Sunday, July 6, 2008

Alternative Modes of Prostanoid Administration in PAH

sildenafil Selection from: Alternative Modes of Prostanoid Administration in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension: Combination Usage

Introduction


Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease characterized by progressive obliteration of pulmonary resistance vessels (usually the medium to small arterioles) resulting in increasingly greater impediment to blood flow across the pulmonary vascular bed. Ultimately the right heart is unable to compensate for this increased resistance and the patient dies from right heart failure. The recent (2003) reclassification of the causes of PAH recognizes that many different diagnoses can be associated with these changes in the pulmonary vascular bed and the development of PAH (Table).[1] The term PAH is used to distinguish this disorder, which originates in the pulmonary vascular bed, from conditions where the pathology lies elsewhere and results in secondary changes in these pulmonary vessels — for example valvular heart disease, pulmonary embolic disease with associated pulmonary hypertension (PH), and parenchymal lung diseases.Table. World Health Organization Diagnostic Classification of Pulmonary Hypertension

Class 1

Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (PH) (formerly primary PH)

Familial PH

Associated PH:

- Connective tissue disease

- Drugs and toxins

- Portopulmonary hypertension

- HIV

- Congenital systemic to pulmonary shunts

- Other

PAH with significant venule or capillary involvement:

- Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis

- Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD)

Persistent fetal circulation

Class 2

PH with left heart disease

Class 3

PH with parenchymal lung disease

Class 4

PH caused by chronic thrombotic or embolic disease

Class 5

Miscellaneous (sarcoid, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, etc)Adapted by the author from Proceedings of the Third World Symposium on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; June 23-25, 2003; Venice, Italy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004;43:1S-90S.

The entity originally referred to as primary pulmonary hypertension and now called idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare disease that affects younger patients, affects females more often than males (2-3:1), and occurs in only 1 to 2 persons per 1 million population. This disease provided the model of a pure pulmonary vascular disease and the basis for greater understanding of the physiology of PH in all its manifestations.

Questions answered incorrectly will be highlighted.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as a ___________________________ Hg measured by cardiac catheterization.Mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAPm) ≥ 10 mmHg with a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤ 15 mmPAPm ≥ 15 mmHg with a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤ 20 mmPAPm ≥ 20 mm Hg with a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤ 10 mmPAPm ≥ 25 mm Hg with a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ≤ 15 mm  Copyright © 2008 Medscape.
 
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Researchers debate recreational use of PDE-5 inhibitors

impotence

Leaders in the field of sexual medicine will actively debate the use of oral pills for erectile dysfunction (ED) at the 7th Congress of the European Society for Sexual Medicine in London, UK.

Moderated by Irwin Goldstein, MD, editor of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, the exchange is scheduled to take place on December 5, 2004 in the Palace Suite of the Hilton London Metropole. Journalists are invited to join a panel posing questions to the use of oral pills as lifestyle drugs versus medications strictly for health problems.

Viagra, or sildenafil citrate, the first of the PDE-5 inhibitors to hit the market in treatment of ED in 1998, first got its start as a potential angina treatment. Since then, vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) have joined the scene, targeted at millions of men suffering from erectile dysfunction. Urologists estimate that as many as 152 million men fall into this group, over half of all men over the age of 40, yet the treatment for this ailment appeals to numbers beyond. While PDE-5 inhibitors are technically used to enable men to have an erection when ED is caused by problems like diabetes, depression, hypertension or prostate surgery, others see these drugs as an opportunity to enhance their lifestyle through sexual performance.

Dimitrios Hatzichristou, MD will argue that PDE-5 inhibitors are excellent lifestyle drugs. With other medications treating hair loss, obesity, and other conditions not severely life-threatening, PDE-5 inhibitors have a place in the market for men with and without erectile dysfunction.

"Erectile dysfunction is an important indicator of serious underlying medical conditions," writes Geoff Hackett, MD in a cover story of pH7 Magazine. He will discuss the points behind taking PDE-5 inhibitors solely as a medication for real health problems.

This event is sponsored by the International Society for Sexual Medicine and Blackwell Publishing. Journalists wishing to join the panel for this debate please contact David Ralph, ESSM Program Chair, at dralph@andrology.co.uk.

About The International Society for Sexual Medicine

The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) was founded in 1982 for the purpose of promoting research and exchange of knowledge for the clinical entity "impotence" throughout the international scientific community. The principal orientation of ISSM was initially towards basic science of erection, defects in the erectile mechanism, and the clinical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. The focus is now towards the whole field of sexual medicine. The society has over 2000 members worldwide and there are five regional societies that are affiliated with ISSM including the African Society for Sexual and Impotence Research, Asia Pacific Society for Sexual and Impotence Research, European Society for Sexual Medicine, Latin American Society for Impotence and Sexuality Research, and Sexual Medicine Society of North America.

About The Journal of Sexual Medicine

The Journal of Sexual Medicine is the official journal of the International Society for Sexual Medicine and its five regional affiliate societies. It is the first journal owned and operated by the societies. The aim of the journal is to publish multidisciplinary basic science and clinical research to define and understand the scientific basis of male and female sexual function and dysfunction. The journal provides healthcare professionals in sexual medicine with essential educational content and promotes the exchange of scientific information generated from experimental and clinical research. The Journal of Sexual Medicine includes basic science and clinical research studies in the psychologic and biologic aspects of male and female sexual function and dysfunction, and highlights new observations and research, results with innovative treatments and all other topics relevant to clinical sexual medicine. For more information on The Journal of Sexual Medicine, please visit http://jsm.issir.org.

About Blackwell Publishing

Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with more than 550 academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 750 journals and 600 text and reference books annually, across a wide range of academic, medical, and professional subjects. The company remains independent with over 900 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit http:// www.blackwellpublishing.com orhttp:// www.blackwell-synergy.com.

Contact: Sharon Agsalda
medicalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.com
781-388-8507
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
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Medication Abortion

viagra

Medication Abortion in Family Medicine: Recent History


Insurance restrictions have not prevented all family physicians from offering medication abortion. Over the past decade, numerous family physicians have successfully integrated medication abortion into their practice. Before the release of mifepristone, some family physicians provided medication abortion with methotrexate,[15] and several participated in the US mifepristone trials. Most of these family physicians have liability coverage through their institutional employer rather than individual policies. The National Abortion Federation, the organization representing abortion providers, reports that 18% of its members are family physicians and 50% are gynecologists.[16] Numerous articles published in family medicine journals ( Table 1 ) and presentations at family medicine scientific and academic meetings ( Table 2 ) demonstrate that family physicians can safely provide medication abortion and that they consider it within their scope of practice.

During mifepristone's approval process, the FDA considered restricting the medication's use to gynecologists. However, the final approval allows mifepristone to be sold to "physicians who can accurately determine the duration of a patient's pregnancy and detect an ectopic (or tubal) pregnancy." All family physicians receive training in the determination of gestational age and in detection of ectopic pregnancy. Physicians who prescribe mifepristone "must also be able to provide surgical intervention in cases of incomplete abortion or severe bleeding—or they must make plans in advance to provide such care through others."[17] This language conforms to the way family medicine is practiced: family physicians treat to the extent that they can, and refer to specialists when indicated. Studies have demonstrated that surgical intervention (ie, a uterine aspiration procedure) is needed in only 0.8% to 5% of mifepristone abortions.[18-20]  Printer- Friendly Email This

J Am Board Fam Med.  2005;18(4):304-306.  ©2005 American Board of Family Medicine
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Thursday, July 3, 2008

Isotretinoin: Improving Patient Education and Reducing Risk

accutane

Isotretinoin: Improving Patient Education and Reducing Risk


from Pediatric Pharmacotherapy

Therapeutic Use


Isotretinoin, 13-cis-retinoic acid, acts by inhibiting sebaceous gland function and keratinization. While the exact mechanism remains unknown, isotretinoin appears to cause improvement in patients with nodular acne by reducing sebum secretion. Isotretinoin is currently approved by the FDA for the management of patients with severe recalcitrant nodular acne. The recommended starting dose of isotretinoin is 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/day given in two divided doses. The dose may be increased to a maximum of 2 mg/kg/day. Treatment is typically continued for a period of 15 to 20 weeks. Patients who fail to respond may be given a second treatment course 8 weeks after completion of the first course.[2]



This is a part of article Isotretinoin: Improving Patient Education and Reducing Risk Taken from "Acne Isotretinoin Accutane" Information Blog