PJ July 2020, Vol 305, No 7939

Disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BAME populations not explained by cardiometabolic factors, vitamin D or deprivation, researchers find

Variations in cardiometabolic factors, vitamin D levels and socioeconomic or behavioural factors do not adequately explain why COVID-19 disproportionately affects black, Asian and minority ethnic populations.…

Inflammatory bowel disease may be linked to increased risk of dementia

People with inflammatory bowel disease have a significantly higher risk of developing dementia later in life, a study in Gut has suggested.…

Family of pharmacist who died from COVID-19 to bring legal claim against government

The son of Navin Shantilal Talati, a pharmacist who died from COVID-19, is bringing a legal case against the government for alleged failures in its handling of the pandemic.…

Deaths: Michael Peter Ruxton

On 21 May 2020, Michael Peter Ruxton, aged 78 years, of Broughton, Preston, Lancashire. Mr Ruxton, a former member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, registered with the Society in 1966. …

Secukinumab and adalimumab comparable for first-line psoriatic arthritis treatment

Biological therapies secukinumab and adalimumab are similarly effective at improving the musculoskeletal symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, a head-to-head trial suggests.…

Deaths: Benita Dukalskis

On 1 June 2020, Benita Dukalskis (née Odins), aged 68 years, of Brighouse, Yorkshire. Mrs Dukalskis was a former member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. …

Deaths: Eleanor Susan Cassidy

On 3 May 2020, Eleanor Susan Cassidy MRPharmS, aged 48 years, of Glasgow. Miss Cassidy registered with the Society in 1994. …

Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee could be rebranded in a drive to improve pharmacy representation

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee could be renamed ‘Community Pharmacy England’, if proposals for a sweeping overhaul of the representative body go ahead.…

MHRA instructs all UK hydroxychloroquine COVID-19 clinical trials to suspend recruitment

All UK clinical trials using hydroxychloroquine to treat or prevent COVID-19 have been instructed to suspend recruitment of further participants.…

Tribute: Navin Shantilal Talati

My father, Navin Shantilal Talati, served Dagenham in Essex for 35 years, after opening Talati Chemist in the Heathway in 1977. He arrived in the UK with £3 in his pocket, after qualifying in Ahmedabad, India. After completing a conversion course in pharmacy at the University of Sunderland, he wor…