Both environmental and genetic risk factors contribute to development of lung cancer. Tobacco smoking is the most well-known environmental risk factor associated with lung cancer. A Dartmouth research team led by Yafang Li, PhD, has conducted a study to display that gene-smoking interactions play important roles in the etiology of lung cancer. In their study, [...]
Star-shaped cells called astrocytes are much more than simple support cells in the brain. In a new study on mice, researchers at Karolinska Institutet demonstrate that they also play a key part in the respiratory centre of the brainstem and release inflammatory molecules that regulate breathing. The results, which are presented in the scientific journal, [...]
Be it changing the gears of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s annual conference to capture increased engagement, or seeing changes to pharmacy pick up pace with the launch of ‘Achieving Excellence in Pharmaceutical Care’, as a profession, we’re having to rethink how we navigate. David Thomson, Lead for Community Pharmacy Development & Governance, NHS Greater Glasgow [...]
The landscape of stoma care has altered dramatically over the past 30 years, becoming a competitive and expanding market whereby stoma and delivery companies compete to dominate the market by producing attractive stoma pouches and accessories to meet the growing need of stoma care nurses and their patients. Lead Colorectal Nurse and Royal College of [...]
Paediatric sip feeds are a widely-employed aid for children in need of nutritional support – but how much do we know about the practicalities that this adjusted feeding regimen entails? Clare Thornton-Wood, Specialist Paediatric Dietitian at Community Surrey Health (Epsom Hospital), helps demystify the treatment plan, and enlightens as to the options available, and how [...]
Dawn MacBrayne, Prescribing Support Pharmacist, grants SPR an insight into her experience of establishing a medicine review service within community pharmacies in the NHS Borders region, and delves into the initial results. The Scottish government publication, Prescription for Excellence (PfE), put forward a vision and action plan to promote regular reviews of medicines where ongoing [...]
People with cancer who live more than an hour from their nearest major hospital are diagnosed and treated faster than those who live closer – but are still more likely to die within a year of diagnosis – according to new research. Researchers from the University of Aberdeen, who carried out the study, have described [...]
In the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group’s latest instalment, Daisy Darkwa, Professional Standards Pharmacist at LloydsPharmacy, pens her initial experience with the Training and Action for Patient Safety (TAPS) dispensing project. As pharmacists we are aware that dispensing medicines in pharmacy is a process which requires a highly reliable and extensive skillset in order to [...]
72 new genetic variants that contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer have been identified by a major international collaboration involving hundreds of researchers worldwide. Of these variants, reported in the journals, Nature and Nature Genetics, 65 are common variants that predispose to breast cancer and a further seven predispose specifically to oestrogen-receptor negative [...]
Patients with gallbladder cancer often show few or no symptoms for long periods of time. As a result, the tumours are only detected at a late stage of the disease when treatment is often no longer possible. Working in collaboration with pathologists at the University of Magdeburg, Sonja M Kessler, a research pharmacist in the [...]
