An outcomes-based approach to curriculum development in pharmacy.

Objective: To implement an outcomes-based approach to pharmacy curriculum development.

Design: Desired learning outcomes were identified; course content, learning activities, and assessment instruments were designed; and evaluation was conducted and feedback obtained to refine the curriculum.

Assessment: All professional skills, 4 generic capabilities, and the coherence of the curriculum scales showed significant improvement compared to graduates' performance under both the old and transitional curriculum.

Soy isoflavone supplementation and fasting serum glucose and lipid profile among postmenopausal Chinese women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Long-term effects of soy-derived isoflavones on lipids remain uncertain, and few data are available on their effects on glycemic control. We examined the effects of isolated soy germ isoflavones on the changes in fasting glucose (FG) and lipids.

Design: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 203 postmenopausal Chinese women aged 48 to 62 years.

Prevalence of amiodarone-related hepatotoxicity in 720 Chinese patients with or without baseline liver dysfunction.

Background: The prevalence of hepatotoxicity after longterm oral amiodarone therapy in Chinese patients with or without elevated liver enzymes at baseline is unknown.

Hypothesis: Amiodarone may still be safely prescribed for Chinese patients who have baseline liver dysfunction.

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Beneficial effect of soy isoflavones on bone mineral content was modified by years since menopause, body weight, and calcium intake: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: Many studies have shown that soy isoflavones have an effect in preventing estrogen-related bone loss, but no data reported whether such an effect could be influenced by other important factors affecting bone loss. This study examines whether the associations between isoflavone supplementation and rates of change in bone mineral content (BMC) could be modified by years since menopause (YSM), body weight (BW), and dietary calcium intake in postmenopausal Chinese women aged 48 to 62 years.

Design: A group of 203 eligible women were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: placebo (daily dose of 0 mg isoflavones + 500 mg calcium, n = 67), mid-dose (40 mg isoflavones + 500 mg calcium, n = 68); and high-dose (80 mg isoflavones + 500 mg calcium, n = 68).

Soy isoflavones have a favorable effect on bone loss in Chinese postmenopausal women with lower bone mass: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Animal studies have shown that soy isoflavones have an effect in preventing estrogen-related bone loss, but few data are available in humans, especially in the Asian populations. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial examines the effects of soy isoflavones on bone loss in postmenopausal Chinese women, aged 48-62 yr. Two hundred and three eligible subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment groups with daily doses of placebo (1 g starch; n = 67), mid-dose (0.

Coriolus versicolor: a medicinal mushroom with promising immunotherapeutic values.

Coriolus versicolor (CV) is a medicinal mushroom widely prescribed for the prophylaxis and treatment of cancer and infection in China. In recent years, it has been extensively demonstrated both preclinically and clinically that aqueous extracts obtained from CV display a wide array of biological activities, including stimulatory effects on different immune cells and inhibition of cancer growth. The growing popularity of aqueous CV extracts as an adjunct medical modality to conventional cancer therapies has generated substantial commercial interest in developing these extracts into consistent and efficacious oral proprietary products.