Community Pharmacists' Knowledge of Antioxidant Vitamins

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 149-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra M Offricht ◽  
Margaret Malone

Objective: The current interest in antioxidant vitamins has led consumers to seek advice from community pharmacists. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate community pharmacists' knowledge of antioxidant vitamins. Design: An interviewer-based questionnaire was developed to represent the questions most frequently asked by consumers in community pharmacies about antioxidant vitamins. Setting: Pharmacies in the Tri-cities area (Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, NY) were identified from the Yellow Pages of the Albany, NY telephone directory, and each was visited by the interviewer (DMO). Main Outcome Measures: Questions were divided into the demographic data and practice setting of the participant; the antioxidant vitamins, knowledge of supplements and foods containing antioxidants, dosage recommendations, and toxicities; and therapeutic claims attributed to their use. Results: Of 75 pharmacists approached, 70 agreed to participate in the study. The number of questions per week received from customers regarding antioxidant vitamins was estimated to be between 0 and 25. All pharmacists had heard of the terms “free radical” and “antioxidant,” but few were able to provide an adequate definition of either term. The majority of pharmacists knew which vitamins are considered to be antioxidants, but were unfamiliar with appropriate dosage recommendations. In keeping with current literature recommendations, the use of antioxidant supplements was generally not advocated. Conclusions: In this study, pharmacists provided inadequate information regarding antioxidant vitamins. Because antioxidants are rarely indicated according to the current literature, pharmacists have a responsibility to base their recommendations to customers on substantiated data.

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 466-470
Author(s):  
Enrique Calvo-Ayala ◽  
Vince Procopio ◽  
Hayk Papukhyan ◽  
Girish B. Nair

Background QT prolongation increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and is common among critically ill patients. The gold standard for QT measurement is electrocardiography. Automated measurement of corrected QT (QTc) by cardiac telemetry has been developed, but this method has not been compared with electrocardiography in critically ill patients. Objective To compare the diagnostic performance of QTc values obtained with cardiac telemetry versus electrocardiography. Methods This prospective observational study included patients admitted to intensive care who had an electrocardiogram ordered simultaneously with cardiac telemetry. Demographic data and QTc determined by electrocardiography and telemetry were recorded. Bland-Altman analysis was done, and correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) coefficient were calculated. Results Fifty-one data points were obtained from 43 patients (65% men). Bland-Altman analysis revealed poor agreement between telemetry and electrocardiography and evidence of fixed and proportional bias. Area under the ROC curve for QTc determined by telemetry was 0.9 (P < .001) for a definition of prolonged QT as QTc ≥ 450 milliseconds in electrocardiography (sensitivity, 88.89%; specificity, 83.33%; cutoff of 464 milliseconds used). Correlation between the 2 methods was only moderate (r = 0.6, P < .001). Conclusions QTc determination by telemetry has poor agreement and moderate correlation with electrocardiography. However, telemetry has an acceptable area under the curve in ROC analysis with tolerable sensitivity and specificity depending on the cutoff used to define prolonged QT. Cardiac telemetry should be used with caution in critically ill patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. e65-e66
Author(s):  
Noah Marzook ◽  
Alexander Dubrovsky

Abstract Primary Subject area Emergency Medicine - Paediatric Background Unlike the lung ultrasound (LU) findings of pneumonia, bronchiolitis, pleural effusions and pneumothorax, which have all been well described, the sonographic pattern of asthma remains unclear. Previous pediatric studies have shown that pediatric patients with acute asthma exacerbations had positive LU findings. It is also unclear whether these findings were the result of acute infections associated with the exacerbation or if the findings would be present at baseline, outside an exacerbation in an asthmatic patient. Objectives The primary objective of this study is to characterize lung ultrasound (LU) findings in stable asthma pediatric patients presenting in a tertiary care asthma or respiratory clinic. Design/Methods Eligible patients >6 years of age, underwent a LU by the study sonographer between December 19, 2017 to June 25, 2019, during their regular follow up visit at the pulmonology clinic or scheduled pulmonary function test. Patients were defined as asthmatic if they had a positive methacholine challenge test (MCT) or spirometry at the day of the visit or in the past. Patients were excluded if they had an upper respiratory tract infection in the past 4 weeks, or had any other known pulmonary diseases. Baseline demographic and asthma severity (ISAAC score, ACQ-7) questionnaires were filled out by the patients, following which they underwent a LU by a novice sonographer using a 6-zone protocol. A blinded expert sonographer interpreted the images offline. A positive LU was defined as presence of more than 3 B-lines, consolidation (<1cm or >1cm), absent lung slide, and/or presence of pleural fluid. Results Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the study and 19.2% (CI 8.31-30.15) of the asthma patients had positive LU findings. The positive LU findings were diverse including B-lines (80%), small consolidation (80%), pleural line anomalies (10%). Positive LU findings were not correlated to any demographic value. Conclusion In our study, 19.2% of asthma patients at baseline have a positive LU. Lung consolidations larger than 1 cm were rarely seen. There were no significant differences between demographic data in asthmatic patients with positive compared to those with negative LUS. This positive LU scan rate is in keeping with a prior study on LU in pediatrics.


2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinthia Leite Frizzera Borges Bognar ◽  
Sergio Daniel Simon ◽  
Rene Claudio Gansl ◽  
Roberto Abramoff ◽  
Marcelo Aisen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To report the demographic data and clinical outcomes of non-small-cell lung cancer patients exposed to erlotinib in any line of treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of nonsmall-cell lung cancer patients from a reference general hospital and a private oncology clinic, who received erlotinib from 2005 to 2011. Statistical analysis was performed and we evaluated demographic data and response to treatment, by correlating the results of this first cohort published in Brazil with results of current literature. Results: A total of 44 patients were included; 65.9% were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, and 63.6% had metastatic disease. The mean age was 63.3 years. The median follow-up was 47.9 months. Epidermal growth factor receptor mutation screening was performed in 22.7% of patients (n=10), with mutation present in 30% of patients. The median overall survival was 46.3 months, and there was a higher probability of survival at 60 months for females compared to males (29.4% versus 15.8%; p=0.042). The other variables did not present significant statistical difference. Conclusion: We collected the largest cohort of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who have used erlotinib in Brazil to date, and demonstrated that outcomes of patients treated at our clinic during the study period were consistent with the results of current literature in similar patients.


Author(s):  
Mike Sosteric ◽  
Susan Hesemeier

<p> For some, “learning objects" are the “next big thing” in distance education promising smart learning environments, fantastic economies of scale, and the power to tap into expanding educational markets. While learning objects may be revolutionary in the long term, in the short term, definitional problems and conceptual confusion undermine our ability to understand and critically evaluate the emerging field. This article is an attempt to provide an adequate definition of learning objects by (a) jettisoning useless theoretical links hitherto invoked to theorize learning objects, and (b) reducing the definition of learning objects to the bare essentials. The article closes with suggestions for further research and further refinement of the definition of learning objects. </P>


2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Packard ◽  
Megan Herink ◽  
Thomas L. Lenz

Purpose: The objective of the study was to compare a traditionally structured journal club with an evidence based structured journal club during an advanced clinical pharmacy rotation and to determine the best utilization that aligns with recent changes to the pharmacy school accreditation standards. Methods: The study included 21 students who completed journal club utilizing the traditional journal club format and 24 students who utilized an evidence based journal club format. Background characteristics, student reported beliefs, and mean critical evaluation skills scores were evaluated and compared in each group. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two cohorts in mean overall percentage grade for the activity. Students in the traditional cohort received significantly higher grades for the Study Analysis and Critique section (90.97 + 12.18 versus 81.25 + 11.18, P=0.01) as well as for the Preparedness section (96.11 + 8.03 versus 85.0 + 17.13, P=0.002). Students in the evidence based cohort received statistically superior grades for the Presentation Skills section (96.43 + 6.39 versus 82.47 + 14.12, P=0.0004). Conclusion: An evidence based journal club is a reasonable and effective alternative to the traditionally structured journal club when the primary objective is to assist students in understanding evidence based concepts and to apply current literature to clinical practice.


Psihologija ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejan Todorovic

The usual definitions of illusions, as incorrect perceptions or cases of discrepancies between reality and our perception of reality, have been criticized as inadequate. The reason is that it is not clear how to apply this notion in a number of interesting cases. This paper is an attempt to provide an adequate definition of illusions, appropriate for many classical phenomena usually referred to as illusions.


Plato Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 43-58
Author(s):  
Maurizio Migliori

This essay is based on two premises. The first concerns the vision of writing proposed by Plato in Phaedrus and especially the conception of philosophical writing as a maieutic game. The structurally polyvalent way in which Plato approaches philosophical issues also emerges in the dialogues. The second concerns the birth and the development of historical analysis in parallel with the birth of philosophy. On this basis the text investigates a series of data about the relationship between Plato and "the facts". 1) If we compare the Apology of Socrates with other sources, we discover a series of important “games” that Plato performs to achieve the results he proposes. 2) The famous passage of Phaedo 96A-102A, which concludes with the Ideas and with a reference to the Principles, expresses definite judgments on the Presocratics. 3) In his works Plato attributes to the sophists some merits, even if the outcome of their contri-bution is overall negative. 4) However, in the fourth complicated diairesis of the Sophist, there is a "sophist of noble stock", an educator who can only be Socrates. 5) Plato in the Sophist shows the weakness of the Gigantomachy, and proposes an adequate definition of the beings: the power of undergoing or acting. This reveals, before the Philebus and the Timaeus, the dynamic and dialectical nature of his philosophy In summary, a multifocal vision emerges, adapted to an intrinsically complex reality.


10.2196/14741 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e14741
Author(s):  
Inge J M H Caelers ◽  
Toon F M Boselie ◽  
Kim Rijkers ◽  
Wouter L W Van Hemert ◽  
Rob A De Bie ◽  
...  

Background Physiological motion of the lumbar spine is a subject of interest for musculoskeletal health care professionals, as abnormal motion is believed to be related to lumbar conditions and complaints. Many researchers have described ranges of motion for the lumbar spine, but only a few have mentioned specific motion patterns of each individual segment during flexion and extension. These motion patterns mostly comprise the sequence of segmental initiation in sagittal rotation. However, an adequate definition of physiological motion of the lumbar spine is still lacking. The reason for this is the reporting of different ranges of motion and sequences of segmental initiation in previous studies. Furthermore, due to insufficient fields of view, none of these papers have reported on maximum flexion and extension motion patterns of L1 to S1. In the lower cervical spine, a consistent pattern of segmental contributions was recently described. In order to understand physiological motion of the lumbar spine, it is necessary to systematically study motion patterns, including the sequence of segmental contribution, of vertebrae L1 to S1 in healthy individuals during maximum flexion and extension. Objective This study aims to define the lumbar spines’ physiological motion pattern of vertebrae L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, and S1 by determining the sequence of segmental contribution and the sequence of segmental initiation of motion in sagittal rotation of each vertebra during maximum flexion and extension. The secondary endpoint will be exploring the possibility of analyzing the intervertebral horizontal and vertical translation of each vertebra during maximum flexion and extension. Methods Cinematographic recordings will be performed on 11 healthy male participants, aged 18-25 years, without a history of spine problems. Cinematographic flexion and extension recordings will be made at two time points with a minimum 2-week interval in between. Results The study has been approved by the local institutional medical ethical committee (Medical Research Ethics Committee of Zuyderland and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences) on September 24, 2018. Inclusion of participants will be completed in 2020. Conclusions If successful, these physiological motion patterns can be compared with motion patterns of patients with lumbar conditions before or after surgery. Ultimately, researchers may be able to determine differences in biomechanics that can potentially be linked to physical complaints like low back pain. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03737227; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03737227 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/14741


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-86
Author(s):  
Mikołaj Domaradzki

This paper discusses Aristotle’s account of multivocity (πολλαχῶς/ πλεοναχῶς λέγεται) as expounded in Topics 1.15. This article argues that an inquiry into how many ways (ποσαχῶς) something is said becomes for Aristotle a tool of dialectical examination that he employs throughout his entire philosophical career: investigating the many/multiple ways (πολλαχῶς/πλεοναχῶς) something is said allows one to recognize the ambiguity of the term in question and, consequently, to construct an adequate definition of its referent. The present study reconstructs the various strategies for detecting ambiguity and discusses its different types. Subsequently, the paper accounts for why Aristotle moves so easily from words and their meanings to things and their essences. Finally, the article presents an analysis of the connection between the many ways something is said and the various categories it is predicated in. The considerations are supported by a new translation of Topics 1.15.


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