Pharmacogenomics and clinical cultural competency: pathway to overcome the limitations of race.

Global migration trends are accelerating population admixture. Increasing population diversity met with minority health disparities necessitates thoughtful training of health professional students. Health professional accreditation standards emphasize pharmacogenomics and clinical cultural competency (CCC); however, published studies focus on students' knowledge in pharmacogenomics alone. This report reviews considerations for integrating CCC into required pharmacogenomic education in pharmacy and other health disciplines. By coupling both topics during didactic training and active learning exercises repeated throughout the existing curriculum, students can become adept at these individualized patient care skills and retain their knowledge into their careers. Moving beyond race as a proxy for healthcare decision-making, the CCC of clinicians coupled with patients' genetic test results could empower clinicians to address health disparities and facilitate discussions about the role of race in clinical practice. Ultimately, an integrated approach of teaching pharmacogenomics and CCC could dismantle race-norming or race-based clinical practices.

An overview on modern research and application potency of Scoparia dulcis / 中草药

Scoparia dulcis is distributed widely all around the world. It is used as a folk medicine with a long history in many countries. S. dulcis is received much more attention in foreign countries, such as Japan and India, than in China. The resource in China is getting less. Combined with the latest reports, this paper reviewed its medicinal history, chemical composition, and pharmacological effects for a better utilization of S. dulicis in China in the future. And the prospect of the application in the medicinal and food field of this herb has been also discussed here.

Identification of medicinal species and antifungal property of a Dong ethnic drug.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the medicinal species in the Zi Hua Di Ding (ZHDD) prescription commonly used by the Dong ethnic people, and investigate the potential mechanism involved with the anti-fungal properties on Trichophyton rubrum. METHODS: DNA barcode technique was used to identify the species in the ZHDD prescription. In vitro study was performed to investigate the antifungal properties of the identified Viola philippica on the T. rubrum. Microscopy was used to observe the growth of the T. rubrum. RESULTS: The ZHDD prescription is a mixture of V. philippica and V. inconspicua, and its antifungal properties was superior to the single component. V. philippica could affect the surface and flexibility of hypha, and contribute to the generation of branches. In addition, it could damage the biofilm. CONCLUSIONS: Using the DNA barcode technique, we identify the ZHDD prescription is a mixture of V. philippica and V. inconspicua, and its antifungal properties was superior to the single component. V. philippica could affect the growth and biofilm formation of T. rubrum.