PJ, 21/28 March 2015, Vol 294, No 7854/5

Low and high levels of vitamin D associated with cardiovascular deaths, study suggests

$Vitamin D (polarised micrograph pictured) protect against falls and osteoporotic fractures and has various other purported health benefits but may be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, study suggests$

The association between cardiovascular disease mortality and vitamin D levels has been investigated in an observational study.…

Pharmacists in GP practices is a vital next step for the profession – but it’s not the only one we need

Opportunities for pharmacists to work within general practice teams will be an important new role for the profession, but integration with primary care needs to go further still, argues Elizabeth Butterfield, RPS English Pharmacy Board member.…

Employ thousands of pharmacists in GP surgeries, urge professions’ leaders

Professional leadership bodies for pharmacists and GPs jointly call for practices in England to hire pharmacists in clinical roles to address growing pressure on GP services.…

Local practice forum events: 24 March – 14 May 2015

Tuesday 24 March: Cheshire Local practice forum event, ‘Care of the elderly — polypharmacy’. The Blue Cap, Chester Road, Sandiway, Northwich CW8 2DN. Event 8pm, buffet 7.15pm. Booking not essential but helps with catering numbers. …

Large proportion of stalled drug trial data is not being published, study finds

A vast amount of drug development data are being lost through the failure to publish the results of a high proportion of trials, particularly of drugs that did not go on to be approved, a study suggests. …

Teaching pharmacy students in Namibia

Newcastle-based pharmacist Nicola Rudall took a career break to teach clinical pharmacy to students in Namibia, in south-western Africa. Here, she describes the challenges she encountered and why this role is so vital.…

Teenagers to get vaccine against life-threatening meningitis

Young people aged 14–18 years will be vaccinated to help protect them against a particularly virulent strain of meningitis, the Department of Health in England has announced. Meningitis group W (MenW) disease is a rare but potentially life threatening condition affecting children a…

US FDA approves drug that prolongs survival in rare paediatric cancer

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved dinutuximab as part of first-line therapy for a rare childhood cancer, neuroblastoma. …

Researchers modify peptides from cone snails in quest for neuropathic pain therapy

Researchers in Australia have modified peptides from cone snails, which have the potential to provide relief to patients with hard-to-treat neuropathic pain.…

FDA grants priority approval for new antifungal

Isavuconazonium sulfate, an antifungal developed by Astellas, has been given priority approval by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat serious infections.…