Exercise may be as effective as medicines in hypertension
Exercise interventions are as effective in reducing systolic blood pressure  as many antihypertensive medicines in people with hypertension, according to the results of a network meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - January 11, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Tobacco smoking and its potential drug interactions
Smoking and smoking cessation treatments have a pharmacological impact on some commonly used drugs and should be taken into account during the selection, introduction and cessation of medicines. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - January 11, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Smokers who use e-cigarettes no more likely to quit in the long term, study finds
People who use e-cigarettes alongside traditional cigarettes are no more likely to quit smoking in the long term than those who only smoke cigarettes, research has shown. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - January 9, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Impact of including clinical indications on inpatient prescriptions
The appropriate  use of medicines is dependant on the accurate use of clinical indications on inpatient paper and electronic prescriptions. This mixed-methods study involving semi-structured interviews with 64 chief pharmacists, 11 focus groups from three NHS trusts and a medical documentation review of 89 patient s determined both positive and negative implications of including clinical indications on healthcare professionals’ clinical workflow. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - January 8, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Depression linked to atrial fibrillation diagnosis
Depression is associated with an increased likelihood of atrial fibrillation diagnosis, according to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - January 7, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Personalising treatment for type 2 diabetes: why is NICE so behind?
The National Institute for Health Care Excellence ’s rudimentary approach to managing diabetes needs to catch up with the available evidence and put patients centre-stage. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - January 4, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Obesity increases risk of childhood asthma by 29%, say researchers
Obesity is a major preventable cause of childhood asthma, conclude the authors of a study published in Paediatrics. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - January 2, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Pembrolizumab extends survival in recurrent head and neck cancer
A study of nearly 500 patients with head and neck cancers reveals that pembrolizumab could extend survival compared with methotrexate, docetaxel or cetuximab, which are the standard of care. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - December 21, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Recruiting community pharmacies to a smoking support service trial using the 'Russian doll' approach
‘Smoking Treatment Optimisation in Pharmacies’ (STOP) is a six-year programme funded by the National Institute for Health Research. STOP is a complex intervention based on behavioural theory, and involves training for pharmacy staff and associated study materials, such as badges and posters. The STOP trial is assessing effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the STOP intervention on smoker recruitment, retention and quit rates in the NHS stop smoking service based in community pharmacy. ... (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - December 21, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Managing interstitial lung disease: impact of involving a specialist respiratory pharmacist
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an umbrella term describing a diverse group of lung diseases that result in impairment or fibrosis of the alveolar interstitium. Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias are the most common ILDs; and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is most common among this cohort of patients. Symptoms of ILD include breathlessness and a persistent, dry and irritating cough. Patients with ILD may experience acute exacerbations, which can increase the burden of disease, ... (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - December 20, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Night shifts and unhealthy lifestyles both increase risk of T2DM
Researchers have found evidence suggesting that the benefits of adhering to a healthy lifestyle could be even greater in people who work rotating night shifts. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - December 19, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Early life exposure to antibiotics and acid suppressants increases obesity risk
Exposure to antibiotics and acid suppressants in the first two years of life is associated with an increased risk of obesity later in childhood, particularly if prescribed in combination, study results  show. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - December 18, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Antibiotic with novel mode of action effective against gonorrhoea infection
A novel antibiotic, which prevents bacterial cells from replicating DNA, is effective in the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea, results from a phase II clinical trial have shown. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - December 14, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research

Androgen deprivation therapy 'increases heart failure risk'
Patients with prostate cancer treated with  androgen deprivation therapy were 72% more likely to experience heart failure than those unexposed to the therapy, a study has shown. (Source: Clinical Pharmacist)
Source: Clinical Pharmacist - December 12, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research