USPharmacist.com > December 2010

Issue: December 2010 • Archive

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In This Edition		Featured Article		Featured CE
• Editor's Notebook • Counseling Pearls • It's the Law • Clinical Corner • Consult Your Pharmacist • Educational Spotlight • Quick Poll —Health Care Insurance		Overview of Peptic Ulcer Disease Epigastric pain is the most common presenting symptom of this disorder.		Over-the-Counter Use of Neuroactive Peptides for the Treatment of Chronic Pain Snake venom extracts provide a longer duration of pain relief than traditional analgesics.

Editor's Notebook

Fake Drugs Are Real

Counterfeit medications are increasingly widespread, highly profitable, and dangerous.

Counseling Pearls

Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A New Disease

This allergic inflammatory condition may be misdiagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease, as both disorders have similar symptoms and can coexist.

Treatment Options for Postoperative Ileus

This condition often occurs after abdominal surgery, but there are other causes, including certain medications, inflammation, hematoma, and metabolic disturbances.

It's the Law

Duty to Warn Fulfilled

Are pharmacists obliged to warn patients about the dangers associated with the use of a prescription drug?

Clinical Corner

Management of Diverticular Disease

Older age and insufficient dietary fiber intake are the two biggest risk factors for these disorders. Pain is considered to be a hallmark symptom.

Management of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

This common medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalization is often caused by peptic ulcer disease. The annual U.S. incidence rate is 160 cases per 100,000 people.

Consult Your Pharmacist

Diarrhea: How to Assist the Patient

This disorder requires more counseling than other conditions treatable by self-care.

Educational Spotlight

The Use of Psychotherapeutic Medications in War Veterans

PTSD resulting from combat should be treated with a combination of psychotherapy and psychotropics.

Medical Marijuana: Therapeutic Uses and Legal Status

State laws permitting personal medical use are at variance with existing federal laws.

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Newswire

Heartburn Medications May Increase Pneumonia Risk
Seoul, South Korea — A recent article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal indicates that the use of acid-suppressive drugs such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists may increase the risk of pneumonia. The systematic review showed that one of every 200 inpatients receiving these drugs will develop hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Some earlier studies found a possible connection between acid suppressants and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Since 40% to 70% of hospitalized patients receive acid suppressants, it is possible that some cases of mortality from HAP are due to these drugs, and the impact of acid suppressants on CAP could be much greater.

Naturally High Hemoglobin OK in Dialysis Patients
Ann Arbor, MI — According to a multinational study of nearly 30,000 dialysis patients, naturally occurring high hemoglobin (Hb) levels are safe for kidney disease patients on dialysis, and it may not be necessary to lower these levels to protect patients' health. In the study, 1.8% of subjects maintained Hb concentrations above 12 g/dL without medication to stimulate red blood cell production. After adjustment for age, sex, and concomitant diagnoses, these subjects did not have a higher risk of mortality than subjects with lower Hb levels. There also were no differences in mortality between these subjects and those who were taking drugs to achieve Hb levels above 12 g/dL. While current guidelines caution against prescribing drugs to achieve Hb concentrations above 12 g/dL, there appears to be no need to phlebotomize patients whose Hb reaches this level without medication.

Compound Prevents Prostate Cancer Cell Growth
Turku, Finland — Researchers from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the University of Turku determined that monensin, an antibiotic used in the meat and dairy industries, prevents the growth of prostate cancer cells without significant effects on the growth of normal human prostate epithelial cells. Monensin was found to cause prostate cancer cell death by reducing the amount of testosterone receptor and by increasing production of reactive oxygen species and inducing DNA damage. Monensin also had combined effects with antiandrogens in preventing prostate cancer cell growth. "These findings give rise to a potential new use for...monensin," stated researchers Kristiina Iljin from VTT and Kirsi Ketola from the University of Turku.