The role of academic pharmacy in tobacco cessation and control.

Despite decades of public health initiatives, tobacco use remains the leading known preventable cause of death in the United States. Clinicians have a proven, positive effect on patients' ability to quit, and pharmacists are strategically positioned to assist patients with quitting. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy recognizes health promotion and disease prevention as a key educational outcome; as such, tobacco cessation education should be a required component of pharmacy curricula to ensure that all pharmacy graduates possess the requisite evidence-based knowledge and skills to intervene with patients who use tobacco.

Integration of physical assessment within a pathophysiology course for pharmacy.

Objective: To determine first-year pharmacy students' analysis, confidence, and knowledge of patient physical assessment integrated within a pathophysiology curriculum.

Design: A prospective quasi-experimental study using validated pre- and post-surveys and follow-up examinations was conducted to objectively assess the confidence and knowledge of pharmacy students' physical assessment skills.

Assessment: Students' perceived ability to perform physical assessment techniques improved.

Role of lipoamide dehydrogenase and metallothionein on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine-induced neurotoxicity.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on lipoamide dehydrogenase activity and metallothionein content. Lipoamide dehydrogenase is a flavoprotein enzyme, which reduces lipoamide and low molecular weight thiols. This enzyme has also been involved in the conversion of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q-10, oxidized form) to ubiquinol (reduced form).