Novartis receives FDA approval of Tekamlo, a single-pill combination of aliskiren and amlodipine to treat high blood pressure

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tekamlo (aliskiren and amlodipine) tablets, a single-pill for the treatment of high blood pressure combining the only approved direct renin inhibitor, Tekturna (aliskiren), with the widely used calcium channel blocker amlodipine. Since Aliskiren is already in the market, it needs to be seen which one of the 3 classes of drugs tergeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors and renin inhibitors) is a better alternative for hypertensive patients. In our medical school we are initiating a trial comparing newer angiotensin receptor blockers and ACE inhibitors. I do not know whether aliskiren is available in India and at what cost.

Novartis receives FDA approval of Tekamlo, a single-pill combination of aliskiren and amlodipine to treat high blood pressure

Development and Validation of a New Prescription Quality Index - Hassan - 2009 - British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology - Wiley Online Library

Prescription Quality Index- A new index to measure quality of prescriptions.
Prescription Quality Index• Many studies raise serious questions about the prescribing appropriateness and prescription quality. However, there is a lack of a single measure which will capture all facets of prescription quality.

• Evaluation of prescriptions was usually based on expert judgement of practitioners.

• Definition of prescription quality, reference model, validity and reliability of the measurement tools, and other data such as the number, type and severity of diagnosis of patients were usually insufficient or lacking.

What this study adds

• The Prescription Quality Index (PQI) was developed with a strong structural foundation and was able to capture the clinical, clerical, and legal requirement of a prescription.

• Extensive psychometric testing was performed on the PQI and the new tool demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability.

• The PQI has been shown to be a valid, reliable and responsive tool to measure quality of prescriptions in chronic diseases.

Development and Validation of a New Prescription Quality Index - Hassan - 2009 - British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology - Wiley Online Library

Free Technology for Teachers: 140 New Things Being Tried In Classrooms This Fall

A google presentation of 142 new tips innovative tech-savvy teachers around the world are trying in their classrooms. If you have any new idea for your classroom, please leave a comment.
Free Technology for Teachers: 140 New Things Being Tried In Classrooms This Fall

Career Advice: Do You REALLY Want to Be a Professor? - Inside Higher Ed

Time to slow down and reflect: A must read article for all those who are in an academic career and do not feel very satisfied. Career Advice: Do You REALLY Want to Be a Professor? - Inside Higher Ed

Hypolipidemic agents

Nice Presentation on drugs for treatment of dyslipidemia:

Hypolipidemic agents

View more presentations from Dr.Bhargav Purohit.

SPICES in Medical Education

Found a nice article on newer techniques of Medical Education. SPICES refers to to six main concepts in medical education—student centred teaching, problem based learning, an integrated curriculum, community based teaching, electives with a core, and the use of systematic methods. All the six concepts have been succinctly explained along with advantages and disadvantages of each. Very useful for persons appearing for interviews for faculty position. Spicing up Medical Education: Introduction

Medical Education Home - Medical Education

Medical Education Home - Medical Education

New anticancer nanoparticle drug containing small interfering RNAs

Agents tageting small interfering RNAs (siRNA) for use in cancer have been developed. The phase 1 clinical trials are over and the results were recently published in Nature.

CALAA-01 is a nanoparticle drug containing small interfering RNAs targeted to ribonucleside reductase M2. This is used in solid tumors that are refractory to therapy.

This opens an entirely new class of anticancer agents.