Pharmacists Clinical Briefs

• FDA Approvals: Vismodegib for Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma CME/CE The US Food and Drug Administration has approved vismodegib for the treatment of an advanced form of basal cell carcinoma.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• Guideline Issued on Vitamin D and Postmenopause CME/CE On the basis of a literature review and the consensus of expert opinion, new guidelines have been issued on the role of vitamin D supplementation in postmenopausal women.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• FDA Approvals: Breakthrough Drug for a Rare Form of Cystic Fibrosis CME/CE The US Food and Drug Administration approved ivacaftor for patients 6 years and older who have a rare form of cystic fibrosis and carry the G551D mutation in the CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• Adult Immunization Schedule for 2012 Issued CME/CE The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has issued the 2012 adult immunization schedule and includes new recommendations for human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, and influenza vaccines.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• AAP Issues Latest Immunization Schedules for Kids and Teens CME/CE The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued its 2012 immunization schedules for children and adolescents and recommends that clinicians use all 3 schedules and their accompanying footnotes together.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• FDA Approvals: Once-Weekly Exenatide for Type 2 Diabetes CME/CE The US FDA approved a once-weekly extended-release formulation of exenatide injection as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, February 2012
• PPIs Produce Negative Outcomes in Children With Poor Asthma Control CME/CE Use of proton pump inhibitors in children with poorly controlled asthma who were using inhaled corticosteroids and who had no symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux did not improve asthma control.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• FDA Approvals: Glucarpidase to Reduce Toxic Methotrexate Levels CME/CE The US Food and Drug Administration has approved glucarpidase for the rapid and sustained reduction of toxic methotrexate levels because of impaired renal function.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• FDA Approvals: First Test Assessing PML Risk With Natalizumab CME/CE The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first blood test assessing risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients taking natalizumab.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Possible Dosing Errors Linked With an IV Pain Reliever for Children CME/CE The study cautions healthcare providers about the risk and consequences of dosing errors when prescribing a common children's pain reliever intravenously and ways to reduce the risk.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• FDA Safety Changes: Boxed Warning Added to Hodgkin's Lymphoma Drug CME/CE Two new cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a serious brain infection that can be fatal, have been reported with use of brentuximab. A boxed warning has been added to the drug label.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• ADA Revises Standards of Diabetes Care CME/CE A new American Diabetes Association standards of care statement addresses screening, diagnostic, and treatment interventions known or thought to improve health outcomes of patients with diabetes.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Aspirin Therapy May Increase Risk for Bleeding Events CME/CE A new meta-analysis shows that aspirin therapy reduces the risk for nonfatal myocardial infarction but increases the risk of bleeding in healthy people.
  Heartwire CME, January 2012
• Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Promote Weight Loss CME/CE Overweight or obese patients treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists had more weight loss and improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels, regardless of whether they had diabetes.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Frequent Aspirin Use Linked With Early and Wet Late AMD CME/CE In a large, cross-sectional study, daily aspirin users had an increased risk for early or wet late age-related macular degeneration vs patients who never used aspirin.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Guideline Quality on T2DM Oral Medications Not Always Consistent CME/CE Reviews of guidelines have reported deficiencies in the quality of guidelines, specifically in describing methods to identify evidence and grading the strength of recommendations.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• FDA Approvals: Pneumococcal Vaccine for Older Adults CME/CE The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine for adults 50 years and older for the prevention of pneumonia.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler Decreases COPD Exacerbations CME/CE In a recent study, a pressurized metered-dose inhaler reduced exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease more effectively than a dry powder inhaler alone.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, January 2012
• Antihypertensive Therapy Extends Life, First-Time Data Show CME/CE This study demonstrated a prolonged life expectancy in patients who took antihypertensive treatment for 4.5 years, which is the first time this finding has been reported in trials of hypertension.
  Heartwire CME, January 2012
• Fracture Risk Reduced With Vitamin D, Calcium Supplementation CME/CE Combined supplementation with vitamin D and calcium can reduce the risk for fracture, according to the findings of a meta-analysis.
  Medscape Education Clinical Briefs, December 2011