According to recent study, drinking three cups of coffee daily could reduce the risk of dying from cirrhosis of the liver.

A group of researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health followed up on 51,306 adults who underwent screening for cardiovascular disease.

The National Community Pharmacists Association has established two important associations to boost the power of the roughly 25,000 independent and small chain pharmacy owners in its membership.

The representative of American Pharmacists Association, Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner (PhD in pharmacy), joined government officials few weeks ago to start the initiatives aiming at improving patients’ medication use and health awareness.

Stephen Clement is the owner of Copper Bend Pharmacy. He is also a past Illinois state pharmacist of the year and the current National Community Pharmacists Association preceptor of the year. As a pharmacist, he is always happy to help the patient who calls his drugstore to verify insulin dose before giving himself the injection.

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, acetaminophen (the active component in Tylenol) in the form of injection and COX-2 inhibitors hold promise as secure and effective tools of surgical pain control. Scientists from Yale University, New Haven, Conn., claim that both substances considerably reduce morphine intake in patients recovering from surgery.

From January 2006, all elderly people can be entitled to a federally subsidized prescription drug discount card. The cards will offer prescription drug discount card provided through private third party plans. They will grant discounts of 10 percent to 25 percent off the price of prescriptions. It is going to be competitive to card programs that are offered by pharmaceutical companies and drug producers. Pharmacy operators unwilling to attend the program take the risk of losing the customers. Their pharmacists will have to explain how the federal card works.

How do the sportsmen deal with sports-related pain? Most of them take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, there is a risk of unwanted gastrointestinal side effects, which may shift your reach to acetaminophen (Tylenol, and others). Most people regard acetaminophen as harmless, baby-safe choice for pain. But it can be very dangerous, especially if taken along with alcohol or in too high doses.

A new legislative idea is being considered these days. State lawmakers are going to introduce new tougher standards concerning drug compounding. Thanks to them the pharmacies will be controlled more effectively.

According to a report in the Contra Costa Times, these new regulations will be reviewed by the California Board of Pharmacy within the next few weeks. They will increase the number of inspections of compounding pharmacies. Moreover, they will require additional licensing procedures for the pharmacies.

Chain pharmacy is fighting for higher representation on state boards of pharmacy. Several states named or reappointed chain members in recent weeks.

The director of managed care and professional services for Wal-Mart Stores, Bob DuFour from Arkansas, was designated to the state board. John Beckner, director of pharmacy for Richmond, Va.-based Ukrop’s Super Markets, has been tapped to begin a four-year term on the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. And Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has reappointed Walgreens pharmacist Vern Kassekert to a second four-year term.