Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance: video animations produced by FDA
The following video explains the mechanisms that bacteria use to develop antibiotic resistance: Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance Mutation Destruction or Inactivation Efflux ( 1:00) Genetic Transfer Conjugation Transformation Transduction
Cisplatin mechanism of action: 3-D video animation
Mechanism of Action. Cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin enter cells by diffusion, and by an active Cu2+ transporter (Kruh, 2003). Inside the cell, the chloride atoms of cisplatin may be displaced and the compound may be inactivated directly by reaction with nucleophiles such as thiols. Chloride is replaced by water, yielding a positively charged molecule. In […]
What is MRSA? Antibiotic resistance information by the ECDC
Some interesting information about MRSA and antibiotic resistance to share with your patients: What is MRSA? Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium, present on skin and mucosa in 20% to 30% of healthy people. It may sometimes causes infections if it is introduced into the body. It typically causes skin and wound infections but can […]
Toviaz (fesoterodine fumarate): new drug to treat overactive bladder
FDA press release about the approval of Toviaz (fesoterodine fumarate): The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug to help patients suffering from overactive bladder (OAB). Toviaz (fesoterodine fumarate) works by relaxing the smooth muscle tissue of the bladder, thus reducing the urinary frequency, urge to urinate, and sudden urinary incontinence (leakage […]
Phenytoin and fosphenytoin linked to Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
From the FDA website: FDA is investigating new preliminary data regarding a potential increased risk of serious skin reactions including Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) from phenytoin therapy in Asian patients positive for a particular human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA-B*1502. This allele occurs almost exclusively in patients with ancestry across […]
Risk of death in patients with dementia that use typical antipsychotics: EMEA’s press release
Questions and answers on the review of the use of conventional antipsychotic medicines in elderly patients with dementia The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has completed a review of the evidence available on the safety of conventional antipsychotic medicines in elderly patients with dementia. The Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has concluded that there […]
Pharmacokinetics. What are Cmax and Cmin?
A definition of Cmax and Cmin in clinical pharmacokinetics.
Drug development and evaluation. What is a blind experiment?
Blind Experiment: A form of experiment in which the participants are, to some degree, kept ignorant of the nature and doses of materials administered as specific parts of the experiment. The purpose of the device is, obviously to prevent a
Pharmacokinetics. What is biotranslocation?
The following pharmacological definition has been taken from the Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Department Glossary at Boston University School of Medicine . Biotranslocation: The movement of chemicals (drugs) into, through, and out of biological organisms or their parts. In studying biotranslocation one is concerned with the identification and description of such movement, elucidation of the […]
Pharmacokinetics. What is biotransformation?
The following pharmacological definition has been taken from the Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Department Glossary at Boston University School of Medicine . Biotransformation: Chemical alteration of an agent (drug) that occurs by virtue of the sojourn of the agent in a biological system. Spontaneous decay of radium would not be considered a biotransformation even if […]
Myths and facts about generic drugs: FDA presentation
Source: FDA Consumer Education: Generic Drugs
Cheap generic statins are just as successful at achieving cholesterol lowering targets
Can cheap generic statins achieve national cholesterol lowering targets? Duncan Petty , David Lloyd 1 School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds; 1 Prescribing Support Unit, The Information Centre for Health and Social Care, Leeds, UK Objectives: The Department of Health in England recommend that simvastatin and pravastatin should be prescribed in at least 69% […]
Cardiovascular and mortality outcomes differences between rosiglitazone and pioglitazone
Comparison of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Elderly Patients With Diabetes Who Initiated Rosiglitazone vs Pioglitazone Therapy Wolfgang C. Winkelmayer, MD, ScD; Soko Setoguchi, MD, DrPH; Raisa Levin, MS; Daniel H. Solomon, MD, MPH Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(21):2368-2375. Background Recent meta-analyses have raised the possibility that rosiglitazone maleate may increase the risk of ischemic cardiovascular events, whereas […]
Questions and answers from the EMEA about the withdrawal of Ionysis
Transcription from the EMEA website of the questions and answers document on the recommendation to suspend the marketing authorisation of Ionsys What is Ionsys? Ionsys is a system that delivers the active substance fentanyl hydrochloride into the body through the skin. Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic (a strong painkiller that is related to morphine). Ionsys should only be […]