RESUMEN
Tuberculosis remains one of the most significant bacterial infections plaguing the medical community worldwide. The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis retains the ability to manifest as an active infection, latent infection, miliary infection, or reactivation of latent infections in times of immunosuppression. Therefore, the medication regimen to treat the condition revolves around four medications, each with a mechanism that targets a different part of the bacteria. Isoniazid weakens the cell wall but produces neuropathy and hepatotoxicity as side effects. Rifampin interrupts protein synthesis but creates the opportunity for many drug-to-drug interactions and red-orange discolorations as side effects. Pyrazinamide is poorly understood, but it is believed to acidify the internal environment of the bacteria, with gout exacerbations and arthralgias as major side effects. Ethambutol also works as a bacteriostatic medication to interrupt the cell membrane; however, its mechanism is poorly understood. The most concerning side effect is optic neuropathy. The unfavorable side effect profile for tuberculosis treatment may contribute to the higher rates of medication noncompliance with therapy and needs to be addressed in the future.
RESUMEN
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common heart arrhythmias, and due to its variable presentation, detecting and treating AF appropriately can reduce some of its serious complications. Among treatment options, surgical ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy are two of the most widely used choices. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to examine the rates of AF recurrence in those treated with ablation compared to pharmacological treatment. Google Scholar and PubMed were searched for study trials published within the last decade that calculated the recurrence of AF symptoms in patient groups that received ablation or pharmacological treatment. Selected studies were analyzed in RevMan 5.4 software (The Cochrane Collaboration, London, England, UK), and each study's odds ratio and overall odds ratio were calculated using a 95% confidence interval. A total of seven studies with 2324 patients were analyzed for the meta-analysis, with 1162 patients receiving ablation and 1162 patients receiving pharmacological treatment. There was a statistically significant decrease in the recurrence of AF in the ablation group compared to the pharmacological treatment group, with a pooled odds ratio of 0.24 (CI 95% 0.14-0.39). AF treated with ablation was more effective in reducing AF recurrence than general pharmacological treatment.
RESUMEN
Peptic ulcers are a common condition that arises from an imbalance between acid production and gastroduodenal protective factors. Various drugs, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), potassium supplements, bisphosphonates, and doxycycline, can increase the development of peptic ulcers. NSAIDs are one of the most common medications prescribed for pain relief, and they also inhibit the formation of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). COX-1 helps in the production of mucus that lines the stomach, so by inhibiting COX-1, NSAIDs reduce the mucus produced by the stomach and increase the likelihood of gastric ulcer formation. Additionally, NSAIDs are acidic, and increasing the amount of any acid in the stomach can result in promoting ulcer development. Potassium supplements are used to reduce the effects of hypertension, decrease the development of kidney stones, and treat hypokalemia. The various types of transporters and channels used to move potassium across cell membranes increase hydrogen being pumped, increasing gastric acid production and ulcer formation. Bisphosphonates are used to treat a variety of skeletal disorders that require inhibition of osteoclast activity. Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on gastric ulcers, and some bisphosphonates have been shown to decrease the production of nitric oxide, resulting in increased damage to the gastric mucosa. Finally, doxycycline is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic that is typically used to treat anthrax poisoning, skin lesions, and sexually transmitted diseases. A harmful adverse effect of doxycycline is the formation of peptic and gastric ulcers related to the drug being highly acidic once it has dissolved.
RESUMEN
Polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pcJIA) is a form of arthritis that affects at least five joints at a time and presents before the age of 16. Its most common symptoms are pain, swelling, redness, and a limited range of motion, making it incredibly difficult for patients diagnosed to function in daily life. Historically, the leading treatment options have consisted of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate. However, these drugs have serious toxic side effects associated with long-term use in addition to being ineffective in refractory cases. Recently, small molecule biologics have emerged as an alternate treatment to pcJIA. Tofacitinib is a small molecule JAK inhibitor that blocks the JAK/STAT cascade and decreases the transcription of genes responsible for immune function. We conducted a risk-benefit analysis to determine the viability of tofacitinib as a treatment for pcJIA. In our review, we found the side effect profile of tofacitinib to be relatively mild, with many of the serious adverse side effects occurring in those immunocompromised and those with impaired renal and hepatic metabolism. Overall, we have determined that tofacitinib has the potential to be effective in reducing flare-ups and lowering erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in immunocompetent patients with pcJIA. Additionally, our review has found that tofacitinib has the potential to be effective in patients who are refractory to traditional treatment. However, large-scale clinical trials are needed to determine if this effect holds true in younger pediatric populations, as limited data surrounds this demographic.
RESUMEN
Teratogenic agents have been shown to have drastic and detrimental effects on fetuses if exposed to the agent during uterine life. The most sensitive time for a developing fetus is during the first trimester, and teratogenic exposure during this time can lead to severe deformities in the fetus. The Food and Drug Administration has categorized teratogenic agents based on the severity of their effect on the fetus; these categories include A, B, C, D, and X. Category A is the safest, with the most dangerous, and highly contraindicated in pregnant patients being Category X. This review article will discuss the teratogenic agents leflunomide, isotretinoin, thalidomide, warfarin, tetracycline, and angiotensinogen-converting enzyme inhibitors. Leflunomide can cause cranioschisis, exencephaly, and vertebral, head, and limb malformations. Isotretinoin's main teratogenic effects include central nervous system malformations, hydrocephalus, eye abnormalities, cardiac septal defects, thymus abnormalities, spontaneous abortions, and external ear abnormalities. Thalidomide has been shown to cause limb deformities, bowel atresia, and heart defects when the embryo is exposed to the agent during development. Warfarin can lead to spontaneous abortion and intrauterine death, as well as nasal hypoplasia, hypoplasia of extremities, cardiac defects, scoliosis, and mental retardation when exposed in utero. Tetracycline's teratogenic effects include gastrointestinal distress, esophageal ulceration and strictures, teeth discoloration, hepatotoxicity, and calcifications. Angiotensinogen-converting enzyme inhibitors can cause skull hyperplasia, anuria, hypotension, renal failure, lung hypoplasia, skeletal deformation, oligohydramnios, and fetal death. Teratogenic effects can be avoided if the pregnant patient is educated on the teratogenic effects of these agents.
RESUMEN
Akathisia is a subset of the larger antipsychotic side effect profile known as extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS). It is associated with antipsychotic treatment and is characterized as a feeling of inner restlessness that results in a compulsion to move. There are currently no primate models available to assess drug-induced akathisia; the present research was designed to address this shortcoming. We developed a novel rating scale based on both the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) and the Hillside Akathisia Scale (HAS) to measure the objective, observable incidence of antipsychotic-induced akathisia-like behavior in Cebus apella non-human primates (NHPs). To induce akathisia, we administered the atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole (1 mg/kg) or the selective phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitor MP-10 (1-3 mg/kg). Treatment with both compounds produced significantly greater akathisia scores on the rating scale than vehicle treatment. Characteristic behaviors observed included vocalizations, stereotypies, teeth grinding, restless limb movements, and hyperlocomotion. Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists have previously been shown to be effective in blocking antipsychotic-induced EPS in primates. The selective A2A receptor antagonist, SCH 412348 (10-30 mg/kg), effectively reduced or reversed akathisia-like behavior induced by both aripiprazole and MP-10. This work represents the first NHP measurement scale of akathisia and demonstrates that NHPs are responsive to akathisia-inducing agents. As such, it provides a useful tool for the preclinical assessment of putative antipsychotics. In addition, these results provide further evidence of the utility of A2A receptor antagonists for the treatment of antipsychotic-induced movement disorders.