Validity of international classification of disease codes to identify ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage among individuals with associated diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Because of its association with death and disability, stroke is a focus of outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) research. International Classification of Disease-Ninth Revision (ICD-9) edition codes are commonly used to identify stroke in research, particularly in large administrative data. We sought to assess the validity of ICD-9 codes in stroke case ascertainment and for AF across 3 institutions.

Nicotine Absorption from Smokeless Tobacco Modified to Adjust pH.

Introduction: Nicotine delivery from smokeless tobacco (ST) products leads to addiction and the use of ST causes pathology that is associated with increased initiation of cigarette smoking. The rapid delivery of nicotine from ST seems to be associated with the pH of the aqueous suspension of the products - high pH is associated with high nicotine absorption. However, early studies compared nicotine absorption from different commercial products that not only differed in pH but in flavoring, nicotine content, and in format-pouches and loose tobacco.

Introduction of a continuing professional development tool for preceptors: lessons learned.

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) guidelines state that preceptors should "have a systematic, self-directed approach to their own continuing professional development (CPD)." The objective of this study was to encourage preceptors to take advantage of the ACPE CPD resources and implement the concept of CPD (reflect, plan, act, evaluate, record) as a framework for guiding individual preceptor's continuing development as educators and to determine their opinion regarding the usefulness, effectiveness, and obstacles to implementation of this approach. A total of 3713 preceptors from the participating schools were encouraged to undergo CPD training and invited to respond to a series of questions.

Oral delivery of glucagon like peptide-1 by a recombinant Lactococcus lactis.

Purpose: To develop a live oral delivery system of Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1), for the treatment of Type-2 Diabetes.

Methods: LL-pUBGLP-1, a recombinant Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis)) transformed with a plasmid vector encoding GLP-1 cDNA was constructed and was used as a delivery system.

miR-181c regulates the mitochondrial genome, bioenergetics, and propensity for heart failure in vivo.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, which inhibit the stability and/or translation of a mRNA. miRNAs have been found to play a powerful role in various cardiovascular diseases. Recently, we have demonstrated that a microRNA (miR-181c) can be encoded in the nucleus, processed to the mature form in the cytosol, translocated into the mitochondria, and ultimately can regulate mitochondrial gene expression.

Considerations for dofetilide use in the elderly.

This case describes an 85-year-old African-American female with atrial arrhythmias on dofetilide maintenance therapy who presented to an ambulatory cardiology clinic with hypotension. The pharmacist identified a potential major drug-drug interaction between dofetilide and the thiazide diuretic, chlorthalidone. Because of the patient's hypotension, it was decided to discontinue chlorthalidone to avoid the potential drug interaction with dofetilide.

Click chemistry decoration of amino sterols as promising strategy to developed new leishmanicidal drugs.

A series of 1,2,3-triazolylsterols was prepared from pregnenolone through reductive amination and copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (click chemistry). The newly generated stereocenter of the key propargylamino intermediate provided a mixture of diastereomers which were separated chromatographically, and the configuration of the R isomer was determined by X-ray crystallography. Ten triazolyl sterols were prepared, and the products and intermediates were screened in vitro against different parasites, with some compounds presenting IC50 values in the low micromolar range against Leishmania donovani.

A meta-ethnography and theory of parental ethical decision making in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: To synthesize the existing qualitative literature about parent ethical decision making in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to investigate the potential impact of culture on parents' decision making experiences.

Data Sources: PubMed, CINAHL plus, and PsychInfo using the search terms parental decision making, culture, race, decision making, and parental decisions.

Study Selection: Qualitative research studies investigating decision making for infants in the NICU from the parents' perspective were included.

Effect of elastic taping on postural control deficits in subjects with healthy ankles, copers, and individuals with functional ankle instability.

Background: Ankle sprains are the most common injury among physically active people, with common sequelae including repeated episodes of giving way, termed functional ankle instability. Copers are a cohort in ankle research comprised of those who have sprained their ankle but have not suffered any further dysfunction. The use of an elastic tape, Kinesio Tape, in sports medicine practice has recently gained popularity and may help improve postural control deficits related to functional ankle instability.

Communication: essential strategies for success.

This department highlights change management strategies that may be successful in strategically planning and executing organizational change initiatives. With the goal of presenting practical approaches helpful to nurse leaders advance organizational change, content includes evidence-based projects, tool, and resources that mobilize and sustain organizational change initiatives. In this article, the author discusses strategies for communication for change processes, whether large or small.

Comparing point-of-care A1C and random plasma glucose for screening diabetes in migrant farm workers.

Objective: To compare point-of-care (POC) glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) and random plasma glucose (RPG) as a POC screening tool for prediabetes and diabetes in migrant farm workers of eastern North Carolina.

Design: Prospective, observational, single-center study.

Setting: Federally qualified community health center in eastern North Carolina, from August to October 2011.

Retention of new graduate nurses: the literature informs staff educators.

The authors examine the literature on resiliency and relate important concepts to the retention of new graduate nurses. Changes in the support of new graduates are proposed as a means to increase retention in the nursing profession. Developing resilient graduate nurses who can withstand the pressures of the workplace is at the center of retention efforts.

Beyond the classroom: nurse leader preparation and practices.

Formal academic education and experience as a nurse are established preparation for the chief nurse executive (CNE) or upcoming nurse leaders. This article proposes that the nurse leader must build on these fundamentals through self-discipline, lifelong learning, and practice. Three critical ingredients are discussed to guide the nurse leader on a life/career for the CNE and the nurse leader at every level.