Prior Experience and the Growth of the Biosimilars Mark...
March 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Davidta Brown, Senior Staff Editor – In 21st century medicine, pharmaceuticals have come to include compounds derived through novel and complex methods. Some of the most recent innovations have been in the form of biologics, therapeutic compounds produced through biological processes.1 Biologics are derived from living cell lines which may be bacterial, yeast, animal,… |
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The Status of Surveillance of Japanese Encephalitis in ...
March 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Sabrina Ahmed, PharmD Candidate c/o 2017 – One recent stride towards combating worldwide infectious disease has been in the improved surveillance of Japanese encephalitis in Asia, predominantly in South and South-East Asia. This potentially deadly virus is transmitted to humans via mosquito bites. The Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the leading cause of encephalitis… |
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Going International...
March 1, 2014 - Events By: Hayeon Na, Co-Copy Editor (Content-focused) – On Tuesday, February 4th, the New Jersey Pharmacist Association (NJPhA) and Dr. Maria Leibfried hosted a seminar for international pharmacy students at St. John’s University. The seminar was held to provide information to international students, especially for those who are here as F-1 students, about their options when… |
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To Defend the People...
February 1, 2014 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Davidta Brown, Senior Staff Editor – As the world’s largest market for pharmaceuticals, the United States receives many medications manufactured abroad.1 Patients, physicians, and pharmacists defer the responsibility of ensuring the quality of these imported drugs to the FDA, but it only takes one report of deceit in the pharmaceutical industry for this trust… |
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Long Term PPI Use Heightens Concern of Associated Healt...
February 1, 2014 - Clinical , Featured By: Tamara Yunusova, Senior Staff Editor – Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are acid-reducing agents that have multiple uses in the treatment and prophylaxis of conditions such as peptic ulcer diseases, H. Pylori infection, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, GERD, and NSAID gastroduodenal ulcers. Their versatility in treating a wide range of conditions, unparalleled efficacy over their Histamine-2-receptor antagonist… |
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The Increasing Roles of Pharmacists in Transplant Outco...
February 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jenny Park, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015 – Medication adherence is a big part of a patient’s success in managing their health conditions. The Annals of Internal Medicine estimated that the cost of medication non-adherence may reach up to $289 billion each year.1 It is crucial for organ transplant patients to take powerful immunosuppressants to… |
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Possible Inhaled Option for Diabetics...
December 1, 2013 - In the News / Politics By: Sang Hyo Kim, Staff Editor – Near the end of December, the pharmaceutical company, MannKind Corp, will submit their clinical data to the U.S Food and Drug Administration for the approval of an inhaled dosage form of insulin, Afrezza®.1 Administered with the Dreamboat inhaler, this inhaled dosage form delivers insulin packaged into single dose… |
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Hospital Drug Shortages...
December 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Hamid Razaki, PharmD – Drug shortages seen across pharmacies in the United States continue to be an issue in patient care. A drug product shortage is defined as a supply issue that affects how the pharmacy prepares or dispenses a drug product, or that influences patient care when prescribers must use an alternative agent.1… |
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Possible Mandatory Lung Cancer Screening...
December 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jenny Park, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015 – Lung cancer takes away the lives of about 160,000 individuals annually, which is more than a quarter of all cancer deaths.1 The U.S Preventive Service Task Force is now recommending lung cancer screenings for heavy smokers which could save up to 20,000 lives a year (or about 13%… |
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Provider Status for Pharmacists: Call to Action or Dist...
December 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Samantha Schmidt, PharmD Candidate c/o 2014, Palm Beach Atlantic University – The role of pharmacists in healthcare has grown exponentially over the years. Pharmacists now provide advanced patient-centered care services including coordination of medications during transitions of care, comprehensive medication reviews with medication monitoring, chronic disease management, disease education, prevention and wellness services, and… |
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The Third Wheel or the Steering Wheel? Pharmacists on t...
November 1, 2013 - Professional Advice / Opinions By: Joshua Bliss, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – Doctor – a word often utilized by both professionals and the general public alike to describe a physician. “Doctor” finds its origins in the Latin word for “teacher.” The word “physician,” however, carries a more complicated origin. It is derived from Latin’s “physicum,” meaning remedy.1 In Luke… |
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Ketoconazole No More...
October 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Hayeon Na, Co-Copy Editor [Content-Focused] – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on July 26th that oral dosage forms of ketoconazole (Nizoral®) should no longer be prescribed as first-line therapy for any fungal infections.1 The label and indication for oral ketoconazole were updated, and a new medication guide was added. Other dosage forms… |
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BRAIN Initiative: Mapping the Human Brain...
October 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By Erica Dimitropoulos, Senior Staff Editor – If you were in charge of government spending, how would you allocate our funds? Would you put more money into public schools? Restructure the healthcare system? How about a multi-billion dollar project to remap the brain? A few months ago, President Obama announced his plans to invest in… |
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iPod, iPad, iPhone… iLimb...
August 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Sang Hyo Kim, Staff Editor – There is a new invention called “i-limb ultra revolution,” which allows amputees to control their prosthetic hands with an Apple® app called “Bioism.” Designed by Touch Bionics in the United Kingdom, the new prosthetic hand has five individually powered fingers, including a powered rotating thumb and an auto-grasp… |
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Comparison of the New Oral Antithrombotics and Warfarin...
August 1, 2013 - Clinical , Featured By Omar Khalid Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2014 – The outpour of a multitude of new oral anticoagulants in recent years has health care professionals questioning whether they should switch the patients over, and what new agents should be used. With the recent addition of dabigatran (Pradaxa®) in October 2010, rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) in November 2011, and… |
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Superbug Makes Super Waves in Hospitals Across America...
July 1, 2013 - In the News / Politics By: Beatrisa Popovitz, Staff Editor – For the past decade, antibiotic resistant bacteria have been a growing concern in healthcare. Over the last few months, there has been a great deal of media attention surrounding strains of drug resistant bacteria in hospitals across the United States. Most recently, there has been an increased effort to… |
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Solving the HCV Enigma: Current and Future Drug Therapy...
July 1, 2013 - Clinical , Featured By: Tamara Yunusova, Senior Staff Editor – Approximately 3.2 million Americans have chronic hepatitis C infection.1 While acute cases are not common, rates of chronic hepatitis C continue to surge due to the recent discovery of the virus in 1989 and consequently, the establishment of a test screening for HCV antibodies in 1992.1 HCV has… |
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Angelina Jolie’s Double Mastectomy: What it Reveals A...
July 1, 2013 - Professional Advice / Opinions By Sang Hyo Kim, Staff Editor – Angelina Jolie, the actress recognized for her charismatic beauty, revealed to the New York Times that she had undergone double mastectomy, the surgical removal of the breasts. Because her mother died of ovarian cancer at 56, when Jolie learned that she had a mutation in her BRCA1 gene,… |
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Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Heather Mavronicolas Forges the ...
July 1, 2013 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Tasnima Nabi, Content-focused Co-Copy Editor – The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has officially launched a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program and accepted applications for Fall 2013. Public Health has become an increasingly important area of study over the years as our country experiences rising numbers of chronic disease, health care… |
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Helping Solve the Cruel Mystery...
June 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Erica Dimitropoulos, Senior Staff Editor – Lupus is highly unpredictable and occurs without warning; there is no known cause and no known cure. It affects over 1.5 million Americans, 90% of whom are women between the ages of 15 – 44.1 No two cases of lupus are alike, making it a very difficult disease… |
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Pay to Delay: The Honest Truth...
June 1, 2013 - Professional Advice / Opinions By: David Ong, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2014 – Our current healthcare system receives much criticism from the press as well as the public. Big pharmaceutical companies (“Big Pharma”) have consistently been characterized as part of the problem. Most of the blame for high drug costs is levied on Big Pharma. One of the criticisms is… |
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FDA Approves Dimethyl Fumarate for Treatment of Relapsi...
June 1, 2013 - Clinical , Featured By: Andy Zhang, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015 – On March 28, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of Tecfidera™ (dimethyl fumarate) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults.1 Tecfidera™ (dimethyl fumarate) will be the third oral drug used for the treatment of MS. The manufacturer Biogen… |
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Regulation of Low to Moderate Risk Medical Devices by t...
May 1, 2013 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Hayeon Na, Co-Copy Editor [Content-Focused] – On March 22, 2013, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) aired an episode of “Need to Know” on the safety of low to moderate risk medical devices. The episode closely followed the lawsuit of patient Linda Gross who has pelvic organ prolapse and was advised by her doctor to undergo… |
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Pilltalk: Innovation to Simplify Patient Counseling...
May 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Mitesh Patel, PharmD Candidate 2014 – $1.2 trillion- This is what the United States spends on healthcare. At 17% of GDP, this sector accounts for more spending in the U.S. than education, defense, welfare, and pension.1 By 2016, our expenditure on healthcare will rise to $1.6 trillion.1 As our health care spending increases, Americans… |
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Alzheimer’s Disease On The Rise...
May 1, 2013 - Clinical , Featured By: Ada Seldin – An impending storm is threatening to stagger the health care system and the nation at large. Alzheimer’s disease, which now affects as many as 5.1 million Americans, is projected to triple its toll by 2050, to 13.8 million Americans.1 These sky-rocketing rates can be attributed to aging of the ‘baby boomers.’2… |
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FDA Approves New Drug ‘Tofacitinib’ for Rheumatoid ...
April 1, 2013 - Clinical , Featured By: Erica Dimitropoulos, Senior Staff Editor – Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and often debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by symmetric polyarthritis, most commonly of the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints, elbows, knees, ankles, and spine.1 Its clinical manifestations vary, from a slowly progressing onset of fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort to a sudden and worsening destruction… |
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Flu Season 2012-2013: Rising Opportunities for Pharmaci...
April 1, 2013 - Clinical By: Fawad Piracha, Pharm. D Candidate c/o 2016 – The 2012-2013 influenza season has developed into one of the greatest nationwide flu outbreaksof the decade.1 Amid this crisis, many flocked to healthcare providers with flu-like symptoms, while others scoured doctors’ offices, clinics, and pharmacies for the vaccine. With the flu claiming many lives throughout the… |
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FDA Approves New Indication for Botox (Onabotulinumtoxi...
March 1, 2013 - Clinical , Featured By: Bethsy Jacob, PharmD Candidate 2014 – On January 18, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new approval for Botox, generically known as OnabotulinumtoxinA. Patients diagnosed with urinary incontinence due to an overactive bladder can be prescribed Botox, if they are unable to take or are unresponsive to anticholinergic medications. This… |
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A Look at Primary Medication NonAdherence and How it ca...
February 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Erica Dimitropoulos, Assistant Student Editor – Although clinical trials can affirm the efficacy and advantages of all marketed medications, it is obvious that patients cannot benefit from a drug that they choose not to take. Therefore, promoting medication adherence is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to improve treatment outcomes. In order… |
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Liraglutide (Victoza®) for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus...
February 1, 2013 - Clinical , Featured By: Miriam Maltz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2013, AMSCOP, Long Island University – Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia that is pursuant to insulin resistance, defects in insulin secretion, or both1. Chronic hyperglycemia is associated with detrimental effects on various organ systems that can increase mortality and impact the patient’s… |
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Rho Chi Beta Delta Chapter Induction Ceremony...
February 1, 2013 - Events By: Bethsy Jacob, PharmD Candidate c/o 2013 – On January 24, 2013, Rho Chi Beta Delta Chapter successfully conducted its annual induction ceremony, welcoming forty-four new members into the chapter. Membership was granted to students who ranked in the top 20% of their class. This year’s inductees included 4th and 5th year PharmD students as… |
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Pain Management and Palliative Care...
January 1, 2013 - Professional Advice / Opinions By: Monica Correia, PharmD Candidate c/o 2013 – This past year of advanced pharmacy rotations, has been a tremendous learning experience for me; I was exposed to the day to day functions and roles of pharmacists in a multitude of environments. While each experience allowed me to focus on a different aspect of pharmacy, the… |
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New Healthcare Law Concerning Birth Control Causes Deba...
January 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Katie Cimmino, Pharm D. Candidate c/o 2015 – With the start of the New Year the French government is enacting a new law concerning contraceptives. Now girls between the ages of 15 to 18 will be able to obtain free birth control. Not only will they have access to it, but the French government… |
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White House Petition Seeks to Recognize Pharmacists as ...
January 1, 2013 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Mohamed Dungersi, Associate Student Editor – A recent We the People petition on the White House official website has reached the 25,000 signature threshold needed to trigger an official response. The petition tilted “Recognize pharmacists as health care providers”, was initiated by the current editor in chief of the Rho Chi Post, Steve Soman.1 … |
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Tackling America’s Drug Shortage Crisis...
December 1, 2012 - Featured , In the News / Politics , Professional Advice / Opinions By: John S Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2013 – America’s focus on healthcare, as well as its position as one of the wealthiest nations of the industrialized world, is incongruous with the consequences of drug shortages suffered by its population. Shortages in pharmaceutical supply compromise quality of life while increasing health care costs. The pharmaceutical… |
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The Role of NMDA in Electroconvulsive Therapy and Other...
October 1, 2012 - Clinical , Featured By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-in-Chief – Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a last-line procedure in the treatment of refractory depression, among other neuropsychological disorders.1 By inducing a seizure, neurotransmitters are released and the disease state may feature a modest mitigation in symptoms.1 Seizure medications such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates are prescribed to increase or heighten the seizure… |
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Antiplatelet Use Following Acute Coronary Syndromes...
September 1, 2012 - Clinical , Featured By: Addolorata Ciccone, Co-Copy Editor – Acute Coronary Syndromes Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a myocardial ischemia caused by obstruction of coronary arteries. ACS is stratified into three types, based on electrocardiogram (EKG) changes and the presence of cardiac biomarkers (e.g. troponin, creatinine phosphokinase, and myoglobin). To guide treatment plans, it is important to identify… |
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Student Spotlight: Felipe Camacho...
September 1, 2012 - Professional Advice / Opinions By Nandini Puranprashad, Pharm D. Candidate c/o 2013 – Felipe Camacho is a 6th year student at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. He received his Bachelors of Arts in Music Composition from Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. After graduation, Mr. Camacho plans to pursue a residency at the Veterans Affairs (V.A.), Lee Memorial… |
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Brand Vs. Generic: What Every Prescriber Should Know...
September 1, 2012 - Clinical , Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Marina Yermolayeva, PharmD Candidate c/o 2013 – “I’m allergic to the generic; I need the brand name medication,” is a common claim heard by many health care providers. Managed care organizations get numerous calls from doctors and patients requesting prior authorizations to approve brand name medications whilst there are generic alternatives available on formulary.… |
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Nutrition Support Pharmacy Practice...
August 1, 2012 - Professional Advice / Opinions 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… |
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The Role of N-Acetylcysteine in Contrast Induced Nephro...
August 1, 2012 - Clinical 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… |
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Artificial Saliva Agents in Xerostomia...
July 1, 2012 - Clinical , Featured By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-in-Chief – Xerostomia, commonly known as dry mouth, is an anti-muscarinic side effect of numerous medications. Antidepressants, analgesics, diuretics, and antihistamines have a high propensity to cause xerostomia.1 Xerostomia may also result from Sjogren’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, and various chemotherapy agents.2 Traditionally, muscarinic agonists like pilocarpine have been used to reverse xerostomia.… |
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Understanding Diabetic Ketoacidosis...
July 1, 2012 - Clinical , Featured By: Mohamed Dungersi, Associate Student Editor – What is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute complication of uncontrolled diabetes or hyperglycemia. It is usually observed in cases of extreme hyperglycemia (usually in excess of 500 mg/dl, though it can occur over 250 mg/dl).1,2 It is usually characterized by the presence of hyperglycemia,… |
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The Pathophysiology of Syndeham’s Chorea...
July 1, 2012 - Clinical , Featured By: Neal Shah, Co Editor-In-Chief – Dyskinesias are abnormal, involuntary movement disorders. Subsets of dyskinesias include choreas and atheosis. Chorea is irregular and sporadic contraction of muscles whereas athetosis involves a twisting and writhing of muscles. These two dyskinesias often occur together and are thus termed choreathetosis.1 Common conditions which feature choreatheosis are Huntington’s, and… |
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The Pathology of Pure Red Cell Aplasia...
July 1, 2012 - Clinical By: Neal Shah, Co Editor-In-Chief – Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA), also known as erythroblastopenia, is characterized by a suppression of erythrocytes in the bone marrow. It is a peculiar oddity that the bone marrow’s progenitor cells still differentiate into white blood cells and platelets.1 PRCA has idiopathic, viral, auto-immune, and genetic etiologies. Diamond-Blackfan syndrome… |
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Five Lessons Learned from Being an Assistant Dean...
June 1, 2012 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Laura Gianni Augusto, B.S., Pharm.D., Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice – Laura Gianni Augusto, Pharm.D., R.Ph. is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She served as Assistant Dean for Experiential Pharmacy Education from 2007 to 2011.… |
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Naloxone Distribution Programs...
June 1, 2012 - Clinical , Featured , In the News / Politics By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi, Associate Student Editor, with Special Thanks to Dr. Tomasz Jodlowski for his contributions to this article – In the 1990s, major urban and rural areas across the United States grappled with a common problem: drug addiction. At that time, the drugs of choice were illicit substances (i.e. heroin). In order to combat… |
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Update: FTC Approves Medco and Express Scripts Merger...
May 1, 2012 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi, with Special Thanks to: Dr. Tomasz Jodlowski – In previous issues, we discussed an upcoming $29.1 billion merger between Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions. The merger had been previously delayed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC wanted to verify that this upcoming merger would not violate any antitrust… |
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Korlym® For Endogenous Cushing’s Syndrome...
April 1, 2012 - Clinical , In the News / Politics By: Alexandra Alleva, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – On February 17, 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first medication indicated specifically for patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, a hormone disorder characterized by elevated blood levels of cortisol. Mifepristone (Korlym®) is for the treatment of glucose intolerance and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus… |
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Interview with: Mr. Phil Hecken, Director of Communicat...
April 1, 2012 - Featured , In the News / Politics , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi – In previous issues, we discussed prescription drug abuse and several bills currently on the floor of the NYS Legislature, sponsored by Sen. Hannon which addressed the issue. On February 7th, I sat down with Sen. Hannon’s director of communications, Mr. Phil Hecken, and his legislative aide, Mr. Timothy Broschardt to… |