Assessment of Volunteer Preceptors at Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States.

To identify the way colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States assess the performance of volunteer preceptors who precept students in advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). In the summer and fall semesters of 2018, directors of experiential education were invited to complete an online, self-administered questionnaire that included questions dealing with assessment of APPE volunteer preceptors related to promotion and reappointment procedures, abilities and attributes assessed, methods of assessment, and frequency of conducting such assessments. Several attempts were made via email and phone to encourage participation.

Assessment of full-time faculty preceptors by colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Objective: To identify the manner in which colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States and Puerto Rico assess full-time faculty preceptors.

Methods: Directors of pharmacy practice (or equivalent title) were invited to complete an online, self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Seventy of the 75 respondents (93.

Faculty awards at US colleges and schools of pharmacy.

Objectives: To determine recognition given for outstanding teaching, service, and scholarship at US colleges and schools of pharmacy, the types of awards given, and the process used to select the recipients.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was made available online in 2006 to deans at 89 colleges and schools of pharmacy.

Results: Sixty-four usable responses (72%) were obtained.

Programmatic curricular outcomes assessment at colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Objectives: To categorize the manner in which programmatic curricular outcomes assessment is accomplished, identify the types of assessment methodologies used, and identify the persons or groups responsible for assessment.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 89 institutions throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Results: Sixty-eight of 89 surveys (76%) were returned.

Stability of sotalol hydrochloride in extemporaneously prepared oral suspension formulations.

The physical, chemical, and microbial stabilities of extemporaneously compounded oral liquid formulations of sotalol hydrochloride were studied. Sotalol hydrochloride oral liquid suspensions (5mg/mL) were prepared from commercially available tablets (Betapace) in a 1:1 mixture of Ora-Plus: Ora-Sweet, a 1:1 mixture of Ora-Plus:Ora-Sweet SF, and a 1:2.4 mixture of simple syrup:methylcellulose vehicle.

Use of biological based therapy in patients with cardiovascular diseases in a university-hospital in New York City.

Background: The use of complementary and alternative products including Biological Based Therapy (BBT) has increased among patients with various medical illnesses and conditions. The studies assessing the prevalence of BBT use among patients with cardiovascular diseases are limited. Therefore, an evaluation of BBT in this patient population would be beneficial.

A novel HPLC assay for pentamidine: comparative effects of creatinine and inulin on GFR estimation and pentamidine renal excretion in the isolated perfused rat kidney.

Purpose: 1. To develop and validate an analytical method for pentamidine (PTM) by reversed-phase HPLC. 2.

Caspofungin: an echinocandin antifungal agent.

Background: The mainstays of treatment for nosocomial fungal infections have been amphotericin B and azole derivatives. Caspofungin acetate is a new echinocandin antifungal agent with a mechanism of action that targets a structural component of the fungal cell wall.

Objective: This article describes the pharmacologic properties and potential clinical usefulness of caspofungin.

Linezolid: an oxazolidinone antimicrobial agent.

Background: Linezolid is the first oxazolidinone anti-infective agent marketed in the United States. It is indicated for the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia, complicated skin and skin-structure infections caused by methicillin-sensitive or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other susceptible organisms, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium infections. It also is indicated for the treatment of uncomplicated skin and skin-structure infections caused by methicillin-sensitive S.

Amprenavir: a new human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease inhibitor.

Objective: This paper reviews the pharmacologic properties and clinical usefulness of amprenavir, a new human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitor.

Background: Amprenavir, the most recent HIV-1 protease inhibitor to receive marketing approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, is a potent competitive inhibitor of HIV-1 protease and a relatively weak inhibitor of HIV-2 protease. Inhibition of the HIV-1 protease enzyme results in immature and noninfectious viral particles.

Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors for the treatment of arthritis.

The purpose of this paper is to review the rationale for a new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) known as selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors and to present preliminary clinical data on 2 COX-2 inhibitors that are approved for use in the United States. The primary mechanism of NSAIDs in the treatment of inflammation is the inhibition of COX, which exists in 2 forms. COX-I appears to regulate many normal physiologic functions, and COX-2 mediates the inflammatory response.

Treatment regimens for patients with toxoplasmic encephalitis.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan that infects a variety of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Infection is usually asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals but may be devastating in immunocompromised individuals such as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Clinical manifestations of infection in immunocompromised patients include the development of encephalitis.

Pharmacist-operated drug information centers in the United States.

Pharmacist-operated drug information centers (DICs) in the United States were surveyed to obtain current information on the availability and scope of their services. Questionnaires were mailed in late 1991 to 179 institutions believed to have organized DICs. Topics covered in the questionnaire included staffing, resources, funding, and services provided.

Clinical experience with sotalol in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

The treatment of cardiac arrhythmias has changed over the past several years, as concerns have grown about proarrhythmias and increased mortality associated with certain antiarrhythmic agents. Sotalol, a unique racemic compound with both Class II (beta-blocking) and Class III (repolarization-prolonging) properties, effectively controls life-threatening arrhythmias and has a favorable safety profile, especially when compared with traditional antiarrhythmic drugs. A review of clinical trials demonstrates that sotalol is an effective treatment for premature ventricular complexes, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation.

Massive hemobilia and acalculous cholecystitis due to benign gallbladder polyp.

A 37-year-old male with metachromatic leukodystrophy, a congenital cerebroside storage disease strongly associated with benign gallbladder polyps, presented with hemobilia and acalculous cholecystitis due to a long, slender, benign gallbladder polyp. This case report extends the clinical spectrum of gallbladder polyps and demonstrates a novel cause of hemobilia. The unusually long, slender polyp shape may have promoted hemorrhage due to the potential for torsion around a slender stalk.

Pharmacist-operated drug information centers in the United States--1986.

Pharmacist-operated drug information centers (DICs) were surveyed early in 1986 to obtain current information concerning the status, availability, and scope of their services. Questionnaires were sent to 191 institutions believed to be active in disseminating drug information; 127 responses were usable. Descriptive information on the respondents is tabulated, and a comprehensive directory of pharmacist-operated DICs is provided.

Educational programs offered by colleges of pharmacy and drug information centers within the United States.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the scope of drug information educational programs offered by formalized DICs and colleges of pharmacy to pharmacy students. Data were collected from surveys mailed October and December 1982 to 120 institutions known to be active in disseminating drug information as well as the 72 colleges of pharmacy located in the United States and Puerto Rico. A total of 109 questionnaires (91 percent response rate) were returned from the DICs, and 67 questionnaires (93 percent response rate) were returned from colleges of pharmacy.

Elderly ambulatory care patients' knowledge about drugs.

The extent of knowledge that elderly ambulatory clinic patients possessed about their maintenance prescription and nonprescription medications was determined using 17 selected questions. Information was obtained by using structured interviews from 100 subjects, 65 years of age or older, selected from a general medicine clinic using the simple two-stage cluster sampling method. The medical charts and various medication teaching manuals were used as criteria to determine whether or not the questions were answered correctly.