Tailor Eczema Treatment to the Individual Patient
Although emollients can be sufficient to manage mild atopic dermatitis, acute flares resulting in moderate- to-severe symptoms require treatment with anti- inflammatory agents, such as topical corticosteroids. Different formulations of methylprednisolone aceponate have been shown to provide rapid, reliable and highly effective treatment of eczematous disorders, with excellent local and systemic tolerability.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
Patient Preference is Key when Choosing Psoriasis Topical Treatments
Fixed combination calcipotriol (50μg/g) plus betamethasone (50μg/g); as dipropionate), available in gel and ointment formulations, is a recommended first-line treatment for mild-to- moderate psoriasis vulgaris. Patients with psoriasis have diverse needs and different preferences for topical treatment. This knowledge may help prescribers to choose the right formulation for the right patient.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
Scalp Pruritus Scratching for answers
Scalp itch is common in people of all ages. Treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis. Causes range from everyday skin conditions such as seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis and head lice to rare disorders such as dermatitis herpetiformis andtrigeminal trophic syndrome.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
Don’t Let Allergic Rhinitis Get the Better of Patients
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the nasal mucosa caused by IgE-mediated early- and late-phase hypersensitivity responses. Because of the non–life-threatening nature of symptoms, AR has, in the past, been considered a trivial disease but is increasingly recognised as having a major effect on quality of life (QoL), emotional well-being, sleep, daily activities and productivity when poorly controlled.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
Triglycerides – a Strong Predictor of CV Events
The increasing prevalence of obesity is directly associated with the increase in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome (MS), which, in turn, are associated with lipoprotein abnormalities described as atherogenic dyslipidaemia (AD). AD is causally linked to the development and progression of atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD).
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
ADA Guidelines on Lipid Management in Those with Diabetes
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)–defined as coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral arterial disease presumed to be of atherosclerotic origin – is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for individuals with diabetes and results in an estimated $37.3 billion in cardiovascular-related spending per year associated with diabetes. Common conditions coexisting with type 2 diabetes (eg, hypertension and dyslipidaemia) are clear risk factors for ASCVD, and diabetes itself confers independent risk. This is a shortened version of the American Diabetes Association (ADA)’s article on cardiovascular risk management in Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes–2022
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes: ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes–2021
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes” includes the ADA’s current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. This is a shortened version of the original article.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
The Clinical Challenge of Medically Unexplained Symptoms
Many patients consult their general practitioner (GP) because they experience bodily symptoms. Western medicine prioritises the assessment of symptoms to diagnose disease, but symptoms are not exclusively signs of disease. Some symptoms represent ordinary bodily sensations causing minor concern, others arise or persist due to processes which are not necessarily related to underlying disease. When symptoms persist, but cannot be attributed to disease, they are commonly described as “medically unexplained symptoms”.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
Evaluating Basic Two-dimensional Echocardiography for Screening in Coronary Artery Disease
Background
Basic two-dimensional echocardiography (2D-echocardiography)screens for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) by detecting impaired left ventricular function (LVF) which declines as atherosclerosis worsens.
Aim
To evaluate basic 2D-echocardiography for CAD screening.
Methods
CAD screening was performed with 2D-echocardiography. For global screening, left ventricular ejection fraction percentage (LVEF%) was determined and categorised into global systolic LVF. For regional screening, global average echocardiography score (GAES) was quantified, then categorised into functional impairment. After screening, high-risk patients
underwent diagnostic coronary angiography. Abnormal angiography had50% luminal stenosis. Angiography was also quantified with Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score, then categorised. Statistical Package for Social Science 25.0 analysed data.
Results
There were 471 patients screened for CAD; 154/471 (33%) underwent angiography. For angiography selection amongst 471 screened patients, GAES was higher (p< 0.001) and positively correlated (Pearson’s coefficient 0.296); LVEF% was lower (p = 0.002) and negatively correlated (Pearson’s coefficient -0.187). Amongst 154 patients, SYNTAX score correlated negatively with LVEF% (Pearson’s coefficient -0.276) and positively with GAES (Pearson’s co-efficient 0.180). For categories, angiography had 66/154 (42.9%) normal and 88/154 (57.1%) abnormal results. SYNTAX score had 134/154 (87.0%) low-risk and 20/154 (13.0%) medium-high-risk categories. GAES correlated positively with angiogram results (Spearman’s coefficient 0.298) and SYNTAX categories (Spearman’s coefficient 0.110). LVEF% correlated negatively with angiogram results (Spearman’s coefficient -0.307) and SYNTAX categories (Spearman’s coefficient -0.254).
Conclusions
The distribution of underlying atherosclerotic vessels resulted in regional wall abnormalities being more significant than global function on 2D-echocardiography. We conclude that basic 2D-echocardiography remains useful in CAD screening.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
The latest edition of Modern Medicine is now available for you to read. We have some great articles featured in this edition:
Also, a reminder that, not only do we have CPD questions available within the magazine itself, we also have an online CPD portal that allows you to score even more points by simply completing your test online
