Exceptionally Fast Ion Diffusion in Block Copolymer-Based Porous Carbon Fibers.

Confined ionic liquids in hydrophilic porous media have disrupted lattices and can be divided into two layers: An immobile ion layer adheres to the pore surfaces, and an inner layer exhibits faster mobility than the bulk. In this work, we report the first study of ionic liquids confined in block copolymer-based porous carbon fibers (PCFs) synthesized from polyacrylonitrile--polymethyl methacrylate (PAN--PMMA). The PCFs contain a network of unimodal mesopores of 13.

Improved asthma outcomes among at-risk children in a pharmacist-led, interdisciplinary school-based health clinic: A pilot study of the CAReS program.

Background: Disparities in access to care and outcomes have been identified among children with asthma living in underserved communities. The Caring for Asthma in our Region's Schoolchildren program was established to reduce disparities by providing school-based, comprehensive asthma care by a pharmacist-led, interdisciplinary team to high-risk pediatric populations in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

Objective: To investigate program impact on follow-up appointment attendance, delivery of guideline-based care, asthma control, asthma morbidity (emergency department [ED] visits, oral corticosteroid [OCS] requirement), and asthma-related knowledge and quality of life.

Pharmacist Involvement in Addressing Public Health Priorities and Community Needs: The Allegheny County Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Project.

Community-clinical linkages are connections between community and clinical sectors to improve population health, and community-based pharmacists are well positioned to implement this strategy. We implemented a novel approach to community-clinical linkages in African American communities in which community-based pharmacists implement screenings for chronic disease and social determinants of health, make referrals to clinical and social services, and follow up with patients to support linkage to care in nontraditional health care settings. The community-based pharmacist navigation program works with multisector partners to increase referrals and access to existing health and social service programs.

Vasopressin and vasopressin receptors in brain edema.

Vasopressin is a peptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary. Secretion of vasopressin is followed by activation of its receptors V1a, V1b, and V2 throughout the body. Each receptor type is responsible for a specific function of vasopressin.

Effects of Periodic Intensive Insulin Therapy: An Updated Review.

Background: Traditional insulin treatment for diabetes mellitus with insulin administered subcutaneously yields nonpulsatile plasma insulin concentrations that represent a fraction of normal portal vein levels. Oral hypoglycemic medications result in the same lack of pulsatile insulin response to blood glucose levels. Intensive treatments of significant complications of diabetes are not recommended due to complicated multidrug regimens, significant weight gain, and the high risk of hypoglycemic complications.

The Incidence and Impact of Secondary Cerebral Insults on Outcome After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Introduction: Secondary cerebral insults can adversely affect patients with traumatic brain injury. By contrast, the incidence of secondary cerebral insults after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and their impact on outcome have been less well studied.

Methods: Four hundred and twenty-one patients with SAH who underwent surgical occlusion of their ruptured aneurysm and who received intensive care unit care for ≥48 hours were retrospectively identified from a prospective observational database.

The Effects of Red Blood Cell Transfusion on Functional Outcome after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background: The optimal red blood cell transfusion (RBCT) trigger for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is unknown. In patients with cerebral vasospasm, anemia may increase susceptibility to ischemic injury; conversely, RBCT may worsen outcome given known deleterious effects.

Objective: To examine the association between RBCT, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), vasospasm, and outcome after SAH.

Therapeutic time window for conivaptan treatment against stroke-evoked brain edema and blood-brain barrier disruption in mice.

Background: Ischemic stroke is often complicated by brain edema, disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB), and uncontrolled release of arginine-vasopressin (AVP). Conivaptan, a V1a and V2 receptor antagonist, reduces brain edema and minimizes damage to the blood-brain barrier after stroke. Most stroke patients do not receive treatment immediately after the onset of brain ischemia.

Treatment of Obesity Among Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: An Emerging Role for Telenursing.

Childhood obesity is a serious health issue, associated with medical comorbidity and psychosocial impairment that can persist into adulthood. In the United States, youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more likely to be obese than youth without disabilities. A large body of evidence supports the efficacy of family-based treatment of childhood obesity, including diet, physical activity, and behavior modification, but few interventions have been developed and evaluated specifically for this population.

Management of Nephrotic Syndrome in the Pregnant Patient.

Objective: To present a case series of pregnant women with nephrotic syndrome, describe maternal and fetal outcomes, and propose treatment strategies.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort case review of 11 pregnant women with nephrotic syndrome was performed over 2 years. Treatment regimens and trends were recorded.

Continuous IV Infusion is the Choice Treatment Route for Arginine-vasopressin Receptor Blocker Conivaptan in Mice to Study Stroke-evoked Brain Edema.

Stroke is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Stroke is complicated by brain edema and other pathophysiological events. Among the most important players in the development and evolution of stroke-evoked brain edema is the hormone arginine-vasopressin and its receptors, V1a and V2.

Advances in electroanalysis, sensing and monitoring in molten salts.

Microelectrodes have a number of advantages over macroelectrodes for quantitative electroanalysis and monitoring, including reduced iR drop, a high signal-to-noise ratio and reduced sensitivity to convection. Their use in molten salts has been generally precluded by the combined materials challenges of stresses associated with thermal cycling and physical and corrosive chemical degradation at the relatively high temperatures involved. We have shown that microfabrication, employing high precision photolithographic patterning in combination with the controlled deposition of materials, can be used to successfully address these challenges.

Risks and Benefits of Magnesium Sulfate Tocolysis in Preterm Labor (PTL).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a drug safety communication on 05/30/2013 recommending "against prolonged use of magnesium sulfate to stop preterm labor (PTL) due to bone changes in exposed babies.

Medication Use Among Patients Prior to Bariatric Surgery.

The aims of this study were to describe the most common medications reported by candidates for weight loss surgery and to consider the potential implications for patient care. A secondary data analysis of data from bariatric surgery patients enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial. At study entry, participants recorded their use of prescription medications they had taken in the previous 90 days.

Arginine-Vasopressin Receptor Blocker Conivaptan Reduces Brain Edema and Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption after Experimental Stroke in Mice.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Stroke is complicated by brain edema and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and is often accompanied by increased release of arginine-vasopressin (AVP). AVP acts through V1a and V2 receptors to trigger hyponatremia, vasospasm, and platelet aggregation which can exacerbate brain edema.

Pharmacist-led screening program for an inner-city pediatric population.

Objectives: To identify the prevalence of asthma, obesity, hypertension, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure among youth and provide recommendations for follow-up care.

Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 12 health screenings for children between 5 and 17 years of age in various inner city, lower socioeconomic, and predominantly black communities throughout the city of Pittsburgh, PA. The screenings were conducted by pharmacists and student pharmacists from April 2010 to April 2012.

Relationship between antipsychotics and weight in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Background: Individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) are at increased risk for developing behavioral and psychiatric disorders, often requiring antipsychotics (APs). Contrary to significant AP-associated weight gain observed in the general population, existing literature suggests weight loss in patients with PWS.

Study Objective: To evaluate the relationship between AP use and body mass index (BMI) at admission, change in BMI during inpatient stay, and length of stay (LOS) in patients admitted to an inpatient PWS treatment program.

Impact of student pharmacist-delivered asthma education on child and caregiver knowledge.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of asthma education delivered by student pharmacists and to assess the impact of child and caregiver baseline asthma knowledge on asthma control in children.

Design: Student pharmacists developed and implemented asthma self-management education interventions for children and their caregivers and performed asthma screenings for children at a series of asthma camps.

Assessment: Eighty-seven children, ages 5-17 years, and their caregivers were enrolled in this study.

Influence of Viscosity and Consumer Use on Accuracy of Oral Medication Dosing Devices.

In response to numerous reports of overdoses with over-the-counter (OTC) liquid medications, the Food and Drug Administration has recommended that all OTC liquid drug products contain a measuring device but provided no recommendation on the type of device to be included. To evaluate the accuracy of liquid medication dosing devices (cup, dropper, syringe) in dispensing medications of varying viscosity in the laboratory and clinical settings. This experimental study evaluated dosing device accuracy.

Use of electronic medical records for clinical research in the management of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Essential to optimal diabetes care is the organization and management of complex clinical data. An EMR system can facilitate better management of clinical and clinical-related information by standardizing care and increasing the efficiency of delivering quality care to patients. However, studies have not described clinical characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes in a primary practice setting that utilizes an EMR system.

An asthma sports camp series to identify children with possible asthma and cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: The prevalence of asthma and obesity in children has increased over the past several years, with obesity being associated with higher rates of asthma. In response to known disparities in asthma prevalence and morbidity, along with barriers to diagnosis, assessment and education, a comprehensive asthma sports camp series was developed and implemented.

Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing a sports camp model to identify children with undiagnosed and uncontrolled asthma, and to provide recommendations for follow-up care.

The role of HIF in cobalt-induced ischemic tolerance.

Understanding the endogenous survival pathways induced by ischemic tolerance may yield targets for neuroprotection from stroke. One well-studied pathway reported to be evoked by preconditioning stimuli is the transcription factor HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor). However, whether HIF induction by ischemic insults is neuroprotective or toxic is still unclear.

The evidence regarding maintenance tocolysis.

Preterm delivery is a public health issue of major proportion. More than 12% of deliveries in the United States that occur at less than 37 weeks gestation preterm labor (PTL) represents the largest single reason for preterm birth (PTB). Attempts to prevent PTB have been unsuccessful.

A critical appraisal of the potential harmful effects of terbutaline sulfate use in pregnancy.

Beta2-adrenergic agonist medications such as albuterol and terbutaline are often prescribed during pregnancy to treat conditions such as asthma, pulmonary disease, preterm labor, or acute non-reassuring fetal heart rate abnormalities during labor. Recently a review article questioned the safety of beta2-adrenergic agonist use in pregnancy, postulating a "biologically plausible" link between the use of these agents and autism spectrum disorder in offspring of mothers exposed to these drugs. While it is imperative to determine any harmful effects of any medication during pregnancy, it is important to weigh the risks and known benefits of treatment versus nontreatment of conditions such as preterm labor with medications such as terbutaline, given the known rates of morbidity and mortality associated with prematurity.

The impact of elective active-learning courses in pregnancy/lactation and pediatric pharmacotherapy.

Objective: To implement and evaluate the impact of 2 elective courses, Pregnancy & Lactation and Pediatrics on student acquisition of knowledge and development of lifelong learning skills related to these special populations.

Design: Two 3-credit elective courses were implemented using various student-driven learning techniques, such as case-based exercises, group presentations, pro-con debates, and pharmacist "grab bag" questions. Strong emphasis was placed on medication literature retrieval and analysis, and a wiki was used to create an electronic resource for longitudinal use.