The effects of apples and apple juice on acute plasma uric acid concentration: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The consumption of large amounts of fructose from added sugars results in the hepatic production and export of uric acid into the circulation. Objective: Our aim was to test whether fructose present in fruit is of sufficient quantity or in a form that will increase uric acid concentration. Design: Seventy-three participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups to ingest small (205 g) and large (410 g) servings of apple segments, small (170 mL) and large (340 mL) servings of apple juice, or a glucose and a fructose control beverage. Within each group, participants ingested both treatments in a crossover design. The fructose control and the large servings of apple and juice contained 26.7 g fructose. Test foods were ingested within 10 min. Blood samples were taken at baseline and at 30 and 60 min after intake. Results: Plasma uric acid concentrations increased after the intake of all fructose-containing treatments and decreased after the glucose beverage. The mean (95% CI) increase in uric acid at 30 min was 15 µmol/L (10, 21 µmol/L) for the fructose control and 19 µmol/L (8, 30 µmol/L) and 17 µmol/L (9, 24 µmol/L) for the large servings of apple and apple juice, respectively. There was no difference in change in uric acid between baseline and 30 min when comparing the apple (3 µmol/L; 95% CI: -8, 14 µmol/L) and apple juice (-7 µmol/L; 95% CI: -18, 5 µmol/L) with the fructose control. Blood pressure taken 70 min after ingestion was unaffected by any treatment (P > 0.05). There was no difference in change in satiety scores between the fructose and glucose control beverages (P > 0.05). Participants felt more satiated 30 min after ingesting whole apple than after apple juice. The glycemic response reflected the amount of glucose in each treatment. Conclusions: The body acutely responds to fructose regardless of source. Longer-term studies are required to assess how small and transient increases in plasma uric acid contribute to health. This trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry at https://www.anzctr.org.au/trial/registration/trialreview.aspx?id=367974 as ACTRN12615000215527.

A quantitative study of the emotional intelligence of participants in the ASHP Foundation's Pharmacy Leadership Academy.

PURPOSE: Results of a quantitative assessment of emotional intelligence in a sample of pharmacists affiliated with the ASHP Research and Education Foundation's Pharmacy Leadership Academy (PLA) are presented. METHODS: A demographic questionnaire and a validated instrument for assessing emotional intelligence, the Emotional Quotient Inventory, version 2.0 (EQ-i 2.0), were administered to a group of practicing pharmacists who graduated from the PLA during the period 2008-12 (n = 82) and a control group of pharmacists who were accepted into the PLA in 2013 but had not begun leadership training (n = 40). The dependent variables were the mean total EQ-I 2.0 score and mean scores on five EQ-i 2.0 composite scales. The independent variables were PLA affiliation status (graduate versus matriculant) and demographic variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to calculate between-group differences in EQ-i 2.0 scores. The relationship of demographic variables to EQ-i 2.0 scores was analyzed via multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Among the 122 pharmacists who completed both assessments, the overall mean total EQ-i 2.0 score was 101.11, which indicated an average level of emotional intelligence. There were significant differences between the PLA graduate group and the control group in total EQ-i 2.0 scores and in EQ-i 2.0 scores for self-expression, decision-making, interpersonal skills, and other aspects of emotional intelligence. The evaluated demographic factors were not found to be significant predictors of EQ-i 2.0 scores. CONCLUSION: The study results indicated an average level of emotional intelligence among all PLA affiliates but revealed significant differences in mean total EQ-i 2.0 scores and EQ-i 2.0 composite scale scores favoring PLA graduates.

Measuring Change in Health-System Pharmacy Over 50 Years: "Reflecting" on the Mirror, Part II.

The Director's Forum guides pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of the Mirror to Hospital Pharmacy, which was a comprehensive study of hospital pharmacy services in the United States. This iconic textbook was co-authored by Donald Francke, Clifton J. Latiolais, Gloria N. Francke, and Norman Ho. The Mirror's results profiled hospital pharmacy of the 1950s; these results established goals for the profession in 6 paradigms: (1) professional philosophy and ethics; (2) scientific and technical expansion of health-system pharmacy; (3) development of administrative and managerial acumen; (4) increased practice competence; (5) wage and salary commensurate with professional responsibilities; and (6) health-system pharmacy as a vehicle for advancing the profession as a whole. This article critically reviews our progress on the last of 3 goals. An understanding of the profession's progress on these goals since the seminal work of the Mirror provides directors of pharmacy a platform from which to develop strategies to enhance patient-centered pharmacy services.

Student nurses harassing academics.

Internationally there is growing awareness that workplace bullying and harassment are affecting workers and organisations. However, in England there is limited research which examines harassment of faculty by university students. Thus, by using Attribution Theory this research explored the experiences of the victims of harassment, who were faculty working in schools of Health and Social Care in Post-1992 Universities in England (1), the perpetrators were undergraduate students. Attribution Theory enabled exploration and understanding of faculty perceptions of the cause of harassment and the prevention strategies they used. Findings showed that faculty perceived that harassment occurred when student stress levels were high, which was associated with course and social demands, the changing nature of society, and the social political agenda of education.