2024 European guidelines for the management of genital herpes.

Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Using the best available evidence, this guideline recommends strategies for diagnosis, management and follow-up of the condition as well as for minimizing transmission. Early recognition and initiation of therapy is key and may reduce the duration of illness or avoid hospitalization with complications, including urinary retention, meningism or severe systemic illness.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on US Pharmacy Academia Per Perspectives of Faculty and Administrators.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has markedly affected academic and administrative facets of pharmacy education. However, to date, no study has systematically summarized pandemic-related changes at pharmacy schools across the United States. This study aimed to evaluate US pharmacy school faculty and administrators' perspectives on the pandemic's impact on pharmacy academia.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Burden in Community-Dwelling and Long-Term Care Facility Older Adults in Europe and the United States: A Prospective Study.

Background: Data on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease burden in adults remain scarce. We assessed the burden of confirmed RSV-acute respiratory infections (cRSV-ARIs) in community-dwelling (CD) adults and those in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Methods: In this prospective cohort study covering 2 RSV seasons (October 2019-March 2020 and October 2020-June 2021), RSV-ARIs were identified through active surveillance, in medically stable CD-adults ≥50 years (Europe) or adults ≥65 years in LTCFs (Europe and the United States).

Telephone-triage services do not lead to an increased wait time for assessment of gonorrhoea in symptomatic patients.

In Spring 2017, Southampton and Portsmouth Sexual Health Services (SHSs) replaced an overstretched walk-in service with a telephone-triage service: patients calling that were symptomatic, vulnerable or at high risk of having an STI were invited into a clinic, whereas others were signposted to remote self-sample NHS postal testing services. This study aimed to establish whether patient care was disadvantaged by the introduction of the triage service. Electronic patient notes for all patients attending for treatment of gonorrhoea for two years before and for two years after the service change were interrogated; the site of infection and duration of symptoms before testing were compared.

Conference report: 34th IUSTI Europe Congress.

The 34th IUSTI European Conference was held from the 3rd to the 5th of October 2020. There were presentations on STIs in Europe, many centred on Romania. A full session was devoted to syphilis, including global efforts in syphilis vaccine development.

Does online sexually transmitted infection screening compromise care? A service evaluation comparing the management of chlamydial infection diagnosed online and in clinic.

Patient demand on sexual health services in the United Kingdom is so high that many services have introduced online screening to accommodate more patients. There are concerns that these services may not be accessible to all. This service evaluation was undertaken to determine whether online screening is accessible by those patients most at need by comparing the demographics and number of asymptomatic chlamydial infections detected online and in clinic.

Comparison of the Neurotoxic and Seizure-Inducing Effects of Synthetic and Endogenous Cannabinoids with Δ-Tetrahydrocannabinol.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are commonly found in preparations used as recreational drugs. Although severe adverse health effects are not generally associated with cannabis use, a rising number of studies document seizures and even death after SC use. In this study, a mouse model is used to investigate the hypothesis that SCs are more toxic than Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis.

Factors Associated With a Higher Risk of Undiagnosed Prediabetes in a Community-Dwelling Medicare Population.

To identify characteristics in an ambulatory Medicare population that are significantly more likely to be associated with a high risk of undiagnosed prediabetes.
Cross-sectional study.
Fourteen health clinics targeting Medicare beneficiaries were held throughout northern and central California during the fall of 2017.

Factors associated with medication-related problems in an ambulatory medicare population and the case for medication therapy management.

Background: Medication-related problems (MRPs) are a major healthcare burden. The rate of MRPs in those ≥65 years old is ∼50 events per 1000 person-years, and contributes to a four-fold higher hospitalization rate when compared to younger patients. Medication therapy management (MTM) can identify MRPs in high-risk patients.

Exploring the Valley of Savings: Minimizing Part D Costs and Optimizing Drug Therapy Outcomes in Medicare Beneficiaries With Developmental Disability.

Nonelderly disabled Medicare beneficiaries have a higher prevalence of chronic conditions, higher utilization of prescription medications, and increased demand for clinical services when compared to beneficiaries 65 years of age and older who are not disabled. Out-of-pocket costs and medication-related problems are major barriers to medication compliance and achievement of therapeutic goals. A school of pharmacy partnered with a nonprofit organization that provides care to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Administration, Billing, and Payment for Pharmacy Student-Based Immunizations to Medicare Beneficiaries at Mobile Medicare Clinics.

Training student pharmacists to administer vaccinations requires a substantial investment in vaccines, supplies, and time. Few schools of pharmacy seek out or receive any reimbursement for the provision of vaccines, despite the fact it is a covered service. This study sought to implement, deliver, and demonstrate an innovative, financially sustainable curriculum-based immunization program by trained pharmacy students as part of their experiential learning.

Recent insights into HSV infection and disease: results of wider genome analysis.

Purpose Of Review: Technology to rapidly determine the partial or full genomic sequences of large viruses has developed rapidly in the last few years. Required sample sizes have diminished and sequencing of directly collected patient samples is now possible. Using banked samples from a number of clinical studies researchers have investigated how genomic variation may determine pathogenicity and answering important questions around the limits of vaccine therapy.

Use of 2015 Beers Criteria Medications by Older Medicare Beneficiaries.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries based on the updated 2015 American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Thirteen mobile Medicare clinics were held throughout Northern and Central California during the fall of 2015.

Assessing student knowledge, confidence, accuracy, and proficiency in providing Medicare Part D assistance.

Purpose: To assess the impact of coordinated didactic, simulation-based, and experiential learning on pharmacy students' knowledge and confidence with Medicare Part D and their accuracy and proficiency with the Medicare Plan Finder Tool.

Educational Activity: Forty-two pharmacy students participated in a two-semester Medicare Part D elective course in which didactic, simulation-based and experiential learning methods were employed. Students' knowledge, confidence, accuracy, and proficiency were assessed at three course time points: first day of class, last day of in-class education, and after completion of outreach.

2017 European guidelines for the management of genital herpes.

Genital herpes is one of the commonest sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Using the best available evidence, this guideline recommends strategies for diagnosis, management, and follow-up of the condition as well as for minimising transmission. Early recognition and initiation of therapy is key and may reduce the duration of illness or avoid hospitalisation with complications, including urinary retention, meningism, or severe systemic illness.

The 2016 European guideline on the management of epididymo-orchitis.

Epididymo-orchitis is a commonly encountered condition with a reported incidence of 2.45 cases per 1000 men in the United Kingdom. This 2016 International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections guideline provides up-to-date advice on the management of this condition.

Inequalities in access to genitourinary medicine clinics in the UK: results from a mystery shopper survey.

Study Design: This study investigated whether access to genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics meets UK-recommended standards.

Methods: In January 2014 and 2015, postal questionnaires about appointment and service characteristics were sent to lead clinicians of UK GUM clinics. In February 2014 and 2015, researchers posing as symptomatic and asymptomatic 'patients' contacted clinics by telephone, requesting to be seen.

The PYRIN Domain-only Protein POP1 Inhibits Inflammasome Assembly and Ameliorates Inflammatory Disease.

In response to infections and tissue damage, ASC-containing inflammasome protein complexes are assembled that promote caspase-1 activation, IL-1β and IL-18 processing and release, pyroptosis, and the release of ASC particles. However, excessive or persistent activation of the inflammasome causes inflammatory diseases. Therefore, a well-balanced inflammasome response is crucial for the maintenance of homeostasis.

The Utility of Concept Maps to Facilitate Higher-Level Learning in a Large Classroom Setting.

Objective: To describe the utility of concept mapping in a cardiovascular therapeutics course within a large classroom setting.

Design: Students enrolled in a cardiovascular care therapeutics course completed concept maps for each major chronic cardiovascular condition. A grading rubric was used to facilitate peer-assessment of the concept map.