Statement from Chief Medical Officer on Bute in horsemeat
Source: Department of Health (DH)
Area: News
The Chief Medical Officer has issued the following statement on horsemeat containing phenylbutazone (Bute), stressing that it presents a very low risk to human health:
"At the levels of bute that have been found, a person would have to eat 500 to 600 burgers a day that are 100% horse meat to get close to consuming a human's daily dose. And it passes through the system fairly quickly, so it is unlikely to build up in our bodies. In patients who have been taking phenylbutazone as a medicine there can be serious side effects but these are rare. It is extremely unlikely ...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
BNF and BNF for Children update for health professionals February 2013
Source: BNF
Area: News
The following information has been updated in the BNF and/or BNF for Children:
BNF update
. Paracetamol poisoning [updated advice on management], Emergency Treatment of Poisoning
. Ivabradine for the treatment of chronic heart failure [NICE guidance], section 2.6.3
. Mannitol dry powder for inhalation for treating cystic fibrosis [NICE guidance], section 3.7
. Treatment of hereditary angioedema updated, section 3.4.3
. Denosumab for the prevention of skeletal-related events in adults with bone metastases from solid tumours [NICE guidance], section...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NHS Evidence expert commentary: Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia with oral antiseptics
Source: NHS Evidence
Area: News
The February edition of 'Eyes on Evidence', the free monthly e-bulletin from NHS Evidence covering major new published evidence as it emerges with an explanation about what it means for current practice, includes an expert commentary on new data from a systematic review and random effects meta-analysis assessing the effect of oral care with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine on the prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) compared with oral care without these antiseptics in adults.
Overall, antiseptic use resulted in a significant risk reduction of VAP (relative risk [RR...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NHS Evidence expert commentary: Benzodiazepines and the risk of dementia
Source: NHS Evidence
Area: News
The February edition of 'Eyes on Evidence', the free monthly e-bulletin from NHS Evidence covering major new published evidence as it emerges with an explanation about what it means for current practice, includes an expert commentary on new data from a prospective population based cohort study assessing whether there was an association between starting benzodiazepines, and similar drugs, and risk of subsequent dementia in 1063 people aged 65 years and over (mean age 78.2 years). The total study duration was 20 years, including a 5 year observation period and a 15-year assessment period. Pat...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
RCT: Neurostimulation for Parkinson's disease with early motor complications
Source: N Engl J Med
Area: News
Subthalamic stimulation reduces motor disability and improves quality of life in patients with with advanced Parkinson's disease who have severe levodopa-induced motor complications. The EARLYSTIM Study Group hypothesised that neurostimulation would be beneficial at an earlier stage of Parkinson's disease.
The group conducted a 2-year trial in 251 patients with Parkinson's disease and early motor complications (mean age, 52 years; mean duration of disease, 7.5 years) who were randomised to undergo neurostimulation plus medical therapy or medical therapy alone. The primary end po...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Phase II trial: Ganitumab with either exemestane or fulvestrant for postmenopausal women with advanced, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer
Source: Lancet Oncology
Area: News
Inhibition of oestrogen receptor is a mainstay of treatment for oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer but intrinsic and acquired resistance undermine the long-term effectiveness of endocrine treatments and lead to relapses in early stage disease. This has led to a drive to develop targeted therapies and integrate them into existing treatment strategies. Oestrogen receptor signalling is linked to many other cell signalling pathways, including those related to growth hormones and insulin-like growth factor (IGF). IGF-1 and IGF-2 bind to the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), increasing cell prol...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
DTB questions current arrangements for supply of gluten free food
Source: DTB
Area: News
Gluten-free staples such as bread and flour were first made available on prescription in the late 1960s. Figures from 2011 show that the NHS in England spent £27 million on gluten-free food. With growing pressure on primary care budgets, and increasing awareness and availability of gluten-free food in shops and supermarkets, this article in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) questions whether the current arrangements for supplying such products is appropriate.
It notes the different arrangements across PCTs for supply of gluten-free foods, but which still leaves the supply process...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Predicted strain coverage of a meningococcal multicomponent vaccine (4CMenB) in Europe: qualitative and quantitative assessment
Source: Lancet Infectious Diseases
Area: News
The novel multicomponent protein-based vaccine against meningococcal capsular group B (MenB), 4CMenB represents the culmination of decades of research, and its licensing in the EU is considered a major public health milestone. In The Lancet Infectious Diseases, researchers present a study that attempts to calculate the potential strain coverage of this vaccine.in Europe
Invasive MenB strains isolated mainly in the most recent full epidemiological year in England and Wales, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway were assessed. To investigate whether generalisation of co...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NICE issues Appraisal Consultation Document on ruxolitinib (Jakavi) for treatment of splenomegaly and symptoms linked to myelofibrosis
Source: NICE
Area: News
NICE has issued new draft guidance not recommending ruxolitinib (Jakavi), for the treatment of disease-related splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) or symptoms in adults with primary myelofibrosis, or myelofibrosis secondary to polycythaemia vera or essential thrombocythaemia.
The Committee noted that ruxolitinib was effective in reducing spleen size and in treating symptoms, such as itch and fatigue; and although it was plausible that ruxolitinib could offer a survival benefit, there were uncertainties in the data used by the manufacturer to estimate the degree of survival benefit. The Eviden...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Shortage of isosorbide mononitrate 10mg, 20mg and 40mg tablets
Source: Department of Health (DH)
Area: News
The Department of Health has issued a letter highlighting a current shortage of all normal release isosorbide mononitrate presentations (10, 20 and 40mg tablets) because of problems with the availability of raw materials.
The shortage of this medicine may last for several months and current information indicates that normal supply is unlikely to resume before the end of April 2013. However, the situation may change from week to week, as it is understood that some companies may obtain some stock before that time, while others are importing unlicensed isosorbide mononi...
Source: NeLM - News - February 14, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
EMA herbal medicine monographs - strengthening assessment methodology and releasing summaries for the public
Source: EMA
Area: News
In 2012, the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) adopted 15 Community herbal monographs and released 7 monographs for public consultation. Overall, a total of 114 final monographs have been made available since the Committee was established in 2004.
A Community herbal monograph comprises the HMPC's scientific opinion on a given herbal substance and preparations thereof, based on the evaluation of all available scientific data and information on the historic use of these herbal ingredients in the EU. The monographs cover a large number of therap...
Source: NeLM - News - February 13, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
The PROTECT project on pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology
Source: EMA
Area: News
The 'PROTECT' project has made two databases available which will offer access to important data resources for pharmacovigilance activities and pharmacoepidemiological studies.
The 'Drug Consumption Database' is a comprehensive and structured source of information on drug consumption in Europe. It is the result of reviewing, compiling and updating knowledge about European sources of data on drug utilisation in the out- and in-patient healthcare settings. Information is currently available for 17 EU countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, I...
Source: NeLM - News - February 13, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
BMJ review: Anaphylaxis
Source: BMJ
Area: News
The BMJ has featured an evidence based review on anaphylaxis. The following questions are addressed:
. How is anaphylaxis defined?
. What are the mechanisms, triggers, and patient risk factors for anaphylaxis?
. How do patients present with anaphylaxis?
. How is an acute episode of anaphylaxis diagnosed?
. How should an acute episode of anaphylaxis initially be treated?
. What additional treatment might be indicated for an acute episode of anaphylaxis?
. How should patients be equipped for self treatment of anaphylaxis in the community?...
Source: NeLM - News - February 13, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NIHR HTA: Management of asthma in school age children on therapy (MASCOT)
Source: Health Technol Assess
Area: News
The NHS National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme presents the findings of the MASCOT (Management of Asthma in School-aged Children On Therapy) study. The aim of the study was to determine whether adding salmeterol or montelukast to low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) can reduce the number of exacerbations requiring treatment with oral corticosteroids in children with uncontrolled asthma.
The study was closed prematurely because of poor recruitment and the target sample size of 450 was not achieved. The available data ...
Source: NeLM - News - February 13, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Cohort study: Long term calcium intake and rates of all cause and cardiovascular mortality
Source: BMJ
Area: News
Supplementation with calcium has become increasingly common but recent analyses of trials have suggested a higher risk of both ischemic heart disease and stroke with calcium supplements in women. To investigate the association between long term dietary and supplemental intake of calcium with all cause mortality as well as with cardiovascular mortality, researchers conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study in Swedish women.
The Swedish mammography cohort, established in 1987-90, provided the data for the purposes of this study. Women were born between 1914 and 1948 and followed-up ...
Source: NeLM - News - February 13, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
