Buprenorphine Use for Analgesia in Palliative Care.

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic long-acting partial µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist that can be used for chronic pain as a sublingual tablet, transdermal patch (Butrans®), or a buccal film (Belbuca®). Buprenorphine's unique high receptor binding affinity and slow dissociation at the MOR allow for effective analgesia while offering less adverse effects compared to a full agonist opioid, in particular, less concern for respiratory depression and constipation. It is underused in chronic pain and palliative care due to misconceptions and stigma from its use in opioid use disorder (OUD). This case report discusses the unique pharmacology of buprenorphine, including its advantages, disadvantages, available formulations, drug-drug interactions, initiation and conversion strategies, and identifies ideal populations for use, especially within the palliative care patient population.

Evolution of Telehealth-Its Impact on Palliative Care and Medication Management.

Palliative care plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses, aiming to alleviate suffering and provide holistic support. With the advent of telehealth, there is a growing interest in leveraging technology to extend the reach and effectiveness of palliative care services. This article provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of telehealth, the current state of telemedicine in palliative care, and the role of telepharmacy and medication management. Herein we highlight the potential benefits, challenges, and future directions of palliative telemedicine. As the field continues to advance, the article proposes key considerations for future research, policy development, and clinical implementation, aiming to maximize the advantages of telehealth in assisting individuals and their families throughout the palliative care journey. The comprehensive analysis presented herein contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of telehealth in palliative care and serves as a guide for shaping its future trajectory.

A Systematic Review of Naldemedine and Naloxegol for the Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation in Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a pervasive and distressing side effect of chronic opioid therapy in patients with cancer pain, significantly impacting their quality of life. Peripherally acting µ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAS) were developed for treatment-resistant OIC but most studies were conducted with non-cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: to discuss two oral formulations of PAMORAs, naldemedine and naloxegol, and to review available evidence of the effectiveness of these drugs for OIC in cancer patients. METHODS: a comprehensive search to identify primary literature for either naldemedine or naloxegol for OIC in cancer patients. RESULTS: Only three prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials for naldemedine enrolling cancer patients were identified; the results of a subgroup analysis of two of those studies and two non-interventional post marketing surveillance studies of these trials are also reported here. For naloxegol, only two randomized controlled trials were identified; both were unsuccessful in enrolling sufficient patients. An additional four prospective non-interventional observational studies with naloxegol were found that enrolled cancer patients. There were significantly higher rates of responders in the PAMORA groups than in the placebo groups. The most common side effect for both PAMORAs was diarrhea. LIMITATIONS: All studies were industry-funded, and given that only three trials were randomized controlled studies, the overall quality of the studies was lacking. CONCLUSION: Naldemedine or naloxegol appeared safe and useful in the treatment of OIC in cancer patients and may improve their quality of life. Larger-scale randomized placebo-controlled studies of PAMORAs in cancer patients would strengthen existing evidence.

Neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy and dropped head syndrome. Report of a new variant susceptible of treatment with late diagnosis.

Neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy (NLSDM) is characterized by the accumulation of cytoplasmic triglyceride droplets in various tissues; this very rare condition is caused by mutations in the PNPLA2 gene, susceptible to specific pharmacological management that decreases clinical progression. We describe the clinical and biochemical characteristics of a Colombian patient with a previously unreported homozygous mutation in the PNPLA2 gene with a difficult to manage disease, who was diagnosed late by advances in molecular techniques.

[Ultrasound detection of congenital anomalies in 76,155 births in the cities of Bogotá and Cali, 2011-2012]. / Detección ecográfica de anomalías congénitas en 76.155 nacimientos en Bogotá y Cali, 2011-2012.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital anomalies affect 2 to 3% of live births in Colombia and they are currently the leading cause of death in children under 1 year of age in Bogotá, and the third cause of death in children under 1 year of age in Cali. Congenital anomalies are a major factor contributing to fetal and infant mortality and morbidity in the world. Some congenital anomalies can be detected by obstetric ultrasonography, thus helping to decide on the best way to manage them. OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of detection of congenital anomalies by obstetric ultrasound and the false positive rate comparing infants born with birth defects in Bogota and Cali treated at health care facilities of different levels of complexity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We monitored 76,155 births in the cities of Cali and Bogotá based on a case-control model following the methodology of the Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC) from January 2011 to December 2012. RESULTS: The rate of malformed infants was 2.08%. The detection rate of diagnosable congenital anomalies was 31.45% among cases that had information about prenatal care. This rate is lower than that reported in the literature. Most of the congenital anomalies detected were of the central nervous system and of the genitourinary system. CONCLUSIONS: The low detection rate highlights the need to improve the quality of ultrasound to have greater sensitivity for adequate prenatal diagnosis that will contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality and allow for better care of newborns with malformations.

Transient evoked oto-acoustic emission screening in newborns in Bogotá, Colombia: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and performance of transient evoked oto-acoustic emission (TEOAE) hearing screening in newborns in Colombia, and analyze all possible variables and factors affecting the results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, descriptive and retrospective study with bivariate analysis was performed. The study population consisted of 56,822 newborns evaluated at the private institution, PREGEN. TEOAE testing was carried out as a pediatric hearing screening test from December 2003 to March 2012. The database from PREGEN was revised, and the protocol for evaluation included the same screening test performed twice. Demographic characteristics were recorded and the newborn's background was evaluated. Basic statistics of the qualitative and quantitative variables, and statistical analysis were obtained using the chi-square test. RESULTS: Of the 56,822 records examined, 0.28% were classed as abnormal, which corresponded to a prevalence of 1 in 350. In the screened newborns, 0.08% had a major abnormality or other clinical condition diagnosed, and 0.29% reported a family history of hearing loss. A prevalence of 6.7 in 10,000 was obtained for microtia, which is similar to the 6.4 in 10,000 previously reported in Colombia (database of the Latin-American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations - ECLAMC). Statistical analysis demonstrated an association between presenting with a major anomaly and a higher frequency of abnormal results on both TEOAE tests. CONCLUSIONS: Newborns in Colombia do not currently undergo screening for the early detection of hearing impairment. The results from this study suggest TEOAE screening tests, when performed twice, are able to detect hearing abnormalities in newborns. This highlights the need to improve the long-term evaluation and monitoring of patients in Colombia through diagnostic tests, and to provide tests that are both sensitive and specific. Furthermore, the use of TEOAE screening is justified by the favorable cost: benefit ratio demonstrated in many countries worldwide.

Detección ecográfica de anomalías congénitas en 76.155 nacimientos en Bogotá y Cali, 2011-2012 / Ultrasound detection of congenital anomalies in 76,155 births in the cities of Bogotá and Cali, 2011-2012

Introducción. Las anomalías congénitas afectan de 2 a 3 % de los nacidos vivos en Colombia y, actualmente, son la principal causa de mortalidad en menores de un año en Bogotá y la tercera causa de mortalidad en menores de un año en Cali; en el mundo son causa importante de mortalidad y morbilidad fetal e infantil. Algunas anomalías congénitas pueden detectarse por la ecografía obstétrica, lo que permite establecer su manejo. Objetivo. Determinar la tasa de detección de anomalías congénitas mediante ecografía obstétrica y la tasa de falsos positivos, comparando poblaciones de Bogotá y Cali atendidas en servicios de salud de diferentes niveles de complejidad. Materiales y métodos. Se vigilaron 76.155 nacimientos en las ciudades de Cali y Bogotá en la modalidad de caso control basada en la metodología del Estudio Colaborativo Latinoamericano de Malformaciones Congénitas (ECLAMC), durante el periodo de enero de 2011 a diciembre de 2012. Resultados. Se encontró una tasa de infantes malformados de 2,08 %. La tasa de detección de anomalías congénitas diagnosticables fue de 31,45 % en los casos sobre los que se tenía información de control prenatal. La tasa encontrada fue menor a las reportadas en la literatura científica. Las anomalías congénitas más detectadas fueron las del sistema nervioso central y las urogenitales. Conclusiones. La baja tasa de detección evidencia la necesidad de mejorar la calidad de la ecografía para tener mayor sensibilidad y un diagnóstico prenatal adecuado que contribuya a la disminución de la morbilidad y la mortalidad, y a brindar una mejor atención al recién nacido con malformaciones.

Introduction: Congenital anomalies affect 2 to 3% of live births in Colombia and they are currently the leading cause of death in children under 1 year of age in Bogotá, and the third cause of death in children under 1 year of age in Cali. Congenital anomalies are a major factor contributing to fetal and infant mortality and morbidity in the world. Some congenital anomalies can be detected by obstetric ultrasonography, thus helping to decide on the best way to manage them. Objective: To determine the rate of detection of congenital anomalies by obstetric ultrasound and the false positive rate comparing infants born with birth defects in Bogota and Cali treated at health care facilities of different levels of complexity. Materials and methods: We monitored 76,155 births in the cities of Cali and Bogotá based on a case-control model following the methodology of the Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC) from January 2011 to December 2012. Results: The rate of malformed infants was 2.08%. The detection rate of diagnosable congenital anomalies was 31.45% among cases that had information about prenatal care. This rate is lower than that reported in the literature. Most of the congenital anomalies detected were of the central nervous system and of the genitourinary system. Conclusions: The low detection rate highlights the need to improve the quality of ultrasound to have greater sensitivity for adequate prenatal diagnosis that will contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality and allow for better care of newborns with malformations.