Evaluation of long-term efficacy,safety, and effect on life quality of pulsed dye laser in rosacea patients

Background: Rosacea is a chronic disease affecting the patients’ life quality negatively. Although various laser systems are used in the rosacea treatment, studies reporting efficacy and long-term continuity of benefit of laser therapies are scarce.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, continuity of benefit, and effect on life quality of pulsed dye laser (PDL) in the rosacea patients.

Methods: Fourteen rosacea patients treated with PDL were enrolled in the study. The number of treatment sessions were varied from one to four. The efficacy was evaluated by the physicians’ clinical assessment (PCA), patients’ self-assessment (PSA), and erythema and telengiectasia grading scores. Additionally, the patients were asked about the continuity of the benefit and improvement in their life qualities after the treatment.

Results: Both the erythema and telangiectasia scores were significantly improved after the treatment (p < 0.001). According to PCA, nine patients had a clinical improvement of >50%. According to PSA, 11 patients had good/excellent improvement. Moderate/significant benefit of treatment continued in 12 patients at the follow-up period (mean 21.64 ± 14.25 months). The life quality scores were significantly improved. No serious side effects were observed.

Conclusion: PDL has high and long-term efficacy in the treatment of rosacea with a good safety profile.     

The need for new control strategies for particulate matter in parenterals

An undesirable characteristic in lyophilized parenteral products is the potential presence of particulate matter in the final product, which may affect patient safety. In this study, quality risk management tools described in the International Conference on Harmonization Guideline Q9 were used to estimate the risks for a pharmaceutical manufacturing line, based on three critical quality attributes: (1) visible particulate matter; (2) lyo-cake collapse traces; and (3) lyo-cake melt-back traces. Together with a Process Failure Mode Effect Analysis (PFMEA), an input-output analysis of the individual unit operations identified seven major material classes of extrinsic particulate matter. In addition to the process assessment, an experimental investigation of the location of impurities in lyophilized products was performed. To that end, intentionally contaminated vials were examined to locate the particulate matter and its possible migration. The results emphasize the importance of a full transmission mode release testing since the particles may enter the interior of the lyo-cake. A theoretical explanation of the observed impurity locations is provided.     

Barriers to the use of patient safety information sources by community pharmacies

BackgroundWhen patient safety information is communicated across a regulatory jurisdiction or country, the potential to enhance the safety of community pharmacy practice is significant. While there currently exists a number of sources for patient safety information (e.g., websites, safety bulletins, online tools), knowledge of the barriers that may inhibit the use of such information sources within community pharmacies is limited.ObjectiveThis research explores community pharmacy manager use of Canadian patient safety information sources and the barriers that may limit the use of such sources.MethodsA qualitative research study design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 15 community pharmacy managers in the Halifax Regional Municipality of Nova Scotia, Canada. The study explored how pharmacists access and engage a variety of information sources, including corporate intranets, websites, and tools provided by third party data base repositories. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsFive general barriers were identified: lack of time to access information sources and its contents; too many sources of available information; too much information not relevant to community pharmacy practice; complexity navigating online information sources; and lack of community pharmacy involvement in source design.ConclusionWhile pharmacies do use safety information sources to enhance practice safety, their ability to incorporate this information is inhibited by their general lack of time available to access and read safety information, lack of knowledge about where to get this information, and lack of tailored information for the community pharmacy context. Future initiatives should address increasing information awareness of available sources, consolidating and reducing information overload of such sources, and packaging information to better fit with pharmacists’ needs.     

Do disability,parenthood, and gender matter for health disparities?: A US population-based study

BackgroundExisting research has documented adverse health outcomes among parents with disabilities relative to parents without disabilities, but little is known about whether parenthood adds unique stress and health consequences for people with disabilities. Less is known about whether the effects of parenthood differ between mothers and fathers with disabilities.ObjectivesThis paper examined health-related quality of life, obesity, and health behaviors between US parents and nonparents with and without disabilities. We also explored differences in health outcomes separately for men and women by one's parental and disability status.MethodsAn analytic sample of parents and nonparents aged 18–64, with and without disabilities, were derived from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (9,117 parents and 33,961 nonparents with disabilities). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied, controlling for individuals’ socio-demographic characteristics and their history of chronic conditions.ResultsParents with disabilities, compared to parents without disabilities and nonparents with and without disabilities, were at higher risk of reporting frequent physical distress, obesity, smoking, and insufficient sleep. Among those with disabilities, fathers were more likely than nonfathers to report poor or fair health, frequent physical and mental distress, and obesity; these differences were not evident between mothers and nonmothers with disabilities.ConclusionsThe findings suggest the urgent need for policies and programs to address the health-related needs of parents with disabilities, as well as the need for targeted programs to support fathers with disabilities.     

住院医师规范化培训中科研能力的同质化培养

住院医师规范化培训是提高我国临床医师队伍整体素质和水平的重要举措。培训内容和培训方式也需要与时俱进才能培养出真正适应快速发展的医学事业人才。当前住院医师的培养多局限于理论知识灌输及临床操作技能的训练,忽视了科研能力的提高。特别是社会学员的科研能力训练往往被忽视,不符合目前住院医师规范化培训对同质化的要求。本文结合既往研究和自身从事规培管理工作的实践,从多角度对规培中针对科研能力培养存在的问题进行梳理,主要包括:带教教师的科研培训、学生自身提高、考核标准完善和基地配套保障四个方面。先提出各方面存在问题,再深入分析出现上述问题的原因,最后结合既往研究及自身实践,对上述各问题的解决方法进行分析和讨论,最后得出相应的具有可行性的解决方案。     

中药配方颗粒品种统一标准的有关问题探讨

通过参考《中国药典》2015年版和相关文献,结合国家药典委员会2016年发布的《中药配方颗粒质量控制与标准制定技术要求(征求意见稿)》,综合考虑中药配方颗粒的实际生产情况,对《关于中药配方颗粒品种试点统一标准的公示》中质量标准特异性、定量检测指标的选择和指标性成分转移率等方面进行讨论,根据讨论结果为中药配方颗粒质量标准的完善和提高提出了相关建议,为推进配方颗粒产业健康发展提供参考。