Preceptor Feedback on Utilization and Pre-APPE Performance Expectations of Pharmacy Practice Skills.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequency with which preceptors perform skills in their practice setting and the degree of competency that preceptors expect from students to perform those skills upon starting their advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).

Methods: A survey assessing skill utilization and expected pre-APPE student competency level upon entry to APPEs was developed by pharmacy practice faculty and distributed to preceptors. Preceptors were asked to rank their utilization of skills and expected pre-APPE student competency of each skill.

Improving the pragmatic usefulness of the scoring matrix for the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A proposal for a more frequency-based approach: The CFIR-f.

The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) is a well-established framework for systematically identifying key factors influencing the implementation of programs. To enhance the classification of existing CFIR definitions, as well as its +2/-2 scoring system, this study incorporated the views of relevant experts to: i) improve how themes are scored; and ii) utilise more information regarding the frequency with which themes are identified. This structured, frequency-based approach to the CFIR's scoring process has been trialled as the CFIR-frequency (CFIR-f).

Combined PI3K and MAPK inhibition synergizes to suppress PDAC.

Oncogenic KRAS mutations are nearly ubiquitous in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), yet therapeutic attempts to target KRAS as well as its target MAPK pathway effectors have shown limited success due to the difficulty to pharmacologically target KRAS, inherent drug resistance in PDAC cells, and acquired resistance through activation of alternative mitogenic pathways such JAK-STAT and PI3K-AKT. While KRAS canonically drives the MAPK signaling pathway via RAF-MEK-ERK, it is also known to play a role in PI3K-AKT signaling. Our therapeutic study targeted the PI3K-AKT pathway with the drug Omipalisib (p110α/β/δ/γ and mTORC1/2 inhibitor) in combination with MAPK pathway targeting drug Trametinib (MEK1/2 inhibitor) or SHP099-HCL (SHP099), which is an inhibitor of the KRAS effector SHP2.

Adipose-Tumor Crosstalk contributes to CXCL5 Mediated Immune Evasion in PDAC.

Background: CXCR1/2 inhibitors are being implemented with immunotherapies in PDAC clinical trials. Cytokines responsible for stimulating these receptors include CXCL ligands, typically secreted by activated immune cells, fibroblasts, and even adipocytes. Obesity has been linked to poor patient outcome and altered anti-tumor immunity.

SHP2 regulates adipose maintenance and adipocyte-pancreatic cancer cell crosstalk via PDHA1.

Adipocytes are the most abundant cell type in the adipose tissue, and their dysfunction is a significant driver of obesity-related pathologies, such as cancer. The mechanisms that (1) drive the maintenance and secretory activity of adipocytes and (2) mediate the cancer cellular response to the adipocyte-derived factors are not fully understood. To address that gap of knowledge, we investigated how alterations in Src homology region 2-containing protein (SHP2) activity affect adipocyte function and tumor crosstalk.