Journal scans - January 2004

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NEW FEATURES THIS WEEK

Pharmacists JScan, January 2004

This issue features articles on atypical antipsychotic drugs, the quality of published adverse event reports, and more.Medscape Pharmacists 5(1) 2004

Pharmacotherapy JScan, January 2004

This issue features articles on ximelagatran pharmacokinetics, the effects of exercise on resting pharmacokinetics, and more.Medscape Pharmacotherapy 6(1) 2004

FDA Continues Efforts to Improve Drug Manufacturing Oversight

One of the goals is to make sure that the FDA is consistent in messages to manufacturers.Drug Benefit Trends 15(10) 2003

Can Women With Sickle Cell Trait Take Oral Contraceptives?

I have a patient with sickle cell trait who states that the 2 times she has been placed on combination oral contraceptives, she has developed a blood clot in her kidney. Are OCs safe for her?Medscape Nurses 6(1) 2004

The Effectiveness of Various Postpartum Depression Treatments and the Impact of Antidepressant Drugs on Nursing Infants

Postpartum depression, observed in approximately 13% of women who have recently given birth, is the most prevalent serious complication of pregnancy.J Am Board Fam Pract 16(5) 2003

Comparison of Three Tacrolimus-Based Immunosuppressive Regimens in Lung Transplantation

The overall incidence of infection up to 3 years after transplantation and freedom from chronic rejection and survival at 1 and 3 years did not differ among the three groups.Am J Transplant 3(12) 2003

Expanding Role of Erythropoietin

At the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, Drs. Elwell and Welage presented the latest information on the management of chronic anemia. Medscape Pharmacists 5(1) 2004

Effectiveness and Safety of Amlodipine in Newly Diagnosed Hypertensive Patients and in Previously Diagnosed Hypertensive Patients Not Controlled With Their Usual Treatment (NOTA Study)

In the last 50 years, cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of death in industrialised countries.Clin Drug Invest 23(12) 2003

Pharmacologic Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) most often seek treatment for reduction of hair growth and/or acne, restoration of menstrual cyclicity, and infertility.Semin Reprod Med 21(3) 2003

BIPOLAR DISORDER PREVALENCE RATES

Review an assessment of population-based epidemiological studies

into lifetime prevalence rates for affective disorders. Read "Higher

Seafood Consumption Correlates With Lower Rates of Bipolar

Disorders," a featured article in the "Focus On" section of the

Bipolar Disorder Resource Center.

NEWS

Prescribing Patterns Respond to "Bad News" Findings of Clinical Trials

Physicians alter their prescribing patterns when clinical trial results suggest detrimental effects of the drug in question, two new reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association for January 7 suggest.Reuters Health Information 2004

Prolonged Regular Aspirin Use May Increase Pancreatic Cancer Risk

An analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study suggests that use for 20 years or more is associated with increased risk, but this differs from findings in other studies.Medscape Medical News 2004

UK Launches New Antidepressant-Suicide Probe

Britain's medicines' agency announced on Tuesday a new study to find out if people taking antidepressant drugs are at increased risk of suicide.Reuters Health Information 2004

Low Serum Magnesium Linked to Increased Stroke Risk

Based on a prospective trial, patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease and low serum magnesium levels may benefit from magnesium substitution therapy.Medscape Medical News 2004

Fatal Diphtheria Case Highlights Importance of Vaccination for Travelers

In a new report, the CDC describes a fatal case of respiratory diphtheria involving a US traveler. "The case highlights the need for all international travelers to be up-to-date with all recommended vaccinations, including a primary series of diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine," the Atlanta-based agency emphasizes.Reuters Health Information 2004

Ginger Helpful for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy

In a prospective comparative study, this edible plant was safe and mildly effective.Medscape Medical News 2004

Prolonged Infliximab Can Induce Autoantibodies

In patients with rheumatic diseases, prolonged treatment with infliximab often induces autoantibodies, Canadian researchers report, even with concomitant immunosuppression. However, the development of new connective tissue disease has not been observed in these patients.Reuters Health Information 2004

Fluticasone and Budesonide Act Within Comparable Timeframe

The time course of action of fluticasone propionate and budesonide is similar, UK researchers report in January issue of Thorax. Reuters Health Information 2004

Intranasal Vaccine Protects Children Against New Influenza A Variants

The recently approved intranasal influenza vaccine was effective in preventing infection with new variants of influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B in children in the 2000-2001 epidemic, investigators report in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine for January.Reuters Health Information 2004

Vasopressin Superior to Epinephrine for Asystole; Similar for V-Fib, Pulseless Electrical Activity

Based on this randomized trial, the editorialist suggests that practitioners should be encouraged to incorporate this information into their CPR protocols "immediately."Medscape Medical News 2004

Low-Dose Aspirin Safely Prevents Clotting Complications of Polycythemia Vera

Treatment with low-dose aspirin appears to be safe and effective for preventing thrombotic complications in patients with polycythemia vera, according to a report published this week. However, an editorialist points out, it remains unclear if such therapy is useful for patients without normal platelet counts or when added to judicious phlebotomy.Reuters Health Information 2004

Glaxo Fights $5.2 Billion U.S. Tax Claim

GlaxoKline Plc, Europe's largest drugmaker, said on Wednesday that U.S. authorities wanted it to pay up to $5.2 billion in additional taxes and interest and the company would contest the claim.Reuters Health Information 2004

Lundbeck Says Alzheimer's Drug Tests Positive

Denmark's pharmaceutical group H. Lundbeck A/S said on Wednesday two phase III studies with its Ebixa drug had showed positive results in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.Reuters Health Information 2004

Elan Says Chronic Pain Drug Prialt Successful in Phase III Trial

Irish drug firm Elan said on Wednesday it expected to bring its Prialt treatment for severe chronic pain to the market by the first quarter of 2005, after it passed a key clinical trial.Reuters Health Information 2004

Millennium Stops Trial of Combo Cancer Drug

Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. said on Tuesday it stopped its mid-stage clinical trial of its cancer drug Velcade (bortezomib) in combination with another commonly used drug for colorectal cancer.Reuters Health Information 2004

Rival Calls McKesson VA Contract Bid a "Mistake"

AmerisourceBergen Corp.'s CEO said on Monday that its rival, McKesson Corp., made a mistake by charging too little for a contract to provide pharmaceuticals to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).Reuters Health Information 2004

Oral Antibiotics Sufficient for Pedicure-Related Mycobacterial Furunculosis

For management of Mycobacterium fortuitum furunculosis associated with nail salon footbaths, surgical resection appears to be unnecessary, but antibiotic treatment is probably advisable for such cases, investigators report.Reuters Health Information 2004

FDA Approves Saquinavir-Ritonavir Combination for HIV Treatment

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG on Tuesday said it received approval from U.S. regulators for use of its AIDS drug Invirase (saquinavir) in combination with a drug made by Abbott Laboratories Inc. for the treatment of HIV infection.Reuters Health Information 2004

Adalimumab Safe Way to Boost Response to Standard Antirheumatic Treatment

Adalimumab is a safe and effective addition to standard therapy for patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) whose response to traditional therapy is inadequate, according to results of the Safety Trial of Adalimumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis (STAR).Reuters Health Information 2004

Intrathecal Ziconotide Effective in Treating Pain From Cancer or AIDS

In a randomized controlled trial, half of patients responded to this therapy compared with 17.5% of the placebo group.Medscape Medical News 2004

Trimeris, Roche Halt Trials of T-1249 HIV Fusion Inhibitor

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG and Trimeris Inc. on Monday said they had halted clinical trials of their experimental HIV fusion inhibitor, T-1249.Reuters Health Information 2004

Britain Issues Alert on Aventis' Optipen Pro Insulin Pen

More than 1,000 people have complained of difficulties using Aventis' Optipen Pro insulin pen injection system, the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said on Tuesday.Reuters Health Information 2004

NicOx Says "Super-Aspirin" Effective for Peripheral Arterial Obstructive Disease

French biotechnology firm NicOx SA said on Thursday its modified version of aspirin proved effective in a study of patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial obstructive disease (PAOD).Reuters Health Information 2004

Inhaled Steroid Use Does Not Affect COPD Mortality or Exacerbations

Findings from a new study indicate that regular use of inhaled corticosteroids does not improve survival or prevent disease flare-ups in patients with COPD, contrary to some previous reports. The new study incorporates time-dependent analysis to address possible bias in previous research.Reuters Health Information 2004

"Absolute Survival Benefit" Best Conveys Risk and Benefits of Chemotherapy

For breast cancer patients weighing the risks and benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy, absolute survival benefit may be more easily understood than other methods of describing potential outcomes, investigators report.Reuters Health Information 2004

Artemisinin Combinations May Combat Multidrug-Resistant Malaria

Two studies published in The Lancet this week suggest that combination antimalarial therapy that includes an artemisinin derivative offers the best hope of winning the war against drug-resistant malaria.Reuters Health Information 2004

Merck Submits New COX-2 Inhibitor to FDA for Approval

Merck & Co. Inc. on Tuesday said it submitted its new COX-2 inhibitor Arcoxia to the Food and Drug Administration to review for U.S. marketing approval.Reuters Health Information 2003

Daily Valacyclovir Use Reduces Risk of Genital Herpes Transmission

Once daily suppressive therapy with valacyclovir helps prevent the transmission of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2, according to a report published in the January 1st issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Nevertheless, since prevention is incomplete, other safe-sex practices are still necessary.Reuters Health Information 2003

Drotrecogin Alfa Appears Safe for Children With Severe Sepsis

As a treatment for severe sepsis, drotrecogin alfa (activated) appears to be just as safe for children as it is for adults, preliminary research suggests. However, results from an ongoing randomized trial are needed to confirm this.Reuters Health Information 2004

Low-Dose Pegylated Interferon Alpha Offers No Benefit for Active Ulcerative Colitis

Relatively low doses of pegylated interferon alpha (PegIFN) are safe but of little clinical benefit in patients with ulcerative colitis, European investigators report.Reuters Health Information 2004

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