Objective. To evaluate the usefulness of formal debates in the pharmacy classroom as a way to learn course material and as a tool for developing competency in essential skills including critical thinking, communication, public speaking, research methods, and teamwork. Design. Debates were incorporated into a self-care course, where students were assigned different debate topics focused on controversial issues. Quantitative analysis was completed to assess debate style learning, knowledge about the subjects presented, and the impact on necessary skills. Assessment. Quizzes given before and after debates showed up to a 36% improvement in grades and up to a 31% change in opinions on the topic. Students assessed themselves as more competent in the skill sets at the completion of the debate series. Conclusion. Incorporation of debates into didactic style courses offers students an opportunity to improve upon skills that will help them succeed as pharmacists.

Renal transplant recipients exhibit variability in mycophenolic acid (MPA) and MPA glucuronide (MPAG) pharmacokinetics, which are influenced by clinical and demographic factors. Racial influence on MPA and MPAG pharmacokinetics was investigated in 53 patients: 17 African American males, 22 Caucasian males, and 14 females receiving mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and cyclosporine. A 12-hour steady-state pharmacokinetic study was conducted. Enterohepatic circulation of MPA was characterized by a second plasma concentration peak and was included in a novel statistical model with MPAG. MPA clearance in African American males was 26.5 ± 14.4 L/h versus 17.9 ± 6.1 L/h in Caucasian males (P = .035) and 16.1 ± 4.6 L/h in Caucasian females (P = .024) with no difference noted in MPA troughs. Enterohepatic circulation occurred less frequently in African American males (23%) compared with Caucasian males (42%) and Caucasian females (50%) (P > .05). Cyclosporine exposure was correlated with MPA and MPAG pharmacokinetics, whereas creatinine clearance influenced MPAG pharmacokinetics. A racial difference was noted with more rapid MPA clearance in African American males compared with Caucasians. The results support differential MPA dosing and the role of therapeutic drug monitoring in addition to considering the influence of renal function and concurrent immunosuppressives on MPA and MPAG pharmacokinetics.

Cyclosporine exhibits pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability in renal transplant recipients (RTR) attributed to P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ABCB1 efflux transporter that influences bioavailability and intracellular distribution. Data on race and sex influences on P-gp in RTR are lacking. We investigated sex and race influences on cyclosporine pharmacokinetics and ABCB1 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Fifty-four female and male African American and Caucasian stable RTR receiving cyclosporine and mycophenolic acid completed a 12-hour study. ABCB1 gene expression was assessed in PBMCs pre-dose and 4 hours after cyclosporine. Statistical analysis used mixed effects models on transformed, normalized ABCB1 expression and cyclosporine pharmacokinetics. Sex and race differences were observed for the dose-normalized area under the concentration curve (AUC0-12 /Dose) [P = .0004], apparent clearance [P = .0004] and clearance/body mass index (CL/BMI) [P = .027] with slowest clearance and greatest drug exposure in females. Sex and race differences were found pre-dose and 4 hours for ABCB1 [P < .0001] with females having less expression than males. ABCB1 differences were observed between pre-dose and 4 hours [P = .0009]. Female RTR had slower cyclosporine clearance and lower ABCB1 gene expression in PBMC suggesting reduced efflux activity and greater intracellular drug exposure.