Analysis of the long term effect of reduced pack sizes of paracetamol on poisoning deaths and liver transplant activity in England and Wales
Source: BMJ
Area: News
Legislation to reduce pack sizes of paracetamol was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1998. This interrupted time series analysis assessed the long term effect of this legislation on deaths from paracetamol poisoning and liver unit activity among patients in England and Wales. Mortality and liver unit activity data were gathered from October 1998 until the end of 2009 from the Office for National Statistics and NHS Blood and Transplant, respectively.
The authors reported the following results:
. Compared with the pre-legislation level, following the legislation there was an est...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
RCT: Comparison of sodium bicarbonate with fruits and vegetables for treating metabolic acidosis in CKD stage 4 hypertensive kidney disease
Source: Clin J Am Soc Neprol
Area: News
This RCT was conducted to identify whether fruits and vegetables that were base-producing rather than acid-producing were as effective at treating metabolic acidosis in stage 4 CKD as oral sodium bicarbonate.
Individuals with stage 4 (eGFR, 15-29 ml/min per 1.73 m2) CKD due to hypertensive nephropathy, had a plasma total CO2 (PTCO2) level < 22 mM, and were receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition were randomly assigned to 1 year of daily oral sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) at 1.0 mEq/kg per day (n=35) or fruits and vegetables dosed to reduce dietary acid by h...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Horizon Scanning: FDA grants orphan drug status for ApoceptT to treat myelodysplastic syndrome
Source: BioSpace
Area: News
Apogenix GMbH, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, has announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation for ApoceptT for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
A clinical phase I open-label trial is being initiated with ApoceptT in patients with MDS. Recruitment for the study began in January 2013.
ApoceptT binds to the CD95 ligand (CD95L) and blocks the activation of the CD95 receptor. Excessive stimulation of the CD95 receptor on hematopoietic cells present in the bone marrow of MDS patients inhibits erythropoiesis. As a result, transfusion-d...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
NHS Governance Review 2013 published
Source: NHS Networks
Area: News
The second annual review assesses NHS governance and how governance arrangements are communicated. The review includes annual reports from over 100 NHS trusts, foundation trusts, and PCTs, as well as survey responses from over 60 NHS leaders. It also highlights areas for improvement and provides practical advice for achieving best practice.
See link below for more details (Source: NeLM - News)
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Department of Health publishes latest monthly hospital activity events (up to and including December 2012).
Source: Department of Health (DH)
Area: News
The Department of Health has released statistics comparing the year to date (YTD) to December 2012/13 to the same period in 2011/12.
The key points from the latest release are:
. GP referrals made this year, on a year to date (YTD) basis, show a 3.7% increase, compared to the same period last year.
. GP referrals seen this year, on a YTD basis, are currently showing a 2.2% increase compared to the same period last year.
. The volume of first outpatient attendances, on a YTD basis, is showing a 2.4% increase compared to the same period ...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Horizon scanning: Development of tabalumab for rheumatoid arthritis halted
Source: Reuters Health
Area: News
Eli Lilly and Co have halted development of the experimental anti-B-cell activating (BAFF) human monoclonal antibody tabalumab for rheumatoid arthritis following data from a late-stage trial which showed the drug was unlikely to prove effective.
Tabalumab will continue to be tested in late-stage development as a treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus, and in mid-stage development for multiple myeloma. (Source: NeLM - News)
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Audit shows GPs spot 80% of cancers within two consultations
Source: BMJ
Area: News
An audit of cancer diagnosis in England shows that GPs refer more than three quarters of people who go on to receive a diagnosis of cancer after only one or two consultations. The results also show that GPs have more consultations with patients who have cancers with non-specific symptoms, including multiple myeloma and stomach and lung cancer, typically seeing them at least three times before referring them to a specialist. The audit concludes that the number of consultations is a useful indicator of the time interval between a patient presenting with cancer symptoms and being referred to see a spec...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Meta-analysis of work stress and risk of cancer
Source: BMJ
Area: News
A meta-analysis has been published in the BMJ which investigates whether work related stress, measured and defined as job strain, is associated with the overall risk of cancer and the risk of colorectal, lung, breast, or prostate cancers.
Data was pooled from 12 European cohort studies including 116,056 men and women aged 17-70 who were free from cancer at baseline and were followed up for a median of 12 years. Work stress was measured and defined as job strain, which was self reported at baseline. Incident cancers (all n=5765, colorectal cancer n=522, lung cancer n=374, breast cancer n=...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
RCT: Endovascular therapy after intravenous t-PA versus t-PA alone for stroke
Source: NEJM
Area: News
A study, published early online in the New England Journal of Medicine, assessed the effectiveness of using endovascular therapy after the administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) by comparing this approach with the use of intravenous t-PA alone.
Patients who had received intravenous t-PA within 3 hours were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive additional endovascular therapy or no additional therapy. The primary outcome measure was a modified Rankin scale score of 2 or less (indicating functional independence) at 90 days (scores range from 0 to 6, with h...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
RCT: Endovascular treatment for acute ischaemic stroke
Source: NEJM
Area: News
A study, published in New England Journal of Medicine, compares the clinical efficacy of endovascular treatment with systemic intravenous thrombolytic therapy in patients with ischaemic stroke.
The study randomly assigned 362 patients with acute ischemic stroke, within 4.5 hours after onset, to endovascular therapy (intra-arterial thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator [t-PA], mechanical clot disruption or retrieval, or a combination of these approaches) (181 patients) or intravenous t-PA (181 patients). Treatments were to be given as soon as possible after randomisa...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Analysis of the long term effect of reduced pack sizes of paracetamol on poisoning deaths and liver transplant activity in England and Wales.
Source: BMJ
Area: News
Legislation to reduce pack sizes of paracetamol was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1998. This interrupted time series analysis assessed the long term effect of this legislation on deaths from paracetamol poisoning and liver unit activity among patients in England and Wales. Mortality and liver unit activity data were gathered from October 1998 until the end of 2009 from the Office for National Statistics and NHS Blood and Transplant, respectively.
The authors reported the following results:
. Compared with the pre-legislation level, following the legislation there was an est...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
MHRA issues press release over increase in sales of unlicensed European medicines in the UK
Source: MHRA
Area: News
The MHRA is seeing an increasing number of cases where unlicensed medicines originating from Poland and other Eastern European countries are being offered for sale in a number of retail outlets throughout the UK.
Seventy four reports of Polish and other medicines from Eastern European countries being sold in "corner shops" were investigated by the MHRA last year - including medicines falling in to the category of pharmacy-only and prescription only medicines.
The MHRA has produced guidance for consumers, retailers, and wholesalers which provides assistance in understanding ...
Source: NeLM - News - February 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Change4Life alcohol campaign
Source: Department of Health (DH)
Area: News
A Change4Life campaign has been launched by the Department of Health to raise awareness of the health risks associated with drinking regularly over the recommended amounts (guidelines recommend that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day and women not more than two to three units a day). Four weeks of nationwide TV advertising form the main part of the campaign, which shows how drinking can easily 'sneak up on you' and encourages people to check their drinking online using the Change4Life Drinks Checker.
According to new figures from the D...
Source: NeLM - News - February 7, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Review: Designing tomorrow's vaccines
Source: N Engl J Med
Area: News
This review of the development of vaccines in the future covers the following topics:
. Structural biology and pathogen entry
. Rational vaccine design
. Interactions between host and pathogen
. Immune biomarkers of protection
. Dendritic cells and adjuvants
. Modes and sites of vaccine delivery
. Correlates of protection and innovative clinical trial design
. From licensure to effective distribution
. Beyond immunologic mimicry
. Life-cycle management of vaccines
. Next-generation vaccines (Source: NeLM - News)
Source: NeLM - News - February 7, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
RCT: Treatment reduction for children and young adults with low-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia defined by minimal residual disease (UKALL 2003)
Source: Lancet Oncology
Area: News
Optimum use of chemotherapy, precise risk classification, and improved supportive care have increased the proportion of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who survive to 5 years to ?90% in several contemporary trials. This achievement has shifted research emphasis to the reduction of toxic effects, especially in patients with a low risk of relapse, while preserving gains in long-term survival. The Medical Research Council's UKALL 2003 trial, published in The Lancet Oncology, provides evidence for the efficacy of this approach.
The study assessed whether treatmen...
Source: NeLM - News - February 7, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
