207725461
Results of a National Survey on Over-The-Counter Medicines, Part 1: Pharmacist Opinion on Current Scheduling Status
Background: OTC medicines make up an important part of the community pharmacy world. As with most aspects of practice, however, hurdles exist that prevent an optimal level of care. Objective: To gauge pharmacist agreement on the scheduling status of various OTC medicines. Methods: Pharmacists across Canada were surveyed by mail. Results: Of the 5037 surveys mailed, 2403 were returned, with 2305 being usable for analysis (response rate of 49.4%). Across 25 agents, pharmacists tended to support existing control for pharmacies (such as Nix crème rinse and minoxidil topical solution) and returning control to pharmacies for unscheduled agents (such as ranitidine 75 mg tablets and nicotine patches). Conclusions: Pharmacists generally favour tighter control of OTC agents, especially those that are unscheduled. This hopefully reflects pharmacist desire to ensure their proper selection and use.
9219755
Consumer expectations of nonprescription medications according to location of sale.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the public has different expectations of nonprescription medications based on location of sale.


DESIGN
Cross-sectional, descriptive.


SETTING
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, during the summer of 2003.


PARTICIPANTS
2,102 randomly selected citizens.


INTERVENTION
Mail survey.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Differences in expectations for potency, safety, adverse effects, effectiveness, and package information of products sold in pharmacies versus convenience stores.


RESULTS
The response rate was 57.2%. Most participants (81.2%) were aware that nonprescription medications could be purchased in convenience stores, but far fewer (42.3%) had done so. As one potential resource during purchases, pharmacists were held in reasonably high regard. Expectations with the greatest difference were of a merchandising nature. Respondents expected pharmacies to have a better quality and selection of products and lower prices. For drug-related attributes, differences were minimal but statistically significant.


CONCLUSION
Location of sale does not appear to have any practical influence on consumer expectations of the drug-related attributes of nonprescription medications. Buyers of such products expect similar properties to be present regardless of location.
207262196
Cough and cold medication use in young children: Pharmacist reaction to changes in Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To gauge how community pharmacists will approach questions from the public after Canada begins requiring product labels to state that cough and cold medications should not be used in children younger than 6 years of age.


DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.


SETTING
Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, in February 2009.


PARTICIPANTS
143 community pharmacists.


INTERVENTION
Questionnaire was faxed to target group.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Estimates of product use in children aged 2 years to younger than 6 years, pharmacist satisfaction with the new guidelines, and potential plans when the new labels reach the market.


RESULTS
143 pharmacists returned a completed questionnaire by fax. Pharmacists currently recommend products for head colds for children aged 2 years to younger than 6 years more often than antitussives for coughs. More pharmacists were dissatisfied with the new ruling compared with those who were satisfied, with a main concern being that it went too far. Respondents indicated that when the new labels are implemented, they would be more likely to recommend use of the products among close family members than among the public.


CONCLUSION
These results suggest some support for product efficacy but possible concern over potential liability. Pharmacists are also concerned that removing dosing guidelines from packaging may not fully deter parental use of such products.
24802359
Structure and replication of hepatitis delta virus RNA.
While this volume covers many different aspects of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) replication, the focus in this chapter is on studies of the structure and replication of the HDV RNA genome. An evaluation of such studies is not only an integral part of our understanding of HDV infections but it also sheds new light on some important aspects of cell biology, such as the fidelity of RNA transcription by a host RNA polymerase and on various forms of post-transcriptional RNA processing. Representations of the replication of the RNA genome are frequently simplified to a form of rolling-circle model, analogous to what have been described for plant viroids. One theme of this review is that such models, even after some revision, deceptively simplify the complexity of HDV replication and can fail to make clear major questions yet to be solved.
12906963
Unique issues in research and evaluation in rural and remote locations: is there a place for specific research training?
BACKGROUND
There is increased interest in building research capacity in rural health research in Australia and internationally. In Australia, the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development program funded by the Australian Government has supported this move. Overall this program aims to build the quantum of primary healthcare research to underpin clinical practice, health systems improvement, and policy. In order to achieve this objective, one strand of the program aims to build research capacity among practitioners. In implementing this program in rural and remote areas of the west of South Australia, the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School has identified methodological and research design issues faced by practitioners who are researching in their communities. These issues include problems encountered in living and researching in the same location and accessing small-scale statistical information. We were interested to know whether there was interest in a formal course (Rural Research and Evaluation) that would address these issues and provide information about community-based research designs.


METHODS
A cross-sectional anonymous survey was designed and sent to 141 organisations in the health, human service, and local government sectors in regional South Australia. Respondents were asked to evaluate the demand and interest for a new course--Rural Research and Evaluation. The term 'rural' was used to refer to both rural and remote locations. Information was sought on the respondent's role in the organisation, current level of research participation, views about the proposed course content, and factors that the respondent thought would facilitate or inhibit their participation. The majority of questions were close-ended.


RESULTS
Sixty surveys were returned giving a 42.5% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. A high level of research and evaluation activity was reported with 80% of respondents undertaking research or evaluation as part of their professional role. There was also agreement that all the proposed topics were important to be included in a course. Each of the topics was ranked at four or five on a five-point scale by at least 58% of respondents. The topic 'understanding evaluation methodologies' was ranked at four or five by 85% of respondents, making it the most highly ranked topic. There was also consensus about the features respondents thought would make the course attractive for them to study. Over half (62%) of the respondents ranked having lecturers with a broad rural research background at five, very important, on a five-point scale. Almost half (48%) of the respondents ranked online delivery at five, a very important factor in making the course attractive to study.


CONCLUSIONS
Those interested in research and evaluation may have been more likely to return the survey and there may have been respondent bias in this regard. Therefore the results must be interpreted with caution. However, the level of agreement with the proposed course topics may suggest that these reflect important issues in undertaking research and evaluation in rural and remote locations. If this is the case there is value in discussion about how these issues are dealt with in different contexts in order to overcome some of the barriers to effective research.
28296194
Retrovirus Genome Replication: Priming Specificities of Plus-Strand DNA Synthesis
SUMMARY The retroviral reverse transcriptase is a multifunctional protein. Not only does it contain both RNA- and DNA-directed DNA synthesis activities but also it contains an endonuclease activity necessary for the integration of viral RNA and a RNase H. This latter activity can reduce to oligoribonucleotides viral RNA that has been reverse transcribed into minus-strand DNA. However, during avian retrovirus genome replication it does this in a highly specific manner so as to generate a specific 12-base primer for plus-strand DNA synthesis. Even though many other oligoribonucleotides are also made there is an efficient selection of the specific primer followed by its efficient utilization in plus-strand DNA synthesis, and subsequent removal. We have used a reconstructed system to gain an understanding of the factors that contribute towards these observed specificities.
16183837
The modifying effect of the building envelope on population exposure to PM2.5 from outdoor sources
A number of studies have estimated population exposure to PM2.5 by examining modeled or measured outdoor PM2.5 levels. However, few have taken into account the mediating effects of building characteristics on the ingress of PM2.5 from outdoor sources and its impact on population exposure in the indoor domestic environment. This study describes how building simulation can be used to determine the indoor concentration of outdoor-sourced pollution for different housing typologies and how the results can be mapped using building stock models and Geographical Information Systems software to demonstrate the modifying effect of dwellings on occupant exposure to PM2.5 across London. Building archetypes broadly representative of those in the Greater London Authority were simulated for pollution infiltration using EnergyPlus. In addition, the influence of occupant behavior on indoor levels of PM2.5 from outdoor sources was examined using a temperature-dependent window-opening scenario. Results demonstrate a range of I/O ratios of PM2.5, with detached and semi-detached dwellings most vulnerable to high levels of infiltration. When the results are mapped, central London shows lower I/O ratios of PM2.5 compared with outer London, an apparent inversion of exposure most likely caused by the prevalence of flats rather than detached or semi-detached properties.
45621123
Acquisition and severity of driving-related fears.
Rachman's theory of fear acquisition proposes that directly-conditioned fears will differ from indirectly-conditioned fears in magnitude and anxiety response patterns, however the theory has received inconsistent empirical support. The aim of the present study was to describe the fear acquisition pathways for a community sample who reported driving-related fears, and to test Rachman's theory of fear acquisition. One hundred and ninety participants completed a questionnaire which assessed a variety of driving-related situations, reactions to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), and anxiety response patterns. Professional psychological helpseeking and perceived need for treatment for driving-related fears were also assessed. Results failed to support Rachman's predictions. However, it was confirmed that respondents who had been involved in an MVA were more likely to ascribe their fears to a directly-conditioned pathway. The theoretical and methodological implications of the findings are discussed, along with suggestions for assessment of those with driving-related fears.