Therapeutic management of atopic dermatitis.

ABSTRACT: Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory, pruritic skin disorder, is seen primarily in the pediatric population but can be found among all age groups. The symptoms of AD can cause embarrassment in patients and can interrupt daily activities and productivity, potentially resulting in avoidance of social situations. In addition to nonpharmacologic management, mainstay pharmacologic treatments for AD are topical medications including corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, and topical Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Promising new drugs-oral JAK inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies-have emerged as new treatment options for moderate-to-severe AD.

Pathophysiology and pharmacology course grades and prediction of success in a graduate nurse practitioner program.

BACKGROUND: During a program review, faculty identified that nurse practitioner (NP) students who received a C grade in Advanced Pathophysiology (Patho) and Advanced Pharmacology (Pharm) appeared to perform poorly in the later NP management courses and on other program outcomes. PURPOSE: The research aimed to determine whether grades in graduate Patho and Pharm courses could predict performance in NP management courses, program progression and completion, and certification pass rates. METHODOLOGY: This research included deidentified student data from 2016 to 2018 across seven NP specialty tracks ( n = 4,575). Nonparametric and parametric tests were used in the analysis. RESULTS: A significant correlation ( p < .001) existed between Patho and Pharm grades. Lower grades in these two courses were significantly related to each other and to lower management course grades. Logistic regression showed that graduate pathophysiology grades significantly predicted certification examination performance, with lower grades associated with lower certification examination performance. Graduate pharmacology grades, pathophysiology grades, composite management course grades, and admission grade point average (GPA) significantly predicted final cumulative GPA, with lower grades associated with lower performance for all variables. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this research support the hypothesis that grades of C in Patho or Pharm courses significantly predict C performance in the management NP courses and lower certification success rates. IMPLICATIONS: The project model can be used in future research. Study findings can be helpful to NP faculty when considering curriculum decisions.

Osteoporosis management in primary care.

ABSTRACT: Osteoporosis is the most prevalent bone disease in the US. Once diagnosed, osteoporosis requires ongoing management; therefore, primary care providers are vital in managing both primary and secondary fracture prevention. Safe, efficacious, and economical medications are available, but osteoporosis remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Bisphosphonates, selective estrogen receptor modulators (raloxifene), conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene, estrogen therapy/hormone therapy, parathyroid hormone analogues, RANK ligand inhibitors (denosumab), sclerostin inhibitors (romosozumab), and calcitonin are all drugs or drug classes commonly used to treat osteoporosis that are discussed in this article.

Mpox (monkeypox): Diagnosis, prevention, and management in adults.

ABSTRACT: Mpox (formerly "monkeypox") is a viral zoonosis that presents similarly to smallpox but is less contagious and causes less severe disease. Mpox may be transmitted from infected animals to humans through direct contact or a scratch or bite. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact, respiratory droplets, and fomites. Two vaccines, JYNNEOS® and ACAM2000®, are currently available for postexposure prophylaxis as well as for prevention in certain populations at high risk for mpox. Most cases of mpox are self-limited; however, tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir are available as treatments for at-risk populations.

Asthma-COPD overlap: The NP's role in diagnosis and management.

ABSTRACT: Asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) presents in persons, especially adults, with persistent airflow limitation along with clinical symptoms reflective of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It includes multiple clinical phenotypes with different underlying pathophysiology. Patients with ACO typically have a worse clinical course than those with asthma or COPD alone. This article provides an overview of diagnosis and management of this underrecognized condition.

Eosinophilic asthma and the role of monoclonal antibodies.

ABSTRACT: Eosinophilic asthma presents with continuous airway inflammation resistant to inhaled corticosteroids but responsive to oral glucocorticoids and monoclonal antibodies. Diagnostic criteria include significantly elevated blood or sputum eosinophils and/or fractional exhaled nitric oxide. Five monoclonal antibodies are used for treatment, with accurate diagnosis and early intervention essential to better outcomes.

Professional Development and Mentorship Needs of Nurse Practitioners.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the aging U.S. population have created a substantial shortage of primary care providers. Nurse practitioners (NPs) provide a cost-effective solution to meet this growing demand; however, the professional development and mentoring needs of NPs have not been clearly defined. This quantitative descriptive study assessed the professional development and mentorship needs of NPs as a first step toward development of effective programs to meet those needs.