Pilot study evaluating feasibility and utility of pharmacist-driven oral antineoplastic agent monitoring program.

Introduction: Oncologists are increasingly prescribing oral antineoplastic agents which have benefits and challenges impacting patient outcomes. Practice guidelines recommend monitoring symptoms and adherence without outlining any specific tools or methods for monitoring. Pharmacists are successful in monitoring patients on therapy and improving outcomes.

Use of high-fidelity simulation to teach end-of-life care to pharmacy students in an interdisciplinary course.

Objective: To assess the effect of high-fidelity simulation on pharmacy students' attitudes and perceived competencies in providing end-of-life care in an interdisciplinary palliative care course.

Design: Thirty pharmacy students participated in a high-fidelity simulation of the 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after the death of a patient with end-stage renal disease.

Assessment: Students completed the Attitudes Toward Death Survey and the End of Life Competency Survey prior to and after experiencing the simulation.

Impact of clinical pharmacy services on patients in an outpatient chemotherapy academic clinic.

Background: Assessing the role of the pharmacist in an outpatient oncology clinic requires quantification of parameters that are important to the patient and the healthcare system. Patient evaluations not only serve as benchmarks for a process; but may also predict behavior such as utilization of care, continuity with the provider, and compliance.

Purpose: To identify the role of the patient-pharmacist relationship and enhance patient satisfaction with care, a survey tool was developed and utilized.

Targeted high lung concentrations of itraconazole using nebulized dispersions in a murine model.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the delivery of itraconazole (ITZ) particles to a murine lung model by nebulization.

Methods: Three ITZ formulations were prepared and characterized in the dry state using contact angle, dissolution, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. Aerodynamic particle size distributions and lung deposition studies in 14 outbred male ICR mice were performed using aqueous dispersions of all the formulations.

In vivo efficacy of aerosolized nanostructured itraconazole formulations for prevention of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

Aerosolized evaporative precipitation into aqueous solution and spray freezing into liquid nanostructured formulations of itraconazole as prophylaxis significantly improved survival relative to commercial itraconazole oral solution and the control in a murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Aerosolized administration of nanostructured formulations also achieved high lung tissue concentrations while limiting systemic exposure.