A variety of glucose monitoring devices have been used in an effort to reduce the hypoglycemia and wide glucose excursions that complicate insulin treatment of diabetes. Since the last Medical Letter issue reviewing such devices, more continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have become available. Five devices available now, and two expected to be marketed soon, are listed in the table on page 14. The FDA has approved continuous glucose devices only for the observation of glucose trends.

Ceftobiprole medocaril sodium (Zevtera – Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics), a new IV cephalosporin antibacterial drug, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), including right-sided infective endocarditis, acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs), and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) (see Table 1). It is the second cephalosporin with activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) to be approved in the US; ceftaroline (Teflaro), which was approved for treatment of ABSSSIs and CABP in 2010, was the...

Human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (Prolastin Cutter), possibly better known as alpha1-antitypsin (ATT), is now available in the USA for replacement therapy in patients with emphysema who have a congential deficiency of the protein.

Recent advertisements for indapamide (Lozol - Rorer), an oral antihypertensive/diuretic (Medical Letter, 26:17, 1984), claim that the drug, unlike thiazide diuretics, does not significantly increase serum cholesterol and has a minimal impact on potassium. Indapamide has no thiazide ring but, like chlorthalidone (Hygroton; and others) and hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril; and others), it does have a sulfamoyl benzamide moiety, which is probably responsible for its natriuretic and diuretic effects. Unlike the thiazides, it also has a methylindoline moiety, which apparently decreases...

The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved ''Treatment IND';'; (investigational new drug) protocols for Exosurf (Burroughs Wellcome) and Survanta (Ross), two preparations of surfactant used for prevention and treatment of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature newborn infants. Consequently, these drugs will be available to virtually every level-ΙΙΙ neonatal intensive-care unit in the USA.

Pegademase (Adagen - Enzon), bovine adenosine deaminase (ADA) conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as an 'orphan drug' for treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID). SCID due to inherited deficiency of ADA occurs in less than one per million births; until recently, without extraordinary isolation measures, it was usually fatal before the age of two.

Ketoconazole (Nizoral - Janssen), an imidazole antifungal drug widely used in a tablet formulation for treatment of systemic fungal infections (Medical Letter 36:16, 1994) and as a topical preparation for fungal skin infections, is also available as a shampoo for treatment of seborrheic dandruff. The shampoo is sold only by prescription.

Pilocarpine hydrochloride (Salagen- MGI Pharma), a cholinergic agonist long available in an ophthalmic formulation for treatment of glaucoma (Pilocar, and others), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia (dry mouth) in patients with head and neck cancer.

Saw palmetto, an "herbal supplement,"is now being heavily promoted to the general public for treatment of urinary symptoms related to prostatic enlargement. It has not been approved for any use by the FDA.

Patients may be asking about Airborne, a dietary supplement that is being heavily promoted for prevention and treatment of colds. It contains 7 herbal extracts, 3 vitamins, 2 amino acids, selenium, zinc and many other ingredients. Airborne Jr is available for children. There are some concerns. First, there is no conclusive evidence that this product or any of its ingredients prevents colds or shortens their duration. Second, the adult tablet contains 1 g of vitamin C, and the directions for use advise taking 1 tablet at the first sign of a cold and repeating the dose every 3 hours as...