Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 14 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain

Authors: De Gregorio, Danilo et al PAIN: January 2019 – Volume 160 – Issue 1 – p 136–150 Clinical studies indicate that cannabidiol (CBD), the primary nonaddictive component of cannabis that interacts with the serotonin (5-HT)1A receptor, may possess analgesic and anxiolytic effects. However, its effects on 5-HT neuronal activity, as well as its impact on models of neuropathic pain are […]

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Uncategorized Published - 14 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
INTRANASAL KETAMINE AS EFFECTIVE AS FENTANYL AT RELIEVING ACUTE PAIN IN KIDS

Author: Will Boggs MD JAMA Pediatr  Dec 28 2018. Intranasal ketamine is noninferior to intranasal fentanyl at relieving pain in children with acute extremity injuries, a new study found. “We were happy to discover similar results to the two other prior pediatric trials and pleasantly surprised to see how similar the rates of rescue analgesia were […]

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Uncategorized Published - 14 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Infection prevention in the operating room anesthesia work area

aUTJOHRS: Munoz-Price LS, et al. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 2019, 40, 1–17. Purpose The potential for clinically significant microbial cross transmission in the intraoperative environment poses a threat to patient safety. A growing body of literature has shown contamination in the anesthesia work area, including the anesthesia medical work cart, stopcocks, laryngeal masks and laryngoscope blades, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 14 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Medical Marketing in the United States, 1997-2016

Authors: Lisa M. Schwartz, MD, MS et al  JAMA. 2019;321(1):80-96. Key Points Question  How has the marketing of prescription drugs, disease awareness, health services, and laboratory tests in the United States changed from 1997 through 2016? Findings  From 1997 through 2016, medical marketing expanded substantially, and spending increased from $17.7 to $29.9 billion, with direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs and […]

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Uncategorized Published - 14 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Should Drug Testing Be Implemented Before Prescribing Opioids and Benzodiazepines?

Clinicians should get their patients tested for drugs before prescribing them opioid or benzodiazepine medications—and on a regular basis when patients are on those drugs—as drug-drug interactions may be associated with risks, according to a study presented during the 2018 PAINWeek conference. “Opioid-related morbidity and mortality are well recognized issues in the United States, but unlike opioid prescribing, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 13 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Rising Drug Prices Said to Strain Hospitals, Force Budget Cuts

Author: Riley Griffin Rising costs of prescription drugs have strained hospital budgets and operations, forcing health systems to cut costs by reducing staff, a new study found. Hospital drug spending increased by 18.5 percent between 2015 and 2017, a rate far exceeding medical inflation for the period, according to a report prepared for three health associations […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Sun Pharma recalls nearly 14,000 cartons of anesthesia injections in US

Sun Pharma is voluntarily recalling 13,918 cartons of its vecuronium bromide injection, a muscle relaxer used as part of general anesthesia, in the U.S., according to The Hindu Business Line. The recall occured because particulate matter, later identified as glass, was found in the product. The affected lots include 10-milligram and 20-milligram strengths, distributed nationwide to […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
Generic-drug initiative Civica Rx welcomes 12 new members

BY ALEX KACIK BRKA dozen more health systems have joined the effort to produce a stable supply of generic drugs, Civica Rx announced Monday. Utah-based not-for-profit generic-drug company Civica Rx was spearheaded by Intermountain Healthcare, SSM Health, Trinity Health and Ascenion, which is no longer part of the endeavor. The venture represents the frustration of the numerous hospitals […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
FDA Votes to Support Co-Prescribing Naloxone with Opioids, Consistent with ASA Recommendations

Earlier this week, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Committee voted to recommend the co-prescribing of naloxone with an opioid for patients at high risk of an overdose.  The recommendation is consistent with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) position on this issue – a position formally conveyed to the FDA Committee last week. The decision […]

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Uncategorized Published - 11 January, 2019    By - Dr Clemens
ASA Urges Members to Comment on Revised AORN Guideline for Surgical Attire

On January 2, 2019, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) opened a public comment period on revisions to its Guideline for Surgical Attire. The revised guideline includes a number of changes sought by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). ASA members are encouraged to read and provide their perspectives on the guideline through the public comment […]

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