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Cyclosporine in Allergic Conjunctivitis
Topical cyclosporine in the treatment of symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis may help patients reduce their dependency on steroids. Affecting an estimated 20% to 30% of the world's population, allergic conjunctivitis' symptoms include tearing, itching, discharge, and photophobia. Primary treatment has included topical corticosteroids, but prolonged use can result in elevated intraocular pressure with subsequent glaucoma, cataract, and increased susceptibility to microbial infection, leading to associated visual morbidity. Although cyclosporin may not replace corticosteroids, it may be considered when a steroid-sparing agent is needed.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807500
Intranasal Oxytocin Looks Promising for Migraine
Results of a small study of oxytocin administered intranasally indicate that it may be helpful in the management of chronic migraine. The single-dose, placebo-controlled, double-blind study found the oxytocin to be safe and highly effective.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807277
Kovacaine Mist Nasal Spray as Dental Anesthetic
Oral anesthetic injections in the dentist's chair could soon become a thing of the past. In clinical tests, Kovacaine Mist Nasal Spray was found to be as effective as standard anesthetics in four out of five patients. About 75% of U.S. adults reportedly experience some degree of dental fear.
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/nasal-spray-replace-needles-dentist-chair-article-1.1391253
Chinese Clinical Trial Misconduct Delays Drugs
U.S. pharmaceutical companies have increasingly been using China for large clinical trials because they're cheaper and there's a larger population of subjects. However, now U.S. regulators have stepped in, questioning sloppy data and irregularities from the world's most populous country. Errors show a pattern of inadequate trial conduct and oversight. Companies will keep having problems with sloppy data and misconduct as long as they keep doing trials in places like China without providing better oversight, said an FDA medical team leader.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-09/chinese-trial-misconduct-delayed-bristol-myers-medicine.html
India Officials Halt Mylan Takeover of Agila
Concerned that ownership of some pharmaceutical companies are falling into foreign hands, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) of India has halted plans for U.S.-based Mylan to acquire Agila Specialties, the injectable division of Bangalore-headquartered Strides Arcolab.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-07-08/news/40443276_1_agila-specialties-onco-therapies-dipp
Florida Pain-clinic Database May be Abolished
Two years ago, the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program was initiated; now, the governor has tried to kill it, lawmakers won't fund it, and few use it. The program is the subject of new criticism, legal action, and calls that it be overhauled—or abolished.
The Florida Department of Health is discussing further limiting access to records of who writes and fills prescriptions for the most addictive drugs; this action coming in response to allegations that medical data for 3,300 Floridians had been "leaked."
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/06/3488469/statewide-pain-clinic-database.html
Hospital Alarms Pose Patient Risks
A ventilator honks loudly; an infusion pump emits a high-pitched beep-beep every six seconds; a blood pressure monitor pushes out one long tone after another, and other alarms emit from various types of equipment. Most of the noises are false alarms or don't require action; however, up to several hundred alarms per patient per day can cause alarm fatigue and healthcare personnel can become overwhelmed or desensitized by the constant barrage. This sometimes results in their volume being turned down or even shutting them off or ignoring them—actions that can have serious, potentially fatal, consequences.
The Joint Commission has now directed facilities to make alarm safety a top priority or risk losing their accreditation. The FDA received 862 death reports associated with alarms in the seven years that ended December 31, 2012, but the reports provide little information about what happened and don't necessarily mean that alarms contributed to the deaths.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/feature/wp/2013/07/07/too-much-noise-from-hospital-alarms-poses-risk-for-patients/
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