DTB Podcast

Continuity of care, statins and myasthenia gravis, and acne

In this podcast recorded in BMA House in December, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the January 2024 issue of DTB. They discuss continuity of care in general practice and the benefits it offers (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/62/1/2). They discuss a safety alert issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency that highlights a very small number of reports of new-onset or aggravation of pre-existing myasthenia gravis associated with statins (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/62/1/4). The main article is an overview of the management of acne (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/62/1/6). They begin the podcast by providing a brief update on the results of a trial that assessed the effect of semaglutide on cardiovascular outcomes in people aged ≥45 years with cardiovascular disease (but not diabetes) and a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 (plot spoiler: make sure you know your ARRs from your RRRs).
Please subscribe to the DTB podcast to get episodes automatically downloaded to your mobile device and computer. Also, please consider leaving us a review or a comment on the DTB Podcast iTunes podcast page (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dtb-podcast/id307773309). If you want to contact us please email dtb@bmj.com. Thank you for listening.

Rationalising blood tests, bempedoic acid and CV outcomes and semaglutide for obesity

In this podcast, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the December 2023 issue of DTB. They discuss monitoring drugs in primary care and the need to rationalise the number of blood tests undertaken (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/12/178). They talk about a study that reported the effect of bempedoic acid on a composite cardiovascular outcome (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/12/180). The main article is a review of semaglutide as an option for weight management and discusses the evidence for its use and some of the hype that has surrounded the its launch (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/12/182). They begin by responding to a listener's complaint about terminology.
 
Related link: Aronson JK. When I use a word . . . Medicines regulation—apothecaries, quacks, chemists, druggists, pharmacists. BMJ 2023;383:p2603. https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj.p2603 
 
Please subscribe to the DTB podcast to get episodes automatically downloaded to your mobile device and computer. Also, please consider leaving us a review or a comment on the DTB Podcast iTunes podcast page (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dtb-podcast/id307773309). If you want to contact us please email dtb@bmj.com. Thank you for listening.

BNF moving with the times; preventable deaths; plus an intro to pharmacogenetics

In this podcast, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the November 2023 issue of DTB. They discuss the history of the BNF and the announcement that the 86th edition of the BNF and the 2023–2024 edition of the BNF for Children will be the last print issues to be purchased by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for the NHS in England (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/11/162 and https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/11/166). They talk about a retrospective review of a case series of UK coroners’ Reports to Prevent Future Deaths that found that around one in five reports involved a medicine (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/11/165). The main article provides an introduction to pharmacogenetics (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/11/168). They begin by responding to a listener's email.
 
Please subscribe to the DTB podcast to get episodes automatically downloaded to your mobile device and computer. Also, please consider leaving us a review or a comment on the DTB Podcast iTunes podcast page (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dtb-podcast/id307773309). If you want to contact us please email dtb@bmj.com. Thank you for listening.

Taxing ill health, and what evidence for intravenous vitamins?

In this podcast, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the October 2023 issue of DTB. They discuss NHS prescription charges in England and the impact they have on people with long-term ill health (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/10/146). They talk about a study that assessed the incidence of retinopathy associated with hydroxychloroquine (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/10/148). The main article discusses intravenous vitamins and reviews the evidence for their use for serious medical conditions and the evidence for their use in the absence of a specific vitamin deficiency or medical condition (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/10/151). 
 
The latest issue of Australian Prescriber mentioned in thia podcast is available from https://australianprescriber.tg.org.au/.
 
Please subscribe to the DTB podcast to get episodes automatically downloaded to your mobile device and computer. Also, please consider leaving us a review or a comment on the DTB Podcast iTunes podcast page (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dtb-podcast/id307773309). If you want to contact us please email dtb@bmj.com. Thank you for listening.

NICE and redacted data, spironolactone for acne, and drugs with anticholinergic activity

In this podcast, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the September 2023 issue of DTB. They discuss concerns over redacted data in NICE appraisal documents (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/9/130). They review a placebo-controlled study that assessed the use of spironolactone for women with acne (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/9/132). The main article explores anticholinergic burden and the risk of cognitive decline, dementia and increased mortality associated with long-term use of drugs with anticholinergic activity (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/9/135).
Please subscribe to the DTB podcast to get episodes automatically downloaded to your mobile device and computer. Also, please consider leaving us a review or a comment on the DTB Podcast iTunes podcast page (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dtb-podcast/id307773309). If you want to contact us please email dtb@bmj.com. Thank you for listening.

FeNO and asthma, low-dose aspirin and H pylori eradication, plus finerenone

In this podcast, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the August 2023 issue of DTB. They discuss measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the management of asthma (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/8/114). They review a study that assessed the use of H. pylori eradication in people taking low-dose aspirin (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/8/116). The main article explores the evidence for the use of finerenone for CKD associated with type 2 diabetes (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/8/120).
Please subscribe to the DTB podcast to get episodes automatically downloaded to your mobile device and computer. Also, please consider leaving us a review or a comment on the DTB Podcast iTunes podcast page (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dtb-podcast/id307773309). If you want to contact us please email dtb@bmj.com. Thank you for listening.

July 2023: Whither evidence, COI in guidelines, isotretinoin safety, SGLT2 inhibitors and Utrogestan shortage

In this podcast, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the July 2023 issue of DTB. They discuss evidence-based medicine, access to evidence and increasing use of press releases and social media to present evidence (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/7/98). They talk about the safety of isotretinoin (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/7/99) and review a study that assessed the accuracy of conflict of interest statements in clinical guidelines (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/7/100). The main review article explores the evidence for cardiac and renal effects of SGLT2 inhibitors (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/7/103). They begin by discussing the impact of the shortage of Utrogestan.

DTB 60th anniversary podcast interview - Barbara Mintzes

In a series of podcasts to mark the 60th anniversary of DTB, we talk to some of DTB's Editorial Board members and other colleagues about their work and their involvement with DTB. In this podcast, David Phizackerley (DTB deputy editor) talks to Barbara Mintzes (DTB associate editor)  who is Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy and Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, where she has worked since 2015.  Her background is in epidemiology and the main focus of her work is on pharmaceutical policy, including the effects of direct-to-consumer advertising and physician-directed promotion on medicine use. Barbara talks about her interest in medicines policies, the impact of pharmaceutical and medical device company payments to clinicians, medicalisation of normal life, medicine safety scandals and the impact on those who have been harmed by medicines with a particular focus on women's health.
 
Please subscribe to the DTB podcast to get episodes automatically downloaded to your mobile device and computer. Also, please consider leaving us a review or a comment on the DTB Podcast iTunes podcast page (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dtb-podcast/id307773309). If you want to contact us please email dtb@bmj.com. Thank you for listening.

Aciclovir PEP after VZ exposure in pregnancy, falls and fractures with aspirin, an inclisiran rant

In this podcast, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the June 2023 issue of DTB. They discuss new guidelines on post-exposure prophylaxisfor varicella or shingles during pregnancy (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/6/82). They review the effect of low-dose aspirin on fractures and falls (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/6/85), and talk about a study that does not provide meaningful cardiovascular outcome data for inclisiran (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/6/86). The main review article explores hospitalisation as a consequence of medication-related harm and the need to reduce the burden of harm caused by medication (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/6/87). They begin by discussing an announcement from NHS England that antibiotics will be provided without the need for a prescription from community pharmacies to free up GP time.
The contact address for the DTB team is dtb@bmj.com.Please subscribe to the DTB podcast to get episodes automatically downloaded to your mobile device and computer. Also, please consider leaving us a review or a comment on the DTB Podcast iTunes podcast page (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dtb-podcast/id307773309). Thank you for listening.

May 2023 - another DTB celebration (or two), OACs and NSAIDs, and siRNA-based therapeutics

In this podcast, James Cave (Editor-in-Chief) and David Phizackerley (Deputy Editor) talk about the May 2023 issue of DTB. They celebrate 60 years since DTB became independent from The Medical Letter and discuss what DTB stands for (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/5/66). They review a retrospective cohort study involving people taking oral anticoagulants that compared the risk of bleeding and embolic events in new users of NSAIDs with those not prescribed NSAIDs (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/5/67). They also talk about the main review article that explores the therapeutics of siRNA medicines (https://dtb.bmj.com/content/61/5/72). They begin by discussing the UK Government’s recent Budget statement that the MHRA will introduce a new approval process for medicines that have been licensed elsewhere.