By: Michael Cronin, Pharm.D.  Candidate c/o 2014 – The Drug Information Association (DIA) student chapter at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences began in March of 2012 to provide a local forum for cultivating awareness of opportunities within the pharmaceutical industry among doctor of pharmacy and allied health professions candidates.  Within two…

By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-in-Chief –  Dialysis is the removal of substances from intravascular circulation by filtration.1  Typically, dialysis is ordered when kidney function declines to 10–15% of normal function.2  The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) recommends that planning for dialysis begin when patients reach chronic kidney disease stage 4, which is…

By: Mohamed Dungersi, Associate Student Editor –  Match the following herbal products with their correct description: A. This product has been used to treat liver disease, including hepatitis and cirrhosis.  It has also been used as a protective agent after the liver was exposed to alcohol, acetaminophen, and carbon tetrachloride.B. This product is extracted from…

By: Steve P. Soman – Mirabegron (Mybetriq®), known also by the brand name Betanis®in Japan, is a new once daily oral drug.   First in its class, it is a selective β(3)-adrenoceptor agonist that improves symptoms associated with over active bladder (OAB) such as urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency by enhancing storage function and relaxing…

By: James W. Schurr, PharmD Candidate c/o 2014 – Nutrition Support Pharmacy is a specialized practice pertaining to the needs of patients receiving Parenteral (PN) or Enteral Nutrition (EN).  Nutrition Support Pharmacists (NSPs) are integral members of the nutritional support team and bring valuable skills and knowledge to the clinical practice setting.  The Board of…

By: Marie Huang –  A A A X R Z B D R P L A A D B E N S O L N A O L D B N N I L M E U R S E M N N E S E I D U A U O K S E…

By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-In-Chief – Migraines can be “classic” or “common.”  While all migraines feature unilateral, pulsating headaches, classic migraines feature an “aura” upon onset (whereas common migraines do not).  Pharmacologic treatment of migraines generally includes serotonin agonists (triptans).1 Triptans are selective agonists of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B and 1D (5HT1B/1D) subtypes.  By activating these receptors,…

By: Mohammad A. Rattu, Pharm.D.  [PGY-1 Resident at VA NYHHS] – We sometimes need to step back and look at our foundations for success.  Without the support of past and present Rho Chi executive boards, there would be no Rho Chi Post newsletter.  From our May to September issues, we will learn about each of…

By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-In-Chief – Contrast dyes enhance imaging for computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), and X-rays.1  Dyes usually consist of barium, iodine, or gadolinium, depending on the procedure.2  CT and X-ray scans often use iodine for systemic imaging and barium sulfate for GI imaging, whereas MR imaging primarily uses gadolinium.2  Gadolinium and iodine…

By: Steve Soman, Co-Editor-in-Chief – As Americans, we often admire the courage and sacrifice of the men and women serving our country in the armed forces.  As members of the pharmacy community, we admire the professionalism and achievements of our colleagues making outstanding accomplishments in their respective practice settings.  However, often I think we overlook…