INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

NEW YORK — A visit to the dentist may offer a chance to catch prediabetes or diabetes in patients unaware that they have it, according to a new study.

Researchers at Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine found that patients seeing a dentist could be identified as showing symptoms of the conditions, such as periodontal disease.

NEW YORK — A new study published in the July 19 online edition of BMJ found that heart disease patients that opt out of taking low-dose aspirin daily put themselves at a higher risk for heart attack.

CHICAGO — Research firm Mintel hosted its New Products and Consumer Insights Pavilion in New Orleans last week and highlighted the importance of portion size, noting that many consumer packaged goods companies ignore the nutrition guideline.

During the event, more than 600 attendees voted on their favorite portion-control items. Top products were Sensible Portions veggie snacks variety pack from Canada, followed by Emerald Nut and Granola Mix in the United States, and Krave Chocolate Hazelnut Cereal from Ireland, which captured second and third place, respectively.

NEW YORK — Rising food prices and shrinking package sizes are a top concern for consumers, according to Deloitte's "2011 Consumer Food and Product Insight Survey."

NEW YORK — A new report published in the June issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety found that diabetes patients can benefit from multipayer patient-centered medical homes.

NEW YORK — Patients taking an investigative antidepressant undergoing late-stage clinical development showed “significant” improvement, according to study results released Monday.

Forest Labs and Pierre Fabre Medicament announced results of a phase-3 trial of levomilnacipran in adults with major depressive disorder. Results showed a statistically significant improvement in patients treated with the drug, compared with those taking placebo.

INDIANAPOLIS — A statin made by Eli Lilly and Kowa Pharmaceuticals America appears to work well with drugs used to treat HIV, according to a study presented at the sixth International AIDS Society conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Rome.

The study was designed to investigate potential interactions between Livalo (pitavastatin) and Abbott’s antiretroviral protease inhibitor Kaletra (lopinavir and ritonavir). The study found that each drug had only a minimal effect on the other.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that the U.S. Department of Defense has issued a final rule expanding the authorization of retail pharmacies to administer all vaccinations covered under the DOD's preventive care program is important as it further illustrates the critical role that retail pharmacy plays in health care.