CP, June 2016, Vol 8, No 6

Pregabalin linked to major birth defects

Exposure to pregabalin during pregnancy associated with three-fold increase of non-chromosomal birth defects.…

Narrow spectrum antibiotic leaves gut microbiome intact in mice

Pathogen-selective antibiotics could minimise the impact of treatment on the gut microbiome, study finds.…

New target for HIV vaccine found

The fusion peptide is a new region of interest for HIV vaccine development, researchers say.…

Novel drug ozanimod effective in ulcerative colitis

Study results show 16% of patients receiving ozanimod were in remission after eight weeks of treatment.…

Immunotherapy tablets improve asthma control in patients with dust mite sensitisation

Use of sublingual allergen immunotherapy tablets reduces the risk of moderate or severe asthma exacerbation by around 30% compared with placebo, study finds.…

Taking low-dose aspirin during cancer treatment cuts deaths

Researchers say low-dose aspirin has a beneficial role as add-on to cancer treatment.…

Injected antibodies provide long-term protection against HIV

 Trial results show extended protection against HIV in monkeys treated with monoclonal antibodies.…

We need more investment in diagnostics for asthma

Recent headlines in national media have declared that asthma is ‘overdiagnosed and trivialised’. But as I am sure your readers know, these news stories are masking a deeper issue: there is no simple diagnostic test for asthma. It is shocking that in the 21st century we still do not have …

We need to reduce dental consultations in GP surgeries and pharmacies

The paper by Cope et al. (Dental consultations in UK general practice and antibiotic prescribing rates: a retrospective cohort study, Br J Gen Pract 2016 ) is a timely update on dental consultations in general practice and related antibiotic prescribing rates by GPs. It would be most helpfu…

Poor antibiotic adherence increases risk of skin infection recurrence

Study suggests poor adherence to antibiotics could explain relapses seen in patients with skin infections.…