Corticosteroid administration and glycemic outcomes during treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: While international guidelines recommend low doses of systemic corticosteroids for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) clinical practice patterns show significant heterogeneity. Increasing doses of corticosteroids have inconsistently been associated with a greater risk of hyperglycemia.

Methods: Patients admitted to inpatient services for AECOPD were retrospectively enrolled.

Gamer's Thrombosis: A Review of Published Reports.

Thrombosis, well known as a condition of the elderly, is occurring in the otherwise healthy adolescent population. Immobility is a significant risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and adolescents who play video games are immobile for extended periods of time. Some are presenting with VTE.

Evaluation of Factors which Influence Mortality in Gram-positive Bacteremia in Hemodialysis Patients.

Vascular access infection is one of the major contributors to hemodialysis (HD) patient morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of consensus guidelines on vancomycin use in the HD population. The primary objective of this study was to determine if vancomycin serum concentrations were associated with positive outcomes in HD patients with Gram-positive bacteremia.

The Gap in Electronic Drug Information Resources: A Systematic Review.

The landscape of drug information is growing, leading to information overload from various avenues, both scientific and public opinion. The completeness of these resources are not well-studied and no standardizations exist for these databases. Thus, it is not uncommon to have missing information across the drug information resources used by healthcare professionals.

Ciprofloxacin vs. levofloxacin for prophylaxis in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Infection is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing myleosuppressive therapy with the risk of infection being heightened during the neutropenic phase. Fluoroquinolones are most often utilized as prophylaxis, specifically levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin; however, there is increasing resistance among these agents. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin when used prophylactically in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.

AH-7921: A review of previously published reports.

AH-7921 is a synthetic opioid that was developed in the early 1970s. It has resulted in several fatal and nonfatal intoxications, despite not having approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. To date, AH-7921 is listed as a schedule I drug, and there have been no clinical trials exploring the safety of AH-7921.

Pain Perception and the Opioid Receptor Delta 1.

Genetic factors play an integral role in the perception of pain, and studies have only recently begun to explore the degree to which these factors affect clinical decisions. The process of prescribing opioids is greatly influenced by an individual's pain perception, which can vary based on several factors including genetic variation. Opioid receptor delta 1 (OPRD1) plays a significant role in the perception of both pain and its relief via opioids, and it shows significant variability between individuals.

Addressing Hazards from Unscheduled Novel Psychoactive Substances as Research Chemicals: The Case of U-50488.

Increased experimentation with easily accessible synthetic opioids is posing a hazard to the public. We discuss one such synthetic opioid, U-50488. Much is unknown about U-50488; however, due to its structural similarity to U-47700, there is possible risk associated with its use.

U-47700: An Emerging Threat.

Illicit opioid use continues to be an ever-growing problem in the United States. The rise of synthetic opioids is an emerging threat that is beginning to draw attention over the past few years. Herein, we present an overview of the rise of a synthetic opioid known as U-47700.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase A1298C Polymorphism and Major Depressive Disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disorder that carries significant psychosocial and economic implications. Research efforts have focused on identifying biomarkers that can aid in the prediction, diagnosis, and efficacious treatment of MDD. Most of this focus has been placed on a polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase () gene, C677T.

The Current Landscape of Marijuana and Pharmacogenetics.

The treatment of medical conditions with cannabis and cannabinoid compounds is advancing. Although there are numerous reports related to the genetic variations of the cannabinoid receptor, a lack of studies that examine the relationship between other pharmacogenetic markers and health outcomes currently exists. Herein, we advocate for the legalization of marijuana in the United States in order to perform more randomized controlled trials to help elucidate the role of other pharmacogenetic targets and cannabis for use in clinical practice.

U-47700: A Clinical Review of the Literature.

Background: U-47700 is a synthetic opioid developed by The Upjohn Company in the 1970s, which has recently appeared in the news and medical literature due to its toxicity. Currently, there are no clinical trial data assessing the safety of U-47700.

Objective: To describe the signs and symptoms of ingestion, laboratory testing, and treatment modalities for U-47700 intoxication.

Proposal for a Pharmacogenetic Decision Algorithm.

Personalized medicine is playing an ever-increasing role in patient care. Over the past decade, awareness of the role of pharmacogenetics and its benefits is leading to its growing acceptance among providers. Though providers are using pharmacogenetics in practice, the decision-making process of when to use this tool can be ambiguous.

Unrecognized Interstitial Lung Disease as a Result of Chronic Nitrofurantoin Use.

Drug-induced interstitial lung disease is a rare condition attributed to several medications, including antimicrobial agents such as amphotericin B, anti-inflammatory agents such as methotrexate, biologic agents such as bevacizumab, and cardiovascular agents and chemotherapeutic agents. We describe the case of a 73-year-old female who developed interstitial lung disease following chronic use of nitrofurantoin for a urinary tract infection (UTI). The patient was taking nitrofurantoin 100 mg capsules twice daily for approximately 3 years.

Home hemodialysis dose: balancing patient needs and preferences.

Background: The aim in defining the dose of HHD is to provide sufficient dialysis required to possibly 'normalize' all abnormalities associated with renal failure in order improve patient survival and quality of life. Much progress has been made in defining the dose required to accomplish this goal, but the evidence is still far from robust. The main limitations are incomplete understanding of uremic toxins, their relative importance in causing uremic symptoms, and our inability to comprehensively assess dry weight.