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Strong opioids are increasingly being prescribed for chronic non-malignant pain including expensive transdermal preparations. However there is limited data supporting the effectiveness of long term use, with adverse effects often outweighing the benefits of long term opioid treatment for pain.

New research from the University of Birmingham has shown that flu vaccinations are more effective when administered in the morning.

The findings, published in the journal Vaccine, suggest administering vaccinations in the morning, rather than the afternoon, could induce greater, and thus more protective, antibody responses.

ALL HEART (Allopurinol and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ischaemic heart disease) is a major multi-centre trial of allopurinol up to 600mg daily versus no treatment added to usual therapy in patients aged 60 years and over with ischaemic heart disease. The aim is to establish whether allopurinol improves cardiovascular outcomes in this population.

New figures published by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) have confirmed that the Clinical Research Network West Midlands is the highest recruiting Network in England.

It is estimated that 1 in 4 people in England will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Mental health problems are one of the main causes of the burden of disease worldwide (estimated at £16 trillion). In the UK they are responsible for the largest burden of disease (28%) at £70-100 billion each year, compared to 16% each for cancer and heart disease (www.mentalhealth.org.uk). It is clear mental health research is needed to improve the effectiveness of treatments for people experiencing mental health difficulties, as well as for finding ways of preventing poor mental health.

General practice, our patients and our understanding of the disease process are changing all the time. Patients are becoming more aware of their symptoms and the factors that affect disease are also becoming more apparent, such as the role of diet in cancer. The general practitioner’s role is to correctly identify and interpret these symptoms and to reassure or investigate as appropriate. Without research how are we to keep up with this changes?

This was an open label randomized controlled trial to assess whether using intensive blood pressure targets leads to lower blood pressure in a community population of people with prevalent cerebrovascular disease. The study ran in 99 general practices throughout England.