Effectiveness of telepharmacy diabetes services: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Although pharmacist-provided diabetes services have been shown to be effective, the effectiveness of telepharmacy (TP) in diabetes management has not been clearly established. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of diabetes TP services.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched (from inception through September 2021) to identify published studies that evaluated the effect of TP services in patients with diabetes mellitus and reported either glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) or fasting blood glucose (FBG) outcomes.

Students' perceptions of a new transitions of care elective course in the pharmacy curriculum.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of the new transitions of care (TOC) elective to the pharmacy curriculum is to train pharmacy students to address TOC medication-related problems, assess students' knowledge and perceptions of the TOC pharmacist's role, and explore the impact on interest in post-graduate career planning.

Educational Activity And Setting: Third-year pharmacy students were enrolled in the two-credit TOC elective course. The course was designed to include relevant TOC concepts and application of the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process.

Effectiveness of Telepharmacy Versus Face-to-Face Anticoagulation Services in the Ambulatory Care Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Effectiveness of anticoagulation services managed via telepharmacy (TP) has not been clearly demonstrated.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the effectiveness of TP anticoagulation services to face-to-face (FTF) anticoagulation services in the ambulatory care setting.

Methods: A literature search for studies assessing the effectiveness of TP services was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central databases, from inception through November 18, 2020.

The Role of a Simulation-Based Activity on Student Perceptions of Parenteral Nutrition Education.

: Parenteral nutrition (PN) education in pharmacy schools and postgraduate programs may not sufficiently prepare future pharmacists for clinical practice. Limited data exist regarding innovative teaching strategies in the area of PN. The purpose of this study was to identify students' perceptions of a simulated PN activity in a pharmacotherapeutics course.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Posaconazole Delayed Release Tablets and Suspension in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Patients.

Objectives: Posaconazole is effective in preventing invasive fungal infections in neutropenic pediatric patients. The oral suspension has challenges in administration and absorption that are theorized to be minimized with delayed release tablets. However, this has not been validated in the pediatric population.

Use of Arginine Hydrochloride in the Treatment of Metabolic Alkalosis or Hypochloremia in Pediatric Patients.

Objectives: Dosing of arginine for treatment of hypochloremia or metabolic alkalosis is laborious and has inherent variability in dose selection. The primary objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of arginine in the treatment of metabolic alkalosis and hypochloremia. Secondary objectives were to determine an optimal dose, route, and frequency for arginine administration in the treatment of these conditions.

Surface APRIL Is Elevated on Myeloid Cells and Is Associated with Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: To assess surface APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand; CD256) expression by circulating myeloid cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine its relationship to disease activity.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma were obtained from patients with RA and healthy donors. PBMC were stained for flow cytometry to detect surface APRIL and blood cell markers to identify circulating myeloid cell subsets.

Implementation and preliminary outcomes of a comprehensive oral chemotherapy management clinic.

Purpose: Improved outcomes achieved by an oral chemotherapy management (OCM) clinic, including a reduction in the need for medication-related interventions, are reported.

Summary: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of an OCM clinic providing comprehensive medication therapy management (MTM) services, including education on various oral chemotherapy agents, concurrent medications, and symptom management, as well as insurance assistance. Patient demographics, self-rated depression scores, and data on concurrent medication use, types of interventions, and intervention outcomes were collected at baseline and at follow-up visits for up to three months.

A multidisciplinary atrial fibrillation clinic.

Background: Reports in the literature indicate that specialty clinics focusing on management of patients with specific chronic disorders have a significant positive impact on patient outcomes. Atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most common forms of cardiac arrhythmia, affects millions of patients. Outcome data regarding the impact of managing patients with AF are limited.

Incidence and risk factors influencing the development of vancomycin nephrotoxicity in children.

Objective: To determine the incidence of vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity in children and to examine potential risk factors for nephrotoxicity, including average serum trough concentrations ≥ 15 mg/L.

Study Design: Patients ≥ 1 week old to ≤ 19 years with normal baseline serum creatinine values who received vancomycin for ≥ 48 hours between December 2007 and April 2009 were retrospectively evaluated. Nephrotoxicity was defined as a serum creatinine increase of ≥ 0.

Complications associated with outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy in children.

Background: The authors sought to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical impact of complications associated with outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in children.

Methods: A cohort of patients ≤18 years old with infections, who received OPAT were evaluated retrospectively. Antibiotic-associated complications (AACs), catheter-associated complications (CACs), and unplanned medical care visits were the main outcome measures.