Impact of doxycycline on Clostridioides difficile infection in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Antibiotic use is a significant risk factor associated with Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) infection (CDI). Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infection leading to hospital admission and the use of antibiotics that are highly associated with CDI. It has been proposed that doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, may be protective against CDI.

Omadacycline for a Carbapenem-Resistant -Associated Wound Infection.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are problematic pathogens because infections caused by these organisms are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These organisms often harbor multiple resistance mechanisms, which makes it difficult to treat their associated infections. Treatment typically consists of intravenous antibiotics that are selected based on the specific susceptibility pattern for the pathogen.

Blockade of the Terminal Complement Cascade Using Ravulizumab in a Pediatric Patient With Anti-complement Factor H Autoantibody-Associated aHUS: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease in pediatrics with 6-10% of cases associated with complement factor H autoantibodies Ravulizumab is a new treatment option available for long-term management through blockage of the terminal complement cascade. We report a case of a previously healthy eight-year-old female who presented with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. Low complement C3, normal ADAMTS13, and negative rheumatology and infectious disease panels suggested aHUS.

Systematic Review of Black Cohosh () for Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Related Infertility.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility. To conduct a systematic review assessing the efficacy and safety of black cohosh for ovulation-induction through hormone regulation and increased endometrial thickness to improve pregnancy rates in women with PCOS-related infertility. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was used.

Novel combination therapy for melanoma induces apoptosis via a gap junction positive feedback mechanism.

Metastatic melanoma cells overexpressing gap junctions were assayed for their ability to propagate cell death by a novel combination therapy that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) by both 1) non-thermal plasma (NTP) and 2) tirapazamine (TPZ) under hypoxic conditions. Results demonstrate additive-to-synergistic effects of combination therapy compared to each agent individually. NTP induces highly localized cell death in target areas whereas TPZ partially reduces viability over the total surface area.

An ethics-based approach to global health research part 1: Building partnerships in global health.

Global health partnerships (GHPs) can be the cornerstone for advancing research and public health. The steps to build a global research partnership focus on sharing a common research agenda, identifying key partners in the community, and establishing goals and expectations for partnerships. Moreover, upholding important values, such as communication, trust, and transparency is essential for building successful partnerships.

An Ethics-based Approach to Global Health Research Part 2: Strategies for Overcoming Logistic and Implementation Challenges.

With the growth of global pharmacy partnerships and collaborative research, particularly between high-income countries and low- or middle-income countries, it is necessary to establish best practices for fair and ethical collaboration and research. There is a gap in the pharmacy literature in this regard. Through this commentary, authors will present a pathway for future global health researchers including generating ideas based on mutual needs of the partnership and the community; exploring the importance of regulations including the need to conduct research and partnership projects within the confines of each participant's professional scope of practice, expertise, and licensure; describing the need to develop agreements and the components that should be included in such an agreement; discussing ethical guidelines for research planning, obtaining ethical approval, and planning for adverse events; and illustrating ethical considerations for research implementation with considerations around consent, data collection, linking patients to care after the completion of the study, and dissemination.

Albumin and bleed risk in rivaroxaban treated patients.

Drugs exhibiting high protein binding have potential increased action in patients with hypoalbuminemia. Rivaroxaban is 92-95% protein bound, but the clinical effects of rivaroxaban in patients with low albumin are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between albumin and bleeding in rivaroxaban treated patients.

Brexanolone for postpartum depression.

Purpose: Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as a major depressive episode occurring during pregnancy or within 4 weeks of delivery that may have significant consequences for mother and infant. Antidepressants are used to treat PPD, but their effectiveness may be limited by a slow time to peak effect. Brexanolone is Food and Drug Administration-approved for the management of PPD; its use requires patient participation in a risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) program.

Mixed-Method Study of Utilizing Portfolios to Document and Assess Co-Curricular Activities: Student and Advisor Perceptions.

Development of professional behaviors must occur in tandem with clinical skills to ensure graduates provide quality care. Portfolios have been widely utilized as a medium to document and reflect on experiences related to professional skills. Students were required to complete a series of co-curricular activities and document them via paper or electronic portfolios, which were shared with their advisors for feedback and review.

Evaluation of Mobile Applications Intended to Aid in Conception Using a Systematic Review Framework.

This review identified and evaluated apps intended to aid women in conception that were available across major mobile platforms; secondary objectives were to highlight additional criteria and considerations when evaluating conception-related apps. Apple iTunes and Google Play stores were searched using the keywords , and . Included apps were as follows: contained in the first 50 search results; presented in English; intended for layperson use; updated July 1, 2018, or after; marketed as a conception aid; and used a defined fertility tracking method.

Systematic Review of l-glutamine for Prevention of Vaso-occlusive Pain Crisis in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

l-glutamine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sickle cell disease (SCD) in 2017.

Students' perceptions of biostatistics following integration into an evidence-based medicine course series.

Background And Purpose: Student pharmacists are expected to demonstrate an understanding of commonly employed statistical tests. This study describes the integration of biostatistics in an evidence-based medicine course series using a learner-centered model tailored to students' needs and interests.

Educational Activity And Setting: This course series included thirteen two-hour biostatistics sessions focused on interpreting results and critiquing statistical methods.

Major publications in critical care pharmacotherapy literature in 2018.

Purpose: To summarize selected original critical care pharmacotherapy research published in 2018.

Materials And Methods: The Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Literature Update (CCPLU) Group screened 32 journals monthly for impactful articles and reviewed 100 articles during 2018. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria were applied to all relevant articles included in the monthly CCPLU.

Evaluation of a Computerized Insulin Dosing Tool for the Treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Purpose: Computerized insulin dosing tools (CIDT) have been shown to improve the care of critically ill patients with hyperglycemia. Application of a CIDT in addition to a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) order set for the treatment of DKA has not been evaluated. Our goal was to determine the effects the CIDT would have on the treatment of a patient with DKA.

Pharmacists' Attitudes and Practices Regarding Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccination in Pregnancy and Surrounding Newborns.

Background: Bordetella pertussis or whooping cough is a serious and vaccine-preventable illness. Despite widespread vaccination in the pediatric population, pertussis still infects approximately 100,000 infants each year in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine gaps in pharmacists’ understanding, attitudes, practices, and barriers surrounding the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccination recommendation for patients who are pregnant or planning to come in close contact with infants.

Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of a Home Intravenous Antibiotic Infusion Program in Veterans.

Purpose: The use of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) programs has become more frequent because of benefits in costs with equivalent clinical outcomes compared with inpatient care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of our program. A modified pharmacoeconomic analysis was performed to compare costs of our program with hospital or rehabilitation facility care.

Advanced screencasting with embedded assessments in pathophysiology and therapeutics course modules.

Objective: To implement and assess the effectiveness of a hybrid learning model using advanced screencasting with embedded assessments in pathophysiology and therapeutics modules.

Design: Two pathophysiology and therapeutics course modules on viral hepatitis and the clinical pharmacokinetics of aminoglycosides were chosen for study. The preclass portion of the hybrid model involved student completion of interactive e-lectures that were created with the use of advanced screencasting and included embedded assessments.