News &amp; Updates

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first oral medication for postpartum depression in adults, giving clinicians a new therapeutic option for this debilitating condition.

Low osteocalcin levels up cardiovascular risk in women with hyperglycaemia

Among middle-aged and older women with hyperglycaemia, those with low osteocalcin levels are at high risk of cardiovascular diseases, according to a study.

Jakinibs for AD in Asians: Is one better than the other?

Treatment with oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors or jakinibs appeared well tolerated in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) as shown in an Asian retrospective cohort study.

General anaesthesia and oxytocin significantly associated with PPH in twin pregnancies

A retrospective cohort study of twin pregnancies in Hong Kong has identified general anaesthesia (GA) and use of oxytocin as significant risk factors for all postpartum haemorrhage (PPH; ≥500 mL). The study also shows that GA, in vitro fertilization (IVF), antepartum haemorrhage, placental abruption, and placenta praevia (PP) are significantly associated with major PPH (>1,000 mL), while IVF, PP, and obesity are significant risk factors for severe PPH (>1,500 mL).

Statin cuts CV risk in patients with HIV

Treatment with pitavastatin is associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as shown in the final analysis of the double-blind, placebo-controlled REPRIEVE trial presented at IAS 2023.

Nirmatrelvir–ritonavir combo averts hospitalization in high-risk COVID patients

Treatment with nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir appears to reduce the incidence of hospitalization in a highly vaccinated population of high-risk COVID-19 patients in Malaysia, as shown in a study.

Does misoprostol reduce risk of NSAID-induced kidney injury?

Misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analogue used to prevent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-related gastrointestinal disorders, appears effective in preventing kidney injury associated with chronic NSAID use, but the quality of evidence is very low, results of a recent study have shown.

Do weak opioids increase risk of GI cancers?

Evidence on the association of weak opioids with a higher risk of oesophageal and colorectal cancer is not reliable, but there appears to be a small association with gastric cancer, suggests a study.

30 Aug 2023

Novel systemic therapies improve survival in prostate cancer patients with visceral metastasis

Novel systemic treatments are similarly effective in reducing the risk of progression or death in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive (mHSPC) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), irrespective of visceral metastasis status, reports a study.

30 Aug 2023

Prof Katalin Karikó: mRNA technology a versatile tool to transform the future of medicine

At an honorary degree conferment ceremony held at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and an interview with MIMS Doctor, Professor Katalin Karikó, a pioneer of mRNA technology, suggested that recent advances in mRNA research can provide a versatile tool for combating various diseases.