CP, October 2016, Vol 8, No 10

Long-acting beta-agonist combination therapy not linked with serious asthma events

A study of asthma patients found that the combination treatment budesonide/formoterol and budesonide alone produced a similar number of serious asthma-related events.…

New biologic is active against Alzheimer’s amyloid plaques

The level of amyloid-beta plaque deposition in the brain decreased after monthly infusions of aducanumab, study finds.…

Medication-releasing contact lens could treat glaucoma

Contact lenses that release latanoprost are at least as effective as latanoprost drops in reducing intraocular pressure, study finds.…

Existing drugs identified that could fight Zika virus

By screening 6,000 drugs for anti-Zika properties, researchers found three potential therapies against the Zika virus.…

Prenatal exposure to newer antiepileptic drugs appears not to affect cognitive development

Use of newer antiepileptic drugs in pregnant women appears not to affect cognitive abilities in the offspring but valproate lowers IQ, study finds.…

Obtaining patient feedback via a forum group

In October 2014, the pharmacy department of Walsall healthcare NHS Trust, which provides general hospital and community services to approximately 260,000 people in Walsall and surrounding areas, set up a pharmacy patient forum group (PPFG). The main aim of the PPFG was to obtain an insight from end …

European region most sceptical of vaccine safety, study finds

Results of an international study suggest that lack of confidence, rather than lack of access, is the main barrier to vaccination in some countries.…

Probiotics correct immune function in babies at risk of allergy

In children who received a probiotic at birth, some functional characteristics of regulatory T cells improved, study finds.…

Let us be pharmacists in GP practices

It was interesting to read discussions about working in GP practice ( Clinical Pharmacist 2016;8:202). There is a vital role for a pharmacist in every GP practice, but a job title without the word ‘pharmacist’ would seem to be ill advised. The suggested title of medicin…

Administration of nasal flu vaccine via community pharmacy

In 2012, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that the routine annual influenza vaccination programme should be extended to children aged from 2 years to 17 years of age. These children would receive the nasal flu vaccine. Locally, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trus…