Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2015
ReviewThe sunshine act and medical publications: Guidance from professional medical associations.
To review guidance from professional medical associations to physicians on the Sunshine Act, with a focus on industry support for medical publications. ⋯ There is a shortage of information for physicians from professional associations regarding the Sunshine Act and support for medical publications. Due to the lack of clear guidance regarding support for publications, there are presently varying interpretations of the Sunshine Act. The literature debates the potential impact of the Sunshine Act and expresses some concerns that physician-enabled innovation in drug development may be hindered.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2015
ReviewThe impact of ethnicity and cardiovascular risk on the pharmacologic management of osteoarthritis: a US perspective.
Many individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) also have other chronic, comorbid conditions, such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes, which can compound the risk for developing cardiovascular adverse events that have been associated with specific analgesics, most notably nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NSAIDs. Pharmacotherapy may be further complicated by genetic factors that may influence drug metabolism in certain individuals. These risks may vary according to race and ethnicity. ⋯ This review article focuses on racial and ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk and genetic factors altering drug efficacy and safety and evaluates the pharmacologic options that can be used for the management of OA in these populations. Particular emphasis is given to the place of topical NSAIDs and capsaicin in the management of OA patients for whom systemic exposure to available pharmacotherapy poses particular risk. Evidence-based guidelines in OA management, as they relate to appropriate patient-specific pharmacotherapy, are also examined.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2015
Case ReportsEffects of switching from omega-3-acid ethyl esters to icosapent ethyl in a statin-treated patient with elevated triglycerides.
In patients with dyslipidemia, elevated triglyceride (TG) levels, or TG-rich lipoproteins, and cardiovascular risk may remain despite statin therapy. Prescription omega-3 fatty acid formulations containing the ethyl esters of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (omega-3-acid ethyl esters; Lovaza®) or high-purity EPA ethyl ester (icosapent ethyl; Vascepa®) are TG-lowering treatments that may be administered in addition to statins. Here we describe the effects of switching from omega-3-acid ethyl esters to icosapent ethyl in a 44-year-old obese man with dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. ⋯ After the switch to icosapent ethyl, TC level decreased by 34% to 121 mg/dL, LDL-C level decreased by 28% to 58 mg/dL, TG level decreased by 41% to 180 mg/dL, and non-HDL-C level decreased by 44% to 81 mg/dL. Switching from omega-3-acid ethyl esters containing both EPA and DHA to icosapent ethyl containing high-purity EPA resulted in beneficial and substantial changes in the lipid profile with a notable reduction of TG levels along with additional reductions in LDL-C levels in a statin-treated obese patient with persistently high TG levels. Treatment with icosapent ethyl was well tolerated.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2015
ReviewScreening instruments for depression in primary care: a concise review for clinicians.
Depression is prevalent across the life span worldwide. It is a common problem encountered in primary care settings. The World Health Organization recommends the integration of mental health into general health care in order to seal the existing gap between the number of patients who need mental health care and those who actually receive it. ⋯ Patients with positive scores ought to be interviewed more thoroughly. Computerized depression screening instruments that are interfaced or integrated into electronic health records seem to be promising steps toward optimizing diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The availability of adequate management and follow-up are ethical requirements for the utilization of any screening instrument for depression.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jan 2015
Chronic noncancer pain management in primary care: family medicine physicians' risk assessment of opioid misuse.
The majority of patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) are managed in the primary care settings. The primary care family physician (PCFP) generally has limited time, training, or access to resources to effectively evaluate and treat these patients, particularly when there is the added potential liability of prescribing opioids. The aim of this study is to make a favorable change in PCFPs' knowledge, attitudes, and practices about opioid use in CNCP via education on assessment of the risk of opioid misuse. ⋯ Knowledge and competency of the family physicians in managing CNCP were improved as was expected. Although the rate of eagerness about risk assessment of opioid misuse was increased, expected increase in the rate of using risk assessment was not achieved. Further studies are needed to identify the reasons of the difficulties on changing the attitudes and practices of primary care physicians about this subject.