Latest Articles
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Review
Discordance between preclinical and clinical testing of Na V 1.7-selective inhibitors for pain.
The voltage-gated sodium channel Na V 1.7 plays an important role in pain processing according to genetic data. Those data made Na V 1.7 a popular drug target, especially since its relatively selective expression in nociceptors promised pain relief without the adverse effects associated with broader sodium channel blockade. Despite encouraging preclinical data in rodents, Na V 1.7-selective inhibitors have not yet proven effective in clinical trials. ⋯ Nearly all preclinical studies gave a single dose of drug unlike the repeat dosing used clinically, thus precluding preclinical data from demonstrating whether tolerance or other slow processes occur. In summary, preclinical testing of Na V 1.7-selective inhibitors aligned poorly with clinical testing. Beyond issues that have already garnered widespread attention in the pain literature, our results highlight the treatment regimen and choice of pain model as areas for improvement.
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The management of peri-operative pain is one of the pillars of anaesthesia and is of particular importance in patients undergoing surgery for solid malignant tumours. Amongst several options, the most commonly employed analgesic regimens involve opioids, NSAIDs and regional anaesthesia techniques with different local anaesthetics. In recent years, several research reports have tried to establish a connection between peri-operative anaesthesia care and outcome after cancer surgery. ⋯ The reason for this might lie with the nature of tumour biology itself, and in the diversity of patient and tumour phenotypes. In a translational approach, future research should therefore concentrate on patient and tumour-related factors or biomarkers, which might either influence the tumour and its microenvironment or predict potential responses to interventions, including the choice of the analgesic. This might not only be relevant for the daily practice of clinical anaesthesia, but would also be of great importance for patients undergoing cancer surgery, who might be able to receive an individualised anaesthetic regimen based on their phenotypic profile.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · Mar 2025
ReviewError Traps in Developing a Pediatric Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program.
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been shown to improve patient outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and decrease costs. First created and implemented in the adult population, these pathways are now commonplace and continue to expand in the pediatric realm. ⋯ Key themes include departmental and institutional support, stakeholder engagement, awareness of pathways, data management and dissemination, and long-term maintenance including Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Pathway development teams should be aware of these considerations and potential pitfalls, and focusing on them can promote long-term success for a well-designed pathway.
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Review
Injecting New Ideas Into Managing Type 2 Diabetes: Evolving Roles of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists.
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease that often requires therapeutic intensification. Patients with type 2 diabetes frequently experience complications related to hyperglycemia, treatment-induced hypoglycemia, and comorbidities. Management of patients with type 2 diabetes is complicated and must be individualized, though guidelines from both the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology provide treatment algorithms detailing therapeutic escalation with both oral and injectable therapies according to glycated hemoglobin (A1c) level. ⋯ These incretin-based therapies, available in both daily and weekly formulations, have been shown to significantly reduce A1c levels, body weight, and cardiovascular risk factors. In this 4-part series, 2 expert physicians discuss clinical profiles of GLP-1 receptor agonists, strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes, barriers to the use of injectable noninsulin therapies, and practical recommendations for noninsulin injectable therapies. These accredited educational programs are available online at https://glp1cme.elsevierresource.com/.
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Clinical guidelines direct healthcare professionals toward evidence-based practices. Evaluating guideline impact can elucidate information penetration, relevance, effectiveness, and alignment with evolving medical knowledge and technological advancements. As the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on Tumors marks its 40th anniversary in 2024, this article reflects on the tumor guidelines established by the Section over the past decade and explores their impact on other publications, patents, and information dissemination. ⋯ Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma led Mendeley reads. News, patent, or policy publications were led by low-grade glioma at 1.5/year. Our study shows that the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Section on Tumors guidelines go beyond citations in peer-reviewed publications to include patents, online engagement, and information dissemination to the public.