Journal Of Pharmacology Research Articles

Pediatric News

BETHESDA, Md.—Kristine R. Crews, PharmD, has been named the recipient of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation's 2012 Award for Innovation in Pharmacy Practice Literature Award.Dr. Crews is a graduate of the Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.Dr. Crews is the Director of the Translational Research Laboratory and Director of the PGY2 Residency in Clinical Pharmacogenetics at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Her winning article, “Development and Implementation of a Pharmacist-Managed Clinical Pharmacogenetics Service,” (Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2011;68:143–50) was co-authored with Shane J. Cross, PharmD, John N. McCormick, PharmD, Donald K. Baker, PharmD, MBA., Alejandro R. Molinelli, PhD, Richard Mullins, PhD, Mary V. Relling, PharmD, and James M. Hoffman, PharmD, MS.Dr. Crews's winning paper describes a clinical pharmacogenetics service—one of the first in the country—that she helped establish. The service uses knowledge of patients' genes to guide the dosing of certain medications. “Great strides have been made in research on how genes influence drug responses,” said Dr. Crews. “The timing is right to now use the knowledge we've gained to translate these findings into safer and more effective drug therapy for our patients. We are now able to use genetic results to tailor drug treatment to the individual patient. Pharmacists, as the medication experts, can recognize opportunities for pharmacogenetic testing and interpret the test results for the clinical team.”Her interest in the field of clinical pharmacogenetics grew out of her dual interests in patient care and in research. “It's one thing to conduct genetics research in the laboratory and to make discoveries,” she said. “But what compels me as a clinical researcher is the ability to use those discoveries to make a difference in a patient's care, by doing a DNA test on a patient up front to decide what medicine and what dose the patient should get.” Emma Tillman, PharmD, BCNSP was recently awarded a $25,000 ASPEN Rhoads Research Foundation grant toward her research on omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in parenteral nutrition associated liver disease. The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) is an interdisciplinary organization whose members are involved in the provision of clinical nutrition therapies, including parenteral and enteral nutrition and is the leading U.S.-based, non-profit organization dedicated to improving patient care by advancing the science and practice of nutrition support therapy.Bernd Meibohm, PhD, professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and associate dean for Research and Graduate Programs has been elected as 2012–14 president-elect of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP). His term began during the ACCP Annual Meeting September 23–25, 2012 in San Diego. The president-elect is part of the executive committee and assumes the duties of the president in their absence.Dr. Meibohm received a BS in pharmacy and PhD in pharmaceutics from the Technical University of Carolo-Wilhelmina in Braunschweig, Germany. After completion of a clinical pharmacology research fellowship at the University of Florida in 1997, he joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina. In 1999, he joined the University of Tennessee. Dr. Meibohm's scientific interests include pulmonary infectious and inflammatory diseases, pediatric pharmacotherapy and the application of quantitative modeling and simulation techniques in preclinical and clinical drug development, with specific focus on therapeutic proteins.Dr. Meibohm also serves as associate editor for the AAPS Journal, as section editor for ‘Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics’ for the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, and is a member of the editorial boards for the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics, Les Annales Pharmaceutiques Françaises and Die Pharmazie.

Celebrating 32 Years of Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug TherapyVolume 33, Issue 1 p. 1-2 PHARMACOTHERAPY ROUNDS Celebrating 32 Years of Pharmacotherapy C. Lindsay DeVane, C. Lindsay DeVane Editor-in-Chief Lindsay@pharmacotherapy.org Search for more papers by this author C. Lindsay DeVane, C. Lindsay DeVane Editor-in-Chief Lindsay@pharmacotherapy.org Search for more papers by this author First published: 10 January 2013 https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1245Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume33, Issue1January 2013Pages 1-2 RelatedInformation

Pediatric News

Pediatric News

Small molecular glucokinase activators: has another new anti‐diabetic therapeutic lost favour?

Glucokinase activators (GKAs) represent one of the leading hopes for the next generation of type 2 diabetes (T2D) therapeutics, showing efficacy in reducing blood glucose and HbA1c levels in animal models of T2D and short-term human trials. While the hypoglycaemic risks of GCK activation in pancreatic beta-cells have long been appreciated, the hepatic effects of GKAs have generally been perceived to be without significant side effect. In this issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology, De Ceuninck et al. report that acute and chronic GKA treatment of normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rodent models results in significant accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. This suggests GKA-mediated activation of hepatic glucose uptake and suppression of endogenous glucose production may come at a significant cost; namely, the development of hepatic steatosis. This raises important questions regarding the safety of GKAs and emphasizes that both plasma and hepatic lipid profiles should be carefully monitored in on-going and future studies of these molecules. This article is a commentary on De Ceuninck et al., pp. 339-353 of this issue. To view this paper visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02184.x.

Themed section: endothelin

This themed section of the British Journal of Pharmacology contains reviews on recent developments in endothelin research arising from the Twelfth International Conference on Endothelin (ET-12). It includes the emerging role for endothelin-2 in the cardiovascular system, ovarian development, immunology and cancer. The action of endothelin on two key targets is discussed: the paracrine or autocrine regulation of contractility and growth in the heart and the role of endothelin in renal disease. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated cardiovascular disease and circulating levels of endothelin-1 are lower in premenopausal women than in men and evidence is presented for the contribution of sex differences in responses to the peptide. Transcription is the primary level of regulation of the endothelin gene; and current research on the epigenetic regulation of the endothelin pathway, including the silencing of the EDNRB gene encoding the ET(B) receptor during tumourigenesis, is reviewed. This article is part of a themed section on Endothelin. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.168.issue-1. To view the previously published paper by Dhaun et al. visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02070.x.

Autophagy, mitochondria and 3‐nitropropionic acid joined in the same model

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the gene encoding the huntingtin protein. Although the precise mechanism by which neuronal degeneration occurs is still unclear, several elements are important to its development: (1) altered gene expression and protein synthesis, (2) mitochondrial damage and (3) improper regulation of the autophagy programme. In this issue of British Journal of Pharmacology, Galindo and co-workers provide the first evidence for a role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagy activation. In a model of cell death induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) in human neural cells, the authors describe clear functions for mPTP and Bax, but not the mitochondrial fusion/fission machinery, mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagy (mitophagy). This commentary summarises the significance of this relationship and suggests several points for future development.

Towards the use of non‐psychoactive cannabinoids for prostate cancer

The palliative effects of Cannabis sativa (marijuana), and its putative main active ingredient, Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which include appetite stimulation, attenuation of nausea and emesis associated with chemo- or radiotherapy, pain relief, mood elevation, and relief from insomnia in cancer patients, are well-known. Because of the adverse psychoactive effects of THC, numerous recent preclinical studies have been focused on investigating other non-psychoactive constituents of C. sativa, such as cannabidiol, for potential therapeutic use. In this issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology, De Petrocellis and colleagues present comprehensive evidence that plant-derived cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol, are potent inhibitors of prostate carcinoma viability in vitro. They also showed that the extract was active in vivo, either alone or when administered with drugs commonly used to treat prostate cancer (the anti-mitotic chemotherapeutic drug docetaxel (Taxotere) or the anti-androgen bicalutamide (Casodex)) and explored the potential mechanisms behind these antineoplastic effects.

BJP goes online after 66 years on paper

This editorial marks the first issue of British Journal of Pharmacology that will not be published on paper since the British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy was first published in 1946. We are now ‘online-only’.

Treatments and Prescriptions in Advanced Dementia Patients Residing in Long-Term Care Institutions and at Home

Dementia is an incurable condition resulting in a progressive but patchy decay characterized by dementia related events such as recurrence of infections and eating problems, as well as by acute conditions typical of frailty and/ or the worsening of chronic comorbidities. Its duration is reported to range from three to over nine years. Although not everyone will reach the advanced stage, many patients experience a highly severe and persistent disability. Health professionals may not always acknowledge advanced dementia as a terminal disease, and this may result in patients being exposed to aggressive treatments. The prescription regimen should be reconsidered not only to avoid overtreatment and side effects of drugs, but also to improve comfort and symptom control. In far advanced stages, some medications previously prescribed for comorbidities could likely be discontinued to reduce burden, adverse effects, and costs. A model for defining the concept of prescriptions’ appropriateness in advanced dementia was proposed by Holmes and colleagues taking into account factors such as patients’ life expectancy and goals of care. Many patients with advanced dementia are cared for until death in nursing homes (NHs), and studies have shown that drug regimens may be far from optimal. However, others die at home, cared for by home care service (HC). Information on the treatments and prescriptions for patients with advanced-stage dementia cared for at home are scarce. We expected differences, because drug regimes may be critically reconsidered and revised upon admission to institutional long-term care by physicians on staff of NHs. The aim of this paper is to assess and compare treatments and prescriptions of patients with advanced dementia cared for in NHs and in HC and assess their appropriateness from a palliative care perspective.

KRAUS NAMED HELMS AWARD RECIPIENT

Donna Kraus, PharmD has been named the PPAG 2013 recipient of the Richard A. Helms Award for Excellence in Pediatric Pharmacy Practice. Dr. Kraus received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (‘77) and Doctor of Pharmacy (‘82) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She completed a postdoctoral pediatric specialty residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (‘83). Dr. Kraus served as a pediatric intensive care clinical pharmacist for 15 years and for the past 14 years has been an ambulatory care pediatric clinical pharmacist, specializing in pediatric HIV pharmacotherapy and patient/ parent medication adherence. Dr. Kraus has also served as a clinical pharmacist consultant to a pediatric long-term care facility for over 21 years. She currently holds the appointment of Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice in both the Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Pediatrics at the University of Illinois in Chicago.Dr. Kraus is an active educator at UIC and has been a guest lecturer in China, Thailand, and Hong Kong. She has played a leading role in the advanced training of postgraduate pharmacists and has been the Director of the ASHP accredited Pediatric Residency Program at UIC for 25 years. Dr. Kraus’ research areas include pediatric drug dosing and developmental pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. She has published 30 articles and 10 book chapters on various issues of pediatric pharmacy and pharmacotherapy. Dr. Kraus is co-author of the Pediatric & Neonatal Dosage Handbook (previously called the Pediatric Dosage Handbook), which is currently in its 19th edition.Dr. Kraus has been an active member of numerous professional associations including the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA), American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), and Illinois College of Clinical Pharmacy (ICCP). She has served as Chairperson of the ASHP Commission on Therapeutics; member of the Board of Directors of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (PPAG); Member-at-Large of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA); member of the ASHP, Commission on Credentialing, Design/Writing Group, Educational Outcomes, Goals and Objectives for Postgraduate Year Two (PGY2) Pediatric Pharmacy Residency Programs (2007); member of the Alliance for Pediatric Quality, Improve First Measures Task Force; and member of the PPAG Advisory Board. Dr. Kraus also served as an Editorial Board member of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy and the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacy Practice. Currently, she serves as an Editorial Board member of The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics.Dr. Kraus has been elected to Fellow status by the American Pharmacists Association, the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Mechanisms and Inhibitors of Macrophage Cell Death Within Advance Atherosclerotic Plaques

The formation of oxidised low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) within the artery wall is a key driver in the development of advanced atherosclerotic plaques. OxLDL has usually been thought to cause macrophage apoptosis via the absorption of cytotoxic oxidation products within oxLDL. We have shown that oxLDL also triggers a rapid necrotic cell death via activation of the superoxide generating complex NADPH oxidase (NOX). The excess oxidant generation causes oxidative loss of intracellular glutathione and the inactivation of thiol-dependent metabolic enzymes. The resulting loss of ATP generation triggers macrophage cell death but oxidative loss of thiol-dependent caspases means the death mechanism is necrotic rather than apoptopic [ [1] FEBS Letters 2004;578:169. Google Scholar ]. Both oxLDL formation and oxLDL cytotoxicity may be held in check within the artery wall through macrophage generated antioxidants. Interferon-γ stimulation of macrophages induces the synthesis and release of 7,8-dihydroneopterin, a potent inhibitor of macrophage oxidation of LDL2, and oxLDL cytotoxicity in macrophages [ 2 Antioxidants and Redox Signalling 2010;13:1525–1534. Google Scholar , 3 British Journal of Pharmacology 2008;153:627– 635. Google Scholar ]. Plasma levels of neopterin, the oxidised product of 7,8-dihydroneopterin, are highly correlated with increasing severity of patients atherosclerotic burden and have been measured with atherosclerotic plaques. 7,8-Dihydroneopterin was found to inhibit oxLDL-induced macrophage necrosis by scavenging the NOX-generated intracellular oxidants. The data suggest that the failure or overwhelming of the 7,8- dihydroneopterin protection mechanism may be a contributing factor to the growth of the necrotic core within atherosclerotic plaques.

Role of quercetin in vascular physiology

A recent paper in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology has shown that quercetin has a vascular protective effect associated with eNOS up-regulation, blood GSH redox ratio, and reduction of oxidative stress. Recent reports have recommended the consumption of quercetin, as it may contribute to a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms by which quercetin exerts its action have not been fully elucidated. The majority of these mechanisms have been identified with models using animals treated with quercetin, and relatively few have been corroborated in human studies, which indicates the need for further investigation.

Stephen G Holtzman

Stephen G Holtzman

When biostatistics is a neo-inductionist barrier to science

When biostatistics is a neo-inductionist barrier to science

Effectiveness of Naltrexone for Treating Pathologic Skin Picking Behavior in an Adolescent with Prader–Willi Syndrome

Journal of Child and Adolescent PsychopharmacologyVol. 22, No. 5 Letters to the EditorEffectiveness of Naltrexone for Treating Pathologic Skin Picking Behavior in an Adolescent with Prader–Willi SyndromeAlok Banga and Daniel F. ConnorAlok BangaSearch for more papers by this author and Daniel F. ConnorSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:19 Oct 2012https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2012.0028AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View articleFiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byDevelopmental Considerations for the Use of Naltrexone in Children and Adolescents24 September 2021 | The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 26, No. 7Dermatillomania: Strategies for Developing Protective Biomaterials/Cloth5 March 2021 | Pharmaceutics, Vol. 13, No. 3Skin Picking in People with Prader–Willi Syndrome: Phenomenology and Management3 June 2020 | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol. 51, No. 1Developing an understanding of skin picking in people with Prader-Willi syndrome: A structured literature review and re-analysis of existing dataNeuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Vol. 112Guanfacine Extended Release for the Reduction of Aggression, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, and Self-Injurious Behavior in Prader-Willi Syndrome—A Retrospective Cohort Study Deepan Singh, Yuji Wakimoto, Carole Filangieri, Aaron Pinkhasov, and Moris Angulo7 May 2019 | Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Vol. 29, No. 4Skin-Picking Disorder: A Guide to Diagnosis and Management15 March 2019 | CNS Drugs, Vol. 33, No. 4Assessment and treatment of trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder) and excoriation (skin picking) disorderClinics in Dermatology, Vol. 36, No. 6Prader–Willi Syndrome, Management of Impulsivity, and Hyperphagia in an Adolescent M. Rehan Puri, Robert Sahl, Shawwna Ogden, and Salma Malik17 May 2016 | Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Vol. 26, No. 4Opioid antagonists in broadly defined behavioral addictions: a narrative review27 February 2016 | Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, Vol. 17, No. 6Psychotropic treatments in Prader-Willi syndrome: a critical review of published literature19 November 2015 | European Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 175, No. 1Obsessive-Compulsive Related DisordersAn open-label pilot study of N -acetylcysteine for skin-picking in Prader-Willi syndrome5 December 2013 | American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, Vol. 164, No. 2An analysis of the topography, severity, potential sources of reinforcement, and treatments utilized for skin picking in Prader–Willi syndromeResearch in Developmental Disabilities, Vol. 34, No. 9 Volume 22Issue 5Oct 2012 InformationCopyright 2012, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.To cite this article:Alok Banga and Daniel F. Connor.Effectiveness of Naltrexone for Treating Pathologic Skin Picking Behavior in an Adolescent with Prader–Willi Syndrome.Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.Oct 2012.396-398.http://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2012.0028Published in Volume: 22 Issue 5: October 19, 2012PDF download

PPAG 2012 Board Election Results

PPAG 2012 Board Election Results

2012 PPAG Fellows

2012 PPAG Fellows

Can small non‐peptide motilin agonists force a breakthrough as gastroprokinetic drugs?

GSK962040 is a small selective motilin receptor agonist currently under investigation in clinical trials for the treatment of conditions associated with delayed gastric emptying. As reported in this issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology, Broad et al., studied for the first time the region-dependent contractile effects of motilin and GSK962040 in human smooth muscle strips. Both compounds facilitated cholinergically mediated contractions of human gastric antral muscle strips at low concentrations and induced smooth muscle contractions at high concentrations. The effect was less pronounced in the fundus and almost absent in the colon. The long-lasting facilitation of cholinergic responses in the antrum by GSK962040 compared with the fading responses to motilin may be of importance from a clinical point of view. The approach used by Broad et al. with human tissue is a validated model to identify motilin receptor agonists with therapeutic value.

Introduction

Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug TherapyVolume 32, Issue 9pt2 p. 1S-5S Introduction Introduction Gary Oderda Pharm.D., M.P.H., Corresponding Author Gary Oderda Pharm.D., M.P.H. Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Center, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, Utah.For reprints, visit https://caesar.sheridan.com/reprints/redir.php?pub=10089&acro=PHAR. For questions or comments, contact Gary Oderda, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Center, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, 421 Wakara Way, Suite 208, Salt Lake City, UT 84112; e-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this author Gary Oderda Pharm.D., M.P.H., Corresponding Author Gary Oderda Pharm.D., M.P.H. Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Center, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, Utah.For reprints, visit https://caesar.sheridan.com/reprints/redir.php?pub=10089&acro=PHAR. For questions or comments, contact Gary Oderda, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Center, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, 421 Wakara Way, Suite 208, Salt Lake City, UT 84112; e-mail: [email protected].Search for more papers by this author First published: 06 September 2012 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1875-9114.2012.01184.xCitations: 2 This article was based on a presentation at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2011 Midyear Clinical Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, December 4–8, 2011. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Citing Literature Volume32, Issue9pt2Special Issue: NEW DIRECTIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POSTSURGICAL PAINSeptember 2012Pages 1S-5S RelatedInformation

Counterpoint: Alterations in airway smooth muscle phenotype do not cause airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma

We have been assigned the task of showing that “alterations in airway smooth muscle phenotype DO NOT cause the airways hyperresponsiveness of asthma.” In the following paragraphs we will briefly review the overwhelming lack of evidence that any fundamental change in the intrinsic properties of