspring
21 hours ago
Offspring born to mothers with Crohn’s disease (CD), but not ulcerative colitis, are at higher risk of infection, suggests a study. This association is partly mediated by adverse birth outcomes and antitumour necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) agents.
Add-on pembrolizumab helps improve outcomes of relapsed, refractory Hodgkin lymphoma
Yesterday
Adding pembrolizumab to chemotherapy consisting of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma appears to be well tolerated and associated with better outcomes in comparison with reports from studies on chemotherapy-only regimens, according to data from a phase II study.
Higher infliximab concentrations tied to better outcomes in paediatric CD
Yesterday
Higher concentrations of infliximab postinduction results in favourable clinical outcomes in paediatric patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) both in the short and long term, reports a study.
Sleep loss ups hunger-promoting hormones in adults
Yesterday
A recent study has shown that acute sleep deprivation leads to a decrease in blood concentrations of satiety-hormone leptin and to an increase in ghrelin and adiponectin, which induce hunger.
Special Reports
EMPULSE trial confirms the efficacy and safety profile of empagliflozin in patients stabilized in hospital following acute he
21 Mar 2023
Empagliflozin is the first SGLT-2i to significantly improve outcomes for patients with HF in any setting (in-hospital/outpatient), across the full spectrum of HF. Results from the EMPULSE trial showed that patients hospitalized for acute HF who were treated with empagliflozin following stabilization had 36% clinical benefit on the composite of mortality, HF events, and KCCQ-TSS improvement. The EMPULSE trial also provides a reassuring safety profile for empagliflozin that is consistent with previous trials.
NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022
16 Mar 2023

Viatris, a global healthcare company, collaborated with the Thai Hypertension Society and the Thai NCD Collaboration Group to organize the NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022 in Bangkok on October 29th and 30th. This summit brought together nearly 300 multidisciplinary experts from Southeast Asia and India to address the unmet needs in managing two critical noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and mental health disorders (MHDs) in the region.

The summit had several key objectives. Firstly, it highlighted the effectiveness of clinical data in addressing gaps and unmet needs in clinical practice. Secondly, it emphasized the importance of sharing expertise and best practices through a platform that can optimize patient care. Additionally, it discussed the challenges of cardiovascular disease and mental health disorder care in a post COVID-19 world, and the need to re-examine them.

The summit also offered valuable insights into policy and practice changes, as well as innovative digital solutions that can lead to better outcomes. Lastly, it emphasized the significance of gaining a deeper understanding of the gaps in the patient journey to enhance patient care further.

Overall, the NCDs in Focus Act Now! Summit 2022 was a highly informative and productive event, with experts collaborating to improve the management of CVDs and MHDs in Southeast Asia and India.

Optimising treatment of
erectile dysfunction with
avanafil, a highly selective second-generation
phosphodiesterase type 5
01 Mar 2023
A recent webinar on Men’s Health featured the use of avanafil – a second-generation phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The webinar was jointly organised by A. Menarini together with the Malaysian Medical Association and Malaysian Pharmacists Society.
Microbiome in balance: Harnessing the power of skin microbiota.
01 Mar 2023
During the 47th annual general meeting and dermatology conference of the Dermatological Society of Malaysia Tarun Chopra, advanced research director at L’Oréal Singapore and co-director of the joint microbiome lab between L’Oréal and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, presented an overview of the impact of skin microbiota dysbiosis on the development of skin disorders and the potential therapeutic role of microbiome-friendly products in the management of these diseases.
Should We Treat Earlier for Polycythaemia Vera (PV)?
01 Mar 2023
At the recent Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) Expert Forum, Professor Dr Claire Harrison presented a lecture titled “Unmet Need and Future Direction in Polycythaemia Vera (PV).” Harrison discussed the problems associated with PV treatment, new diagnostic guidelines for the disease and role of ruxolitinib in PV treatment. Harrison is Clinical Director and Professor of MPN, Guy’s and St. Thomas Hospital, London, UK.
The respiratory vaccination landscape
01 Mar 2023
During a symposium sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, two distinguished speakers shared their insights into the increased risks of morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in the elderly population and discussed the current vaccination landscape in Malaysia, highlighting the key role of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in overcoming vaccine hesitancy in the population.
The role of Tadalafil in the treatment of BPH and ED. Tadalafil remains a safe and effective on-demand PDE5i
for managing LU
01 Mar 2023
Dr Surayne Segaran, a Consultant Urological Surgeon, discussed the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), the role of PDE-5 inhibitors (PDE5i), its preference over alpha blockers as the first line treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and the minimal side effects of tadalafil for on-demand dosing at a Novugen-sponsored forum.
Conference Reports
VANGUARD sets the stage for a novel biologic in HAE
Elvira Manzano, 27 Mar 2023
Monthly injections of the investigational biologic garadacimab substantially reduced the mean attack rate in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) in the phase III VANGUARD trial.
Atorvastatin may prevent anthracycline-associated cardiac dysfunction in lymphoma patients
Elaine Soliven, 25 Mar 2023
Among patients with lymphoma receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy, those who received atorvastatin for 12 months were significantly less likely to experience a cardiac dysfunction than those on placebo, according to the STOP-CA* trial presented at ACC.23/WCC.
Less salt may be fatally counterproductive for people with heart failure
Jairia Dela Cruz, 24 Mar 2023
Too little salt is not necessarily better for individuals with heart failure, with the results of a recent meta-analysis suggesting that sodium restriction in this population increases the risk of death.
Long-term dupilumab proven safe, effective in children with asthma
Stephen Padilla, 24 Mar 2023
Long-term treatment with dupilumab is well tolerated, and its efficacy in children with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma as seen in the VOYAGE study is consistent, according to the EXCURSION open-label extension study. In addition, patients who switched from placebo to dupilumab has improved rapid lung function.
Low-carb, high-fat diet: Friend or foe?
Audrey Abella, 24 Mar 2023
Revered by diet enthusiasts as a godsend in the weight loss arena, a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF*) diet appears to take the opposite pole from a cardiovascular (CV) standpoint, as researchers from Canada found high levels of bad cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB) in individuals who adhered to this dietary pattern.
Coordinated care improves use of CVD-preventive therapies in T2D
Stephen Padilla, 23 Mar 2023
A coordinated, multifaceted intervention of assessment, education, and feedback has resulted in an increase in the prescription of recommended, evidence-based therapies in adult patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), reveals a study presented at ACC 2023.
Full anticoagulation dosing confers survival advantage in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Jairia Dela Cruz, 23 Mar 2023
A full, therapeutic dosing of anticoagulation flops for reducing the incidence of overall combined outcomes in noncritically ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19 as compared with prophylactic dosing, although there is a signal of benefit for mortality and disease progression with the therapeutic dosing, as shown in the FREEDOM COVID trial presented at ACC.23/WCC.