Comparison of patient simulation methods used in a physical assessment course.

Objective: To determine whether there is a difference in student pharmacists' learning or satisfaction when standardized patients or manikins are used to teach physical assessment.

Design: Third-year student pharmacists were randomized to learn physical assessment (cardiac and pulmonary examinations) using either a standardized patient or a manikin.

Assessment: Performance scores on the final examination and satisfaction with the learning method were compared between groups.

Oral metoclopramide as an adjunct to analgesics for the outpatient treatment of acute migraine.

Objective: To compare the combination of oral metoclopramide plus an analgesic with oral triptan monotherapy in the treatment of migraine attacks in outpatients.

Data Sources: A search of PubMed (1966-October 2007), EMBASE (1974-October 2007), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-October 2007) was conducted using the search terms metoclopramide, migraine, and oral. References of articles identified initially were also reviewed.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of achiral analogs of duocarmycin SA.

The design, synthesis, as well as biochemical and biological evaluation of two novel achiral analogs of duocarmycin SA (DUMSA), 1 and 2, are described. Like CC-1065 and adozelesin, compounds 1 and 2 covalently reacted with adenine-N3 in AT-rich sequences and led to the formation of DNA strand breaks upon heating. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1 and 2 against human cancer cells (K562, LS174T) was determined using a MTT assay giving IC(50) values in the low nanomolar.

SJG-136 (NSC 694501), a novel rationally designed DNA minor groove interstrand cross-linking agent with potent and broad spectrum antitumor activity: part 1: cellular pharmacology, in vitro and initial in vivo antitumor activity.

SJG-136 (NSC 694501) is a rationally designed pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer that binds in the minor groove of DNA. It spans 6 bp with a preference for binding to purine-GATC-pyrimidine sequences. The agent has potent activity in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) anticancer drug screen with 50% net growth inhibition conferred by 0.

Linker length modulates DNA cross-linking reactivity and cytotoxic potency of C8/C8' ether-linked C2-exo-unsaturated pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) dimers.

A C2/C2'-exo-unsaturated pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) dimer 4b (DRG-16) with a C8-O(CH2)nO-C8' diether linkage (n = 5) has been synthesized that shows markedly superior in vitro cytotoxic potency (e.g., >3400-fold in IGROV1 ovarian cells) and interstrand DNA cross-linking reactivity (>10-fold) compared to the shorter homologue 4a (SJG-136; n = 3).