Health Systems Update | USPharmacist

August 2018

Can Caffeine Hasten Recovery From Anesthesia?
A new study published in Anesthesiology reveals findings by investigators who explored the hypothesis that caffeine speeds recovery from the anesthetic state. When given caffeine, the study participants emerged more quickly than those given placebo, even after receiving higher anesthesia concentrations. Read more.

Depression-Causing Medication Use Commonplace
A new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association reveals findings by investigators retrospectively evaluating the drug regimens of individuals taking common medications who later described depressive symptoms. The authors concluded that nearly 30% of Americans are potentially at risk for experiencing these unexpected psychiatric side effects when taking combinations of common pharmaceutical products. Read more.

Cardiovascular Study: HDL Particle Size Paramount
A study published July 2018 in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology evaluated the impact of high-density lipoproteins on the cardiovascular health of postmenopausal women. The study investigators concluded that despite often being referred to as "good cholesterol" because of its association with cardioprotection, a high HDL cholesterol reading alone may not protect older women from heart disease, hospitalization, and early mortality. Read more.

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