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Cancer poses a significant health threat to the elderly, accounting for a substantial proportion of cancer patients aged 65 and above. As life expectancy continues to rise and the population ages, the incidence of cancer in the elderly is expected to increase further. Age is a major risk factor for the majority of common cancers, with the incidence and prevalence rising as individuals grow older. Factors such as chemoprevention and environmental carcinogen elimination may influence the process of carcinogenesis. Studies reveal that the incidence and mortality rates of various cancers in the elderly and extremely old individuals are on the rise worldwide, with most types peaking around the age of 75 to 90, followed by a sharp decline. Birth cohort and period effects also play a complex role in the connection between aging and cancer risk. Clinical trials often exclude older individuals, limiting our understanding of cancer treatments' effects on this particular age group. More research is needed to focus on the unique requirements of older adults with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. Anaemia is a chronic kidney disease (CKD) condition characterised by a decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and impaired kidney function. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, prescribing patterns, and quality of life of anaemia in patients with chronic renal disease who were adults (>18 years of age) at a tertiary care hospital. Material and methods. Data on demographic characteristics, laboratory results, medication prescriptions, and quality of life assessments were collected. Statistical tests were performed to determine associations between anaemia prevalence and factors like age, gender, and CKD stage. The study included 132 patients, with a gender distribution of 89 men and 43 women. Results. The most frequently prescribed drugs are epoetin (15.06%), multivitamins (14.82%), iron (10.65%), folic acid (10.22%), calcium carbonate (8.17%), calcitriol (5.6%), and omeprazole (4.22%). The cardiovascular system, blood disorders, and blood-producing organs come after the gastrointestinal tract and metabolism in the first anatomical level of the ATC classification. Conclusion. It suggests hospital audits and recommendations for improved prescription practices. Further investigation into anaemia causes and drug class appropriateness is needed, and implementing improvements could potentially improve health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral thrush, also known as candidiasis, is one of the most common parasitic infections of the human mouth. A 35-year-old female patient complaining of breathlessness, cough, and fever. She was prescribed azithromycin 500 mg po (per os; by mouth, orally), co-trimoxazole 160 mg þ 800 mg po, and Paracetamol 500 mg po t.d.s. After 10 days, she visited a tertiary care hospital complaining of severe oral thrush, itching, white bumps over her cheeks and tongue, and difficulty swallowing. She stopped taking solid food due to severe pain. Her laboratory tests revealed that her haemoglobin was -6.8 g/dl (12-16 g/dl) and her erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 45 mm/h. Due to a side effect of the antibiotics, she had very bad mouth thrush. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of oral candida inducing a patient after treatment with the anti-candida drugs, and it suggests that this side effect should be taken into account when prescribing these antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of low back pain patients. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over 6 months to assess the efficacy of gabapentin in patients suffering from low back pain. Past medical history, pain severity by Visual Analogue scale (VAS) and sleep quality by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQSI) were collected. VAS scores and PQSI scores before and after gabapentin treatment were compared, and gabapentin satisfaction post treatment were recorded. Results: This study included 100 low back pain patients with 65 males and 35 females, and the mean age was (39.0±10.5) years. The commonest presentation was non-radiating low back pain (40%). The mean VAS score and the mean PQSI score in the study before treatment were 7.70±1.91 and 10.95±5.02, respectively. After treatment with gabapentin, the mean VAS score and the mean PQSI score decreased to 2.75±1.79 and 4.90±2.20, respectively, and the differences before and after the treatment were significantly different (both P=0.001). Overall, 62% of the patients were extremely satisfied with gabapentin because they reported no adverse drug reaction. Besides, 31% of the patients were satisfied and 7%were strongly dissatisfied with the therapy. Conclusion: Gabapentin can improve sleep quality and reduce lower back pain as measured by the VAS and PQSI. The efficacy of this drug is relatively good, but further improvement is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]