Computer-assisted medication review for asthmatic patients as a basis for intervention Constructing and validating an algorithmic computer instrument in pharmacy practice

OBJECTIVE: To construct and validate a computer instrument that identifies asthma patients receiving--theoretically--suboptimal drug therapy in community pharmacies, by the use of patient medication records. This selection enables the pharmacist to assist these patients in using medicines appropriately. METHODS: According to Dutch asthma guidelines which describe a stepwise approach and in order to define correct profiles for the use at each level of these guidelines, the optimum use of drugs in the different levels in asthma treatment was expressed in defined daily doses (DDDs) per pharmacological drug-group during a period of one year. An algorithmic computer instrument was developed to select patients with medication use deviant from these profiles. By using nine different selection profiles, the computer instrument stratified patients according to the medication records filed in the pharmacy computer. Patient medication records in four community pharmacies were investigated to validate the selection profiles as indicators for theoretically suboptimal drug use by asthma patients. The validation was performed by comparing the professional judgement of participating pharmacists with the selections made by the computer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the selection made by algorithmic computer instrument. Rate of false-positive results. RESULTS: The computer instrument identified asthma patients using theoretically suboptimal drug therapy with approximately 95% predictive value compared with the professional judgement of the pharmacists. The rate of false-positive results was 5%. CONCLUSION: The results of the algorithmic computer instrument and the professional judgement of the pharmacists are in close agreement. The instrument will be utilised in further research in the IPMP study (Interventions on the principle of Pulmonary Medication Profiles) investigating the role of Dutch community pharmacists in counselling patients who are at risk of suboptimal drug use in the treatment of their asthma.     

Association of Inhalation Toxicologists’ (AIT) review of regulatory aspects for inhalation toxicology studies

Abstract

Regulatory guidelines are intended to provide recommendations on ways to achieve greater harmonization in the interpretation and application of technical procedures and requirements for product registration in order to reduce or obviate replication of the testing carried out during the research and development of new products. The objectives of such harmonization are more economical use of human, animal and material resources; the elimination of unnecessary delay in the global development and availability of new products while maintaining safeguards on quality, safety and efficacy; and the fulfillment of regulatory obligations to protect public health.     

Dietary intake and adherence to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans among individuals with chronic spinal cord injury: A pilot study

Abstract

Objective

To investigate dietary intake and adherence to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and able-bodied individuals.

Design

A pilot study of dietary intake among a sample of individuals with SCI >1 year ago from a single site compared with able-bodied individuals.

Participants/methods

One hundred black or white adults aged 38–55 years old with SCI >1 year and 100 age-, sex-, and race-matched adults enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Dietary intake was assessed by the CARDIA dietary history. Linear regression analysis was used to compare dietary intake between the subjects with SCI and those enrolled in the CARDIA study. Further, adherence to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for dairy, fruits, and vegetables, and whole-grain foods was assessed.

Results

Compared with CARDIA participants, participants with SCI consumed fewer daily servings of dairy (2.10 vs. 5.0, P < 0.001), fruit (2.01 vs. 3.64, P = 0.002), and whole grain foods (1.20 vs. 2.44 P = 0.007). For each food group, fewer participants with SCI met the recommended servings compared with the CARDIA participants. Specifically, the participants with SCI and in CARDIA who met the guidelines were, respectively: dairy, 22% vs. 54% (P < 0.001), fruits and vegetables 39% vs. 70% (P = 0.001), and whole-grain foods 8% vs. 69.6% (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Compared with able-bodied individuals, SCI participants consumed fewer daily servings of fruit, dairy, and whole grain foods than proposed by the 2010 Dietary Guideline recommendations. Nutrition education for this population may be warranted.     

Impact of Guidelines for Antihypertensive Treatment on Clinical Practice

Many Guidelines and Consensus Statements were published in 1993 and 1994. The pressure to produce these guidelines comes from clinicians faced with rapid change, from a wish to provide an independent authoritative view rather than rely on commercial promotion of particular treatments, and from governments seeking assistance with the allocation of scarce resources.

Evaluation of the impact that guidelines exert on clinical practice is notoriously difficult, but has been attempted using the self-report questionnaire, or the more reliable but expensive analysis of actual practice data, before and after publication of the guidelines.     

Medical Ultrasound Disinfection and Hygiene Practices: WFUMB Global Survey Results

As ultrasound technology rapidly evolves and is used more frequently in every area of medical diagnosis and treatment, it may be overlooked as a potential vector in the transmission of a health care-associated infection. A survey on disinfection and hygiene practice in medical ultrasound was disseminated via the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) to its six member federations and associated ultrasound societies globally. One thousand twenty-nine responses were obtained across a broad range of ultrasound practitioners. A total of 76% of respondents used transducer covers every time to scan open wounds and 71% when blood and bodily fluids were present or for an interventional procedure. Approved high-level disinfectants are not always used, even when blood comes into contact with the transducer or after endocavity scans. Alcohol-based wipes were used by many respondents to clean both external transducers and endocavity transducers. Open-ended responses indicated that a large caseload hindered the time required for cleaning and that access to clear guidelines would be beneficial. Global survey results indicate that some users do not comply with disinfection practice, and there is a gap in knowledge on basic infection prevention and control education within the ultrasound unit. As the infectious status of a patient is not often disclosed prior to an ultrasound examination, training in suitable protocols for the cleaning and disinfection of ultrasound equipment is imperative to mitigate the risk of potential infection.     

阿尔茨海默病药物治疗的中英指南对比及解析

阿尔茨海默病（AD）的临床症状多样且以认知功能损害为主，给患者和家庭带来了巨大的精神压力和沉重的经济负担。目前尚无根治AD的药物，临床上常采用胆碱酯酶抑制剂和美金刚改善AD症状，但其疗效不一且安全性和成本效果性存在差异。为给患者选择安全、有效、经济的用药方案，中国和英国分别在2018年更新发表了AD药物治疗相关的指南。中国发布《2018中国痴呆与认知障碍诊治指南（二）：阿尔茨海默病诊治指南》在AD的诊断、药物治疗和临床疗效进行了阐述，英国国家卫生与临床优化研究所（NICE）发布的Donepezil，galantamine，rivastigmine and memantine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease进行AD常用治疗药物的临床效果和药物经济学方面的分析。本文重点比较两个指南在药物方面的异同之处，旨在为临床医生和基层医生开具AD治疗药物时提供更多参考。