Macrodendritic ulcerative keratitis and conjunctival lymphoid hyperplasia in horses with equine herpesvirus-2 and equine herpesvirus-5 infections.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, confocal microscopic, histologic, and virologic features of horses with macrodendritic ulcerative keratitis and conjunctival lymphoid hyperplasia associated with equine herpesvirus-2 and equine herpesvirus-5 infection.

Animal Studied: Four foals with bilateral ocular disease.

Procedures: Complete ophthalmic examination was performed for each horse, and corneal samples were collected for cytology and microbiologic evaluation, including virus isolation and molecular diagnostics for the equine herpesviruses.

A Progress Report on the State of Pharmacy Informatics Education in US Pharmacy Schools and Colleges.

To characterize informatics education opportunities in US colleges and schools of pharmacy curricula. Informatics curricular information online was catalogued via publicly available websites. Website content was searched via domain-specific keywords.

The Effect of Clinical Pharmacist-Led Comprehensive Medication Management on Chronic Disease State Goal Attainment in a Patient-Centered Medical Home.

Background: Clinical pharmacy services were initiated at 7 of 11 clinics within a primary care network (PCN), which was designated as a patient-centered medical home and was affiliated with a large academic medical center in October 2014. The goal of the service was to target patients with uncontrolled chronic conditions, specifically diabetes. Patients met with a clinical pharmacist through individual clinic and telephonic appointments, in addition to usual appointments with physicians as needed.

Managing Polypharmacy in the 15-Minute Office Visit.

Polypharmacy is an underappreciated factor in undesirable patient outcomes. In older adults, polypharmacy is considered a syndrome of harm and presents a challenge to primary care providers. The United States has one of the highest medication use rates per capita in the world.

Impact of Pharmacy Intervention on Prior Authorization Success and Efficiency at a University Medical Center.

Background: Prior authorizations (PAs) may improve appropriate use of prescription medications. Despite potential savings for health insurance plans, the PA process is time consuming for the ordering provider, pharmacy, and patient. The UC Davis Health System (UCDHS) has created a centralized pharmacy-run clinic PA process.

Incorporating Health Information Technology and Pharmacy Informatics in a Pharmacy Professional Didactic Curriculum -with a Team-based Learning Approach.

Objective. To incorporate a pharmacy informatics program in the didactic curriculum of a team-based learning institution and to assess students' knowledge of and confidence with health informatics during the course. Design.

Drosophila Eye Model to Study Neuroprotective Role of CREB Binding Protein (CBP) in Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: The progressive neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifests as loss of cognitive functions, and finally leads to death of the affected individual. AD may result from accumulation of amyloid plaques. These amyloid plaques comprising of amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42) polypeptides results from the improper cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the brain.

A retrospective descriptive analysis of patient adherence to dabigatran at a large academic medical center.

Background: Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of dabigatran followed a very strict protocol, which included close monitoring and follow-up. Patients followed in this controlled environment had an average medication possession ratio (MPR) greater than 0.95.

A method to quantify infectious airborne pathogens at concentrations below the threshold of quantification by culture.

In aerobiology, dose-response studies are used to estimate the risk of infection to a susceptible host presented by exposure to a specific dose of an airborne pathogen. In the research setting, host- and pathogen-specific factors that affect the dose-response continuum can be accounted for by experimental design, but the requirement to precisely determine the dose of infectious pathogen to which the host was exposed is often challenging. By definition, quantification of viable airborne pathogens is based on the culture of micro-organisms, but some airborne pathogens are transmissible at concentrations below the threshold of quantification by culture.

Pharmacy students teaching prescribers strategies to lower prescription drug costs for underserved patients.

Background: The rising costs of health care and, in particular, prescription drugs remains a challenge. Health professionals' ability to promote cost-effective prescription drug use is critical, yet this subject is not included consistently in the curriculum of most health professional schools. As experts in prescription drug selection, use, and cost, pharmacists are in a unique position to help manage prescription drug regimens for the best therapeutic outcome, while also helping to keep patients' out-of-pocket (OOP) prescription drug costs low.

Effect of temperature and relative humidity on ultraviolet (UV 254) inactivation of airborne porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus.

The objective of this research was to estimate the effects of temperature and relative humidity on the inactivation of airborne porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus by ultraviolet light (UV(254)). Aerosols of PRRS virus were exposed to one of four doses of UV(254) under nine combinations of temperature (n=3) and relative humidity (n=3). Inactivation constants (k), defined as the absolute value of the slope of the linear relationship between the survival fraction of the microbial population and the UV(254) exposure dose, were estimated using the random coefficient model.

Promoting interprofessional collaboration: pharmacy students teaching current and future prescribers about Medicare Part D.

Background: Nearly all health professional students and prescribers, regardless of specialty, will care for older adults who are enrolled in or eligible for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. Given the growing numbers of older adults, the increased burden of chronic disease, and the escalating costs of health care, health professional students and prescribers across disciplines should learn strategies to promote cost-effective prescribing and collaborate with pharmacists who are experts in medication use and costs.

Objective: To describe and evaluate the impact of a statewide peer education program in which selected students at 7 California schools of pharmacy delivered a clinically relevant lecture on Part D to a multidisciplinary audience of health professional students and prescribers.

Ultraviolet irradiation and the mechanisms underlying its inactivation of infectious agents.

We review the principles of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, the inactivation of infectious agents by UV, and current applications for the control of microorganisms. In particular, wavelengths between 200 and 280 nm (germicidal UV) affect the double-bond stability of adjacent carbon atoms in molecules including pyrimidines, purines and flavin. Thus, UV inactivation of microorganisms results from the formation of dimers in RNA (uracil and cytosine) and DNA (thymine and cytosine).

Median infectious dose (ID₅₀) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolate MN-184 via aerosol exposure.

The median infectious dose (ID(50)) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus isolate MN-184 was determined for aerosol exposure. In 7 replicates, 3-week-old pigs (n=58) respired 10l of airborne PRRS virus from a dynamic aerosol toroid (DAT) maintained at -4°C. Thereafter, pigs were housed in isolation and monitored for evidence of infection.

Promoting access and reducing expected out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries: a pharmacist-directed model.

Background: The Medicare Part D benefit is complicated and may be costly, especially for vulnerable low-income populations where lack of resources and limited English proficiency may be barriers to optimal plan selection.

Objectives: To identify vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries and lower their expected annual out-of-pocket (OOP) prescription drug costs through one-on-one prescription drug plan counseling by pharmacists and trained pharmacy students.

Research Design: Between October 2008 and January 2010, a cross-sectional study was performed throughout California.

Prescriber Compliance with a New Computerized Insulin Guideline for Noncritically Ill Adults.

Background: In March 2008, the University of California, Davis Medical Center (UCDMC), implemented a guideline for the inpatient management of diabetes in noncritically ill adults. In accordance with national guidelines, all patients with type 2 diabetes are prescribed basal, nutritional, and correctional insulin. The guideline was added to the electronic medical record as a standardized physician order set in April 2008 and provider training on the insulin guideline occurred in May 2008.

Peer-to-peer interprofessional health policy education for Medicare part D.

Objectives: To determine whether a peer-to-peer education program was an expedient and effective approach to improve knowledge and promote interprofessional communication and collaboration.

Design: Trained pharmacy students taught nursing students, medical students, and medical residents about the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit (Part D), in 1- to 2-hour lectures.

Assessment: Learners completed a survey instrument to assess the effectiveness of the presentation and their attitudes toward the peer-to-peer instructional format.

Cost minimization of medicare part D prescription drug plan expenditures.

Objective: To minimize out-of-pocket prescription drug plan (PDP) expenditures by Medicare beneficiaries.

Study Design: Cost-minimization analysis.

Methods: Trained student pharmacists from 6 California pharmacy schools provided expert guidance on Medicare Part D PDPs to beneficiaries through interventions at statewide outreach events.

Medicare part D community outreach train-the-trainer program for pharmacy faculty.

Objectives: To assess the train-the-trainer component of an initiative (Partners in D) to train pharmacy students to facilitate patient enrollment in the best Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (Part D).

Methods: Faculty members from 6 California colleges or schools of pharmacy were taught how to train pharmacy students about Medicare Part D and how to conduct outreach events targeting underserved patient populations. A preintervention and postintervention survey instrument was administered to determine participants' (1) knowledge of the Part D program; (2) skill using the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool; and (3) confidence in their ability to train pharmacy students.

Problem-based learning using the online Medicare Part D Plan Finder tool.

Objectives: To implement didactic and problem-based learning curricular innovations aimed at increasing students' knowledge of Medicare Part D, improving their ability to apply the online Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool to a patient case, and improving their attitudes toward patient advocacy for Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods: A survey instrument and a case-based online Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool exercise were administered to a single group (n = 120) of second-year pharmacy graduate students prior to and following completion of a course on health policy. Three domains (knowledge, skill mastery and attitudes) were measured before and after two 90-minute lectures on Medicare Part D.

Evaluation of the relationship between a chronic disease care management program and california pay-for-performance diabetes care cholesterol measures in one medical group.

Background: Pay for performance (P4P) is a business model in which health plans pay provider organizations (medical groups) financial incentives based on attainment of clinical quality, patient experience, and use of information technology. The California P4P program is the largest P4P program in the united states and represents a potential revenue source for all participating medical groups. The clinical specifications for the California P4P program are based on the national Committee for Quality assurance (NCQA), Health Plan Employer Data, and information set (HEDIS), and each clinical measure has its own benchmark.

Sarcocystis neurona: parasitemia in a severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) horse fed sporocysts.

Sarcocystis neurona was isolated from the blood of a 5-month-old Arabian foal with severe combined immunodeficiency. The foal had been inoculated approximately 3 weeks previously with 5 x 10(5) sporocysts that were isolated from the intestines of an opossum and identified by restriction enzyme analysis of PCR products as S. neurona.