Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose and Hypoglycemia-Related Hospitalization in a Population-Based Cohort of Canadian Patients With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine whether: 1) blood glucose test strip use in the population is associated with hypoglycemia hospitalization rates, and 2) blood glucose test strip use among individuals is associated with a reduced risk of hypoglycemia hospitalization.

Methods: Administrative databases from Saskatchewan, Canada, were used to ascertain population-level hypoglycemia hospitalizations and test strip utilization over the period from 1996 to 2014. For objective 1, a generalized linear model with generalized estimating equations was fit to provincial data stratified by age group, sex and year.

Novel calixarene-based surfactant enables low dose split inactivated vaccine protection against influenza infection.

Influenza A viruses cause major morbidity and represent a severe global health problem. Current influenza vaccines are mainly egg-based products requiring the split of whole viruses using classical detergents such as Triton X-100, which implies certain limitations. Here, we report the use of the novel calixarene-based surfactant CALX133ACE as an alternative to classical detergents for influenza inactivated split vaccine preparation.

Trends in Blood Glucose Test Strip Utilization: A Population-Wide Analysis in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Objectives: To describe trends in blood glucose test strip (TS) utilization and cost in Saskatchewan.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of TS use between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2013, was conducted using population-based health administrative databases in Saskatchewan. The prescription drug database was used to describe the annual number of TS dispensations, the number of strips dispensed, the number of unique beneficiaries and the total costs.

Expression and purification of native and functional influenza A virus matrix 2 proton selective ion channel.

Influenza A virus displays one of the highest infection rates of all human viruses and therefore represents a severe human health threat associated with an important economical challenge. Influenza matrix protein 2 (M2) is a membrane protein of the viral envelope that forms a proton selective ion channel. Here we report the expression and native isolation of full length active M2 without mutations or fusions.

Community Pharmacists Assisting in Total Cardiovascular Health (CPATCH): A Cluster-Randomized, Controlled Trial Testing a Focused Adherence Strategy Involving Community Pharmacies.

Study Objective: To test a brief intervention for preventing statin nonadherence among community pharmacy patrons.

Design: Prospective, cluster-randomized, controlled trial (the Community Pharmacists Assisting in Total Cardiovascular Health [CPATCH] trial).

Setting: Thirty community pharmacies in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Trends in prevalence, incidence and pharmacologic management of diabetes mellitus among seniors newly admitted to long-term care facilities in Saskatchewan between 2003 and 2011.

Objective: We aimed to describe trends in the prevalence and incidence of diabetes mellitus and also report the overall use of diabetes medications among patients newly admitted to a long-term care facility (LTCF).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was done using health administrative databases in Saskatchewan. Eligible patients were newly admitted to LTCF in Saskatchewan between 2003 and 2011 and maintained LTCF residency for at least 6 months.

Do prior authorization policies discourage first-line antipsychotic use in patients newly discharged from a hospitalization for schizophrenia in Saskatchewan?

Background: Drug benefit providers can decrease prescribing of specific medications through prior authorization policies. In Saskatchewan, certain second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are recognized as first-line agents to manage schizophrenia; but, require prior authorization because their coverage is restricted in other conditions. We aimed to determine if the need for prior-authorization substantially diminishes prescribing of first-line SGAs in comparison to unrestricted agents.