Consumer perceptions of using social media for health purposes: Benefits and drawbacks.

Consumers are increasingly using social media to interact with other consumers about health conditions and treatment options. This study aimed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using social media for health-related purposes from the consumers' perspectives. Five focus groups with 36 Australian adults with a chronic condition and on medication were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed.

Consumer Health-Related Activities on Social Media: Exploratory Study.

Background: Although a number of studies have investigated how consumers use social media for health-related purposes, there is a paucity of studies in the Australian context.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how Australian consumers used social media for health-related purposes, specifically how they identified social media platforms, which were used, and which health-related activities commonly took place.

Methods: A total of 5 focus groups (n=36 participants), each lasting 60 to 90 minutes, were conducted in the Sydney metropolitan area.

Do pharmacists use social media for patient care?

Background Social media are frequently used by consumers and healthcare professionals. However, it is not clear how pharmacists use social media as part of their daily professional practice. Objective This study investigated the role social media play in pharmacy practice, particularly in patient care and how pharmacists interact online with patients and laypeople.

Professional Use of Social Media by Pharmacists: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Social media is frequently used by consumers and health care professionals; however, our knowledge about its use in a professional capacity by pharmacists is limited.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the professional use of social media by pharmacists.

Methods: In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with practicing pharmacists (N=31) from nine countries.

Pharmacists' perceptions of professionalism on social networking sites.

Background: Social networking sites (SNS) are a new venue for communication, and health care professionals, like the general population, are using them extensively. However, their behavior on SNS may influence public perceptions about their professionalism.

Objective: This study explored how pharmacists separate professional and personal information and activities on SNS, their perceptions of professional behavior on SNS, and opinions on guidelines in this area.

Provision of a Medicines Information Service to Consumers on Facebook: An Australian Case Study.

Background: Social networking sites (SNSs) have changed the way people communicate. They may also change the way people seek health advice.

Objective: This study describes the provision of a medicines information service on Facebook to individual consumers.

The use of social media in pharmacy practice and education.

Background: Social media is becoming increasingly ubiquitous. It has significant potential as a health communication and educational tool, and may provide a medium for the delivery of health-related services.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to investigate the use of social media in professional pharmacy practice and pharmacy education, and includes an evaluation of the research designs utilized.

Tacrolimus (FK506) reduces hippocampal damage but fails to prevent learning and memory deficits after transient, global cerebral ischemia in rats.

Transient, global cerebral ischemia (TGCI) leads to hippocampal damage and disruption of spatial learning and memory. The immunosuppressant, tacrolimus (FK506), prevents TGCI-induced hippocampal neurodegeneration, but its effectiveness in promoting the recovery of learning and memory performance after TGCI has been little investigated. Here, we use a confined version of the aversive, non-food rewarded radial maze to evaluate further the effects of FK506 on TGCI-induced learning and memory deficits.

Sustained neuroprotection and facilitation of behavioral recovery by the Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb 761, after transient forebrain ischemia in rats.

The effects of the Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb 761, on ischemia-induced learning/memory impairments and hippocampal damage were evaluated in a non-food motivated, aversive radial maze task (AvRM). Rats were subjected to 15 min transient, global cerebral ischemia (TGCI). In the first experiment, rats were rendered ischemic, and 23 days later were tested for acquisition performance (post-operative training).

The Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb 761, fails to reduce brain infarct size in rats after transient, middle cerebral artery occlusion in conditions of unprevented, ischemia-induced fever.

There is much biochemical evidence, but very few studies in animal models of stroke in vivo, to suggest that Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) may offer neuroprotection against regional, ischemic brain damage; additional investigations are needed to ensure future clinical trials. This study reports the effects of EGb 761 given acutely or chronically before ischemia. Rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h and the brain infarct size was assessed 24 h later.

Permanent, 3-stage, 4-vessel occlusion as a model of chronic and progressive brain hypoperfusion in rats: a neurohistological and behavioral analysis.

Permanent, 3-stage, 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) was evaluated as a practicable model of progressive, cerebral hypoperfusion in rats, resulting in quantifiable, reproducible, neuronal damage within a time interval shorter than that described in the 2-VO model. The effect of permanent and graded 4-VO on cognition was also evaluated using the newly developed, aversive radial maze. The vertebral arteries (VA) plus the common carotid arteries (CCA) or internal carotid arteries (ICA) were progressively and permanently occluded, following different experimental sequences (CCA--> VA; VA-->CCA-->CCA or VA-->ICA-->ICA) with inter-stage intervals ranging from 1 to 4 weeks.

Effect of tacrolimus (FK506) on ischemia-induced brain damage and memory dysfunction in rats.

The behavioral and neurohistological protective effects of tacrolimus (FK506) were examined in rats subjected to 15-min global forebrain ischemia. Learning and memory performance were evaluated in an aversive, non-food-motivated, eight-arm radial maze. In one experiment, naive rats were rendered ischemic, and 15 days later they were tested for acquisition of a spatial task (postoperative training).