Long-acting beta2- adrenoreceptor agonists : salmeterol and formoterol

The long-acting beta2 -adrenoreceptor agonists salmeterol and formoterol, given by inhalation, have a bronchodilating effect lasting for at least 12 hours after a single administration. They complement but not substitute inhaled glucocorticoids in the management of asthma and are also used in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).peer-reviewe

Medication wastage : the current situation

Reducing any wastage, including that of medication, is an important priority objective at both a national and European level due to the direct and indirect consequeces of wastage. Following an in-depth study, medication wastage has been defined in the Maltese context. This provides a common ground on which to base local policy to address the issue. The extent of medication wastage has been studied and documented in various countries. Yet to date there is still a lack of policy guidance in relation to medication wastage. This paper highlights the available literature in relation to medication wastage and urges the need to further explore and implement wastage reduction strategies.peer-reviewe

Drug-induced respiratory disease

Drug-induced lung disease is a relatively common condition caused by an adverse reaction to medication and it is often impossible to predict who will develop lung disease resulting from a drug.peer-reviewe

Causes of cough

A cough, being acute or chronic, is a symptom of a variety of respiratory and non-respiratory conditions and pharmacists should be able to distinguish between a cough not resulting from a serious pathology and one which could be the underlying symptom of a potentially critical condition.peer-reviewe

Medication wastage : the current situation

Reducing any wastage, including that of medication, is an important priority objective at both a national and European level due to the direct and indirect consequeces of wastage. Following an in-depth study, medication wastage has been defined in the Maltese context. This provides a common ground on which to base local policy to address the issue. The extent of medication wastage has been studied and documented in various countries. Yet to date there is still a lack of policy guidance in relation to medication wastage. This paper highlights the available literature in relation to medication wastage and urges the need to further explore and implement wastage reduction strategies.peer-reviewe

Benzodiazepines : benefits versus risks

Benzodiazepines act on the central nervous system and can be prescribed for various medical conditions. They are usually classified by their duration of action. Patients using long-term benzodiazepines are at risk of dependence and tolerance. Benzodiazepines may also worsen or mask symptoms of depression and may cause cognitive and psychomotor impairment. Therefore, benzodiazepines should not be prescribed in the absence of a clear indication. When prescribed, benzodiazepines should be prescribed in as low a dose as possible and long-term patients should be reviewed regularly.peer-reviewe

Occurrence, monitoring and removal of drinking water contaminants by advanced technologies

In order to maintain drinking water primary standards compliance under the USEPA Stage 2 Disinfectant Disinfection Byproducts Rule, drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) are switching from free chlorine (FC) to chloramines (MCA). Concerns are raised as MCA disinfection has been linked N-nitrosamine formation. N-nitrosamines are a group of nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs) which are highly carcinogenic in comparison to regulated DBPs (THMs and HAAs, generated by FC disinfection). Also in the forefront of drinking water concerns are other emerging drinking water contaminants such as perchlorate. Perchlorate is a contaminant which can enter drinking water from natural deposits or through introduction by anthropogenic actives and applications which the USEPA has decided to regulate. To contend with current drinking water issues, two major areas were targeted: (1) perchlorate removal and (2) drinking water DBP and emerging contaminant formation by an alternative disinfectant (peracetic acid, PAA). Perchlorate monitoring was performed at higher risk DWTP locations within the state of Missouri with levels below the estimated regulatory limit (4 µg/L or higher). Perchlorate removal from drinking water was also studied by adsorptive materials: powdered activated carbons (PACS) and clays. Out of all the materials studied, one clay (TC-99) had efficient removal with quick kinetics. PAA disinfection was studied to determine the formation of THMs, HAAs, HNMs, perchlorate, bromate, and N-nitrosamines. In comparison to FC and/or MCA, PAA disinfection yielded significantly less of the monitored contaminants, with the majority remaining below their respective detection limits --Abstract, page iv

Ecological specialization of Tubakia iowensis, and searching for variation in resistance to bur oak blight

Tubakia iowensis was recently recognized and described as the causative agent of bur oak blight. The pathogen causes vein necrosis and early season leaf death on Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak). Tubakia sp. B, an undescribed species, was isolated from bur oak and other oaks and was found to be morphologically indistinguishable from T. iowensis. In chapter 2, T. iowensis and Tubakia sp. B differed in causing a greater amount of necrosis on inoculated leaf blade tissue and in causing less petiole death and fewer conidiomata (pustules) after inoculation of expanding shoots. Both Tubakia spp. caused vein necrosis, but Tubakia sp. B was better at causing leaf spots, and T. iowensis was better at infecting petioles and preventing petiole abscission. Thus, T. iowensis appears to have a narrower ecological niche. Reports of bur oak blight appear to correspond with the geographic range of Q. macrocarpa var. oliviformis. However, even in the upland sites, there is substantial variation in symptom severity among trees within a stand. In chapter 3, seed sources were collected from within the geographic ranges of Q. macrocarpa var. oliviformis, Q. macrocarpa var. macrocarpa, and Q. macrocarpa var. depressa. Seedlings from blighted and healthy Q. macrocarpa trees also were inoculated to test the hypothesis that there is variation in resistance to bur oak blight. Greenhouse inoculations demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the number of symptomatic leaves or seedlings with petiole pustules among the different varieties of Q. macrocarpa. Seedlings from trees with bur oak blight showed no difference in production of petiole pustules when compared to seedlings from healthy trees in the same stand

MOVING QUICKLY: ONE STUDENT’S REFLECTIONS ON THE VALUE OF SECONDARY ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAMS

The purpose of this interpretive biography was to understand how college graduates perceive their experiences in secondary (high school) accelerated learning programs and the impact of that participation on their continued education. This inquiry was guided by the overarching question: What are college graduates’ perceptions and understandings of their experiences in secondary accelerated programs? Using a postmodern philosophy to review the empirical materials, this interpretive biography focused on the lived experience of a college graduate who participated in an accelerated secondary program and focuses on her reflections after graduating from a four-year university. The study finds that generally, secondary accelerated learning programs like concurrent enrollment are considered valuable for their academic preparation, but may be reinforcing societal notions that students should go through their schooling more quickly than is beneficial