Pharmacy Practice in Quebec Emergency Departments: A Survey Study.

Background: According to a Canadian survey conducted in 2013, 37 of the 67 Quebec emergency departments (EDs) in hospitals with more than 50 beds reported having a pharmacist within the department. However, based on the 17 responses to the survey, it was not possible to determine patient care services offered by Quebec ED pharmacists, because the data were aggregated across all Canadian respondents. A provincial survey was undertaken to further define ED pharmacy practice within Quebec.

Risk Factors for Nephrotoxicity Associated with Cisplatin.

Background: Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity occurs in about one-third of patients who receive this chemotherapy drug. In late 2012, the study institution began measuring serum creatinine on day 7 after administration of cisplatin to identify patients with acute renal failure.

Objective: To evaluate the extent of nephrotoxicity associated with cisplatin and the influence of risk factors for nephrotoxicity.

Keratin 8/18 regulation of insulin receptor signaling and trafficking in hepatocytes through a concerted phosphoinositide-dependent Akt and Rab5 modulation.

Keratins (Ks) are epithelial cell intermediate filament (IF) proteins that are expressed as pairs in a differentiation-regulated manner. Hepatocyte IFs are made only of K8/K18 pairs, which means that a K8 loss in K8-null mice leads to degradation of K18. Functionally, there is accumulating evidence that IFs contribute to signaling platforms.

Keratin impact on PKCδ- and ASMase-mediated regulation of hepatocyte lipid raft size - implication for FasR-associated apoptosis.

Keratins are epithelial cell intermediate filament (IF) proteins that are expressed as pairs in a cell-differentiation-regulated manner. Hepatocytes express the keratin 8 and 18 pair (denoted K8/K18) of IFs, and a loss of K8 or K18, as in K8-null mice, leads to degradation of the keratin partner. We have previously reported that a K8/K18 loss in hepatocytes leads to altered cell surface lipid raft distribution and more efficient Fas receptor (FasR, also known as TNFRSF6)-mediated apoptosis.

Impact of keratin intermediate filaments on insulin-mediated glucose metabolism regulation in the liver and disease association.

In all cells, a tight regulation exists between glucose uptake and utilization to prevent diseases related to its perturbed metabolism. In insulin-targeted cells, such as hepatocytes, proper glucose utilization requires an elaborate interplay between the insulin receptor, the glucose transporter, and mitochondria that involves the participation of actin microfilaments and microtubules. In addition, there is increasing evidence of an involvement of the third cytoskeletal network provided by intermediate filaments (IFs).