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Monthly Archives: May 2012

Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appears to significantly lower the risk for developing several major forms of skin cancer, a new Danish study reveals.

What’s more, the apparent protective impact of both prescription and nonprescription NSAIDs on skin cancer risk seems to be stronger the longer someone takes them.

http://www.drugs.com/news/common-painkillers-may-help-prevent-skin-cancer-study-38435.html

A team of scientists at McMaster University has discovered a drug, thioridazine, successfully kills cancer stem cells in the human while avoiding the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments.

Thioridazine works through the dopamine receptor on the surface of the cancer cells in both leukemia and breast cancer patients. This means it may be possible to use it as a biomarker that would allow early detection and treatment of breast cancer and early signs of leukemia progression.

http://www.worldpharmanews.com/research/2091-thioridazine-successfully-kills-cancer-stem-cells-in-the-human

 

The newest cautionary note appears in a study published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine that found the incidence of atypical thigh fractures in women who use these medicines increased over a 12-year period, although the absolute number of such fractures was still very small.

http://www.pharmalot.com/2012/05/still-more-caution-urged-over-osteoperosis-drugs/

The technology improves the rate at which patients actually pick up a new prescription at the pharmacy.

Patients picked up their meds 69.5% of the time among physicians who telephoned in, faxed, or hand-wrote new prescriptions, according to a 2011 Surescripts study of some 40 million prescription records between 2008 and 2010. Among physicians who e-prescribed between 30% and 40% of the time, this “first fill” rate rose to 76.5%, or by 10%, according to Surescripts, which operates a nationwide network connecting the computer systems of physicians and pharmacies.

One problem with paper scripts is that too many patients either lose or otherwise abandon them. Going untreated, these patients get sicker and rack up higher medical expenses down the road. Surescripts estimates that a 10% increase in first-fill rates combined with other e-prescribing efficiencies could save between $140 billion and $240 billion over the course of 10 years.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/764147?src=mp&spon=38

The Rowa is an electronically controlled automated storage system, which offers the capacity of a distinctly larger, conventional storage, while taking up only a minimum of space. The modular construction of this automated storage system allows it to be tailored optimally to every pharmacy’s individual requirements. The sophisticated technology ensures prompt delivery of articles as well as smooth continuous operation. The Rowa offers semi-automated inputting with the possibility of entering expiry dates as well as fully automated inputting with the intelligent ProLog system.

The Rowa automated pharmacy would ultimately save the pharmacy money by efficiently controlling space and product expiry, decreasing thievery and shrinkage, and reducing stock levels.

Some other features include dispensing an item between 4 and 7 seconds, full stock tracing and stock taking in real time. This allows the pharmacy to be become more efficient, which allows for more attention to patients and counseling.

For further info, go to http://www.dnalogic.co.za/rowa

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