Retrospective Chart Review of Advanced Practice Pharmacist Prescribing of Controlled Substances for Pain Management at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital.

Background: The US Department of Health and Human Services' 5-point strategy to combat the opioid overdose public health crisis includes improved pain management. There is a shortage of adequately trained health care providers in pain management. Advanced practice pharmacists may be able to help fill that void.

Analysis of Pharmacist Interventions Used to Resolve Safety Target of Polypharmacy (STOP) Drug Interactions.

Background: Statin drug interactions commonly increase the risk of muscle-related toxicities. The medical literature supports consultative pharmacist interventions to resolve drug interactions, but studies demonstrating autonomous pharmacist interventions are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the complementary impact of using pharmacist-led protocols and pharmacists with prescriptive authority to resolve statin drug interactions.

Diabetes and Hypertension: Clinical Update.

The presence of hypertension in individuals with type 2 diabetes augments the risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this regard, data support that management of hypertension in this high-risk population is a critical risk reduction strategy. In recent years, a number of work groups have redefined hypertension, management strategies, and targets.

Comparison of left ventricular ejection fraction values obtained using invasive contrast left ventriculography, two-dimensional echocardiography, and gated single-photon emission computed tomography.

Objectives: Left ventricular ejection fraction can be measured by a variety of invasive and non-invasive cardiac techniques. This study assesses the relation of three diagnostic modalities to each other in the measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction: invasive contrast left ventriculography, two-dimensional echocardiography, and quantitative gated single-photon emission computed tomography.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted on 58 patients hospitalized with chest pain, who underwent left ventricular ejection fraction evaluation using each of the aforementioned modalities within a 3-month period not interrupted by myocardial infarction or revascularization.

Pathogenesis and Prevention of Hepatic Steatosis.

Hepatic steatosis is defined as intrahepatic fat of at least 5% of liver weight. Simple accumulation of triacylglycerols in the liver could be hepatoprotective; however, prolonged hepatic lipid storage may lead to liver metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and advanced forms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

A study of the extracorporeal rate of blood flow and blood pressure during hemodialysis.

Hemodynamic instability is a common problem during hemodialysis (HD). The effect of blood flow rate (BFR) on blood pressure (BP) during HD has not been previously evaluated. Subjects receiving HD for the treatment of renal failure were enrolled (n=34).

Predictors of hospitalization in patients on peritoneal dialysis: the Missouri experience.

Background: We analyzed a large number of demographic and biochemical variables to identify predictors of hospitalization in subjects on peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: All patients initiated on PD at our center from January 1990 through December 1999 were included. The following variables at the initiation of PD were included: demographics, clinical data, nutritional and adequacy parameters, transport characteristics, and various co-morbidities.