White coat ceremonies in US schools of pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacy and medical schools share similar concerns regarding the need to place greater emphasis on professional socialization. Many academic institutions of both professions have elected to establish a white coat ceremony to initiate the process of inculcating professional values. However, a recent literature search revealed little published information on pharmacy white coat ceremonies. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of white coat ceremonies in US schools of pharmacy and identify commonalities between ceremonies conducted at different schools. METHODS: In April 2002, a 25-question survey was sent via E-mail to the deans of the 83 accredited schools of pharmacy in the US. The survey solicited details about the nature of each school's white coat ceremony or reasons why the school does not conduct a ceremony. RESULTS: The first ceremony in pharmacy was held at the University of Kentucky in 1995. As of May 2002, 51 of the 83 schools had already conducted a white coat ceremony and another 10 indicated plans to initiate a ceremony by the end of the year. Telephone follow-up confirmed that, as of May 2003, the number had risen to 61 schools. Most schools conduct the ceremony during the first professional year. Common features include presentation of the coat, recitation of an oath, a speech by an honored guest, a class photograph, and a reception. CONCLUSIONS: The white coat ceremony is a growing phenomenon in pharmacy education that could play a pivotal role in the quest to better achieve professional socialization among students.

Anti-HIV-1 activity of 3-deaza-adenosine analogs. Inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase and nucleotide congeners.

Eight adenosine analogs, 3-deaza-adenosine (DZA), 3-deaza-(+/-)aristeromycin (DZAri), 2',3'-dideoxy-adenosine (ddAdo), 2',3'-dideoxy-3-deaza-adenosine (ddDZA), 2',3'-dideoxy-3-deaza-(+/-)aristeromycin (ddDZAri), 3-deaza-5'-(+/-)noraristeromycin (DZNAri), 3-deaza-neplanocin A (DZNep), and neplanocin A (NepA), were tested as inhibitors of human placenta S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase. The order of potency for the inhibition of human placental AdoHcy hydrolase was: DZNep approximately NepA >> DZAri approximately DZNAri > DZA >> ddAdo approximately ddDZA approximately ddDZAri. These same analogs were examined for their anti-HIV-1 activities measured by the reduction in p24 antigen produced by 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT)-sensitive HIV-1 isolates, A012 and A018, in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMCs) cells. Interestingly, DZNAri and the 2',3'-dideoxy 3-deaza-nucleosides (ddAdo, ddDZAri, and ddDZA) were only marginal inhibitors of p24 antigen production in HIV-1 infected PBMC. DZNAri is unique because it is the only DZA analog with a deleted methylene group that precludes anabolic phosphorylation. In contrast, the other analogs were potent inhibitors of p24 antigen production by both HIV-1 isolates. Thus it was postulated that these nucleoside analogs could exert their antiviral effect via a combination of anabolically generated nucleotides (with the exception of DZNAri), which could inhibit reverse transcriptase or other viral enzymes, and the inhibition of viral or cellular methylation reactions. Additionally, QSAR-like models based on the molecular mechanics (MM) were developed to predict the order of potency of eight adenosine analogs for the inhibition of human AdoHcy hydrolase. In view of the potent antiviral activities of the DZA analogs, this approach provides a promising tool for designing and screening of more potent AdoHcy hydrolase inhibitors and antiviral agents.