In vitro assessment of biological activity and stability of the ALVAC-HIV vaccine.

The first evidence in humans that a safe and effective preventive vaccine for HIV is possible came from the phase III HIV clinical trial RV144 in Thailand. This trial was based on a prime/boost combination of a recombinant canarypox vaccine and two glycoprotein 120 proteins (ALVAC-HIV and AIDSVAX B/E). A pivotal phase IIb/III trial has recently commenced in the Republic of South Africa, for which the infectious titer assay was applied as the quantitative release test for the ALVAC-HIV vaccine.

Implementation and Assessment of a Pharmacy Educational Program Concerning Laboratory Monitoring for Medications.

Background: The pharmacist's role in monitoring medication therapy, including the ability to order laboratory tests as a delegated medical function, has increased dramatically over the past 20 years.

Objectives: To implement and assess the impact of an intervention designed to educate pharmacists about appropriate medication-related laboratory monitoring and clinical interpretation of results.

Methods: This pilot project had a pretest-posttest study design.

Autologous mesenchymal stem cells produce concordant improvements in regional function, tissue perfusion, and fibrotic burden when administered to patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: The Prospective Randomized Study of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery (PROMETHEUS) trial.

Rationale: Although accumulating data support the efficacy of intramyocardial cell-based therapy to improve left ventricular (LV) function in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing CABG, the underlying mechanism and impact of cell injection site remain controversial. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improve LV structure and function through several effects including reducing fibrosis, neoangiogenesis, and neomyogenesis.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the impact on cardiac structure and function after intramyocardial injections of autologous MSCs results from a concordance of prorecovery phenotypic effects.

Patients' recall of interaction with a pharmacist during hospital admission.

Background: CSHP 2015 objective 1.5 proposes that at least 50% of recently hospitalized patients or their caregivers will recall speaking with a pharmacist while in the hospital.

Objective: To determine the baseline prevalence of patients' recall of interaction with a pharmacist during their hospital admission and their level of satisfaction with these encounters, following a major reorganization of health authorities in New Brunswick.