Emotional intelligence scores among three cohorts of pharmacy students before and after completing the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy's Leadership Degree Option Program.

Background And Purpose: Report change in Emotional Intelligence Appraisal scores among three cohorts of student pharmacists before and after completing the Leadership Degree Option (LDO) Program within the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy.

Educational Activity And Setting: The first three cohorts of student pharmacists who elected to enroll in the College's LDO completed the self-administered Emotional Intelligence Appraisal, Me Edition, at the start of the LDO program and again three years later at the end of the program. Paired samples t-test compared differences between mean pre- and post-scores stratified by gender.

Appetite changes reveal depression subgroups with distinct endocrine, metabolic, and immune states.

There exists little human neuroscience research to explain why some individuals lose their appetite when they become depressed, while others eat more. Answering this question may reveal much about the various pathophysiologies underlying depression. The present study combined neuroimaging, salivary cortisol, and blood markers of inflammation and metabolism collected prior to scanning.

Characterization of Tolerance in Children during Fentanyl Continuous Infusions.

Tolerance is a complication of fentanyl continuous infusions (CINs) in critically ill children, but the incidence and time of onset are lacking. The primary objective was to identify the incidence of tolerance. Secondary objectives were to determine the onset time and compare risk factors between children with tolerance versus no tolerance and between children with early (< 24 hours) versus late tolerance.

The use of think-aloud protocols to identify a decision-making process of community pharmacists aimed at improving CMS Star Ratings scores.

Background: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Star Rating system based on multiple measures that indicate the overall quality of health plans. Community pharmacists can impact certain Star Ratings measure scores through medication adherence and patient safety interventions.

Objective: To explore methods, needs, and workflow issues of community pharmacists to improve CMS Star Ratings measures.

PD-1 Pathway Inhibitors: Immuno-Oncology Agents for Restoring Antitumor Immune Responses.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are designed to restore a patient's own antitumor immune response that has been suppressed during tumor development. The first monoclonal antibodies against the immune checkpoint programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, are now approved for clinical use. Both agents are indicated for the treatment of advanced melanoma, as well as for the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Using reflection to evaluate student learning in ambulatory care IPPEs.

Purpose: Gather insight from student pharmacists about what they learned and whether objectives of an introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) were achieved in an academic-based ambulatory care site.

Methods: Students wrote post-reflective essays after their first ambulatory care-site visit. They reflected upon their previous assumptions of ambulatory care, and the roles and skills required of pharmacists in this setting.

Complete Genome Sequence of Streptococcus anginosus J4211, a Clinical Isolate.

Streptococcus anginosus is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes abscesses of the brain, liver, and other organs. Here, we announce the complete genome sequence of a clinically isolated strain of S. anginosus J4211.

A Progressive, Collaborative Process to Improve a Curriculum and Define an Assessment Program.

Objective: To revise the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy's professional program outcomes and create an assessment map using results from previous peer review and mapping of all professional courses and curricular streams of knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs).

Design: After consolidating 15 original program outcomes into 11 more precise outcome statements, defining KSAs for each, and getting faculty approval of them, the committee detailed measurable program expectations upon graduation for each outcome and created an assessment map identifying where KSAs were taught, how they were to be assessed, and the expected ability level (novice, competent, proficient) for each across the curriculum.

Assessment: The committee's work identified deficits, inconsistencies, and disproportionalities in professional program assessment.

The fate of pediatric prescriptions in community pharmacies.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe behaviors of community pharmacists related to pediatric prescriptions and examine the effect of demographic and situational factors on behaviors and confidence in performing recommended activities when dispensing medications for pediatric patients.

Methods: The study employed a self-administered survey of community pharmacists in a regional chain. One intervention group attended a live continuing education session.

Patient-centered interventions to improve medication management and adherence: a qualitative review of research findings.

Objective: Patient-centered approaches to improving medication adherence hold promise, but evidence of their effectiveness is unclear. This review reports the current state of scientific research around interventions to improve medication management through four patient-centered domains: shared decision-making, methods to enhance effective prescribing, systems for eliciting and acting on patient feedback about medication use and treatment goals, and medication-taking behavior.

Methods: We reviewed literature on interventions that fell into these domains and were published between January 2007 and May 2013.

Beyond antibiotic selection: concordance with the IDSA guidelines for uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

The purpose of this report was to evaluate concordance with the most recent guidelines for the treatment of uncomplicated UTI based on antibiotic selection, dosage, frequency, and duration. A historical review of patients' medical records at a university-based internal medicine clinic was conducted. When aggregated across antibiotic type, frequency, and duration, overall concordance was 33.

Evaluation of monitoring for metabolic effects in children treated with second generation antipsychotics in a pediatric clinic.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the frequency of recommended metabolic monitoring and follow-up in pediatric patients on second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medications from a pediatric clinic.

Methods: A retrospective review of electronic medical records of all patients on antipsychotics from an academic medical center pediatric clinic was conducted. Inclusion criteria required patients to be established members of the pediatric clinic, < 19 years of age, and on ≥ 1 SGA for at least 1 year, regardless of medical diagnosis.

Management of a prediabetes case with the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin.

Objective: It is important to prevent or slow the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes and, therefore, reduce the risk of long-term complications. New therapeutic options will allow more patients to be effectively managed. Although theorized to be effective for prediabetes, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have not been studied in this population.

Assessing student pharmacists' ability to identify drug-related problems in patients within a patient-centered medical home.

Objective: To quantify, describe, and categorize patient drug-related problems (DRPs) and recommendations identified by fourth-year (P4) student pharmacists during a live medication reconciliation activity within a patient-centered medical home (PCMH).

Methods: Fourth-year student pharmacists conducted chart reviews, identified and documented DRPs, obtained live medication histories, and immediately provided findings and recommendations to the attending physicians. Documentation of DRPs and recommendations were analyzed retrospectively.

The impact of problem-solving feedback on team-based learning case responses.

Objective: To determine the amount and type of feedback needed to improve pharmacy students' problem-solving skills using team-based learning (TBL) and a problem-solving rubric.

Methods: A problem-solving rubric was developed to assess the ability of pharmacy students' to prioritize, organize, and defend the best and alternative options on TBL cases The study involved 3 groups of pharmacy students: second-year students in a cardiology class who received no feedback (control group), third-year students in an endocrinology class who received written feedback only, and third-year students in an endocrinology class who received written and verbal feedback. Students worked in groups on all TBL cases except the first and last one (beginning and end of course), which students completed independently as it served as a pretest and posttest.

Long-term survival of Streptococcus pyogenes in rich media is pH-dependent.

The mechanisms that allow Streptococcus pyogenes to survive and persist in the human host, often in spite of antibiotic therapy, remain poorly characterized. Therefore, the determination of culture conditions for long-term studies is crucial to advancement in this field. Stationary cultures of S.

Assessment of streams of knowledge, skill, and attitude development across the doctor of pharmacy curriculum.

Objective: To continue efforts of quality assurance following a 5-year curricular mapping and course peer review process, 18 topics ("streams") of knowledge, skills, and attitudes were assessed across the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum.

Design: The curriculum committee merged the 18 topics into 9 streams. Nine ad hoc committees ("stream teams") of faculty members and preceptors evaluated the content, integration, and assessment for their assigned streams across the 4 professional years.

Extended therapy for primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism.

Clinical practice guidelines currently suggest extended anticoagulation therapy for primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The optimal duration of anticoagulation has been an active area of clinical investigation for patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries and those diagnosed with a first episode of unprovoked VTE. Practice guidelines, VTE incidence, clinical predictors/mediators, and clinical trial evidence is reviewed to help pharmacists and other health care providers make an informed, patient-specific decision on the optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy.

Antidepressant-mediated gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Anticholinergic effects of medications are factors in autonomic control of the lower esophageal sphincter function. Changes in sphincter control often lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic disease with a prevalence of up to 25% for adults. This effect is a consideration in the treatment of depression, the fourth-leading disease burden.

A 20-year perspective on preparation strategies and career planning of pharmacy deans.

Objective: To provide a longitudinal description of the variety of career paths and preparation strategies of pharmacy deans.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design using survey research methodology was used. Chief executive officer (CEO) deans at every full and associate member institution of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) in the United States as of May 1, 2009, were potential subjects.

Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of p-18F-Fluorohippurate as a new radiopharmaceutical for assessment of renal function by PET.

Unlabelled: The molecular structure of p-18F-fluorohippurate (18F-PFH) is similar to that of p-aminohippurate, a gold standard for the measurement of effective renal plasma flow. The objective of this study was to investigate 18F-PFH as a new PET renal agent.

Methods: 18F-PFH was synthesized by reacting N-succinimidyl-4-18F-fluorobenzoate (18F-SFB) with glycine at 90°C (pH 8) for 20 min.

Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of Tc-99m-labeled cyclic CisoDGRC peptide conjugates for targeting αvβ3 integrin expression.

Two α(v)β(3) integrin-binding peptide conjugates containing the cyclic CisoDGRC motif, a linker, and a chelator to enable Tc-99m labeling via the fac-[(99m)Tc(CO)(3)]+ core were synthesized. In vivo biodistribution studies in U87MG tumor-bear nude mice at 1h post-injection revealed a profound effect of the linker on the clearance of the radiotracer from the blood stream. In vivo blocking studies demonstrated the selective binding to the tumors expressing α(v)β(3)-integrin and other tissues.

Integration of team-based learning strategies into a cardiovascular module.

Objectives: To integrate components of team-based learning (TBL) into a cardiovascular module to increase students' responsibility for their own learning and actively engage students across 2 campuses in patient cases.

Design: An existing cardiovascular course module was modified by replacing 8 hours of lectures with self-directed learning (SDL) assignments and transforming case discussion sessions using TBL methodologies. Case discussions were delivered using TBL methods to increase engagement of all students across both campuses while maintaining a low faculty-to-student ratio in the classrooms.