Ghosts and Ghosting in Digital Communications.

Ghosting, professionally and personally, occurs when there is an abrupt end to communication between 2 individuals without any explanation or when an individual does not follow through on commitments to others associated with their communication. The increase in the available communication channels and speed at which messages can now be transmitted between individuals is resulting in a greater incidence of ghosting or perceived ghosting in our colleges/schools of pharmacy. The impact of ghosting is the disruption of effective communication and communication strategies that are essential to the development of positive and thriving cultures and subcultures in our institutions. The causes of ghosting (real or perceived) in our pharmacy academy could be attributed to increased workload and speed of communication, increased workload and productivity expectations, and increased workload and information volume. The consequences of ghosting in our colleges/schools can result in decreased psychological safety in our cultures, adversely impacting individual well-being, resiliency, grit, and satisfaction and adversely impacting student academic performance and success. There are simple steps that individuals and institutions can implement to minimize ghosting or the perception of ghosting that may occur with online communication channels used by our faculty, staff, students, and outside individuals.

Exploring Dendrimer Nanoparticles for Chronic Wound Healing.

The United States spends billions of dollars to treat chronic wounds each year. Wound healing is complex in nature which involves several intricate multiphase processes that can be delayed for a number of reasons leading to the development of chronic wounds. Wound healing therapies range from topical preparations to surgical repair with treatment options that vary based on other underlying factors like co-infection, age, or co-morbidities such as diabetes. Historically, micelles and liposomes are some of the nanoparticle drug delivery systems explored to treat chronic wounds; however, recent data suggests that dendrimers have shown potential to rival these systems in treating chronic wounds as well as other diseases. This mini review examines advances in dendrimer nanoparticle drug delivery systems to treat chronic wounds.

Effect of bile duct ligation-induced liver dysfunction on methamphetamine pharmacokinetics in male and female rats.

BACKGROUND: Several disease states commonly associated with methamphetamine (METH) use produce liver dysfunction, and in the bile duct ligation (BDL) model of hepatic dysfunction, rats with liver injury are more sensitive to METH effects. Additionally, both female rats and humans are known to be more sensitive to METH than males. In consideration of known sex-dependent differences in METH pharmacokinetics, this study sought to determine the potential interaction between sex and liver dysfunction variables on METH pharmacokinetics. METHODS: Sham or BDL surgery was performed on male and female rats on day 0. Serum biomarker and pharmacokinetics studies with 3 mg/kg subcutaneous (SC) METH were performed on day 7. METH-induced weight loss was measured on day 8. Liver histology evaluation and brain METH concentration measurements were performed on day 9. RESULTS: While BDL surgery produced significantly elevated alanine aminotransferase and bile duct proliferation in male compared to female rats, there were no significant interactions between sex and liver function in the pharmacokinetic parameters. Both liver dysfunction and female sex, however, were associated with significantly slower METH serum clearance and significantly higher brain METH concentrations (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: BDL-induced hepatic dysfunction produces substantial reductions in METH clearance and increased brain METH concentrations in both male and female rats, despite less liver injury in females. This preclinical model may be useful to identify and correct potential liver dysfunction comorbidity-related problems with future pharmacotherapy for stimulant use disorder with METH prior to expensive clinical trials.

A review of the antimicrobial potential of precious metal derived nanoparticle constructs.

The field of nanotechnology is rapidly growing. The promise of pharmacotherapeutics emerging from this vast field has drawn the attention of many researchers. However, with the increase in the prevalence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, the manifestations of these promises are needed now more than ever. Many have postulated the antimicrobial potential of nanoparticle constructs derived from precious metals/noble metals nanoparticles (NMNPs), such as silver nanoparticles that show activity against multidrug resistant bacteria. In this review we will evaluate the current studies and explore the data to obtain a clear picture of the potential of these particles and the validity of the claims of drug resistant treatments with NMNPs.