Academic pharmacy administrators' perceptions of core requirements for entry into professional pharmacy programs

Objectives

To determine which basic and social science courses academic pharmacy administrators believe should be required for entry into the professional pharmacy program and what they believe should be the required length of preprofessional study.

Methods

An online survey was sent to deans of all colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States. Survey respondents were asked to indicate their level of agreement as to whether the basic and social science courses listed in the survey instrument should be required for admission to the professional program. The survey instrument also included queries regarding the optimal length of preprofessional study, whether professional assessment testing should be part of admission requirements, and the respondents'' demographic information.

Results

The majority of respondents strongly agreed that the fundamental coursework in the basic sciences (general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry) and English composition should be required for entrance into the professional program. Most respondents also agreed that public speaking, ethics, and advanced basic science and math courses (physiology, biochemistry, calculus, statistics) should be completed prior to entering the professional program. The preprofessional requirements that respondents suggested were not necessary included many of the social science courses. Respondents were evenly divided over the ideal length for preprofessional pharmacy education programs.

Conclusions

Although requirements for preprofessional admission have been changing, there is no consistent agreement on the content or length of the preprofessional program.     

Association between glycosylated hemoglobin level and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in type 1 diabetes

Hyperglycemia is implicated in the development and progression of microvascular complications in type 1 diabetes. In contrast, the association between hyperglycemia and macrovascular complications or mortality in type 1 diabetes is not clear. The authors studied a population-based cohort of 879 individuals with type 1 diabetes from Wisconsin, free of cardiovascular disease and end-stage renal disease at the baseline examination (1980-1982). The main outcome of interest was all-cause (n=201) and cardiovascular (n=132) mortality as of December 31, 2001. Elevated glycosylated hemoglobin levels were associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, independent of duration of diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and proteinuria. The multivariable relative risks comparing the highest quartile of glycosylated hemoglobin (>or=12.1%) with the lowest quartile (相似文献   

Rare case of monocentric isochromosome Y with inversion duplication of p arm in patient diagnosed with azoospermia

A patient presenting with azoospermia was referred for genetic evaluation, and upon karyotyping, he was revealed to have two cell lines—mos46,X,ider(Y)(q10)inv(Y)(p11.3q11.1)/45,X. Further cytogenetic studies such as C banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed, which revealed an inversion duplication of a segment of the Y chromosome; hence, the derivative chromosome contained two SRY genes but only one centromere. Y chromosome microdeletion studies were performed in select STS sequences of AZFa, AZFb and AZFc regions and found to be negative for microdeletions. For such a case of infertility, the couple was advised to undergo artificial reproductive techniques with the help of donor spermatozoa.     

HbA1c measurement improves the detection of type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals with nondiagnostic levels of fasting plasma glucose: the Early Diabetes Intervention Program (EDIP)

OBJECTIVE: Whereas new diagnostic criteria based on a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of > 126 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l) have improved the detection of diabetes, multiple reports indicate that many people with diabetes diagnosed by 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) glucose measurements > or = 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dl) would remain undiagnosed based on this FPG criteria. Thus, improved methods to detect diabetes are particularly needed for high-risk individuals. We evaluated whether the combination of FPG and HbA1c measurements enhanced detection of diabetes in those individuals at risk for diabetes with nondiagnostic or minimally elevated FPG. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed FPG, OGTT, and HbA1c data from 244 subjects screened for participation in the Early Diabetes Intervention Program (EDIP). RESULTS: Of 244 high-risk subjects studied by FPG measurements and OGTT, 24% of the individuals with FPG levels of 5.5-6.0 mmol/l (100-109 mg/dl) had OGTT-diagnosed diabetes, and nearly 50% of the individuals with FPG levels of 6.1-6.9 mmol/l (110-125 mg/dl) had OGTT-diagnosed diabetes. In the subjects with OGTT-diagnosed diabetes and FPG levels between 5.5 and 8.0 mmol/l, detection of an elevated HbA1c (>6.1% or mean + 2 SDs) led to a substantial improvement in diagnostic sensitivity over the FPG threshold of 7.0 mmol/l (61 vs. 45%, respectively, P = 0.002). Concordant FPG levels > or = 7.0 mmol/l (currently recommended for diagnosis) occurred in only 19% of our cohort with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic criteria based on FPG criteria are relatively insensitive in the detection of early type 2 diabetes in at-risk subjects. HbA1c measurement improves the sensitivity of screening in high-risk individuals.     

Immigrant women’s food choices in pregnancy: perspectives from women of Chinese origin in Canada

Objective: Following migration, pregnant immigrant women may encounter social, cultural, and economic challenges that negatively affect their food choices and subsequent health outcomes. Culturally appropriate health care is crucial during the perinatal period to ensure the health of immigrant mothers and their children. This project aims to explore and understand how the health beliefs and practices of Chinese immigrant women affect their food choices during the perinatal period.

Design: This qualitative study used the methodology of focused ethnography. Women participated in one semi-structured interview, followed by a second photo-assisted, semi-structured interview which incorporated photographs taken by the women themselves.

Results: The food choices and health behaviors of immigrant women were influenced by their general health beliefs, cultural knowledge concerning particular types of foods, traditional Chinese medical beliefs, social advice and information, and socio-economic factors.

Conclusion: The provision of culturally appropriate health care is crucial during the perinatal period, as it is not only a vulnerable life stage for women and their children but also a sensitive period of interaction with the Canadian health-care system. Understanding these intersecting factors can help to ensure culturally appropriate care and optimized health outcomes for Chinese immigrant women during the perinatal period.     

Incontinence and falls in older people: is there a link?

Incontinence, falling and cognitive impairment have been recognised as 'geriatric syndromes' for many years (Reuben, 1991). They often result from the accumulated effect of impairments in multiple domains (organ systems) (Tinetti et al, 1988). The relationship between cognitive impairment and incontinence has been extensively written about (McGrother et al, 1990), but the relationship between falls and urinary incontinence (UI) has hardly been studied.