PJ, 7 February 2015, Vol 294, No 7848

A decade of smoking cessation in Europe

The continent with the worst smoking habit is gradually giving it up. A range of anti-smoking policies and new cessation products has led to reduced rates of smoking in most countries, which will eventually impact on smoking-related deaths.…

Rolling out hepatitis C treatments will be costly

The new generation of heptatitis C antivirals is highly effective, but the drugs’ expense will put pressure on healthcare providers.…

RPS offers first Faculty assessments to pharmacists with two years’ experience

In April 2015, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Faculty will consider applications for membership from pharmacists with at least two years’ post-registration experience for the first time, it has been announced.…

Study highlights safety concerns over morphine use after tonsillectomy

New research suggests that morphine should not be used for post-operative pain in children, as it may be unsafe in some children.…

RPS president: becoming a royal college would give us greater gravitas

Six months into the role, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) President Ash Soni talks to Stephen Robinson about how the Society could become a royal college and why pharmacists will come to be seen as the ‘glue’ holding together the NHS and social care.…

Oral contraceptives linked with increased risk of brain tumours

Women who have ever used oral contraceptives have an increased risk of developing glioma – a rare brain tumour – compared with the general population, according to new research.…

A tax on junk food is the way to fight the childhood obesity crisis

Foods high in salt, sugar and fat should be taxed to discourage unhealthy eating and slow rates of childhood obesity, says Colin Michie.…

Research challenges ‘cytokine storm’ hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease

Interleukin-10 – an anti-inflammatory cytokine – has detrimental effects in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), challenging the “cytokine storm” hypothesis of AD progression.…

Still not convinced pharmacy student numbers should be capped

In 2013 I explained in detail why I am in favour of market forces determining the number of students entering the MPharm course ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2013;291:246) rather than a cap being applied. Despite overwhelming correspondence to your journal wanting a cap on stud…

Helping newly registered pharmacists to work in general practice

Newly registered pharmacists have been given the opportunity to work with GPs in southern England as part of a programme run by a consortium of GP surgeries. Ravi Sharma, senior primary care pharmacist and quality assurance lead, explains how the programme was set up and what it has achieved.…