Proton Pump Inhibitors, Kidney Damage, and Mortality: An Updated Narrative Review.

Since their approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1989, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have become one of the most highly utilized drugs in the United States, assuming a position as one of the top 10 most prescribed medications in the country. The purpose of PPIs is to limit the amount of gastric acid secreted by the parietal cells via irreversible inhibition of the H+/K+-ATPase pump, therefore maintaining an elevated gastric acid pH of greater than 4 for 15-21 h. Even though PPIs have many clinical uses, they are not without their adverse effects, mimicking achlorhydria. Besides electrolyte abnormalities and vitamin deficiencies, long-term use of PPIs has been linked to acute interstitial nephritis, bone fractures, poor COVID-19 infection outcomes, pneumonia, and possibly an increase in all-cause mortality. The causality between PPI use and increased mortality and disease risk can be questioned since most studies are observational. Confounding variables can greatly affect an observational study and explain the wide-ranging associations with the use of PPIs. Patients on PPIs are generally older, obese, sicker with a higher number of baseline morbidities, and on more medications than the compared PPI non-users. These findings suggest that PPI users are at a higher risk of mortality and complications based on pre-existing conditions. This narrative review aims to update readers on the concerning effects that proton pump inhibitor use can have on patients and give providers a resource to create informed decisions on appropriate PPI use.

Koro Syndrome: Epidemiology, Psychiatric and Physical Risk Factors, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options.

Koro syndrome is a multi-tiered disease presenting as an overwhelming belief that one's sex organs are shrinking into their body. Moderate to severe anxiety attacks are associated with the condition, along with a fear of imminent death. Koro is often culturally related and is most seen as an epidemic form in East and Southeast Asia, although it can present anywhere worldwide in its sporadic form. The condition typically affects young males who believe in sex-related myths, and many individuals can co-present with anxiety, depression, or even psychosis. Although most presentations of Koro are self-limiting, the condition is harmful for one's self-esteem and quality of life, and some individuals may go through extreme, physically injurious measures to prevent genital retraction. Treatments include the use of psychotherapy that has a sex education component, especially if the patient believes in culturally rooted myths. In sporadic Koro, it is believed that if the primary psychiatric disorder is treated with anxiolytics, antidepressants, sedatives, or psychotics, the secondary Koro-like symptoms will also fade. Additional investigation on the prevalence, pathogenesis, factors that correlate with treatment efficacy are needed to fully understand Koro syndrome.

AMONDYS 45 (Casimersen), a Novel Antisense Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomer: Clinical Considerations for Treatment in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

AMONDYS 45 (casimersen) is an antisense oligonucleotide therapy used to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disorder characterized by a mutation in the DMD gene. Symptoms include progressive muscle weakness, respiratory and cardiac complications, and premature death. Casimersen targets a specific mutation in the DMD gene that results in the absence of dystrophin protein, a key structural component of muscle fibers. While there is currently no cure for DMD, exon-skipping therapy works by restoring the reading frame of the mutated gene, allowing the production of a partially functional dystrophin protein. Clinical trials of casimersen have shown promising results in increasing dystrophin production, as measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) droplets when compared to placebo. In a randomized double-blind trial, patients who received casimersen had significantly higher dystrophin levels when compared to those who received placebo. Casimersen therapy is administered through repeated intravenous infusions, although the optimal dosage and duration of treatment are still under investigation. Based on the completed and ongoing clinical trials, casimersen has been well tolerated, with most adverse events being mild and unrelated to casimersen. In 2021, AMONDYS 45 (casimersen) received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Duchene muscular dystrophy in patients with a mutation of the DMD gene that is amenable to exon 45 skipping. These collective findings indicate that casimersen has the potential to elicit functional changes in individuals with DMD, although further studies are necessary to comprehensively evaluate the specific functional improvements. Regardless, the FDA approval and ongoing clinic trials mark a significant milestone in the development of DMD treatments and offer hope for those affected by this debilitating disease.

Safety, Efficacy, and Ease of Insertion of Gnana Laryngeal Airway (GLA-4): A Prospective Clinical Study Utilizing the Unique Laryngeal Mask Airway With a Suction Tubing.

INTRODUCTION: Utilizing laryngeal mask airways to maintain patients' airways is advantageous because it enables the anesthesiologist to keep the patient spontaneously inhaling and is less traumatic to the airway than intubation. Newer designs such as the Gnana laryngeal mask airway design permit real-time suctioning while the mask is on a patient. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study of the efficacy of Gnana laryngeal airway 4 (GLA-4) in 50 patients undergoing colonoscopy. Induction and maintenance of anesthesia were provided with propofol; GLA-4 was applied to secure the airway; and correct placement was verified. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included in the study (44% female, 56% male, mean age: 56.5 years, mean BMI: 33.3). Twelve patients were assigned American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 2, and 38 were assigned ASA class 3. The first attempt of GLA-4 insertion was successful in 47 patients, and two attempts were required for the successful placement of the GLA-4 in two patients. The successful placement was not achieved in one patient. The average time to successful insertion was 27.1 ± 3.9s. The average volume of oropharyngeal secretions suctioned through the suction catheter was 9.96 ± 2.31 mL. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred in the 50 patients. There were no reports of sore throat, hoarseness, dysphagia, or cough immediately postop. CONCLUSION: GLA-4 can be inserted safely with adequate periglottic occlusion. This laryngeal mask is unique and desirable due to its ability to evacuate oropharyngeal secretions while in place to prevent laryngospasm. To establish the role of GLA-4 in broader clinical situations, additional clinical trials and studies are required.