The Positive Association between Proton Pump Inhibitors and Clostridium Difficile Infection.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly used medications by patients due to its availability over the counter and frequent prescribing by physicians to treat and alleviate symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Recently, the FDA issued a warning with respect to the utilization of PPIs and risk of developing Clostridium difficile infections (CDI). The most commonly known medications to cause CDI are antibiotics.

Implementing a health literacy module fostering patient-centered written communication in a cardiovascular prevention elective course.

Background: A universal approach to health literacy employs clear communication and emphasizes patient action in support of understanding cardiovascular risks and making healthy lifestyle changes. The aim of this project was to evaluate the impact of a health literacy module on enhancing students' written patient education material using standardized readability assessment tools.

Educational Activity: A professional elective course employed team-based learning and a community health fair activity.

PCSK9 inhibitors: Add-on therapy to reduce stroke risk.

PCSK9 inhibitors.

Dietary approaches to hypertension: a call to pharmacists to promote lifestyle changes.

Objectives: To describe guideline updates regarding a dietary approach to preventing or treating hypertension and to encourage pharmacists to provide education to patients on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and reducing dietary sodium intake.

Data Sources: Abstracts and published articles identified by searching Medline (January 2001 to July 2011) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (January 2001 to July 2011) using the terms hypertension, cardiovascular risk, risk reduction behavior, health behavior, community pharmacy services, counseling, diet, and sodium-restricted diet, as well as reports from the Institute of Medicine and Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010.

Data Synthesis: In the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, the recommended daily dietary sodium intakes for individuals with hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes was reduced to less than 1,500 mg per day.

Web-based instruction on substance abuse and drug diversion.

Objectives: To develop a pilot study to assess the effectiveness of a Web-based educational module on enhancing understanding of substance abuse and drug diversion, and to assess students' abilities and confidence in applying the information.

Design: A Web-based instructional module was presented to students enrolled in their second pre-professional year, and students were informed that it was part of a research study. Knowledge was tested using 10 pre- and post-module questions.

Using cooperative learning for a drug information assignment.

Objectives: To implement a cooperative learning activity to engage students in analyzing tertiary drug information resources in a literature evaluation course.

Design: The class was divided into 4 sections to form expert groups and each group researched a different set of references using the jigsaw technique. Each member of each expert group was reassigned to a jigsaw group so that each new group was composed of 4 students from 4 different expert groups.

Tolerability of beta-blockers in outpatients with refractory heart failure who were receiving continuous milrinone.

Study Objective: To investigate the dosing, tolerability, and outcomes associated with the use of concomitant beta-blockers and inotropic therapy in patients with refractory heart failure during the first 6 months of their therapy.

Design: Retrospective review.

Setting: University-based, tertiary care heart failure and transplant center.

Levosimendan: a novel inotropic agent for treatment of acute, decompensated heart failure.

Objective: To review the literature on a novel calcium sensitizer, levosimendan.

Data Sources: Articles were identified through searches of MEDLINE (1966-June 2005), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-June 2005), and EMBASE (1992-June 2005) using the key words levosimendan, simendan, calcium sensitizer, calcium sensitiser, and congestive heart failure.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Clinical trials and pharmacokinetic studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of levosimendan were selected.

Plasma cholesterol concentrations, dietary fat intake, and cholesterol intake in pharmacy students.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of formal education on hyperlipidemia on pharmacy students' dietary fat consumption and plasma cholesterol concentrations over a 3-month period.

Design: Prospective, open, nonrandomized, controlled trial.

Setting: College of pharmacy.