A Critical Appraisal of Educational Theory to Examine HBCU and Black Students' Professional Identity Formation.

OBJECTIVES: This article explores educational theories and existing literature that describe the impact of Historically Black College or University (HBCU) educational environments on Black students' personal and professional development. Literature on professional identity formation (PIF) in pharmacy education is also examined to describe the influence of HBCU pharmacy education on Black pharmacy students' PIF. FINDINGS: Tinto's theory of student retention, Arroyo and Gasman's HBCU educational framework, and Bank's theory of multicultural education are described, as key elements of HBCU education that foster PIF in minoritized student populations. Each of the 3 models addresses professional identity traits associated with pharmacists and pharmacy students, and this review examines the role of HBCU education in Black Doctor of Pharmacy students' development of academic competence, leadership, professional communication, and advocacy. SUMMARY: Existing educational frameworks and models of student retention can be applied to promote student growth, psychological safety, and feelings of belonging in minoritized student populations. By engaging these models, pharmacy training environments can support Black students and other minoritized student populations as they develop their own professional identities in the pursuit of fulfilling careers.

Reduction of Amyloid in the Brain and Retina After Treatment With IVIG for Mild Cognitive Impairment.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) results in a reduction in amyloid in the central nervous system (CNS). METHODS: Five subjects with MCI underwent baseline Florbetapir positron emission tomography and retinal autofluorescent imaging. All were administered IVIG (Octagam 10%) at 0.4 g/kg every 14 days for a total of 5 infusions. After 3 months, standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) and amyloid retinal deposits were reassessed. RESULTS: Three subjects had a reduction in amyloid SUVR and all 5 subjects had a reduction in amyloid retinal deposits in at least 1 eye. CONCLUSIONS: A short course of IVIG over 2 months removes a measurable amount of amyloid from the CNS in persons with MCI.

Implementation of a Flipped Classroom for Nuclear Medicine Physician CME.

INTRODUCTION: Increasingly, emerging technologies are expanding instructional possibilities, with new methods being adopted to improve knowledge acquisition and retention. Within medical education, many new techniques have been employed in the undergraduate setting, with less utilization thus far in the continuing medical education (CME) sphere. This paper discusses the use of a new method for CME-the "flipped classroom," widely used in undergraduate medical education. This method engages learners by providing content before the live ("in class") session that aids in preparation and fosters in-class engagement. METHODS: A flipped classroom method was employed using an online image-rich case-based module and quiz prior to a live CME session at a national nuclear medicine meeting. The preparatory material provided a springboard for in-depth discussion at the live session-a case-based activity utilizing audience response technology. Study participants completed a survey regarding their initial experience with this new instructional method. In addition, focus group interviews were conducted with session attendees who had or had not completed the presession material; transcripts were qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: Quantitative survey data (completed by two-thirds of the session attendees) suggested that the flipped method was highly valuable and met attendee educational objectives. Analysis of focus group data yielded six themes broadly related to two categories-benefits of the flipped method for CME and programmatic considerations for successfully implementing the flipped method in CME. DISCUSSION: Data from this study have proven encouraging and support further investigations around the incorporation of this innovative teaching method into CME for nuclear imaging specialists.

Localization of cardiac sodium channels in caveolin-rich membrane domains: regulation of sodium current amplitude.

This study demonstrates that caveolae, omega-shaped membrane invaginations, are involved in cardiac sodium channel regulation by a mechanism involving the alpha subunit of the stimulatory heterotrimeric G-protein, Galpha(s), via stimulation of the cell surface beta-adrenergic receptor. Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors with 10 micromol/L isoproterenol in the presence of a protein kinase A inhibitor increased the whole-cell sodium current by a "direct" cAMP-independent G-protein mechanism. The addition of antibodies against caveolin-3 to the cell's cytoplasm via the pipette solution abrogated this direct G protein-induced increase in sodium current, whereas antibodies to caveolin-1 or caveolin-2 did not. Voltage-gated sodium channel proteins were found to associate with caveolin-rich membranes obtained by detergent-free buoyant density separation. The purity of the caveolar membrane fraction was verified by Western blot analyses, which indicated that endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum, endosomal compartments, Golgi apparatus, clathrin-coated vesicles, and sarcolemmal membranes were excluded from the caveolin-rich membrane fraction. Additionally, the sodium channel was found to colocalize with caveolar membranes by immunoprecipitation, indirect immunofluorescence, and immunogold transmission electron microscopy. These results suggest that stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors, and thereby Galpha(s), promotes the presentation of cardiac sodium channels associated with caveolar membranes to the sarcolemma.

Use of Marrow Scintigraphy to Confirm Compensatory Marrow Rather than Active Myeloma.

We present the case of a 40-year-old male with multiple myeloma for whom bone marrow scintigraphy was utilized to help differentiate between active bony myelomatous disease versus treated lesions with compensatory marrow uptake. This case demonstrates technetium (Tc-99m) sulfur colloid imaging as an inexpensive technique to quickly distinguish between active focal bone disease and reactive marrow.

Reducing perceived pain levels during nonbreast lymphoscintigraphy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to quantify the reduction of perceived pain levels during lymphoscintigraphy for melanoma by altering the pH of the Tc-sulfur colloid to near the physiologic value of 7.40. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is an institutional review board- and Food and Drug Administration-approved randomized, double-blinded, prospective crossover trial, registered with clinicaltrials.org. Before beginning the procedure and after signing informed consent, 60 serial enrollees presenting for sentinel lymph node imaging of melanoma of the thorax and appendicular structures completed a questionnaire addressing background information, administered by a research support nurse.An investigator (N.H.) prepared the injections to be used and labeled them such that no one else could discover which injections contained standard-of-care solution and which contained the pH-altered solution (buffered to near pH 7.40 using sodium bicarbonate).After each injection, the enrollee was asked by a research support nurse to quantify the pain of each injection using a scale of 0 to 10. The injection site location (head, thorax, appendicular structures, and other) was also recorded. RESULTS: Sixty subjects were enrolled in the study, of which 57 had complete data. On average, there was a significant mean (SD) decrease of 1.42 (2.17) points (95% confidence interval, 0.85-2.00) on a pain scale of 0 to 10 when the buffered injections were used as compared with the standard-of-care injections (P < 0.0001). Ordering of injections did not significantly affect perceived pain scores. CONCLUSIONS: The use of sodium bicarbonate to buffer the pH of Tc-sulfur colloid to near the physiologic value of 7.40 significantly reduced perceived pain levels during nonbreast lymphoscintigraphy.