News

New IT Helps Prevent Medication Errors

02/22/12
University of Nottingham researchers implemented a new pharmacist-led IT program to assist practice physicians in reducing medication errors. The program compared computerized alerts alone to computerized alerts combined with pharmacist-led education on improving drug safety in high-risk patients. At 12 months, error reduction was maintained in 2 of the 3 primary endpoints. Read More »
Pharmacist Reviewers Significantly Reduce Errors in UK Practices

02/21/12
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Wireless Microchip Effectively Administers Osteoporosis Drug

02/17/12
Pharmacokinetic response from osteoporosis medicine delivered through an implantable microchip has been found to be as effective as injections with the same agent, researchers reported in Science Translation Medicine. Read More »
Novel Heparin Fights Thrombotic Events in Cancer Patients without Raising Bleeding Risk

02/16/12
As reported in the February 16 issue of New England Journal of Medicine, University of Perugia researchers found that the ultra-low molecular weight heparin semuloparin reduces thrombotic incidents in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy by 64% without increased risk of bleeding. Read More »
Seizing Episodes Stopped Faster With Intramuscular Injection

02/16/12
Intramuscular midazolam, a benzodiazepine, was found to end seizures occurring outside the hospital setting 16% more often than an intravenous lorazepam injection, according to recently published RAMPART data. Read More »
NSTEMI Patients Improperly Receiving Anticoagulants

02/14/12
Reported online in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers state that in clinical practice, guidelines for initiating anticoagulation in patients already on warfarin therapy who are admitted for a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction are not being closely followed. Read More »
Aggressive Medical Management is Superior to Stenting In Antithrombotic Therapy

02/10/12
Research from the Stenting vs Aggressive Medical Therapy for Intracranial Arterial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) trial, presented at the International Stroke Conference 2012, suggests that medical management is both superior to and safer than management with intracranial stenting in patients who had a stroke or transient ischemic attack while receiving antithrombotic therapy. Read More »
Early Prophylaxis for VTE is Acceptable After Intracranial Hemorrhage

02/9/12
Venous thromboembolism (VTE)—a common event after intracranial bleeding in patients admitted to ICUs—is generally addressed with prophylaxis about 72 hours following VTE evaluation, but study results presented at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Annual Congress in Houston suggest prophylaxis can safely be initiated within 48 hours of hospital admission. Read More »
ROCKET-AF Subanalysis: Intracranial Hemorrhage Risk Higher with Warfarin than Rivaroxaban

02/3/12
Compared with warfarin, the new-generation anticoagulant rivaroxaban was associated with a 40% lower risk of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with atrial fibrillation who were taking the agents to prevent stroke. Read More »
Investigational Androgen Receptor Boosts Survival in Advanced Prostate Cancer

02/1/12
An investigational androgen receptor antagonist substantially boosts survival in castration-resistant prostate cancer, phase III trial results showed. Read More »
Antidotes to New Anticoagulants Needed for Trauma Setting

01/27/12
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. – Patients on one of the powerful new oral anticoagulants are left without a good antidote for bleeding if they experience a traumatic injury. The use of these agents is climbing as baby boomers age and the number of patients with atrial fibrillation continues its steady rise from 2.0 million in 1995 to a projected 4.34 million by 2030. Read More »
2-Year Agalsidase Beta Shortage May Soon End

01/25/12
A two-year long shortage of an enzyme replacement therapy for patients with Fabry disease may soon be over, according to its manufacturer. The Genzyme unit of French drugmaker Sanofi said it has received FDA approval to begin producing agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme) at its new manufacturing plant in Framingham, Mass. Read More »
PLN Explores Evolution of Health-System Pharmacists

01/24/12
More than 92% of attendees of a recent PLN industry webinar indicated that the responsibilities of health-system pharmacists will increase dramatically by 2016, continuing their expansion beyond their outdated role as solely dispensers and monitors of medication use. Read More »
HealthGrades names Baltimore, Phoenix, and Cedar Rapids Top 3 Cities for Hospital Care

01/24/12
HealthGrades has released its list of America’s Top Cities for Hospital Care, ranking nearly 5000 hospitals based on a study of patient death and complication rates. The study identified hospitals performing in the top 5% nationwide, ranking cities based on their rate of top performing hospitals. Read More »
FDA Declines Approval of Dapagliflozin, Requests More Clinical Data

01/23/12
The FDA declined approval of the novel diabetes drug dapagliflozin, requesting additional clinical data from the manufacturers on the agent’s risk benefit profile. The FDA advisory panel initially voted against approval due to breast and bladder cancer risks; dapagliflozin will not be reconsidered until there is more or new clinical testing submitted for FDA consideration. Read More »