MCCS: a novel recognition pattern-based method for fast track discovery of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs.

Given the scale and rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, or 2019-nCoV), there is an urgent need to identify therapeutics that are effective against COVID-19 before vaccines are available. Since the current rate of SARS-CoV-2 knowledge acquisition via traditional research methods is not sufficient to match the rapid spread of the virus, novel strategies of drug discovery for SARS-CoV-2 infection are required. Structure-based virtual screening for example relies primarily on docking scores and does not take the importance of key residues into consideration, which may lead to a significantly higher incidence rate of false-positive results.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in lung transplant recipients.

A systematic review of papers in English on post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in lung transplant recipients (LTR) using MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases was performed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations were strictly adhered to. Pooled odds ratios (pOR) were calculated from a random-effects model, and heterogeneity among studies was quantitated using I values.

Janus kinase inhibition for immunosuppression in solid organ transplantation: Is there a role in complex immunologic challenges?

Inhibition of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway for immunosuppression in solid organ transplantation is appealing due to its specificity for immune cell function, particularly for JAK3. This is due to its unique association with only the common gamma chain (γ). The γ is an appealing immunosuppression target in transplantation because of the critically important lymphokines that act at it, including IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21.

Fellowships in community pharmacy research: Experiences of five schools and colleges of pharmacy.

Objective: To describe common facilitators, challenges, and lessons learned in 5 schools and colleges of pharmacy in establishing community pharmacy research fellowships.

Setting: Five schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States.

Practice Description: Schools and colleges of pharmacy with existing community partnerships identified a need and ability to develop opportunities for pharmacists to engage in advanced research training.

Advancing Pharmacogenomics Education in the Core PharmD Curriculum through Student Personal Genomic Testing.

Objective: To develop, implement, and evaluate "Test2Learn" a program to enhance pharmacogenomics education through the use of personal genomic testing (PGT) and real genetic data.

Design: One hundred twenty-two second-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students in a required course were offered PGT as part of a larger program approach to teach pharmacogenomics within a robust ethical framework. The program added novel learning objectives, lecture materials, analysis tools, and exercises using individual-level and population-level genetic data.

Utility of a brief screening tool for medication-related problems.

Background: Medication therapy management (MTM) services position pharmacists to prevent, detect, and resolve medication-related problems (MRPs.) However, selecting patients for MTM who are most at risk for MRPs is a challenge. Using self-administered scales that are practical for use in clinical practice are one approach.

Patient predictors of dexmedetomidine effectiveness for sedation in intensive care units.

Background: Dexmedetomidine, a selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, is increasingly used as a sedative in intensive care despite variations in patients' responses.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine as a sedative and specific patient characteristics that play a role in adequate sedation with dexmedetomidine.

Methods: A 6-month, pilot, prospective observational study was performed in a medical intensive care unit at an academic medical center.

Exploring successful community pharmacist-physician collaborative working relationships using mixed methods.

Background: Collaborative working relationships (CWRs) between community pharmacists and physicians may foster the provision of medication therapy management services, disease state management, and other patient care activities; however, pharmacists have expressed difficulty in developing such relationships. Additional work is needed to understand the specific pharmacist-physician exchanges that effectively contribute to the development of CWR. Data from successful pairs of community pharmacists and physicians may provide further insights into these exchange variables and expand research on models of professional collaboration.

Physician perceptions of pharmacist-provided medication therapy management: qualitative analysis.

Objective: To identify physician perceptions of community pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM).

Methods: Three focus groups consisting of family and internal medicine physicians were conducted in Pittsburgh, York, and Philadelphia, PA, using a semistructured topic guide to facilitate discussions. Each participant completed an exit survey at session conclusion.

Generating demand for pharmacist-provided medication therapy management: identifying patient-preferred marketing strategies.

Objective: To identify effective strategies for marketing pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM) services to patients in a self-insured employer setting.

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: University of Pittsburgh during March through May 2008.

Instructor satisfaction with a technology-based resource for diabetes education.

Objectives: To evaluate instructor use patterns and satisfaction with DM Educate, a comprehensive, Web-based diabetes course.

Methods: Instructors completed a post-course survey instrument to assess their use of course materials and components, as well as satisfaction with the course content, design, and technology utilized, and to solicit their suggestions for additional content areas.

Results: Thirty-eight percent of respondents utilized DM Educate as a standalone elective and 62% had integrated materials into existing courses.

A Web-based interprofessional diabetes education course.

Objective: To develop a comprehensive diabetes management course for pharmacy students that is available to all colleges and schools of pharmacy via the Internet.

Design: DM Educate, a Web-based course consisting of 12 topic modules with video lectures, active-learning exercises, and test questions prepared by nationally recognized experts was developed. The modular design allows use as a standalone, 3-credit course or use of individual module content as a supplement to an existing course.

Medication therapy management: its relationship to patient counseling, disease management, and pharmaceutical care.

Objective: To delineate the relationship, including similarities and differences, between medication therapy management (MTM) and contemporary pharmacist-provided services, including patient counseling, disease management, and pharmaceutical care, to facilitate the continued evolution of commonly used language and a standard of practice across geographic areas and practice environments.

Summary: Incorporation of MTM services into the array of Medicare-funded services affords an opportunity for pharmacists to develop direct patient care services in the community. Defining the role of MTM within the scope of pharmacist-provided patient care activities, including patient counseling, disease management, and all currently provided pharmacy services is essential to the delineation of a viable and sustainable practice model for pharmacists.

A model for supporting and training clinical pharmaceutical scientist PhD students.

Objectives: To enhance the clinical training and financial support of graduate students in a Clinical Pharmaceutical Scientist PhD Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy.

Design: The School of Pharmacy and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center entered into a collaborative agreement to develop the Clinical Scientist Associate (CSA) program, as well as financially support students enrolled in a Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD program. These clinical training experiences are in addition to the didactic and laboratory experiences in the pharmaceutical sciences graduate program.

Quality of arthritis information on the Internet.

Purpose: The quality and reliability of Internet-based arthritis information were studied.

Methods: The search terms "arthritis," "osteoarthritis," and 'rheumatoid arthritis" were entered into the AOL, MSN, Yahoo, Google, and Lycos search engines. The Web sites for the first 40 matches generated by each search engine were grouped by URL suffix and evaluated on the basis of four categories of criteria: disease and medication information content, Web-site navigability, required literacy level, and currentness of information.

Retrospective evaluation of unanticipated admissions and readmissions after same day surgery and associated costs.

Study Objective: To determine the rate of unanticipated admissions and readmissions, and to characterize the associated reasons and costs.

Design: Retrospective medical records database analysis.

Setting: University teaching hospital.