Impact and clinical management of depression in patients with coronary artery disease.

The rates of major adverse coronary events, including recurrent ischemic events and death, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have been shown to be significantly increased in patients with depression. In addition, health care costs are higher and health-related quality of life is lower in depressed patients with CAD. Several pathophysiologic mechanisms have been proposed for the association of increased events seen in this population.

Depression in patients with heart failure: clinical implications and management.

Mortality and morbidity rates remain high in patients with heart failure despite advances in medical therapy. Heart failure can also significantly worsen quality of life. Attention has been paid to evaluating the effects of psychological disease in patients with heart failure.

Key articles and guidelines in the management of hypertension: 2008 update.

Hypertension remains a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The optimal choice of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment regimens is based on a plethora of published literature. This compilation is the initial update to the Key Articles and Guidelines in the Management of Hypertension authored by members of the Cardiology Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, which appeared in Pharmacotherapy in 2004.

Dalbavancin: a new lipoglycopeptide antibiotic.

Purpose: The activity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, safety, and formulary considerations of dalbavancin are reviewed.

Summary: Dalbavancin is a novel second-generation lipoglycopeptide antimicrobial with unique pharmacokinetics and excellent activity against resistant gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Available only in i.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of antithrombotic therapy in nonurgent percutaneous coronary intervention.

Study Objective: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing three treatment approaches during nonurgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): bivalirudin with provisional glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa inhibitor therapy, unfractionated heparin (UFH) with eptifibatide, and UFH with abciximab.

Design: Literature-based decision model from an institutional perspective.

Data Source: Patient data from the Randomized Evaluation in PCI Linking Angiomax to Reduced Clinical Events (REPLACE)-2 study and three other randomized controlled trials that included UFH and routine GP IIb-IIIa inhibitor (eptifibatide or abciximab) therapy.

Rituximab treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To review published literature using rituximab for treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Data Sources: An English-language literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1966-May 2005) and EMBASE (1980-May 2005). References of identified articles were subsequently reviewed for additional data.

Impact of pharmacist-led community bone mineral density screenings.

Background: Osteoporosis-associated fractures burden both individuals and the overall healthcare system. Bone mineral density (BMD) screening remains the gold standard measure for identifying patients at risk.

Objective: To determine the impact of convenient, pharmacist-led BMD screening and counseling sessions on identification and education of patients at risk for or with osteoporosis.

Pharmacogenomics: implications and considerations for pharmacists.

The Renaissance period of world history is analogous to the renewal of healthcare that will arise from pharmacogenomic discoveries. Just as geography, science, art and communication were reawakened by the works of Columbus, da Vinci, Michelangelo and Gutenberg; genetic science will revitalize the clinical role of pharmacists and generate new interest in pharmacy research and education.