Research reveals significant impact of drug-gene and drug-drug-gene interactions

Why do some patients react differently to the same drug? A study using data analyzed by the YouScript Personalized Prescribing Software has quantified the role genotypes may play in causing adverse drug reactions. The research, published in the journal Pharmacogenomics, showed that a combined 33.9 percent of all potential clinically significant drug interactions were due to drug-gene and drug-drug-gene interactions. These potential … Read More

Study strengthens link between gene variants and bleeding risk in warfarin patients

New research offers more evidence for the connection between CYP2C9 and VKORC1 variants and increased bleeding risk in patients taking warfarin. A large-scale study published in the March edition of the Lancet found that atrial fibrillation patients whose CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic variations made them highly sensitive to warfarin were nearly three times more likely to experience bleeding than those … Read More

Case Report: Boy becomes comatose after painkiller treatment

One day after a 5½-year-old boy was released from the hospital for a routine tonsillectomy, he was comatose in the ER. The boy had undergone surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, a potentially serious sleep disorder that causes pauses in breathing and a blocked airway. The surgery was successful, and he was sent … Read More

Cyberattack may affect 11 million Premera insurance customers

A cyberattack may have compromised the personal information of approximately 11 million customers insured by Premera Blue Cross. On January 29, 2015, Premera discovered that attackers may have gained access to customer’s information dating as far back as 2002, including names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, addresses, bank-account information, and claim information, including clinical information, according to statement issued by … Read More