Prescribers' perspectives: The impact of the controlled substance scheduling system on providing optimal patient care.

Background: In the United States, the scheduling system for controlled substances was established by the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. In 2009, Parker et al. published the study "Physicians' knowledge and attitudes toward scheduling.

Therapeutic update on oral potassium exchange resin use in chronic kidney disease patients: a systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials.

Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte disorder in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) that increases in prevalence with the decline of glomerular fltration rate (GFR). Another risk of hyperkalemia is the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) and/or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in managing CKD and proteinuria. The treatment of chronic hyperkalemia is challenging especially for outpatients.

Assessing learning gains of pharmacy students in communications, ways of thinking, and intercultural skills through self-assessment.

Background And Purpose: Intercultural and Global Health Issues was developed to address learning outcomes in communication, ways of thinking, intercultural personal skills, and intercultural knowledge. The aim of this study was to assess learning gains of pharmacy students through self-assessment.

Educational Activity And Setting: Course design, learning outcomes, objectives, and activities were created to meet the expected educational outcomes.

Accommodating Pharmacy Students With Physical Disabilities During the Experiential Learning Curricula.

Accommodating pharmacy students with physical disabilities during the experiential learning portion of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum can present unique challenges for pharmacy schools. The available literature regarding accommodations for pharmacy students in the experiential learning environment is sparse, leaving programs with little guidance. This commentary from the Big Ten Academic Alliance calls on the Academy to create a community of shared resources and best practice examples and offers practical suggestions for accommodating pharmacy students with mobility, vision, and auditory disabilities during introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs).

Tenapanor: A new treatment option for hyperphosphatemia in end stage kidney disease.

Purpose: This narrative review explores the currently published studies that have evaluated tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients on hemodialysis. This medication's new phosphate lowering mechanism of action reduces intestinal phosphate absorption predominantly through reduction of passive paracellular phosphate flux by inhibition of the sodium/hydrogen exporter isoform 3 (NHE3). Tenapanor additionally prevents active transcellular phosphate absorption compensation by decreasing the expression of sodium phosphorus 2b transport protein (NaPi2b).

Ergocalciferol Versus Cholecalciferol in Non-Dialysis Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Small Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to measure the difference between cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol in their ability to effect vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, and phosphorous serum concentrations in patients with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted within a single-center ambulatory nephrology clinic. Patients eligible for the study were identified through medical records displaying each patient's initiation on either ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol from 2013 to 2016.

Use of Paricalcitol as Adjunctive Therapy to Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibition for Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Purpose: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major complication of diabetes. Paricalcitol is a vitamin D analog that is typically used for secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease but may have some beneficial effect on DN. This review evaluates the effect of paricalcitol in combination with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor therapy in managing DN.

Cost Savings and Clinical Interventions Made by PharmD Students During APPE Rotations at Federally Qualified Health Centers.

PharmD students make significant clinical interventions during their last year of training in clinical rotations at a variety of practice sites. These interventions ranged from performing dosage adjustments to preventing adverse drug reactions and saved $92,803 dollars in the Federally Qualified Health Center practice sites that were included in this study over a 1-year period of time. The following study examines the types of interventions made and their associated cost savings.

Grading trends and evaluation of student performance across advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) in the Big Ten Academic Alliance (The GRAPPES study).

Introduction: With over a third of the doctor of pharmacy curriculum relying on experiential education (EE), it is critical that students are assessed and graded in accordance with their actual performance. The objective of this paper is to review advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) grading across the Big Ten Academic Alliance to describe how APPE grading occurs at these institutions and highlight differences in approach and outcomes.

Methods: Experiential directors/deans were asked to import de-identified data (e.

Preceptor perceptions of block scheduling and institutional track programs to prepare APPE students for residency or hospital careers.

Introduction: Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (BUCOPHS) and Purdue University College of Pharmacy (PUCOP) created Block Scheduling and Institutional Track programs with the goal of better preparing students interested in pursuing postgraduate residency and/or a career in institutional practice. While informal feedback has been positive from both students and preceptors, more formalized feedback was sought. The objective of this study was to determine whether preceptors perceived additional benefits in precepting students selected through Block Scheduling and Institutional Track programs compared to students scheduled on rotations through a traditional preference or optimization process.

Hydralazine-associated Amenorrhea in a Premenopausal Patient With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Purpose: Several antihypertensive medications have been associated with various forms of sexual dysfunction. We present a case report of a premenopausal patient with hydralazine-associated amenorrhea.

Methods: The Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale was used to assess causality.

Integrating parts of the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for pharmacy professionals into a career development lab.

Background And Purpose: To use parts of the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for Pharmacy Professionals in a career development laboratory designed to provide students with relevant information that will help them prepare for successful careers across the profession of pharmacy.

Educational Activity And Setting: Students enrolled in the second professional year of pharmacy school participated in an interactive three-hour career development laboratory. Students completed the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program for Pharmacy Professionals Online Assessment Tool prior to the laboratory.

A Review of Ferric Pyrophosphate Citrate (Triferic) Use in Hemodialysis Patients.

Purpose: The objective of this short review is to evaluate the efficacy of ferric pyrophosphate citrate and to determine its place in therapy based on the current published literature.

Methods: A literature search was conducted and pared down to yield 4 placebo controlled Phase II and III clinically relevant trials.

Findings: Ferric pyrophosphate citrate is a new intradialytic iron supplementation product that has been found to reduce the dose of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and intravenous iron supplementation and to increase serum ferritin concentrations.

Can Pentoxifylline be used as Adjunct Therapy to ACE Inhibitors and ARBs in Preserving Kidney Function?

Purpose: To determine if there is sufficient evidence to recommend the addition of pentoxifylline to standard ACE inhibitor and ARB therapy in chronic kidney disease patients to reduce proteinuria and preserve kidney function. 

Methods: A search of the literature was conducted using the PubMed.gov and ClinicalTrials.

Using institutional track programs and block scheduling to help students prepare for postgraduate residency training.

Purpose: The development and implementation of institutional track programs and block scheduling to help students prepare for postgraduate residency training are described.

Summary: Institutional track and block scheduling models were implemented into advanced pharmacy practice experience rotations to provide students with several of these experiences at the same practice site. Students at Purdue University College of Pharmacy (PUCOP) and Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (BUCOPHS) can apply for an institutional track or block schedule.

A review of sucroferric oxyhydroxide for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients receiving dialysis.

Purpose: Sucroferric oxyhydroxide is the newest phosphate binder to receive US Food and Drug Administration approval for patients on dialysis. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the studies that have been conducted with this medication and determine where it may fit in the clinician's overall treatment plan for hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Methods: Literature searches were performed in the PubMed database and www.

Cost savings associated with pharmacy student interventions during APPEs.

Objective: To quantify the impact of pharmacy students' clinical interventions in terms of number and cost savings throughout advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) using a Web-based documentation program.

Methods: Five hundred eighty doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students completing ten 4-week APPEs during the final year of the curriculum were asked to document all clinical interventions they made using a Web-based documentation tool. Data were collected over 4 academic years.

Evaluating the Use of Bortezomib and Eculizumab in Desensitization of Transplant Patients.

: To systematically review the existing literature concerning the utilization of bortezomib and eculizumab to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant their routine use in desensitization protocols for high-risk transplant candidates. : PubMed, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the terms bortezomib, eculizumab, desensitization, transplant, highly-sensitized, pre-sensitized, and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR).

Pilot testing of checklists to discern adverse drug reactions and adverse drug events.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of patient-reported adverse drug events (ADEs)/adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the community pharmacy setting and determine the prevalence relative to pharmacist judgment.

Data Sources: The 2009 version of the Pharmacy Times top 200 drugs was used to identify the prescription medications most commonly used within the ambulatory population during 2008. All ADEs/ADRs for each medication were obtained by combining the ADEs/ADRs listed in Drug Facts and Comparisons, Lexi-Comp, and Micromedex.

Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide: a review of their use for hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients.

Phosphate binders have traditionally been used to treat hyperphosphatemia, a common complication in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). New evidence suggests that nicotinic acid and its metabolites may effectively decrease phosphorus absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing serum phosphorus concentrations. We conducted a literature search to identify studies of patients with ESRD on dialysis that evaluated the role of niacin and related compounds in decreasing serum phosphorus levels.

Potential new treatments for diabetic kidney disease.

Antifibrotic agents, antioxidant agents, ET-a receptor antagonists, and a few other agents with nonspecific or multifaceted mechanisms of action have been evaluated and progressed to small clinical studies in human subjects. Although there are limited data at the present time, these early evaluations have produced some favorable results that at least warrant further investigation. There is certainly not enough compelling evidence to justify the routine use of any of these products specifically for DKD at the moment; however, more well-controlled and adequately powered studies in several hundred patients will help determine which of these may have a place in the DKD treatment armamentarium of the future.

A review investigating the effect of allopurinol on the progression of kidney disease in hyperuricemic patients with chronic kidney disease.

This communication provides a brief report on the studies evaluating the use of allopurinol for delay of kidney disease progression and a discussion of the current limitations and future research needed. To date, only 5 studies have reported a delay in the progression of kidney disease with allopurinol use; a sixth study is currently underway. Allopurinol does seem to delay the progression of kidney disease as measured by using serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rates in hyperuricemic patients with chronic kidney disease.

Update on potential drugs for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease.

Background: Although controlling hyperglycemia and proteinuria is currently the main focus of diabetic kidney disease management, some existing drugs and other new compounds are being evaluated for their ability to interrupt the disease process. Specifically, drugs that interfere with the formation and action of advanced glycation end products and reduce or inhibit fibrosis of the glomerular structures in the presence of hyperglycemia are just 2 examples.

Objective: The aim is to provide an in-depth review of drugs currently being investigated to treat diabetic kidney disease (DKD) through novel mechanisms of action that interrupt the pathologic process.

A Comparative Look at the Safety Profiles of Intravenous Iron Products Used in the Hemodialysis Population.

Objective: To review clinical trials conducted in hemodialysis patients of the 4 intravenous iron products available in the US in an attempt to discern strengths and inferiorities between products and evaluate current safety data that can be used to assist the clinician in selecting the most appropriate agent.

Data Sources: Literature was accessed through PubMed (January 2000-October 2010). In some cases, reference citations from selected review articles were evaluated as well.