Valdecoxib-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis in a patient allergic to sulfa drugs.

A 55-year-old Caucasian woman with a previously documented sulfa allergy was admitted to the hospital after she developed toxic epidermal necrolysis; she had been taking valdecoxib for 8 days for knee pain. Four days later, her bullous lesions had progressed to 45-50% of her body surface area. She was transferred to a burn unit for aggressive wound care and fluid hydration.

Improving anticoagulation management at the point of care.

Many physicians and other providers attempt therapeutic warfarin oversight without regularly scheduled anticoagulation appointments. Studies show that the risk of major bleeding or thromboembolic events due to warfarin therapy is between 2 percent and 12 percent per year. Point-of-care anticoagulation devices are convenient for patients and physicians and allow for patient-focused anticoagulation care.

The relationship between pharmacists' tenure in community setting and moral reasoning.

Objective: To explore the relationship between pharmacists' tenure in the community setting and their moral reasoning abilities.

Design: Systematic random sample design.

Setting: A large southeastern city in the United States.

Identification of a null allele of CYP2C9 in an African-American exhibiting toxicity to phenytoin.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 is the principal enzyme responsible for the metabolism of numerous clinically important drugs. Two polymorphic alleles CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 have been documented which affect the metabolism and clinical toxicity of drugs such as phenytoin, warfarin, glipizide, and tolbutamide. The present study reports the first example of a null polymorphism in CYP2C9.

Prediction of lidocaine tissue concentrations following different dose regimes during cardiac arrest using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model.

Background: The purpose of our study was to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model describing the behavior of lidocaine in humans by scaling up physiological variables from animal models of cardiac arrest. We attempted to identify the optimal dose regime for lidocaine during cardiac arrest using this model.

Methods And Results: We designed a flow-dependent PBPK model representing nine body tissues for lidocaine.

The relationship between preadmission indicators and basic math skills at a new school of pharmacy.

Objective: To examine the relationship between preadmission indicators of 49 PharmD students entering their first professional year at a new school of pharmacy and their scores on a Basic Math Skills Test (BMST). A secondary objective was to determine what factors, if any, contributed to the successful completion of the BMST.

Methods: This cross-sectional investigation used a convenience sample of PharmD students entering the first professional year at a three-year-old, private, southeastern school of pharmacy.

Patient assessment tools: utilizing diagnostic and monitoring devices.

Pharmacists are becoming increasingly involved in the detection and monitoring of chronic disease states. A growing number of chronic diseases can be screened and monitored by pharmacists, including diabetes, dyslipidemias, hypertension, and osteoporosis. Devices for screening and monitoring are becoming less complex and more convenient, allowing for greater use in pharmacies and, in many cases, for patients use at home.

Evaluation of consumer drug information databases.

Objectives: To evaluate prescription drug information contained in six consumer drug information databases available on CD-ROM, and to make health care professionals aware of the information provided, so that they may appropriately recommend these databases for use by their patients.

Design: Observational study of six consumer drug information databases: The Corner Drug Store, Home Medical Advisor, Mayo Clinic Family Pharmacist, Medical Drug Reference, Mosby's Medical Encyclopedia, and PharmAssist.

Setting: Not applicable.