Drug-Drug Interactions Among Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Medications

One-fourth of individuals diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus concomitantly have the hepatitis C virus infection. Since the discovery of highly active antiretroviral therapy, liver complications have become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-HCV coinfected individuals. Optimal treatment in this patient population is critical, as coinfection has been linked to deterioration of both disease states. The objective of this review article is to highlight the current literature on drug-drug interactions between HIV and HCV treatments. The management of the treatment of coinfection patients has been covered extensively in numerous other publications

Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behavior : a Prospective Analysis

Suicide is both a national and global concern, yet limitations still remain in our knowledge of the pathways to suicide. The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behavior is a recently proposed, comprehensive theory of suicidal behavior that seeks to address the limitations in our understanding of who dies by suicide. In the theory, the interpersonal constructs of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness combine to form the desire for suicide, while the construct of acquired capability provides the ability to engage in lethal self-harm. Previous research has supported this theoretical framework as it predicts suicidal behavior. The current study sought to expand on the previous literature by examining the three-way interaction of perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability as it predicts suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior over three distinct time points spanning a time-frame of eight weeks. Results indicated that the three-way interaction predicted suicidal behavior proximally; however, the interaction did not predict suicidal ideation or behavior over time. Additionally, the current study sought to examine how proximal levels of hopelessness moderate the relationship between the interaction of perceived burdensomeness by thwarted belongingness and distal levels of suicidal ideation at eight weeks. The same hypothesis was proposed examining the relationship within a mediation analysis. Results did not find support for either the moderation analysis or the mediation analysis. Overall, the results of the current study found support for the central tenet of the theory. Clinical implications, limitations, and future research are discussed.Psycholog

Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Chronic Asthma Symptoms

The objective was to determine if tobacco exposure is associated with year-round asthma symptoms. We analyzed baseline data from a multistate survey of 896 pediatric patients with asthma participating in a randomized controlled trial. Daytime symptoms, nocturnal symptoms, and limitations in activity because of asthma tend to increase during the winter season (p < 0.05 for all comparisons, except spring to winter daytime symptoms). One hundred forty of 896 (16%) children had year-round symptoms (i.e., active asthma symptoms during every season). Using separate multivariate analyses, we found that having a parent who smokes (odds ratio [OR]: 2.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35, 3.64) or a member of the household who smokes (OR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.29, 2.93) was associated with a higher likelihood of year-round symptoms, controlling for region of residence, insurance status, and use of a daily controller medication. Asthma symptoms are more likely to increase in the winter season. In anticipation of these patterns, clinicians should consider initiating controller medication therapy or reinforcing asthma education prior to these time periods for those patients at risk for seasonal exacerbations. Exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with year-round asthma symptoms, highlighting the importance of health care providers identifying and counseling about smoking cessation, especially for children with year-round asthma symptoms. (Pediatr Asthma Immunol 2005; 18[4]:180–188.)Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63404/1/pai.2005.18.180.pd

An observational test for correlations between cosmic rays and magnetic fields

We derive the magnitude of fluctuations in total synchrotron intensity in the Milky Way and M33, from both observations and theory under various assumption about the relation between cosmic rays and interstellar magnetic fields. Given the relative magnitude of the fluctuations in the Galactic magnetic field (the ratio of the rms fluctuations to the mean magnetic field strength) suggested by Faraday rotation and synchrotron polarization, the observations are inconsistent with local energy equipartition between cosmic rays and magnetic fields. Our analysis of relative synchrotron intensity fluctuations indicates that the distribution of cosmic rays is nearly uniform at the scales of the order of and exceeding 100\p, in contrast to strong fluctuations in the interstellar magnetic field at those scales. A conservative upper limit on the ratio of the the fluctuation magnitude in the cosmic ray number density to its mean value is 0.2--0.4 at scales of order 100\,pc. Our results are consistent with a mild anticorrelation between cosmic-ray and magnetic energy densities at these scales, in both the Milky Way and M33. Energy equipartition between cosmic rays and magnetic fields may still hold, but at scales exceeding 1\,kpc. Therefore, we suggest that equipartition estimates be applied to the observed synchrotron intensity smoothed to a linear scale of kiloparsec order (in spiral galaxies) to obtain the cosmic ray distribution and a large-scale magnetic field. Then the resulting cosmic ray distribution can be used to derive the fluctuating magnetic field strength from the data at the original resolution. The resulting random magnetic field is likely to be significantly stronger than existing estimates.Comment: submitted to MNRA

Science Across Borders: 5th Annual Natural Health Product Research Conference—March 26–29, 2008, Toronto, Canada

Canada is experiencing a growing interest in the use of alternative therapies and products particularly natural health products (NHP). In 1997, Canadians spent around C$ 2 billion on NHP. In an attempt to catch with this popularity of NHP use, Canadian researchers and administrators from academia, industry and government jointly established the Natural Health Product Research Society of Canada (NHPRS). Since its formation, NHPRS has been organizing an annual meeting which brings together world renowned researchers and experts in the area of NHP research. For 2008, the annual NHPRS meeting took place in Toronto from the 26th to 29th of March with a focus on ‘Science Across Borders: Global Natural Health Products Research’. The scientific program was spread into three days of plenary lectures and oral presentations. The different sessions containing these talks were on: ethnobotany around the world; chemical analysis of NHP; product standards and quality control; ethnomedicine; novel analytical approaches; systemic research, nutrisciences and molecular medicine; and drug development from NHP. The meeting proved to be a great success in terms of the speakers that were invited and based on the data that was presented which highlighted recent research taking place in the field of NHP not only in Canada but from many parts of the world

Path to Success: Development of the Pharmacist Through the Continuum of Pharmacy School and Beyond

Objective: To explore the processes and opportunities provided in the co-curriculum of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy (WSoP) that contribute to the development of successful pharmacy graduates. Methods: Pharmacy career preparation begins at orientation with workshops on emotional intelligence, leadership, and the APhA Career Pathway Evaluation Program. During the P1 through P4 years, the optional Student Development Workshop Series (SDW) offers seminars for students on a variety of topics including time management, exam taking strategies/anxiety management, learning styles, personal “brand” creation, CV/portfolio development, and interview soft skills. All students may participate in the annual WSoP Career Day, which offers networking and career opportunities, including post-graduate training options. During the P4 year, there is opportunity for a structured Residency/Fellowship Preparation Program (RPP). Additionally, local pharmacy residents/fellows participate in a Residency Teaching/Learning Curriculum Program (TLC) to develop academic teaching and precepting skills. Results: The SDW program has been successful and well attended with greater than 90% of students finding the topics relevant to their post-graduate success. After the RPP, ASHP residency match results in the 2016 class yielded an improvement from previous years, with 76 % of applied students and 94% of ranked students matching programs in Phase 1. Of the TLC participants, 90% documented an improvement in multiple types of teaching skills. Implications: Based on data and student/faculty input, career development is reassessed and improved continuously at WSoP. In the near future, a method for tracking graduates will be designed to further monitor the impact of programs on student success

A Case of Dens Fracture: A Pictorial Review and Discussion

Dens fractures are more common in the elderly and may present after minimal trauma and with minimal neck pain. The case reports a case of a significant fracture after minimal trauma, presenting with neurologic symptoms and minimal neck pain