Algae is Potential New Weapon in Fight Against Arthritis

Arthritis can affect all joints in the body, but most often affects the knee joint, hip joint and fingers. The disease has been considered incurable until now. Current treatment methods, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers, mainly address the symptoms. Often, the only remaining option is an operation to replace the affected joint with an [...]

By |2017-09-28T14:14:00+00:00September 28th, 2017|Rheumatology|Comments Off on Algae is Potential New Weapon in Fight Against Arthritis

Studies Reveal How Shingles Vaccine Should be Used in Arthritis Patients

New research indicates that the live varicella-zoster vaccine – which is given to protect against shingles – elicits robust immune responses in patients when administered several weeks prior to the start of treatment with the arthritis drug, tofacitinib. The Arthritis & Rheumatology findings are encouraging because patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of [...]

By |2017-09-28T14:12:51+00:00September 28th, 2017|Rheumatology|Comments Off on Studies Reveal How Shingles Vaccine Should be Used in Arthritis Patients

Largest Ever Genetic Study Marks Likely Osteoporosis Treatment Target

Scientists are homing in on a potential treatment for osteoporosis, after performing the largest ever genetic study of the common age-related bone-thinning disease. Researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) and McGill University in Canada led the study, identifying 153 new gene variants associated with the loss of bone mineral density, which often result in [...]

By |2017-09-28T14:10:02+00:00September 28th, 2017|Rheumatology|Comments Off on Largest Ever Genetic Study Marks Likely Osteoporosis Treatment Target

FIP Survey Shows Contribution of Pharmacy to Health Beyond Dispensing

A number of advanced community pharmacy services are offered in more than 50 per cent of countries and territories, which cover over three-quarters of the world’s population, according to a new publication launched by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) at the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The document, ‘Pharmacy at a glance: 2015–-2017’, [...]

By |2017-09-27T10:34:36+00:00September 27th, 2017|Community Pharmacy|Comments Off on FIP Survey Shows Contribution of Pharmacy to Health Beyond Dispensing

Patients Prescribed Opioids in the ER Less Likely to Use Them Long-Term

Compared to other medical settings, emergency patients who are prescribed opioids for the first time in the emergency department are less likely to become long-term users and more likely to be prescribed these powerful painkillers, in accordance with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. A paper analysing 5.2 million prescriptions for opioids [...]

By |2017-09-27T10:33:42+00:00September 27th, 2017|Hospital Pharmacy|Comments Off on Patients Prescribed Opioids in the ER Less Likely to Use Them Long-Term

New Warning Over Common Ear Infections Treatment

NICE is urging healthcare professionals to manage most common ear infections with pain relief, rather than antibiotics. The draft guidance advises GPs and healthcare professionals how they should treat acute otitis media – a middle ear infection that’s common in children and young people. Estimates suggest one-in-four children experience a middle ear infection before they are [...]

By |2017-09-27T10:32:29+00:00September 27th, 2017|Community Pharmacy|Comments Off on New Warning Over Common Ear Infections Treatment

Older Adults Aware of Medication Risks

Geriatrics experts know that certain medications may have risks for older adults that outweigh their benefits, especially when safer alternatives are available. Medications that could be ‘potentially inappropriate’ for older adults are included on recommendation lists. However, despite these recommendations, 25 per cent of older adults take at least one potentially inappropriate medication every year. [...]

By |2017-09-20T08:45:31+00:00September 20th, 2017|Hospital Pharmacy|Comments Off on Older Adults Aware of Medication Risks

First Biosimilar for the Treatment of Cancer Approved

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Mvasi (bevacizumab-awwb) as a biosimilar to Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. Mvasi is the first biosimilar approved in America for the treatment of cancer. ‘Bringing new biosimilars to patients, especially for diseases where the cost of existing treatments can be high, is [...]

By |2017-09-20T08:37:42+00:00September 20th, 2017|Industry News|Comments Off on First Biosimilar for the Treatment of Cancer Approved

New Data Depicts Progress in Pharmacy Workforce Development

21 countries, representing all five World Health Organisation regions, have shared information on their pharmaceutical workforce development work in a new publication by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). ‘Research, development and evaluation strategies for pharmaceutical education and workforce: A global report’ was recently launched at the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. It contains [...]

By |2017-09-20T08:34:02+00:00September 20th, 2017|CPD|Comments Off on New Data Depicts Progress in Pharmacy Workforce Development

Ibuprofen Associated with Blood Pressure Rise in Arthritis Patient

Ibuprofen is associated with increased blood pressure and hypertension compared to celecoxib in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to late-breaking results from the PRECISION-ABPM study presented recently in a Hot Line Session at ESC Congress1 and published in EHJ. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), both non-selective and selective [...]

By |2017-09-13T08:47:49+00:00September 13th, 2017|Community Pharmacy|Comments Off on Ibuprofen Associated with Blood Pressure Rise in Arthritis Patient