Marginal BH4 deficiencies, iNOS, and self-perpetuating oxidative stress in post-acute sequelae of Covid-19.

The treatment of post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC) has been informed primarily by symptomatic parallels with other chronic inflammatory syndromes. This manuscript takes a more systemic approach by examining how a marginal deficiency of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) resulting from mutations of the GCH1 (GTP cyclohydrolase 1) gene may result in the uncoupling of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) early in the initial response of the innate immune system to SARS-CoV-2. The resulting production of superoxide instead of nitric oxide leads to a self-perpetuating cycle of oxidative stress with the potential to impair numerous metabolic processes and damage multiple organ systems.

A high-stakes assessment approach to applied pharmacokinetics instruction.

Objectives: To identify instructional and assessment problems leading to pharmacy students' failure to retain pharmacokinetics abilities into the experiential year and develop an instructional methodology and abilities-based assessment tool to address the problem.

Methods: Pharmacokinetic instructional methods were assessed and an abilities-based assessment tool was developed and utilized as a requirement for curricular progression. Both the instructional methodology and the assessment tool were evaluated using abilities-based outcomes and faculty surveys.

Learning motivational interviewing: scripting a virtual patient.

Objectives: This article describes a written assignment for a first-year professional communication course to facilitate the understanding and mastery of motivational interviewing in dealing with patient ambivalence and resistance. The goal was to immerse students in how motivational interviewing differs from traditional biomedical counseling with regard to phrasing individual responses to the patient and managing the flow of interaction.

Methods: Students were required to write a script for a working prototype of the Auburn University Virtual Patient.

Patient decision making: strategies for diabetes diet adherence intervention.

Background: Patient self-care is critical in controlling diabetes and its complications. Lack of diet adherence is a particular challenge to effective diabetes intervention. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of Change, decision-making theory, and self-efficacy have contributed to successful tailoring of interventions in many target behaviors.