Articles related to CLINICAL STUDY

Dopaminergic Dysfunction: A Key Player in Parkinson’s Disease Motivational Symptoms This study reveals a significant link between dopaminergic dysfunction and the emergence of motivational symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Striatal DAT imaging emerges as a potential tool for predicting apathy/anhedonia risk, opening new avenues for intervention strategies.

Evaluating the Timing of DOAC Initiation Post-Stroke: Key Findings Here are the key findings from a recent multi-country, open-label research that explores the best time to start direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in atrial fibrillation patients after a stroke.

Decoding the Efficacy: Ketamine and ECT in the Battle Against Treatment-Resistant Depression As you delve into the comparative effectiveness of ketamine and ECT, NEJM highlights the key findings from a recent noninferiority trial that could reshape your understanding of these treatments.

Investigating how an insulin bolus affects the management of diabetic ketoacidosis reveals startling new information. In the diabetes field, experts widely use insulin as a core treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, the debate over the best dosage and method of administration, specifically concerning the use of an initial insulin bolus, continues. This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of this insulin bolus in DKA treatment. Employing a retrospective chart review, researchers examined patient outcomes for DKA treatment with and without an insulin bolus. They included 59 patients in the bolus group, and 108 in the non-bolus group. The study primarily tracked whether the administration of insulin had to be interrupted, or if patients experienced hypoglycemia or hypokalemia within eight hours of starting insulin. Comparing baseline characteristics, the groups showed no significant differences. Most patients exhibited mild DKA. Results revealed that adverse effects—particularly hypokalemia—occurred significantly more often in the bolus group (45.8% versus 25%, P = .003). Additionally, while time to anion gap closure was shorter in the bolus group, this did not reach statistical significance (6:39 versus 9:00, P = .063). Similarly, non-significant differences emerged in time to discontinuation of insulin infusion and time to ICU and hospital discharge. […]

Explore how neighborhood pharmacists are tackling the Gender-Affirming Care Guide’s difficulty of comprehension and application. The study provides a critical analysis of community pharmacists’ awareness and use of the Gender-Affirming Care Guide. Unveiled by the American Pharmacists Association and Human Rights Campaign in March 2021, the guide represents a pivotal tool for delivering competent and respectful care to transgender and gender-diverse patients. Nonetheless, reports on pharmacists’ familiarity with, and adherence to, the guide are currently lacking. To examine this, an anonymous survey, structured around the guide’s principles, was sent to 700 Ohio community pharmacists. Of the 688 recipients, a mere 12% responded, revealing a stark lack of awareness about the guide – only 10% knew of its existence. Moreover, their self-reported ability to define key terminologies varied widely. Indeed, 95% could correctly define “transgender,” but only 14% knew “intersectionality.” The report underscores the importance of adopting the guide’s suggested practices. Notably, it found that 61% collected patients’ preferred names, and 54% considered transgender, gender-diverse, or non-heterosexual patients during staff training. Nevertheless, less than half claimed their pharmacy software managed critical gender-related data effectively. Despite these shortcomings, the surveyed pharmacists displayed a substantial interest in learning more about the guide’s contents. […]

An experimental drug called 32-134D shows promise in preventing or slowing vision loss in individuals with diabetes, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine. The study, which utilized mouse models, human retinal organoids, and eye cell lines, focused on proliferative diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, indicate that 32-134D reduced levels of a protein called HIF, which is responsible for diabetic retinal vascular disease. The drug was found to be safer than another HIF-targeting treatment under investigation. Dr. Akrit Sodhi, the author of the study, emphasizes the drug’s well-tolerated nature and its ability to effectively reduce HIF levels in diseased eyes. Elevated levels of HIF in the eyes lead to increased blood vessel production and leakage in the retina, contributing to vision loss. The researchers tested 32-134D on human retinal cell lines and observed a return to near-normal gene expression levels, halting the creation of new blood vessels and maintaining vascular integrity. The drug was also tested on mouse models, resulting in diminished HIF levels and inhibition of new blood vessel formation and leakage. Remarkably, the drug exhibited active levels in the retina […]