Approximately 90% of diabetes cases in pregnant women are considered gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). It is well known that uncontrolled glucose results in poor pregnancy outcomes in both the mother and fetus. Worldwide there are many guidelines with recommendations for appropriate management strategies for GDM once lifestyle modifications have been instituted and failed to achieve control. The efficacy and particularly the safety of other treatment modalities for GDM has been the source of much debate in recent years. Studies that have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of both glyburide and metformin in the management of patients with GDM will be reviewed. There is a lack of evidence with other oral and injectable non-insulin agents to control blood glucose in GDM. The role of insulin will be discussed, with emphasis on insulin analogs. Ideal patient characteristics for each treatment modality will be reviewed. In addition, recommendations for postpartum screening of patients will be described as well as recommendations for use of agents to manage subsequent type 2 diabetes in patients who are breastfeeding.

Risk factors for developing postoperative mediastinitis (POM) due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were analyzed in a case-case control study of patients who underwent median sternotomy during the period from 1994 through 2000. Three patient groups were studied. The first consisted of 64 patients with POM due to MRSA; the second consisted of 79 patients with POM due to methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA); and the third consisted of 80 uninfected control patients. In multivariable analysis, patients who were diabetic (adjusted OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.22-6.70), female (OR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.25-5.88), and 170 years old (OR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.53-7.71) were more likely to develop POM due to MRSA. In contrast, the only independent risk factor associated with POM due to MSSA was obesity (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.25-4.96). Antimicrobial prophylaxis consisted primarily of cephalosporin antibiotics (administered to 97% of the patients). Changes in perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis, in addition to other interventions, should be considered for prevention of POM due to MRSA in targeted, high-risk populations.Mediastinal infection after median sternotomy is a devastating postsurgical complication, affecting 1%-4% of patients who undergo cardiothoracic surgery. Current therapy for postoperative mediastinitis (POM) includes extensive surgical revision and is associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased morbidity, and higher hospital costs [1][2][3][4].Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens associated with POM [5][6]. The proportion of S. aureus isolates that are methicillin resistant has progressively increased with time in most US medical centers, with the nationwide prevalence of methicillinresistant S. aureus (MRSA) exceeding 50% of nosocomial S. aureus isolates at many hospitals [7]. Surgical site infection (SSI) due to MRSA is a growing problem in both tertiary care and community hospitals [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] and complicates the management of SSI. Recently, we demonstrated that MRSA-related SSI (including POM) is independently associated with increases in mortality, duration of hospitalization, and hospital charges when patients with such infections are compared with uninfected surgical patients and also with patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) SSI [2].Few investigators have studied risk factors for development of POM due to MRSA infections, but these studies have been limited by small sample size [9] and lack of an uninfected control group [4]. We attempted to identify specific variables associated with POM due to MRSA by conducting a case-case-control study [10][11][12]. We defined 2 case groups, the first consisting of patients with POM due to MRSA and the second consisting of patients with POM due to MSSA. These 2 groups were compared with a control group of uninfected cardiothoracic surgery patients. The resulting risk models for POM due to MRSA and POM due to MSSA were compared and contrasted, and risk factors uniquely associated with POM due to MRSA ...

A growing body of evidence suggests that antidepressant therapies, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine, are effective in the management of hot flash symptoms. Several of these agents have the support of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the North American Menopause Society. To review the literature on antidepressants for the treatment of hot flashes in women, we searched the PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and MEDLINE databases from inception through May 2009. All publication types that included human participants and that were published in English were eligible for review. These articles, relevant abstracts, and additional references were used to collect pertinent data. Although initial small pilot trials were conducted solely in breast cancer survivors, additional studies have been conducted both in breast cancer survivors and in relatively healthy menopausal women. Data on the benefits with many of these agents are conflicting. Venlafaxine and paroxetine have been studied more extensively than any of the other antidepressants and are more consistent in effectively reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes, based on these study results. Desvenlafaxine, sertraline, fluoxetine, and citalopram should be considered second- or third-line options if patients fail therapy with or cannot tolerate venlafaxine or paroxetine, based on the current published data. Duloxetine, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, and mirtazapine should be reserved as last-line therapy until more rigorous studies are conducted assessing their use in the management of hot flashes.

Objectives. To develop and establish validity for a grading rubric to evaluate diabetes SOAP note writing on primary care (PC) advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs), as well as to assess reliability and student perceptions of the rubric.Methods. Ten PC APPE faculty members collaborated to develop a rubric to provide formative and summative feedback on three written SOAP notes per APPE student over a 10-month period. Correlation analyses were conducted between rubric scores and three criterion variables to assess criterion-related validity: APPE grades, Pharmaceutical Care Ability Profile Scores, and Global Impression Scores. Interrater and intra-rater reliability testing were completed using Cohen's kappa and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC). Student perceptions were assessed through an anonymous student survey.Results. A total of 51 students and 167 SOAP notes were evaluated using the final rurbric. The mean score significantly increased from the first to second SOAP note (p<.001) and from the first to third SOAP note (p<.001). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between final rubric scores and criterion variables. The ICC for inter-rater reliability was fair (.59) for final rubric scores and excellent for intra-rater reliability (.98-1.00). A majority of students responded that the rubric improved their ability and confidence to write SOAP notes. Conclusions.The findings provide evidence that the rubric developed may be used to make valid decisions about students' SOAP note writing ability and may increase their confidence in this area. The use of the rubric allows for greater reliability among multiple graders, supporting grading consistency.

BackgroundVasomotor symptoms (VMS), characterized by hot flashes and night sweats, are the most commonly reported symptoms associated with estrogen deficiency during menopause and occur in up to 70% of women. The goal of treatment is to reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms. Although hormone therapy (HT) is generally recommended as first-line treatment, it is not appropriate for all patients. Antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have been evaluated and utilized internationally for alternative treatment for VMS. In 2013, paroxetine mesylate (Brisdelle®) received a US Food and Drug Administration-labeled indication for moderate-to-severe hot flashes, making it the first nonhormonal treatment for VMS associated with menopause. The objective of this review is to critically evaluate available clinical data regarding the efficacy and safety of paroxetine for the treatment of VMS in menopausal women.MethodsMEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched using the keywords paroxetine, vasomotor symptoms, hot flashes, and menopause. Searches were limited to humans, English language, and clinical trial design with a primary outcome of hot flash/vasomotor changes.ResultsParoxetine (hydrochloride and mesylate) has been associated with a 33%–67% reduction in hot flash frequency with 6–12 weeks of treatment compared to 13.7%–37.8% reductions with placebo in patients both with and without a history of breast cancer. It was also associated with significant reductions in hot flash severity. Benefits of treatment persisted through 24 weeks in the study of the longest duration. Most adverse effects reported were of mild-to-moderate severity, with improved tolerability associated with lower doses (7.5–12.5 mg/day).ConclusionParoxetine is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of VMS during menopause. Paroxetine (7.5–12.5 mg/day) should be considered a first-line therapy option for VMS in patients when HT is either inappropriate or intolerable.

Omega-3 Fatty acids may be beneficial and should be considered in patients with documented coronary heart disease. They may be particularly beneficial for patients with risk factors for sudden cardiac death.

The pharmacist-bundled intervention was associated with a reduced 30-day readmission rate for high-risk patients with pneumonia.

Published data show no consistent increase in anticoagulant effects during concomitant warfarin and 3 commonly prescribed fluoroquinolones. Therefore, more frequent monitoring during concomitant therapy would be prudent.