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Virtual reality
Stabilising older adults
Combining virtual reality and treadmill training helps prevent falls in older adults better than treadmill training alone, according to a new randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet . The authors say that the intervention, which combines the physical and cognitive aspects of walking, could potentially be used in gyms, rehabilitation centres or nursing homes to improve safe walking and prevent falls in older adults or people with disorders which affect movement such as Parkinson’s disease. Falls in adults aged 65 and over account for 1-2 per cent of all healthcare expenditure in high-income countries, a note from the journal said. Falls can cause injuries, loss of independence, disability, institutionalisation, and death.
Data Integrity
For drug quality, safety
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has released new good manufacturing practice (GMP) guidance to ensure integrity of data generated in testing, manufacturing, packaging, distribution and monitoring of medicines. Regulators rely on these data to evaluate the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines and to monitor their benefit-risk profile through their life-span. Controlling of data records helps ensure that the data generated are accurate and consistent to support good decision-making by both pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulatory authorities, the EMA said.
Diet Pills
Poison potions?
A campaign has been launched by the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warning young adults of the dangers of buying dodgy diet pills online. FakeMeds aims to warn would-be slimmers against shelling out for dangerous or useless products sold by illegal online suppliers, the MHRA said. Thousands of pills and potions promising miracle results are bought over the summer months as holidaymakers look for shortcuts to beach-ready bodies, with women aged 18-30 most likely to buy. After handing over bank details, many receive bottles of tablets packed with dangerous or useless ingredients. Nasty side-effects can include heart attacks, strokes, and in extreme cases, death. The MHRA has launched a campaign page with practical information on how to recognise legitimate online retailers of medicines and medical devices.
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