Tuning the Selectivity of Dendron Micelles Through Variations of the Poly(ethylene glycol) Corona.

Engineering controllable cellular interactions into nanoscale drug delivery systems is key to enable their full potential. Here, using folic acid (FA) as a model targeting ligand and dendron micelles (DM) as a nanoparticle (NP) platform, we present a comprehensive experimental and modeling investigation of the structural properties of DMs that govern the formation of controllable, FA-mediated cellular interactions. Our experimental results demonstrate that a high level of control over the specific cell interactions of FA-targeted DMs can be achieved through modulation of the PEG corona length and the FA content.

Multi-institutional study of women and underrepresented minority faculty members in academic pharmacy.

Objectives: To examine trends in the numbers of women and underrepresented minority (URM) pharmacy faculty members over the last 20 years, and determine factors influencing women faculty members' pursuit and retention of an academic pharmacy career.

Methods: Twenty-year trends in women and URM pharmacy faculty representation were examined. Women faculty members from 9 public colleges and schools of pharmacy were surveyed regarding demographics, job satisfaction, and their academic pharmacy career, and relationships between demographics and satisfaction were analyzed.

Update on pressure ulcer management and deep tissue injury.

Objective: To review recent literature regarding therapeutic management of pressure ulcers and to discuss the potential implications of the newly recognized entity, deep tissue injury (DTI).

Data Sources: A MEDLINE search was conducted of pressure ulcer therapy published between January 2001 and October 2009. Key search terms included pressure ulcers, deep tissue injury, nutrition, antibiotics, and therapy.

Daptomycin use after vancomycin-induced neutropenia in a patient with left-sided endocarditis.

Objective: To report a positive outcome in a patient treated with daptomycin for left-sided endocarditis associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) subsequent to vancomycin-induced neutropenia.

Case Summary: A 55-year-old African American male was diagnosed with left-sided endocarditis, brain abscesses, and septic arthritis due to community-acquired MRSA. He began treatment with intravenous vancomycin to achieve a trough concentration of 15-20 microg/mL and oral rifampin 600 mg/day.

Use of antifungal therapy in hospitalized patients. II. Results after the marketing of fluconazole.

Objective: To evaluate the prescribing patterns of antifungal agents in the hospital setting after the introduction of fluconazole, a new broad-spectrum bis-triazole antifungal agent. Also compared are the prescribing patterns of antifungal agents prior to (phase I) and following (phase II) fluconazole marketing.

Design: A prospective cohort of hospitalized patients prescribed topical or systemic antifungal agents.