An overview of Instructional approaches and decision-making strategies to curtail curricular overload.

Objectives: Curriculum overload often occurs when content is kept in the curriculum that may no longer be necessary to prepare students for professional practice. The overload becomes compounded by the addition of new content from the ever-changing professional practice needs and updates to accreditation standards. Challenges may occur when programs must first determine the "level" of proficiency a new graduate should attain and then determine the appropriate breadth and depth of educational outcomes in relation to proficiency, while examining what content should be retained from past curricula.

N-Acetyl Cysteine in Rodenticide Poisoning: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Treatment with N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) in rodenticide poisoning has not been well established due to mixed study results and insufficient evidence. This review aimed to summarize the clinical benefits of NAC in the management of rodenticide poisoning.

Methods: This review follows the PICOS framework and the PRISMA guidelines.

Survey data on orientations, boot camps, and pre-matriculation programs in schools/colleges of pharmacy.

A survey about orientations, boot camps, and pre-matriculation programs in schools/colleges of pharmacy was approved by the South College Institutional Review Board (IRB). The survey was sent electronically to Assistant/Associate Deans of Academic Affairs or administrators in similar positions at schools/colleges of pharmacy in October 2016. The survey was closed two months later, in December, with 50 responses.

Survival Benefits of N-Acetylcysteine in Rodenticide Poisoning: Retrospective Evidence from an Indian Tertiary Care Setting.

Rationale & Objective: Rodenticide poisoning, either accidental or intentional, is very common in rural India. The absence of a definite antidote made it a major concern with a high mortality rate. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) in rodenticide poisoning as there are recent positive shreds of evidence on it.

Implementation, Revisions, and Student Perceptions of a Pre-Matriculation Program in a School of Pharmacy.

To characterize the development, revision, and student perceptions of a pre-matriculation program entitled Pharmacy Readiness and Enrichment Program (PREP) in a school of pharmacy. The program was first implemented in June 2013 for the incoming class of 2016. The main components of PREP were curriculum and scientific content review, professionalism, time management, critical thinking, and personal interactions.

Occupational HIV Transmission Among Male Adult Film Performers - Multiple States, 2014.

In 2014, the California Department of Public Health was notified by a local health department of a diagnosis of acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection* and rectal gonorrhea in a male adult film industry performer, aged 25 years (patient A). Patient A had a 6-day history of rash, fever, and sore throat suggestive of acute retroviral syndrome at the time of examination. He was informed of his positive HIV and gonorrhea test results 6 days after his examination.

[Multidisciplinary rehabilitation can motivate obese breast cancer survivors to lose weight].

Accumulating evidence suggests that obesity has a negative impact on breast cancer survivors. In this project we developed and tried out a residential 6 + 3 days rehabilitation programme with focus on weight reduction for breast cancer survivors. The key focus was to work with their motivation to change habits by use of cognitive therapy tools.

Three phase III randomized controlled trials of topical resiquimod 0.01-percent gel to reduce anogenital herpes recurrences.

Resiquimod, a Toll-like receptor 7 and 8 agonist, stimulates production of cytokines that promote an antigen-specific T helper type 1 acquired immune response. Animal and phase II human trials showed posttreatment efficacy in reducing recurrent herpes lesion days and/or time to first recurrence. Three phase III randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials of topical resiquimod to reduce anogenital herpes recurrences were conducted in healthy adults with ≥4 recurrences within the prior year.

Rapid localized spread and immunologic containment define Herpes simplex virus-2 reactivation in the human genital tract.

Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) is shed episodically, leading to occasional genital ulcers and efficient transmission. The biology explaining highly variable shedding patterns, in an infected person over time, is poorly understood. We sampled the genital tract for HSV DNA at several time intervals and concurrently at multiple sites, and derived a spatial mathematical model to characterize dynamics of HSV-2 reactivation.

Estimated HIV Incidence in California, 2006-2009.

Introduction: Accurate estimates of HIV incidence are crucial for prioritizing, targeting, and evaluating HIV prevention efforts. Using the methodology the CDC used to estimate national HIV incidence, we estimated HIV incidence in Los Angeles County (LAC), San Francisco (SF), and California's remaining counties.

Methods: We estimated new HIV infections in 2006-2009 among adults and adolescents in LAC, SF and the remaining California counties using the Serologic Testing Algorithm for Recent Seroconversion (STARHS).

Regional differences among HIV patients in care: California medical monitoring project sites, 2007-2008.

Introduction: The Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) is a national, multi-site population-based supplemental HIV/AIDS surveillance project of persons receiving HIV/AIDS care. We compared California MMP data by region. Demographic characteristics, medical care experiences, HIV treatment, clinical care outcomes, and need for support services are described.

Peripheral blood CD4 T-cell and plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) reactivity to herpes simplex virus 2 and pDC number do not correlate with the clinical or virologic severity of recurrent genital herpes.

Leukocytes participate in the immune control of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Data from HIV coinfections, germ line mutations, and case reports suggest involvement of CD4 T cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). We investigated the relationships between these cells and recurrent genital herpes disease severity in the general population.

α1-Acid glycoprotein induced effects in rat brain microvessel endothelial cells.

α1-Acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a positive acute phase protein which is elevated 1-10 times during inflammation. Whereas AGP has been reported to have immunomodulatory properties, other biological functions of this protein such as its effects on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelium are unknown. Tight junction (TJ) proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) are crucial in maintaining BBB integrity and brain homeostasis.

Impact of herpes simplex virus type 2 on HIV-1 acquisition and progression in an HIV vaccine trial (the Step study).

Introduction: Extensive observational data suggest that herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection may facilitate HIV acquisition, increase HIV viral load, and accelerate HIV progression and onward transmission. To explore these relationships, we examined the impact of preexisting HSV-2 infection in an international HIV vaccine trial.

Methods: We analyzed the associations between prevalent HSV-2 infection and HIV-1 acquisition and progression among 1836 men who have sex with men.

Mucosal host immune response predicts the severity and duration of herpes simplex virus-2 genital tract shedding episodes.

Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) shedding episodes in humans vary markedly in duration and virologic titer within an infected person over time, an observation that is unexplained. To evaluate whether host or virological factors more closely accounted for this variability, we combined measures of viral replication and CD8(+) lymphocyte density in genital biopsies, with a stochastic mathematical model of HSV-2 infection. Model simulations reproduced quantities of virus and duration of shedding detected in 1,003 episodes among 386 persons.

Rapidly cleared episodes of oral and anogenital herpes simplex virus shedding in HIV-infected adults.

Objective: To determine whether rapidly cleared episodes of herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation occur in HIV-infected adults.

Methods: Twenty HSV-2-seropositive, HIV-seropositive adults, including 9 (45%) who were also HSV-1 seropositive, collected oral and anogenital swabs for HSV DNA polymerase chain reaction 4 times a day for 60 days. Samples were positive for HSV if we detected > or =150 copies of HSV DNA/mL of specimen.

Frequent release of low amounts of herpes simplex virus from neurons: results of a mathematical model.

Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted infection that is the leading cause of genital ulcers worldwide. Infection is life long and is characterized by repeated asymptomatic and symptomatic shedding episodes of virus that are initiated when virus is released from neurons into the genital tract. The pattern of HSV-2 release from neurons into the genital tract is poorly understood.

Rapidly cleared episodes of herpes simplex virus reactivation in immunocompetent adults.

Background: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) remains latent in nerve root ganglia of infected persons and is thought to reactivate several times yearly. Recent in situ data show the localization of HSV-specific CD8(+) T cells at the dermal epidermal junction next to peripheral sensory nerve endings, suggesting that viral reactivation may occur more frequently than previously appreciated.

Methods: Twenty-five HSV-2-seropositive and 18 HSV-1-seropositive healthy adults collected anogenital and oral swabs, respectively, 4 times per day for 60 days.

Internet and email use among STD clinic patients.

Background: Little data exist on Internet and email use among STD clinic patients for research and clinical care communication.

Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional survey of STD clinic patients aged >/=18 years in Seattle, WA, March 13 to 22, 2006.

Results: Of 489 study period patients, 251 (51%) completed the questionnaire.

Contraception among HIV concordant and discordant couples in Zambia: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study examines the impact of an intervention to promote dual-method contraceptive use among HIV concordant and discordant couples already using condoms for HIV prevention.

Methods: A three-armed randomized, controlled trial was conducted at a voluntary HIV testing and counseling clinic in Lusaka, Zambia; 251 couples were randomized. Control couples received family planning education and referral to an outside clinic for nonbarrier contraceptives, intervention 1 couples received education and offer of contraceptives at the research clinic, and intervention 2 couples received intervention 1 plus a presentation designed to reduce outside pressures to conceive.

Reoxygenation stress on blood-brain barrier paracellular permeability and edema in the rat.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) serves as a critical regulator of brain homeostasis. Following hypoxia (i.e.

Topical resiquimod 0.01% gel decreases herpes simplex virus type 2 genital shedding: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Resiquimod, an investigational immune response modifier and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and 8 agonist, stimulates production of cytokines that promote an antigen-specific T helper type 1 (Th1)--acquired immune response. In animal models, induction of Th1-specific responses modifies experimental herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of resiquimod 0.

Medical care and alcohol use after testing hepatitis C antibody positive at STD clinic and HIV test site screening programs.

Objectives: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend screening individuals at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, few published data describe outcomes of individuals with antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) identified through screening programs. The purpose of this study was to assess rates of medical evaluation and HCV treatment, change in alcohol consumption, and barriers to medical care after testing anti-HCV positive through a public screening program.

Targeted prenatal herpes simplex virus testing: can we identify women at risk of transmission to the neonate?

Objective: Potential strategies to prevent neonatal herpes include herpes simplex virus (HSV) serologic testing and counseling of pregnant women and rapid HSV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of maternal genital secretions at delivery. The cost-effectiveness of these interventions would be improved if high-risk pregnancies could be easily identified for targeted testing.

Study Design: Washington State birth certificate data for all singleton live births from 1987 through 2002 were linked with infant death and hospital discharge data for birth and subsequent hospitalizations in a population-based case-control study of risk factors for neonatal herpes.