Pentoxifylline or theophylline use in hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen support.

Introduction: The phosphodiesterase inhibitors theophylline and pentoxifylline have anti-inflammatory properties that may make them useful in COVID-19 pneumonia. We conducted a retrospective review of hospitalized COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen who received these drugs.

Objectives: To examine the potential efficacy and safety of theophylline and pentoxifylline in COVID-19 pneumonia patients.

Platelet Reactivity Testing for Aspirin Patients Who Sustain Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Background: Patients who take aspirin and sustain traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) are often transfused platelets in an effort to prevent bleeding progression. The efficacy of platelet transfusion is questionable, however, and some medical societies recommend that platelet reactivity testing (PRT) should guide transfusion decisions. The study hypothesis was that utilization of PRT to guide platelet transfusion for tICH patients suspected of taking aspirin would safely identify patients who did not require platelet transfusion.

Pentostatin antagonizes the antiviral activity of MBX-2168 by inhibiting the biosynthesis of the active compound.

MBX-2168 has a mechanism of action similar to that of acyclovir (ACV) and ganciclovir (GCV), but two unique steps differentiate this drug from ACV/GCV. First, MBX-2168 is, at least partially, phosphorylated by the endogenous cellular kinase TAOK3 to a monophosphate. The second involves the removal of a moiety at the 6-position of MBX-2168-MP by adenosine deaminase like protein-1 (ADAL-1).

A pleurocidin analogue with greater conformational flexibility, enhanced antimicrobial potency and in vivo therapeutic efficacy.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential alternative to classical antibiotics that are yet to achieve a therapeutic breakthrough for treatment of systemic infections. The antibacterial potency of pleurocidin, an AMP from Winter Flounder, is linked to its ability to cross bacterial plasma membranes and seek intracellular targets while also causing membrane damage. Here we describe modification strategies that generate pleurocidin analogues with substantially improved, broad spectrum, antibacterial properties, which are effective in murine models of bacterial lung infection.

Decreasing the stigma surrounding alcohol use disorder.

Introduction: There is a paucity of data on educational interventions that prepare students to mitigate the stigma or burden of alcohol use disorder. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the impact of an interprofessional symposium on personal knowledge and stigma of alcohol use disorder and (2) inform future educational models.

Methods: The symposium highlighted the impact of alcohol at one private Midwestern university and reviewed the pharmacology of alcohol, diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder, and treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Detection of neutralising antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 to determine population exposure in Scottish blood donors between March and May 2020.

BackgroundThe progression and geographical distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the United Kingdom (UK) and elsewhere is unknown because typically only symptomatic individuals are diagnosed. We performed a serological study of blood donors in Scotland in the spring of 2020 to detect neutralising antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 as a marker of past infection and epidemic progression.AimOur objective was to determine if sera from blood bank donors can be used to track the emergence and progression of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.

Possible apixaban-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

Purpose: The development of leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) during apixaban therapy in a female patient being treated for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is reported.

Summary: A 74-year-old Caucasian woman weighing 102 kg presented to a walk-in clinic with complaints of mild pain and swelling in her left leg for 2 weeks. She was diagnosed as having left lower-extremity DVT.

Smart Nanocarriers for the Delivery of Nucleic Acid-Based Therapeutics: A Comprehensive Review.

Nucleic acid-based therapies are promising therapeutics for the treatment of several systemic disorders, and they offer an exciting opportunity to address emerging biological challenges. The scope of nucleic acid-based therapeutics in the treatment of multiple disease states including cancers has been widened by recent progress in Ribonucleic acids (RNA) biology. However, cascades of systemic and intracellular barriers, including rapid degradation, renal clearance, and poor cellular uptake, hinder the clinical effectiveness of nucleic acid-based therapies.

Short-term Experiences in Global Health: What is the Cost of Cultural Competence?

Students in a wide variety of health professions are increasingly interested in volunteering on a short-term experience in global health (STEGH). The literature suggests that STEGHs pose a variety of potential risks and benefits, and may carry a significant cost to plan and provide. One potential mitigating factor for any risks and costs is that student participation on a STEGH may enhance their cultural competence.

Efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) commonly occurs in patients with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the preferred therapy for these patients. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of CPAP for CV prevention in OSA patients. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Impact of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences on Residency Interview Invitations.

To determine how postgraduate year one (PGY1) pharmacy residency program directors perceive factors related to advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) when selecting candidates for residency interviews. An online cross-sectional nationwide survey of 1,280 PGY1 residency program directors was conducted. Participants were asked to rank the overall influence of five APPE categories, including location, structure, elective type, timing, and preceptor references, as well as the desirability and necessity of APPE-related variables representing the five categories, in their assessment of residency candidates.

Cystatin C: A Primer for Pharmacists.

Pharmacists are at the forefront of dosing and monitoring medications eliminated by or toxic to the kidney. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these medications, accurate measurement of kidney function is paramount. The mainstay of kidney assessment for drug dosing and monitoring is serum creatinine (SCr)-based estimation equations.

How many manuscripts should I peer review per year?

Peer review provides the foundation for the scholarly publishing system. The conventional peer review system consists of using authors of articles as reviewers for other colleagues' manuscripts in a collaborative-basis system. However, authors complain about a theoretical overwhelming number of invitations to peer review.

Glycosylation of immunoglobulin G is regulated by a large network of genes pleiotropic with inflammatory diseases.

Effector functions of immunoglobulin G (IgG) are regulated by the composition of a glycan moiety, thus affecting activity of the immune system. Aberrant glycosylation of IgG has been observed in many diseases, but little is understood about the underlying mechanisms. We performed a genome-wide association study of IgG N-glycosylation ( = 8090) and, using a data-driven network approach, suggested how associated loci form a functional network.

Improving the care of students with diabetes in rural schools utilizing an online diabetes education program for school personnel.

Introduction: Diabetes is a critical health issue that impacts over 422 million people worldwide to include more than 500 000 children. Diabetes prevalence is higher in rural areas compared to urban areas and people living with diabetes in rural areas face significant challenges to care. Children with diabetes need appropriate care in the school setting to reduce the risk of short- and long-term complications.

Real-World Evaluation of Dosing in Patients Converted From Insulin Glargine (Lantus) to Insulin Glargine (Basaglar).

Basaglar, insulin glargine (BGlar; Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN), a follow-on biologic, was developed after the patent for Lantus, insulin glargine (LGlar; Sanofi-Aventis, Paris, France) expired. To compare the dosing and hemoglobin A (A1C)-lowering effects of BGlar compared with LGlar in a real-world setting. Adult patients, at 5 clinics, with type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who were converted from LGlar to BGlar were included in this retrospective observational study.

Biosynthesis and half-life of MBX-2168-triphosphate in herpes virus-infected cells.

The third generation of methylenecyclopropane nucleoside analogs (MCPNAs) elicit an anti-viral effect against all three sub-classes of herpes viruses without inducing cytotoxicity in vitro. It has been previously established that the mechanism of action of MCPNAs is similar to that of ganciclovir (GCV) or acyclovir (ACV). However, the activation of MBX-2168, a third generation MCPNA, involves additional and unique enzymatic steps and this process has not been examined in virus-infected cells.

Relative Hyperglycemia Is an Independent Determinant of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients With Critical Illness.

Objectives: To determine whether relative hyperglycemia was associated with in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients independent of other prognostic variables and whether this association is affected by background glycemia.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Mixed medical-surgical ICU in a metropolitan teaching hospital.

Reporting of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms to clinicians among women with breast cancer: a qualitative study.

Purpose: Cases of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) under-reporting have been sporadically described in the literature, but no studies have focused on actively examining this behavior. Our primary aim was to identify women who purposefully under-reported CIPN, along with reasons for doing so. A secondary aim was to explore factors enabling or hindering communication of CIPN to clinicians.

Short-term medical service trips: what is the cost of patient care and student training?

Background: Evaluations of the costs and effects of medical service trips (MSTs) are increasingly necessary. Estimates of costs can inform decision making to determine if participation is likely to be a wise use of resources.

Methods: This study estimates the costs and effects of a 1-week MST for 20 health professions students and seven providers to the Dominican Republic.

Systematic review of perioperative use of immunosuppressive agents in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Background: Patients who qualify for bariatric surgery are increasingly experiencing co-morbid conditions, which often require management through the use of immunosuppressive agents, such as corticosteroids, tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, or other immunomodulators, which may increase the risk of infection or wound healing complications. Perioperative management of these agents in bariatric surgery is challenging because of the lack of research in this patient population. With the use of immunosuppressive agents on the rise, the effects of these medications must be understood, both the risks posed in the perioperative period, and the benefit their sustained use may have for co-morbidity management.

Rural Physician-Pharmacist Collaborative Practice Agreements Managing Patients in Supportive Living and Assisted Living Memory Care Facilities.

Setting: Supportive living and assisted living memory care facilities in a rural West-Central Illinois county.

Objectives: 1) Evaluate the impact of active pharmacist participation on patient care for residents living in supportive and assisted living facilities, 2) demonstrate feasibility and financial sustainability of rural community pharmacists providing disease state management services, 3) create processes for best practice to expand the clinical role of the community pharmacist.

Design: Case study.

Myrtenal attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of myrtenal on diabetes-associated oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and inflammation using a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Following the induction of diabetes in male Wistar rats using STZ (40 mg/kg body weight), myrtenal (80 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally to diabetic rats for four weeks and then sacrificed to harvest tissues. We measured the levels of antioxidants, LPO, and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB p65).