Engaging in Collaborative Research: Focus on the Pharmacy Practitioner.

Research offers an opportunity for investigators to explore unanswered questions, highlight best practices, and engage in collaboration. Clinical research can engage health care professionals to identify treatments or procedures to enhance patient care, quality of life, and outcomes. Research may also include experiences in a unique practice site or teaching methodology of trainees, staff, or patients.

Idarucizumab, a Humanized, Monoclonal Antibody Fragment for Immediate Reversal of Dabigatran.

Objective: To evaluate the role of idarucizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody fragment, as a specific reversal agent for the anticoagulant activity of dabigatran and to review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetic properties, efficacy, and safety of this agent.

Methods: A literature search was conducted consisting of a PubMed database using the MeSH term idarucizumab and the key word dabigatran antidote. Studies evaluating the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of idarucizumab for the reversal of the anticoagulant activity of dabigatran were included.

Dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin after ischemic stroke: A review of the evidence.

Purpose: The safety and efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel in the setting of secondary stroke prevention are reviewed.

Summary: Antiplatelet therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of numerous vascular events, especially in the setting of secondary prevention. DAPT with aspirin and another antiplatelet agent such as clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor has become the main stay of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) management.

Implementing a pharmacy resident run transition of care service for heart failure patients: Effect on readmission rates.

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospital readmissions adversely affecting resources and hospital reimbursements. The purpose of this study was to optimize medication therapy, provide patient education and facilitate discharge and follow-up through the creation of a pharmacy resident managed HF transition service with the intention of decreasing readmission rates.

Methods: A 6-month prospective, single center pilot study was conducted by a pharmacy resident to decrease readmission rates in patients with HF.

Direct-acting oral anticoagulants as emerging treatment options for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Objective: To review the evidence for the use of the direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in adult patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Data Source: A PubMed search (1950-February 2015) was collected using the terms heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, with dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban, or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and target-specific anticoagulants, or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and direct-acting oral anticoagulants, or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and new oral anticoagulants.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: All English-language articles were reviewed for inclusion.

Lomitapide: A novel agent for the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Purpose: The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy and safety of lomitapide in the management of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) are reviewed.

Summary: Lomitapide (Juxtapid, Aegerion Pharmaceuticals) is an oral microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with HoFH, a rare form of hypercholesterolemia that can lead to premature atherosclerotic disease. In clinical trials, the use of lomitapide alone or in combination with other lipid-lowering modalities reduced plasma concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by a mean of more than 50%.

Potential cost savings associated with dose rounding antineoplastic monoclonal agents.

Purpose: This study explored the potential financial benefits associated with dose rounding three costly cancer agents: bevacizumab, trastuzumab, and cetuximab.

Methods: Electronic chemotherapy health record software was queried to identify inpatient and outpatient use of bevacizumab, trastuzumab, and cetuximab. Available drug vial sizes were noted.

The ideal resident: perspective from a residency program director.

There are certain traits that residency program directors seek in a candidate. The combined characteristics constitute the attributes of an ideal resident. The goal of this article is to delineate and expand upon the characteristics of an ideal resident.

Antithrombin III Utilization in a Large Teaching Hospital.

In a retrospective study to assess the use of antithrombin concentrates, the authors judged the plasma-derived product (Thrombate III) to be more cost-effective than the recombinant human form (ATryn) for patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency.

Serelaxin, a 'breakthrough' investigational intravenous agent for acute heart failure.

Recombinant relaxin (serelaxin), a breakthrough therapy for acute heart failure.

Development of an anticoagulation stewardship program at a large tertiary care academic institution.

Pharmacist-directed anticoagulation management services (AMSs) have been shown to significantly lower anticoagulation-related mortality, length of hospital stay, bleeding complications, blood transfusion requirements, and cost of therapy. AMSs are only 1 component of an anticoagulation stewardship program. Frequently, stewardship programs are limited to inpatient populations.