Professor of Molecular Pharmacology Eoin O’Brien on new research which shows no significant reduction of systolic blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension six months after renal-artery denervation.

Dear Editor,  Progress has been described as the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance, and it is a perennial process, often vividly illustrated in our emergency departments.

Stroke prevention is the first and most important part in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation, Dr Richard Sheahan, Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, told a recent GP Study Day meeting at the Hermitage Medical Clinic.

Self-testing INR (International Normalised Ratio) blood levels at home can offer patients greater freedom and has been clinically proven to improve health and increase a person’s time in therapeutic range, reports Gary Culliton in his latest Clinical Update.

The Irish Defence Forces have  invited applications from doctors with “a reasonably high level of personal fitness”, among other requirements, to become Medical Officers in the Irish Defence Forces, IMT reports.

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) has been engaged to recruit a Chief Information Officer for the health services.

The Medical Council has announced that it has received official confirmation from the United States Department of Education that its accreditation processes are comparable to their standards, IMT reports.

Frequent religious service attendance is a long-term protective factor against suicide, new research from the US has suggested.

Approximately one-third of  all healthcare associated infection (HCAI) is preventable, meaning that approximately €78 million could be saved per year if appropriate interventions were in place to reduce preventable HCAI, the HSE has said.

A total of 160 (or 60 per cent) of pledged primary care posts had been filled by January 1 this year, figures reveal.