Internal validation of STRmix™ - A multi laboratory response to PCAST.

We report a large compilation of the internal validations of the probabilistic genotyping software STRmix™. Thirty one laboratories contributed data resulting in 2825 mixtures comprising three to six donors and a wide range of multiplex, equipment, mixture proportions and templates. Previously reported trends in the LR were confirmed including less discriminatory LRs occurring both for donors and non-donors at low template (for the donor in question) and at high contributor number. We were unable to isolate an effect of allelic sharing. Any apparent effect appears to be largely confounded with increased contributor number.

The perceptions of pharmacists in Victoria, Australia on pharmacogenetics and its implications / Percepciones de los farmacéuticos en Victoria, Australia sobre la farmacogenética y sus implicaciones

Objectives: This study aimed to explore how well Victorian pharmacists perceived they understood pharmacogenetics, their perceived capacity to counsel a patient about such testing, how they believed pharmacogenetics would impact upon their profession, and to investigate the ways in which Victorian pharmacists would like to be educated about pharmacogenetics. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was dispatched to 800 Victorian pharmacists. The participants were randomly selected and the survey was anonymous. The survey contained questions about where the pharmacists worked, the pharmacists’ perceived knowledge of pharmacogenetics, how well they believed they would be able to counsel patients about pharmacogenetic testing, how they thought pharmacists should be educated on the topic and how they believed pharmacogenetics would impact upon their profession. Results: 291 surveys were returned (36% response rate). Results suggest that Victorian pharmacists generally perceived they had a poor understanding of pharmacogenetics and that those who have more recently graduated from tertiary education had a better perceived understanding than those who have been in the workforce for longer. Most pharmacists indicated that they did not believe that they could counsel a patient adequately about the results of a pharmacogenetic test. Regarding education about pharmacogenetics, participants suggested that this would be best delivered during tertiary studies, and as seminars and workshops forming part of their continuing professional development. Although some pharmacists were unsure how pharmacogenetics would affect their profession, many believed it would have a major impact upon their role as a pharmacist and lead to improved patient care. Some concerns about the implementation of pharmacogenetics were noted, including economic and ethical issues. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for further research across the pharmacy profession in Australia on the issue of preparedness for the putative incorporation of pharmacogenetics into the healthcare system and everyday practice (AU)

Objetivos: Este estudio trató de explorar como percibían los farmacéuticos de Victoria sus conocimientos de farmacogenética, su percepción de la capacidad de aconsejar pacientes sobre tales pruebas, como consideraban que la farmacogenética podría impactar en su profesión e investigar las formas en que a los farmacéuticos de Victoria les gustaría ser entrenados en farmacogenética. Métodos: Se envió un cuestionario transversal a 800 farmacéuticos de Victoria. Los participantes fueron aleatoriamente seleccionados y el cuestionario fue anónimo. La encuesta contenía preguntas sobre donde trabajaban los farmacéuticos, el conocimiento percibido de los farmacéuticos sobre farmacogenética, como creían que serían capaces de aconsejar a los pacientes sobre pruebas farmacogenéticas, como pensaban que debía educarse a los farmacéuticos en este asunto, y como creían que la farmacogenética impactaría en su profesión. Resultados: Se recibieron 291 cuestionarios (tasa de respuesta 36%). Los resultados sugieren que los farmacéuticos de Victoria tienen un conocimiento escaso de farmacogenética y que los más recientemente graduados de educación terciaria tienen un mejor conocimiento percibido que los que llevan trabajando tiempo. La mayoría de los participantes indicó que no creían que fuesen capaces de aconsejar adecuadamente a un paciente sobre los resultados de una prueba farmacogenética. En relación a la educación sobre farmacogenética, los participanets sugirieron que el mejor modo de proporcionarla sería durante los estudios terciarios, como seminarios y workshops que formen parte del desarrollo profesional continuo. Aunque algunos farmacéuticos no estaban seguros de como la farmacogenética impactaría en su profesión, muchos creían que tendría un gran impacto en su papel como farmacéuticos y llevaría a mejorar la atención al paciente. Se encontraron algunas preocupaciones sobre la implantación de la farmacogenética, incluyendo problemas económicos y éticos. Conclusión: Este estudio ensalza la necesidad de mayor investigación en la profesión farmacéutica en Australia sobre el problema de la preparación a la necesaria incorporación de la farmacogenética en el sistema de salud y en la práctica diaria (AU)

The perceptions of pharmacists in Victoria, Australia on pharmacogenetics and its implications.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore how well Victorian pharmacists perceived they understood pharmacogenetics, their perceived capacity to counsel a patient about such testing, how they believed pharmacogenetics would impact upon their profession, and to investigate the ways in which Victorian pharmacists would like to be educated about pharmacogenetics. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was dispatched to 800 Victorian pharmacists. The participants were randomly selected and the survey was anonymous. The survey contained questions about where the pharmacists worked, the pharmacists' perceived knowledge of pharmacogenetics, how well they believed they would be able to counsel patients about pharmacogenetic testing, how they thought pharmacists should be educated on the topic and how they believed pharmacogenetics would impact upon their profession. RESULTS: 291 surveys were returned (36% response rate). Results suggest that Victorian pharmacists generally perceived they had a poor understanding of pharmacogenetics and that those who have more recently graduated from tertiary education had a better perceived understanding than those who have been in the workforce for longer. Most pharmacists indicated that they did not believe that they could counsel a patient adequately about the results of a pharmacogenetic test. Regarding education about pharmacogenetics, participants suggested that this would be best delivered during tertiary studies, and as seminars and workshops forming part of their continuing professional development. Although some pharmacists were unsure how pharmacogenetics would affect their profession, many believed it would have a major impact upon their role as a pharmacist and lead to improved patient care. Some concerns about the implementation of pharmacogenetics were noted, including economic and ethical issues. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need for further research across the pharmacy profession in Australia on the issue of preparedness for the putative incorporation of pharmacogenetics into the healthcare system and everyday practice.

Mean arterial blood pressure and the assessment of acutely ill patients.

This article discusses the role of vital sign data collection in the acute setting when assessing patients at risk of or actually clinically deteriorating. Specifically, the article focuses on explaining the important concepts of mean arterial blood pressure and pulse pressure as indicators of clinical deterioration.