Levocetirizine: A Potent Antihistamine with Anti-inflammatory Properties
Levocetirizine is a second generation antihistamine with minimal adverse effects, and its effectiveness in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria in adults and children has already been demonstrated by a number of well-conducted randomised clinical trials.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2020
Clinical Misdiagnosis is More Common than We Think
Medical misdiagnosis, in the form of inaccurate, late and delayed diagnoses is an ongoing problem in healthcare. Not only do these diagnostic errors present an ongoing risk to the health and safety of patients, there is also a significant cost to the county’s economy.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2020
The latest Issue of Modern Medicine is available for you to read. We have some great articles featured in this edition; topics covered include:
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
Modern Medicine, the journal that’s with you wherever you go.
Beware of Relapse Risk When Treating Postsurgical Pain
Recovering addicts are susceptible to relapse after medical interventions for pain management, including surgery. In 2017, it was estimated that 26 to 36 million people worldwide abuse opiates.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2020
Chromogranin A, for Prostate Cancer Tracking
The lifetime risk for prostate cancer in men in South Africa is 1 in 19, according to the 2014 National Cancer Registry. Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer globally and locally, and is showing significant increases. A subset of advanced prostate cancer tumours are non-androgen axis signalling dependent, and harbour neuroendocrine features (including small-cell or large-cell subtypes) and are termed treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate cancer (tNEPC). Chromogranin A, due to its primary expression throughout the neuroendocrine system, is a widely accepted biomarker for the assessment of neuroendocrine tumours.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2020
Address the Cost of Nocturnal Enuresis
Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is a common problem in childhood. Epidemiological studies show that 15-22% of boys and 7-15% of girls at seven years of age are bedwetters. These percentages lower to 1-2% among adolescents and young adults.1 Although time constraints can often lead to the inadequate addressing of psychological effects, it is prudent to consider expanding patient visits so time is available to screen for these life-altering concerns.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2020
Navigating the New Diabetes Drugs Cardiovascular benefits and when to use
The recent introduction of antihyperglycaemic medications that not only improve glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels but also provide cardiovascular, renal and overall mortality benefit renews hope for better management of diabetes. The new sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are potential game changers for people with T2D. Evidence shows that besides improving glyacaemic control, these drugs have renal, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality benefits.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2020
Pulmonary Hypertension A rare but important cause of dyspnoea
Pulmonary hypertension can be a devastating disease that is easily missed in the early stages because of its typically nonspecific presentation with gradually increasing dyspnoea, and may coexist with other sources of dyspnoea. With advances in management, most forms of pulmonary hypertension are treatable with medication. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to improving functional and haemodynamic outcomes and survival.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2020
Moxonidine, Centrally Acting Antihypertensive with Reduced Side Effects
Moxonidine is a second generation centrally acting antihypertensive drug. As it acts on a different pathway to the previous centrally acting antihypertensive drugs, it has fewer side effects, and in addition, has some possible beneficial effects besides.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2020
Allergic Rhinitis often goes undetected
Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder that is strongly linked to asthma and conjunctivitis. It is usually a long-standing condition that often goes undetected in the primary-care setting. The classic symptoms of the disorder are nasal congestion, nasal itch, rhinorrhoea and sneezing. A thorough history, physical examination and allergen skin testing are important for establishing the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Second-generation oral antihistamines and intranasal corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment. Allergen immunotherapy is an effective immune-modulating treatment that should be recommended if pharmacologic therapy for allergic rhinitis is not effective or is not tolerated, or if chosen by the patient. This article provides an overview of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and appropriate management of this disorder.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2020