Relationships and Going Places
From the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) For the Public: What You Need to Know About Vaping
At present, CDC recommends that people: Should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC. Should not buy any type of e-cigarette, or vaping products, particularly those containing THC, off the street. Should not modify or add any substances to e-cigarette, or vaping, products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments. more »
Vincristine Shortage – Update and Action To the Childhood Cancer Community
At the beginning of October, pharmacists at COG member institutions raised concerns about the ability to obtain vincristine. COG quickly contacted Pfizer/Hospira, now the sole supplier of vincristine in the United States, and was told that Pfizer/Hospira was experiencing a shortage of drug due to a manufacturing delay. (The other supplier of vincristine in the US, Teva Pharmaceuticals, made a “business decision” and stopped supplying drug to the US in July of 2019.) Captain Valerie Jensen, RPh, Associate Director of the Drug Shortages Staff at the FDA reported that FDA had been contacted by Pfizer/Hospira, were exploring the drug shortage and had started working on potential solutions. more »
John Singer Sargent’s Charcoal Portraits, Records of Artistic and Cultural Friendships, as Well as Networks of Patronage
John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) was one of the greatest portrait artists of his time. While he is best known for his powerful paintings, he largely ceased painting portraits in 1907 and turned instead to charcoal drawings to satisfy portrait commissions. Many sitters recounted the speed and confidence with which Sargent worked; he finished most of these charcoals in less than three hours. The artist would often invite friends to drawing sessions to keep the sitters entertained and also to help enliven their features. The finished charcoal portraits are valuable testaments to Sargent’s prodigious skill as an artist and draftsman. more »
STIs Are Contributing to the Public Health Crisis as Cases of Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Chlamydia Are All On the Rise
To address this public health threat, biomedical research programs need to be refocused on developing innovative diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for STIs. Healthcare providers need access to faster, low-cost diagnostics to identify both active and asymptomatic STIs. The STI vaccine pipeline also needs to produce effective new candidate vaccines for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. As for STI therapeutics, the authors note that research efforts must focus on drug-drug interactions, toxicities and side effects, while keeping ahead of spreading antimicrobial resistance. more »
