CP, January 2017, Vol 9, No 1

Propensity for depression programmed during fetal development

Despite its high prevalence, relatively little is known about the mechanisms of depressive disease.…

PCSK9 inhibitor shows plaque reduction benefit

Patients with coronary disease who were treated with evolocumab achieved lower LDL-C levels and greater plaque reduction, trial results show.…

Predatory bacterium could fight drug-resistant superbugs

Using Bdellovibrio to control Shigella infection in zebrafish larvae, researchers say this type of living antibiotic could hold potential for tackling antimicrobial resistance.…

Statins effective at preventing first heart attack or stroke

Statins were associated with a 36% lower risk of heart attack and 29% lower risk of stroke compared with placebo in a review of data from more than 70,000 patients.…

Immune stimulation could boost therapeutic HIV vaccine

Combining HIV vaccination with immune stimulation delayed viral rebound in monkeys with simian immunotherapy virus.…

Dextrose gel prevents hypoglycaemia in newborns

Study results show that newborns given dextrose gel were less likely to develop hypoglycaemia, but researchers say more research is required in babies from other risk groups.…

Exposure to SSRIs during pregnancy increases offspring’s risk of speech disorders

Study results show that children born to mothers who took SSRIs during pregnancy were more than a third more likely to have speech/language disorders.…

We need safe and better labelled vitamin D products on the market

Recommended vitamin D intakes for all of us living in the UK have changed following the publication of a report from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) on 22 July 2016. New guidelines were required because of the persisting problem relating to vitamin D deficiency: cases of ricket…

Parkinson’s disease-specific medicines use review

Members of Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s London North West Local Practice Forum (LNW LPF) are working with charity Parkinson’s UK to develop a new service for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The overall aim is to develop a PD-specific medicines use review by designing and …

How to spot signs of postnatal depression in the pharmacy

In light of singer Adele’s recent admission in an interview that she has suffered from postnatal depression (PND), I would like to alert readers to how they can spot the signs and help those who might be affected in their day-to-day work in the pharmacy. New mothers can often feel emotio…