Medizinische Monatsschrift für Pharmazeuten
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Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that affects a significant proportion of the adult population worldwide. It is associated with an increase in plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) level. CGRP, a neuropeptide released from activated trigeminal sensory nerves, dilates intracranial blood vessels and transmits vascular nociception. ⋯ Both intravenous applied olcegepant (BIBN 4096) and the oral telcagepant (MK-0974) were tested in clinical trials and showed clinical benefit and excellent tolerability, with recent presentation of phase III data on telcagepant suggesting that proof of concept is positive. CGRP receptor antagonists terminate migraine with efficacy similar to triptans. The results from clinical trials suggest that this new type of drug might offer advantages over existing therapies without vasoconstrictive or vascular side effects.
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Med Monatsschr Pharm · Jan 2009
Review[Chikungunya fever--expanded distribution of a re-emerging tropical infectious disease].
Chikungunya fever has been originally distributed in several parts of Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The disease is caused by Chikungunya virus, an enveloped, single-stranded ribonucleic acid virus of the alphavirus genus (family Togaviridae). In Asia, virus transmission to humans occurs predominantly by the bite of the female Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito. ⋯ Between July and September 2007, more than 200 cases of infection with Chikungunya virus have been notified in a region of north eastern Italy. The first autochthonic outbreak in Europe has been associated with the presence of A. albopictus, which is found with a high population density in Italy. During the last decades, A. albopictus mosquitos have been spread into several temperate regions and are now widely distributed in several areas of South and Central Europe and North America.
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Fungal foot infections belong to the most frequent infectious diseases in industrialized countries. In Germany, an estimated one third of the total adult population is suffering from a mycosis of the foot. In most cases, these infections are caused by a dermatophyte species, especially Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, and affect the toes and the areas between the toes, respectively, and/or the soles of the foot (Tinea pedis). ⋯ In Germany, self-medication with "over the counter" antifungals is carried out using a range of different topical agents, in particular several azole derivatives and the allylamine terbinafine. The allylamine naftifine, the morpholine amorolfine and the pyridinone derivative ciclopiroxolamine are also applied. For systemic treatment, systemically applicable azole antifungals (fluconazole, itraconazole), terbinafine and griseofulvine are in use.
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Acetaminophen is an OTC medication and amongst the most used pain relievers. It is the analgesic of first choice in pregnancy. Because of its low therapeutic index, accidental and suicidal acetaminophen intoxication is one of the most common causes of acute liver failure. Thus, face-to-face counselling of patients on the proper use of acetaminophen is essential for drug safety.