News &amp; Updates

With the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that the SARS-CoV-2 virus will be with us for a long time. A media roundtable organized by Roche Malaysia recently discussed the various ways in which vulnerable patient populations can cope with living in a world where vaccinations alone may not be sufficient.

Vulnerable patients may need more help in the COVID-19 pandemic era

Apixaban in the management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in older patients: Clinical evidence and experience sharing

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) raises the risk of stroke by three to five times, particularly in older patients. Treating older patients with NVAF presents special challenges because of their elevated risks for both stroke and bleeding. This necessitates optimization of anticoagulant therapy by balancing efficacy and bleeding risk. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), such as apixaban, have shown advantages in safety and efficacy over warfarin, which has a very narrow therapeutic index. In an interview with Dr Soon Chao Yang, Cardiologist at The Heart Doctors Clinic, Mount Alvernia Hospital, Singapore, he shared insights on managing NVAF in older patients, as well as his experience with using apixaban in this special population.

Apixaban in the management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in older patients: Clinical evidence and experience sharing

Practical considerations in the choice of pharmacological therapy (VKAs vs NOACs) for venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious medical condition. It comprises deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Left untreated, it could result in significant morbidity and mortality. Most patients with VTE receive anticoagulation therapy for 3 months or longer. For more than 50 years since the 1940s, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) such as warfarin were the mainstay of oral anticoagulation therapy for VTE. As it has a narrow therapeutic index, VKAs require frequent coagulation monitoring with International Normalised Ratio (INR) to adjust and optimize the dose for each individual. As the peak effect for warfarin takes at least 4-5 days, in the initial stage of VTE, concurrent administration of daily subcutaneous injections of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is needed until INR reaches therapeutic levels. Due to numerous drug and dietary interactions with warfarin, regular INR monitoring is required to ensure therapeutic levels are maintained and to avoid under or overdosing.

Practical considerations in the choice of pharmacological therapy (VKAs vs NOACs) for venous thromboembolism

Bathroom urgency could well predict UC severity

Frequent bathroom urgency in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) could well predict UC severity. Hence, it should be considered a UC-specific patient-reported outcome, said experts at AIBD 2021.

Bathroom urgency could well predict UC severity

A large retrospective study conducted in the US and Europe and presented at RSNA 2021 has suggested that central nervous system (CNS) complications may affect approximately one in 100 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

CNS complications in COVID-19: 1 in 100 hospitalized patients affected

27 Dec 2021 by

CNS complications in COVID-19: 1 in 100 hospitalized patients affected

27 Dec 2021

Hidradenitis suppurativa ups risk of adverse pregnancy, maternal outcomes

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is independently associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy and maternal outcomes, suggests a recent study. Comorbid conditions, which can be modified with early identification and management, affect such risk.

Hidradenitis suppurativa ups risk of adverse pregnancy, maternal outcomes

Venetoclax + chemo disappoints in double-hit lymphoma trial

27 Dec 2021 by

In patients with double-hit lymphoma (DHL), the addition of the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax to a chemoimmunotherapeutic regimen comprising DA-EPOCH-R* led to excess treatment-related mortality compared with DA-EPOCH-R alone, according to the initial results of the phase II/III Alliance A051701 trial.

Venetoclax + chemo disappoints in double-hit lymphoma trial

27 Dec 2021

Asian-derived polygenic risk scores boost risk stratification for breast cancer

27 Dec 2021 by

Drawing from the largest available studies of Asian breast cancer patients, a recent Singapore study has developed polygenic risk scores (PRS) that can help improve the risk stratification of women of Asian ancestry.

Asian-derived polygenic risk scores boost risk stratification for breast cancer

27 Dec 2021

Consider migraine, chronic liver disease for coeliac disease screening: study

Targeted testing, particularly of individuals with type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis, dermatitis herpetiformis, migraine, and chronic liver disease, could improve case-finding for Coeliac disease (CD) and in turn could promote timely treatment, reports a recent meta-analysis.

Consider migraine, chronic liver disease for coeliac disease screening: study