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A recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition reveals promising results regarding the use of daily prebiotic fiber supplements in patients with pre-diabetes, suggesting significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and other vital health markers. "Pre-diabetes affects over 7 million individuals in the UK," says Dr. Thomas Gurry, CEO at myota. "Our findings have shown that prebiotic fiber represents a promising and efficacious fast-acting treatment to manage pre-diabetes." Conducted over 24 weeks with 66 prediabetic participants, the study, led by scientists from myota and CRO Lindus Health, utilised a diverse prebiotic blend. "The results of our study suggest that this natural diverse prebiotic fiber supplement could be taken to reverse pre-diabetes and to prevent or slow the onset of type 2 diabetes," says Dr. Caitlin Hall, Head of Research at myota.

A new study has revealed that UK adolescents get around two-thirds of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which have been linked to the rising levels of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer. The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)'s School for Public Health Research, was published in the European Journal of Nutrition. Ultra-processed foods are often characterized by poor dietary quality due to their high content of added sugars, saturated fats, and salt, along with lower levels of fibre, protein, and micronutrients. The study, conducted by researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol, analysed data from four-day food diaries of almost 3,000 adolescents, sourced from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. After examining trends in the UK between 2008/9 and 2018/19, the researchers found that UPFs accounted for 66 per cent of adolescents' energy intake on average during this period.

A study conducted by Michigan Medicine revealed that individuals who experience type 2 diabetes over an extended period are increasingly prone to experiencing alterations in their brain structure. A group of scientists examined data from 51 middle-aged Pima American Indians who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. They employed a set of memory and language assessments known as the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery, developed by the National Institutes of Health, alongside MRI scans. These analyses aimed to establish the connection between diabetes, cognitive function, and the composition of the brain. Brain imaging suggested that study participants with longer durations of type 2 diabetes had decreased mean cortical thickness and gray matter volumes, and an increased volume of white matter hyperintensities. The MRI results, researchers say, indicate the negative effects longstanding diabetes may have on brain health outcomes and emphasise the importance of preventing early onset type 2 diabetes.

The University of Lincoln has clinched the top spot on The Guardian's 2024 list for pharmacy and pharmacology studies. This marks a significant advancement from its second-place position in the 2023 rankings, where Ulster University had secured the leading position. Interestingly, Ulster has moved down to claim the second spot this year. Forty universities were assessed using eight criteria, which encompass student satisfaction with teaching, the effectiveness of feedback from instructors, student-to-staff ratio, expenditure per student (excluding academic staff costs), and the average UCAS scores of entrants under 21. Also included were the effectiveness of teaching methods, the proportion of students securing graduate-level employment or pursuing further studies within 15 months of graduation, and the percentage of first-year students progressing into their second year. Among the 40 universities in the ranking list, the University of Lincoln achieved a perfect score of 100 out of 100, followed by Ulster (96.2), Portsmouth (87.9), Leeds (86.3), Glasgow (85.7), Sunderland (84.3), St George's (84.3), Aberdeen (81.3), UCL (81), and Queen's, Belfast (80.1).

Johnson & Johnson said on Wednesday (January 18) that it was pulling the plug on a late-stage global trial of an HIV vaccine after the shot was found ineffective at preventing infections. The failure of the trial marks yet another setback in the search for a vaccine against a virus known to mutate rapidly and find unique ways to evade the immune system, and comes more than a year after another of J&J's HIV vaccine failed a study. "It's not the outcome we had hoped for, unfortunately," said a spokesperson for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a J&J partner in the trial. "The development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine has been a considerable scientific challenge, but we will learn from this study and continue forward." The trial involved administering two different types of a shot, which uses a cold-causing virus to deliver the genetic code of HIV, spread over four vaccination visits in a year. J&J used similar technology for its COVID-19 vaccine. The study, which began in 2019, was conducted at over 50 sites and included about 3,900 gay men and transgender people - groups that are considered vulnerable to the infection.

One in eight people who were hospitalised with Covid-19 between May 2020 and March 2021 were later diagnosed with myocarditis, according to major new research into the clinical long-term effects of coronavirus. The largest study of its kind to date was led by the University of Glasgow in collaboration with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC), and followed for one year, in real time, 159 patients after they were hospitalised with Covid-19. The study also looked at why some patients suffer long-term ill health after hospitalisation with Covid-19. Until now it has been speculated that previous underlying health conditions may be linked to the severity of post-Covid long-term effects. However, this new study suggests that it is the severity of the infection itself which is most closely correlated to the severity of a patient's long-Covid symptoms, rather than pre-existing health problems. Hospitalisation with Covid-19 was found to cause a number of long-term health problems. Researchers found one in eight patients hospitalised with Covid-19 have heart inflammation, while inflammation across the body and damage to the other organs such as the kidneys was also common.

The subject of today's article is the benefits and uses of Tripeptide-29. Let's dive right into it! The three-amino-acid peptide known as Tripeptide-29 consists of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline amino acids. Collagen peptide is another frequent name for this peptide since it occurs naturally in animal collagen. Animal studies have indicated that topical Tripeptide 29 may minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles, enhance the skin's texture, and replenish moisture in dry areas. Experts are now studying the effects of Tripeptide on the skin. Place your order now if you need collagen peptide for a study. Continue reading for more information on this peptide. What is the function of Tripeptide 29? One of collagen's primary structural components, Tripeptide-29, is a synthetic peptide. Collagen is the most common protein in the animal body and is essential in developing and maintaining healthy hair, skin, nails, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline are the building blocks of this long-chain polymer. The Gly-Pro-Hyp peptide Tripeptide-29 is a vital part of type 1 collagen.

A new study by oral health brand Aquafresh has revealed how the societal pressure of having the "perfect" Hollywood smile affects children's self-esteem. The study, which included 2000 parents and children aged 4-11, found that nearly 1 in 2 British children have experienced low confidence because of how their teeth look. More than 80 per cent of children reported feeling less confident with their smile due to missing teeth (20 per cent), teeth not being "white" (20 per cent), wonky teeth (19 per cent), and gappy teeth (13 per cent). An additional 36 per cent have experienced embarrassment when smiling or laughing because of their dental appearance. The pressure for perfect teeth not only affects children but it's also a concerning issue for parents.

The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) has published a new paper highlighting the learnings from a major COVID-19 research trial conducted in primary care settings. The paper, which draws on insights from the PANORAMIC study, emphasised the importance of prioritising primary care studies from the very start of any pandemic to prevent worsening of patient symptoms and reduce hospital admission. Additionally, it recommended considering the use of UK-wide pharmacy networks, including community pharmacies, to promote research inclusion for future similar trials in primary care to increase recruitment in underserved communities. Authored by Professor Phil Evans, GP and Deputy Health and Care Director at the NIHR RDN together with colleagues from the NIHR and University of Oxford, the 80-page paper concluded that primary care research should be at the forefront of future pandemic preparedness. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, much research was carried out on critically ill patients in secondary care settings.

In a significant move to address health disparities and enhance clinical research, community pharmacies across several regions are set to become central players in the Genes and Health study. Led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by the Wellcome Trust, this national initiative aims to improve health outcomes within British-Bangladeshi and British-Pakistani communities. Professor Mahendra Patel, Director of the Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford, highlighted the importance of this approach. "By engaging the broader pharmacy workforce, including technicians, we aim to establish a research-ready infrastructure within community pharmacies," Patel told Pharmacy Business. He shared that the initiative marks a transformative step in integrating pharmacies into the clinical research landscape. The Thames Valley and South Midlands Clinical Research Network (CRN) is managing a pioneering pilot program for this study, which will initially focus on pharmacies in Banbury, Oxford City, Reading, Slough, High Wycombe, and Aylesbury.

Researchers from King's College London and the University of Helsinki have identified a link between periodontitis (gum disease) and cryptogenic ischemic stroke, which causes a blockage in the blood vessel supplying blood to a region of the brain. The findings, recently published in the Journal of Dental Research, emphasise severe gum disease as a risk factor for young-onset stroke, particularly in patients with no other identifiable risk factors. Dr. Susanna Paju, Periodontology Specialist from the University of Helsinki, led the study in collaboration with Dr. Svetislav Zaric, Clinical Lecturer in Periodontology from King's College London. Dr. Zaric explains the implications of their research: "Stroke remains the second leading cause of death globally. Strikingly, the incidence and prevalence of ischemic stroke have been increasing in the younger population during past decades," she said. "Periodontitis, which involves deep inflammation of the gums due to bacteria under the gumline, can lead to systemic effects as bacteria enter the bloodstream and affect other parts of the body," she added.

A new study has shown that Covid-19 can spread between unmasked people at a distance of more than two metres even outdoors. A team of engineers from the University of Cambridge used computer modelling to quantify how droplets spread when people cough. They found that the two-metre rule was arbitrary and that social distancing alone was not enough to stop the spread of the virus. The team also found that individual coughs vary widely, and that the 'safe' distance could have been set at anywhere between one to three or more metres. The results, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, suggest that social distancing is not an effective mitigation measure on its own, and underline the importance of vaccination, ventilation and masks.

Adults who are overweight or obese and have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes are at a higher risk of developing severe health issues, according to authors of a recent study. Experts. however, disagree on the best dietary regimens and supportive measures to suggest. The latest study was published in the journal 'The Annals of Family Medicine'. In the findings, researchers used a 2×2 diet-by-support factorial design to randomise 94 adults with the aforementioned conditions, contrasting a very low-carbohydrate (VLC) or ketogenic diet with a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. They also determined the outcomes of interventions that included and excluded additional support practices like mindful eating, effective emotion regulation, social support, and cooking instruction. Using intent-to-treat analyses, the VLC diet led to greater improvement in estimated mean systolic blood pressure (SBP; -9.8 mmHg vs. -5.2 mmHg, P =.046), greater improvement in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c; -.4 per cent vs. -.1 per cent, P = 0.034), and greater improvement in weight (-19.14 lbs vs. -10.33 lbs, P = 0.0003), compared to the DASH diet. The addition of extra support did not have a statistically significant effect on outcomes.

New research has shown that chronic pain can be objectively measured using brain signals, a report in The Conversation said. According to the report, a team of researchers conducted a study using brain implants capable of recording neural signals over an extended period. Their aim was to identify reliable markers of chronic pain severity in four patients as they went about their daily lives. While pain is typically a subjective experience, there is still much to discover about how pain signals are processed in the brain. Previous studies often relied on artificial settings, and the relationship between acute and chronic pain circuits remained unclear. To investigate this further, the researchers surgically implanted electrodes in the brains of four patients experiencing post-stroke pain and phantom limb pain. Neural signals were recorded in specific brain regions associated with planning, expectation, and emotion. The patients were then asked to report their pain severity levels multiple times a day for up to six months. Machine learning models were developed to analyse the recorded brain activity signals and predict the patients' self-reported pain intensity scores.

Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim said on Thursday (Aug 17) it would conduct three late-stage studies for its obesity drug candidate after it showed up to 19 per cent weight loss after 46 weeks in a mid-stage trial. The private company plans to start enrollments for the trial of the drug, survodutide, which it co-invented with Danish biotech company Zealand Pharma, before the end of the year. The trials will evaluate the drug's safety and efficacy, Boehringer said, and added that it would provide further details on the studies before initiation. Boehringer and Zealand are among global drugmakers racing to grab a share of the potential $100 billion market for obesity treatments within a decade. Survodutide works by mimicking a gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which suppresses appetite, as well as imitating another gut hormone called glucagon that helps break down fat.

More than 7,000 hospitalisations and deaths in the UK could have been averted in summer 2022 if people had received their recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, a new study published in The Lancet has revealed. The largest ever study carried out in the UK found that between a third and a half of the UK population had not had the recommended number of COVID vaccinations and boosters by summer 2022. In Northern Ireland, nearly 50 per cent of the population were under-vaccinated, while the proportion of under-vaccinated people in England was 45.7 per cent, 34.2 per cent for Scotland and 32.8 per cent Wales. Researchers from the Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and the University of Edinburgh analysed the electronic health records of 67 million residents aged 5 and older from across the four countries during June 1 to September 30 2022.

A new study has revealed that public trust in services provided by local pharmacies ranks highest in the UK, although confidence in the NHS has nosedived following the pandemic. The 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer report published on Wednesday (April 21) found that around 78 per cent of respondents trust their local pharmacies, the highest for any provider cited in the survey. Besides, 72 per cent said pharmacists are among the most trusted to tell the truth about health matters and protect public health, almost similar to 'my doctor' (75%) and health experts (74%). Just under half of them said the pandemic has decreased their confidence that the NHS is well-equipped in handling major health crisis. The survey also revealed that 60 per cent think they lack access to high-quality healthcare.

The NHS plans to train hundreds of pharmacy staff, expanding their ability to provide advanced clinical services and assume wider roles in dispensing medicines. With a targeted launch in September, up to 840 pharmacy technicians can join in the training programme. The online modules will cover consultation skills, therapeutics, clinical decision-making, assessment skills, and service improvement. "Community pharmacies are pivotal in local communities, and this novel training scheme empowers them to extend their service offerings to a wider patient base," said Health Minister Neil O'Brien. "Through our investment in the workforce, we're bolstering the implementation of the Pharmacy First initiative with £645 million, ensuring patients have access to expert assistance for various common ailments, including urinary tract infections and earaches." NHS said the training will offer flexibility to align with the working schedules and prior experience of community pharmacy technicians. It will combine independent online e-course study, educational supervision, and clinical skills training. Facilitated workshops will concentrate on enhancing clinical assessment skills and applying knowledge and skills through case studies, practice activities, and group discussions.

Eighty-one per cent of the National Pharmacy Association cohort of trainee pharmacists passed the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)'s common registration assessment which took place in June. The NPA's team of learning and development pharmacists helped students prepare for the assessment with study days and mock exams. Celebrating the success of trainee pharmacists, it said: "The 81 per cent NPA pass rate reflected the comprehensive blended learning experience delivered by the NPA's team of learning and development pharmacists and that we were able to resume face-to-face study days for this cohort after the restrictions of lockdowns." Last month, the GPhC and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) published result of the common registration assessment for pharmacists with an overall pass rate of 80 per cent. A total of 2,697 candidates sat the registration assessment in four countries on 29 June and 2,147 candidates passed the assessment.

A new study by the University of East Anglia has found that giving out 'vape starter kit vouchers' on the NHS could help even hardened smokers quit. In the recent study, researchers worked with GPs and the 'NHS stop smoking service', commissioned locally by Public Health at Norfolk County Council, to set up a pilot 'vape shop voucher' scheme (worth £25 each) to help patients who had tried but failed to stub it out in the past. An evaluation of the scheme, funded by Norfolk County Council, showed it was a big success - with 42 per cent of the entrenched smokers who were referred to it and redeemed their vape voucher having quit within a month. After the success of the pilot, the scheme has been rolled out across Norfolk and the research team hope it could be rolled out nationally to help more smokers quit. Lead researcher and addiction expert Prof Caitlin Notley, from the UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "Research shows that vaping is an effective way of quitting smoking, compared to nicotine replacement therapies like patches and gum. E-cigarettes or vapes are now the most popular way of stopping smoking.