Frequency of CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 variant alleles in patients receiving clopidogrel that experience repeat acute coronary syndrome.

The presence of cytochrome P450 (CYP) variant alleles may reduce the activation of the prodrug clopidogrel to its active state. This research evaluated the frequency of variant alleles in the genes coding for CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 enzymes in patients on clopidogrel therapy and experiencing repeat acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared to a control group with a matching ethnic composition. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for allelic discrimination.

Drug incompatibility chemistry.

Purpose: The chemical interactions that cause drug incompatibility in solutions, with emphasis on the acid-base and ionized-nonionized forms of organic, weak, electrolyte drugs, are examined.

Summary: When the dilution or mixing of the salt or ionized forms of organic drugs results in precipitation, the most likely cause is formation of the nonionized drug forms. More than 90% of drugs are organic, weak electrolytes, especially those compounded, manufactured, or reconstituted as injections in predominantly ionized or salt forms.

Pharmacist-implemented pharmaceutical manufacturers' assistance programs: effects on health outcomes for seniors.

In the environment of rapidly mounting medication costs, pharmaceutical manufacturers' assistance programs (PMAPs) have become increasingly important in supplying medications to financially vulnerable patients. At Shenandoah Valley Compassionate Pharmacy, Winchester, Virginia, a nonprofit facility serving low-income seniors, a pharmacist and a patient advocate implement PMAPs by helping to enroll patients, dispensing medications, and providing patient counseling. To examine the effects of the program, we compared patients' clinical indicators before and after a 42-month intervention.

Variables impacting an academic pharmacy career choice.

Objectives: To identify the variables associated with an academic pharmacy career choice among the following groups: final professional-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students, pharmacy residents, pharmacy faculty members within the first 5 years of academic employment, and clinical pharmacy practitioners.

Methods: A cross-sectional design Web-based survey instrument was developed using the online tool SurveyMonkey. The survey link was distributed via e-mail and postcards, and data were collected anonymously.

The NAPLEX: evolution, purpose, scope, and educational implications.

Since 2004, passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) has been a requirement for earning initial pharmacy licensure in all 50 United States. The creation and evolution from 1952-2005 of the particular pharmacy competency testing areas and quantities of questions are described for the former paper-and-pencil National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NABPLEX) and the current candidate-specific computer adaptive NAPLEX pharmacy licensure examinations. A 40% increase in the weighting of NAPLEX Blueprint Area 2 in May 2005, compared to that in the preceding 1997-2005 Blueprint, has implications for candidates' NAPLEX performance and associated curricular content and instruction.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker adherence in patients with primary versus secondary diagnosis of heart failure.

Context: It is unknown whether hospitalization for a secondary diagnosis of heart failure (HF) impacts adherence to current HF guidelines. National HF databases that benchmark quality of care currently do not report on adherence based on whether HF is the primary or secondary diagnosis.

Objective: To describe angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) utilization at time of discharge in hospitalized patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of systolic HF.

Teaching patient assessment skills to doctor of pharmacy students: the TOPAS study.

Objectives: To determine the content and extent, design, and relative importance of patient assessment courses in the professional pharmacy curriculum.

Methods: A 20-item questionnaire was developed to gather information pertaining to patient assessment. Pharmacy practice department chairs were mailed a letter with an Internet link to an online survey instrument.

Community-based collaboration with high school theater students as standardized patients.

Objectives: To describe a collaborative undertaking between a private school of pharmacy (Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy) and a public high school (John Handley High School) in the development, and implementation of a partnership utilizing high school theater students as standardized patients.

Methods: High school theater students were trained to portray patients within the Standardized Patient Assessment Laboratory.

Medication history reconciliation by pharmacists in an inpatient behavioral health unit.

Purpose: The effectiveness of a pharmacy-obtained medication history on the medication reconciliation process in the behavioral health unit (BHU) of a community hospital was studied.

Methods: Patients admitted to the BHU of a 411-bed, not-for-profit hospital from 6 a.m.

Perioperative nesiritide versus milrinone in high-risk coronary artery bypass graft patients.

Background: Patients with left-ventricular dysfunction have an increased risk of developing heart failure after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Therapies to maintain cardiac output in such patients warrant investigation. Nesiritide is unique among intravenous medications used to manage heart failure.

The planning and implementation of a faculty peer review teaching project.

Objectives: Describe the planning and implementation of a pilot peer review system, assess factors related to acceptance by faculty and administration, and suggest ways to increase the number of faculty members reviewed and serving as reviewers.

Design: A faculty-driven process was used to create a model for peer review. Faculty members completed a survey instrument with open-ended responses for indicating reasons for participation or nonparticipation, components of the evaluation process that they would like to see changed, and what they found most helpful or insightful about the process of peer review.

Comparison of students' performance in and satisfaction with a clinical pharmacokinetics course delivered live and by interactive videoconferencing.

Objectives: To compare students' performance in and course evaluations for a clinical pharmacokinetics course taught in a traditional classroom setting, and for the same course taught via interactive videoconferencing.

Methods: The course was taught in a traditional classroom setting to 38 students, and in asynchronous sessions via interactive videoconferencing to 75 students at a distant site. A course evaluation was administered to each group at the conclusion of the courses.

Enhanced antithrombotic effect of warfarin associated with low-dose alcohol consumption.

A 58-year-old Caucasian man was receiving long-term anticoagulation with warfarin for the prevention of ischemic stroke; his international normalized ratio (INR) had been stable. His INR increased when he began consistent, low-dose beer consumption for its perceived cardiovascular protection. After he stopped drinking the alcohol, his anticoagulation control improved and returned to previous levels.

Magnesium sulfate for prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Purpose: The effects of i.v. magnesium sulfate on the frequency of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and on the frequency of AF at hospital discharge were studied.

Including the assessment of nontraditional factors in pharmacy school admissions.

Objective: To review the relevant literature regarding the predictive ability of cognitive measures (ie, Pharmacy College Admissions Test [PCAT] scores and prepharmacy grade point average [GPA]) on both academic and clinical performance and discuss the inclusion of nontraditional assessment during the admissions process.

Data Sources: Articles were identified through searches of International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970-April 2004), MEDLINE (1966-January 2004), and ERIC (1966-April 2004) using the key words admissions variables, predictors of success, Pharmacy College Admissions Test, grade point average, cognitive variables, and noncognitive variables.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and retrospective studies, as well as reviews, regarding pharmacy school and other higher education admissions' variables were included in this review.

Stability of meropenem in polyvinyl chloride bags and an elastomeric infusion device.

Purpose: The stability of meropenem in i.v. solutions stored in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bags and an elastomeric infusion device at concentrations commonly used in home care was studied.

Effects of weight reduction interventions by community pharmacists.

Objective: To compare a meal replacement (MR) program with a conventional reduced-calorie diet (RCD) for weight management using the pharmacy as the setting and the pharmacist as the point of contact for dietary advice.

Design: Randomized, controlled, open-label trial.

Setting: Travis Pharmacy in Shenandoah, Iowa.