Use of an Algorithm for Identifying Hidden Drug-Drug Interactions in Adverse Event Reports.
Use of an algorithm for identifying hidden drug-drug interactions in adverse event reports.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2012 Dec 25;
Gooden KM, Pan X, Kawabata H, Heim JM
A world allergy organization international survey on diagnostic procedures and therapies in drug allergy/hypersensitivity.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
World Allergy Organ J. 2011 Dec; 4(12): 257-70
Thong BY, Mirakian R, Castells M, Pichler W, Romano A, Bonadonna P, Diana D, Kowalski M, Yanez A, Lleonart R, Sanchez-Borges M, Demoly P
To study the diagnostic and treatment modalities used in drug allergy/hypersensitivity among members of the World Allergy Organization (WAO).A questionnaire comprising 39 questions was circulated electronically to member societies, associate member societies, and regional and affiliate organizations of WAO between June 29, 2009, and August 9, 2009.Eighty-two responses were received. Skin testing was used by 74.7%, with only 71.4% having access to penicillin skin test reagents. In vitro-specific IgE tests were used by 67.4%, and basophil activation test was used by 54.4%. Lymphocyte transformation tests were used by 36.8% and patch tests by 54.7%. Drug provocation tests were used by 68.4%, the most common indication being to exclude hypersensitivity where history/symptoms were not suggestive of drug hypersensitivity/allergy (76.9%). Rapid desensitization for chemotherapy, antibiotics, or biologic agents was used by 69.6%. Systemic corticosteroid was used in the treatment of Stevens-Johnson syndrome by 72.3%, and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins in toxic epidermal necrolysis by 50.8%. Human leukocyte antigen screening before prescription of abacavir was used by 92.9% and before prescription of carbamazepine by 21.4%.Results of this survey form a useful framework for developing educational and training needs and for improving access to drug allergy diagnostic and treatment modalities across WAO member societies.
HubMed – drug
Dexamethasone and salbutamol stimulate human lung fibroblast proliferation.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
World Allergy Organ J. 2011 Dec; 4(12): 249-56
Pickholtz E, Admon D, Izhar U, Berkman N, Levi-Schaffer F
Asthma is characterized by bronchial hyperreactivity and airway remodeling. Subepithelial fibrosis, a feature of remodeling, is accompanied by activation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, with excessive proliferation and increased collagen, extracellular matrix protein, and profibrogenic cytokine production. Mast cells are important in the development of asthma and its fibrotic changes.In this study, we aimed to investigate the direct effect of the drugs most frequently used in asthma, that is, glucocorticosteroids (dexamethasone) and shortacting ?(2)-agonists (salbutamol), on human lung fibroblast proliferation when unstimulated or activated by mast cells or eotaxin.Subconfluent human fetal lung or bronchial fibroblasts were incubated with different concentrations of the drugs (24 h) 6 activators, and [(3)H]-Thymidine was added (24 h) to measure their proliferation. IL-6 production in the supernatants of confluent monolayers cultured in the presence of the drugs or forskolin (24 h) was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Both drugs alone and in the presence of the activators enhanced fibroblast proliferation in a seemingly synergistic way for both fetal and bronchial fibroblasts. Dexamethasone was found to decrease IL-6 production, while salbutamol increased it.These observations if corroborated by in vivo data may possibly account for the deleterious effect of long-term therapy with ?(2)-bronchodilators and inhaled glucocorticosteroids on the natural history of asthma.
HubMed – drug
[Therapeutic effect of erlotinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer].
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2012 Dec 20; 32(12): 1839-40
Sun CJ, Zhang XZ, Chen Y
To observe the curative and adverse side effects of erlotinib in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Seven-two elderly patients with pathologically confirmed NSCLC in advanced stage (III or IV) received treatment with oral erlotinib at the daily dose of 150 mg, and the treatment was discontinued until intolerance of the side effects or the occurrence of disease progression. The clinical effect and adverse side effects of erlotinib were further observed, and the association between clinical characteristics and the response to erlotinib was also analyzed.Among the 72 patients, 1 patient achieved complete remission, 8 patients had partial remission, 10 had stable disease, and 7 had progressive disease, with a disease control rate of 72.22%. After a median follow-up time of 17 months (4 to 32 months), the median survival time was 14.5 months (6.5-28.3 months), and the median time to progression was 10.6 months (5-16.5 months). Erlotinib resulted in a significantly higher rate of favorable response in female, non-smoking patients with adenocarcinoma than in male, smoking patients with squamous carcinoma (P<0.05). The occurrence of skin rash was not associated with the response to erlotinib in these patients (P>0.05). The most common drug-related adverse events included skin rash, diarrhea, hepatic dysfunction (GPT elevation), nausea and vomiting, but mostly mild and well tolerable.Erlotinib is safe and effective in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.
HubMed – drug
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