Carfentanil Poses New Threat of Epidemic in Local Commu...
December 1, 2016 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Gabrielle Flavoni, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – Drug diversion has always been a golden target for our nation’s law enforcement agents, and a new level of overdose epidemic is taking center stage. Last month, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued a public health warning regarding a synthetic opioid known as carfentanil. Carfentanil is… |
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Results of Largest Pharmacotherapy Smoking Cessation Tr...
December 1, 2016 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Nicollette Pacheco, PharmD Candidate c/o 2017 – It is an easy decision to include a black box warning on a drug label in response to clinically significant drug safety information. The decision to remove such a warning, on the other hand, has recently proven to be a more difficult decision. Varenicline (Chantix®) was approved… |
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Brexpiprazole: A Novel Antipsychotic for Major Depressi...
October 1, 2016 - Clinical , Featured By: Nicollette Pacheco, Staff Editor [Graphics-focused] – Brexpiprazole (REXULTI®) is a novel atypical antipsychotic that was approved in July 2015 for the adjunctive treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and as monotherapy in schizophrenia.1 Brexpiprazole is a serotonin-dopamine activity modulator with partial agonism at serotonergic 5HT1α and dopaminergic D2 receptors, as well as potent antagonism… |
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Risk of Using Mislabeled and Unregulated Cannabidiol Pr...
October 1, 2016 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Zachary Piracha, Pharm.D Candidate 2017 – The following account is a case report I was involved with during my rotation at the FDA. On 06/21/16, the Consumer Complaint Coordinator division of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a report from a consumer that had discovered an online seller of dietary supplements, and purchased… |
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An Alternative for Pulmonary Hypertension Approved...
March 1, 2016 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jack (Hongkai) Bao, Staff Editor – On December 21st 2015, the FDA approved selexipag (Uptravi®), marketed by Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc. for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults.1 Selexipag offers a newer treatment alternative for PAH, the conventional therapy of which originally included vasodilators such as Epoprostenol (Flolan®) and Treprostinil (Remodulin®)… |
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FDA Approves New Combo Pill Genvoya® for HIV-1 Infecti...
March 1, 2016 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Alex Chu, Staff Writer – On November 5th 2015, the U.S Food and Drug Administration approved Genvoya®, a once daily tablet containing a combination of elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) for the treatment of HIV-1 infections in adults and pediatric patients age 12 or older.1 Genvoya® is a combination of antiretroviral drugs… |
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Review of Thalidomide in Memory of Dr. Frances Oldham K...
February 1, 2016 - Clinical , Featured By: Kevin J. Choi, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – “Morning Sickness” – we have all heard of this term being associated with thalidomide, a drug particularly recognized for its antiemetic effect, but also for its notorious teratogenicity. However, it is worth re-familiarizing ourselves with the nature of the drug itself (and the clinical threats that… |
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Pharmacists’ Standpoint on Possible Changes to Profes...
February 1, 2016 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Victoria Chirico, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – From I-STOP surveillance to vaccine administration, many changes have been made in the world of pharmacy, with more to come. Whether these changes are for the better or worse, they define the roles of a pharmacist in our world today. As the role of a pharmacist is… |
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The Importance of Counseling and its Impact on Medicati...
February 1, 2016 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Sherin Pathickal, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016, Rahul Patel, PharmD Candidate c/o 2017, and Sierra Swaby, PharmD Candidate c/o 2020 – The pharmacy profession is changing within the healthcare system by making pharmaceutical care one of its main responsibilities. Pharmaceutical care does not adhere to the way that pharmacists have traditionally practiced, but instead requires… |
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Optimizing Drug Safety in the Operating Room...
February 1, 2016 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Maryam Ahmed, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – While hospitals are a place where people can get their ailments cured, there is still room for improvement. According to the Institute of Medicine, over 1.5 million Americans are injured in hospitals each year.1 Hospital protocols are implemented to keep these errors to a minimum in order… |
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Better Understanding the Link between Myasthenia Gravis...
February 1, 2016 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jacqueline Chirico, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which an antibody-mediated attack is directed against the nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors at neuromuscular junctions.1 About 85% of people with myasthenia gravis have antibodies to the ACh receptor, while the remaining 15% are seronegative. Although one is more common than… |
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Imlygic™, the First Oncolytic Viral Therapy in the US...
January 1, 2016 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Gabrielle Plaia, PharmD Candidate Class of 2016 – On Oct. 27 2015, the Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of talimogene laherparepvec, referred to by its brand name ImlygicTM, with an indication for local treatment of melanoma lesions that cannot be removed completely by initial surgery. The drug was created by Amgen.1 This… |
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Dabigatran Antidote Provides New Option for Targeted An...
December 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Svetlana Akbasheva, Staff Editor – Dabigatran etexilate mesylate (Pradaxa®) is an oral anticoagulant that functions as a direct thrombin inhibitor. Like other anticoagulants, this medication carries the risk of serious bleeding and must be stopped temporarily before any surgical procedures, with the length of time depending on a patient’s creatinine clearance and invasiveness of… |
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Antipsychotic-Induced Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder...
December 1, 2015 - Clinical , Featured By: Cyril Collantes, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by two predominant psychiatric components: obsession and compulsion. Obsession refers to the uncontrolled and recurrent thoughts, impulses, or images that can provoke significant anxiety, whereas compulsions are repetitive behaviors or rituals in response to the obsessive thought(s). OCD is clinically significant if… |
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Even the FDA follows Kim!...
November 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Nancy Simon, PharmD Candidate 2016 – Many of you may have seen Kim Kardashian West’s Instagram posts – most of which are ‘selfies,’ but recently, a particular post caught the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this past August 2015. Kim posted a picture with Diclegis® (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride), claiming… |
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Cytisine: Another Option for Smoking Cessation...
October 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Andrew Leong, Staff Writer – Quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of many diseases such as lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and stroke, all of which increase morbidity and mortality in patients. Currently in North America, there are three main pharmacological therapies used in the management of smoking cessation. The most recognizable one, nicotine… |
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Aripiprazole (Abilify®) Approved...
October 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Sang Hyo Kim, Section Editor – On April 28, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aripiprazole, the generic of Abilify®.1 Aripiprazole tablets are used to treat patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.1 Although Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Abilify®, tried to block generic competition by requesting a temporary restraining order on one… |
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Lidocaine Patch: A Topical Analgesic for Treatment for ...
September 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Irene Li, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – Postherpetic neuralgia is the most common chronic complication of herpes zoster that affects one million people annually in the United States.1 It is defined as dermatomal pain lasting at least 90 days after the appearance of an acute herpes zoster rash. The rash is usually unilateral. Although… |
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Stem Cells May Halt Progression of Multiple Sclerosis...
August 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Nehali Parikh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that results in interrupted neurotransmission throughout the body. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the insulating layer surrounding nerve cells, causing the formation of scar tissue, called sclerosis. Fatigue, numbness, tingling, difficulty in walking, and dizziness are… |
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Miltefosine (Impavido®) Approved to Treat Tropical Dis...
August 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Sang Hyo Kim, Staff Editor – On March 19, 2014, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved miltefosine (Impavido®) for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by leishmania, a parasite that is transmitted to humans through sand fly bites. Although the majority of people affected with leishmaniasis are from tropical… |
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FDA Approves Vorapaxar...
August 1, 2015 - Clinical , Featured By: Azia Tariq, Section Editor – Myocardial infarctions, more commonly known as heart attacks, are prevalent in the United States. Each year, approximately 720,000 Americans suffer a heart attack.1 The approval of vorapaxar by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) presents an additional treatment option for patients at high risk for myocardial infarction and stroke.1,2… |
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Assessing Risks versus Benefits in Initiating Triple An...
June 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jacqueline Chirico, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – A dilemma that many clinicians face when treating patients with cardiac problems is determining the appropriateness of initiating triple antithrombotic therapy. While this is appropriate in a select patient population, it is important to understand which patients fall in this category and what risks and benefits should… |
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Seeing is Believing: A Look at VEGF Inhibitors for Diab...
June 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Svetlana Akbasheva, Staff Editor, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – Diabetes is one of the biggest health problems in the United States, with the 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report stating that 9.3% of the population, or over 29 million people, has the disease.1 One of the major complications of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is diabetic retinopathy,… |
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An Aspirin a Day? New Study Assesses Rate of Inappropri...
May 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Svetlana Akbasheva, Staff Writer – Aspirin 81 mg, or “baby” aspirin, has become almost ubiquitously known as being “heart-healthy” and for playing a role in preventing heart attacks and strokes. With cardiovascular disease reigning as the number one cause of death worldwide, more than 50 million adults in the United States currently take daily… |
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Smartphone Applications for Pharmacy Students...
May 1, 2015 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Hayeon Na, PharmD, Co-Copy Editor [Content-focused] – Going through the PharmD curriculum and working as a student pharmacist, I often wished that I could somehow connect my brain to all the wonderful pharmacy resources I had at home or in my bag. I don’t doubt that you’ve also had a variation of this idea… |
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The Dilemma of Using Beta-Blockers in Patients with COP...
April 1, 2015 - Clinical , Featured By: Syed Arafath, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015, AMSCOP at LIU – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer.1 Many patients with COPD often present with multiple-organ dysfunction, especially cardiovascular disease.2,3 COPD and heart failure frequently coexist in approximately 30% of cases… |
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Injectable Naltrexone for Smoking Cessation...
April 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jacqueline Meaney, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015, University at Buffalo: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Extended release naltrexone (XR-NTX), marketed as once-monthly IM Vivitrol®, is currently FDA approved for use in treating both alcohol and opiate dependence. Naltrexone is a mu-opioid receptor antagonist that blocks the euphoric effect of heroin and prescription opioids. Naltrexone… |
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Fifth Time’s a Charm?...
March 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics Fifth Time’s a Charm? By: Sylva Ohanian, Staff Writer – Liraglutide (Saxenda®) has recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic weight management in adult patients.1 The indication is specified for those with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese) or 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) in… |
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The Overmedication of Foster Care Children...
March 1, 2015 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions The Overmedication of Foster Care Children By: Andrew Leong, Staff Writer – There are over 510,000 children in foster care nationwide.1 They face tremendous emotional stress, affecting their behavior and mental health. To treat their symptoms, many are prescribed psychotropic medications. A study published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics found that… |
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Early Use of Antibiotics Tied to an Increased Risk of P...
March 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Fatima Elzin, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015 – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of asthma has risen dramatically in the past two to three decades.1 In the United States, 6.8 million children were diagnosed with asthma in 2012.1 Recent data suggests that this increase in children with asthma may… |
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Aspirin in High Risk CV Patients Using COX-2 Inhibitors...
February 1, 2015 - Clinical , Featured By: Nancy Rizkalla, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015 – NSAIDs are effective agents used in the management of several types of pain. They mitigate the negative effects of inflammation by inhibiting two key enzymes called cyclooxygenase (COX)—COX-1 and COX-2—and their subsequent products. However, the inhibition of these enzymes’ other beneficial functions is associated with negative side… |
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Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Oncolo...
February 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Nicollette Pacheco, Staff Editor [Graphics-focused] – With an increase in the use of alternative medicine in the United States, the field of oncology is seeing a rise in the use of unconventional methods to treat symptoms in a wide range of cancers. Since 1990, it has been found that an increasing number of patients… |
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Case Report: Correlation between the Use of Weight Loss...
January 1, 2015 - Clinical , Featured By: Luxi Wang, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015, Lev Gurevich, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015, and Gladys El-Chaar, PharmD, Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Case Presentation A 17-year-old female presented to the ED after experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure with loss of consciousness lasting 5 minutes… |
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Usage of Codeine in Pediatric Patients...
January 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Azia Tariq, Section Editor – With the deaths of thirteen pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy occurring post operation between 1969 to 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed the safety of codeine in children in its August 2012 Drug Safety Communication. The FDA subsequently issued a black box warning and a contraindication… |
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No More ABCs: FDA Issues Final Rule on Pregnancy and La...
January 1, 2015 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Svetlana Akbasheva, Staff Writer – Pregnancy categories in drug labeling were created in order to facilitate decisions on a medication’s use during pregnancy. With only five possibilities – A, B, C, D, or X – they provided a quick and simple reference regarding a medication’s teratogenic potential. However, in practice this grading system has… |
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The Difference in Guanfacine Formulations for ADHD...
December 1, 2014 - Clinical , Featured By: Katharine Cimmino, Editor-in-Chief – Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common pediatric psychiatric disorder, and it affects the education, social interactions, and over-all wellbeing of both children and adolescents.1 Symptoms of ADHD can persist into adulthood, and those with this disorder are more likely to suffer from other mental health co-morbidities.2 According to guidelines… |
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Interview: Med Ed 101: Dr. Eric Christianson...
December 1, 2014 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Tasnima Nabi, Copy Editor [Content-Focused] – Social media is a powerful platform, allowing for the quick and easy exchange of ideas. Although the Internet has facilitated universal access, for many, it can be difficult to find reliable information. By combining the power of the Internet with his dedication to the pharmacy profession, Eric Christianson,… |
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FDA Defends Generic Drug Labeling Plan...
December 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Nancy Simon, PharmD c/o 2016 – Last November, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted a proposal for a Generic Drug Labeling Plan. This new plan will allow generic drug companies to use the same process as the one used by brand drug companies to update their medication labels to reflect new safety information.1… |
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Pradaxa® vs Warfarin...
November 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Kevin Lin, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015 — The FDA recently completed an observational cohort study that compared Pradaxa® (dabigatran) to warfarin for rates of ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, major gastrointestinal bleed, myocardial infarction, and death. The study enrolled more than 134,000 patients, with 64% over the age of 65 and found a lower risk… |
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Anticoagulation in Pregnant Women: Which Medications ar...
October 1, 2014 - Clinical , Featured By: Diana Gritsenko, PharmD Candidate 2015 – Multiple complications can arise during pregnancy. While venous thromboembolism (VTE) has a prevalence rate of just 0.06% it is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. It is recommended that at-risk pregnant women receive anticoagulation therapy for a minimum of 3 months and VTE prophylaxis for the… |
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FDA-Approved Afrezza: An Inhaled Alternative to Injecta...
October 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Elissa Tam, PharmD Candidate c/o 2015 – Patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who cannot control their glucose levels simply by taking oral medications have to inject insulin daily. They also have to measure their glucose levels by using strips and lancets on a regular basis. For patients, especially elderly ones, the… |
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HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis...
September 1, 2014 - Clinical , Featured By: Elissa Tam PharmD Candidate c/o 2015 – HIV/AIDS continues to be a persistent problem in the United States and in various countries around the world. In 2010 alone, there were around 47,500 new HIV infections in the United States with about 1.1 million Americans living with HIV at the end of 2010.1 When left… |
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St. John’s Pharmacy Students Get Involved for NYC Wor...
September 1, 2014 - Events , Featured By: Kenny Ng, STJ AMCP Chapter President, PharmD c/o 2017, Kenny Chan, STJ AMCP Chapter President-Elect, PharmD c/o 2017, Davidta Brown, Senior Staff Editor – While those who work tirelessly to combat the spread of Hepatitis B and C never have a day off, there is one day in the year during which special attention… |
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Celiac Disease: Seeking Proper Treatment...
September 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Sang Hyo Kim, Staff Editor – The Mayo Clinic reported in the American Journal of Gastroenterology that 1.8 million people in the United States suffer from celiac disease.1 More notably, of this population, over 75% of people are unaware that they even have this condition. While other studies have been conducted to determine the… |
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Reservoir of Migraine Therapies Includes Analgesics, AE...
September 1, 2014 - Clinical , Featured By Davidta Brown, Senior Staff Editor – The pain, nausea, and light or sound sensitivity that comprise a migraine attack afflict more than 10% of individuals around the world, easily making migraines one of the most globally debilitating diseases of the present day.1 According to the International Headache Society (IHS), migraines are defined by both… |
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Pediatric Hypertension...
August 1, 2014 - Clinical , Featured By: Anthony Botte and Tyler Valente, PharmD Candidates c/o 2016 – Diseases which are prevalent within the pediatric population require distinct protocols for treatment accompanied by the utmost care and precision. Pediatric hypertension (HTN) is one disease state in particular that has come to the forefront of medical practice in the United States over the… |
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Drug Shortages: Effects & Costs in the United Stat...
August 1, 2014 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Valentina DiGangi,PharmD Candidate c/o 2017, Brandon Hu, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018, Sang Hyo Kim, Staff Editor, Samantha Lau, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018, and Seowoo Yoon, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – What does a clinician do when there is limited access to a particular drug, such as morphine? Should they treat a patient who is… |
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The Role of Pharmacists Expanding into the Emergency Ro...
August 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Sherin Pathickal, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – In 2006, the Institute of Medicine reported that over 1.5 million people in the US suffered from a medication error, errors that not only cost the economy billions of dollars, but endangered countless lives.1 Each year, approximately 7,000 deaths occur to due to preventable medication related errors.2… |
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Migraine Relief at the Push of a Button...
August 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Davidta Brown, Senior Staff Editor – A new therapeutic device has seemingly leapt from the pages of a science fiction novel and into the hands of migraine sufferers around the world. Worn over the forehead and sending electromagnetic stimulation directly into the supraorbital trigeminal nerves, the cranial nerve stimulator offered by Belgian biotechnology company… |
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Tailored Tablets...
August 1, 2014 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Azia Tariq, Staff Editor – Truly personalized medication is the goal of researchers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. For example, when a patient requires a precise dose that is not manufactured as a tablet, the tablet will be broken up in order to deliver the dose as close as possible. Not only is… |