Publications by authors named "John K Jackson"
Article Synopsis
- The policy framework in Australia significantly affects community pharmacists' performance and professionalism, influenced by various stakeholders across different societal levels.
- The study highlights that pharmacists' professionalism and compliance with standards must be actively demonstrated, as the current funding model undermines these aspects, while commercial pressures further complicate service delivery.
- Recommendations include improving dispensing funding policies to better support quality performance, implementing compulsory monitoring, and establishing a nationwide quality framework for community pharmacies to enhance service standards.
Article Synopsis
- The Australian Community Pharmacy Agreement, established in 1990 and updated every five years, governs community pharmacy practices while aiming to ensure the viability of pharmacies and public access to medicines.
- Although there are concerns about the lack of transparency in negotiations and limited outcome measures, the Agreement is seen as beneficial overall; however, it has drawn criticism for providing unnecessary advantages to existing pharmacy owners and restricting pharmacists' ability to expand their practices.
- Future policy improvements could include broader stakeholder involvement and better utilization of pharmacists’ skills to enhance health outcomes beyond just medication supply.
Article Synopsis
- The Community Pharmacy Agreements (CPAs) in Australia, established since 1990, primarily serve to ensure pharmacy owners’ financial benefits while limiting competition and excluding other stakeholders from discussions.
- A detailed analysis using various policy theories reveals that the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA) holds significant power and influences the policy-making process, leading to minimal engagement from other pharmacy groups to advocate for changes.
- While the CPAs have facilitated public access to medications and provided stability for existing pharmacy owners, their overall impact on the scope of pharmacists' practice and public safety regarding medication usage remains ambiguous.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to create polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres loaded with doxycycline (DOX) and/or silver sulfate (AgSO) for use in glass ionomer cement (GIC) in dental applications.
- The microspheres showed a median diameter of 50 µm, with DOX and AgSO having encapsulation efficiencies of 8.3% and 0.63%, respectively, and demonstrated a burst release of drugs within the first day, sustaining release for up to 15 days.
- The resulting PMMA microspheres exhibited antimicrobial effects against S. mutans and reduced the degree of solubility in GIC, indicating their potential for long-term antibacterial applications in dentistry and beyond.
Article Synopsis
- Antibiotic-loaded bone cement beads are effective for localized osteomyelitis treatment but struggle with low and inconsistent drug release rates, worsened by drug-resistant pathogens.
- The new device features a magnetic sponge for on-demand antibiotic release, providing both passive diffusion and active control to enhance treatment efficacy.
- It combines silver nitrate and gentamicin to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria effectively, with customizable release profiles based on design and magnetic manipulation, showing positive in vitro results against MRSA and E. coli.
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed the Australian pharmacist workforce from 2013 to 2018, revealing demographic trends and the influence of student enrollments and migration policies.
- Key findings showed an increase in female pharmacists and a shift toward hospital roles, but a slow growth rate compared to other health professions, with a concerning decline in young pharmacists' intentions to stay in the field.
- The research suggests that falling student numbers and immigration changes may lead to a pharmacist shortage and emphasizes the need for a workforce strategy to address these potential issues.
Article Synopsis
- Inability to meet tissue oxygen demands has been suggested as a key factor affecting the upper thermal limits and size reduction in aquatic ectothermic invertebrates, linked to the temperature size rule (TSR).
- Experimental research on three aquatic insect species showed that oxygen levels (hyperoxia, normoxia, and hypoxia) did not significantly alter the upper thermal limits or the size and fertility losses experienced at higher temperatures.
- Findings indicated that while gill size increased in low-oxygen conditions, the classic TSR pattern was mainly due to changes in cell number rather than size, leading to the conclusion that oxygen demand does not adequately explain thermal limits or the TSR effect in these species.
Article Synopsis
- Intravesical instillation of a mucoadhesive polymeric paste formulation of gemcitabine (ST-UC) showed promise for treating upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in pigs, with no major safety concerns noted.
- In vivo studies revealed that the drug was well tolerated, with mild hydronephrosis and peak urine concentrations occurring within the first 3 hours post-injection, while serum levels remained low.
- Although the study showed effective drug retention and release, it lacked data on the antitumor efficacy of the treatment.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined how transient thermal stress affects aquatic insect larvae by identifying temperature thresholds linked to fitness issues and rearing them under varying temperatures.
- RNA sequencing showed minimal changes in gene expression under stable temperatures, but significant changes occurred with daily temperature fluctuations, impacting genes related to energy and metabolism.
- Even when larvae were later exposed to optimal temperatures, lingering effects of thermal stress were noted, indicating that brief exposure to stress couldn’t be completely mitigated by time in ideal conditions.
Article Synopsis
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, older and vulnerable individuals faced challenges in accessing necessary medications due to self-isolation and limited consultations.
- Initiatives were implemented to ensure continuous access to medications, including cooperation between wholesalers and pharmacies, digital prescriptions, and telehealth services for medication management.
- A Home Medicines Service was created for medication delivery, and specific arrangements were made for access to end-of-life medications in residential aged care.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on creating injectable polymeric paste (IPP) formulations designed for the local and sustained release of drugs, addressing key characteristics necessary for effective clinical use such as viscosity and drug release rates.
- Methods included testing the injectability of the pastes and assessing drug degradation and release stability, while pharmacokinetic evaluations were performed on formulations of lidocaine and an anti-cancer drug using rat and mouse models.
- Results showed that the composition of the IPPs can be adjusted to control their viscosity and injectability, leading to long-term stability and effective drug release in animal models, suggesting their potential for treating various diseases.
A polymeric paste-drug formulation for intratumoral treatment of prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis
June 2020
Article Synopsis
- Focal therapy is a potential treatment for localized prostate cancer that aims to reduce side effects compared to radical treatments and minimize the psychological impact of active surveillance.
- ST-4PC, a new injectable formulation containing docetaxel and bicalutamide, was developed for this purpose, and its drug release, toxicity, and effectiveness were evaluated in lab models.
- Results showed ST-4PC released drugs steadily and successfully inhibited tumor growth in a specific model while exhibiting minimal toxicity, indicating it could be a viable option for treating this type of cancer.
Cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of death: how are pharmacists getting involved?
Integr Pharm Res Pract
February 2019
Article Synopsis
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a top cause of global mortality, and this article reviews community pharmacist interventions aimed at reducing CVD events and mortality while improving risk factor management.
- Most existing trials fail to directly measure clinical outcomes but show strong evidence for positive impacts on key risk factors like hypertension and tobacco use.
- The article highlights the need for caution in interpreting meta-analyses due to varied intervention contexts and emphasizes the importance of research in developing countries, where CVD burdens are expected to rise.
Temperature affects acute mayfly responses to elevated salinity: implications for toxicity of road de-icing salts.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
December 2018
Article Synopsis
- Salinity in freshwater ecosystems is rising globally, largely due to human activities like road de-icing and agriculture.
- The study analyzed the effects of elevated salinity on four mayfly species under different temperature conditions (5-25°C), finding that sensitivity to salt toxicity varied significantly.
- Results indicated that acute salt toxicity decreased with increasing temperature, suggesting that cold seasonal conditions may be less harmful to mayflies than previously thought based on standard lab tests conducted at 20 or 25°C.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how three anticancer drugs (MMC, doxorubicin, and gemcitabine) affect the structure of bladder tissue and the absorption of taxane drugs (paclitaxel and docetaxel) when administered together.
- The methodology involved incubating fresh pig bladder tissue with the drugs for drug uptake analysis and examining tissue samples through various techniques.
- The results indicated that all three anticancer drugs caused exfoliation of the bladder tissue, enhancing the absorption of taxane drugs without the influence of cationic nanoparticles.
Article Synopsis
- Prostate cancer is often localized and can be treated using different methods, including surgery and novel therapies for those who prefer alternatives or are ineligible for surgery.
- A study used athymic nude mice to compare the efficacy of docetaxel delivered by different methods: standard subcutaneous (SC), intravenous (IV), and a new magnetically-actuated delivery device (MADDD).
- Results indicated that the MADDD treatment led to a significantly lower tumor growth rate compared to untreated controls and SC methods, with increased apoptosis in cancer cells, suggesting a promising alternative delivery system.
Article Synopsis
- Understanding the thermal limits of mayfly larvae is crucial due to climate change and its impact on freshwater ecosystems.
- The study tested if oxygen limitation affects these thermal limits, but found no support for this, as aerobic scope remained stable at both lower and higher temperatures.
- The results indicate that other factors, like bioenergetics costs, likely determine chronic thermal limits, suggesting the need for more accurate methods to assess thermal tolerance in aquatic insects.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to create an environmental framework to understand how different factors affect pharmacists in primary care in Australia when implementing patient-focused practices.
- Researchers developed a draft framework using the STEEP (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political) model and gathered input from pharmacists through focus groups to refine the factors involved.
- Seventy-eight factors were identified, with three main groups in each STEEP domain influencing pharmacists' practice: Social (education and workforce capacity), Technological (practice models and technology), Economic (service funding and viability), Environmental (stakeholder attitudes), and Political (regulation and policies).
Article Synopsis
- Researchers explored the potential of using epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and tannic acid as safer, millimolar solubilizing agents for hydrophobic drugs, contrasting with the toxic supramolar amounts of traditional hydrotropes.
- Both EGCG and tannic acid significantly enhanced the aqueous solubility of drugs like paclitaxel and curcumin, shifting solubility from micrograms to milligrams per milliliter.
- Notably, EGCG-based solutions allowed for better drug absorption in cells compared to traditional micellar formulations, indicating promising applications in various drug delivery methods.
Article Synopsis
- A new antiscarring dressing has been developed that slowly releases kynurenic acid (KynA), which is known to have antifibrotic properties and can potentially help treat dermal fibrosis.
- Increased concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the dressing improved its water absorption, surface hydrophilicity, and drug release, with 10% PEG being the most effective formulation for sustained KynA release over 120 hours.
- In vitro and in vivo studies showed that the KynA-incorporated films effectively suppressed collagen and fibronectin expression while promoting ECM-degrading enzymes, indicating their promise as antifibrotic wound dressings.
Article Synopsis
- Recent studies indicate that amine-terminated cationic nanoparticulate carriers (CNP) enhance the delivery of the drug DTX into bladder tissue by potentially inducing a process that removes the urothelial barrier.
- The research involved testing three different CNP formulations with varying levels of amination (CNP-360, CNP-580, CNP-780) on fresh pig bladder tissues to understand their effectiveness in drug uptake.
- Results showed that the CNP formulations, particularly those with medium and high amination levels, significantly increased bladder tissue exfoliation compared to low amination levels, enhancing DTX delivery.
Article Synopsis
- Unplanned pregnancy rates in Australia are high, contributing to one of the highest abortion rates among developed countries, yet the use of emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) has not significantly increased despite being available over-the-counter.
- The study will use in-depth, semi-structured interviews to examine barriers and facilitators to accessing ECP from community pharmacies, partnering with pharmacy groups and women’s health organizations for recruitment.
- Findings will inform new interventions and will be shared widely, including with study participants, through presentations and peer-reviewed publications, after ethical approval has been granted.
Janus ultrathin film from multi-level self-assembly at air-water interfaces.
Chem Commun (Camb)
December 2014
Article Synopsis
- Ultrathin Janus films were created by layering azopyridine derivatives and poly(acrylic acid) at the air-water interface.
- These films demonstrated unique properties, allowing them to attract or repel water differently on each side.
- The process involved a multi-level self-assembly that worked on both molecular and microscopic levels.