Tight glycemic control after pediatric heart surgery shows no benefit
September 27th 2012Tight glycemic control can be achieved in children following cardiac surgery, but it does not reduce the infection rate, mortality, or length of hospital stay compared to standard care, according to a study published in the September 7 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine
New guidelines: Screen adults for hypertriglyceridemia every 5 years
September 27th 2012An Endocrine Society task force has established new clinical-practice guidelines that recommend screening adults for high triglyceride levels once every 5 years because of the potential risk of cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis associated with hypertriglyceridemia.
Biologics for RA treatment do not increase cancer risk
September 21st 2012Biologic response modifiers developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis do not appear to be associated with an increased risk of cancer, according to a study published September 5 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Kidney stones increase risk of ESRD
September 21st 2012The risks of end stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, and sustained doubling of serum creatinine concentration are significantly higher in people with at least 1 symptomatic kidney stone episode, according to the results of a study published August 30 in the British Medical Journal.
Prasugrel versus clopidogrel in patients with ACS
September 14th 2012Prasugrel may not improve outcomes for patients under the age of 75 years with unstable angina or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who have not undergone revascularization, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
ACIP: 2012-13 influenza vaccination recommendations
September 14th 2012Recommendations for the 2012-2013 influenza season were recently published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The recommendations include an updated vaccination schedule for children and information on virus strains, seizures, and egg allergy.
Aspirin may benefit prostate cancer patients
September 14th 2012Anticoagulant therapy, particularly the use of aspirin, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality in men treated with radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy for prostate cancer, according to a study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Acetaminophen dosing guidelines needed for overweight children, study shows
September 14th 2012There is considerable discrepancy among caregivers and pharmacists regarding the appropriate dosage of acetaminophen for overweight and obese children, according to a recent study published online in the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy Science and Practice.
FDA's CRDAC recommends against approving lixivaptan
September 13th 2012FDA's Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee recommended against approving lixivaptan (CRTX 080, Cornerstone Therapeutics), for the treatment of symptomatic hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia associated with heart failure and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone, respectively.
Early administration of aspirin plus alteplase does not improve outcome in stroke patients
September 7th 2012Early administration of intravenous aspirin, in addition to alteplase, does not improve functional outcome at 3 months for patients with acute ischemic stroke, but increases the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, according to a study published online August 25 in The Lancet.
FDA panel backs tobramycin inhalation powder for patients with cystic fibrosis
September 6th 2012An FDA advisory panel voted 13 to 1 that there was adequate evidence of efficacy and safety to support the use of tobramycin inhalation powder (Novartis) for the management of cystic fibrosis patients whose lungs contain bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
FDA Actions in Brief August 2012
September 1st 2012Recent FDA Approvals (through August 2012) related to (CSL Limited, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, ID Biomedical Corp, MedImmune Vaccines, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited, Sanofi Pasteur, Genentech, Talon Therapeutics, Amarin, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Horizon Pharma, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer, Sagent Pharmaceuticals)
Belviq (Lorcaserin): A 5-HT2C receptor agonist indicated to treat certain overweight or obese adults
September 1st 2012New molecular entity: FDA approved Lorcaserin (Belviq, Arena Pharmaceuticals GMBH), as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index deemed obese and the presence of at least 1 weight-related comorbid condition.
Growth hormone-releasing hormone appears to help cognitive functioning
August 31st 2012Growth hormone-releasing hormone has favorable effects on cognition in healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study published online in the August issue of the Archives of Neurology.
Use of ALBC implants may lead to kidney injury
August 31st 2012Aminoglycoside-loaded bone cement implants, frequently used in orthopedic surgery, may result in systemic effects that raise aminoglycoside serum concentrations and lead to acute kidney injury, according to a study published July 3 in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.