News &amp; Updates

Individuals who have been hospitalized with infection appear to be at higher risk of dementia compared with their peers who are unexposed to infections, as reported in a study.

23 Jan 2023

Device filters out direct thrombin inhibitor from plasma for routine haemostasis tests

23 Jan 2023 by

A user-friendly medical device can effectively remove the direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) argatroban from plasma in a rapid and ergonomic manner, as shown in the results of a study presented at ASH 2022.

Rituximab confers cardioprotection on pemphigus patients

Treatment with rituximab in patients with pemphigus appears to yield long-term cardiovascular and metabolic protection as compared with conventional immunosuppressants, a study has shown.

Multiple moles, genetic predisposition up risk of second primary melanomas

Individuals with multiple nevi and high genetic predisposition to melanoma appear to have the highest risks of developing second primary melanomas, according to a study.

22 Jan 2023

Monitoring Epstein–Barr viral load may reduce PTLD incidence after liver transplant

Epstein‒Barr virus (EBV) viral load (VL) monitoring can help lower the incidence of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) following liver transplant in adults, suggests a study.

ADHD medication use carries no excess cardiovascular disease risk

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications do not appear to put users at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although a modest risk increase for cardiac arrest or tachyarrhythmias cannot be ruled out, according to the results of a meta-analysis.

22 Jan 2023

Mixed heavy metal exposure detrimental to kidney function in postmenopausal women

Mixed heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and mercury exert adverse effects on kidney function, with the effects more pronounced among postmenopausal than premenopausal women, a study has found.

IV antihypertensives up myocardial injury risk in hospitalized patients with severe hypertension

Use of intravenous (IV) antihypertensive treatment appears to increase the risk of myocardial injury in patients who develop severe hypertension during hospitalization and without acute target end organ damage, reveals a recent study.

21 Jan 2023

Risk of overdose high among young people using benzos for sleep disorders

The use of benzodiazepines to treat common sleep disorders in young people appears to carry a greater risk of drug overdose as compared with alternative pharmacologic treatments, according to a study.

Apixaban may be the DOAC of choice for AF patients at risk for GI bleeding

21 Jan 2023 by

While current guidelines recommend using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), there is a lack of head-to-head trial data to guide the choice of DOAC. Esteemed expert Dr Teo Wee Siong, Consultant Cardiologist & Cardiac Electrophysiologist from Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore, reviewed the latest data on the comparative effectiveness and safety of DOACs in AF, provided valuable insights on considerations for the selection of DOACs, and shared his clinical experience with apixaban (Eliquis, Pfizer).