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Editorial: Defining "Politics"

As our political conventions begin, it is interesting to look at how the definition of "politics" has changed in almost 200 years.

American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828
"The science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity; comprehending the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals."

Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, 1963
"The art or science of government. The art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy. The art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government. Political actions, practices, or policies. Political affairs or business. Competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership in a government or other group. Political life especially as a principal activity or profession. Political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices. The political opinions or sympathies of a person. The total complex of relations between men in society."

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (August 2012)
"The art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the corporate, academic, and religious segments of society. It consists of 'social relations involving authority or power' and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy. Modern political discourse focuses on democracy and the relationship between people and politics. It is thought of as the way we 'choose government officials and make decisions about public policy'."


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief

Hospira Recalls Hydromorphone Carpujects
The FDA has announced that Hospira is voluntarily recalling one lot of its hydromorphone injection as it may contain more than the intended fill volume, posing a risk of drug overdose. Hospira began the recall after a complaint that one Carpuject contained more than the intended 1-mL labeled fill volume. The company said it has not received any reports of adverse events related to the affected lot. The affected lot is 12720LL, and it was distributed between March and May 2012.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/16/us-hospira-fda-idUSBRE87F1D320120816

'Gray-market' Adds to Health Costs
Congress is looking at a practice that has sharply driven up the cost of some drugs, particularly those for cancer and other life-threatening conditions. A new joint congressional investigation alleges that "gray market" drug companies buy up and hoard short-supply pharmaceuticals and then sell them at prices way above the norm to hospitals and individual patients.

The investigation discovered that more than two-thirds of 300 drug distribution chains reviewed involved selling the drugs to the gray market. One situation illustrates how this works. Investigators said a Maryland pharmacy purchased 25 vials of fluorouracil in September 2011. The owner sold them to a distributor in New Jersey, which was owned by the pharmacy owner's spouse. The vials were then sold five more times before reaching a hospital in California. The Maryland pharmacy paid $7 per vial; the hospital ended up paying $600 per vial because it needed them to treat patients.

People most affected by these shortages—and the inflated drug prices—are people who are most in need of the treatments. U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a Maryland Democrat who also requested the investigation stated, "If it's not illegal, we need to make it illegal." That clearly should be the mission of Congress. This practice of stockpiling urgently needed drugs and inflating the prices is indeed criminal.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/opinions/x324218723/Editorial-Gray-market-drug-network-adds-to-health-costs-patients-anguish

Pharmacists Applaud Chemo Guidelines for Obese Patients
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released new guidelines recommending that physicians and pharmacists use an obese patient's actual body weight, rather than ideal body weight, to calculate the appropriate dose of nearly all chemotherapy drugs. This method has already been used by many pharmacists, but the guidelines provide clarity and support.

The ASCO guidelines are based on a systematic review of studies published between 1996 and 2010. They found there was no evidence that short- or long-term toxicity is increased among obese patients receiving full weight-based doses.
http://www.pharmacypracticenews.com/ViewArticle.aspx?d=Operations%2b%26%2bManagement&d_id=53&i=August+2012&i_id=872&a_id=21381

Hospira Recalls Propofol Injectable Emulsion
Hospira, the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies, has announced a nationwide recall of three lots of Propofol Injectable Emulsion, 1%, 1 g/100 mL, due to visible particles embedded in the glass to the user level.

There may be potential for product to come into contact with the embedded particles, and the particles may become dislodged into the solution. Hospira has not received any reports of adverse events related to these lots and has initiated an investigation to determine root cause and corrective and preventive measures.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm315719.htm

PHARMA Struggles in Emerging Markets
Slowing economic growth, intense local competition and governments' efforts to control healthcare costs and bolster local firms have damped the prospects for the PHARMA companies in emerging markets. All this threatens the lofty sales goals that are a part of many pharmaceutical stocks. Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and others are seeing growth at slower than projected rates.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444900304577577511537791418.html

Become a fan of the IJPC Facebook page and share ideas, photos, and keep up to date with the latest compounding information - http://www.facebook.com/IJPCompounding

...that looking up older information in online reference books is getting more and more difficult? It seems that newer online information is often updated while simultaneously overwriting previous and older information. This is beginning to present difficulties when trying to find the older information. Also, when citing an Internet source with the date it was accessed, it is of no value when the information on the citation is updated and changed.

With the West Nile virus situation and "Friday night high school football" coming soon, why not promote public health by in-store displays of mosquito repellant, recommending long-sleeve and long-pant clothing, etc. for your patients! (See the article in IJPC's May-June 2012 issue related to this topic.)

A beard that's rough,
And overgrown,
Is better than
A chaperone!
      Burma Shave

PCAB is proud to announce the accreditation/re-accreditation of the following pharmacies:

Compound Care, Louisville, KY; Mrs. Anne Marie Megibben, RPh, Owner, annemarie@compoundcarerx.com; Initial Accreditation for Sterile and Nonsterile

Abrams Royal Pharmacy, Dallas, TX; Mr. Justin Triesch, Cpht, General Manager, 8000justin@arp-rx.com; Initial Accreditation for Sterile and Nonsterile

US Compounding, Conway, AR; Dr. Rebecca Mitchell, PharmD, VP of Pharmacy Operations, bmitchell@uscompounding.com; Reaccreditation for Sterile and Nonsterile

Huntsville Compounding Pharmacy, Huntsville, AL; Dr. Phillip Rigsby, PharmD, PIC, phillip@huntsvillecompounding.com; Reaccreditation for Sterile and Nonsterile

Join us in congratulating these pharmacies for this achievement!

Wanted: Laminar Airflow Hood
Our pharmacy is looking to buy a used, 4 foot horizontal laminar air flow hood (NuAir or comparable) in good working condition. We are in need of an additional unit ASAP. If anyone knows or has one for sale, please send information such as cost, specifications, last certification results, etc to Keith Guy, RPH - guyspharmacy@gmail.com

Supplier Needed
Need a supplier for: Glass syringes, 3 mL, sterile, individually wrapped. Contact: Wendy Galbraith at wendy-galbraith@ouhsc.edu 405-271-6481 ext. 47195