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Top 5 Rare Disease News of the Week—July 8, 2018

Stay up-to-date on the latest rare disease news by reading the top 5 articles of the week.

Consider a Path for Your Journey's End

Drug Diversion and Abuse: Operation Medicine Cabinet

A recent safe disposal prescription initiative in Florida should serve as a guide for other counties throughout the country to help curb prescription drug diversion.

Free Zinc Regulation Could Be Key to Stopping AMD Development and Progression

Zinc is the second most abundant trace element in the human body after iron, and is present in high concentration in the human eye.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a clinical condition characterized by altered myocardial function in the absence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and valvular or congenital heart disease. Patients with this condition exhibit changes in cardiac structure that may be attributed to the direct effect of diabetes mellitus. The author discusses the mechanisms, risk factors, screening, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cardiomyopathy in patients with diabetes.

Post-marketing Vaccine Safety Surveillance

Safety and adverse event monitoring don't stop when a vaccine is approved.

Human Trials Could Begin for Macular Degeneration Stem Cell Therapy

FDA trial approval would make this trial the first ever to test a stem cell-based therapy derived from induced pluripotent stem cells for treating any disease.

Cardiac catheterization in higher-risk NSTE-ACS patients: Why is it being underutilized by physicians?

We compared the rates of cardiac catheterization in 2136 non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients who were stratified according to their baseline thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score. Higher-risk patients were referred for catheterization at a similar rate as low-risk patients. The main reasons why physicians did not make referrals included (1) clinical trial evidence did not support an early invasive approach and (2) 68% of patients were thought not to be at high enough risk; however, 59% of these patients were found to be higher risk when their baseline TIMI risk scores were recalculated. Patients who were referred for catheterization had better in-hospital and 1-year outcomes. Our findings indicate that a significant opportunity remains to improve upon accurate risk stratification and adherence to an early invasive strategy for higher-risk patients.

Asthma Patients Require Increased Detection of Dysfunctional Breathing

Dysfunctional breathing is a common comorbidity in patients with severe asthma, and is associated with increased patient anxiety and depression.

Procainamide-induced Pleural and Pericardial Effusions

Drug-induced diseases and serious adverse drug effects can alter therapeutic plans and greatly affect patient outcomes. Many medications are known to have a narrow therapeutic index and to require close patient monitoring.