The burden of hyperkalemia in patients with cardiovascular and renal disease.

Hyperkalemia is a potentially serious condition that can result in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and is associated with an increased mortality risk. Patients older than 65 years who have an advanced stage of chronic kidney disease (stage 3 or higher), diabetes, and/or chronic heart failure are at higher risk for hyperkalemia. To reduce disease progression and improve outcomes in these groups of patients, modulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is recommended by guidelines.

Accountable care organizations: impact on pharmacy.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has considerably transformed the approaches being used to deliver health care in the United States. It was enacted to expand health insurance access, improve funding for health professions education, and reform patient care delivery. The traditional fee-for-service payment system has been criticized for overspending and providing substandard quality of care.

Biomarkers and molecular profiling in non-small cell lung cancer: an expanding role and its managed care implications.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancerrelated mortality in the world. The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2013, the disease will account for almost 159,500 deaths in the United States, or approximately 27% of all cancer deaths in the country. Lung cancer accounts for about 14% and 12% of all new cancer diagnoses in males and females, respectively, and nearly 70% of patients with lung cancer will present with locally advanced or metastatic disease at initial diagnosis.

Clinical response at Day 3 of therapy and economic outcomes in hospitalized patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI).

Objective: The FDA recently issued guidance for the types of infections that should be included in trials to support an indication for antibacterial treatment. The latest FDA guidance recommends assessing response to drug therapy at 48 to 72 hours as the primary endpoint in clinical trials. This study evaluated clinical and economic outcomes among acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) patients hospitalized at a 3000-bed healthcare system in New Jersey.

Comparison of two instruments for assessing risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Purpose: Two instruments for assessing patients' risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were compared.

Methods: The existing protocol (protocol 1) assessed PONV risk using 16 weighted risk factors and was used for both adults and pediatric patients. The new protocol (protocol 2) included a form for adults and a pediatric-specific form.

Levofloxacin-associated Achilles tendon rupture.

Objective: To describe a case of levofloxacin-induced partial Achilles tendon rupture; this occurred in the presence of known risk factors and acute renal failure.

Case Summary: A 79-year-old white man received levofloxacin for presumed pneumonia, developed acute renal failure in the setting of dehydration, and began having ankle pain on the 12th day of admission. Levofloxacin was discontinued, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 6-cm partial tear and degenerative changes.