Female Urinary Incontinence Effective management in primary care

Female Urinary Incontinence Effective management in primary care

Female urinary incontinence is a common and distressing problem. Overactive bladder and stress urinary incontinence are the two common types of urinary incontinence in women. Most women with urinary incontinence can be managed effectively in primary care. Women with refractory incontinence and those with more complex presentations and associated problems should be referred for specialist management. Conservative management of overactive bladder involves pelvic floor muscle training, bladder retraining and fluid management. Antimuscarinic medication is the mainstay of drug therapy for overactive bladder. Stress urinary incontinence should be treated initially with pelvic floor muscle training.

Modern Medicine – June/July 2018

Practical Approach to Initiating SGLT2 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes

Practical Approach to Initiating SGLT2 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are an attractive novel therapeutic option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. They block the reabsorption of filtered glucose in kidneys, mainly in proximal renal tubules, resulting in increased urinary glucose excretion and correction of the diabetesrelated hyperglycemia. Beyond improving glucose control, SGLT2 inhibitors offer potential benefits by reducing body weight and blood pressure. On the basis of the efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials, SGLT2 inhibitors are recommended as second- or third-line agents for the management of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Modern Medicine – June/July 2018

Adult Antiretroviral Therapy Guidelines

Adult Antiretroviral Therapy Guidelines

The HIV guidelines by Meintjies et al. (2017) are an update to those published in the Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine in 2014 and an update to guidelines regarding when to initiate antiretroviral therapy (2015). Since the release of the previous guidelines, the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in southern Africa has continued. New antiretroviral drugs have become available with improved efficacy, safety and robustness.

Modern Medicine – June/July 2018

When Drug Reps’ Gifts Bias Prescribing Patterns …

When Drug Reps’ Gifts Bias Prescribing Patterns …

Communications and interactions between pharmaceutical companies and doctors regarding drug promotion and marketing have lately been the focus of ethical interest. These interactions are pervasive and can be influential and beneficial for the patient, but they may also have some undesirable consequences. Concerns are whether drug promotion is inducing doctors to prescribe specific drugs and if promotion leads to inappropriate clinical use of some drugs.

Modern Medicine – June/July 2018

The Stepwise Approach to Chronic Constipation

The Stepwise Approach to Chronic Constipation

Chronic constipation (CC) is an extremely common disorder with an estimated prevalence ranging between 2% and 24%. The prevalence of CC increases with age and may reach 80% in nursing home residents. Constipation has severe consequences for the quality of life of those affected and costs to individual patients and to society in general are significant.

Modern Medicine – June/July 2018

May/June 2018 Edition

We welcome you to come and read through our latest, May/June, edition of Modern Medicine.

This month we have a jam packed edition for you. Our features this month include; Ethics, Pharmacology, Dermatology, Flu and many more.

We encourage all of our readers to complete the CPD questionnaire for this edition, this can be done on the answer-form included in the magazine, or on our website CPD system.

Modern Medicine, the journal that’s with you wherever you go.

Systemic Sclerosis A step-by-step guide to a difficult diagnosis

Systemic Sclerosis A step-by-step guide to a difficult diagnosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc), or scleroderma, is a multisystem autoimmune disease characterised by vasculopathy and fibrosis. Adultonset Raynaud’s phenomenon or Raynaud’s phenomenon complicated by digital ulceration or infarction should prompt consideration of connective  tissue disorders including SSc. Early identification of severe, lifethreatening organ manifestations can result in improved quality of life and survival. Management of patients with SSc is multifaceted and dependent on individual disease manifestations.

Modern Medicine – May/June 2018

Health Benefits of Probiotics

Health Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms, found in fermented foods, cultured milk and are used for infant food. They are well-known as “health friendly bacteria”, which exhibit various beneficial properties such as prevention of bowel diseases, improving the immune system, for lactose intolerance and intestinal microbial balance, exhibiting antihypercholesterolemic and antihypertensive effects, alleviation of postmenopausal disorders and reducing traveller’s diarrhoea. Modulation of the gut-brain by probiotics has been suggested as a novel therapeutic solution for anxiety and depression.

Modern Medicine – May/June 2018