Population health and medicine: Policy and financial drivers.

Purpose: The financial and policy levers of population health and potential opportunities for pharmacists are described.

Summary: Three long-standing problems drive the focus on population health: (1) the United States suffers far worse population health outcomes compared with those of other developed nations that spend significantly less on healthcare, (2) the U.S.

High frequency of gastrointestinal manifestations in myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2.

Objective: To analyze gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations, their progression over time, and medications being used to treat GI symptoms in a large cohort of patients with myotonic dystrophy types 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2).

Methods: We analyzed patient-reported data and medical records in a national registry cohort at baseline and 5 years.

Results: At baseline, the majority of patients reported trouble swallowing in DM1 (55%; n = 499 of 913) and constipation in DM2 (53%; n = 96 of 180).

Do continuum beliefs reduce schizophrenia stigma? Effects of a laboratory intervention on behavioral and self-reported stigma.

Background And Objectives: Correlational research shows that belief in a continuum of psychiatric problems predicts decreased public stigma. However, the correlational findings fail to inform the stigma reduction prospects of manipulating continuum beliefs. All extant experimental work has been executed online.

Risk factors for carbapenem-nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Case-control study.

The objective of this case case-control study was to identify risk factors for carbapenem-nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa in adult acute care hospitalized patient at 2 large academic medical centers. Risk factors were evaluated using logistic regression within a generalized estimating equations framework to account for clustering of patients within study site. Of 1161 total isolates, 271 (23.

Compassion satisfaction: A concept analysis in nursing.

Background: Nurses experience an intrinsic sense of fulfillment derived from their work in caring for other people. There is a need to further investigate the concept of compassion satisfaction as it is experienced in the profession of nursing.

Aim: The aim of this analysis is to provide clarity to the concept of compassion satisfaction in nursing.

Reducing hospital readmission through team-based primary care: A 7-week pilot study integrating behavioral health and pharmacy.

Introduction: A team-based service delivery model was applied to provide patients with biopsychosocial care following hospital discharge to reduce hospital readmission. Most previous interventions focused on transitions of care occurred in the inpatient setting with attention to predischarge strategies. These interventions have not considered psychosocial stressors, and few have explored management in primary care settings.

A Retrospective Study of Patient Factors That Indicate Provider Nonadherence to an Institutional Clostridium difficile Treatment Guideline.

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is treated most often with metronidazole or vancomycin. Both have been effective in treatment of mild to moderate infection. In more severe cases, vancomycin may be more effective.

A survey of inpatient practitioner knowledge of penicillin allergy at 2 community teaching hospitals.

Background: The negative effect of the penicillin allergy label on antibiotic use and patient outcomes has brought to light the need for thorough penicillin allergy assessments and heightened practitioner education.

Objective: To evaluate practitioner knowledge of penicillin allergy and the clinical approach to the patients with penicillin allergy.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to attending physicians, residents, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants practicing adult inpatient medicine at 2 community-based teaching hospitals from February to April 2016.

SGLT-2 Inhibitors: Is There a Role in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Management?

Objective: The purpose of this review is to identify and evaluate disease management of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who were treated with a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor as an adjunct to insulin therapy.

Data Sources: A PubMed (1969 to March 2017) and Ovid (1946 to March 2017) search was performed for articles published utilizing the following MESH terms: canagliflozin, empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, type 1 diabetes mellitus, insulin dependent diabetes, insulin, sodium-glucose transporter 2. There were no limitations placed on publication type.

Solithromycin (CEM-101): A New Fluoroketolide Antibiotic and Its Role in the Treatment of Gonorrhea.

Solithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that has undergone review for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Solithromycin is also being investigated and has shown promise for the treatment of gonorrhea. With increasing antibiotic resistance, the development of novel antibiotics to combat infections is essential.

Solithromycin: A novel ketolide antibiotic.

Purpose: The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, antimicrobial activity, clinical safety, and current regulatory status of solithromycin are reviewed.

Summary: Solithromycin is a novel ketolide antibiotic developed for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). Its pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties provide activity against a broad range of intracellular organisms, including retained activity against pathogens displaying various mechanisms of macrolide resistance.

Sexual life after weight loss surgery.

Background: Previous research revealed a relationship between higher body mass index (BMI) and lower sexual functioning. However, the role of psychosocial variables, such as body image, in this relationship has been understudied.

Objective: To assess sexual life before and after weight loss surgery (WLS) and examine the role of body image and BMI in these changes.

Abiraterone-induced rhabdomyolysis resulting in acute kidney injury: A case report and review of the literature.

Abiraterone, a CYP17 inhibitor, blocks androgen biosynthesis in multiple tissue types. In combination with prednisone, it is approved as a first-line treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. We present a case of rhabdomyolysis associated with abiraterone therapy resulting in acute on chronic kidney injury in a patient with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

A Pilot Stability Study of Dehydroepiandrosterone Rapid-dissolving Tablets Prepared by Extemporaneous Compounding.

Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation is used to treat a variety of conditions. Rapid-dissolving tablets are a relatively novel choice for compounded dehydroepiandrosterone dosage forms. While rapid-dissolving tablets offer ease of administration, there are uncertainties about the physical and chemical stability of the drug and dosage form during preparation and over long-term storage.

Methadone and Corrected QT Prolongation in Pain and Palliative Care Patients: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Methadone (ME) is commonly used in pain and palliative care (PPC) patients with refractory pain or intolerable opioid adverse effects (AEs). A unique ME AE is its corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation risk, but most evidence exists in methadone maintenance therapy patients.

Objective: Our goal was to identify QTc interval prolongation risk factors in PPC patients receiving ME and other medications known to prolong the QTc interval and develop a risk stratification tool.

Hospital-Acquired Infections: Current Trends and Prevention.

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are the primary cause of preventable death and disability among hospitalized patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), complications or infections secondary to either device implantation or surgery are referred to as HAIs. Specifically, the CDC monitors surgical site infections, central-line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonias.

Current and evolving approaches for improving the oral permeability of BCS Class III or analogous molecules.

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) classifies pharmaceutical compounds based on their aqueous solubility and intestinal permeability. The BCS Class III compounds are hydrophilic molecules (high aqueous solubility) with low permeability across the biological membranes. While these compounds are pharmacologically effective, poor absorption due to low permeability becomes the rate-limiting step in achieving adequate bioavailability.

Formulation and characterization of an apigenin-phospholipid phytosome (APLC) for improved solubility, in vivo bioavailability, and antioxidant potential.

The apigenin-phospholipid phytosome (APLC) was developed to improve the aqueous solubility, dissolution, in vivo bioavailability, and antioxidant activity of apigenin. The APLC synthesis was guided by a full factorial design strategy, incorporating specific formulation and process variables to deliver an optimized product. The design-optimized formulation was assayed for aqueous solubility, in vitro dissolution, pharmacokinetics, and antioxidant activity.

Clinical efficacy of turmeric use in gingivitis: A comprehensive review.

Introduction: Gingivitis affects an estimated 80% of the population, and is characterized as the world's most predominant inflammatory periodontal disease. Without intervention, gingivitis can advance to alveolar bone loss. Therefore, the primary goal in patients suffering with gingivitis is to control plaque buildup and soft tissue inflammation.

Vitamin D supplementation affects the IGF system in men after acute exercise.

Objective: Contradictory data between the Insulin-Like Growth Factor System (IGF) system and exercise may be due to alteration in IGF binding proteins. Vitamin D (D) deficiency has been related to muscle weakness and Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP3). A Vit.

Lubricant-Sensitivity Assessment of SPRESS B820 by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: A Comparison of Multivariate Methods.

The predictability of multivariate calibration models, calculated with offline near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), assessing impact of magnesium stearate (MgSt) fraction, blending time, and compression force on the tablet breaking force (TBF) of SPRESS B820 was statistically compared. Tablets of lubricated SPRESS B820 were prepared by varying lubrication and compression conditions using 2 full factorial design. Tablets were scanned in reflection mode on a benchtop NIRS.

Online Self-testing Resources Prepared by Peer Tutors as a Formative Assessment Tool in Pharmacology Courses.

To assess the effectiveness of optional online quizzes written by peer tutors in a pharmacology course for doctor of pharmacy students. Online quizzes were written by peer tutors for second-year pharmacy students. Quizzes reflected the material taught during lecture and were in a format similar to that of the examinations.