Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)最新文献

The journal retracts the article titled "Obesity and Frailty Syndrome in the Elderly: Prospective Study in Primary Care" [...].

Introduction: Cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a recurrent debilitating illness characterized by intense episodes of nausea and emesis with widely varied pharmacological management across the country. Aprepitant is now increasingly used in patients with CVS. The impact of aprepitant as an abortive therapy in the readmission of pediatric patients with CVS is currently unknown. Methodology: We analyzed all pediatric patients with a primary diagnosis of CVS using the ICD-10 code in the Pediatric Health Information System database of the Children's Hospital Association. We evaluated the demographic data, comorbid conditions, and management details during the inpatient stay. CVS patients who received aprepitant during their inpatient hospitalization were compared with patients without aprepitant use. Seven-day readmission rate for CVS was used as the outcome variable to assess the effectiveness of the aprepitant in aborting an episode. Propensity score matching was used to match the two cohorts. Results: We analyzed 1775 patients of which 96 received aprepitant during the inpatient hospitalization. The aprepitant group had a more severe hospitalization course as evidenced by an increased duration of hospital stay (5 vs. 3 days) and total hospitalization costs ($11,790 vs. $6380). There were no significant differences in the 7-day (17% vs. 16%, p = 0.91) readmission rate and results were not altered by propensity score matching. Conclusions: Aprepitant use as an abortive therapy did not affect the 7-day CVS-related readmission rate. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the role of aprepitant as an abortive agent in the management of CVS in the pediatric population.

In recent years, the off-label use of medications in sports has increased significantly, primarily driven by psychological and social factors. Athletes frequently misuse drugs without adequate medical supervision, relying on unreliable sources of information, which leads to improper usage and serious health risks. This narrative review analyzes literature from PubMed^® (Medline), Scopus^®, and Web of Science^® databases, focusing on studies up to December 2023, to examine the safety concerns related to off-label drug use in sports. The review presents an overview of the off-label use of pharmacological substances by athletes, focusing on both hormonal and non-hormonal drugs. Hormonal substances such as anabolic steroids and growth hormones, and non-hormonal agents like diuretics and β2-agonists, are frequently abused. These practices are associated with severe side effects, including infections, cardiovascular complications, hormonal imbalances, psychological disorders, dependence, and even cases of death. The study emphasizes the need for stronger regulation, public awareness initiatives, and preventive strategies to mitigate the health risks associated with this growing trend.

Background: A series of 3,5-benzylidene-4-piperidones, 1a-n, were prepared to evaluate the hypothesis that the placement of different groups in the ortho-location of the aryl rings led to compounds with greater cytotoxic potencies than structural analogs. Methods: The bioevaluation of 1a-n was undertaken using human Molt/4C8 and CEM cells as well as murine L1210 cells. Correlations were sought between the interplanar angles θ_A and θ_B and the cytotoxic potencies. A QSAR analysis was also undertaken. In order to evaluate whether these compounds demonstrated greater toxicity to neoplasms than non-malignant cells, 1a-n were evaluated against HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4 and HL60 neoplasms as well as non-malignant HGF, HPC and HPLF cells. Results: A positive correlation was noted between the interplanar angle θ_A of one of the aryl rings and the adjacent olefinic linkage with IC₅₀ values in the Molt4/C8 screens. The QSAR analysis revealed a positive correlation between the Hansch pi (π) value of the aryl substituents and the IC₅₀ values of the compounds towards the Molt4/C8 and CEM cells. The dienones in series 1 demonstrated higher tumor-selective toxicity towards HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4 and HL-60 neoplasms than HGF, HPC and HPLF cells. Conclusions: The bioevaluations revealed some support for greater cytotoxic potencies to be displayed by compounds having ortho-substituents.

The primary objectives of asthma management during pregnancy are to achieve adequate symptom control, reduce the risk of acute exacerbations, and maintain normal pulmonary function, all of which contribute to ensuring the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recommends that pregnant women with asthma continue using asthma medications throughout pregnancy, as the benefits of well-controlled asthma for both the mother and fetus outweigh the potential risks of medication side effects, poorly controlled asthma, and exacerbations. The classification of asthma medications by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into categories A, B, C, D, and X is no longer applied. Instead, the potential benefits and risks of each medication during pregnancy and lactation are considered individually. The use of medications to achieve good asthma control and prevent exacerbations during pregnancy is justified, encompassing inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), some leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA), long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA), short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMA), long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA), and, recently, biological therapies, even in the absence of definitive safety data during pregnancy.

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP), particularly its severe form, Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), affects up to 70% of pregnancies and significantly impacts the quality of life for those with the condition as well as generates a great economic burden, with annual costs exceeding $1.7 billion in the United States. Despite the available treatments targeting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, many patients experience inadequate relief and suffer from severe side effects, including headaches and dizziness. Recent research has underscored the role of GDF15, a protein mainly produced by the placenta and linked to NVP symptoms. This protein, part of the TGF-β superfamily, has been implicated in appetite and weight regulation and is altered in those with HG due to specific genetic mutations. Addressing the challenges of delivering effective treatments, current innovations focus on targeting GDF15 to reduce symptoms while ensuring fetal safety. Promising therapeutic strategies include non-IgG immunotherapies, small peptide and molecule antagonists, and novel administration methods such as transdermal patches. These approaches aim to optimize dosage and reduce adverse effects. The effective development and testing of these treatments necessitate advanced animal models that closely resemble human pregnancy physiology, highlighting the need for further research and funding. This ongoing research holds significant potential to improve the clinical outcomes for HG patients and decrease the economic impact on healthcare systems, urging a dedicated response from the scientific and medical communities to advance these promising treatments.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune rheumatic condition characterized by an unpredictable course and a wide spectrum of manifestations varying in severity. Individuals with SLE are at an increased risk of cerebrovascular events, particularly strokes. These strokes manifest with a diverse range of symptoms that cannot be solely attributed to conventional risk factors, underscoring their significance among the atypical risk factors in the context of SLE. This complexity complicates the identification of optimal management plans and the selection of medication combinations for individual patients. This susceptibility is further complicated by the nuances of neuropsychiatric SLE, which reveals a diverse array of neurological symptoms, particularly those associated with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Given the broad range of clinical presentations and associated risks linking strokes to SLE, ongoing research and comprehensive care strategies are essential. These efforts are critical for improving patient outcomes by optimizing management strategies and discovering new medications. This review aims to elucidate the pathological connection between SLE and strokes by examining neurological manifestations, risk factors, mechanisms, prediction and prevention strategies, management plans, and available research tools and animal models. It seeks to explore this medical correlation and discover new medication options that can be tailored to individual SLE patients at risk of stroke.

Cytokine storm (CS) is the main driver of SARS-CoV-2-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in severe coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The pathological mechanisms of CS are quite complex and involve multiple critical molecular targets that turn self-limited and mild COVID-19 into a severe and life-threatening concern. At present, vaccines are strongly recommended as safe and effective treatments for preventing serious illness or death from COVID-19. However, effective treatment options are still lacking for people who are at the most risk or hospitalized with severe disease. Chinese herbal medicines have been shown to improve the clinical outcomes of mild to severe COVID-19 as an adjunct therapy, particular preventing the development of mild to severe ARDS. This review illustrates in detail the pathogenesis of CS-involved ARDS and its associated key molecular targets, cytokines and signalling pathways. The therapeutic targets were identified particularly in relation to the turning points of the development of COVID-19, from mild symptoms to severe ARDS. Preclinical and clinical studies were reviewed for the effects of Chinese herbal medicines together with conventional therapies in reducing ARDS symptoms and addressing critical therapeutic targets associated with CS. Multiple herbal formulations, herbal extracts and single bioactive phytochemicals with or without conventional therapies demonstrated strong anti-CS effects through multiple mechanisms. However, evidence from larger, well-designed clinical trials is lacking and their detailed mechanisms of action are yet to be well elucidated. More research is warranted to further evaluate the therapeutic value of Chinese herbal medicine for CS in COVID-19-induced ARDS.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high mortality rates. There have been reports of hypersensitivity reactions with mild to severe symptoms. The COVID-19 vaccine provocation test is a vaccination protocol for individuals with a history of hypersensitivity. This study aims to determine the benefits of COVID-19 vaccine provocation tests in patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to COVID-19 vaccines and its influencing factors. Objective: To determine the incidence, severity, outcome of hypersensitivity reactions, and success of the COVID-19 vaccine provocation test. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, using subjects taken from medical record data at the RSCM who had received COVID-19 vaccination with a history of hypersensitivity. Data was taken from the COVID-19 vaccination records at the RSCM, BPJS Health Primary Care application. Results: From a total of 29,036 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, 44 patients experienced hypersensitivity reactions. As many as 38.64% did not continue vaccination, 2.27% experienced mild hypersensitivity, and 59.44% were successfully vaccinated. Conclusions: People with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to COVID-19 vaccines can still receive subsequent COVID-19 vaccinations at healthcare facilities equipped with anaphylaxis kits and immunology allergists.

Background: Traumatic brain injury manifests itself in various forms, ranging from mild impairment of consciousness to severe coma and death. Traumatic brain injury remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Currently, there is no therapy to reverse the effects associated with traumatic brain injury. New neuroprotective treatments for severe traumatic brain injury have not achieved significant clinical success. Methods: A literature review was performed to summarize the recent interdisciplinary findings on management of traumatic brain injury from both clinical and experimental perspective. Results: In the present review, we discuss the concepts of traditional and new approaches to treatment of traumatic brain injury. The recent development of different drug delivery approaches to the central nervous system is also discussed. Conclusions: The management of traumatic brain injury could be aimed either at the pathological mechanisms initiating the secondary brain injury or alleviating the symptoms accompanying the injury. In many cases, however, the treatment should be complex and include a variety of medical interventions and combination therapy.