Use of Statins and the Risk of Incident Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Even though several landmark statin trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of statin therapy in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, several studies have suggested that statins are associated with a moderate increase in risk of new-onset diabetes. These observations prompted the US FDA to revise statin labels to include a warning of an increased risk of incident diabetes mellitus as a result of increases in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose. However, few studies have used US-based data to investigate this statin-associated increased risk of diabetes.

Factors associated with seizure recurrence in epilepsy patients treated with antiepileptic monotherapy: A retrospective observational cohort study using US administrative insurance claims.

Background: Few studies examine predictors of seizures in medically treated patients with epilepsy receiving antiepileptic monotherapy using a large patient population.

Objective: Our objective was to identify clinical, medication, and demographic factors associated with seizure recurrence in medically treated patients with epilepsy receiving one of four antiepileptic monotherapy regimens: lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, or topiramate.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Innovus Invision™ Data Mart paid medical and prescription US commercial insurance claims data from January 2007 to September 2010.

Medication effectiveness with the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors among Texas Medicaid patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Adalimumab (Humira [ADA]), etanercept (Enbrel [ETN]), and infliximab (Remicade [IFX]) are tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors indicated for the treatment of a variety of disorders. While their effectiveness has not been directly compared in a clinical trial, results from the majority of the indirect treatment comparisons suggest comparable efficacy and safety profiles. However, these TNF inhibitor agents differ in administration method and dosing flexibility, which may result in differences in medication use profiles (e.

Pharmacists' training, perceived roles, and actions associated with dispensing controlled substance prescriptions.

Objectives: To examine situations that prompt pharmacists to access a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) database and management of opioid abuse/addiction; assess pharmacists' actions when abuse is suspected; describe pharmacists' tasks when dispensing controlled substance prescriptions (CSPs); and their continuing pharmacy education (CPE). DESIGN Cross-sectional mail survey of 1,000 randomly selected pharmacists.

Setting: Texas from February 2012 to April 2012.

Using the theory of planned behavior to examine pharmacists' intention to utilize a prescription drug monitoring program database.

Background: Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are state-operated electronic databases that contain patients' controlled drug histories. Most states provide these data to pharmacists via online web portals to combat prescription drug abuse and diversion.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: 1) explore the theory of planned behavior's (TPB) utility in predicting Texas pharmacists' intention to utilize an online accessible PDMP; 2) to determine the contribution of each construct, attitude (A), subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) in predicting pharmacists' intention; and 3) test whether the addition of perceived obligation (PO) is significantly related to pharmacists' intention.

The basis for recommending repeating epidural steroid injections for radicular low back pain: a literature review.

Objectives: To determine the current evidence to support guidelines for frequency and timing of epidural steroid injections (ESIs), to help determine what sort of response should occur to repeat an injection, and to outline specific research needs in these areas.

Data Sources: A PubMed, Medline (EBSCO), and Cochrane library search (January 1971-December 2005), as well as additional references found from the initial search.

Study Selection: There were no studies that specifically addressed the objectives outlined.

Metabolic syndrome-related conditions among people with and without gout: prevalence and resource use.

Objective: A cohort of employees with gout were compared to those without to evaluate the differences in prevalence of disorders associated with metabolic syndrome (both those considered underlying and those associated with end-stage morbidity and mortality) as well as the cost of annual medical services (AMS) required for treatment of these conditions.

Methods: Employees with gout were identified by International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) code during the calendar years of 2001-2004 and compared to propensity-score matched employees without gout using the Human Capital Management Services Research Reference Database. T-tests were then used to compare prevalence and average AMS of comorbid disorders defined from Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality (AHRQ) diagnostic categories.

Pharmacy students' learning styles before and after a problem-based learning experience.

Objectives: To determine learning-style scores of second-year pharmacy students before and after a problem-based learning (PBL) teaching experience and to evaluate the relationships between scores and demographic variables.

Methods: The Grasha-Reichmann Student Learning Style Scale (GRSLSS) was given to pharmacotherapy laboratory students before and after a semester-long problem-based learning class.

Results: Only one of the GRSLSS score variables was reported as "high" ("collaborative") and none were reported as "low.

Evaluation and comparison of models of metabolic syndrome using confirmatory factor analysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare three competing models of the underlying factor structure of metabolic syndrome using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Data from the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS) was used, which has previously been evaluated using principal components analysis (PCA). The three models that were evaluated consisted of oblique and orthogonal two-factor models with hypothesized underlying "metabolic" and "blood pressure" factors, and a four-factor model theorizing "insulin resistance," "obesity," "lipids," and "blood pressure" as the underlying constructs.

Trends in medical use and abuse of sustained-release opioid analgesics: a revisit.

Objective: Previous literature suggests that increases in the medical use of opioids over the early 1990s did not contribute to increased morbidity secondary to opioid abuse. Our objective was to evaluate the period 1997-2001 to analyze trends in medical use and medical abuse of three classes of opioid analgesics that are commonly used in sustained-release formulations: fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone.

Design And Setting: A retrospective analysis of the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) database and the Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) database for the years 1997-2001 was used for this study.

Implications of SARS: medical geography and surveillance in disease detection.

Objective: To expose pharmacy educators and practitioners to concepts of medical geography and medical surveillance. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is used as a case example because it is an emerging infection and a prime example of the type of disease that pharmacists may encounter in daily practice (e.g.