Prevalence of self-reported nonmedical use of prescription stimulants in North Carolina Doctor of Pharmacy students.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence, associated factors, and opinions regarding nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) in Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to professional year 1 through 4 for students at 2 schools of pharmacy (public and private) in North Carolina. The survey was available for 3 weeks.

United States Parmacopeia Chapter <797> timeline: 1989 to 2013.

This article features a tabular chronology of events deemed relevant to the creation and revision of United States Pharmacopeia General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding--Sterile Preparations, which premiered in 2004.

Ethnicity-specific pharmacogenetics: the case of warfarin in African Americans.

Using a derivation cohort (N=349), we developed the first warfarin dosing algorithm that includes recently discovered polymorphisms in VKORC1 and CYP2C9 associated with warfarin dose requirement in African Americans (AAs). We tested our novel algorithm in an independent cohort of 129 AAs and compared the dose prediction to the International Warfarin Pharmacogenetics Consortium (IWPC) dosing algorithms. Our algorithm explains more of the phenotypic variation (R(2)=0.

Pharmacy student performance on constructed-response versus selected-response calculations questions.

Objective. To introduce PharmD students to changes in calculations question types (constructed-response versus selected-response questions); measure and compare student performance on constructed-response and selected-response questions in a pharmaceutics course; and collect student feedback on the use of differing question types.Methods A pharmaceutics/pharmaceutical calculations examination was administered that included 15 pairs of questions; each pair consisted of a constructed-response question and a similar selected-response question.

Vodcasts and active-learning exercises in a "flipped classroom" model of a renal pharmacotherapy module.

Objective: To implement a "flipped classroom" model for a renal pharmacotherapy topic module and assess the impact on pharmacy students' performance and attitudes.

Design: Students viewed vodcasts (video podcasts) of lectures prior to the scheduled class and then discussed interactive cases of patients with end-stage renal disease in class. A process-oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) activity was developed and implemented that complemented, summarized, and allowed for application of the material contained in the previously viewed lectures.

Drug shortage compounding: the only safe medication source in a time of crisis.

This article provides a discussion on the current problem of drug shortages within the U.S. and how compounded preparations serve as the only safe option as a source of medications during the crisis.

Evaluation of the stability of acetaminophen in pluronic lecithin organogel and the determination of an appropriate beyond-use date.

Transdermal acetaminophen in Pluronic lecithin organogel (APAP-PLO) has been anecdotally reported as beneficial when used in cancer patients in the hospice setting. However, there is currently no published information regarding the stability of APAP-PLO. The objective of this study was to identify an appropriate formulation of APAP-PLO and to evaluate the stability of that formulation in order to determine an appropriate beyond-use date.

Adjunctive sitagliptin therapy in postoperative cardiac surgery patients: a pilot study.

Aim. We aimed to determine if sitagliptin added to standard postoperative standardized sliding-scale insulin regimens improved blood glucose. Methods.

The ps in therapeutics.

The decline of ps (pharmaceutical sciences) content and emphasis, especially pharmaceutics in pharmacy education, has been followed by pharmacy practice journals since the final BS to PharmD degree transition of 1990-2000. The particular deficit of drug compatibility, compounding, packaging, reactivity, solubility, stability and storage instruction, and information was a major impetus for the 1996 premier of the International journal of pharmaceutical compounding and the 2011 introduction of the Science and technology for the hospital pharmacist electronic newsletter. The four ps examples provided in this article to corroborate the introduction to Vol.

Telaprevir: an oral protease inhibitor for hepatitis C virus infection.

Purpose: The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, safety, drug interactions, viral drug resistance, dosage and administration, and place in therapy of telaprevir are reviewed.

Summary: Telaprevir is an oral NS3/4A protease inhibitor that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection in adult patients with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis. In Phase II clinical trials, triple therapy (telaprevir with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin) demonstrated 20-39% higher rates of sustained virological response (SVR) versus standard therapy (peginterferon alfa and ribavirin) in patients with chronic HCV genotype 1.

Comparison of the frequency of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism in depressed versus nondepressed patients.

Numerous studies have found an association between low serum folate levels and incidence of depression. Folic acid supplementation has been successfully used as an adjunct to treat depression in these patients. However, some individuals have a genetic deficiency in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene that limits conversion of folic acid to its biologically active form, L-methylfolate.

Evaluation of genetic variations in organic cationic transporter 3 in depressed and nondepressed subjects.

Organic cationic transporter 3 (OCT3, SLS22A3) has only recently emerged as one of the regulators of monoaminergic neurotransmission, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of depression and is a potential new antidepressant drug target. OCT3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been investigated for their association with psychiatric disorders such as methamphetamine use disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents, but not depression. This study was designed to evaluate the allele frequencies of seven OCT3 SNPs in a US Caucasian depressed population and compare these frequencies with a control group of nondepressed subjects.

The value of pharmacy services on a short-term medical mission trip: description of services and assessment of team satisfaction.

Background: Pharmacists should be key members of a medical mission trip by providing assistance with medication knowledge and therapeutics.

Objective: To determine the value of a pharmacist as a member of a medical mission team through (1) pharmacy interventions on 2 medical teams and 1 women's health team and (2) team satisfaction with the pharmacy services.

Methods: Pharmacy interventions were documented by 2 medical teams and 1 women's health team and included, but were not limited to, dosing recommendations, medication selection, and therapeutic substitution.

Student pharmacists' use and perceived impact of educational technologies.

Objective: To assess the frequency of use by and perceived impact of various educational technologies on student pharmacists.

Methods: Data were obtained using a validated, Web-based survey instrument designed to evaluate the frequency of use and impact on learning of various technologies used in educating first-, second-, and third-year student pharmacists. Basic demographic data also were collected and analyzed.

The impact of a pharmacist assisted clinic upon medication adherence and quality of life in mental health patients.

Objective: To determine if a pharmacist assisted psychiatric clinic would improve adherence to medications and quality of life over 6 months. The primary study endpoints were the change from baseline in Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), Brief Evaluation of Medication Influences and Beliefs (BEMIB), World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scales as well as hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Secondary endpoints included metabolic and physiologic parameters.

Maillard reactions in pharmaceutical formulations and human health.

This article reviews pharmaceutical and health implications of the nonenzymatic Maillard reaction, also referred to as browning or N-glycation. The spontaneous Maillard reaction between reducing sugars and amines was first reported by French scientist Louis Maillard in 1912; the Maillard reaction may also occur with other drugs. Hemoglobin A1c and chemically complex colored products that follow initial dextrose and amino acids adducts in parenteral nutrition solutions are the advanced maillard products most familiar to pharmacists.

Relationship between assessment item format and item performance characteristics.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between assessment item formats (case-based versus noncase-based) and item performance characteristics.

Methods: Assessment items (1,575) were collected from examinations administered in several therapeutics courses over 4 academic years. Items were categorized as either "case-based" or "noncase-based" and item performance characteristics (discrimination index and level of difficulty) were evaluated.

Accuracy and precision of manufacturer-supplied liquid medication administration devices before and after patient education.

Objectives: To compare the accuracy and precision of a manufacturer-supplied dropper versus a pharmacy-supplied syringe when measured by a trained student pharmacist and to evaluate patients' ability to accurately measure a prescribed amount of medication with these devices before and after counseling on their use.

Methods: This was a two-phased study with a pretest/posttest design of 125 community pharmacy patrons of Virginia community pharmacies. Deliverable volume was measured by a student pharmacist for nystatin suspension and digoxin elixir using the manufactured-supplied device.

Formulation, characterization and testing of tetracaine hydrochloride-loaded albumin-chitosan microparticles for ocular drug delivery.

Most ocular surgical procedures take approximately 60 min to complete, the anaesthetic property of the safest drug, tetracaine, is initiated in a few minutes and lasts approximately 10-15 min. The purpose of the present study was to develop an ocular tetracaine formulation which can produce an immediate onset of action and/or longer duration of action during the entire surgical procedure. Tetracaine-loaded microparticle formulation was prepared by the method of spray-drying and characterized in terms of size, zeta potential, morphology, thermal stability and release pattern.

Carbamazepine-induced hyperammonemia.

Purpose: A case of carbamazepine-induced hyperammonemia is presented.

Summary: A 26-year-old man with bipolar disorder, seizures, and mild mental retardation secondary to a traumatic brain injury began treatment with carbamazepine for aggression and seizure control. After three weeks of carbamazepine therapy, the patient arrived at the emergency department (ED) with severe agitation and aggressive behavior.

Teaching electrocardiogram basics using dance and movement.

Objective: To implement and assess an innovative approach to teaching electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythms using dance and movement.

Design: Recognition of ECG rhythms was taught to a group of third-year pharmacy students using dance and movement via collaboration with a dance faculty member. A control group was taught using traditional pharmacy lecture and PowerPoint slides.

Survey of pharmacists and physicians on drug interactions between combined oral contraceptives and broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Objective: To evaluate physician and pharmacist knowledge on potential drug interactions between combined oral contraceptives (COC) and broad-spectrum antibiotics and determine if any difference exists between responses.

Methods: Two hundred licensed retail pharmacists and 200 licensed family practice physicians in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland were mailed an anonymous survey between August 2007 and November 2007. The survey consisted of 3 short questions asking practitioners about their current opinion on drug interactions with COCs and whether an alternative form of contraception is needed for patients taking COC and concomitant broad-spectrum antibiotics.