Adopting global tools for the advancement of pharmacy practice and workforce in Saudi Arabia

BackgroundThe continuing expansion of the pharmacist’s role necessitates continuous evaluation of current practice to identify strategies for improvements. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has developed tools to support stakeholders in identifying development needs and planning advancement strategies. The aim of this research was to utilise the FIP Global Competency Framework, version 2 (GbCF v2), and FIP Development Goals (DGs) to evaluate competencies related to pharmacy practice in Saudi Arabia, and to understand the strategies needed to develop and improve the current practice.MethodsThe study involved four phases. Phase 1 involved translation of the FIP GbCF v2 into the Arabic language. Phase 2 was a consensus panel validation to establish the initial relevance of the competencies to current practice. Phase 3 included a national survey distributed to all registered pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. The final phase was conducted through mapping ‘not relevant’ competencies to FIP DGs to identify priorities.ResultsThe translation phase yielded a bilingual framework that could be utilized by pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. The initial validation phase identified 61 behavioral statements (from 124 in the GbCF v2) as ‘highly relevant’ or ‘relevant’ to pharmacy practice. Findings from the national survey identified a list of ‘not relevant’ competencies that could highlight gaps in current practice. The final mapping phase generated a list of three FIP DG priorities: DG5 (competency development), DG8 (working with others) and DG11 (impact and outcomes).ConclusionThe study indicated that competencies in the GbCF v2 were relevant to pharmacists practicing in the country. However, some competencies were perceived as ‘not relevant’ to current practice and these highlighted gaps in the current practice that need attention. Mapping ‘not relevant’ competencies to FIP DGs should be used as a starting point towards developing strategies, systems, and protocols to advance pharmacy practice in Saudi Arabia.     

健脾消癌方通过PI3K/Akt信号通路抑制结肠癌血管生成的研究＊

目的 观察结肠癌HCT116细胞健脾消癌方的条件培养液对HUVEC细胞管腔形成的影响，从PI3K/Akt生物轴调控角度探讨其作用机制。方法 培养HCT116细胞，细胞设3组：对照组，健脾消癌方组（加入15%健脾消癌方含药血清）及人参皂苷Rg3组；制备HCT116细胞健脾消癌方条件培养液（分组及制备方法见实验方法），用条件培养液干预HUVEC（脐静脉内皮细胞，Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells），Matrigel基质胶法检测HCT116细胞健脾消癌方条件培养液对HUVEC小管形成的影响。随后采用蛋白免疫印迹法（Western blot）检测各组HCT116细胞磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶（PI3K）、蛋白激酶B（Akt）、p-Akt、VEGF（血管内皮生长因子，Vascular endothelial growth factor）蛋白表达。最后在结肠癌HCT116荷瘤小鼠中验证健脾消癌方对肿瘤生长速度的影响，并经瘤组织VEGF蛋白表达、CD31免疫组化染色检测肿瘤内血管生成情况。结果 模型组HUVEC细胞管腔形成较空白血清组显著增加（P<0.05）；健脾消癌方组及人参皂苷Rg3组较模型组HUVEC细胞管腔形成显著减少（P<0.01）。p-Akt和VEGF蛋白表达水平模型组高于空白血清组（P<0.05），健脾消癌方组及人参皂苷Rg3组显著低于模型组（P<0.01）；PI3K、Akt蛋白表达量组间差异无统计学意义。与对照组比较，模型组荷瘤小鼠肿瘤体积显著性增大，瘤组织内VEGF表达、CD31阳性面积显著性增加，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；与模型组比较，健脾消癌方组及人参皂苷Rg3组荷瘤小鼠肿瘤体积显著减小，瘤组织内VEGF表达、CD31阳性面积降低，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 健脾消癌方可抑制肿瘤的血管生成和生长，其作用机制可能与PI3K/Akt生物轴调控VEGF表达有关。     

血清Hcy、IGFBP-1联合预测多囊卵巢综合征患者孕早期自然流产的价值

目的探讨血清同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)、胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-1(IGFBP-1)联合检测对多囊卵巢综合征患者孕早期自然流产的预测价值。方法选取2018年3月—2020年5月行促排卵治疗并成功临床妊娠的多囊卵巢综合征165例,检测血清Hcy、IGFBP-1水平。根据孕早期自然流产发生情况分为孕早期自然流产组与未自然流产组,比较两组妊娠前一次促排卵后血清Hcy、IGFBP-1水平;多囊卵巢综合征患者孕早期自然流产的危险因素采用多因素Logistic回归分析,并采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析血清Hcy、IGFBP-1水平单项及联合检测对多囊卵巢综合征患者孕早期自然流产的预测价值。结果患者妊娠前一次促排卵后血清Hcy水平低于入院时,血清IGFBP-1水平高于入院时(P<0.01);自然流产组妊娠前一次促排卵后血清Hcy水平高于未自然流产组,血清IGFBP-1水平低于未自然流产组(P<0.01)。孕早期自然流产的发生率为28.48%。年龄≥35岁、多囊卵巢综合征分型、空腹胰岛素水平偏高、空腹血糖水平偏高、血清睾酮水平偏高、血清叶酸水平偏低、妊娠前一次促排卵后血清Hcy水平偏高及血清IGFBP-1水平偏低均是多囊卵巢综合征患者孕早期自然流产的危险因素(P<0.01)。妊娠前一次促排卵后血清Hcy水平联合血清IGFBP-1水平预测多囊卵巢综合征患者孕早期自然流产的敏感度、ROC曲线下面积均高于单独预测(P<0.01)。结论多囊卵巢综合征孕早期自然流产患者血清Hcy水平偏高,IGFBP-1水平偏低,二者均与多囊卵巢综合征患者孕早期自然流产密切相关,并对多囊卵巢综合征患者孕早期自然流产的发生具有较好的预测价值,联合检测时的预测效能更高。     

Resiniferatoxin reduces cardiac sympathetic nerve activation to exert a cardioprotective effect during myocardial infarction

Background and objective: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common critical disease of the cardiovascular system. The process of MI is often accompanied by the excessive activation of cardiac sympathetic nerves, which leads to arrhythmia. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) is a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), involved in the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex. However, whether RTX can reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia and exert a cardioprotective effect by inhibiting the sympathetic reflex during MI is still unknown. Methods: The left anterior descending artery of cardiac was clamped to construct a model of MI. RTX (50 μg/ml) was used by epicardial application in MI rats. Ventricular electrophysiologic properties were continuously monitored by a body surface ECG. Yrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) were detected by Immunofluorescence staining. Connexin43 and transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-β1) were detected by western blot. Norepinephrine (NE) and BNP levels in blood and tissue were determined by ELISA. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. Results: The ERP, APD90, QRS, QT and the Tend-Tpeak intervals in MI rats were all prolonged, but decreased after RTX treatment (n = 3, P<0.05). In contrast, the RR interval was shortened in the MI group, but prolonged in the MI+RTX group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX treatment significantly reduced ventricular arrhythmias after MI. TH- and GAP43-positive nerve densities and TGF-β1, and cx-43 protein expression were up-regulated in the MI group compared to the sham group, and they were decreased in the MI+RTX group compared to the MI group (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX can decrease serum and tissue NE and BNP levels (n = 3, P<0.05). RTX pretreatment significantly decreased heart rate, HW/BW ratio and LVIDS, and increased LVEF andLVFS values (n = 3, P<0.05). Conclusion: RTX improved cardiac dysfunction, ventricular electrophysiologic properties, and sympathetic nerve remodeling in rats with MI by inhibiting the excessive cardiac sympathetic drive.     

脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤CT鉴别诊断

目的 运用CT区分脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤。方法 回顾性分析20例经手术、穿刺病理学检查证实的脾脏病变的发病年龄、性别、脾脏指数、病变大小、数目、有无液化、钙化、强化幅度、强化方式等特征,并进行统计学分析。结果 20例脾脏病变中,11例血管性病变(6例海绵状血管瘤,3例窦岸细胞血管瘤,2例硬化性血管瘤样结节性转化),9例淋巴瘤;两组间发病年龄、病变大小、数目、有无液化、钙化等差异无统计学意义;两组间脾脏指数、动脉期强化幅度差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。5例海绵状血管瘤呈不均匀性强化,1例呈渐进性填充式强化,2例窦岸细胞血管瘤呈“雀斑征”,1例硬化性血管瘤样结节性转化呈“辐轮征”;9例淋巴瘤实质部分均呈均匀、轻中度强化。结论 脾脏血管性病变与淋巴瘤CT表现不同,CT有助于明确诊断。