Postgraduate medicine
-
Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2020
Immune checkpoint inhibitors and endocrine side effects, a narrative review.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) are novel drugs in the field of oncology however carry the risk of immune-related dermatologic, gastrointestinal, and endocrine side effects which can be fatal. These new innovative immunoregulatory drugs have intertwined the fields of oncology and endocrinology. CTLA-4 and PD-1 are co-inhibitory receptors on T cells that turn the T cell 'off' when binding to receptors on APCs. ⋯ ICPIs have been used in a variety of malignancies including melanoma, kidney cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. A unique underrecognized side effect of the autoimmune response is hypophysitis leading to central adrenal insufficiency which can be fatal. Additional immune-related adverse events (irAEs) include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and hypoparathyroidism.
-
Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2020
ReviewUnderstanding immunogenicity assessments for meningococcal serogroup B vaccines.
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a potentially devastating infection associated with high mortality and long-term sequelae; however, vaccines are available to protect against the five common disease-causing serogroups (A, B, C, W, and Y). Because traditional field efficacy clinical trials were not feasible due to low IMD incidence that necessitates a very large number of participants, serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) assays using rabbit (rSBA) or human (hSBA) complement were established as in vitro surrogates of meningococcal vaccine efficacy and are now routinely used to support vaccine licensure. Specifically, rSBA assays have been used to evaluate responses to meningococcal capsular polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines against serogroups A, C, W, and Y; the accepted correlate of protection for rSBA assays is a titer ≥1:8. ⋯ In contrast to MenACWY vaccines, because bacterial surface proteins are antigenically variable, MenB vaccines must be tested with hSBA assays using multiple test strains that represent the antigenic diversity of disease-causing isolates. As this complexity regarding SBA assessment methods can make data interpretation difficult, herein we describe the use of hSBA assays to evaluate MenB vaccine efficacy and to support licensure. In addition, we highlight how the two recently approved MenB vaccines differ in their use of hSBA assays in clinical studies to demonstrate broad protection against MenB IMD.
-
Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2020
ReviewCurrent evidence for COPD management with dual long-acting muscarinic antagonist/long-acting β2-agonist bronchodilators.
Long-acting inhaled bronchodilator medications are recommended as initial maintenance therapy for many patients with COPD. These medications include long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) and long-acting β2-agonists (LABA). Combinations of long-acting bronchodilator agents (LAMA/LABA) and inhaled corticosteroids combined with LABA (ICS/LABA) are also used as initial or follow-up therapy in patients with more severe symptoms or at risk of COPD exacerbations. ⋯ The incidence of adverse events is similar with LAMA/LABA and LAMA alone. There is a lower risk of pneumonia with LAMA/LABA compared with ICS/LABA. This evidence supports the use of LAMA/LABA combinations as an initial maintenance therapy option for symptomatic patients with low exacerbation risk and severe breathlessness or patients with severe symptoms who are at risk of exacerbations, and as follow-up treatment in patients with uncontrolled symptoms or exacerbations on bronchodilator monotherapy.
-
Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2020
ReviewPharmacological treatment of stable COPD: need for a simplified approach.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common diseases worldwide. Although different guidelines regarding therapeutic algorithms exist, the most widely adopted approach is the one suggested by the Global Initiative in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease in which patients are stratified according to their dyspnea severity and their exacerbation history during the previous year. ⋯ This complexity is probable one of the causes that most health care professionals are not adherent to the guidelines when treating COPD patients. Here, we propose a simplified therapeutic algorithm for the treatment of COPD patients taking into consideration the current evidence on the use of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids.
-
Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2020
ReviewThe new kid on the block in physical diagnosis? Introducing digital microscopy.
Emerging microprocessor technology has revolutionized all aspects of life in the modern era. Feats previously achieved through sophisticated, cumbersome and expensive devices are currently both commonplace and feasible with convenient instruments available at low-cost. Body surface inspection can prove very challenging when seeking minute alterations of anatomy and miniature inflicting culprits. ⋯ Body regions amenable for improved visualization with this method extend from scalp hair, skin and ocular structures, all the way to the anal sphincter. The objective of this paper is to familiarize physicians with the advantages of digital microscopy through numerous clinical illustrations, as: characterization and surveillance of lesions, sores, cutaneous and corneal foreign bodies, painful conditions of the nipple, hematomas retained sutures, secretions and purulent lesions. This introduction is hoped to arouse enthusiasm towards digital microscopy and encourage its adoption into routine practice.