Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) mechanism of action. A video animation
Mechanism of action of PPI’s. Source: Wikipedia Proton pump inhibitors act by irreversibly blocking the hydrogen/potassium adenosine triphosphatase enzyme system (the H+/K+ ATPase, or more commonly just gastric proton pump) of the gastric parietal cell. The proton pump is the terminal stage in gastric acid secretion, being directly responsible for secreting H+ ions into the […]
Half life of drugs. Video lecture for nurses
This video lecture has as target audience RN’s, it explains a core concept: half life of drugs and its relevance to nurses. More on nursing pharmacology Recommended pharmacokinetics reading Pocket Guide: Pharmacokinetics Made Easy (2009) Basic Clinical Pharmacokinetics (2009) Concepts in Clinical Pharmacokinetics (2010) Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 4th Edition (2008)
Pharmacokinetics: Intramuscular injection administration. Video animation
Recommended pharmacokinetics reading Pocket Guide: Pharmacokinetics Made Easy (2009) Basic Clinical Pharmacokinetics (2009) Concepts in Clinical Pharmacokinetics (2010) Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 4th Edition (2008)
Protein bound paclitaxel (Abraxane) mechanism of action. 3D video animations
What is Protein bound paclitaxel (Abraxane) ? Source: National Cancer Institute protein-bound paclitaxel (PROH-teen… PAK-lih-TAK-sil) A drug used to treat breast cancer that has spread or that has come back within 6 months after chemotherapy. It is also being studied in the treatment of newly diagnosed breast cancer and other types of cancer. Protein-bound paclitaxel […]
Buprenorphine not recommended for severe pain: NHS Scotland advice
The Scottish Medicines Consortium did not recommend Buprenorphine transdermal patchs for severe pain: ADVICE: following a third re-submission Buprenorphine transdermal patches (Butrans) are not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of severe opioid responsive pain conditions, which are not adequately responding to non-opioid analgesics. In the patient population considered in this submission, […]
HIV fusion inhibitors mechanism of action. A video animation
This animation represents the third step in HIV cell entry: fusion. It identifies gp41 as a drug target (Enfuvirtide). Mechanism of action of enfuvirtide (Fuzeon). From Wikipedia Enfuvirtide works by disrupting the HIV-1 molecular machinery at the final stage of fusion with the target cell, preventing uninfected cells from becoming infected.
Clinical cases reporting with reward system
Medical Case Reports sets a innovative approach to medicine 2.0. By using a blog platform, the administrator receives case reports from readers and the rest finds the clinical answer to the enigma. So far, this is not new at all, but what drawed my attention is the fact that users get rewards for their participation […]
Cochrane podcast. Nicotine receptors partial agonists: varenicline (Champix, Chantix)
The Cochrane Collaboration issued a podcast reviewing varenicline (Champix, Chantix) and bupropion. They review clinical trials, safety concerns among other relevant aspects. Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation Read a related post defining partial agonists.
Medwatch alert. Topical anesthetics: risk of cardiologic and neurologic side effects
FDA issued a safety warning about the hazards of topical anesthetics [Posted 01/16/2009] FDA issued a public health advisory to remind patients, healthcare professionals, and caregivers about potentially serious hazards of using skin numbing products, also known as topical anesthetics, for relieving pain from mammography and other medical tests and conditions. FDA is concerned about […]
Atypical antipsychotics and sudden cardiac death: medical media coverage
This is a compilation of the media impact of the recent paper published in the NEJM: Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death. Atypical antipsychotics (Second generation antipsychotics) include: Clozapine (Clozaril),Olanzapine (Zyprexa),Risperidone (Risperdal), Quetiapine (Seroquel), Ziprasidone (Geodon), Amisulpride (Solian), Paliperidone (Invega) Physician’s First Watch Antipsychotics Increase Risks for Sudden Cardiac Death
Thrombin inhibition: video animation explaining bivalirudin (Angiomax, Angiox) mechanism of action
Chemistry and mechanism of action of bivalirudin (Angiox, Angiomax), from Wikipedia: Chemically it constitutes a synthetic congener of the naturally occurring drug hirudin (found in the saliva of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis). Both bivalirudin and hirudin directly inhibit thrombin by specifically binding as well to the catalytic site and to the anion-binding exosite of […]
USMLE-like pharmacology quiz. Part 5: Autonomic pharmacology. Sympathetic nervous system
The following are multiple choice questions in a style similar to those included in the USMLE step 1. The main topic here is: Autonomic Pharmacology: Sympathetic Nervous System. This quiz has been uploaded to Scribd by medical student James Lamberg. The correct answers can be found in link at the end of this post. Note: […]
Important update on safety information of botulinum toxin type A (Botox)
This is an excerpt of the safety information page about Botox (botulinum toxin type A) posted on the Health Canada website. It warns health professionals about the potential risk of serious adverse effects of muscle weakness remote to the site of injection.
SMC: Zoledronic acid (Aclasta) not recommended for treatment of osteoporosis in men
This is the advice published by the Scottish Medicines Consortium about the use of zoledronic acid for the treatment of osteoporosis in men. ADVICE: in the absence of a submission from the holder of the marketing authorisation. zoledronic acid 5mg (Aclasta®) is not recommended for use within NHSScotland for the treatment of osteoporosis in men […]