Manejo dos eventos adversos do dupilumabe na dermatite atópica e no prurigo nodular / Management of the adverse effects of dupilumab in atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis

A dermatite atópica (DA) e o prurigo nodular (PN) são doenças inflamatórias da pele que cursam com lesões variadas, como eczemas, pápulas e nódulos, acompanhados de intenso prurido e, nos casos graves, de importante prejuízo da qualidade de vida para os pacientes e seus familiares. O dupilumabe está aprovado no Brasil para o manejo das duas condições: DA moderada/grave e PN que não responde aos tratamentos tópicos. A eficácia e segurança do dupilumabe foram amplamente estabelecidas para ambas as condições em ensaios clínicos e estudos de vida real. Este artigo tem como objetivo revisar os principais eventos adversos (EAD) associados ao uso do dupilumabe em DA e PN, e auxiliar no seu manejo. Desde o início do uso da medicação, há alguns anos, os principais EAD reportados foram: a reação no local da injeção, a doença da superfície ocular (conjuntivite não infecciosa, blefarite, olhos secos), a eosinofilia e o eritema de face/pescoço. Outras manifestações também foram observadas em pacientes com DA em uso de dupilumabe, mas sem associação comprovada: psoríase, artralgia e alopecia areata. Apesar de muito infrequentemente levarem à suspensão do dupilumabe, é fundamental que os médicos prescritores deste medicamento para estas condições, dermatologistas e imunoalergistas, saibam detectar e manejar seus possíveis eventos adversos.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and prurigo nodularis (PN) are inflammatory skin diseases characterized by various lesions such as eczema, papules, and nodules, with marked pruritus and, in severe cases, significant impairment of quality of life for patients and their families. Dupilumab is approved in Brazil for the management of both moderate/severe AD and PN that does not respond to topical treatments. The efficacy and safety of dupilumab have been extensively established for both conditions in clinical trials and real-world studies.This article aims to review the main adverse events (AEs) associated with the use of dupilumab in AD and PN and assist in their management. Since the introduction of dupilumab a few years ago, the main reported AEs have been injection site reactions, ocular surface disease (non-infectious conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dry eyes), eosinophilia, and facial/neck erythema. Other manifestations have also been observed in patients with AD on dupilumab, but without proven association: psoriasis, arthralgia, and alopecia areata. Although AEs very infrequently lead to discontinuation of dupilumab, it is crucial that physicians prescribing it for these conditions, dermatologists, and immunologists know how to detect and manage its possible adverse effects.

Percepção dos profissionais de enfermagem sobre manejo de reação infusional a antineoplásicos: estudo qualitativo / Perception of nursing professionals on the management of infusion reactions to antineoplastics: qualitative study

Identificar a percepção dos profissionais de enfermagem sobre o manejo de reação infusional imediata a antineoplásicos. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de caráter exploratório com abordagem qualitativa realizado em um hospital no Rio Grande do Sul. Resultados: Todos os participantes afirmaram saber identificar uma reação infusional. Após a identificação da reação, nota-se que a maioria obedeceu a uma ordem de condutas a serem realizadas. Quanto aos cuidados para prevenção das reações infusionais, a maioria dos participantes mencionou a administração de medicamentos pré-quimioterápicos, como antialérgicos e antieméticos. Conclusão: Os achados demonstram que a maioria dos profissionais sabe reconhecer e manejar, porém há a necessidade de treinamentos e padronização das ações.(AU)

To identify the perception of nursing professionals about the management of immediate infusion reactions to antineoplastic drugs. Method: This is a descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach carried out in a hospital in Rio Grande do Sul. Results: All the participants said they knew how to identify an infusion reaction. After identifying the reaction, it was noted that the majority followed an order of conduct to be carried out. As for precautions to prevent infusion reactions, most of the participants mentioned the administration of pre-chemotherapy drugs, such as anti-allergic and anti-emetic drugs. Conclusion: The findings show that most professionals know how to recognize and manage them, but there is a need for training and standardization of actions.(AU)

Identificar la percepción de los profesionales de enfermería sobre el manejo de las reacciones infusionales inmediatas a medicamentos antineoplásicos. Método: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, exploratorio, con abordaje cualitativo, realizado en un hospital de Rio Grande do Sul. Resultados: Todos los participantes afirmaron saber identificar una reacción a la infusión. Después de identificar la reacción, la mayoría siguió un orden de conducta. En cuanto a las precauciones para prevenir las reacciones a la infusión, la mayoría de los participantes mencionó la administración de fármacos prequimioterápicos, como antialérgicos y antieméticos. Conclusión: Los hallazgos muestran que la mayoría de los profesionales saben reconocerlas y manejarlas, pero es necesaria la formación y la estandarización de actuaciones.(AU)

The impact of bladder and bowel preparation on the precise implementation of radiotherapy for prostate cancer / 中国辐射卫生

Objective To observe the daily bladder and bowel preparation of patients with prostate cancer by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and analyze its impact on the precise implementation of radiotherapy for prostate cancer and side effects. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 38 patients with prostate cancer who underwent volumetric modulated arc therapy. The number of radiation fractions for each patient ranged from 25 to 35. A CBCT scan was performed before each daily radiation therapy, and the number of scans for each patient ranged from 25 to 40. Setup errors were adjusted to ensure that the tumor was targeted and the rectum wall was not in the high-dose target area of the prostate. There were 93 instances where treatment could not be successfully implemented and re-preparation and re-scanning were required. We calculated the success rate of treatment and setup errors, compared radiotherapist-adjusted error values under different bladder and bowel preparation conditions, and recorded radiotherapy-related side effects. Results The success rate of treatment in the 38 patients was (92.14 ± 5.25)%. Among the 93 instances of seriously inadequate preparation, 48.4% were due to insufficient bladder filling, and 30.1% were due to intestinal bloating. Radiotherapy side effects were negatively correlated with the success rate of treatment (r = −0.393, P = 0.015). When bladder filling was sufficient, there were no significant differences in radiotherapist-adjusted error values in the left-right (LR), superior-inferior (SI), and anterior-posterior (AP) directions between adequate and inadequate bowel preparation (P > 0.05). When the bladder was moderately or insufficiently filled, there were significant differences in radiotherapist-adjusted error values in the LR, SI, and AP directions between adequate and inadequate bowel preparation (P < 0.05). Conclusion Insufficient bladder filling and intestinal bloating are the main factors influencing the successful implementation of radiotherapy for prostate cancer. When the bladder is sufficiently filled, bowel preparation does not affect prostate position change.

Research progress on immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of adverse reactions related to gastric cancer / 国际外科学杂志

Traditional chemotherapy is the cornerstone of comprehensive treatment for gastric cancer, but its recurrence and metastasis rates are high, and the overall prognosis is not ideal. The rise of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has brought new hope to gastric cancer patients and changed the current pattern of comprehensive treatment for gastric cancer. With the increasing use of ICI, immune related adverse reactions (irAEs) such as skin toxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity are becoming increasingly common. Scientific understanding, early diagnosis, and graded management are currently the main strategies for handling irAEs. This article aims to review the mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and prediction, treatment, and management of irAEs after ICI treatment of gastric cancer, in order to enhance the understanding of irAEs among clinical physicians, better manage immunotherapy related adverse reactions, and improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients.

Clinical efficacy and safety of camrelizumab and sintilimab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of camrelizumab and sintilimab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) , and to explore its impact on tumor marker levels and immune function index, as well as to perform safety analysis.Methods:A total of 87 patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated in Hai'an People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province from May 2019 to May 2021 were selected as the research objects. According to the treatment scheme, the patients were divided into camrelizumab group ( n=41) and sintilimab group ( n=46) . The clinical efficacy, prognosis, tumor marker levels, immune function index and immune related adverse reactions of the two groups were compared. Results:There were no statistically significant differences in objective response rate [48.78% (20/41) vs. 39.13% (18/46) , χ2=0.82, P=0.365] or disease control rate [78.05% (32/41) vs. 71.74% (33/46) , χ2=0.46, P=0.499] in both camrelizumab and sintilimab group. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in the camrelizumab group was 9.1 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 15.4 months. The median PFS in the sintilimab group was 9.7 months, and the median OS was 15.7 months. There were no statistically significant differences in median PFS and median OS between the two groups ( χ2=0.18, P=0.633; χ2=0.15, P=0.697) . Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) [ (47.68±8.12) ng/ml vs. (49.03±8.70) ng/ml, t=0.75, P=0.458], cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) [ (18.06±3.41) ng/ml vs. (17.25±3.78) ng/ml, t=1.05, P=0.299], and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) [ (72.26±21.06) U/ml vs. (74.03±22.10) U/ml, t=0.38, P=0.704] levels between the camrelizumab group and sintilimab group. After treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in CEA [ (28.11±7.68) ng/ml vs. (27.63±5.71) ng/ml, t=0.33, P=0.740], CYFRA21-1 [ (9.29±1.88) ng/ml vs. (9.06±1.80) ng/ml, t=0.15, P=0.814], and CA125 [ (61.39±21.22) U/ml vs. (60.51±11.03) U/ml, t=0.25, P=0.806] levels between the two groups, but CEA, CYFRA21-1, and CA125 levels decreased after treatment compared with those before treatment in both groups (all P<0.05) . Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in T cells CD4 + [ (41.15±3.24) % vs. (41.17±2.90) %, t=0.03, P=0.976], CD8 + [ (68.82±3.94) % vs. (70.06±4.08) %, t=1.44, P=0.154], and CD4 +/CD8 + (1.88±0.33 vs. 1.76±0.25, t=1.92, P=0.058) between the two groups. After treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in T cells CD4 + [ (47.08±3.22) % vs. (48.53±5.07) %, t=1.57, P=0.120], CD8 + [ (61.22±1.67) % vs. (61.45±1.66) %, t=0.64, P=0.522], and CD4 +/CD8 + (2.31±0.17 vs. 2.36±0.12, t=1.60, P=0.114) between the two groups, while T cells CD8 + was lower than that before treatment, and CD4 + as well as CD4 +/CD8 + were higher than those before treatment in both groups (all P<0.05) . The overall incidence of adverse reactions in the sintilimab group [10.87% (5/46) ] was lower than that in the camrelizumab group [31.71% (13/41) ], and with a statistically significance ( χ2=5.74, P=0.016) . Conclusion:The clinical efficacy of camrelizumab and sintilimab in NSCLC patients is basically the same, the impacts of which on tumor markers and immune function are comparable, but the safety of sintilimab is better than that of camrelizumab.

Efficacy of rituximab injection combined with CHOP regimen in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of rituximab injection combined with CHOP regimen (cyclophosphamide+doxorubicin+vincristine+prednisolone) in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).Methods:One hundred and twenty patients with DLBCL who treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from June 2019 to June 2022 were selected as the study object. They were randomly divided into the study group (60 cases) and the control group (60 cases). The control group was treated with CHOP regimen, and the study group was treated with rituximab injection on the basis of CHOP regimen. The clinical efficacy, inflammatory reaction, immune function and adverse reaction were evaluated after 6 courses of treatment.Results:After treatment, the total clinical effective rate in the study group was higher than that in the control group: 88.33%(53/60) vs. 70.00%(42/60), there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 6.11, P<0.05). Before treatment, the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the two groups had no significant differences ( P>0.05); after treatment, the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased, and the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α in the study group were lower than those in the control group: (223.56 ± 21.28) ng/L vs. (267.35 ± 25.36) ng/L, (9.34 ± 2.75) μg/L vs. (11.96 ± 3.83) μg/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). Before treatment, the levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM and IgG in the two groups had no significant differences ( P>0.05); after treatment, the levels of serum IgA, IgM and IgG were decreased, but the levels of serum IgA, IgM and IgG in the study group were higher than those in the control group: (1.83 ± 0.46) g/L vs. (1.34 ± 0.34) g/L, (1.15 ± 0.22) g/L vs. (0.83 ± 0.24) g/L, (10.67 ± 1.65) g/L vs. (8.02 ± 1.62) g/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). After treatment, the incidence of thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, gastrointestinal reaction, bone marrow suppression and liver function injury in the study group were lower than those in the control group: 6.67%(4/60) vs. 20.00%(12/60), 15.00%(9/60) vs. 31.67%(19/60), 30.00%(18/60) vs. 58.33%(35/60), 5.00%(3/60) vs. 16.67%(10/60), 10.00%(6/60) vs. 25.00%(15/60), there were statistical differences ( χ2 = 4.62, 4.66, 9.77, 4.33, 4.88, P<0.05). Conclusions:The treatment effect of rituximab injection combined with CHOP regimen in DLBCL is significant, which can reduce the inflammatory reaction of the body, reduce the damage of immune function, and reduce the adverse reactions of chemotherapy.

Efficacy and safety of evolocumab in elderly patients with high-risk cardiovascular diseases / 中华老年心脑血管病杂志

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of evolocumab in elderly patients with high-risk cardiovascular diseases.Methods A total of 153 patients with poor lipid control after conventional statin therapy who were hospitalized in the cardiologic departments in the First,Sec-ond,Sixth and Eighth Medical Centers of Chinese PLA General Hospital from November 2019 to November 2022 were included,and divided into non-elderly group(＜60 years old,46 cases),eld-erly group(60-74 years old,66 case)and very elderly group(≥75 years old,41 cases).They were all given evolocumab treatment according to guidelines.Another 50 over-75-year-old patients with high-risk cardiovascular diseases and poor lipid control who were hospitalized in the above cardiologic departments during the same period were treated with a statin drug combined with ezetimibe,and served as conventional treatment group(control group).The baseline clinical data and the blood indicators at 4th and 12th week after drug administration,and the occurrence of ad-verse drug reactions and major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)within 12 weeks were com-pared among the groups.Results The levels of LDL-C and TC were significantly decreased in the three evolocumab treatment groups at 4 and 12 weeks after medication when compared with the baseline values(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),but there were no obvious differences in the 2 levels among the 3 groups at 12 weeks(P＞0.05).At the time point,no statistical difference was observed in the incidence of adverse events in the three groups(2.2％vs 3.0％vs 2.4％,P＞0.05).The levels of LDL-C and TC were decreased significantly in the very elderly group and the conventional treatment group at the 12th week when compared with the baseline levels(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and the LDL-C level at the week was notably lower in the very elderly group than the convention-al treatment group(1.36±0.44 mmol/L vs 1.87±0.56 mmol/L,P＜0.01).But no difference was seen in the incidence of MACE between the 2 groups(12.2％vs 16.0％,P＞0.05),either in sur-vival rate between them(P=0.576).Conclusion For patients of all ages,evolocumab has good short-term efficacy in lipid control,and for those over 75 years old,the drug also shows good effi-cacy and sound safety.

Efficacy and safety of Bromocriptine-QR as an adjunctive therapy on glycemic control in subjects with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus:A systematic review and meta-analysis / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

Introduction@#There has been an increasing awareness of the effects of combining bromocriptine-QR with other medications for diabetes mellitus type 2. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of bromocriptine-QR as an adjunctive therapy for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus.@*Methodology@#This systematic review is registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022360326). Literature search was done via MEDLINE, NCBI, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Europe PMC and Cochrane Library databases. We included randomized controlled trials with participants 18 years old and above with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. The primary outcome of interest is the efficacy and safety of bromocriptine-QR as an adjunctive therapy for glycemic control. Case reports, case series, reviews and animal studies were excluded. The risk of bias was reviewed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 and presented as a weighted mean difference and 95% confidence interval for changes from the baseline level.@*Results@#Nine studies were included in the systematic review with a total of 2709 participants. The baseline HbA1c in the bromocriptine-QR group was 7.42% and 7.51% in the control group. The bromocriptine-QR group was favoured, outperforming the control group in terms of reducing hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c), with a statistically significant difference (weighted mean difference -0.6%; 95% CI [-0.83,-0.36]; p<0.00001). The most common side effects were nausea (33.75% vs 6.92%), fatigue (13.11% vs 5.94%), and headache (11.17% vs 6.87%).@*Conclusion@#Administration of bromocriptine-QR at a dose range of 1.6 to 4.8 mg/day as an adjunctive therapy reduced HbA1c and FBG in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there were also statistically greater odds of the occurrence of adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, and headache compared to controls.

Methylprednisolone combined with mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of oral mucosal pemphigoid: a case report and literature review / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To investigate the application of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in oral mucosal pemphigoid and provide a clinical reference.@*Methods@#One case of glucocorticoids combined with MMF in the treatment of oral mucosal pemphigoid was reported, and the clinical application of MMF in oral mucosa-related bullous diseases was discussed.@*Results@#One patient with a clinical diagnosis of “oral mucosal pemphigoid” was treated with methylprednisolone (36 mg, qd, morning dose) or combined hydroxychloroquine sulfate (0.1 g/time, bid) and thalidomide capsules (50 mg, qd, bedtime) and other drugs. The patient’s disease was slowly controlled but prone to recurrence. The treatment regimen was immediately adjusted, i.e., methylprednisolone (36 mg, qd, morning dose) was combined with MMF (0.5 g/time, bid) for 2 weeks, which resulted in ideal lesion healing control. After 8 weeks of methylprednisolone combined with MMF, the dose of methylprednisolone was gradually reduced to 12 mg, qd, and MMF was reduced to 0.5 g, qd, the patient’s symptoms improved significantly, and no obvious lesions were found in the mouth. The dose was then reduced and maintained according to the principle of pemphigoid treatment. Methylprednisolone (8 mg, qd, morning dose) and MMF (0.5 g, qd) have been used for 6 months of maintenance treatment, and they are still being followed up. As yet, the patient’s condition is stable without obvious lesions and new blisters, and no obvious side effects have been observed. A review of the literature shows that MMF is widely used in the field of dermatology to treat a variety of immune diseases, such as connective tissue diseases and autoimmune blistering diseases. According to the reports of adverse reactions to MMF, digestive system reactions are the most common adverse reactions; therefore, patients with active gastrointestinal diseases should be treated with caution, followed by bone marrow suppression, and it is recommended to monitor liver function and blood routine in patients using MMF. The safety and efficacy of MMF for treating pemphigoid involving the skin have been reported in the literature, but oral mucosal doctors still lack experience for treating mucous membrane pemphigoid.@*Conclusions@#As a new immunosuppressant, MMF has high safety and no obvious side effects and can be considered as a combination adjuvant drug for patients with severe clinical disease and refractory oral mucosal pemphigoid.

Effects of Kanglaite injection combined with chemotherapy on quality of life and myelosuppression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the effects of Kanglaite injection combined with chemotherapy on quality of life and myelosuppression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:The clinical data of 60 patients with NSCLC who received treatment at Zhejiang Jinhua Guangfu Tumor Hospital from August 2018 to February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 30 patients in each group according to the treatment methods used. The patients in the experimental group received the Kanglaite injection in combination with chemotherapy using gemcitabine and cisplatin, whereas the patients in the control group were treated solely with chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin. The quality of life was evaluated using the Karnofsky Performance Status score. Before and after treatment, a comparison was made between the two groups in terms of Karnofsky Performance Status score, the incidence of adverse reactions (such as myelosuppression), and clinical efficacy.Results:After treatment, the disease control rate and objective response rate in the experimental group were 86.67% (26/30) and 60.00% (18/30), respectively, which were significantly higher than 60.00% (18/30) and 30.00% (9/30) in the control group ( χ2 = 4.18, 4.31, both P < 0.05). Prior to treatment, the Karnofsky Performance Status scores in the experimental and control groups were (70.68 ± 3.75) points and (70.29 ± 5.11) points ( t = 0.34, P = 0.790), respectively. After treatment, the Karnofsky Performance Status scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(67.02 ± 5.87) points vs. (62.37 ± 3.59) points, t = -5.29, P < 0.05]. The incidence of adverse reactions in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group [40.00% (12/30) vs. 36.67% (11/30), χ2 = 0.07, P = 0.790). Additionally, the incidence of myelosuppression in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group [56.67% (17/30) vs. 86.67% (26/30), χ2 = 6.90, P = 0.030]. Conclusion:Compared with chemotherapy alone, Kanglaite injection combined with chemotherapy can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, leading to improved prognosis.

Effect of dexmedetomidine combined with chloroprocaine on epidural anesthesia for cesarean section / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine combined with chloroprocaine on epidural anesthesia for cesarean section.Methods:A total of 133 women who underwent epidural anesthesia for cesarean section at the Department of Anesthesiology, Jinhua People's Hospital between January 2020 and December 2022 were included in this prospective case-control study. These women were divided into a ropivacaine group ( n = 66) and a chloroprocaine group ( n = 67) using a random number table method. The ropivacaine group received epidural anesthesia with dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine, while the chloroprocaine group received epidural anesthesia with dexmedetomidine combined with chloroprocaine. The anesthesia effect (anesthesia onset time, anesthesia duration, peak effect time), changes in blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure), adverse reactions (shivering, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, skin itching, numbness of lower limbs), and satisfaction with muscle relaxation were observed in the two groups. Results:The anesthesia onset time, anesthesia duration, and peak effect time in the chloroprocaine group were (6.91 ± 1.54) minutes, (61.54 ± 5.31) minutes, and (11.79 ± 4.12) minutes, respectively, which were significantly shorter than those in the ropivacaine group [(9.65 ± 1.92) minutes, (83.57 ± 6.69) minutes, (18.32 ± 4.81) minutes, t = 9.08, 21.05, 8.41, all P < 0.001). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased in both groups after 10 minutes of anesthesia and at the end of the procedure; however, the increments observed in the chloroprocaine group were relatively smaller. There were significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, measured at 10 minutes of anesthesia and at the end of the procedure, between the two groups ( F = 7.36, P < 0.001; F = 5.12, P = 0.001). There were significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between different time points ( F = 10.03, P < 0.001; F = 6.72, P < 0.001). The group-by-time interaction effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure was also highly significant ( F = 9.83, P < 0.001; F = 8.01, P < 0.001). The chloroprocaine group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of adverse reactions compared with the ropivacaine group [4.48% (3/67) vs. 15.15% (10/66), χ2 = 4.29, P < 0.05). Additionally, the chloroprocaine group had a significantly higher satisfaction rate with muscle relaxation compared with the ropivacaine group [94.03% (63/66) vs. 81.82% (54/66), Z = 5.73, P < 0.05]. Conclusion:The combination of dexmedetomidine and chloroprocaine offers remarkable benefits in epidural anesthesia for cesarean sections. This combined approach not only enhances epidural anesthesia but also stabilizes the blood pressure of puerperants, reduces adverse reactions, and provides exceptional muscle relaxation. It deserves consideration for clinical application.

Research progress of tralokinumab for the treatment of moderate and severe atopic dermatitis / 中国基层医药

Tralokinumab is a selective interleukin-13 inhibitor developed by LEO Pharma in Denmark. It was granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration on December 27, 2021, for the treatment of patients aged 18 years or older with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis whose disease is refractory to or cannot be fully controlled by local prescription therapy. This article presents a comprehensive review of the recent research progress in the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis with tralokinumab.

Clinical observation of preemptive analgesia with pentazocine for perioperative pain management in partial splenectomy / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of preemptive analgesia with pentazocine on perioperative pain management in partial splenectomy.Methods:A total of 100 patients with traumatic splenic rupture who underwent partial splenectomy at Yiwu Central Hospital between October 2019 and November 2021 were randomly assigned to either the control group or the study group, with 50 patients in each group using the random number table method. Both groups received patient-controlled analgesia postoperatively. Additionally, the study group received intravenous pentazocine administration before surgery. The amount of anesthetic used during surgery, postoperative anesthesia recovery indices, postoperative pain response, serum inflammatory factor levels, and the number of effective patient-controlled analgesia pump presses within 48 hours postoperatively were recorded and evaluated. Any adverse drug reactions were also monitored.Results:The dosages of propofol [(462.24 ± 27.13) mg] and remifentanil [(365.98 ± 26.78) μg] in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(511.82 ± 26.32) mg, (406.86 ± 26.08) μg, t = 14.49, 12.63, both P < 0.001). The recovery time of spontaneous breathing [(6.86 ± 0.97) minutes], anesthesia recovery time [(13.24 ± 0.82) minutes] and extubation time [(17.14 ± 1.07) minutes] were significantly shorter than those in the control group [(7.62 ± 0.90) minutes, (14.32 ± 0.84) minutes, (18.22 ± 1.06) minutes, t = 5.80, 8.58, 6.93, all P < 0.001]. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 24 and 48 hours after surgery, both in resting and coughing state ( t = 7.82, 9.31, 4.95, 8.47, all P < 0.001). The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group ( t = 21.53, 25.61, 18.45, 16.90, 17.33, 14.86, all P < 0.001), while the serum level of interleukin-10 was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group ( t = -20.85, -19.61, both P < 0.001). The number of effective patient-controlled pump analgesia presses within 48 hours postoperatively in the study group [(6.24 ± 1.17) times] was significantly lower than that in the control group [(10.26 ± 1.34) times, t = 12.95, P < 0.05). In addition, the overall incidence of adverse drug reactions in the study group [4.00% (2/50)] was significantly lower than that in the control group [18.00% (9/50), χ2 = 5.01, P < 0.05]. Conclusion:Preemptive analgesia with pentazocine for patients undergoing partial splenectomy can effectively reduce the dosage of anesthetics during surgery and the dosage of analgesics after surgery, enhance the recovery from postoperative anesthesia, suppress postoperative inflammatory reactions, alleviate pain responses, and minimize the risk of adverse drug reactions.

Assessment of the prevalence of depression and the use of antidepressants in a study population

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that there is an increasing burden of depression and other mental health conditions globally. WHO global health estimate for depression reports a prevalence of 5.4% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Pharmacological therapy still remains the most popular treatment for diagnosed depression. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of clinically diagnosed depression and outcomes of antidepressants among final year undergraduate students in a Federal University. A descriptive cross- sectional study was carried out at University of Benin, Benin City. A validated questionnaire was distributed to the 319 final year clinical students of the College of Medicine, School of Dentistry and Faculty of Pharmacy. Data obtained were organized and analysed with Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics was done; frequencies and percentages were used to summarize variables of interest. Ethical considerations were observed. All the questionnaires used were valid for analysis. About 90.0% of the respondents were knowledgeable about depression. Symptoms of depression were reported in 20.0% of the respondents with 16.6% having moderate symptoms of depression and 3.4% having moderately severe symptoms of depression. The same 20.0% used antidepressants and 14.7% did not adhere to their regimen. Side effects were experienced by majority of respondents (16.3%) on antidepressants. There was a low prevalence of depression in the study population. Adherence to drug therapy was poor. Side effects to treatment were reported by majority of students receiving antidepressants. Majority of patients claim to be better now that they are using antidepressant treatment as the symptoms of the disease are resolving.

A novel agent for myeloma causing toxic keratopathy, belantamab mafodotin: a case report and literature review / Belantamabe-mafodotina, um novo agente para mieloma, causando ceratopatia tóxica: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

ABSTRACT A 60-year-old-male with refractory relapsed multiple myeloma presented with redness, pain, foreign body sensation, and blurred vision in both eyes that gradually increased after his third belantamab mafotodin infusion. Biomicroscopy revealed bilateral microcyst-like epithelial changes and epithelial crystal-like deposits, whereas in vivo confocal microscopy revealed intraepithelial and subepithelial hyperreflective deposits in corneal epithelium. Belantamab mafodotin therapy was discontinued for seven weeks due to corneal toxicity, which cleared progressively. We aim to demonstrate belantamab mafodotin-related corneal toxicity that may be detected using slit lamp and in vivo confocal biomicroscopy.

RESUMO Um homem de 60 anos, diagnosticado com mieloma múltiplo recidivante refratário, apresentou vermelhidão, dor, sensação de corpo estranho e visão turva em ambos os olhos, aumentando gradualmente após sua terceira infusão de belantamabe mafodotina. À biomicroscopia, foram observadas alterações epiteliais bilaterais semelhantes a microcistos e depósitos epiteliais semelhantes a cristais. A microscopia confocal in vivo revelou depósitos hiper-refletivos intraepiteliais e subepiteliais na córnea. Devido à toxicidade corneana, a terapia com belantamabe mafodotina foi interrompida por sete semanas e a toxicidade foi gradualmente resolvida. Nosso objetivo é demonstrar os achados à biomicroscopia confocal in vivo e à lâmpada de fenda da toxicidade corneana relacionada ao belantamabe mafodotina.

Comparison of menstrual cycle irregularities among young women based on coronavirus disease 2019 infection status: a cross-sectional study

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic that has emerged recently has significantly affected and continues to affect our lives. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 virus has significant effects on women's health due to gender-related physiological differences. The aim of this study was to compare the menstrual cycle status of young women according to their status of having had coronavirus disease 2019. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 220 young women aged between 18 and 25 years who received at least one dose of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine. The study data were collected as a survey on the online platform. RESULTS: The descriptive characteristics of young women who had had and had not had coronavirus disease 2019 were distributed homogeneously between the groups (p>0.05). Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in terms of menstrual cycle patterns (p>0.05). The mean scores from the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale and its subscales and the mean scores from the COVID Stress Scale and its subscales were similar in both groups, and no statistically significant difference was identified (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although menstrual cycle irregularities due to coronavirus disease 2019 have been reported, these effects are usually observed during the pandemic. A decrease in stress and anxiety with the end of the pandemic may explain the return of the menstrual cycle to normal.

ERG and OCT abnormalities in retinoblastoma after melphalan intravitreous injection / Anormalidades do ERG e OCT em um caso de retinoblastoma após injeção intravítrea de melfalan

ABSTRACT The authors report full-field electroretinogram and optical coherence tomography findings of intravitreal melphalan retinal toxicity. An 18-month-old girl with unilateral group D retinoblastoma was evaluated with light-adapted 3 full-field electroretinogram protocol and optical coherence tomography (I-Stand optical coherence tomography, Optovue) after treatment with intravitreal melphalan for active vitreous seeds. After the third injection, the child developed retinal pigment epithelial changes near the injection site. The photopic response of the full-field electroretinogram standard flash cones showed a decrease in amplitude responses of waves a and b in the affected eye compared to the contralateral eye. Optical coherence tomography showed loss of photoreceptors and outer nuclear layers in the affected eye. Melphalan toxicity is dose-dependent, and despite its treatment benefits, it can affect vision. Our case shows an updated, in-depth retinal toxicity assessment of intravitreal melphalan in the human retina with optical coherence tomography and its correlation with electroretinogram changes.

RESUMO Os autores relatam os achados de eletrorretinograma de campo total e tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) da toxicidade retiniana ao melfalan intravítreo. Menina de 18 meses com retinoblastoma foi avaliada com fases fotópicas do eletrorretinograma de campo total e tomografia de coerência óptica após o tratamento com melfalan intravítreo. Após a terceira injeção, a criança desenvolveu alterações do epitélio pigmentar da retina próximo ao local da injeção. A resposta fotópica do eletrorretinograma de campo total mostrou diminuição da amplitude das respostas das ondas a e b no olho afetado comparado com o olho sadio. A tomografia de coerência óptica mostrou alterações significativas nas camadas retinianas externas no olho comprometido. A toxicidade do melfalan é dose dependente e, apesar dos benefícios terapêuticos, podem causar alterações retinianas significativas. Este caso demonstra uma avaliação atual e aprofundada da toxicidade retiniana do melfalan intravítreo na retina humana através da tomografia de coerência óptica e sua correlação com as alterações no eletrorretinograma.

Effects of oral isotretinoin treatment for acne vulgaris patients on anger responses and the relationship with temperament

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Isotretinoin is the only medication against all the factors involved in acne vulgaris pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to verify whether patients with acne vulgaris receiving isotretinoin therapy exhibit elevated anger levels and to observe the correlation between age, temperament traits, and anger. METHODS: The study group comprised a sum of 100 cases, involving 50 individuals with acne vulgaris-required high-dose retinol therapy and 50 controls who did not start any medication. RESULTS: Our study showed that anger levels increased with drug use. A positive correlation between cyclothymic temperament, the anxiety-related behavior subdimension, and the introvert and passive-aggressive subdimension of interpersonal anger reactions has been recognized. In addition, a positive one was observed between hyperthymic temperament and the introvert subdimension, which is one of the anger-related thoughts and interpersonal anger reactions. CONCLUSION: This study elucidates anger dimensions such as anger-related thoughts, behaviors, and reactions in individuals who received retinol treatment for acne vulgaris. In addition to anger and its dimensions, temperament was also investigated. Although several studies have investigated the relationship between acne vulgaris and psychiatric symptoms, to the best of our knowledge, no research has been reported in the English-language literature regarding the relationship between anger dimensions and temperament after retinol treatment that might make our study an original and valuable contribution to the literature.

When the fever will not stop, stop the pills! A case report

ABSTRACT Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a neurologic emergency potentially fatal. This rare side effect is most commonly associated with first-generation antipsychotics and less frequently with atypical or second-generation antipsychotics. The diagnosis relies on both clinical and laboratory criteria, with other organic and psychiatric conditions being ruled out. CASE REPORT: A 39-year-old female patient, who is institutionalized and completely dependent, has a medical history of recurrent urinary infections and colonization by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Her regular medication regimen included sertraline, valproic acid, quetiapine, risperidone, lorazepam, diazepam, haloperidol, baclofen, and fentanyl. The patient began experiencing dyspnea. Upon physical examination, she exhibited hypotension and a diminished vesicular murmur at the right base during pulmonary auscultation. Initially, after hospitalization, she developed high febrile peaks associated with hemodynamic instability, prompting the initiation of antibiotic treatment. Despite this, her fever persisted without an increase in blood inflammatory parameters, and she developed purulent sputum, necessitating antibiotherapy escalation. The seventh day of hospitalization showed no improvement in symptoms, suggesting NNMS as a differential diagnosis. All antipsychotic and sedative drugs, as well as antibiotherapy, were discontinued, after which the patient showed significant clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: Antipsychotic agents are commonly employed to manage behavioral changes linked to various disorders. However, their severe side effects necessitate a high degree of vigilance, the cessation of all medications, and the implementation of supportive care measures. A prompt and accurate diagnosis of NMS is crucial to alleviating the severe, prolonged morbidity and potential mortality associated with this syndrome.

Drug Hypersensitivity Associated with Dental Treatments

ABSTRACT Objective: To characterize drug hypersensitivity associated with dental treatments. Material and Methods: Data from 5,302 dental patients extracted from the Faculty of Dental Medicine were used to investigate drug use history, drug hypersensitivity, and associations with oral health outcomes. The chi-square test was used, and values of p ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The frequency of patients' self-reported drug hypersensitivity was 26.42% (n = 1,401). The highest frequencies were for opioid/narcotic analgesics (20.84%, n = 292), antibiotics (18.13%, n = 961), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (10.46%, n = 141). Most of the patients (68.65%, n = 3,640) reported using medications, mostly for cardiovascular disease (43.1%, n = 1,569), for psychiatric/neurological disorders (39.75%, n = 1,447), drugs that affect the endocrine system (32.55%, n= 1,185), and drugs for pain (24.92%, n = 907). Higher drug hypersensitivity frequencies were associated with older White female subjects (p<0.0001). Associations were also identified between drug hypersensitivity and history of the following dental procedures: tooth extractions (p=0.003), root canal treatment (p=0.0004), prosthodontic treatments (p<0.0001), and orthodontic treatments (p=0.007). Conclusion: A high frequency of self-reported drug hypersensitivity in dental patients was found, with a higher occurrence in older White women and those with a history of more extensive and invasive dental care.