Glyburide Use in Older Adults: Pharmacy Claims Data Analysis of a Regional Healthcare Organization.

Background/objectives: Glyburide was added to the 2012 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria® due to the risk of hypoglycemic events in older adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate trends of glyburide use in persons aged 65 and older with diabetes mellitus, type II, before, during, and after the 2012 AGS Beers Criteria® Update.

Design: Multicenter retrospective cohort study comparing pharmacy claims data from four Sharp Rees-Stealy clinic regions over 5 years (2010-2015).

Vancomycin Area Under the Curve to Predict Timely Clinical Response in the Treatment of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

Introduction: Although recent guidelines have recommended monitoring vancomycin (VAN) area under the curve (AUC)/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to ensure clinical efficacy and minimize toxicity in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for various infections, there are no recommendations regarding complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs). We aimed to evaluate the association between VAN AUC and clinical outcomes in MRSA cSSTIs.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients treated with ≥72 hours of VAN for MRSA cSSTI from 2008 to 2013 at Detroit Medical Center.

Discovery of a Highly Selective Sigma-2 Receptor Ligand, 1-(4-(6,7-Dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)butyl)-3-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2(3H)-one (CM398), with Drug-Like Properties and Antinociceptive Effects In Vivo.

The sigma-2 receptor has been cloned and identified as Tmem97, which is a transmembrane protein involved in intracellular Ca regulation and cholesterol homeostasis. Since its discovery, the sigma-2 receptor has been an extremely controversial target, and many efforts have been made to elucidate the functional role of this receptor during physiological and pathological conditions. Recently, this receptor has been proposed as a potential target to treat neuropathic pain due to the ability of sigma-2 receptor agonists to relieve mechanical hyperalgesia in mice model of chronic pain.

Men's Health-Related Magazines: A Retrospective Study of What They Recommend and the Evidence Addressing Their Recommendations.

Magazines have traditionally been an effective medium for delivering health media messages to large populations or specific groups. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we evaluated nine issues from 2016 publications of American men's health-related magazines ( and ) to evaluate their recommendations and determine their validity by examining corresponding evidence found in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. We extracted health recommendations ( = 161) from both magazines and independently searched and evaluated evidence addressing the recommendations.

Corrigendum to: The Impact of Concomitant Empiric Cefepime on Patient Outcomes of Methicillin-Resistant Bloodstream Infections Treated With Vancomycin.

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Pharmacy Technicians Help to Push Boundaries in Delivering Quality Care.

We are so pleased that dedicated a themed Special Issue to pharmacy workforce supportpersonnel, namely technicians [...

A Systematic Review of the Effect of Delayed Appropriate Antibiotic Treatment on the Outcomes of Patients With Severe Bacterial Infections.

Background: Patients with severe bacterial infections often experience delay in receiving appropriate treatment. Consolidated evidence of the impact of delayed appropriate treatment is needed to guide treatment and improve outcomes.

Research Question: What is the impact of delayed appropriate antibacterial therapy on clinical outcomes in patients with severe bacterial infections?

Study Design And Methods: Literature searches of MEDLINE and Embase, conducted on July 24, 2018, identified studies published after 2007 reporting the impact of delayed appropriate therapy on clinical outcomes for hospitalized adult patients with bacterial infections.

Design fundamentals of mentoring programs for pharmacy professionals (Part 2): Considerations for mentors and mentees.

Developing a mentoring program is multifactorial, and organizations developing such programs must be reflective in considering their own organizational culture to determine the goals and outcomes assessment of a mentoring program that aligns with the organization's mission and values. Part 1 of this series of papers on devising mentoring programs for pharmacy professionals paid mind to their structure, logistical concerns, and basic design consideration. Designing a program, though, cannot be successful without consideration of the people involved, and the very human process that is mentoring and being mentored.

Design fundamentals of mentoring programs for pharmacy professionals (Part 1): Considerations for organizations.

Mentoring programs have been offered by organizations within and outside of healthcare for years. This commentary examines the literature under the prism of design fundamentals for these programs, drawing particular considerations for schemes aimed at pharmacy professionals. The central argument presented is that mentoring can be used as a vehicle to support pharmacists to learn from others and each other, to reinforce and own their professional identity so that the uniqueness of the pharmacy profession is established within a global health landscape of constant change.

Monotherapy with Vancomycin or Daptomycin versus Combination Therapy with β-Lactams in the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bloodstream Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSI) are associated with high morbidity and mortality. More in vitro, in vivo, and clinical data suggest that vancomycin (VAN) or daptomycin (DAP) combination therapy with β-lactams (BL) improves outcomes of MRSA infections. We hypothesize that BL combination with VAN or DAP would reduce the odds of clinical failure compared to VAN or DAP monotherapy.

Relationship of Burnout and Engagement to Pharmacy Students' Perception of Their Academic Ability.

To assess burnout and engagement in first- and second-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students and to investigate their relationships to students' perception of their academic ability. An online survey that included three validated scales was administered in May 2017 to first- and second-year pharmacy students enrolled in didactic coursework at Touro University California College of Pharmacy. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to assess burnout and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale was used to measure student engagement.

Oncology Pharmacists Can Reduce the Projected Shortfall in Cancer Patient Visits: Projections for Years 2020 to 2025.

Based on the projected need for a larger oncology care workforce, we estimated the patient care visits and care activities that Board Certified oncology pharmacists (BCOPs) could contribute to oncology care from 2020-2025. Using projected counts for BCOPs through 2025, we estimated that 2.9-4.

Incidence of Dexmedetomidine Withdrawal in Adult Critically Ill Patients: A Pilot Study.

Unlabelled: To determine the incidence of dexmedetomidine withdrawal in adult critically ill patients.

Design: This was a prospective, observational study of patients from November 2017 to December 2018.

Setting: Medical-surgical, cardiothoracic, and neurosurgical ICUs in a tertiary care hospital.

Establishing trustworthiness and authenticity in qualitative pharmacy research.

Spurred by the value it can add, the use of qualitative research methods has been steadily growing by social pharmacy researchers around the globe, either separately or as part of mixed methods research projects. Given this increase, it is important to provide guidance to assist researchers in ensuring quality when employing such methods. This commentary addresses both theoretical fundamentals as well as practical aspects of establishing quality in qualitative social pharmacy research.

How CEO Deans in Academic Pharmacy Describe and Manage High-performing and Low-performing Faculty.

Objectives: Gather Chief Executive Officer (CEO) deans' perspectives on: distinguishing a "star" faculty versus one that is "productive"; faculty who are "deadweight" to the organization; the role of organizational fit in defining starsand deadweight faculty; current efforts to recruit and retain star faculty; and the actions taken in regard to deadweight faculty.

Methods: A focus group panel of CEO deans was convened at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) 2019 Interim Meeting. A semi-structured interview based on an organizational behavior framework was used to guide discussion in the focus group.

Pharmacists ascribing value of technician certification using an organizational behavior framework.

Purpose: To gather rich details about the value of technician certification from diverse groups of pharmacists of various practice settings and levels of experience.

Methods: Focus groups of pharmacists were conducted using a semistructured interview guide in 4 states (California, Idaho, Tennessee, and Washington) varying in pharmacy technician scope of practice, regulation, and education and/or training environment. Participant pharmacists came from health-system, clinic, and community pharmacy environments.

Implementation of Mock Acute Care Advance Pharmacy Practice Experience Simulations and an Assessment Rubric.

To implement a mock acute care advanced pharmacy practice experience series into the didactic training of second-year pharmacy students and validate an accompanying assessment rubric. Three 90-minute acute care patient simulation laboratory sessions were developed with input from clinical specialists, preceptors, students, and faculty members. An accompanying student evaluation rubric was also developed.

Trends in and Barriers to Enrollment of Underrepresented Minority Students in a Pharmacy School.

To compare the mean national enrollment rates of underrepresented minority (URM) students in a pharmacy school with mean rates in California pharmacy schools, and identify barriers faced by URM students during the application process. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) enrollment data from 2005 to 2014 were used to compare the demographics of California pharmacy schools with the average enrollment of URM students in pharmacy schools nationally. A survey was administered to students in the 2017 and 2018 classes at Touro University California College of Pharmacy to identify common barriers that students faced in pursuing pharmacy education.

Vitamin C in surgical sepsis.

Purpose Of Review: The current review discusses the supplemental use of vitamin C as an adjunct in the management of sepsis and septic shock.

Recent Findings: The antioxidant properties of vitamin C are touted to be useful in modulating the inflammatory response, decreasing vasopressor requirements, and improving resuscitation. Current resuscitation practices are focused on addressing the hemodynamic instability and ensuring adequate oxygen delivery to tissues.

An Individual Development Plan for Pharmacy Students for Career Planning and Tracking Accreditation Standards.

To create and implement individual development plans (IDPs) to assist pharmacy students in career planning and tracking their achievement of ACPE Standards 2016, Standard 4, for Personal and Professional Development. First-year Doctor of Pharmacy students completed IDPs, which were subsequently reviewed to ensure they addressed components of the ACPE Standard 4 key elements: self-awareness, leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, and professionalism. Faculty advisors were surveyed regarding the utility of IDPs.

Associations Between Diabetes-Related Distress and Cardiovascular Complication Risks in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Lower Socioeconomic Status: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the associations between diabetes-related distress and predicted 10-year risks for cardiovascular complications in a lower-socioeconomic-status population with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes-related distress was found to be significantly associated with the predicted 10-year risk for coronary heart disease in the studied population. In addition, the association between the predicted 10-year risk for stroke and diabetes-related distress was also statistically significant among individuals with lower occupational status scores.

Valuable Lessons for Pharmacist PBRNs: Insights and Experiences from Physician PBRN Members.

Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) rely on a cadre of engaged members to participate in research projects. As pharmacist PBRNs increase in number, it is helpful to understand how members of other professions view their own participation in PBRNs and potential collaborative research endeavors with pharmacists. Due to their longer history of PBRN experience, physician PBRN members may have helpful advice for the establishment of pharmacy networks.

Daptomycin Plus β-Lactam Combination Therapy for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections: A Retrospective, Comparative Cohort Study.

Background: Mounting evidence suggests the addition of a β-lactam (BL) to daptomycin (DAP) results in synergistic in vitro activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and bolsters the innate immune response to infection. This study's objective was to provide clinical translation to these experimental data and determine if DAP+BL combination therapy results in improved clinical outcomes compared with treatment with DAP alone in patients with MRSA bloodstream infections (BSIs).

Methods: This was a retrospective, comparative cohort study conducted at 2 academic medical centers between 2008 and 2018.

Barriers to pharmacists adopting professional responsibilities that support the appropriate and safe use of dietary supplements in the United States: Perspectives of key stakeholders.

Purpose: Complementary health approaches including the use of dietary supplements (DS) such as vitamin, mineral, nutritional, and herbal supplements are popular in the United States. Beyond a statement issued by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in 2004, knowledge about the role of pharmacists related to DS use is largely unknown. The objectives of this study were to identify pharmacists' and other key stakeholders' perceptions and opinions about assuming roles that ensure the appropriate and safe use of DS.