TNF blockers and lymphoma: FDA adds boxed warning
FDA: TNF blockers increase the risk of lymphoma and other malignancies in children and adolescents. Drugs included: etanercept –Enbrel-, infliximab –Remicade- and adalimumab –HUMIRA-
MedLib’s Round 1.5: the best of medical librarianship
Welcome a new edition of MedLib’s Round, a blog carnival of the “best blog posts in the field of medical librarianship”. The carnival initiative was started by Jacqueline, Medical Librarian and former Scientist from Amsterdam, you can read her blog or follow @laikas on twitter.
Video lecture: cholesterol-lowering agents mechanisms of action
Video lecture on the different classes of drugs used as lipid-lowering agents. Features an overview on their main characteristics as well as their mechanisms of action.
FDA video: interaction of IV ceftriaxone with calcium-containing products
The FDA updated the full prescribing information of ceftriaxone (Rocephin and generics). This is an update to a previous ( september 2007) alert on the risk of interaction between ceftriaxone and calcium-containing IV products, the 2007 alert was based on reported fatal cases in neonates.
Video lecture on the management of neuropathic and cancer pain
Mark Wallace, M.D., Director of UCSD’s Center for Pain & Palliative Medicine, updates on current therapies for pain, focusing on neuropathic pain. Overview of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management of chronic pain.
Video: What are double blind clinical trials?
“How Double Blind Clinical Trials Are Done” explains in a simple way the scientific methodology behind double blind clinical trials, a key step in the drug development process.
FDA video on erlotinib (Tarceva) adverse effects
FDA video warning on gastrointestinal dermatologic and ophthalmic side effects of erlotinib (Tarceva).
Prasugrel (Effient): mechanism of action, indications and adverse effects
Overview on the mechanism of action, indications, adverse effects profile of prasugrel (Efient in the EU, Effient in the USA). PowerPoint on the TIMI TRITON 38 trial.
Clinical guidelines on the management of hepatitis B infection
New clinical practice guidelines on the management of hepatitis B were published this year in Annals of Internal Medicine. These guidelines are the result of the latest National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement on hepatitis B.
Video lecture: Biologic therapies for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
Dr. Chan explains how biologic therapy (mainly through monoclonal antibodies) is changing the present and future of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. He illustrates some examples of autoimmune diseases such as: multiple sclerosis, asthma, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with etanercept, and others.
Pregabalin (Lyrica) not approved for fibromyalgia by the EMEA
EMEA didn’t approve treatment of fibromyalgia as a new indication for pregabalin (Lyrica).The CHMP was concerned that the benefits of Lyrica in fibromyalgia had not been shown in either the short or the long term.
Rituximab (Rituxan, MabThera): first line treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued yesterday a guidance on the use of rituximab as first line treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Rubefacients for acute and chronic pain. Podcast review by The Cochrane Collaboration
Andrew Moore, from the Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics at the University of Oxford, discusses the available evidence on the use of rubefacients for acute and chronic pain.
PowerPoint presentations: antipsychotics (neuroleptics) pharmacology
PPT files on antipsychotics (neuroleptics): it gathers lectures from different specialties (Family Medicine, Psychiatry) highlighting key pharmacological pearls.