LONDON, September 8 /PRNewswire/ --

More than a third of patients with long-term fatigue conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) believe complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are more effective than traditional medicine in treating their illness, research launched at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester reveals.

98% of patients believed alternative therapy should be available through the NHS.

Researchers from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen found that sufferers of chronic conditions had relief from their symptoms when they used CAMs.

The findings showed:

LONDON, September 8 /PRNewswire/ --

Pharmacists could help reduce GP workloads by 20 per cent, saving the NHS millions of pounds every year, according to Steve Churton, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).

Addressing delegates at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester today, RPSGB President Steve Churton said:

"Every year patients with minor ailments generate over 50 million GP consultations: that's almost 20 per cent of doctors' workloads, costing the NHS more than GBP1.5 billion. There is absolutely no reason why such consultations could not be handled by pharmacists, releasing an hour a day for every GP in the country to see patients with more complex needs.

LONDON, September 8 /PRNewswire/ --

An effective new method of diagnosing bowel (also known as colorectal, or large bowel) cancer using 'light' may soon be available, according to research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester.

The technique, known as 'photodynamic diagnosis', is already used to diagnose and treat other types of cancers, for example, certain skin cancers. A photosensitive drug, which is attracted specifically to cancer cells, is put onto the body. When a blue light is applied to the area, it activates the drug and shows any abnormal cells as red. This makes it easier to identify lesions (abnormal tissue) that could otherwise be missed.

LONDON, September 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from a new pooled data analysis presented at the European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress (EHMTIC) 2008 today show that zolmitriptan ('Zomig') nasal spray provided fast and efficacious relief in the treatment of episodic and chronic cluster headache.(1) The data shows that zolmitriptan nasal spray provided significant relief from cluster headache at 30 minutes - this maybe of real significance for patients whose current treatment options (oxygen inhalation, self administered sumatriptan injection or a combination of both) are limited due to inconvenience of use.

LONDON, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --

One in four patients with diabetes are not receiving the appropriate cardiovascular medications, research launched at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester has shown.

Diabetes and its complications are responsible for an estimated one in 17 deaths in the UK(1). Cardiovascular complications such as heart disease and stroke are major causes of mortality and morbidity among diabetics.

LONDON, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --

Research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester reveals that coating an artificial lens with antibiotics could significantly reduce the risk of post-operative infection, and even blindness, for cataract patients.