A novel technique to determine the cell type specific response within an in vitro co-culture model via multi-colour flow cytometry

Determination of the cell type specific response is essential towards understanding the cellular mechanisms associated with disease states as well as assessing cell-based targeting of effective therapeutic agents. Recently, there have been increased calls for advanced in vitro multi-cellular models that provide reliable and valuable tools correlative to in vivo. In this pursuit the ability to assess the cell type specific response is imperative. Herein, we report a novel approach towards resolving each specific cell type of a multi-cellular model representing the human lung epithelial tissue barrier via multi-colour flow cytometry (FACS). We proved via ≤ five-colour FACS that the manipulation of this in vitro model allowed each cell type to be resolved with no impact upon cell viability. Subsequently, four-colour FACS verified the ability to determine the biochemical effect (e.g. oxidative stress) of each specific cell type. This technique will be vital in gaining information upon cellular mechanics when using next-level, multi- cellular in vitro strategies

How Do European Pharmacy Students Rank Competences for Practice?

European students (n = 370), academics (n = 241) and community pharmacists (n = 258) ranked 13 clusters of 68 personal and patient care competences for pharmacy practice. The results show that ranking profiles for all three groups as a rule were similar. This was especially true of the comparison between students and community pharmacists concerning patient care competences suggesting that students have a good idea of their future profession. A comparison of first and fifth (final) year students shows more awareness of patient care competences in the final year students. Differences do exist, however, between students and community pharmacists. Students—like academics—ranked competences concerned with industrial pharmacy and the quality aspects of preparing drugs, as well as scientific fundamentals of pharmacy practice, well above the rankings of community pharmacists. There were no substantial differences amongst rankings of students from different countries although some countries have more “medicinal” courses than others. This is to our knowledge the first paper to look at how, within a healthcare sectoral profession such as pharmacy, the views on the relative importance of different competences for practice of those educating the future professionals and their students, are compared to the views of working professionals.Peer reviewe