Pharmacy

5-MTHF improves portal pressure reduction with propranolol in cirrhosis patients

9 hours ago

Treatment with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) significantly enhances the effect of propranolol in reducing hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, a recent study has shown.

Quadpill trumps monotherapy in BP lowering

Combination therapy with olmesartan safe, effective in advanced hypertension

Stephen Padilla, 10 hours ago

Use of olmesartan in a combination therapy for advanced hypertension results in similar cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction (MI), relative to active comparators, according to a study. Additionally, there is no convincing evidence that olmesartan is harmful to patients with hypertension.

Dabrafenib-trametinib combo improves response in BRAF V600-mutant paediatric glioma

Elaine Soliven, 22 hours ago

First-line treatment with dabrafenib plus trametinib significantly increased overall response rate (ORR) in paediatric patients with low-grade glioma harbouring BRAF V600 mutations compared with standard chemotherapy, according to a recent study.

Heavy alcohol use among hepatitis C patients does not weaken response to DAAs

Jairia Dela Cruz, Yesterday

Among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the likelihood of achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) does not appear to be reduced among those who use alcohol or have alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to a study.

Efinopegdutide beats semaglutide at reducing liver fat in NAFLD patients

Stephen Padilla, Yesterday

Treatment with the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/glucagon receptor co-agonist efinopegdutide results in a greater decrease in liver fat content (LFC) relative to the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), results of a phase IIa trial have shown.

Do alpha-1 receptor blockers prevent severe COVID-19?

Yesterday

Frequent use of alpha-1 receptor blockers neither increases nor reduces the risk of uncomplicated or severe COVID-19 hospitalization in older men with or without benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), reveals a recent study.

Meeting individual needs of patients with atopic dermatitis

Prof. Martin Steinhoff, Dr. Mahreen Ameen, Dr. Chih-Ho Hong, 06 Sep 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease with complex aetiology and presentation. Globally, AD incidence is heterogeneous – it is higher in Africa and Oceania and lower in India and northeastern and eastern Europe, said Prof Martin Steinhoff, director, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha, Qatar, who chaired a Pfizer-sponsored symposium during WCD 2023.

AD has a variable course, and its heterogeneous presentation adds complexity to how the disease is managed. The burden of AD is the highest among all skin diseases, added Steinhoff. It has mental health manifestations such as anxiety and depression, chronic itch, fatigue, skin pain, and sleep disturbance. AD may also co-exist with other comorbidities that could impact patients’ general health. “We need to assess every patient carefully and manage them optimally,” he pointed out.

Steinhoff is joined by renowned experts Dr Mahreen Ameen, consultant dermatologist, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and Dr Chih-Ho Hong, dermatologist, Saint Paul Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Together, they shared four global cases of AD, including treatment options for patients.

Atopic dermatitis: Key drivers in making treatment decisions

Prof. Johannes Ring, Prof. Sonja Ständer, Prof. Zuotao Zhao, 05 Sep 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing skin disease that requires long-term control. At the 25th World Congress of Dermatology (WCD) in Singapore, Professor Sonja Ständer, professor of dermatology and neurodermatology at the University Hospital Münster, Germany, and Professor Zuotao Zhao, dermatologist from the First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China, shared clinical approaches to managing patients with moderate-to-severe AD. The session was chaired by Professor Johannes Ring, director, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. Among the key topics discussed were the multifactorial nature of AD, its primary symptoms, and the various therapeutic options for itch relief.

Updates on migraine management with rimegepant

03 Sep 2023

Migraine is a debilitating neurological condition that affects millions of people worldwide, causing intense headaches, sensory disturbances, and a significant decline in quality of life. Approximately one-third of patients encounter aura, which encompasses transient focal neurological disturbances that precede the attack. [Lancet 2017;390:1211-1259; Headache 2021;61:1021-1039]

Serplulimab-chemo shows promise for squamous NSCLC

Audrey Abella, 03 Oct 2023

Patients with previously untreated, locally advanced, or metastatic squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may derive benefit from the addition of the novel anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody serplulimab to chemotherapy, according to the final analysis of the phase III ASTRUM-004 study.

Semaglutide scores again, this time for HFpEF in obese

Elvira Manzano, 03 Oct 2023

Once weekly injection of semaglutide causes weight loss in obese patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), with positive shifts in symptoms and improvements in physical limitations in the STEP-HFpEF trial presented at ESC 2023.

Iruplinalkib trumps crizotinib for ALK TKI-naïve NSCLC

Audrey Abella, 02 Oct 2023

In the phase III INSPIRE study, the novel, potent ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) iruplinalkib conferred a progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in patients with TKI-naïve, locally advanced, or metastatic ALK+ non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Tacrolimus or cyclosporine for CLAD: The better of 2 immunosuppressants

Elvira Manzano, 28 Sep 2023

Tacrolimus given once daily significantly reduced the 3-year incidence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) in lung transplant patients compared with standard immunosuppressant in the open label, multicentre, ScanCLAD trial presented at ERS 2023.

Atezolizumab-chemo confers durable survival benefit in ES-SCLC

Audrey Abella, 27 Sep 2023

In the merged analysis of the IMpower133 trial and IMbrella A open-label extension study, the combination of the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab and a chemotherapy regimen comprising carboplatin and etoposide (CP/ET) demonstrated potential for survival benefit of up to 5 years in patients with extensive stage-small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

Dupilumab improves lung function in children with moderate-to-severe type 2 asthma

Elaine Soliven, 26 Sep 2023

Treatment with dupilumab significantly improves lung function in children with moderate-to-severe type 2 asthma compared with placebo, according to two post hoc analyses presented at ERS 2023.