Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for May 2012. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Cardiovascular Risk Counseling Improves Statin Adherence
THURSDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- For patients taking statins for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), extended care with nurse-led cardiovascular risk-factor counseling improves statin adherence and reduces anxiety, with improvements seen in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for primary prevention patients, according to a study published online May 24 in The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Adjunct Zinc Cuts Antibiotic Treatment Failure for Infants
THURSDAY, May 31 (HealthDay News) -- For infants aged 7 to 120 days with probable serious bacterial infection, zinc given as an adjunct to standard antibiotic treatment is associated with less treatment failure, according to a study published online May 31 in The Lancet.
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Oral, Injected Methotrexate Have Similar Efficacy in JIA
WEDNESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Oral and injected methotrexate are equally effective for treating children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, according to a study published online May 30 in Arthritis Care & Research.
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Online Adderall May Contain Wrong Active Ingredients
WEDNESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- Consumers purchasing the drug Adderall online may be buying a counterfeit version that could be ineffective, unsafe, and potentially harmful, according to a safety alert issued May 30 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Acne Medication Isotretinoin Increases Risk of Eye Disorders
WEDNESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- The acne medicine isotretinoin may be linked to a nearly two-fold increased risk of ocular adverse effects in users, according to a study published online April 16 in the Archives of Dermatology.
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NSAID Use Linked to Reduced Risk of Skin Cancer
TUESDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including nonselective NSAIDs and older cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, are associated with a decreased risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant melanoma (MM), particularly among long-term and high-intensity NSAID users, according to a study published online May 29 in Cancer.
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Evidence Updated for Impact of Menopausal Hormone Therapy
TUESDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- An updated review clarifies the impact of menopausal hormone therapy on the risk of chronic conditions, according to research published online May 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
PUFA Formula Supplementation Doesn't Up Infant Cognition
TUESDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- Supplementation of infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) is not associated with improved cognition; and infants fed with milk- or soy protein-based formula have similar cognitive development scores, which are slightly lower than those of breastfed infants, according to two studies published online May 28 in Pediatrics.
Abstract - Qawasmi
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Abstract - Andres
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Upping Dietary Calcium Buys No Big Cardiovascular Benefit
FRIDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing dietary calcium intake might not offer significant cardiovascular benefits, but intake through calcium supplements might raise myocardial infarction (MI) risk, according to a study published online May 23 in Heart.
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Magnesium Not Recommended After Subarachnoid Bleed
FRIDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, intravenous magnesium sulfate is no better than placebo for reduction of poor outcome, according to a study published online May 25 in The Lancet to coincide with presentation at the European Stroke Conference, held from May 22 to 25 in Lisbon, Portugal.
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Common Therapies for Basal Cell Carcinoma Offer Similar Survival
FRIDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC), treatment with imiquimod or photodynamic therapy (PDT) results in similar long-term tumor-free survival, according to a review published online May 21 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
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Low-Glucose Suspend Function in Insulin Pumps Deemed Safe
THURSDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- Sensor-augmented pump therapy with a low-glucose suspend (LGS) function appears to be safe for patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online May 14 in Diabetes Care.
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Vemurafenib, Dabrafenib Linked to Cutaneous Side Effects
THURSDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- The selective small molecule inhibitors of BRAF, vemurafenib and dabrafenib, are associated with diverse cutaneous side effects, including both malignant and benign growths, when used to treat patients with melanoma with the BRAF V600E mutation, according to research published online May 21 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Emily Y. Chu, M.D., Ph.D., of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues evaluated the cutaneous adverse effects of vemurafenib and dabrafenib in 13 patients being treated for metastatic melanoma and one patient being treated for metastatic thyroid cancer.
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Brentuximab Vedotin Effective in Large-Cell Lymphoma
THURSDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) treated with the CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin achieve a complete remission, according to the results of a phase II study published online May 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Barbara Pro, M.D., of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, and colleagues conducted a prospective study involving 58 patients with systemic ALCL and recurrent disease after at least one previous therapy. Participants received an outpatient infusion of brentuximab vedotin 1.8 mg/kg every three weeks. Overall objective response rate was the primary study end point.
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IUDs, Implants Most Effective for Preventing Pregnancy
WEDNESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Long-acting reversible methods of contraception such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants are more effective for preventing unintended pregnancy than oral contraceptive pills, transdermal patches, or contraceptive vaginal rings, regardless of the user's age, according to a study published in the May 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Aspirin Effective in Preventing Thromboembolism Recurrence
WEDNESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism who have completed oral anticoagulant treatment, aspirin effectively prevents recurrence, with no apparent increase in the risk of major bleeding, according to a study published in the May 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Treatment With rt-PA Within Six Hours of Stroke Beneficial
WEDNESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with acute ischemic stroke, treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) within six hours is associated with improved outcomes, according to two studies published online May 23 in The Lancet to coincide with presentation at the European Stroke Conference, held from May 22 to 25 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Abstract - Sandercock
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Abstract - Wardlaw
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Regorafenib Active in Metastatic GI Stromal Tumors
WEDNESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- Regorafenib, an inhibitor of multiple cancer-associated kinases, is active in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) who have failed to respond to imatinib and sunitinib, according to a study published online May 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Post-Stroke Inpatient Statins Improve Discharge Outcomes
TUESDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- Statin use during hospitalization for ischemic stroke significantly improves the likelihood of being discharged to home or institution, according to a study published in the May 22 issue of Neurology.
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Chemoradiotherapy Improves Survival for Elderly With NSCLC
TUESDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- For elderly patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), treatment with radiotherapy plus carboplatin improves overall survival versus radiotherapy alone, according to a study published May 22 in The Lancet Oncology.
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Dabrafenib Safe, Active Against Some Metastatic Melanomas
MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- Dabrafenib, the mutant BRAF-selective inhibitor of BRAF kinase, is safe for treating solid tumors and shows antitumor activity against Val600-mutant BRAF melanomas and other solid tumors, including melanomas that have metastasized to the brain, according to a study published in the May 19 issue of The Lancet.
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Sunscreen Ingredient May Be Linked to Risk of Endometriosis
FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- Benzophenone (BP)-type derivatives may be linked to an increased risk of endometriosis, according to a study published in the April 17 issue of Environmental Science & Technology.
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Generic Versions of Plavix Approved
THURSDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- The first generic versions of Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Gene Expression Profile Testing Increasing in Breast Cancer
THURSDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- From 2006 to 2008, the use of gene expression profile (GEP) testing increased, correlating with a decrease in the percentage of women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, according to a study published online May 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Bisphosphonates Cut Skeletal Morbidity in Multiple Myeloma
THURSDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with multiple myeloma, bisphosphonate treatment is associated with reduced pathological vertebral fractures, skeletal related events (SREs), and pain, but bisphosphonates do not appear to improve overall survival (OS), with the exception of zoledronate, which has been found to be superior to placebo and etidronate for improving OS, according to a review and meta-analysis published online May 16 in the The Cochrane Library.
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Statins Benefit Those at Low Risk for Vascular Events
THURSDAY, May 17 (HealthDay News) -- Reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with statins is associated with a decrease in major vascular events, even for individuals with a five-year risk of less than 10 percent, according to research published online May 17 in The Lancet.
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Azithromycin Tied to Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Mortality
WEDNESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Azithromycin treatment is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, according to a study published in the May 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Leukoencephalopathy Risk Factors ID'd for MS Drug
WEDNESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Multiple sclerosis patients taking natalizumab are at higher risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) if they are positive for the anti-JC virus antibodies, have been treated with immunosuppressants, and have been treated with natalizumab for longer periods, according to a study published in the May 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Pazopanib Active in Metastatic Soft-Tissue Sarcoma
WEDNESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with metastatic non-adipocytic soft-tissue sarcoma, progressing in spite of previous chemotherapy, pazopanib improves progression-free survival, according to the results of a phase 3 study published online May 16 in The Lancet.
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U.S. Lifetime Prevalence of Sleep Walking ~30 Percent
TUESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- The lifetime prevalence of nocturnal wandering with abnormal state of consciousness (NW) is approximately 30 percent in the U.S. general population, according to a study published in the May 15 issue of Neurology.
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Small Benefit of Inhaled Corticosteroids for Sinusitis
TUESDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with acute sinusitis, inhaled corticosteroids provide a small benefit over placebo but only after several weeks, according to a study published in the May/June issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Patients on Gilenya for MS May Require Extended Monitoring
MONDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- Based on the report of a patient who died after taking one dose of the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Gilenya (fingolimod) and on clinical trial data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending extended monitoring for certain patients taking this drug, according to a May 14 Drug Safety Communication issued by the agency.
Beta Blocker Use Is Not Linked to Reduced Colon Cancer Risk
MONDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- The use of beta blockers is not associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published online May 14 in Cancer.
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Post-SES Implantation, Statins Prevent Late Revascularization
FRIDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- For patients who undergo sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation, use of statin therapy is associated with a reduced risk of late target lesion revascularization (TLR), according to a study published in the May 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Blood Clot Risk Elevated in Patch and Vaginal Ring Users
FRIDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to nonusers of hormonal contraception, women who use combined contraceptive transdermal patches are at an eight-fold increased risk of venous thrombosis, and vaginal ring users are at a more than six-fold increased risk, according to a study published online May 10 in BMJ.
Rituximab Little Use in Resistant Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome
FRIDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, added to prednisone and calcineurin inhibitors, does not provide any additional benefit in terms of reduced proteinuria in the treatment of children with resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), according a study published online May 10 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Nonmedical Prescription Pain Medication Use Peaks at Age 16
THURSDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- Use of prescription pain relievers to get high or for other nonmedical purposes (extramedical use) peaks around age 16 years, according to a study published online May 7 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
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Avastin and Lucentis Equally Improve Visual Acuity in AMD
WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Avastin (bevacizumab) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) have similar effects on visual acuity in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published online May 2 in Ophthalmology.
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Lenalidomide Maintenance Beneficial in Multiple Myeloma
WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with multiple myeloma, maintenance treatment with lenalidomide is associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) for newly-diagnosed patients ineligible for transplantation and for those who have undergone stem-cell transplantation, according to three phase 3 studies published in the May 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Epilepsy Treatment Response Patterns Usually Constant
WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- The response that newly-diagnosed epilepsy patients have to their first drug treatment may indicate their likelihood of achieving seizure freedom, according to a study published online May 9 in Neurology.
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Metformin May Have Dual Effect in Breast Cancer
WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- For women without diabetes and with operable breast cancer, administration of metformin prior to surgery does not significantly affect the proliferative marker Ki-67 overall, but drug effects are observed according to homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), particularly in luminal B tumors, according to a study published online May 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Pediatric Content in Drug Labeling Has Increased
WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Pediatric content in the labeling of drugs has improved from 1975 to 1999, but still only 46 percent of drug labeling in the electronic Physicians' Desk Reference (ePDR) includes pediatric information, according to research published in the May 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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High Infection Rates Seen in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have higher rates of hospitalized bacterial infection than children without the condition, and high-dose steroids significantly increase the rate of infection, according to a study published online May 8 in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Probiotics Helpful in Reducing Antibiotic-Related Diarrhea
TUESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Probiotics seem to be effective in preventing and treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), but more research is needed to know which probiotics are most effective for specific antibiotics, according to research published in the May 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Doesn't Impact Fetal Growth
TUESDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Maternal use of the anti-HIV drug tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) does not affect fetal growth but may lead to a delayed effect on infant growth in the first year, according to a study published online Feb. 29 in AIDS.
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Zinc May Shorten Duration of Common Cold in Adults
MONDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- Oral zinc may shorten the duration of symptoms associated with the common cold in adults, but adverse effects are common, according to a review published online May 7 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Resistance Patterns of Urinary E. coli Isolates Changing
MONDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- The antimicrobial resistance of urinary Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates to ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) increased substantially from 2000 to 2010, according to a study published in the April issue of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
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Modified Fluorene Compound Potently Disrupts Amyloid-β
MONDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- A modified version of fluorene counteracts amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide toxicity, and is more potent than the original fluorene compounds, according to a study published online April 30 in PLoS One.
Complementary Medicine Not Tied to Prostate Cancer Outcome
FRIDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- Although widely used, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) does not impact patient satisfaction with treatment or patient-reported outcomes after treatment for localized prostate cancer, according to a study published in the May issue of Urology.
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Lupus Nephritis Screening and Management Guidelines Issued
FRIDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- The American College of Rheumatology has produced new guidelines for the screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis; the guidelines have been published in the June issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
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CDC: Teen Birth Rate Decreasing in United States
THURSDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- From 1990 to 2006-2010, the teen birth rate declined among U.S. females, according to a study published in the May 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
Antipsychotic Maintenance Rx Aids Schizophrenia Patients
THURSDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) -- Maintenance therapy with antipsychotic drugs is associated with a reduction in the relapse rate in schizophrenia, but benefits must be weighed against risks of adverse side effects, according to a review published online May 3 in The Lancet.
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Mitotane + Chemo Combo May Benefit Adrenocortical Cancer
WEDNESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with advanced adrenocortical cancer, mitotane plus a combination of etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (EDP) is superior to streptozocin-mitotane for rates of response and progression-free survival, but does not improve overall survival, according to a study published online May 2 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Erlotinib Plus Chemo Doesn't Improve Efficacy in NSCLC
WEDNESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Adding chemotherapy with carboplatin plus paclitaxel to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib does not improve efficacy in the treatment of chemotherapy-naive, never or light former smokers with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study published online April 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Chemo Combination Promising for Multiple Myeloma
WEDNESDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, combination treatment with elotuzumab, lenalidomide, and low-dose dexamethasone is generally well tolerated, with encouraging response rates, according to a study published online April 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Methodological Heterogeneity Seen in Clinical Trials
TUESDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Clinical studies registered with ClinicalTrials.gov from 2007 and 2010 are predominately small, single-center trials and contain significant heterogeneity in methodology, according to a study published in the May 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Elelyso Approved for Type 1 Gaucher Disease
TUESDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a long-term enzyme replacement therapy for people with Type 1 Gaucher disease.
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