Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

Pharmacist-Led Initiative To Increase Naloxone Prescribing For Patients On High-Dose Opioids In A General Internal Medicine Clinic, Christine E. Leduc, Hyun J. Lee, Polly D. Fraga

The Lahey Journal

Abstract

Introduction:

Opioid overdose is a pressing public health concern in the United States. In 2022, prescription opioids were involved in 15% of all opioid deaths.1 Despite CDC recommendations for prescribing naloxone to high-risk patients, primary care physicians prescribe only 1.5 naloxone prescriptions per 100 prescriptions of high-dose opioids.2,3 Strategies are needed for healthcare institutions to expand naloxone access and mitigate opioid-related harm. This pilot study assesses the impact of a pharmacist-led quality improvement patient outreach initiative on increasing naloxone prescribing for adult patients taking ≥ 50 MME per day of prescription opioids as recommended by current CDC guidelines.

Methods: …

Comparative Potency Testing Of Diphtheria Toxoid In Guinea Pigs And Mice For In-House Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis And Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccines, Wanlop Leeden, Supanee Ummalukacholk, Orawin Mangkhaladul, Eakachai Prompetchara

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Diphtheria remains endemic in parts of Thailand and continues to threaten unvaccinated populations. To strengthen vaccine self-sufficiency, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization has developed in-house diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP) and diphtheria– tetanus (dT) vaccines. Potency testing of diphtheria toxoid is traditionally performed in guinea pigs; however, limitations in animal availability, cost, and logistics have prompted evaluation of alternative models.
Objectives: To compare diphtheria toxoid potency estimates of in-houseproduced DTP and dT vaccines using guinea pigs and mice, followed by a Vero cell-based toxin neutralization assay, and to assess the suitability of mice as an alternative model for potency testing.
Materials and Methods: …

Acute Liver Injury Likely Induced By Alpha Lipoic Acid Contained In Dietary Supplement, Simona Maksimyan, Jonathan V. Reyes, Kasim Kazbay, Farah K. Gazi

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

The rise in use of herbal and dietary supplements, which are regulated as food rather than as drugs by the Food and Drug Association, poses the risk of unknown and potentially severe side effects. We describe the case of acute liver injury, characterized by significant elevation in AST and ALT, likely induced by the consumption of an over-the-counter supplement containing alpha lipoic acid (ALA). Our patient trusted in a “natural” alternative to Western medicine for management of neuropathy, which was ultimately detrimental to her liver. An immediate and sustained improvement in liver enzyme levels was noted with discontinuation of the …

The Exploration Of The Antidiabetic Potentialities Of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria Siceraria) Fruits Through In Vivo, In Vitro And In Silico Approaches, Arifa Sultana, Fahima Aktar, Fabiha Noushin, Mariam Wahed, Jakir Ahmed Chowdhury, Abu Asad Chowdhury, Shaila Kabir, Md. Shah Amran

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Due to the ineffectiveness, side effects, and high cost of conventional drugs, medicinal plants grabbed the attention to treat diabetes, which has been a global health concern nowadays. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the antidiabetic potentialities of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) fruits in in vivo, in vitro, and in silico methods. For the in vivo assessment, alloxan-induced diabetic rats were fed food mixed with bottle gourd powder for 21 days. For the in vitro assessment, the alpha-amylase inhibitory assay was used to determine the antidiabetic properties of an ethanolic extract of L. siceraria. For the …

Identification Of Active Compounds And Antidiabetic Activity Of Red Shoot (Syzygium Myrtifolium) Leaves Extract With In Vitro And In Silico Methods, Muhamad Iqbal Prakoso, Siti Warnasih

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease that affects approximately 537 million people worldwide (1 in 10 individuals), and its prevalence is projected to reach 783 million by 2045. One of the plants that has the potential to be an antidiabetic is red shoots (Syzygium myrtifolium) since it contains various secondary metabolite compounds such as flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, saponins, phenolics, and anthocyanins. This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic properties of red shoot leaves extract and to identify and predict interactions between its active compounds and the α-glucosidase receptor. Ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts of red …

Ecorxchoice.Com— An Sidp-Funded Calculator Integrating Environmental Metrics With Antimicrobial Stewardship, Pamela S. Lee, Hugh Gordon, Theresa Ferguson, Tien Dinh, Misty Vu, Marina Nguyen, Chaynor Hsiao, Gary Fong

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Healthcare sustainability is a multidisciplinary field that seeks to mitigate healthcare’s environmental consequences. Antimicrobial stewardship and healthcare sustainability both aim to reduce wasteful resource use while maximizing patient safety. However, a strong partnership between antimicrobial stewardship and healthcare sustainability has yet to develop. To facilitate environmentally sustainable decision-making in antimicrobial prescribing, we developed a web-based calculator (EcoRxChoice (www.ecorxchoice.com)) where users can enter different antimicrobial regimens and compare how much plastic waste each regimen creates. This work was supported in part by the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP), reflecting SIDP’s commitment to strengthening sustainability as a practical extension of antimicrobial …

Artificial Intelligence In Hospital Pharmacy Practice: Effectiveness, Internal Validity, And Translational Readiness: A Systematic Review, Kwanchai Rattanamanee, Parnupong Kiewsiri, Prayuth Poowaruttanawiwit

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into hospital pharmacy, offering potential to enhance medication safety, therapeutic decision-making, and operational efficiency. However, the internal validity and translational readiness of current interventions remain uncertain.
Objectives: The objective of the study was to systematically review AI applications in hospital pharmacy and evaluate their effectiveness, internal validity, and readiness for clinical integration.
Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and PROSPERO registration (CRD420251067936), We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and ThaiJO (2000–June 2025). for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort, quasi-experimental, and case–control studies …

Microwave-Assisted Extraction Optimization And Bioactivity Assessment Of Flavonoid-Rich Extract From Lantana Camara L. Leaves In Zebrafish Epilepsy Model, Prem Kumar B R, Shwetha Krishnamurthy, Gouri Nair, Sundara Saravanan Kamatchi

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Lantana camara L. (Verbanaceae) is known for its bioactive compounds and has been reported for its potential therapeutic applications. Flavonoids from natural sources are acknowledged for their antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, suggesting a possible role in seizure management.
Objectives: This study intended to optimize the microwaveassisted extraction (MAE) of flavonoid-rich extract from L. camara L. leaves utilizing a designof- experiment approach and evaluate its antiepileptic property using the zebrafish model.
Materials and Methods: Four solvents (ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, and water) were initially used, with ethanol yielding the highest total flavonoid content (TFC). A central composite design was employed …

Antimicrobial Resistance In Pediatric Infections: Current Status, Challenges, And Future Directions, Clare Dinh, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance in pediatric infections presents a worsening global public health challenge, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) accounting for more than one million deaths annually and disproportionately affecting children younger than 5 years of age. Neonates and critically ill children face heightened risk owing to immature immunity, frequent healthcare exposures, and limited therapeutic options. This review synthesizes evidence on the epidemiology, mechanisms of resistance, clinical outcomes, and management of AMR across the full pediatric age range. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched for literature from 2014 to 2026 using terms covering antibiotic resistance, pediatric populations, and key …

Integrating Structural Analysis In The Pre-Appe Curriculum: Experiences From Three Institutions, Jennifer Ko, Sharon E. Connor, Emily K. Frederick, Katherine Foley, Emiline Snook, Ava Romah, Katie F. Leslie

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Educational activity

Evaluation findings

An Exploratory Study: The Presence Of Imposter Syndrome In New Graduate Allied Health Professionals And Its Relationship To Location Of Practice, Samantha J. Barber, Carol A. Flavell Dr, Moira Smith Dr

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Imposter syndrome (IS) explores the feelings of fraudulence within personal and professional settings. Commonly IS results in impaired self-confidence, and self-perceptions of one’s own abilities, their mental health, and places them at a higher risk of burnout. Imposterism is linked to transitionary periods, such as being newly graduated, and while IS addressed amongst the medical community [doctors and nurses], there is a gap in literature relating to IS amongst allied health professionals (AHPs). Additionally, there is no known literature in which IS presence or severity is explored in relation to an individual’s geographic location. The aim of this study …

Reality Check: Examining Perceived Stress In Student Pharmacists Using Virtual Reality, Kimberly B. Garza, Channing R. Ford, Kristen L. Helms

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

The impact of stress on learning is complex and multifaceted, and there is a balance between stress that promotes learning and that which inhibits it. This study presents a qualitative analysis of students’ responses to a questionnaire about their experience using virtual reality (VR) in a perspective-taking task to promote empathy for patients with physical limitations due to arthritis of the hands. Including data collected from a first-year course in 2023, 2024, and 2025, 214 students ranked their stress while experiencing the task, and those who ranked stress as anything other than “no stress” were asked to elaborate on the …

Lovastatin Potentiates The Function Of Α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, Dmytro Isaev, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Murat Oz

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background/Objectives: Statins are currently one of the most commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs. In recent years, in addition to their well-known effects on the cardiovascular system, statins have been shown to exert beneficial effects in the progression of various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: In this study, the effects of lovastatin on the function of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors expressed in rat hippocampus and Xenopus oocytes were investigated. Results: In whole-cell patch clamp studies in hippocampal neurons, 21-day chronic (20 mg/kg), but not acute (20 min), lovastatin treatment caused significant potentiation of choline (a selective agonist for α7 nACh receptors)-induced currents …

Expert Recommendations To Strengthen Chikungunya Outbreak Surveillance And Reporting For Traveler Health Protection, Daniel C. Payne, Karoun H. Bagamian, Jeffery Goad, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Michael A. Johansson, Moritz U. G. Kraemer, Eyal Leshem, Francesca F. Norman, Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales, Henrik Salje, Stephen Thomas, Scott C. Weaver, Lindsey A. Laytner, Rebecca Sturgis, Suzanne K. Scheele, Davidson H. Hamer

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by chikungunya virus, has surged dramatically in the past two decades. Chikungunya outbreaks can intensify rapidly, with infections posing a significant endemic health burden in tropical/subtropical areas and for travelers. Health professionals require timely and accurate outbreak information to adequately protect travelers and assess chikungunya risk. However, detection is often insufficient in the areas most susceptible to outbreaks, leading to diagnostic and reporting delays. Consequently, travelers are often unaware of increased chikungunya infection risk at their destination. We assessed chikungunya surveillance and reporting resources, and we developed expert recommendations for traveler health protection. Because …

Effects Of Normothermic Hepatic Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury On The Hepatic Disposition Of Arachidonic Acid And Its Cytochrome P450-Generated Metabolites In Rats, Vindhya Edpuganti, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

Cytochrome P450 (P450) metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) are potential therapeutic targets in ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury, yet their disposition and actions in hepatic IR are unknown. Cellular AA and its P450 metabolites are primarily bound to lipid membranes, resulting in negligible free concentrations. This study investigates how hepatic IR injury impacts the disposition of free AA and its major P450 metabolites in rats.

Methods

Rats underwent 60 min of partial (70%) ischemia or sham surgery, followed by 5 min, 3 h, or 24 h of reperfusion. The effects of IR injury on free concentrations of AA and its major …

Environmental Mercury Alters Immune Pathways Linked To Autoimmune Risk In Mice Mirroring Humans, Maurgan Lee, Paul Stemmer, Randall Gill, Allen Rosenspire, Anil Aranha, Heather Gibson

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background and Purpose: Mercury is a pervasive environmental contaminant, and human epidemiologic studies have linked chronic low-level exposure to increased autoimmune disease-risk. Dysregulated lymphocyte activation and impaired signaling tolerance are central mechanisms in human autoimmunity. Protein phosphorylation governs lymphocyte differentiation and function, alterations in phosphoproteomic networks may represent a signature of immune disruption. This study evaluates how low dose mercury exposure modifies B and T cell abundance and intracellular signaling patterns in BALB/c and Diversity Outbred (DO) mice.

Methods: BALB/c and DO mice were exposed to low dose HgCl2 in their water for two weeks or provided standard water controls. …

Level Of Comfort And Barriers To Pediatric Vaccination Among Pharmacy-Based Immunizers In California, Laressa Bethishou, Karl Hess, Richard Beuttler, Jeffery Goad

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Pharmacists are increasingly recognized as accessible immunizers, yet pediatric vaccination rates in community pharmacies remain lower than those for adults, likely due to unique barriers. This study aimed to assess the comfort level of pharmacy-based immunizers in California with administering vaccines to pediatric patients and to identify barriers limiting their participation in pediatric immunization.

Methods

An IRB-approved, cross-sectional survey was distributed electronically to pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians administering vaccines in California community pharmacies between November 2022 and February 2023. The survey measured comfort with vaccinating pediatric age groups, perceived barriers, and collected demographic data. Data analysis included …

Quality Improvement (Qi) Project Aimed At Reducing Unnecessary Antibiotic Usage Among Older Adult Patients By Addressing Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing In Primary And Long-Term Care Settings, Pamela M. Thomas

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Antibiotic overuse among older adults remains a significant patient safety and public health concern. Recent national data indicate that approximately 30%–50% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions may be unnecessary, particularly for viral or self-limiting conditions (Chua et al., 2021). Antimicrobial resistance has been associated with more than 1.27 million deaths globally (Murray et al., 2022). This quality improvement project evaluated a multifaceted antimicrobial stewardship intervention in primary and long-term care settings. Baseline review of 167 antibiotic cases revealed 37.1% were inappropriate or questionable, and 28.7% lacked adequate diagnostic documentation. The intervention incorporated provider education, electronic health record decision-support tools, audit and …

An Evaluation Of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots As Alternatives To Specialized Software In Teaching Bayesian Pharmacokinetic Analysis, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective

Methods

Investigating The Effects Of Cannabichromene On Different Modalities Of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain, Anna F. Weimer

Honors Theses

Chemotherapy is the predominant treatment for a variety of cancers, but throughout its history of use, many side effects have been reported. One of the most common side effects is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). This side effect subjects an estimated 60% of patients to pain for months to years following chemotherapy. This symptomology is due tothe upregulation of ion channels such as TRPV1, which leads to the release of TNF-α, causing inflammation. These changes manifest in the intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENF), in which chemotherapy damages nociceptors, leading to an overall reduction in density. Current therapeutics, historically limited to opioids or …