Mobile App for Oncology Adverse Events And Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Velos Aversi, an iPad app for clinicians in oncology and bone marrow transplantation has recently been released.

Velos Aversi is designed to record, track, and export patient adverse events (AE) and Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) at point-of-care in hospital and ambulatory care settings. With a few touches on the iPad, clinicians, physicians, and research nurses can review and manage their patients’ AE and GVHD histories anytime, anywhere—freeing them from large and cumbersome paper files. The app allows for more accurate attribution and reduces transcription errors that can occur when AE data entry is delayed. Direct and immediate input by clinicians saves time and ensures the quality of the record, particularly when grading events.

OxyContin formula change has many abusers switching to heroin

Researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis have found that the frequently abused prescription medication, OxyContin, is now leading drug abusers to switch from OxyContin to heroin as a result of a recent change in the drug's formulation.  An abuse-deterrent formulation was introduced in August 2010.  The researchers at Washington University examined the effect of the change in formulation with regard to the abuse of OxyContin and other opioids.

The painkiller's new formula makes inhaling or injecting the drug more difficult. This has led to a switch to heroin.  So while the abuse of OxyContin has decreased, which is good, the problem is that there is now a surge in the use of heroin.  This may lead to an increase in heroin related overdoses and other public health and safety issues associated with the street drug.

The Washington University scientists published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine:

Cicero TJ, Ellis MS, Surrat HL. Effect of abuse-deterrent formulation of OxyContin.  The New England Journal of Medicine, July 12, 2012.