News &amp; Updates

Long-term nursing home residents treated for hypertension are less likely to receive and more likely to discontinue treatment with a thiazide diuretic than any other first-line antihypertensive medication, a study reports. However, the drug does not carry an increased risk of incontinence or hospitalization and may thus be a reasonable first-line blood pressure (BP)-lowering treatment choice in this population.

Thiazide diuretics may be used in first-line treatment of hypertension in nursing home residents

Paediatric UTI pathogens respond well to aminopenicillin, β-lactamase inhibitors

Pathogens behind paediatric febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) show a satisfactory in vitro susceptibility profile to first-line therapy with a combination of aminopenicillin and β-lactamase inhibitors, a new study has shown.

Paediatric UTI pathogens respond well to aminopenicillin, β-lactamase inhibitors

Baricitinib benefits even AD patients with comorbidities

08 May 2020 by

Treatment with baricitinib led to clinically meaningful improvements in itch and skin symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), even in those with additional comorbid atopic conditions, according to a pooled analysis of two phase III studies released in the AAAAI 2020 Meeting.

Baricitinib benefits even AD patients with comorbidities

COVID-19 treatments: What else is in the works?

08 May 2020 by

At present, there are no definitive treatments for COVID-19. More than 300 clinical trials are ongoing in the search for a cure. Some of the treatments being tested were previously used, with varying levels of efficacy, in the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

COVID-19 treatments: What else is in the works?

Early upstream GPI use in acute myocardial infarction patients potentially harmful

Early upstream use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) in patients with acute myocardial infarction should be avoided even in the presence of an intracoronary thrombotic occlusion, as suggested in a study.

Early upstream GPI use in acute myocardial infarction patients potentially harmful

Veliparib continues to show positive signals in ovarian cancer

08 May 2020 by

Subgroup analyses of the VELIA* trial showed that the concomitant administration of the poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor veliparib with an induction chemotherapy (CT) regimen comprising carboplatin and paclitaxel (CP) generated antitumour activity and favourable safety in women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Veliparib continues to show positive signals in ovarian cancer

Hydroxychloroquine shows greater potency than chloroquine against SARS-CoV-2

Hydroxychloroquine appears to have more potent in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity than chloroquine, as shown in a study.

Hydroxychloroquine shows greater potency than chloroquine against SARS-CoV-2

Denosumab helps improve BMD in hyperparathyroidism

07 May 2020 by

The antiresorptive agent denosumab, used alone or in combination with the calcimimetic agent cinacalcet, improves BMD and reduces bone turnover in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) — providing a potential treatment option for patients in whom surgery is undesirable, the DENOCINA* trials has shown.

Denosumab helps improve BMD in hyperparathyroidism

Preoperative metformin may improve postoperative outcomes in T2D

07 May 2020 by

Adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on preoperative metformin therapy could have better postoperative outcomes, a US-based retrospective cohort study showed.

Preoperative metformin may improve postoperative outcomes in T2D

Palivizumab immunization in extremely premature babies exerts null effect on pulmonary outcomes

In infants born extremely premature, immunization with palivizumab does not confer apparent protective effects on respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function at adolescence, as reported in a recent study. Nevertheless, immunized survivors of extreme prematurity show good clinical and physiological outcomes.

Palivizumab immunization in extremely premature babies exerts null effect on pulmonary outcomes