Somatic symptom disorder

• Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) today announced top-line results from the Phase 3 ADVANCE-2 trial evaluating pimavanserin for the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
• The safety and tolerability profile of pimavanserin was consistent with previous clinical trials, showing a low rate of adverse events.
• “We are disappointed the trial did not meet its primary endpoint given the significant unmet need in patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia,” said Steve Davis, Acadia’s Chief Executive Officer.
• In ADVANCE-2, pimavanserin was well-tolerated with an adverse event rate of 30.4% compared with 40.3% for the placebo arm.

• WATSONVILLE, Calif., Feb. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nordic Naturals is voluntarily recalling one lot of Nordic Naturals Baby’s Vitamin D3 Liquid, 0.76 fl.
• This recall is being conducted due to a manufacturing error that resulted in an elevated level of Vitamin D3 dosage or super potent dose.
• Prolonged use of the recalled Baby’s Vitamin D3 Liquid could potentially lead to elevated vitamin D levels, resulting in vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, frequent urination, and inability to thrive in infants.
• Nordic Naturals can also be contacted directly at [email protected] or 888-294-7440, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST.

• Overview
  This is a summary of the scientific conclusions reached by the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) on the medicinal uses of black cohosh.
• The HMPC conclusions are taken into account by EU Member States when evaluating applications for the licensing of herbal medicines containing black cohosh.
• Black cohosh preparations may also be found in combination with other herbal substances in some herbal medicines.
• - Therapeutic area
  - Urinary tract and genital disorders
  - Status
  - C: ongoing call for scientific data
  - Date added to the inventory
  - Date added to priority list
  - Outcome of European assessment
  - European Union herbal monograph

• In 2021, almost 33 of every 1,000 South African children under five years old died.
• South Africa’s under-five mortality rate also lags behind the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of reducing these figures worldwide by 2030 to 25 deaths per 1,000.
• As researchers with an interest in indigenous knowledge, we explored the use of medicinal plants as remedies against diseases among children in the North West province of South Africa.
• Our study yielded the first comprehensive inventory of medicinal plants and indigenous knowledge related to children’s healthcare in the area.
• In total, 61 plants from 34 families were recorded as medicine used for managing seven categories of diseases.

Capturing local wisdom

• South Africa is endowed with a rich wealth of flora and is often acclaimed as a biodiversity hotspot.
• Thousands of plants are used for traditional medicine for the management of diverse health conditions.
• This signifies the importance of women as active custodians of indigenous knowledge related to childhood health needs.
• Carpet plant (Geranium incanum), common yellow commelina (Commelina africana) and elephant’s root (Elephantorrhiza elephantina) were the most popular medicinal plants.

The way forward

There is increasing support from governments for promoting traditional medicine as part of primary healthcare in African countries such as Cameroon and South Africa. We recommend that:
Government provide institutional and financial support to determine the role of herbal medicine in primary healthcare. Working with traditional health practitioners, medicinal plants must be documented and testing laboratories need to be set up to establish their efficacy and to determine appropriate dosages.
Botanical gardens should be created to ensure the sustainability of plants and their continued role in providing much-needed medical care. In the North West province, 40% of the ecosystems are under severe stress, with 11 of the 61 vegetation and 14 of the 18 river types classified as threatened. Medicinal plants are mostly harvested from the wild, so it’s possible that many could face extinction from uncontrolled harvesting.

• He is a member of the South African Association of Botany (SAAB).
• We are grateful to our participants for their willingness to be part of this study.
• Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu receives funding from National Research Foundation, Pretoria, South Africa.