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News Treatment of COPD in Individuals with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
A mutation in the gene for alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), leading to its deficiency (AATD), causes progressive irreversible destruction of lung tissue. Patients develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and early emphysema. Several studies evaluating COPD treatment have excluded patients with AATD. The aim of the following systematic literature review was to find and analyze works that include patients with concurrent COPD and AATD and summarize key findings that may form the basis for treatment decisions.
News Ceftaroline vs. Vancomycin in the Treatment of Acute Pulmonary Exacerbation of Cystic Fibrosis
Up to 25% of patients with cystic fibrosis are colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The first-line drug for acute pulmonary exacerbation is vancomycin. The study presented below examined the efficacy and safety of an alternative treatment with ceftaroline (a 5th generation cephalosporin) for this indication.
News Bimekizumab in the Treatment of Psoriasis After Failure of (Not Only) Anti-IL-17A Antibodies – Case Reports
German authors last year described the first 2 cases of patients with psoriasis in whom treatment with, among other things, anti-IL-17A antibodies failed, but who responded to the blockade of interleukins IL-17A/IL-17F with bimekizumab after its approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
News Risk of Venous Thromboembolism and CV Events during Targeted Treatment of Nonspecific Bowel Inflammations
Authors of a freshly published study based on real-world data from the USA investigated whether there are differences in the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and major cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with nonspecific bowel inflammations (IBD) who were newly prescribed the Janus kinase inhibitor (JAK) tofacitinib or the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor.
News Undiagnosed Hereditary Angioedema in Pregnancy – Case Study
Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis is not uncommon with hereditary angioedema (HAE), especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period. A case study by Canadian authors illustrates that HAE should be considered in the differential diagnosis for any patient with unexplained abdominal pain and recurrent swellings without the presence of urticaria.
News Direct Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Anti-EGFR Antibodies in the Combined Therapy of Chemotherapy-Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
The combination of anti-EGFR therapy with irinotecan has brought benefits to patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in clinical studies. Results of a study directly comparing the efficacy of two different EGFR inhibitors, panitumumab and cetuximab, in combination with irinotecan have been published in the European Journal of Cancer.
News Overlap of SGLT2 Inhibitors from Diabetology to Cardiology
As recent research shows, one of the modern groups of antidiabetic drugs - SGLT2 inhibitors, also known as gliflozins - brings benefits not only in diabetology but also in cardiology and nephrology. It has been confirmed that representatives of this class of drugs prolong patients' lives, reduce the incidence of major cardiovascular (CV) events and the risk of heart failure (HF), and improve renal function. A recently published study additionally indicates that the CV benefit of empagliflozin is independent of the number of compensated CV risk factors and manifests within the first 3 months of treatment.
News OCA in Second-Line Treatment of PBC: Analysis Results and Real-World Data
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the cornerstone treatment for PBC according to the guidelines of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). However, many patients (25–50%) do not achieve an adequate response to it, and some patients develop intolerance leading to the necessity of discontinuation (in the phase III POISE study, this concerned 7% of participants). Then, obeticholic acid (OCA) is indicated, which is recommended as the only registered second-line treatment option for PBC by current professional guidelines both European (EASL 2017) and Czech (2018). The latest data on OCA from clinical studies as well as real-world practice was also presented at this year's XLVIII May Hepatology Days.
News Effect of Cataract Surgery on Melatonin Secretion in Adults Aged 60 and Over
A study by ophthalmologists and epidemiologists from Nara University in Japan, recently published in JAMA Ophthalmology, examined the relationship between cataract surgery, the use of clear and yellow intraocular lenses, and the level of melatonin secretion.
News Alleviation of Asthma and Chronic Sinusitis Symptoms in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis Thanks to Dupilumab
An analysis of results in adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, who also had asthma and/or chronic rhinosinusitis, investigated how clinically and statistically significant the benefit of dupilumab is for all these 3 conditions in comparison with a placebo.
News Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy in Patients with Secondary Immunodeficiency – Real-World Data
Even in patients with secondary immunodeficiency (SID), immunoglobulin substitution can be indicated. Intravenous (IVIG) therapy is considered effective based on studies, but subcutaneous (SCIG) therapy is only based on experiences with patients having primary immunodeficiency (PID). The Italian study presented below, therefore, investigated the efficacy and safety of SCIG in patients with SID.
News Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Substitution in Ig-Naive Patients with PID – Available Efficacy and Safety Data
The prevalence of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) is estimated at 1:10,000. Below, we summarize the available findings on the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous immunoglobulin substitution in Ig-naive patients (i.e., without prior immunoglobulin substitution).
News Effectiveness and Safety of Initiating Treatment for Primary Immunodeficiency with Subcutaneously Administered Immunoglobulins – A Systematic Review of the Literature
The aim of the systematic review of the literature published last year was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of initiating treatment with subcutaneously administered immunoglobulins (SCIG) in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) who had not previously been treated with this modality. There was insufficient data available for such a defined population because SCIGs had typically been introduced into studies only after intravenously administered immunoglobulins (IVIG).
News Comparison of Pharmacological Properties of Micronized Diosmin and Hesperidin in the Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Hemorrhoids
Diosmin and hesperidin belong to the group of bioflavonoids, which currently find wide application in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and hemorrhoidal disease. Both flavonoids have been described to have a similar, but still not fully understood mechanism of action. Nevertheless, diosmin significantly differs from hesperidin, especially in pharmacokinetic parameters, which makes it the main carrier of the effect of venotonics.
News Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduces the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 even in the era of predominant omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5
One of the first studies to evaluate the efficacy of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection during the period of predominant omicron variants including subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 has provided real-world data confirming the position of this antiviral in the first line of treatment for patients with mild to moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and a high risk of severe disease.
News Profile of the effect of aclidinium bromide compared to glycopyrronium bromide
A study by Spanish authors examined the profiles of 2 long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (LAMA), aclidinium bromide and glycopyrronium bromide, under in vitro and in vivo conditions.
News Laboratory Safety of Dupilumab Treatment in Children with Atopic Dermatitis Aged 6 Months to 6 Years
Previous clinical studies in children aged 6–12 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis have demonstrated laboratory safety during dupilumab treatment. The randomized study presented below supplements the data for the age group from 6 months to 6 years.
News The World of Viruses is Constantly Evolving and Bringing Us New Surprises
The last decade has been marked by the emergence of new, as well as re-emerging human pathogens responsible for various infectious diseases. Viruses, especially those of zoonotic origin that originate in the wild, are demanding significant attention—and rightly so. This group of viruses currently accounts for 70% of infectious diseases in the human population, with many using animal organisms as vectors (e.g., ticks, mosquitoes) to transport and infect the human body. Human-vector interactions are becoming increasingly common, particularly due to ongoing urbanization, encroachment into previously uninhabited areas, population migration, increasing travel, shrinking distances, and climate change. In the following text, we will look at some specific examples.
News Do real-world clinical practice data confirm the results of cenobamate treatment in the clinical program?
A recent study by Spanish authors presents the largest dataset of patients with published cenobamate treatment results under prolonged observation in real-world clinical practice at the time of article publication. Data are derived from an expanded access program for a population with highly drug-resistant focal seizures.
News Dual therapy improves not only lung function but also quality of life in COPD patients
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reduces the quality of life of patients and is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality. According to international recommendations, the initial pharmacotherapy is recommended as monotherapy with LAMA (long-acting muscarinic antagonists) or LABA (long-acting beta-agonists), or their combination. A pooled analysis of 4 studies compared the early addition of LABA to LAMA in patients with moderate to severe COPD.
News Safety of aPCC in Real Practice – Results of the BAHAS Project
What are the experiences with activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) in controlling bleeding or preventing its recurrence in acquired hemophilia A? The BAHAS project from Spanish real practice offers answers.
News Thromboprophylaxis in Generalized Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the tumors with the highest risk of developing thromboembolic disease (TED). Although anticoagulant treatment reduces the risk of TED, its positive effect on the overall survival of patients has not yet been proven.
News MUDr. Libor Dvořáček: Microinvasiveness of surgery involves not only the method but also targeted solutions to varicose vein sources
Varicose veins, or chronic venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, are primarily a health issue, not purely a cosmetic one. This is because they are associated with the risk of complications that necessitate long-term therapy and complex treatment of these issues. As MUDr. Libor Dvořáček, the head physician of the Vasmedic Clinic, mentions in our brief interview on this topic, the approach of health insurance companies and the Ministry of Health has fortunately been changing in favor of day surgery – that is, microinvasive and much gentler surgery.
News Does Emicizumab Change Routine Clinical Practice?
With the increasing number of patients with hemophilia A being treated with emicizumab, the question arises whether its use in any way changes established clinical practice. A team of American authors sought answers based on a survey conducted among the treating physicians of these patients. The findings were presented at the 13th Annual EAHAD Congress, which took place at the beginning of February in The Hague, Netherlands.
News Monocyte Distribution Width as an Early Indicator of Sepsis in ICU Patients
Authors of a Franco-Spanish study propose using the monocyte distribution width along with leukocyte count as a screening test to refine the early diagnosis of sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients based on their research findings.