Factors associated with applicant performance on the Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE).

Background: Limited data are available on factors that are associated with passing rates for the Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE). The aim of this study is to investigate student characteristics and academic performance characteristics that may predict their success on SPLE. Methods: This was a single-institution retrospective cohort study, which included pharmacy graduates from 2019 to 2021. Demographic, academic, and SPLE data were collected for each graduate. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the association between potential predictors and first-time SPLE pass status. A stepwise regression was then performed to develop multiple logistic models. Results: A total of 494 graduates were included in the study. Females, PharmD graduates, and on-time graduation had higher odds of passing SPLE (P = 0.0065, P = 0.0003, and P < 0.0001, respectively). For each 0.5 increase in GPA, the odds of passing SPLE increase by 3.5 times (OR 3.53; 95 % CI, 2.83-4.42; P < 0.0001). Of the tests taken prior to university admission, the overall high school score, general aptitude test (GAT) score, and qualifying score were significantly associated with higher SPLE first-time pass rates. When multiple logistic regression analysis was performed, GPA and GAT scores were the only significant predictors for higher SPLE first-time pass rates (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0002, respectively). Conclusion: The current research has shown that there is an association between higher SPLE first-time pass rates and several factors, most importantly the GPA and GAT score. Further research is needed, as it has the potential to inform the decision when reviewing pharmacy admission criteria.

A comprehensive review program to prepare pharmacy students for the Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE).

Purpose: The Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE) has been mandated by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) for three and a half years; however, colleges of pharmacy and/or pharmacy organizations in Saudi Arabia have yet to implement a comprehensive review program to help prospective graduates to succeed. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an integrated program designed to enhance students' performance on the SPLE. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the impact of integrating SPLE review activities (clinical review quizzes (CRQs), disease state presentations (DSPs), a Capstone OSCE, and a mock SPLE) on students' SPLE results and perceptions of their SPLE preparation and performance. Student scores from the review activities were analyzed and an anonymous, voluntary survey was used to assess the impact of these activities on student readiness levels and performance on the SPLE. Results: A total of 127 Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) students were included in the study. The average scores for the mock SPLE, DSPs, and Capstone OSCE were (55.8% ± 8.55), (91.3% ± 7.17), and (95.2% ± 6.90), respectively. Approximately 50% of the students responded to the survey. Most students had taken and passed the SPLE on the first attempt (94.6%) with an average score of 635.7 ± 39.4 (∼79%). Over 60% and 70% of students recommended the SPLE CRQs activity and the DSP activity, respectively. With respect to mock SPLE, 60.9% believed that it provided an idea of what to expect on the SPLE and 54.7% recommended to add the Capstone OSCE into the curriculum. Overall, the majority of students would recommend these activities be incorporated in the college of pharmacy curriculum in order to better prepare pharmacy graduates for the SPLE. Conclusion: Prospective graduates from Saudi universities may benefit from college of pharmacy-organized SPLE reviews. Based on this study's findings, a comprehensive review course including a mock SPLE and disease state presentations is recommended. In addition, SPLE review lectures, CRQs, and a Capstone OSCE may provide additional benefit.

Comparison of Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE) Pass Rates by Institution and Applicant Characteristics.

In 2019, the Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE) was first administered to all pharmacy graduates and served as one of the prerequisites for obtaining a pharmacist license. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether institution and applicant characteristics are associated with first-time SPLE success. Passing status for 2284 SPLE first-time applicants was obtained from online public data for the years 2019 and 2020. The data included applicant sex, institution type (public vs. private), and college establishment year (2006 or earlier vs. after 2006). Overall, the SPLE first-time pass rate in 2020 was significantly higher than in 2019 (98.0 vs. 95.9%; p = 0.0062). Applicants from pharmacy colleges established in or before 2006 had a higher SPLE first-time pass rate, compared to those from pharmacy colleges established after 2006 (98.2 vs. 95.2%; p < 0.0001). The pass rate for male applicants was lower compared to female applicants (95.8 vs. 97.5%; p = 0.0221). The results of logistic regression showed that exam year (2020 vs. 2019), applicant sex (female vs. male), and pharmacy college establishment year (≤2006 vs. >2006) were statistically significant predictors. Further studies are needed in the upcoming years when more cumulative data are available.

Rapid extraction method of polycyclic aromatic compounds in soil using basic silica selective pressurized liquid extraction.

Complex chemical mixtures found in soils at contaminated sites typically includes polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), thus posing potential environmental and human health risks. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) followed by silica clean-up is one of the most often used extraction methods for PACs in soil. While silica clean-up provide satisfactory recovery of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs), this technique provides limited recovery of azaarenes. In this work, we used PLE and in-cell clean up with basic silica to increase the recovery of OPAHs and azaarenes. The optimized selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) method used 4 g basic silica, dichloromethane, 100% flush volume, 100 and 120 °C extraction temperatures, with two static cycles for each temperature, no rinse in between the two extractions, and 20 and 120 s purge for the first and second extraction temperature, respectively. The method was validated for a wide range of PAC groups, including OPAHs, azaarenes, alkylated PAHs, and sulfur heterocycles (SPACs), in total 87 PACs, using certified reference material and in comparison to the results from previous inter-laboratory data. Our SPLE method yielded results that are in agreement with certified values and inter-laboratory data from prior analysis. The SPLE method also yielded lower variation than the results from the inter-laboratory data for analysis of OPAH and azaarenes, suggesting better precision than previous methods. More importantly, the SPLE method increases sample analysis throughput as extra clean-up step is not necessary anymore. The SPLE method was then successfully applied to rapidly screen PACs in three soil samples.

Unique Substrate Specificity of SplE Serine Protease from Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a dangerous human pathogen characterized by alarmingly increasing antibiotic resistance. Accumulating evidence suggests the role of Spl proteases in staphylococcal virulence. Spl proteases have restricted, non-overlapping substrate specificity, suggesting that they may constitute a first example of a proteolytic system in bacteria. SplA, SplB, and SplD were previously characterized in terms of substrate specificity and structural determinants thereof. Here we analyze the substrate specificity of SplE documenting its unique P1 preference among Spl proteases and, in fact, among all chymotrypsin-like (family S1) proteases characterized to date. This is interesting since our understanding of the general aspects of proteolysis is based on seminal studies of S1 family members. To better understand the molecular determinants of the unusual specificity of SplE, the crystal structure of the protein is determined here. Conclusions from structural analysis are evaluated by successful grafting of SplE specificity on the scaffold of SplB protease.

Selective pressurized liquid extraction for the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in soil.

During this study a high throughout selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from soil. To that end, extraction rates of PCBs from soil utilizing different extraction solvents and different extraction temperatures were investigated whereas extraction rates were comparable for toluene, n-hexane and dichloromethane (extraction conditions for all utilized solvents: 33mL PLE extraction cell, extraction temperature: 110°C, static extraction time: 5min, flush volume: 60%, purge 90s). Ratios of native PCBs and PCDD/PCDFs congener concentrations after Soxhlet and selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) showed that SPLE is an alternative sample preparation step for the simultaneous determination of PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs in soil. Additional clean-up steps for the separation of PCBs and PCDD/PCDFs utilizing alumina were performed in order to avoid interferences between the component classes.

Rapid determination of organochlorine pesticides in fish using selective pressurized liquid extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A rapid automated extraction and cleanup method using selective pressurized liquid extraction was developed and validated for 14 organochlorine pesticides in fish. The lipid-removal efficiencies achieved by adding alumina, Florisil, acid-treated silica gel, and silica gel to the extraction cell were determined and optimized. In the optimized method, fish (2-3g) was placed above alumina (30 g) in the extraction cell, then the sample was extracted using a 7:3 mixture of hexane and dichloromethane. The method was validated using certified reference materials (NIST SRM 1946 and 1974c), spiked fish, and four lipid-rich fish samples. The mean low- and high-concentration spike recoveries were 91% and 93% with RSD<20%, respectively. Measured concentrations of target OCPs showed good agreement with the certified concentrations in certified reference materials. It suggests the good accuracy and precision of the SPLE method. The proposed method met the most important requirements of an extraction and cleanup procedure, including having a short preparation (cleanup and concentration) time and minimal sample contamination and being able to be automated.

Comparison of in-cell lipid removal efficiency of adsorbent mixtures for extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants due to their incorporation into many consumer products. Their ability to bioaccumulate to alarming levels in fat-rich matrices such as fish demands fast and efficient methods to monitor these contaminants. We present an analytical method for selective-pressurised liquid extraction (S-PLE) of PBDEs from fish tissue. Fat removal performance of different mixtures of Florisil, silica gel and sulphuric acid-impregnated silica gel were evaluated using a response surface experimental design approach for determining the optimal fat-retaining mixture for S-PLE. Acid-silica gel had the greatest individual effect on fat retention; with a two-thirds acid-silica one-third Florisil mixture found to be the most efficient (>97%). Method validation was performed using recovery experiments at three spiked concentration levels (0.05, 0.5 and 5ngg(-1) ww). Mean recoveries of target analytes in spiked samples ranged from 70 to 124%, with relative standard deviations <27%. The S-PLE lipid removal efficiency combined with the sensitivity of triple quadrupole mass spectrometers provides a fast and comparatively inexpensive analytical method for analysis of PBDEs in fish samples.

Effects of BDE-209 contaminated sediments on zebrafish development and potential implications to human health.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are compounds widely used as flame-retardants, which are of increasing environmental concern due to their persistence, and potential adverse effects. This study had two objectives. First, we assessed if BDE-209 in sediment was bioavailable and bioaccumulated into zebrafish embryos. Secondly, we assessed the potential impact on human and environmental health of bioavailable BDE-209 using human in vitro cell assays and zebrafish embryos. Zebrafish were exposed from 4h to 8days post-fertilization to sediments spiked with 12.5mg/kg of BDE-209. Zebrafish larvae accumulated ten fold more BDE-209 than controls in unspiked sediment after 8days. BDE-209 impacted expression of neurological pathways and altered behavior of larvae, although BDE-209 had no visible affect on thyroid function or motoneuron and neuromast development. Zebrafish data and in silico predictions suggested that BDE-209 would also interact with key human transcription factors and receptors. We therefore tested these predictions using mammalian in vitro assays. BDE-209 activated human aryl hydrocarbon receptor, peroxisome proliferator activating receptors, CF/b-cat, activator protein 1, Oct-MLP, and the estrogen receptor-related alpha (ERRα) receptor in cell-based assays. BDE-209 also inhibited human acetylcholinesterase activity. The observation that BDE-209 can be bioaccumulated from contaminated sediment highlights the need to consider this as a potential environmental exposure route. Once accumulated, our data also show that BDE-209 has the potential to cause impacts on both human and environmental health.