Qualitative Analysis of Student Perceptions Comparing Team-based Learning and Traditional Lecture in a Pharmacotherapeutics Course.

To qualitatively compare students' attitudes and perceptions regarding team-based learning (TBL) and lecture. Students were exposed to TBL and lecture in an elective pharmacotherapeutics course in a randomized, prospective, cross-over design. After completing the course, students provided their attitudes and perceptions through a written self-reflection and narrative questions on the end-of-course evaluation.

A Randomized Crossover Comparison of Team-based Learning and Lecture Format on Learning Outcomes.

To compare learning outcomes and student confidence between team-based learning (TBL) and lecture. A crossover study was conducted with 30 students divided into two sections. Each section was taught six therapeutic topics (three TBL and three lecture).

Masters Swimmers Use More Dietary Supplements Than a Large National Comparison Population in the United States.

The use of dietary supplements was compared between a cohort of committed exercisers, U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) members (n = 1,042), and the general U.

Alternate Routes of Administration of Antidepressant and Antipsychotic Medications.

Objective: To review the administration of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications via inhaled, intranasal, buccal, sublingual, transdermal, and rectal routes.

Data Sources: A PubMed search was conducted for all data through March 31, 2015 to identify pertinent literature. Search terms included the generic name of each antidepressant and antipsychotic medication in combination with the following terms: alternate routes of administration, inhaled, intranasal, buccal, sublingual, transdermal, and rectal.

Regional brain [(11)C]carfentanil binding following tobacco smoking.

Objective: To determine if overnight tobacco abstinent carriers of the AG or GG (*G) vs. the AA variant of the human mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) A118G polymorphism (rs1799971) differ in [(11)C]carfentanil binding after tobacco smoking.

Methods: Twenty healthy American male smokers who abstained from tobacco overnight were genotyped and completed positron emission tomography (PET) scans with the mu opioid receptor agonist, [(11)C]carfentanil.

Team-based learning to improve learning outcomes in a therapeutics course sequence.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of team-based learning (TBL) to that of traditional lectures on learning outcomes in a therapeutics course sequence.

Design: A revised TBL curriculum was implemented in a therapeutic course sequence. Multiple choice and essay questions identical to those used to test third-year students (P3) taught using a traditional lecture format were administered to the second-year pharmacy students (P2) taught using the new TBL format.

Increased distractor vulnerability but preserved vigilance in patients with schizophrenia: evidence from a translational Sustained Attention Task.

Objective: Attentional deficits represent a core cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. The distractor condition Sustained Attention Task (dSAT) has been identified by the Cognitive Neuroscience Treatment to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (CNTRICS) initiative as a promising translational task for assessing schizophrenia-related deficits in attentional selection-control, identifying neuroimaging biomarkers of such deficits, and for preclinical animal research on potential pro-cognitive treatments. Here, we examined whether patients would show specific difficulties in selection-control and in avoiding distraction in the dSAT.

Comparison of the prevalence and treatment of hypertension in two populations in the United States: masters swimmers versus the NHANES population.

This research compares the prevalence of hypertension in a group of adult masters swimmers with an age and sex matched cohort from the 2008 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), used to represent the general population in the United States. Masters swimmer data were obtained from a one-time survey of all United States Masters Swimming (USMS) members. Both datasets included demographics, drug therapy, diseases and health status.

Tobacco smoking produces greater striatal dopamine release in G-allele carriers with mu opioid receptor A118G polymorphism.

Objective: To determine if carriers of the allelic expression of the G variant of the human mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) A118G polymorphism have greater increases in striatal dopamine (DA) release after tobacco smoking.

Methods: Nineteen of 20 genotyped male tobacco smokers, after overnight abstinence, smoked denicotinized (denic) and average nicotine (nic) containing tobacco cigarettes in a PET brain imaging study using [(11)C]raclopride.

Results: The right striatum had more free D(2) receptors than the left striatum pre- and post-tobacco smoking.

Venous plasma nicotine correlates of hormonal effects of tobacco smoking.

The present study resolves some of the discrepancies in the literature by correlating the effects of tobacco smoking on hormone release with venous plasma nicotine levels. Cortisol, prolactin, and beta-endorphin concentrations were measured. Habitual male tobacco users smoked denicotinized (very low nicotine) and average nicotine cigarettes in the morning after overnight tobacco abstinence.

Antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia.

Use of antipsychotic agents has been associated with hyperprolactinemia, or elevated prolactin levels; this hormonal abnormality can interfere with the functioning of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic systems. As antipsychotic agents are increasingly used for both United States Food and Drug Administration-approved and nonapproved indications, many individuals are at risk for developing antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia. First-generation antipsychotics pose the greatest risk of causing this adverse effect; however, second-generation antipsychotics, particularly risperidone and paliperidone, also often increase prolactin secretion.

Risperidone treatment of bipolar mania.

Objective: To review clinical trial evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of risperidone for the treatment of bipolar mania.

Data Sources: Articles were identified through searches of PubMed (1950-August 2005), EMBASE (1988-August 2005 week 37), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-August 2005) databases using the key words risperidone, atypical antipsychotics, and bipolar mania. Additional references were found through review of bibliographies of identified articles.

Prevalence and motives for illicit use of prescription stimulants in an undergraduate student sample.

To assess the prevalence and motives for illicit use of prescription stimulants and alcohol and other drugs (AODs), associated with these motives, the authors distributed a self-administered Web survey TO a random sample of 9,161 undergraduate college students. Of the study participants, 8.1% reported lifetime and 5.

Relative rectal bioavailability of fluoxetine in normal volunteers.

This study was conducted to determine the relative rectal bioavailability of fluoxetine capsules as well as the acceptability of the rectal route of fluoxetine capsule administration. Using a 2-period, crossover design with a 30-day washout between study sessions, 20 mg fluoxetine capsules were administered to 7 healthy, drug-free, nonsmoking volunteers by the oral and rectal routes. Blood samples were collected at baseline, and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 hours, as well as 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28 days following drug administration.

Prevalence and correlates of illicit methylphenidate use among 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in the United States, 2001.

The prevalence and correlates of illicit methylphenidate use were examined within a nationally representative U.S. sample of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders.

Changes in craving for a cigarette and arterial nicotine plasma concentrations in abstinent smokers.

Although the relationship between nicotine and changes in heart rate and blood pressure has been demonstrated, the relationship between nicotine and subjective effects such as decreased craving, relaxation, sickness, and decreased nervousness, is less well delineated. In this study, arterial nicotine levels were drawn in 21 smokers who smoked two average nicotine (AN) cigarettes and one low nicotine (LN) cigarette. Craving for a cigarette, relaxation, sickness, and decreased nervousness were rated on a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after smoking each cigarette.

Acamprosate for the adjunctive treatment of alcohol dependence.

Objective: To review the literature related to the treatment of alcohol dependence with acamprosate, a synthetic compound structurally similar to the naturally occurring amino acid, homotaurine.

Data Sources: Primary literature and review articles were identified by MEDLINE search (1966-June 2003). Abstracts from recent meetings were also reviewed.

Illicit methylphenidate use in an undergraduate student sample: prevalence and risk factors.

Study Objectives: To assess the prevalence of illicit methylphenidate use among undergraduate college students at a large university, and to identify alcohol and other drug use behaviors, as well as the negative consequences and risk factors, associated with illicit methylphenidate use.

Design: Internet survey.

Setting: Large public university.

Clinical issues associated with maintenance treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

Issues to consider when evaluating maintenance drug therapy for patients with schizophrenia are discussed; these include potential adverse effects of antipsychotic therapy, such as weight gain, diabetes mellitus, extrapyramidal symptoms, sexual dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, and cardiac effects, as well as quality of life. Patients with schizophrenia are more likely to be overweight than the general population. Olanzapine and clozapine have been associated with the greatest weight gain of the newer antipsychotics.

Comparative effects of tobacco smoking and nasal nicotine.

Objective: Compare the electroencephalographic (EEG) and cardiovascular effects of tobacco smoking and nasal nicotine in the same subjects.

Methods: Eleven volunteer smokers were studied after >10 h of overnight tobacco deprivation. Quantitative EEG was used to measure brain electrical changes produced by four different treatments.