Symptomatic dermographism (SD) is a form of physical urticaria in which minor mechanical force, such as light scratching, friction from clothing, or stroking of the skin, induces localized erythema, pruritus, and wheal formation (1). SD is the most common subtype of chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) seen in clinical dermatology and allergy practice. Together with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), SD accounts for more than 90% of all chronic urticaria cases in adult popul

Drug class: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors Mechanism of Action Ceritinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that selectively targets anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a transmembrane receptor involved in cell growth and survival, as well as insulin‑like growth factor‑1 receptor (IGF‑1R), insulin receptor (InsR), and ROS1 (1, 2). By inhibiting ALK autophosphorylation, ceritinib disrupts downstream signaling pathways, particularly STAT3, thereby s

Drug class: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors Mechanism of Action Alectinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that selectively targets anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a transmembrane receptor protein involved in regulating cell growth. In ALK‑positive cancers, a chromosomal translocation fuses unrelated genes to form a mutant 80 kDa chimeric protein with uncontrolled tyrosine kinase activity. This leads to automated intermolecular transphosphory

Introduction Dietary carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which provides energy to the body. The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose levels by facilitating glucose uptake into cells. When insulin production is insufficient or the body does not respond effectively to insulin, blood glucose levels can become elevated, resulting in diabetes (1). The average fasting (Before meal) blood sugar concentration should be 80-90 mg/dl and postpra

Drug class: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist; monoclonal antibody (1) Mechanism of Action Tocilizumab binds to both soluble and membrane-bound interleukin-6 receptors (sIL-6R and mIL-6R), thereby blocking IL-6 signaling. IL-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by immune and other cells, including T cells, B cells, monocytes, and fibroblasts. By inhibiting IL-6 receptor-mediated signaling, tocilizumab reduces downstream inflammatory responses involved in immune-ce

Drug Class: Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6) Mechanism of Action Abemaciclib inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6), preventing them from promoting progression from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. This can promote senescence, apoptosis, and reduced tumour size (1). Approved Indications Early breast cancer (1) Advanced or metastatic breast cancer (1) Mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer (1) Dosage and administration Combination ther

Drug class: T-cell co-stimulation modulators Mechanism of Action Abatacept is a T-cell co-stimulation modulator that binds to CD80/CD86, inhibiting interaction with the CD28 receptor on T cells. This interrupts co-stimulation and T-cell activation, inhibiting major pro-inflammatory cytokines, specifically TNF-α, interferon-γ, and IL-2 (1). Approved Indications Adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1) Pediatric patients (≥2 years) with moderate to se

Drug class: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor; monoclonal antibody (1) Mechanism of Action Evolocumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to circulating PCSK9 and prevents it from binding to low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDL-R) on hepatocytes. In general, PCSK9 promotes LDL-R degradation after low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is internalized, reducing the number of receptors available to remove LDL from the circulation. By inhibiting PCSK9, ev

Drug class: Hormone (recombinant human insulin or insulin analog) Mechanism of Action Insulin glargine (IGlr), a recombinant human insulin analog (21A-Gly-30Ba-L-Arg-30Bb-L-Arg-; HOE 901), helps regulate glucose metabolism. It binds to insulin receptors, a tyrosine kinase receptor, triggering a conformational change in the intracellular beta catalytic domains. This induces autophosphorylation and recruits docking proteins, including phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kin

American College of surgeons - Clinical Congress 2026 Date of event: September 26–29,2026 Location: Washington, DC The conference provides a premier professional development forum for the global surgical community, bringing together renowned surgeons, researchers, and healthcare professionals to explore the latest advances in surgical science and clinical practice. Focused on translating groundbreaking research and innovative procedures into real-world patient care, the event

Drug class: Direct, selective Factor Xa inhibitor (1,2) Mechanism of Action The coagulation cascade consists of two main pathways: the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. The extrinsic pathway is activated when vascular injury exposes tissue factor (TF), which binds to and activates factor VII; the resulting TF–factor VIIa complex then activates factor X to factor Xa. The extrinsic pathway provides rapid initiation of coagulation (3). Vascular trauma triggers platelet activati

Polycythemia vera is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by abnormal overproduction of red blood cells, resulting in erythrocytosis (1,2). This excess red blood cell production increases hematocrit, the proportion of red blood cells relative to total blood volume, thereby increasing blood viscosity. In the United States, PV affects an estimated 90,000 individuals (2). Elevated blood viscosity associated with uncontrolled hematocrit increases the risk of seriou

Cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people with type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological studies estimate that as many as one in three U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes have undetected subclinical cardiovascular disease (1). David A. D’Alessio, Director of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Duke University School of Medicine, emphasized that “heart health deserves attention throughout the course of treatment, not just after a serious cardiovascul

History A 48‑year‑old male presented with retrosternal burning persisting for ~5 years, initially 1–2 times per week post‑prandially, now occurring daily and nocturnally. Associated symptoms included cough, regurgitation, acidic taste, postprandial fullness, and early satiety, worsened by spicy food, bending, or lying flat. Sleep was significantly disturbed. He reported recurrent shortness of breath over 4 years, diagnosed as bronchitis, with severe cough episodes often stre

In India, around 77 million people aged 18 and above are suffering from type 2 diabetes. Another alarming fact is that around 25 million are prediabetic, as of a recent report, and are at higher risk of developing diabetes in the near future. More than 50% are unaware of their diabetes status (1). Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) remains an important acute complication of diabetes in India, occurring predominantly in people with type 1 diabetes but also affecting those with type 2

I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2024. My doctor initially prescribed Metformin, but I couldn’t tolerate it. Later, I was shifted to Vildagliptin. For a while, things seemed fine, so I didn’t pay much attention. A year later, routine blood tests shocked me. My HbA1c was 8%, despite being on medication. That was the wake‑up call. I consulted my doctor again, who suggested a change in medication along with diet and lifestyle measures to get things under control. Since I already

Drug class: Interleukin-17A antagonist (1) Mechanism of Action Secukinumab is a targeted biologic therapy designed to interrupt key pathways in inflammatory diseases. It works by binding to interleukin 17A (IL 17A), a cytokine central to the inflammatory process. By blocking IL 17A from interacting with its receptor on keratinocytes and other cell types, secukinumab neutralizes this signaling pathway. This inhibition reduces the downstream inflammatory cascade that drives pla

Drug class: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (PD-L1 inhibitor) Mechanism of Action Atezolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks programmed death ligand 1 (PD L1). Normally, PD L1 binds to tumour-specific T cell receptors, suppressing immune activity and preventing tumour destruction (1,2). As an immune checkpoint inhibitor, atezolizumab reactivates the immune response by binding PD-L1 on cancer cell surfaces, promoting tumour cell elimination. It is approved for mu

Do you struggle with dry, flaky, or irritated skin that never seems to improve? Are flare ups leaving you frustrated or making you feel like you need to hide your skin? You may be dealing with psoriasis, a common condition that affects both skin and confidence. By understanding what psoriasis is, its symptoms, and how it can be managed, you can take meaningful steps toward healthier skin and overall, well-being. What Is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition tha

Drug class: CDK4/6 inhibitor Mechanism of Action Interleukin 12 (IL 12) and interleukin 23 (IL 23) are key drivers of chronic inflammation. Ustekinumab, a fully human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody, targets the p40 subunit shared by IL 12 and IL 23 heterodimers. By blocking this subunit, ustekinumab prevents IL 12/IL 23 binding to the IL 12 receptor β1 (IL 12Rβ1) on immune cell surfaces. This inhibition disrupts downstream differentiation and activation of T hel