News &amp; Updates

Children with persistent asthma are less likely to be colonized with S. pneumoniae than those without asthma when seeking care for respiratory symptoms, reports a study.

Pneumococcal colonization rate lower in children with persistent asthma

05 Nov 2024

Pegaspargase biosimilar safe to use in childhood ALL

The biosimilar Pegaspargase, when combined with chemotherapy, demonstrates a favourable safety profile in children with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) treated according to ICiCLe ALL-14 protocol, a study has shown.

Pegaspargase biosimilar safe to use in childhood ALL

05 Nov 2024

Are SGLT2 inhibitors cardioprotective in wild-type ATTR-CM patients?

The use of sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors nearly halves the risk of all-cause mortality at 3 years in patients with wild-type transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), findings from an observational study suggest.

Are SGLT2 inhibitors cardioprotective in wild-type ATTR-CM patients?

05 Nov 2024

Faricimab vs aflibercept for DME in BCVA 20/50 or worse: Reduced retinal thickness, fewer jabs

In the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) in the subgroup of patients with baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/50 or worse, the bispecific antibody faricimab has been shown to improve visual acuity as much as the anti-VEGF aflibercept, with the added advantage of a greater decrease in retinal thickness and reduced injection frequency.

Faricimab vs aflibercept for DME in BCVA 20/50 or worse: Reduced retinal thickness, fewer jabs

Electrolyte abnormalities may increase mortality in patients with eating disorders

Electrolyte abnormalities within 1 year of eating disorder diagnosis are associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, a population-based study in Canada has shown.

Electrolyte abnormalities may increase mortality in patients with eating disorders

Data support abrocitinib use beyond 2 years in adolescents with AD

Treating adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD with the JAK1-selective inhibitor abrocitinib has demonstrated an acceptable long-term safety profile and maintained efficacy for up to 112 weeks, as shown in an adolescent-focused post hoc analysis of 5 phase III trials

Data support abrocitinib use beyond 2 years in adolescents with AD

05 Nov 2024

More than 90 percent of HK’s population has CKM syndrome

The proportion of Hong Kong’s population with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome has increased from 87.8 percent 20 years ago to 90.8 percent in 2024, an ongoing population-based, cross-sectional study of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and disease prevalence in Hong Kong Chinese (N-CRISPS) has found.

More than 90 percent of HK’s population has CKM syndrome

Familial hypercholesterolaemia patients with obesity face higher diabetes risk

Patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia do not appear to be protected against type 2 diabetes (T2D), which markedly increases in the presence of obesity, according to a worldwide cross-sectional study.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia patients with obesity face higher diabetes risk

3 cycles of chemo enough for high-risk retinoblastoma in children

04 Nov 2024 by

Shortening the postenucleation chemotherapy regimen containing carboplatin, etoposide, and vincristine (CEV) from six to three cycles results in comparable survival outcomes in paediatric patients with unilateral pathologic high-risk retinoblastoma, according to new research.

3 cycles of chemo enough for high-risk retinoblastoma in children

Which factors predict persistent SAB in children?

A shorter time to culture positivity, osteoarticular infection, and higher presenting and peak values for some inflammatory markers appear predictive of persistent S. aureus bacteremia (SAB) in children, suggests a study.

Which factors predict persistent SAB in children?