Systematic review suggests mortality benefits of new cholesterol lowering biologics Monoclonal antibodies designed to lower cholesterol by inhibiting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) are effective and associated with few major side effects.…
Alternative antibiotic regimens effective for resource-poor settings A major research venture has yielded two antibiotic regimens for treating severe infections that can be administered in the outpatient setting.…
Prescribing statins: time to rein it in Statins have been overprescribed for decades for many different reasons. Now is the time to reverse the trend.…
HRT linked with increased stroke risk, conclude Cochrane reviewers HRT has little if any benefit in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and causes an increase in the risk of stroke and venous thromboembolic events.…
Few trial sponsors meet data reporting deadlines Drug companies and others have an ethical and, increasingly, legal obligation to promptly report results of clinical trials to registers but few meet the reporting deadlines.…
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.…
Analysis questions value of primary prevention medication for reducing CHD deaths Population-wide approaches to risk-factor control have had a far greater impact on the reduction of deaths from coronary heart disease than use of primary prevention medication.…
Our knowledge and understanding of e-cigarettes is still limitedA letter from M Cunningham exhorts “those in the profession opposed to e-cigarettes to come around in light of growing evidence” ( The Pharmaceutical Journal 2014;293:599). To support this argument, she cites the opinion of experts who spoke at a recent co…
Vitamin B supplements may not increase cognitive performance in older people The cognitive performance of elderly participants involved in a two-year study did not benefit from vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements.…
WHO joins drive to make all clinical trial data publicly available The World Health Organization has issued an official statement to encourage pharmaceutical companies to publicly disclose clinical trial results.…