Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Effect on Serum Uric Acid-A Class Effect?

Purpose: To provide a comprehensive review to determine whether there is a class effect among angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in relation to serum uric acid.

Summary: A literature search was conducted and 8 articles were identified for inclusion in this review. In the studies reviewed, candesartan and valsartan were shown to have either a neutral or negative effect on serum uric acid.

Systemic reactions to subcutaneous immunotherapy: Effects of dosing and aeroallergen content.

Background: Systemic reactions are a known risk of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) for aeroallergens.

Objective: To identify the dose of SCIT that results in the most systemic reactions to SCIT (SCITSRs) and other risk factors for SCITSRs.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all SCIT encounters from 2013 to 2017 at a multisite allergy/immunology practice.

Citalopram overdose and severe serotonin syndrome in an intermediate metabolizing patient.

Introduction: Citalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used for treatment of depression. Metabolism is primarily through CYP3A4 and CYP2C19; activity of the latter can vary depending on genetics. Although rare after single agent exposure, large citalopram ingestions can lead to serotonin syndrome.

A Systematic Review of the Evidence Behind Use of Reduced Doses of Acetaminophen in Chronic Liver Disease.

Acetaminophen is among the most commonly used nonopioid analgesics, but significant variation exists in its prescribing practices for cirrhosis patients. Our primary objective was to describe the quality of evidence supporting or refuting the use of acetaminophen in patients with hepatic dysfunction. A comprehensive literature review of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts using the search terms "acetaminophen," "paracetamol," "chronic liver disease," "cirrhosis," and "hepatic disease" for studies describing changes in acetaminophen metabolism in patients with hepatic dysfunction was conducted.

Comparing Direct Challenge to Penicillin Skin Testing for the Outpatient Evaluation of Penicillin Allergy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Direct challenge (DC) may be a safe and effective alternative to penicillin skin testing (PST) in low-risk patients.

Objective: To complete a prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing PST followed by a challenge to amoxicillin versus a 2-step DC to amoxicillin without preceding skin testing in a predefined low-risk patient population.

Methods: Penicillin allergy histories were reviewed in patients presenting to an outpatient allergy/immunology practice from April 2018 to August 2018.

An Exploratory Study of Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) Film Splitting: Cutting Methods, Content Uniformity, and Stability.

Suboxone films are U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved to treat opioid dependence.

Microfluidics on the fly: Inexpensive rapid fabrication of thermally laminated microfluidic devices for live imaging and multimodal perturbations of multicellular systems.

Microfluidic devices provide a platform for analyzing both natural and synthetic multicellular systems. Currently, substantial capital investment and expertise are required for creating microfluidic devices using standard soft-lithography. These requirements present barriers to entry for many nontraditional users of microfluidics, including developmental biology laboratories.

The use of aloe vera in cancer radiation: An updated comprehensive review.

Introduction: Many cancer patients require radiation therapy and often experience adverse effects including erythema, itching, and pain. Aloe vera has been studied for its potential use in the prevention and treatment of radiation related adverse effects as it possesses a variety of properties and is considered an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Multiple controlled trials have been performed in order to evaluate the efficacy of aloe vera for the prevention and treatment of radiation side effects.

To Replace or Not to Replace? Replacing Short Peripheral Catheters Based on Clinical Indication.

Short peripheral catheters (SPCs) are the most frequently used medical devices in hospital settings. Many hospital policies state that SPCs be replaced at 96 hours, which can be unnecessary and costly. A pre-post quality improvement initiative was implemented following complications surrounding removal of timed SPC catheters compared with those removed by clinical indication, using the Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) scale.

WormBase: A Model Organism Database.

WormBase is an open-access model-organism database that provides current and accurate genetic information of C. elegans and related nematodes. Users can search WormBase by several fields, including a gene or human disease.

Design and evaluation of novel inhalable sildenafil citrate spray-dried microparticles for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary delivery of vasodilators is a promising alternative for the intravenous and oral treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of this study was to design and evaluate hydrogel microparticles as a carrier for sustained pulmonary delivery of sildenafil citrate. Spray dried hydrogel microparticles containing biodegradable sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, and sodium hyaluronate polymers at variable concentrations were prepared.

Offering a Health Empowerment Program in a Faith-Based Community Clinic.

. Given the excess burden of overweight/obesity in low-income communities, the objective of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a healthy living program (Health Empowerment Program) for improving physical activity, eating habits, and mental health outcomes. Adapted from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a 7-week biopsychosocial intervention that included spirituality was created.

Quantitative analysis of single best answer multiple choice questions in pharmaceutics.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to: (1) analyze the quality of single best answer multiple choice questions (MCQs) used in pharmaceutics exams, (2) identify the correlation between difficulty index (DIF I), discriminating index (DI), and distractor efficiency (DE), and (3) understand the relationship between DIF I, DI, and DE and the number of MCQ answer options and their cognitive level.

Methods: 429 MCQs used in pharmaceutics exams were analyzed. The quality of the MCQs was evaluated using DIF I, DI, and DE.

The gender conformity conundrum: The effects of irrelevant gender norms on public conformity.

The purpose of this experiment was to examine influences of gender norms on gender-role conformity. This series of two studies tests whether females or males are more likely to conform to public norms. To test this, we attached men's and women's bathroom-type signs to exit doors from a café at a private academic institution in upstate New York.

When do psychosocial explanations of psychiatric problems increase stigma? Self-report and implicit evidence.

Background And Objectives: Biomedical explanations of psychiatric problems, compared to psychosocial explanations, may amplify psychiatric stigma. One limitation of existing research is the measurement of almost exclusively self-reported stigma. This study evaluated the stigma-related effects of biomedical versus psychosocial explanations of schizophrenia using conventional self-report and two other measurement approaches that may tap more deeply held attitudes.

Management of Intracranial Pressure Part II: Nonpharmacologic Interventions.

Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions are available to treat patients who experience serious elevations in intracranial pressure (ICP). In some cases, patients may experience ICP that is refractory to treatment. Significant negative effects on cerebral blood flow, tissue oxygenation, and cerebral metabolism occur as a result of intracranial hypertension, leading to secondary brain injury.

Empathy and the Development of Affective Skills.

Empathy, the most important human attribute that matters in every aspect of life, is essential in health care. Provision of patient-centered care requires empathic health care practitioners. The correlation between empathy of health care providers and improved patient adherence, satisfaction, and treatment outcomes is well-established.

A community-wide quality improvement initiative to improve hypertension control and reduce disparities.

Initiatives to improve hypertension control within academic medical centers and closed health systems have been extensively studied, but large community-wide quality improvement (QI) initiatives have been both less common and less successful in the United States. The authors examined a community-wide QI initiative across 226 843 patients from 198 practices in nine counties across upstate New York to improve hypertension control and reduce disparities. The QI initiative focused on (a) providing population and practice-level comparative data, (b) community engagement, especially in underserved communities, and (c) practice-level quality improvement assistance, but was not designed to examine causality of specific components.

Evaluation of a Particulate Breast Cancer Vaccine Delivered via Skin.

Breast cancer impacts female population globally and is the second most common cancer for females. With various limitations and adverse effects of current therapies, several immunotherapies are being explored. Development of an effective breast cancer vaccine can be a groundbreaking immunotherapeutic approach.