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News Proposal of a New Treatment Sequence Algorithm for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
John McMurray and Milton Packer published a proposal for a new treatment sequence algorithm for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) based on current findings in the 2021 issue of Circulation. This procedure consists of three steps and, according to the authors, should be initiated in patients who have achieved euvolemia through the use of diuretics.
News When to Consider Gaucher Disease and How to Diagnose It Early and Correctly
Considering Gaucher disease (GD) as a cause of a patient's problems, especially in the case of splenomegaly and bleeding manifestations, is very important, regardless of age. Screening using the dry blood spot method is available and very simple.
News Etiology and Therapy of Dry Eye Syndrome in a Nutshell
Dry eye syndrome, the most common diagnosis in outpatient ophthalmology practice, is a multifactorial disease with varying severity of symptoms. It reduces the quality of life and can also affect the patient's visual functions. Therapy is individualized according to the primary trigger of the disease and aims to restore the homeostasis of the ocular surface and tear film. Due to the rapid pace of modernization associated with numerous extrinsic factors contributing to the development of dry eye syndrome, its incidence is rising, as well as the number of topical therapeutic options.
News What impact do the symptoms of primary biliary cholangitis have on the patient and their quality of life
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a serious chronic cholestatic autoimmune liver disease that predominantly affects middle-aged women and can lead to end-stage liver failure and the need for transplantation. Several studies published this year show a reduction in the quality of life of patients with this disease due to its accompanying symptoms.
News What Effect Can Be Expected from Limosilactobacillus reuteri in Mucositis and Peri-Implantitis?
A Spanish clinical study monitored the effect of administering probiotics as an adjunct therapy to non-surgical mechanical treatment of peri-implantitis. What did the study show regarding the effect on microbiome composition and overall clinical picture when a preparation containing Limosilactobacillus reuteri Prodentis was administered?
News Targeted Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Severe AD – Case Studies
The results of therapy with dupilumab in children and adolescents with severe forms of atopic dermatitis (AD) are very good even after a short period, not only from a health perspective but also in terms of the social aspect of the disease and the quality of life of patients. This is illustrated by the following two case studies – an 8-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy – from the Center for Biological Treatment at the Dermatovenerology Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and Bulovka University Hospital.
News Can We Reach Brain Metastases of Lung Cancer with Anti-EGFR Targeted Therapy?
Information on the penetration of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (anti-EGFR TKIs) through the blood-brain barrier primarily comes from preclinical testing. In clinical studies, its effectiveness in patients with brain metastases can be an indicator of its penetration. However, a truly robust analysis is lacking. Until one is available, we can preliminarily evaluate the available data.
News Treatment of Depression with Persistent Severe Insomnia − Interactive Case Study
A 39-year-old patient comes to the psychiatric office due to depressive symptoms with anxiety and insomnia. He is worried about failing at work, also concerned about psychopharmaceuticals and their side effects, and is in psychotherapeutic care.
News Prevalence and Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Europe – Current Overview and Trend Analysis
A comprehensive review article by authors from Bonn, Germany, published late last year in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, provides current data and estimates of the incidence and prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in Europe. Here is a brief summary of the key findings from this latest analysis.
News Pregnancy and Childbirth in a Woman with VWD − A Case Study
Pregnancy and childbirth are relatively demanding periods and situations for women with von Willebrand disease (vWD) from the perspective of hemostasis. They can be associated with an increased risk of bleeding for both the mother and the newborn. For this reason, a multidisciplinary approach to every pregnant woman is essential, involving a hematologist (ideally in a specialized center), the obstetric team, and then also a gynecologist who will care for the woman in the postpartum period. The optimal approach is to create a birth plan early, which will be carefully followed during labor and especially in the postpartum period. The following case study clearly illustrates these points.
News Statin Therapy May Reduce Mortality in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19
In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, intensive research is ongoing to understand the impact of patients' chronic medication on the prognosis of the disease. A recently published Spanish study evaluated the effect of pre-existing statin therapy on the clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
News Bimekizumab in 3rd Line Biological Treatment After Risankizumab Failure – Case Study
The possibilities of biological therapy for severe forms of psoriasis are very broad today. Achieving remission or reducing disease activity by 90-100% from the baseline state (PASI 90-100) is highly probable, especially when using biological drugs from the IL-17 or IL-23 inhibitor groups. However, individually, patients may exhibit primary or secondary resistance even when using these preparations, necessitating a change in biological treatment. The following case study presents the case of a young man who achieved complete disease remission with bimekizumab after the previous failure of ixekizumab and risankizumab.
News “Think about the thyroid gland during pregnancy,” reminds awareness campaign
Thyroid disorders can endanger the health of both the fetus and the mother. Sometimes, however, the problem only manifests during pregnancy, and the expectant mother or her doctor might not notice it amidst other ongoing changes. The issue was highlighted by an event called “Thyroid Week,” which took place in the Czech Republic during the last week of May 2020.
News Bilastine as a reliable helper in the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria even in younger children
Until recently, bilastine was indicated for the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria only in patients over 12 years of age. However, current findings from valid studies demonstrate the safety and efficacy of its use even in younger individuals.
News Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests in the Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Based on 81 scientific papers published between 2010 and 2021, experts from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have prepared an overview of the current epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). We summarize information on the diagnosis of gonorrhea, chlamydial infections, M. genitalium, trichomoniasis, genital infections by HSV-1/2, and HPV using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), the most well-known method being PCR. NAAT shows high sensitivity and specificity in testing for these diseases.
News Overview of Regimen Measures for House Dust Mite Allergy
House dust mite allergy is one of the significant causes of respiratory allergies in both children and adult patients. In addition to pharmacological treatment, the cornerstone of therapy also includes non-pharmacological approaches, whether through regimen measures or with the help of products designed to eliminate mites.
News Ozanimod Expands Treatment Options for Ulcerative Colitis in Adult Patients
As a review article published last year in the journal Drugs suggests, ozanimod is an effective and well-tolerated medication for adult patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC), both in the initial phase of treatment and in the maintenance phase after achieving remission.
News Transthyretin – More Than a Thyroxine Transporter
Transthyretin (TTR) is an extracellular protein whose main role is to transport thyroxine and retinol in the body and brain. TTR tends to form amyloid deposits, which can lead to systemic disease known as TTR amyloidosis. Recently, it has been shown that this protein has a much wider spectrum of activities in the organism than previously thought.
News Effect of Extended-Release Metformin on Cognitive Functions in Older Frail Women with Diabetes and Hypertension
Women have a higher risk of geriatric frailty regardless of age and menopausal status. This risk further increases with the presence of diabetes and hypertension, which also elevate the risk of cognitive dysfunction. According to available data, metformin may reduce the risk of developing frailty in postmenopausal women. A recently published Italian study, LEOPARDESS, aimed to evaluate the effect of extended-release metformin on the cognitive functions of this population of women.
News Osimertinib in the Treatment of Patients with NSCLC with Secondary EGFR T790M Mutation – Case Study
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a genetically heterogeneous disease. Individualization of therapy based on the presence of specific tumor cell mutations is therefore crucial for choosing the optimal therapy for these patients. One of the targeted treatment options for patients with NSCLC with an activating mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI). We present a case study of a patient with NSCLC treated with osimertinib after disease progression due to a secondary EGFR T790M mutation resulting from afatinib therapy. The described case well illustrates the role of osimertinib in the treatment of NSCLC with secondary EGFR T790M mutation.
News Principle of Slowed Wound Healing Due to Stress Revealed
There is no doubt that psychological stress significantly slows down the process of healing wounds. The principle of how this phenomenon occurs, however, has remained unexplained. Swiss scientists focused on macrophages. Their function is to remove pathogens from the healing wound.
News Pharmacotherapy of Glaucoma in a Nutshell According to the Latest Recommendations of the European Glaucoma Society
The European Glaucoma Society published its latest, 5th version of recommendations for the treatment of glaucoma in 2021. The following text, based on these recommendations, focuses in a nutshell on the basic principles of pharmacotherapy for this disease according to current knowledge.
News Thanks to Buccolam, the reality of suppressing convulsive seizures in children and adolescents approaches parents' ideal management
What crosses the mind of a parent when they notice their epileptic child or adolescent is having a convulsive seizure? They want it to be over quickly and safely. What constitutes the integral part that makes this wish a reality? And how does the newest treatment modality, buccally administered midazolam (Buccolam), address these needs?
News H₂FPEF Score for Estimating the Probability of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in Persons with Unexplained Dyspnea
The simple, validated H₂FPEF scoring system based on clinical and echocardiographic parameters, developed by experts from the Mayo Clinic, allows the differentiation of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) from dyspnea of other etiologies and helps decide whether further examinations are necessary. The score can be calculated online and in the Czech language.