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Editor's Notebook |
A New Paradigm
The idea of pharmacies dispensing certain drugs without a prescription has merit. |
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Counseling Pearls |
Male Infertility: An Overview of the Causes and Treatments
Male infertility has been attributed to a variety of causes. The pharmacist can identify medications affecting fertility and counsel patients on treatment. |
An Overview of Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a plasma glucose concentration low enough to elicit signs and/or symptoms. Most cases are iatrogenic and related to diabetes treatment, although there are other causes. |
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It's the Law |
Pharmacy Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
According to a government report, questionable Medicare Part D billing seems to be on the rise in community pharmacies. |
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Clinical Corner |
Interstitial Cystitis and Chronic Pain Syndrome
Although common, this pelvic disorder is difficult to diagnose and treat. While the etiology of this condition is unknown, the pathophysiology is believed to be multifactorial. |
Current Therapies for Lupus Nephritis
Induction therapy is highly effective for treating this renal disease, which often has poor outcomes. The goals of treatment are to improve kidney function and delay the onset of renal failure. |
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Consult Your Pharmacist |
Urinary Tract Infections and the Role of Nonprescription Products
OTC products promising symptom relief or antibacterial effects are not presently proven safe and effective. |
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Educational Spotlight |
Fibromyalgia and the Pharmacist's Role
Widespread pain, tenderness, and fatigue are the main diagnostic criteria for this chronic disorder. |
Acute Bacterial Meningitis
This infection is a medical emergency, and prompt recognition and treatment are imperative. |
Managing Heart-Related Complications in Patients With Diabetes
Cardiovascular problems are common and a major cause of death in patients with this metabolic disorder. |
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| Newswire |
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Antibacterial Products Linked to Allergy Risk in Children
Baltimore, MD — Exposure to antibacterial chemicals and preservatives used in personal-care products like soap and toothpaste may increase a child's risk of developing environmental and food allergies, according to new research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Existing data from a national health survey of 860 children aged 6 to 18 years revealed an association between level of exposure to antibacterial chemicals and preservatives (measured by the amount of antimicrobial agents in the urine) and the presence of immunoglobulin E antibodies in the blood. These agents were not demonstrated to actually cause the allergies, but they appear to play a role in immune-system development. |
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Stone Fruits May Ward Off Metabolic Syndrome
College Station, TX — Plums, peaches, and nectarines contain bioactive compounds that may fight off metabolic syndrome, new studies by Texas AgriLife Research at Texas A&M University have found. "Phenolic compounds present in these fruits have anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties in different cell lines and may also reduce the oxidation of bad cholesterol LDL which is associated to cardiovascular disease," stated researcher Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, PhD. Uniquely, the various bioactive compounds in these stone fruits work simultaneously to combat the different components of the disease—obesity, inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This is believed to be the first time that a fruit's bioactive compounds have been demonstrated to potentially act on different fronts against a disease. |
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Low-Dose Vitamin D Does Not Prevent Fractures in Healthy Women
Rockville, MD — In a recent draft recommendation, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that daily supplementation with low levels of vitamin D—with or without calcium—does not reduce fracture risk in healthy postmenopausal women, and that it carries a small but measurable risk of kidney stones. The USPSTF reached this conclusion by reviewing published studies—including the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), which involved more than 36,000 healthy postmenopausal women, many of whom were asked to take 400 IU of vitamin D and 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Results of other studies were consistent with the WHI's findings. The USPSTF recommended that healthy postmenopausal women avoid taking low-dose vitamin D and calcium supplements to ward off fractures, but also stated that more research is needed, since few high-quality studies have been performed. |
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