An Age-Friendly Approach to Medication Optimization.

This is the second in a series of Age-Friendly case studies developed as a function of the John A. Hartford Foundation grant to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to Leverage Pharmacists as Age-Friendly 4Ms Champions. This series presents a case for each of the 4Ms: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility, and examines how these elements interrelate to optimize care for older patients.

The mechanosensitive channel ELKIN1 regulates cellular adaptations to simulated microgravity.

In conditions of microgravity the human body undergoes extensive alterations in physiological function. However, it has proven challenging to determine how these changes are mediated at the molecular and cellular level. Here, we investigated whether ELKIN1, a mechanically activated ion channel, regulates changes in cellular and molecular structures in conditions of simulated microgravity.

Implementation of Pharmacist Driven Gabapentinoid Titration for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in a Primary Care Setting.

Previous studies suggest that patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) frequently do not receive the minimum effective doses of a gabapentinoid according to guidance from national organizations. There is opportunity to assess the implementation of pharmacist intervention for patients not meeting minimum effective gabapentinoid dosing for DPN. This prospective, single site quality improvement project was conducted at a primary care clinic and included patients with DPN prescribed a gabapentinoid by their primary care provider (PCP) at a dose lower than minimum effective dosing.

Cellular response in three-dimensional spheroids and tissues exposed to real and simulated microgravity: a narrative review.

The rising aging population underscores the need for advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Alterations in cellular response in microgravity might be pivotal in unraveling the intricate cellular mechanisms governing tissue and organ regeneration. Microgravity could improve multicellular spheroid, tissue, and organ formation.

Bacterial Virulence and Prevention for Human Spaceflight.

With the advancement in reusable rocket propulsion technology, space tourist trips into outer space are now becoming a possibility at a cost-effective rate. As such, astronauts will face a host of health-related challenges, particularly on long-duration space missions where maintaining a balanced healthy microbiome is going to be vital for human survival in space exploration as well as mission success. The human microbiome involves a whole list of micro-organisms that reside in and on the human host, and plays an integral role in keeping the human host healthy.

Bio-Activation of HA/β-TCP Porous Scaffolds by High-Pressure CO Surface Remodeling: A Novel "Coating-from" Approach.

Biphasic macroporous Hydroxyapatite/β-Tricalcium Phosphate (HA/β-TCP) scaffolds (BCPs) are widely used for bone repair. However, the high-temperature HA and β-TCP phases exhibit limited bioactivity (low solubility of HA, restricted surface area, low ion release). Strategies were developed to coat such BCPs with biomimetic apatite to enhance bioactivity.

In vitro testing and efficacy of poly-lactic acid coating incorporating antibiotic loaded coralline bioceramic on Ti6Al4V implant against Staphylococcus aureus.

Biofilm formation on an implant surface is most commonly caused by the human pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to implant related infections and failure. It is a major problem for both implantable orthopedic and maxillofacial devices. The current antibiotic treatments are typically delivered orally or in an injectable form.

Testing 3D printed biological platform for advancing simulated microgravity and space mechanobiology research.

The advancement of microgravity simulators is helping many researchers better understanding the impact of the mechanically unloaded space environment on cellular function and disfunction. However, performing microgravity experiments on Earth, using simulators such as the Random Positioning Machine, introduces some unique practical challenges, including air bubble formation and leakage of growth medium from tissue culture flask and plates, all of which limit research progress. Here, we developed an easy-to-use hybrid biological platform designed with the precision of 3D printing technologies combined with PDMS microfluidic fabrication processes to facilitate reliable and reproducible microgravity cellular experiments.

Microgravity × Radiation: A Space Mechanobiology Approach Toward Cardiovascular Function and Disease.

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in space exploration, supported by the accelerated technological advancements in the field. This has led to a new potential environment that humans could be exposed to in the very near future, and therefore an increasing request to evaluate the impact this may have on our body, including health risks associated with this endeavor. A critical component in regulating the human pathophysiology is represented by the cardiovascular system, which may be heavily affected in these extreme environments of microgravity and radiation.

How Do Mechanics Guide Fibroblast Activity? Complex Disruptions during Emphysema Shape Cellular Responses and Limit Research.

The emphysema death toll has steadily risen over recent decades, causing the disease to become the third most common cause of death worldwide in 2019. Emphysema is currently incurable and could be due to a genetic condition (Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency) or exposure to pollutants/irritants, such as cigarette smoke or poorly ventilated cooking fires. Despite the growing burden of emphysema, the mechanisms behind emphysematous pathogenesis and progression are not fully understood by the scientific literature.

Real versus simulated galactic cosmic radiation for investigating cancer risk in the hematopoietic system - are we comparing apples to apples?

Deep space exploration missions need strategies to mitigate the potentially harmful exposure to galactic cosmic radiation. This form of radiation can cause significant damage to biological systems and organisms, which include radiation-induced carcinogenesis in the hematopoietic system. Ongoing studies investigate these effects using cell- and animal-based studies in low earth orbit.

Background-free fibre optic Brillouin probe for remote mapping of micromechanics.

Brillouin imaging (BI) has become a valuable tool for micromechanical material characterisation, thanks to extensive progress in instrumentation in the last few decades. This powerful technique is contactless and label-free, thus making it especially suitable for biomedical applications. Nonetheless, to fully harness the non-contact and non-destructive nature of BI, transformational changes in instrumentation are still needed to extend the technology's utility into the domain of and operation, which we foresee to be particularly crucial for wide spread usage of BI, e.

Understanding the Socioeconomic and Geographical Characteristics of Beneficiaries Receiving a Comprehensive Medication Review.

Background: Medicare Part D sponsors are required to offer medication therapy management (MTM) programs to eligible beneficiaries. Recent studies have demonstrated that there have been racial/ethnic disparities in MTM eligibility criteria. For example, compared with non-Hispanic White beneficiaries, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black beneficiaries are less likely to be eligible for MTM.

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Implementing the Age-Friendly Health System 4Ms in an Ambulatory Clinical Pathway With a Focus on Medication Safety.

MedStar's Center for Successful Aging (CSA) participated in the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative led by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. This initiative focuses on bringing the 4Ms framework-What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility-to caring for older adults.

Improving Medication Management by Understanding Patient and Caregiver Preferences for Medication Packaging.

: To assess older adults' perceptions and preferences when comparing multi-medication packaging products.
Qualitative study involving focus group interviews (FGIs) and key informant interviews (KIIs).
Interviews were conducted in multiple cities within the United States during June-July 2019.

The inhibition of cellular toxicity of amyloid-β by dissociated transthyretin.

The protective effect of transthyretin (TTR) on cellular toxicity of β-amyloid (Aβ) has been previously reported. TTR is a tetrameric carrier of thyroxine in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, the pathogenic aggregation of which causes systemic amyloidosis. However, studies have documented a protective effect of TTR against cellular toxicity of pathogenic Aβ, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Optimizing Medication Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic: It Takes a Village.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an unprecedented pandemic that has particularly affected nursing homes and long-term care facilities. To support frontline health care professionals caring for older adults, the current article provides guidance on strategies to optimize medication management within nursing homes and long-term care facilities. In addition, the article reviews two medications that have been granted U.

Modeling the Impact of Microgravity at the Cellular Level: Implications for Human Disease.

A lack of gravity experienced during space flight has been shown to have profound effects on human physiology including muscle atrophy, reductions in bone density and immune function, and endocrine disorders. At present, these physiological changes present major obstacles to long-term space missions. What is not clear is which pathophysiological disruptions reflect changes at the cellular level versus changes that occur due to the impact of weightlessness on the entire body.

Identifying and Bridging the Gaps in Antimicrobial Stewardship in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care.

National organizations have developed guidelines and tools for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC), but there is a need to effectively translate these into actionable, measurable, and impactful programs. An electronic needs assessment survey was developed and distributed to health care providers and administrators involved with AMS activities in PALTC facilities in Maryland. The results of this survey were used to develop a statewide initiative to improve AMS in nursing facilities.

Mechanical testing of antimicrobial biocomposite coating on metallic medical implants as drug delivery system.

Post-operative infection often occurs following orthopedic and dental implant placement requiring systemically administered antibiotics. However, this does not provide long-term protection. Over the last few decades, alternative methods involving slow drug delivery systems based on biodegradable poly-lactic acid and antibiotic loaded hydroxyapatite microspheres were developed to prevent post-operative infection.

Supramolecular-based nanofibers.

Supramolecular-based nanofibers, which successfully combine the unique properties of supramolecular interactions with the advantages of nanofibrous structure, are widely used in a variety of biomedical applications such as controlled drug delivery. Compared with traditional polymer nanofibers, supramolecular-based nanofibers can overcome the bottleneck of sensitivity because of the non-covalent binding modes, and therefore match the requirements of rapid and reversible response to the external stimuli. In addition, supramolecular-based nanofibers can achieve extra controllable and dynamic responsive (e.

Findings from a National Survey of Medicare Beneficiary Perspectives on the Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management Standardized Format.

Background: The Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Program Standardized Format (SF) is a written summary of a comprehensive medication review (CMR) that must be provided to Medicare Part D beneficiaries. Concerns have been raised regarding the number of pages of the SF, mailing costs, the static nature of the document, and the lack of integration into beneficiaries' electronic health records. To date, limited research exists on beneficiaries' perceptions of the SF.