Bidirectional Crosstalk between the Estrogen Receptor and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Signaling Pathways in Breast Cancer: Molecular Basis and Clinical Implications.

The estrogen receptor (ER) and/or the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) signaling pathways are the dominant drivers of cell proliferation and survival in the majority of human breast cancers. As a result, targeting these pathways provides the most effective therapies in appropriately selected patients. Nevertheless, resistance to both endocrine and anti-HER2 therapies occurs frequently and represents a major clinical challenge.

Metastasis dormancy in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

About 20% to 40% of patients with breast cancer eventually develop recurrences in distant organs, which are often not detected until years to decades after the primary tumor diagnosis. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in estrogen receptor-positive (ER(+)) breast cancer, suggesting that ER(+) cancer cells may stay dormant for a protracted period of time, despite adjuvant therapies. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to explain how cancer cells survive and remain in dormancy, and how they become reactivated and exit dormancy.

A blueprint for transitioning pharmacy residents into successful clinical faculty members in colleges and schools of pharmacy.

With the increase of new pharmacy colleges and schools throughout the country, the number of open clinical academic pharmacy positions continues to grow. Considering the abundance of clinical faculty positions available nationwide and the increased likelihood of current pharmacy residents transitioning from residency directly into academia, pharmacy residents must be prepared to succeed in the role of new clinical faculty member. However, no blueprint or recommendations have yet been provided to facilitate this transition.

An analysis of the warning letters issued by the FDA to pharmaceutical manufacturers regarding misleading health outcomes claims.

Objective: To evaluate the number and type of warning letters issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to pharmaceutical manufacturers for promotional violations.

Methods: Two reviewers downloaded, printed and independently evaluated warning letters issued by the FDA to pharmaceutical manufacturers from years 2003-2008. Misleading claims were broadly classified as clinical, Quality-of-Life (QoL), and economic claims.

Significant publications on infectious diseases pharmacotherapy in 2012.

Purpose: The most important articles pertaining to infectious diseases (ID) pharmacotherapy published in 2012, as nominated and ranked by panels of pharmacists and physicians with ID expertise, are summarized.

Summary: Members of the Houston Infectious Diseases Network were asked to nominate articles on ID research published in prominent peer-reviewed journals during the period January 1-December 31, 2012, with a major impact in the field of ID pharmacotherapy. A list of 42 nominated articles on general ID-related topics and 8 articles pertaining to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was compiled.

Transient severe hyperbilirubinemia after hepatic arterial infusion of oxaliplatin in patients with liver metastases.

Purpose: We have observed severe, but rapidly reversible, hyperbilirubinemia in patients receiving hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin. We performed a retrospective analysis to characterize this unusual phenomenon.

Methods: We reviewed the electronic medical records of 113 consecutive patients receiving HAI oxaliplatin to describe the associated hyperbilirubinemia.

Examination of psychosocial predictors of Virginia pharmacists' intention to utilize a prescription drug monitoring program using the theory of planned behavior.

Background: Little is known about the main drivers of pharmacists' intention to utilize prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) when making care decisions and the actual contribution of these factors in explaining intention and behavior.

Objectives: This study examined what theory of planned behavior (TPB) model constructs (i.e.

Novel oral anticoagulants: a review of new agents.

Until recently, warfarin had been one of the only treatment options for long-term anticoagulation of patients with atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, or other medical conditions that require chronic anticoagulation. A main concern when treating patients with anticoagulants is balancing the benefits of preventing a thromboembolic event with the risks of bleeding events. The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved 2 new oral anticoagulants, dabigatran and rivaroxaban, for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, and is currently reviewing a drug application for a third new oral anticoagulant, apixaban.

Crofelemer for the treatment of chronic diarrhea in patients living with HIV/AIDS.

Diarrhea is a common comorbidity present in patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) who are treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy. With a multifactorial etiology, this diarrhea often becomes difficult to manage. In addition, some antiretrovirals are associated with chronic diarrhea, which potentially creates an adherence barrier to antiretrovirals and may ultimately affect treatment outcomes and future therapeutic options for HIV.

Prevalence and determinants of anticholinergic medication use in elderly dementia patients.

Background: People with dementia are sensitive to cognitive side effects of anticholinergic drugs. However, little is known about the prevalence of anticholinergic medications and its predictors in a nationally representative sample of community-based elderly dementia patients in the USA.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence and predictors of anticholinergic drugs use in elderly dementia patients.

Using the theory of planned behavior to examine pharmacists' intention to utilize a prescription drug monitoring program database.

Background: Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are state-operated electronic databases that contain patients' controlled drug histories. Most states provide these data to pharmacists via online web portals to combat prescription drug abuse and diversion.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: 1) explore the theory of planned behavior's (TPB) utility in predicting Texas pharmacists' intention to utilize an online accessible PDMP; 2) to determine the contribution of each construct, attitude (A), subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) in predicting pharmacists' intention; and 3) test whether the addition of perceived obligation (PO) is significantly related to pharmacists' intention.

The utilization of psychopharmacological treatment and medication adherence among Medicaid enrolled children and adolescents with bipolar depression.

Background: To examine the psychotropic medication utilization and compare adherence to treatment regimens in pediatric bipolar depression patients.

Methods: 2003-2007 MAX data from four geographically diverse states were used. According to the regimen received by the patients (6-18 years) in the first month after the index bipolar depression diagnosis, patients were categorized into six mutually exclusive groups.

Prescribers and pharmacists requests for prescription monitoring program (PMP) data: does PMP structure matter?

Prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) have been purported to be an effective tool to combat prescription drug abuse. However, utilization rates of PMP data by health care providers (e.g.

Expanding Consumer Medication Access: The Time Is Now.

The US FDA is proposing an expanded over-the-counter (OTC) medication policy to improve patient access to medications under the supervision of a pharmacist. Higher levels of medication access via multiple medication categories are common in other industrialized nations. Pharmacists are well trained and widely available.

Does combination pharmacological intervention for smoking cessation prevent post-cessation weight gain? A systemic review.

Background: Most smokers who quit smoking gain weight. There are some interventions designed to limit weight gain following smoking cessation.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review to evaluate if combination pharmacological therapy interventions for smoking cessation are effective in reducing post-cessation weight gain.

Outcomes of appropriate empiric combination versus monotherapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia is associated with high hospital mortality. Empirical combination therapy is commonly used to increase the likelihood of appropriate therapy, but the benefits of employing >1 active agent have yet to be established. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of patients receiving appropriate empirical combination versus monotherapy for P.

In vitro pharmacodynamics of AZD5206 against Staphylococcus aureus.

AZD5206 is a novel antimicrobial agent with potent in vitro activity against Staphylococcus aureus. We evaluated the in vitro pharmacodynamics of AZD5206 against a standard wild-type methicillin-susceptible strain (ATCC 29213) and a clinical strain of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (SA62).

Risk of death in dual-eligible nursing home residents using typical or atypical antipsychotic agents.

Background: Antipsychotic use among dual-eligible nursing home residents is a concern for cost and safety considerations.

Objective: To examine the comparative risk of death in dual-eligible elderly nursing home residents using typical and atypical agents.

Methods: A retrospective cohort design matched on propensity score was used to examine the risk of death due to antipsychotic use among dual-eligible nursing home residents 65 years or older from four states.

Development and validation of RP-HPLC method for estimation of eplerenone in spiked human plasma.

A rapid and simple high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with a UV detection (241 nm) was developed and validated for estimation of eplerenone from spiked human plasma. The analyte and the internal standard (valdecoxib) were extracted with a mixture of dichloromethane and diethyl ether. The chromatographic separation was performed on a HiQSil C-18HS column (250 mm×4.

Comparative risk of cerebrovascular adverse events in community-dwelling older adults using risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine: a multiple propensity score-adjusted retrospective cohort study.

Background: Atypical antipsychotic agents have been associated with cerebrovascular adverse events, particularly in elderly dementia patients. However, limited evidence exists regarding comparative cerebrovascular profiles of individual atypical agents, particularly in community settings.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of cerebrovascular events associated with use of risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine in community-dwelling older adults in the US.

Significant publications on infectious diseases pharmacotherapy in 2011.

Purpose: Important articles on topics pertinent to infectious diseases (ID) pharmacotherapy published in prominent peer-reviewed journals in 2011 are summarized.

Summary: Pharmacists, physicians, and researchers from the Houston Infectious Diseases Network were asked to nominate articles published in 2011 that they perceived as having a significant impact on the field of ID pharmacotherapy. The resulting list, comprising 10 articles related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 38 articles on a broad range of other ID-related topics, was sent to members of the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) for evaluation via an Internet survey.

Effectiveness of FDA's new over-the-counter acetaminophen warning label in improving consumer risk perception of liver damage.

What Is Known And Objectives: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new organ-specific warning label requirements for over-the-counter (OTC) analgesic products in order to make consumers aware of the risk of liver damage when using acetaminophen. However, awareness of a health risk alone cannot ensure consumers' engagement in safe and preventive behaviour. In this study, we attempted to: (i) measure consumer risk perception of liver damage due to the OTC acetaminophen products and (ii) analyse the effectiveness of the new organ-specific warning label in improving consumer risk perception of liver damage and intention to perform protective behaviours while using OTC acetaminophen products.