Flexible interprofessional student encounters based on virtual patients: a contribution to an interprofessional strategy.

It is challenging to organize interprofessional activities in terms of coordinating students' various schedules. These challenges can be overcome by providing flexible online opportunities based on virtual patients (VPs). This study set out to study feasibility of using a blended approach based on virtual patients and a flexible interprofessional student encounter. The encounter was arranged in pairs or triads between nursing and medical students from two separate courses. Data were gathered through a questionnaire and followed up with group interviews. Reflective texts from the interprofessional encounters were analyzed in relation to descriptions of interprofessional competence. The great majority (86%) chose to meet online due to its flexibility. The participants gained an understanding of the other profession's roles and competences and a holistic patient awareness. Given its flexible and scalable opportunities, the blended online virtual patient approach provides a valuable contribution to an interprofessional programme.

Targeting inflammation: multiple innovative ways to reduce prostaglandin E2.

The PGE2 pathway is important in inflammation-driven diseases and specific targeting of the inducible mPGES-1 is warranted due to the cardiovascular problems associated with the long-term use of COX-2 inhibitors. This review focuses on patents issued on methods of measuring mPGES-1 activity, on drugs targeting mPGES-1 and on other modulators of free extracellular PGE2 concentration. Perspectives and conclusions regarding the status of these drugs are also presented. Importantly, no selective inhibitors targeting mPGES-1 have been identified and, despite the high number of published patents, none of these drugs have yet made it to clinical trials.