Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for September 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.
Benzodiazepine Use Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia
FRIDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- New use of benzodiazepines correlates with an increase in the risk of dementia, according to a study published online Sept. 27 in BMJ.
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Stivarga Approved for Advanced Colorectal Cancer
THURSDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Stivarga (regorafenib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat colorectal cancer that has spread despite prior treatment.
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Denosumab Studied As Therapy for Giant-Cell Tumor of Bone
THURSDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with giant-cell tumor of bone (GCTB), denosumab treatment causes a significant reduction in tumor giant cells and increased growth of new bone, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
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Topical NSAIDs Effective for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
THURSDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can provide effective pain relief for chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults, according to a review published online Sept. 12 in The Cochrane Library.
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Choice of Psoriasis Treatment Affects CVD Event Rates
THURSDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Compared with other anti-psoriatic therapies, systemic anti-inflammatory treatment of patients with severe psoriasis with biologic agents or methotrexate is associated with a lower combined risk of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke, according to research published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
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Drugs Similar in Efficacy for Neuropathic Pain in Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- In the treatment of patients with chronic diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), there are no significant differences in pain-relief efficacy between amitriptyline, duloxetine, and pregabalin; however, pregabalin improves sleep continuity and duloxetine improves daytime functioning, according to research published online Sept. 18 in Diabetes Care.
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Efficacy of Black Cohosh for Menopausal Symptoms Unclear
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- There is insufficient evidence to support the use of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms, according to the results of a systematic literature review published online Sept. 12 in The Cochrane Library.
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Antibiotic Use Varies by Season, Geographic Region for Elderly
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Antibiotic usage among older adults varies widely by geographical region and season, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Watch & Wait OK in Low-Tumor Burden Follicular Lymphoma
TUESDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- An initial watch-and-wait strategy does not have a detrimental effect on the freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) or overall survival rate in selected patients with low-tumor burden follicular lymphoma compared with patients initially treated with rituximab-containing regimens, according to research published online Sept. 24 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Best Mouse Model of Tumor Drug Exposure Identified
TUESDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Compared with mouse or human melanomas transplanted into mice, a genetically-engineered mouse melanoma model best approximates the tumor pharmacokinetics of a melanoma drug observed in patients, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in The Oncologist.
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Childhood Antibiotic Exposure Linked to Development of IBD
MONDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Early exposure to antianaerobic antibiotics in childhood is associated with an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to research published online Sept. 24 in Pediatrics.
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Limited Evidence on Medication Use for Youth With Autism
MONDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthDay News) -- There is a lack of evidence supporting the use of medications in adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), according to a review published online Sept. 24 in Pediatrics.
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Channel Blockers Reduce Causes of Asthma Symptoms
THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Epithelial expression of the calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC) TMEM16A is increased in patients with asthma, and its inhibition negatively regulates epithelial mucin secretion and airway smooth muscle contraction, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Drug Improves Social Function in Fragile X Syndrome
THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) agonist, STX209 (Arbaclofen), can significantly improve social function in patients with fragile X syndrome, according to a study published in the Sept. 19 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Duration of Antiplatelet Drugs for Drug-Eluting Stents Studied
THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- In patients receiving drug-eluting stents, dual antiplatelet therapy can be safely discontinued during the first year, according to two studies published online Sept. 19 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Linaclotide Relieves Symptoms of IBS With Constipation
THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Over 26 weeks of treatment, the peptide guanylate cyclase-C agonist linaclotide significantly improves abdominal pain and bowel symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), according to research published online Sept. 18 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
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Sequential Oral, Topical Tacrolimus Benefits Dermatitis
THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Sequential therapy with oral tacrolimus and topical tacrolimus may be an effective treatment for severe atopic dermatitis (AD), according to a pilot study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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AHA: Sesame, Rice Oil Blend Lowers Blood Pressure
THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Daily use of a blend of sesame and rice bran oils can significantly lower blood pressure and lipids in patients with hypertension, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions, held from Sept. 19 to 22 in Washington, D.C.
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Oral Dimethyl Fumarate Promising for Multiple Sclerosis
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, treatment with oral BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) is associated with a reduction in the annualized relapse rate comparable to that found with glatiramer acetate and significantly better than that found with placebo, according to two studies published in the Sept. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Progestogens Not Effective in Multiple Gestations
TUESDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Progestogen treatment may be beneficial for pregnant women who have previously given birth to preterm babies, but does not seem to be effective for multiple gestations, according to research published online Sept. 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Resuming Warfarin After GI Bleed Cuts Mortality
TUESDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) -- In the 90 days following a gastrointestinal tract bleeding (GIB) event, patients who do not resume warfarin therapy experience an increased rate of thrombosis and death, according to research published online Sept. 17 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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L-Carnitine Does Not Reduce Cancer-Related Fatigue
TUESDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with invasive malignancies who take L-carnitine supplements do not experience a reduction in fatigue, pain, or depression, according to research published online Sept. 17 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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VTE Risk Varies by Hormone Therapy Formulation
TUESDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in postmenopausal women differs considerably according to the formulation of hormone therapy (HT) used, with the highest VTE risk seen in users of oral estrogen-progestin HT containing medroxyprogesterone acetate, according to research published online Sept. 10 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
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Abiraterone Prolongs Survival in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
TUESDAY, Sept. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Abiraterone acetate significantly improves overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer that has progressed after docetaxel treatment, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in The Lancet Oncology.
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Nicotine Replacement Doesn't Increase Cardio Risk After ACS
MONDAY, Sept. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) does not increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in the first year following acute coronary syndromes (ACS), according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Antipsychotic Use Up Among U.S. Medicaid-Enrolled Youth
FRIDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- There has been a substantial increase in antipsychotic use among Medicaid-enrolled children in recent years, with the increase partially driven by youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and those with multiple diagnoses, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Health Services Research.
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Risk of Car Accidents Up With Antidepressant Use
FRIDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- There is an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) for patients taking antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or Z-drugs, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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Aubagio Approved for Multiple Sclerosis
THURSDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Aubagio (teriflunomide) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
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Meta-Analysis: Acupuncture Reasonable Chronic Pain Option
THURSDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain conditions, including back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, and chronic headache, with pain relief superior to both no-acupuncture controls and sham-acupuncture groups, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published online Sept. 10 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Advertising Changes After Drug Switch to Over-the-Counter
THURSDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- When a drug switches from prescription-only to over-the-counter (OTC) there is a shift in the direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA), with less presentation of potential harms and frequent omission of identification by generic names, according to a research letter published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Long-Term Finasteride Doesn't Impair Quality of Life
THURSDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Taking finasteride to prevent prostate cancer does not negatively affect the physical function, mental health, or vitality domains of health-related quality of life, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Tranexamic Acid Safe for Wide Spectrum of Trauma Patients
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Tranexamic acid reduces risk of death and thrombotic events in patients with traumatic bleeding, irrespective of the baseline risk of death, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in BMJ.
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Persistence of Statin Use Linked to Decreased Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) -- There is an inverse association between statin persistence and cancer risk, particularly for hematopoietic malignancies, according to a study published in the September issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
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Review: Omega-3s Do Not Reduce Risk of Cardio Events
TUESDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is not associated with a statistically significant reduction in major cardiovascular end points, according to research published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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No Superior Method of Adjusting Inhaled Steroids in Asthma
TUESDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with mild-to-moderate asthma controlled with inhaled corticosteroids, adjustment of corticosteroids based on biomarkers (exhaled nitric oxide) or symptoms does not improve the time to treatment failure compared with physician assessment-based adjustment, according to a study published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Less Alzheimer's Pathology With Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Use
TUESDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- In autopsy findings, patients treated with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) show less Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in the Archives of Neurology.
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Adding Ketamine to Opioids Doesn't Reduce Cancer Pain
TUESDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Using subcutaneously administered ketamine in a dose-escalating regimen as an adjunct to opioids and standard co-analgesics does not have any clinical benefit in relieving cancer pain, but it is associated with increased toxicity, according to research published online Sept. 10 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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NSAID Use Ups Cardiovascular Risk Up to Five Years Post-MI
MONDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) -- The increased cardiovascular risk associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use following a first myocardial infarction (MI) persists up to five years, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in Circulation.
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Antihypertensive Use in Pregnancy Increasing
MONDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of antihypertensive use in pregnancy is approaching 5 percent and is increasing, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in Hypertension.
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Early Prophylactic Tx Beneficial for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
MONDAY, Sept. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Beta blockers (BBs) are effective as an early prophylactic pharmacologic treatment for patients with mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) who have exercise-induced left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Cognitive Deficits for Chemo-Treated Breast Cancer Patients
FRIDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer survivors who were previously treated with chemotherapy experience small cognitive deficits in the domains of verbal ability and visuospatial ability, according to a study published online Aug. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Not All Docs/Nurses Want to Be Asked About Hand Hygiene
FRIDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Although most health care workers (HCWs) appreciate the role of patients in preventing health care-associated infection, a considerable proportion are uncomfortable with patients asking about their hand hygiene, according to a letter published online Sept. 3 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Antiretrovirals Increasingly Used for HIV in the U.S.
FRIDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Since 2000, more HIV-infected patients in the United States are receiving antiretroviral treatment, viral load has fallen, and CD4 counts at death have risen, according to a study published in the Sept. 4 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Bolus Epidural Fentanyl Cuts Post-Spinal Decompression Pain
THURSDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Intraoperative bolus epidural fentanyl is effective at alleviating early postoperative pain after lumbar canal decompression, according to a study published online Aug. 27 in The Spine Journal.
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Ginkgo Biloba Extract Does Not Cut Progression to Alzheimer's
THURSDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- For elderly adults with memory complaints, use of standardized ginkgo biloba extract is no better than placebo for reducing the incidence of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in The Lancet Neurology.
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Bosulif Approved for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Bosulif (bosutinib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), the agency said in a news release.
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Intermittent ADT Noninferior to Continuous ADT for Prostate CA
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- In men with prostate cancer who have rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after radiotherapy, overall survival is similar if they receive intermittent or continuous androgen-deprivation therapy, according to a study published in the Sept. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Clopidogrel After MI Less Effective in Diabetes Patients
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Clopidogrel therapy following a heart attack does less to reduce the risk of death in patients with diabetes than in those without diabetes, according to a study published in the Sept. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Anthracycline, Trastuzumab for Breast CA Up Heart Failure Risk
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- For women with incident, invasive breast cancer, treatment with anthracycline and trastuzumab is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and/or cardiomyopathy, compared to having no chemotherapy, according to a study published in the Sept. 5 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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No Increased Risk of Cancer With Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis
TUESDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the use of biologic response modifiers (BRMs) for at least six months is not associated with an increased risk of malignancy compared with placebo or other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), according to a study published in the Sept. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Vitamin D Repletion Offers No Short-Term Benefit in Lipids
TUESDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For vitamin D deficient adults, repletion of vitamin D is not associated with short-term improvement in the lipid profile, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
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Addition of Tiotropium Effective in Poorly Controlled Asthma
TUESDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with poorly controlled asthma, the addition of tiotropium to standard therapy is beneficial, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society, held from Sept. 1 to 5 in Vienna.
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