Hereditary Angioedema Attacks in Patients Receiving Long-Term Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review.

Long-term prophylaxis (LTP) has been shown to reduce the frequency of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks; however, attacks occurring in patients receiving LTP have not been well characterized. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the proportion of type I/II HAE (HAE-C1INH) patients who experience attacks while receiving LTP, the characteristics of these attacks, and associated on-demand therapy use. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed to identify studies reporting LTP use with plasma-derived C1 inhibitor (pdC1INH), lanadelumab, berotralstat, androgens, or antifibrinolytics in patients with HAE-C1INH.

Susceptibility-Associated Genetic Variation in Contributes to Prostate Cancer Initiation and Progression.

Although American men of European ancestry represent the largest population of patients with prostate cancer, men of African ancestry are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, with higher prevalence and worse outcomes. These racial disparities in prostate cancer are due to multiple factors, but variations in genomic susceptibility such as SNP may play an important role in determining cancer aggressiveness and treatment outcome. Using public databases, we have identified a prostate cancer susceptibility SNP at an intronic enhancer of the neural precursor expressed, developmentally downregulated 9 () gene, which is strongly associated with increased risk of patients with African ancestry.

Lower limb immobilisation and venous thromboembolism risk: combined case-control studies.

Background: Evidence from randomised controlled trials shows that low-molecular-weight heparin is effective in reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the clinical setting of temporary lower limb immobilisation. Despite this, international guidelines are non-committal in advocating the use of anticoagulation in this clinical scenario. We determined the risk of VTE associated with lower limb immobilisation and the proportion of VTE events associated with lower limb immobilisation by undertaking a secondary analysis of two case-control studies that had used a similar methodology.

Venous thromboembolism risk associated with protracted work- and computer-related seated immobility: A case-control study.

Objective: To examine the association between venous thromboembolism and prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility.

Design: A case-control study.

Participants And Setting: Cases were 200 patients attending venous thromboembolism clinics with a history of deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism in the past six months, and controls were 200 patients treated in fracture clinic for an upper limb injury in the past six months.

Bisphenol A exposure pathways in early childhood: Reviewing the need for improved risk assessment models.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plasticiser found in a number of household plastics, electronics, and food-packaging materials. Over the past 5 years, several human epidemiological studies have reported a positive association between BPA exposure and adverse health outcomes in children, including obesity, asthma, preterm birth, and neuro-behavioural disturbances. These findings are in conflict with international environmental risk assessment models, which predict daily exposure levels to BPA should not pose a risk to child health.

Assessing exposure of young children to common endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the home environment: a review and commentary of the questionnaire-based approach.

Background: Although infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure, there is an absence of comprehensive exposure data for this age group. As young children spend the majority of their time indoors, improved methods of exposure assessment are needed to characterise the health risks from exposures in the home environment. Biologic assessment, which has been considered the gold standard for exposure assessment in recent years, is difficult to conduct in young children.

What risks do women face when seeking advice during pregnancy from pharmacies and natural health retailers?

Aim: Potential risks to mother and foetus exist with the incorrect use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products during pregnancy. This study aimed to identify the risks that a woman may face when seeking advice during pregnancy from pharmacies and health food stores (HFS) in Greater Wellington (New Zealand).

Methods: 21 HFS and 21 geographically-matched pharmacies were visited by a researcher who sought advice regarding vitamin supplementation and nausea in early pregnancy using a standardised scenario.

Use of nebulised magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant in the treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD in adults: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Intravenous magnesium has been shown to cause bronchodilation in acute severe asthma and in small trials in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). There is also some evidence of benefit from nebulised magnesium in acute severe asthma. Our hypothesis was that adjuvant magnesium treatment administered via repeated nebulisation was effective in the management of AECOPD.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies and myeloperoxidase autoantibodies in clinical expression of Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Background: The clinical significance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) in the phenotypic expression of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is uncertain.

Objective: We sought to investigate the relationship between ANCA status and the clinical expression of CSS in a case series derived from the US Food and Drug Administration's adverse events database.

Methods: All cases of CSS reported to the US Food and Drug Administration from 1997 to April 2003 were reviewed.

Randomized controlled trial of high concentration oxygen in suspected community-acquired pneumonia.

Objective: To determine whether high concentration oxygen increases the PaCO(2) in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.

Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial in which patients received high concentration oxygen (8 L/min via medium concentration mask) or titrated oxygen (to achieve oxygen saturations between 93 and 95%) for 60 minutes. Transcutaneous CO(2) (PtCO(2)) was measured at 0, 20, 40 and 60 minutes.

What risk do consumers face when seeking medical advice from health food stores?

Aim: There is currently no specific legislation to regulate either complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products or the majority of those promoting them. This study sought to highlight the general risk a consumer may face when they seek help/advice from a pharmacy or health food store (HFS).

Methods: 21 HFS, matched with pharmacies, were visited by a researcher complaining of tiredness, who stated he had been taking warfarin over the previous 2 months.

Randomised controlled trial of high concentration versus titrated oxygen therapy in severe exacerbations of asthma.

Background: The effect on Paco2 of high concentration oxygen therapy when administered to patients with severe exacerbations of asthma is uncertain.

Methods: 106 patients with severe exacerbations of asthma presenting to the Emergency Department were randomised to high concentration oxygen (8 l/min via medium concentration mask) or titrated oxygen (to achieve oxygen saturations between 93% and 95%) for 60 min. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or disorders associated with hypercapnic respiratory failure were excluded.

Survival of the fittest: capacity building for small nonprofit organizations.

This paper discusses capacity building activities designed for small nonprofits who are members of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida's ADEPT program. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (SHFBCF) is a nonprofit organization that collects, stores and distributes donated food to more than 450 nonprofit partners in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties. This project sought to delineate, design, and implement the capacity building trainings desired by ADEPT member agencies.

Merino wool graduated compression stocking increases lower limb venous blood flow: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Graduated compression stockings represent a nonpharmacological approach to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) due to prolonged immobility through reducing lower limb venous stasis. A novel merino wool, double-layer, below-knee graduated compression stocking has been developed to reduce the risk of air travel-related DVT and PE.

Methods: Twenty healthy adult participants were randomized to wear the novel graduated compression stocking on either the left or right leg.

Prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility and risk of venous thromboembolism.

Objective: To determine the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with prolonged work- and computer-related seated immobility.

Design: Case-control study in which cases were patients aged 18-65 years attending outpatient VTE clinics, and controls were patients aged 18-65 years admitted to CCU with a condition other than VTE. Interviewer-administered questionnaires obtained detailed information on VTE risk factors and clinical details.

An audit of the effect of oxygen prescription charts on clinical practice.

Problem: The need to improve the prescription, administration and monitoring of oxygen therapy.

Design: An interventional, prospective audit.

Background And Setting: Wellington Hospital, a teaching and tertiary referral hospital in New Zealand in 2007 and 2008.

High blood pressure advice given by natural health food stores.

Aim: Complimentary and alternative medicines are widely used but are not registered medicines. The aim of the study was to compare advice given by health food stores and pharmacists for hypertension.

Methods: Twenty-six health food stores and 26 pharmacies were visited by an individual for advise on a hypothetical problem of hypertension.