Academic Progression and Retention Policies of Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy

Objective. To describe academic progression and retention policies used by US colleges and schools of pharmacy.Methods. Student handbooks on the Web sites of 122 colleges and schools of pharmacy were reviewed between February 2012 and May 2012.Results. Data were available and obtained from 98 (80%) programs. Most used grade point average (GPA) as a criterion for progression, with 66% requiring a minimum GPA of 2.0. Cumulative GPA was the most frequently used criteria for probation. Most handbooks did not address remediation, but 38% noted that a failed course could only be retaken once. The most common criteria for dismissal were the cumulative number of times a student was on probation. The graduation requirements of most programs were a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and completion of the program within 6 years of enrollment. Conclusions. Colleges and schools of pharmacy use various criteria for academic progression and retention and frequently provide incomplete or inadequate information related to probation, progression, and dismissal. Information regarding remediation and academic performance during experiential learning is lacking. A clearinghouse containing institutional data related to progression and retention would assist programs in developing academic policies. The study also highlights the need for ACPE to ensure this information is provided to students.     

Regional Tau Effects on Prospective Cognitive Change in Cognitively Normal Older Adults

Studies suggest that tau deposition starts in the anterolateral entorhinal cortex (EC) with normal aging, and that the presence of β-amyloid (Aβ) facilitates its spread to neocortex, which may reflect the beginning of Alzheimer''s disease (AD). Functional connectivity between the anterolateral EC and the anterior-temporal (AT) memory network appears to drive higher tau deposition in AT than in the posterior-medial (PM) memory network. Here, we investigated whether this differential vulnerability to tau deposition may predict different cognitive consequences of EC, AT, and PM tau. Using ¹⁸F-flortaucipir (FTP) and ¹¹C-Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, we measured tau and Aβ in 124 cognitively normal human older adults (74 females, 50 males) followed for an average of 2.8 years for prospective cognition. We found that higher FTP in all three regions was individually related to faster memory decline, and that the effects of AT and PM FTP, but not EC, were driven by Aβ+ individuals. Moreover, when we included all three FTP measures competitively in the same model, only AT FTP significantly predicted memory decline. Our data support a model whereby tau, facilitated by Aβ, transits from EC to cortical regions that are most closely associated with the anterolateral EC, which specifically affects memory in the initial stage of AD. Memory also appears to be affected by EC tau in the absence of Aβ, which may be less clinically consequential. These findings may provide clarification of differences between normal aging and AD, and elucidate the transition between the two stages.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Tau and β-amyloid (Aβ) are hallmarks of Alzheimer''s disease (AD) but are also found in cognitively normal people. It is unclear whether, and how, this early deposition of tau and Aβ may affect cognition in normal aging and the asymptomatic stage of AD. We show that tau deposition in the entorhinal cortex (EC), which is common in advanced age, predicts memory decline in older adults independent of Aβ, likely reflecting normal, age-related memory loss. In contrast, tau in anterior-temporal (AT) regions is most predictive of memory decline in Aβ+ individuals. These data support the idea that tau preferentially spreads to specific cortical regions, likely through functional connections, which plays a primary role in memory decline in the early stage of AD.     

Epidemiology of Confirmed COVID-19 Deaths in Adults,England, March–December 2020

Of the 58,186 coronavirus deaths among adults in England during March–December 2020, 77% occurred in hospitals, 93% were in patients >60 years, and 91% occurred within 28 days of positive specimen. Cumulative mortality rates were highest among persons of Black, Asian, other, or mixed ethnicities and in socioeconomically deprived areas.     

The Cost-Effectiveness of Financial Incentives for Viral Suppression: HPTN 065 Study

Objective

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of financial incentives for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral suppression compared to standard of care.

Rapid reduction of extremely high kappa free light chains in a patient with myeloma cast nephropathy

This report describes a patient with light chain myeloma and acute renal injury. Serum kappa free light chain (FLC) was extremely elevated, >33,000 mg/dL. Treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) started day 2 for biopsy‐confirmed cast nephropathy. Bortezomib‐containing chemotherapy was initiated on day 5, and hemodialysis for tumor lysis syndrome on day 7. TPE alone decreased kappa FLC >70% by day 5, indicating direct FLC removal was successful in this patient. A total of 25 TPE procedures were performed in a 31‐day hospitalization. Hemodialysis was discontinued after 3 months, and the patient's renal function and kappa FLC remain stable. Although the use of TPE for FLC removal is controversial, recent evidence supports its use as adjuvant therapy for acute renal injury secondary to myeloma cast nephropathy. TPE can be effective for rapidly reducing FLC; however, several TPE procedures might be required to reduce the risk of hemodialysis dependency.