Well, it's time again for half-truths, no-truths, and some truths; exaggerations and exasperations; blames and claims; and innuendos. Yes, it's time for another election. Don't you just love it!

As previously stated in these editorials, it would certainly make things better if candidates for political office were required to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. What a day that would be! However, I'm not sure that the media and advertising industry would want things that way. They seem to thrive on the current way of doing things, which allows them to sell millions and millions of dollars in advertising. Not only that, but it is interesting to observe them cover a "debate" between candidates. From a 2-hour debate, there is a 10-second clip from each of the candidates showing what the media wants to show�this is totally unfair.

It's amazing that so many can talk for so long and say so little about things that are so important to so many�and then we vote for them, not really knowing what they will do when they get in office.

Would I want to run for office? No way! I respect those that are willing to put in the time and sacrifice to serve, but I do not respect those that do it for personal gain and manipulation.

What's the answer to the current situation? I honestly don't know, except that we must have greater accountability and better agreement between the claims made and the laws and regulations ultimately decided upon.

As pharmacists, we must protect the public and our profession. We must vote according to our ethics, conscience, and faith. We must participate in this process that is so important in America, and for which so many friends and acquaintances are currently fighting in other countries so their citizens, too, can participate in a free electoral process.

Is our process perfect? No! But, it's the best thing going and deserves our participation and support to make it better and to get back to the basics upon which this great country was founded. Support your candidates and your profession by being involved. This includes at a minimum getting out and voting and being a member of your professional organizations. The next level would be to financially support these activities. The next level would be to both financially support and actively participate. The top level would be to become a political candidate and devote your time to these issues. If you don't do any of these, don't gripe and complain about the way things are going. Get active and do something about it; whether in the political or professional arena. Your profession and your country need you.


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., R.Ph
Editor-in-Chief

We are very excited about our newest marketing tool for pharmacists to communicate to their patients. Unlike our newsletter and our RxTriad, which is focused on prescribers, PostCards by RxTriad are focused on informing your patients about your compounding practice. Each postcard will have your pharmacy's logo and information featured next to the content of the postcard, and your return address will be on the opposite side so you can affix a label and stamp and drop in the mail. Or, you can simply attach them to your customer's next prescription. To order PostCards by RxTriad, visit our website [www.ijpc.com/rxtriad/postcards.cfm] or call 888-260-5415. You can also email us at rxtriad@ijpc.com for more information. Current Postcards available:

• Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Dermatology
• Pain Management
• Veterinary

National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
Independent Pharmacy Today
Service-Oriented, Job Creators

A wide range of patient services distinguish independent community pharmacies from their competitors. The top services offered last year were delivery (88%), nutrition (88%), charge accounts (84%), durable medical equipment (74%), compounding (68%), and herbal medicine (63%).

Independent pharmacies create jobs, too. The average independent employed 12.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in 2005, with 2.8 FTE pharmacists, including the owner. The average independent also employed 4.3 FTE pharmacy technicians. In 2004, the FTEs were 9.8 (2.3 pharmacists and 3.6 technicians).

For more information on NCPA, visit their website at www.ncpanet.org and America's Pharmacist at www.americaspharmacist.net.

Source: [No author listed]. Newswire: Praise is Welcomed, Support is Valued More. America's Pharmacist; October 2006; 9. [Original source from 2006 NCPA-Pfizer Digest.]

The following regulatory updates have been provided by the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP). For more information, www.iacprx.org.

International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP)
Senator John Ensign Fundraiser: A Resounding Success
IACP and its lobbying team organized a fundraiser for United States Senator John Ensign (R-Nevada), a veterinarian and a strong advocate of pharmacy compounding. The Washington, D.C. fundraiser for Senator Ensign on September 27 was a huge success.

United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Publishes Chapter <1163> on Quality Assurance
USP published a proposed chapter on quality assurance, Chapter <1163> Quality Assurance in Pharmaceutical Compounding, in the September/October Pharmacopeial Forum (PF). The chapter covers such topics as standard operating procedures, documentation, verification, and testing including sampling requirements for sterile and nonsterile preparations and permissible testing methods.

Chapter <1163> is currently assigned a chapter number above 1000, thus it is considered a "nonenforceable chapter" according to USP. However, pharmacists should still review and comment on the chapter, as several chapters which originated with voluntary or "nonenforceable" designations have been reassigned chapter numbers below 1000, which are viewed as mandatory and "enforceable."

Comments on the chapter will be accepted through December 15, 2006. We encourage you to review and provide your comments on the proposed chapter to IACP and USP. Pharmacists interested in reviewing a copy of the chapter and providing comments can access a copy of the chapter here. IACP will be reviewing and writing comments on applicable sections of the chapter.

Fifty-two (52) new citations on the use of topical vitamins and other antioxidants for treatment of various disease states and fourteen (14) on miscellaneous dermatological topics have been added to CompoundingToday.com's literature search database this week.

This database now has 4,076 citations from 954 sources from all over the world that are relevant to pharmacy practice.

Botanical antioxidants in the prevention of photocarcinogenesis and photoaging.
Afaq F, Mukhtar H. Exp Dermatol 2006; 15(9): 678-684.

Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance.
Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA. Dermatol Surg 2005; 31(7 Pt 2): 860-865.

Topical vitamin C: A useful agent for treating photoaging and other dermatologic conditions.
Farris PK. Dermatol Surg 2005; 31(7 Pt 2): 814-817.

Vitamin E: Critical review of its current use in cosmetic and clinical dermatology.
Thiele JJ, Hsieh SH, Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S. Dermatol Surg 2005; 31(7 Pt 2): 805-813.

Neuroimmunology of stress: Skin takes center stage.
Arck PC, Slominski A, Theoharides TC et al. J Invest Dermatol 2006; 126(8): 1697-1704.

Successful treatment of recalcitrant condyloma with topical cidofovir.
Hengge UR, Tietze G. Sex Transm Infect 2000; 76(2): 143.

Major enzymatic pathways in dermal wound healing: Current understanding and future therapeutic targets.
Kapoor M, Kojima F, Appleton I et al. Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2006; 7(5): 418-422.

Oxidative stress and its role in skin disease.
Trouba KJ, Hamadeh HK, Amin RP et al. Antioxid Redox Signal 2002; 4(4): 665-673.

IJPC's September/October 2006 issue featured an article on the treatment of migraine. Accompanying that article was a case report on how a patient was treated for migraine with compounded piroxicam mini-troches. A formulation for the mini-troches was published with the article. Case reports are valuable resources of compounded therapy, and IJPC on occasion publishes case reports on specific but common topics. IJPC has also compiled and centralized many case reports that are available on our website (www.ijpc.com/casereports). A compilation of case reports documents the validity of individualized therapy. If you are not a subscriber you can purchase and download the case report in our September/October 2006 issue at www.ijpc.com/backissues/ArticleDescription.cfm?ABS=2445

Sign up today at www.IJPC.com and start your journal print and electronic subscriptions. You can download what you are currently subscribed to and purchase electronic access to our complete set of back issues.

Incorporating Thickening Agents
There are at least five ways to incorporate thickening agents into a liquid, depending upon the characteristics of the thickener and the final preparation desired.

• Mix the agent with another dry solid in the formula that is very water soluble prior to adding it to the water. This minimizes clumping and makes dispersion much easier.
• Use a high-speed agitator (blender, mixer, etc.) to disperse the powder. Then, let it set for the air to be released and for hydration to occur.
• Slowly sprinkle the powder onto the surface, with the water being moderately agitated on a stirrer, and let the mixture hydrate prior to adding additional powder.
• Use step number 3 but heat the water almost to boiling before starting.
• Mix the agent with an intermediate liquid such as glycerin or propylene glycol to form a paste and then slowly incorporate the water phase into this paste with mixing.