Medications

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a new technology that—for many patients—could make injections a thing of the past. The new system could be used in the future for a range of treatments, including growth hormone, immunotherapy cancer treatments, and diabetes and weight management treatments such as Wegovy and Ozempic.

A new study that examined older and newer medications to treat seizures has found that using some medications during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of malformations at birth, or birth defects. The study is published in Neurology.

The human intestine is home to a dense network of microorganisms, known collectively as the gut microbiome, which actively helps to shape our health. The microorganisms help with digestion, train the immune system and protect us against dangerous intruders. However, this protection can be disrupted, and not just by antibiotics, which—when used for treatment—are intended to prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

Pharmacy researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have demonstrated that multi-component interventions are required to improve the regular intake of cholesterol-lowering medications.

Research led by Sichuan University in China has revealed that bedtime antihypertensive medication dosing improves nocturnal blood pressure control over morning dosing in patients with hypertension.

After nearly 15 years’ research, scientists at the UdeM-affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine have developed a compound that has shown remarkable potential in preventing prematurity in mice.

Use of nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) is associated with an increased risk for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to a study published online June 20 in Ophthalmology.

Researchers at the School of Chinese Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), have found that combining the active ingredient extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus membranaceus (huang qi) with the widely used Western drug methotrexate (MTX) can effectively reduce chronic inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren’s disease.

When surgeons dissect tissue to remove a tumor or make a repair, they must work cautiously, relying on electrophysical monitors and their own anatomical knowledge to avoid cutting nerves, which could complicate the patient’s recovery.

New research analyzing an online survey of 1,633 respondents found a 15% recent use of doxycycline post- and pre‐exposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP/PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender and gender-diverse people in the Netherlands.