Voxelotor: A Novel Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease.

Objective: To review the pharmacological characteristics, clinical evidence, and place in therapy of voxelotor for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD).

Data Sources: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed (1966 to April 2020) was conducted. Key search terms included , , and .

Adequacy of empiric gram-negative coverage for septic patients at an academic medical center.

Background: Gram-negative organisms (GNOs) have increasing resistance rates to levofloxacin at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCUHS), where levofloxacin is the most common agent added to provide double coverage of gram-negative infections. The goal of this study was to determine the adequacy of empiric gram-negative coverage for septic patients at our institution.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients admitted to VCUHS, from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014, with a diagnosis of sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock and documented infection, was performed to determine the adequacy of various empiric antibiotic combinations.

Vedolizumab: an α4β7 integrin antagonist for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel diseases associated with significant morbidity. Conventional therapies for these diseases include corticosteroids, aminosalicylates, immunomodulators, and monoclonal antibodies. Over the years tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antagonists alone or in combination with other therapies have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for induction and maintenance of remission of moderate to severe UC and CD.