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Alendronate Does Not Reduce Fractures in Pediatric Osteogenesis Imperfecta

December 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Oral bisphosphonate alendronate does noot reduce the incidence of fractures in children with osteogenesis imperfecta. This has been suggested by findings findings published November 24th online in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

With an objective  to study the efficacy and safety of daily oral alendronate  in children with osteogenesis imperfecta, Dr Ward et al conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

The study included 139 children between  4–19 years of age having  with type I, III, or IV osteogenesis imperfecta. [Read more...]

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Drugs For Rheumatoid Arthritis Less Effective In Obese Patients

November 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A small study has suggested that obese adults with rheumatoid arthritis may be less likely than thinner people to respond to some of the newer medications for the disease.

The study included 89 patients who were put on infiximab and it was found that found obese patients improved less than leaner ones.

The study has been published in online November 8th in Arthritis & Rheumatism,

It is not clear why does this occur but  adipocytokines — inflammation-promoting proteins produced by fat tissue  are thought to play a role.

This may send an alert to the physicians that TNF blockers might be relatively less effective in obese people.

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Denosumab Use Approved In Cancer Patients For Prevention Of Skeletal Complications

November 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved drug denosumab for use to prevention of to prevent skeletal complications in cancer patients with solid tumors and bone metastases.

The drug has already been approved and in market for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The drug is used in different doses in in these two conditions. [Read more...]

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FDA Approves Duloxetine For Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

November 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved duloxetine HCl delayed-release capsules for treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

That gives many of the chronic pain patients another treatment option.

Duloxetine has been approved for both chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis. The decision was based on data from 4 double-blind, randomized clinical trials.

The recommended dose is 60 mg daily. [Read more...]

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Vitamin D Supplements Do Not Benefit Healthy Children

October 19, 2010 By

A systematic review study published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews has revealed that use supplements of vitamin D, is not consistent with improvement of bone density in children with normal vitamin D levels. However a definite benefit in vitamin D deficient children was observed. [Read more...]

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Second Line Antitubercular Drugs

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A second line drug for tuberculosis is either less effective than the first line drug or has an associated toxicity that makes second choice for use in tuberculosis patients.
Second class drugs are used when the patient either does not respond to first line or does not tolerate them and substantiating the treatment is necessary.

Following are  second-line drugs used for the treatment of tuberculosis.

  • Thioacetazone (T)
  • P-aminosalicylic acid (PAS or P).
  • Thioamides – Ethionamide, prothionamide
  • Cycloserine
  • Polypeptides- capreomycin, viomycin, enviomycin
  • Aminoglycosides: e.g., amikacin (AMK), kanamycin (KM)
  • Fluoroquinolones-Ciprofloxacin (CIP), levofloxacin, moxifloxacin (MXF), Ofloxacilin

Commonly used drugs are discussed below- [Read more...]

Filed Under: Drugs, Musculoskeletal Infections Tagged With: ,

First Line Drugs For Tuberculosis Treatment – Recommended Doses

August 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Antitubercular drugs are mainstay of treatment of tuberculosis. The major drugs used and effective are called first line drugs. Following are the first line drugs in tuberculosis

  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin
  • Pyrazinamide
  • Ethambutol
  • Streptomycin

These five drugs are responsible for control and containment of tubercular disease, among other factors.

The drugs are given on basis of patient weight and dosage may vary in different individuals. The dosage also differ depending on the regimen given. There are three regimen that traditionally have been used for treatment [Read more...]

Filed Under: Drugs, Musculoskeletal Infections Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Calcitonin

March 19, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Calcitonin is the hypocalcaemic hormone discovered by Copp in 1962. It is a 32 amino acid single polypeptide produced by parafollicular ‘C’ cells of thyroid. Parathyroids, thymus and cells of medullary carcinoma of thyroid also contain calcitonin.

Synthesis and secretion of calcitonin is regulated by calcium concentration itself. Rise in plasma calcium increases while fall in plasma calcium decreases calcitonin release. [Read more...]

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An Overview of Parathyroid Hormone

March 19, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Parathormone is stored in intracellular vesicles after its synthesis. Secretion of PTH is regulated by plasma Calcium concentration. Fall in plasma calcium induces parathormone release and rise inhibits secretion.

Changes in phosphate concentration in plasma affect parathormone secretion indirectly by altering Calcium concentration.

Parthyroid Hormone increases plasma calcium levels by increasing resorption of calcium from bone and decreasing the excretion of calcium in urine. It also promotes phosphate excretion which tends to supplement the hypercalcaemic effect. [Read more...]

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An Overview of Calcium and Its Role In Body Metabolism

March 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment

After C,H,O and N, Calcium is the most abundant body constituent, making up about 2 percent of body weihgt: 1-5 kg in an adult. Over 99% of this is stored in bones, the rest being distributed in plasma and all tissues and cells. [Read more...]

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