News &amp; Updates

Taking diltiazem and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) together appears to contribute to increased bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), regardless of the presence of chronic kidney disease, as shown in a study.

Concomitant diltiazem use with DOACs pose increased bleeding risk in AF

Medication disrupts human gut microbiome

Exposure to single or multiple drugs can have extensive disruptive effects on the human gut microbiome, a new study has found.

Medication disrupts human gut microbiome

Second-line axi-cel improves EFS in elderly patients with R/R LBCL

16 Jul 2022 by

Second-line treatment with the CAR* T-cell therapy axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) led to significantly longer event-free survival (EFS) in patients aged ≥65 years with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) compared with standard of care (SoC), according to a preplanned subgroup analysis of the ZUMA-7** trial presented at EHA 2022.

Second-line axi-cel improves EFS in elderly patients with R/R LBCL

Glaucoma unlikely to affect cognitive function in older adults

There appears to be at most a weak interaction between glaucoma and cognitive function among older adults, reports a recent study.

Glaucoma unlikely to affect cognitive function in older adults

Meta-analysis favours citalopram in poststroke recovery

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can prevent and treat depression following stroke, in addition to improving anxiety, dependence, motor function, and cognitive function—benefits that are only reproducible with citalopram but not fluoxetine, according to a meta-analysis said to be the most up to date.

Meta-analysis favours citalopram in poststroke recovery

15 Jul 2022

Nonoperative management safe, feasible after complete response in rectal cancer

Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who achieve complete response (CR) following sequential short-course radiation therapy (SCRT) and chemotherapy appear to benefit from nonoperative management (NOM) with a watch-and-wait strategy, which presents evidence for good anorectal functions, results of a study have shown.

Nonoperative management safe, feasible after complete response in rectal cancer

15 Jul 2022

SI-TEAS intervention eases cancer-related fatigue, improves cell immunity

Somatosensory interaction transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (SI-TEAS), an emerging traditional Chinese medicine nursing practice, is effective in relieving cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and improving a tumour patient’s cell immunity, a study has found.

SI-TEAS intervention eases cancer-related fatigue, improves cell immunity

GI practitioners cease PPI use in patients due to concerns of side effects

Discontinuation of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use remains prevalent, even within a group of mostly academic gastroenterology (GI) practitioners, despite evidence suggesting the safety of long-term PPI use without routine monitoring, a study has shown.

GI practitioners cease PPI use in patients due to concerns of side effects

Concomitant azole use may influence bleeding risk in AF patients on NOACs

In a study evaluating azole use in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), systemic exposure to the antifungal agent fluconazole was associated with an elevated risk of bleeding, particularly among those on apixaban. Conversely, no association was seen between NOACs and topical azoles*.

Concomitant azole use may influence bleeding risk in AF patients on NOACs

Three layers of stigma prevent mental health recovery in Singapore

Internalized stigma, compounded by public, structural, and systemic stigmas pose substantial barriers to recovery among persons with mental illnesses (PMI), according to a recent Singapore study.

Three layers of stigma prevent mental health recovery in Singapore