PQ November 2015

NOV 2015

PQ PLUS 2 MR PHARMACY

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CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS Long awaited and much anticipated - it’s finally here!

PRESENTED BY OUR TITLE SPONSOR:

PHARMACARE PHARMACARE PRESENTED BY OUR TITLE SPONSOR:

SPECIALTY PHARMACIES SPECIALTY PHARMACIES

IN THIS ISSUE SAMPLE

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SPACE Committee

Curious about what the SPACE Committee does for you?

Curiosity begone!

Yasir answers your questions and introduces the wonderful members making our space better.

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Why do we care about Movember?

Aliaksandr gives some insight

An exchange in Germany and the journey that follows

aka. what to wear for lab to NOT attract the wrath of the prof

Movember

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Pharmacy Street Fashion

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Get to know this year’s advocates for Men’s health!

We asked you what you do in class, now see how your classmates have responded!

Big news in pharmacy culminating in a Nobel Prize recepient.

Mr. Pharmacy Interviews

Editors' notes

Phew, where does time go by-- it’s already November!

Luckily for the majority of us, the most stressful and hectic time of this semester has already passed.

A Trip Across Europe

PQ Polls

A Tale of Two Drugs

FLICKR IMAGES: BALA SIVAKUMAR, SPARKY, PAT GUINEY, PETER MACDONALD Disclaimer: Any opinions or viewpoints published are directly from the contributing authors and do not represent the philosophy or viewpoints of the Faculty of Pharmacy or the University of Alberta.

That means you can sit down and finally enjoy this month’s issue of the PQ-- and do we ever have a diverse selection of stories and experiences to share with you. Special thanks to our wonderful new publication committee members, who have creatively contributed to this month’s issue.

GHASAK HUSSAIN

Yes! It is now the month of Movember, and also the monh of one of my favourite issue of PQ+2. This time, we’ve filled it to the brim with our new Publications Committee members, sneak peeks into the lives of Mr. Pharmacy contestants, and our brand new column: PQ Polls! It is also our first year of Fall Reading Week no excuses about having no time to ooohhh and ahhhh over our issue :) Despite the chaos of second-year (which I am somehow pulling

myself through!), it was very exciting to read through all the articles - I hope you love them as much as I do!

WINNIE LO

APSA CALENDAR Lots of fun and exciting events are happening this month in Pharmacy, including a week long break! First and foremost in everyone’s mind - Mr. Pharmacy 2015

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PQ DESIGN AND LAYOUT BY WINNIE LO

You can find us on Facebook at PQ PlusTwo or Instagram @pqplustwo

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 3

SPACE COMMITTEE

THE SPACE COMMITTEE

BY YASIR IQBAL, Student Services I know what you’re all thinking – why is “space” capitalized? Hint: it’s not an acronym. Today is Oct 22nd, and as you all probably know, it’s international CAPS LOCK day. For the uninitiated, this day advocates for the removal of the caps lock key from the QWERTY keyboard because of its blatant overuse. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? HOW COULD SUCH A DAY EXIST?! Anyways, the Space Committee’s mandate is to advocate for and bring to you the highest quality of student space possible, as well as uphold the integrity of these spaces.

What you might not know is that the Space Committee is also involved in bringing some of the most popular student wellness events to you (like our Ice Cream Sundae event on Oct 30th!). Our goal is to create a student experience like no other for you! Together, we brainstorm ideas on how to do this, and welcome ideas from students like yourselves, who we are here to serve.

For example, while you’re figuring out what all these pharmacy acronyms mean, trying to answer PK HW questions (just stop trying and do the practice), thinking about how to not create a pharmacy that can be profitable, or going over a journal article for Advanced Therapeutics, here’s what we’re working on: What would you want in the lounge?

How can we improve our student space?

What student services are offered well and what can we improve upon?

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Who stole the WiiU? How do we ensure no one else steals the WiiU again?

What can we do to improve your mental health?

While there is a lot that your Space Committee does, there are also many things that we must rely on the faculty to assist us with, such as proxy cards, PBL room maintenance, and the condition of our facilities.

We also rely on you. You can help out by not compromising the integrity of our door codes, ensuring you keep our study rooms clean and in excellent condition, not removing the markers from the PBL rooms, closing the lounge and proxy card door on the main floor, and reporting any infractions of these guidelines to us. Most importantly, and as previously mentioned, we rely on you for ideas on how we can constantly improve.

Thank you for being an unofficial part of our team!

Yasir Iqbal—VP Student Services, Committee Chair, Class of 2017 Personal Goal: Be an effective advocate for the students in our program to the faculty to ensure our facilities and student space-related needs are being met.

Enjoys: Long lectures in management, listening to Susan Patrick’s videos, travelling, and soccer.

Looking for: Whoever stole the WiiU and put that gum under the table in the PBL room.

SPACE COMMITTEE

Mehnaz Anwar — VP Academic, Committee Member, Class of 2017 Personal Goal: Advocate for pharmacy students to faculty whether it be regarding their academics or the space they use to relax and unwind Enjoys: Watching suspension particles settle to the bottom, playing Mario Kart/Exploding Kittens in the lounge, travelling Looking for: Tips online on how to beat my friends in Exploding Kit-

Grace Wong – Class of 2016 Representative Personal Goal: Since our class isn’t together this year (cue overemotional sobbing), I want to make our student space and experience the best it can be, so we can make the most of things when we are on campus!

Enjoys: Song parodies, Arrested Development, attempting unrealistic Pinterest projects, and not looking at the camera in photographs Looking for: Our WiiU, a way to memorize Therapeutic Choices before the PEBCs, and Tupac Shakur

Sabrina Lorico—Class of 2019 Representative Personal goal: To make it through second year...alive.

Enjoys: Baking cakes, canceled classes, caffeine.

Looking for: A puppy!

Karlson Kennedy—Class of 2018 Representative Personal goal: Promote mental health through space committee events. Establishment of a board game club.

Enjoys: Complaining about 2nd year, asking what the average was on the exam, testing out practice inhalers, and running.

Looking for: Your friendship and ideas for events that would help your mental well-being.

Binh Nguyen— Class of 2017 Representative Personal Goal: Buy some cool things for some cool people.

Enjoys: Cat videos, Taylor Swift, and the SPACE committee.

Looking for: the real pumpkin in pumpkin spice lattes.

PHARMACY SUPERHEROES

PHARMACY SUPERHEROES Who is extra-super-amazing in our faculty? Here are this month’s heroes - both big and small.

Josh Simpson...

I can’t really tell you how much I enjoy talking to you. I don’t wanna sound cheesy but I kinda wanna be closer friends with you cos you’re the funnest guy! Seriously bro, never change.

Tiffany Tse and Ibrahim Mourad...

Thanks so much for selflessly giving up your saturday to help out with the hot dog sale the other weekend! <3

Morgan Kent...

Is one of the most genuine and positive pharmasistas I have the pleasure of knowing. She is always finding a way to brighten people’s days, and always finds a silver lining in some of the busiest days of the semester. On top of that, she is crazy smart and is always a great person to ask questions to. I’m so glad to be her peer and colleague!

Johnny...

Is so helpful and always calms me down before exams. He taught me the importance of slowing down at uncontrolled intersections and I can drive now because of him!

Submit a hero you know for our next issue at: tinyurl.com/pq2-questions

(780.409.5334) andrew.opinko@scotiabank.com

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L L I G N A W A P

MOVEMBER

WHY MOVEMBER?

BY ALIAKSANDR SAVIN

Why Movember? Why is it important? Why should I care? These were the questions I was asking myself as I was making my way to the Movember Canada launch party at Central Social Hall a couple of weeks ago. I mean, I know I am in charge of running the APSA Movember campaign, but what makes it special to me?

I didn’t need to look much further than 7 years ago. I was 15 years old and a ride operator at Galaxyland Amusement Park, home to the world’s largest indoor triple loop roller coaster (WOOOOAAAH, BRO).

It was the night of Rock N’Rides (if anyone remembers those LOL) and I was waiting for my ride assignment for the night. As I was patiently

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awaiting for my destiny to happen, an older gentleman happened to sit down at the same table as me. The fact that he had a black uniform shirt meant that he was a supervisor (ride operators had red shirts at the time).

Now to tell you the truth, I cannot remember if the conversation happened over my Red Squire Jazz Bass guitar or the music of Led Zeppelin but all I know now is that Dale became my favorite supervisor as soon as I met him. As I continued to work there and move up the corporate ladder (aka run rides less and less), I found myself growing closer to Dale and we began to learn more about each other and just chat about all sorts of things. He used to be a musician, touring many different places and getting into fights, one of which

MOVEMBER

caused him to get a glass eye… He then became a nurse and now he is a supervisor at Galaxyland. Dale was very soft-spoken and his wisdom was unmatched (especially when we would talk about girls).

It was around beginning of 2012 that I was applying to become an Operations Representative in Galaxyland, which is a fancy way of saying I wanted to be an office clerk that could also sell armbands and call custodial staff to clean up after kids who clearly went on more rides than they should have. If I got that promotion, the road to becoming a supervisor (my dream job) would be pretty much a guarantee. However, my life was not a fairy tale and I did not get it. Dale was the first person to pull me aside and tell me to not give up. He saw potential in me that I did not even know I had. He told me that my opportunity will come very soon and surely enough, it did! Not even a month later, customers calling Galaxyland got to hear the husky Belarusian voice that answered with: “This is Galaxyland Information Centre, Aliaks the Operations Representative speaking. How can I help you?”

But it did not stop there as later that year, I became a Galaxyland Park Supervisor. This meant that kids on skateboards had to be more careful when I was on shift.

Now before I got to be a supervisor, I worked a lot in the office as the Operations Representative. It just so happened that Dale started to work almost exclusively at the office with the exception where once a week on Fridays, he would run his favorite ride: The Flying Galleon. The more I worked with Dale, the more I began to notice that he began to have difficulty moving around. I

didn’t think much of it even as he began to use the cane, I simply thought of it as aging. I started to really question things when Dale stopped supervising all together. He had hard time walking up the stairs and eventually began to work less and less. It wasn’t until my second semester of first year that I stopped seeing Dale altogether. I started to ask around but no one seemed to know until one day someone in the office said the C-word. Dale had cancer. He didn’t have much time left and I was determined to visit him in the hospital, no matter what. But every time I tried to go, I wasn’t allowed to visit him. He would either be too weak or just sleeping through the day. Finally, it looked like the day to visit him has come. As I ran into the Galaxyland office to make sure that this was really true, I was greeted with a somber response simply telling me that I wouldn’t be able to visit Dale. No one will be able to. Just like that, Dale had passed away.

was really like. And although Dale is no longer with us, his memories continue to stay with me and all the people that he impacted. He was loved by those who knew him and in my tenure in Galaxyland, I have never met anyone like him and honestly I doubt I ever will. Ever. He took me from being that awkward and shy 15 year old to helping me become who I am today. He watched me grow and he helped me do it along the way.

This is the true beauty of meeting new people just like as I had the priveledge of meeting Dale. Because you really never know who you may come across or the impact that they might have on your life.

Now, you know why Movember is important to me. But what about you? Why Movember?

His loss really hit me. Quite often people would say how a death of a close person from cancer has impacted them and I would struggle to truly connect or relate. But it was then that I finally felt what that pain

PHOTO CREDITS: MOVEMBER FOUNDATION

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 09

MR. PHARMACY

Mr Pharmacy Candidates My mustache must be getting thick and bushy, because it’s getting hot around pharmacy - Movember has begun! You might want to attend this year’s Mr. Pharmacy after picking up some Ventolin for those breathless moments when a candidate winks in your direction. Take a look at our chic candidates paving the way into the future of Men’s Health.

Class of 2019:

SEAN HANSON Why is it so important that we talk about men’s health?

The prominence of men’s health issues has touched the lives of nearly all of us and raising awareness for prevention as well as funds for research is key to eliminating these issues. My family has been touched by prostate cancer so this issue is of special importance to me.

What came first, the mortar or the pestle? Why? Of course the pestle, without the pestle, the mortar is just a bowl.

What is the most important factor of the guido lifestyle: Gym, Tan or Laundry?

My friends will know that I excel in all of these activities, but how could I motivate myself to go to the gym or do laundry without a good tan?

What did you want to be growing up?

Why will you win Mr. Pharmacy?

A pharmacist, specifically Mr. Pharmacy.

Dedication to the cause and excitement to bring a night of entertainment that is beyond your wildest dreams.

If you were to write yourself into a Disney movie, which one would it be and what drug would you use to defeat the villain?

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My personal favourite: The Emper-

or’s New Groove. I imagine myself as Kronk “accidently” giving Ezma a laxative to keep her from getting to the potions first.

Please describe your idea of a perfect date.

I invite her to come to Mr Pharmacy with me and what I surprise I’m a contestant! She watches me win and the rest speaks for itself. Needless to say it went well.

If you suddenly found yourself turned into a woman, how would you spend your day?

I’d spend several hours learning how to do makeup, hair, etc. as a woman. And then once I was finally ready I would go watch Mr Pharmacy and cheer on all those charming lads.

What was the best compliment that you have received?

“Sean, I think you’re going to win Mr. Pharmacy.”

When you are training for the beachwear competition, who is your inspiration?

I’m motivated by all of the single ladies in the class of 2019. Gotta impress!

JARYD GALLANT

MR. PHARMACY

dentally encountered that day.

Why will you win Mr. Pharmacy?

I could go on for hours about how great I am, but to keep it short I’m charismatic, hilarious, handsome (or my grandma says), and I can grow a beautiful red beard to match my brown hair.

Why is it so important that we talk about men’s health?

Men’s health is incredibly important, as I am sure we have all seen the effects of what an unhealthy lifestyle can to anyone. Prostate and testicular cancer are the two most common forms of cancer in young men, and can be prevented with a good diet, and exercise.

Awareness needs to be raised for these issues as only 1 in 4 men meet the standard amount of exercise of 150 mins a week.’

What came first, the mortar or the pestle? Why? I noticed the other night as I was recreationally reading the dictionary that mortar is the first word to appear, and has to mean it was invented first as well.

What is the most important factor of the guido lifestyle: Gym, Tan or Laundry?

Tanning easily. I don’t keep this pasty white skin by lying around all day. I like to hit the tanning salon at least times a week in order to extract any UV rays I may have acci-

What did you want to be growing up?

When I was young I wanted to grow up and be a dinosaur rancher, but I’ve realized that this was not possible. I’ve finally faced reality, and now I just want to grow up to be Kanye West.

If you were to write yourself into a Disney movie, which one would it be and what drug would you use to defeat the villain?

I would 100% write myself into The Lion King, as I’m pretty sure Pumba is my spirit animal. I would attempt to use some codeine to defeat Scar, but I still see myself getting eaten as I’m not very competent in my lion fighting abilities, and I have a lack of faith in codeine helping me in this situation.

Please describe your idea of a perfect date.

Cue 7pm sharp, Kanye picks me up, and we go dine at a 6 star restaurant. He then pulls out a mariachi band to play me all his hits (so his entire discography). After he takes me for a long walk on the beach, and plays me the entirety of his new album live. On the ride home we contemplate how a man could possibly defeat a full-grown lion with nothing but codeine, but of course Kanye knows, because he’s perfect. FIN

JaryD

If you suddenly found yourself turned into a woman, how would you spend your day?

I would start off the day by shaving my beard, so I could fit in with society, and then I would sit in my room all day regretting shaving my beard.

What was the best compliment that you have received?

One of my good friends once told me that I have a very, very small resemblance to Chris Pratt. He’s actually sitting next to me right now…. And just gave me the compliment, because I asked him to… So that I could have an answer to this question…

When you are training for the beachwear competition, who is your inspiration?

Kanye West is my main inspiration when I’m benching 550 lbs. He has the most rocking dad-bod in the hemisphere, and I strive everyday to achieve that, because lets be honest, what more could anyone want?

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 11

MR. PHARMACY

Class of 2018:

CHANDAN SANGHA

Why will you win Mr. Pharmacy?

I think I’ll win Mr. Pharmacy because of my charismatic personality…and probably my hair.

Why is it so important that we talk about men’s health?

It’s really important that we talk about men’s health because I believe it’s something that often gets overlooked. Men don’t want to appear vulnerable and generally prefer to keep their issues to themselves. Therefore, by getting more information out to the public about the precautions and risks associated with various diseases it has the opportunity to potentially save lives.

What came first, the mortar or the pestle? Why?

Growing up, I wanted to be a doctor and a lawyer at the same time. Dual professionals are rare so I figured I would have been one of a kind.

If you were to write yourself into a Disney movie, which one would it be and what drug would you use to defeat the villain?

This one’s easy, the mortar of course! Without the mortar there wouldn’t be a need for the pestle. If the pestle came first, people probably would have been like, “great, now we’ve got a hard stick…what are we supposed to do with this thing?” but with the mortar coming first, it gave the pestle a purpose and a chance to be created.

I would definitely have to write myself into The Lion King without a doubt. It was always my favorite movie growing up and I must have watched it a million times. I would give Scar an endless supply of Senokot or GoLytely. They may not have the same effect in a lion, but hey if I can dehydrate him and deplete his electrolytes enough he stands no chance.

What is the most important factor of the guido lifestyle: Gym, Tan or Laundry?

Please describe your idea of a perfect date.

Most people would probably say the gym; but considering I don’t pump that iron very often and I’m already naturally tanned I’m going to say laundry. Got to look freshhhhhh at all times, you know?

What did you want to be growing up?

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A perfect date for me involves a nice night in at home, cuddled up on the couch with candles lit, and our placebo inhaler kits by our side. We’d discuss and share our thoughts on the use theophylline in asthma patients to really set the mood before we really got down to business, and practiced our inhaler techniques together. If all is going well, I might even let her twist my

turbuhaler to end the night on a good note. I get shivers just thinking about it.

If you suddenly found yourself turned into a woman, how would you spend your day?

I would spend the day attempting to perfect my strut down the runway in some seriously high heels.

How girls do it without breaking their ankles will always be a mystery to me; some serious respect for sure.

What was the best compliment that you have received?

The best compliment that I have ever received probably has to be that I had the ability to brighten someone’s day by just smiling.

When you are training for the beachwear competition, who is your inspiration?

Whenever I get down about my physique, there’s only one person who can inspire me and it’s Anuvir Bhullar. Whenever I feel like I haven’t been working hard enough, I think back to the time I beat him in an arm wrestle and I instantly feel better about myself.

MR. PHARMACY

KEVIN ZAPF What came first, the mortar or the pestle? Why? The morstles were first; these soon disorganized into mortars and pestles to increase the entropy of the universe.

What is the most important factor of the guido lifestyle: Gym, Tan or Laundry?

Obviously laundry. Fresh threads look great on any bod, but a fresh bod looks terrible if paired with lackluster threads.

What did you want to be growing up?

Why will you win Mr. Pharmacy?

The answer is simple: I’m WAYYY UP I FEEL BLESSED. Why is it so important that we talk about men’s health?

Cultural pressures toward hypermasculinity have created a health crisis among my peers, particularly those of low-income: depression, low self-esteem, violence, and addictions. Many of my male friends smoke, some are in prison, and this year I’ve lost two to suicide and two to fentanyl. For those who survive, their early acts of oppositional defiance will breed lifelong socioeconomic struggles, which will continue to propagate poor health.

In addition, hypermasculinity makes men hesitant to seek help, and untreated psychiatric disease results in widespread violence against women.

A criminal defense lawyer: I love public speaking, I love playing devil’s advocate, and I wanted their glorious cribs and whips.

If you were to write yourself into a Disney movie, which one would it be and what drug would you use to defeat the villain?

“Davy Crockett”. However, instead of fighting the aboriginals, I would plan a peyote ceremony at The Alamo to encourage peaceful dialogue and to dissolve western notions of capitalist supremacist imperialism.

Please describe your idea of a perfect date.

Hennessy and conversation, naked in a Jacuzzi, atop a luxurious hotel overlooking Manhattan. Then, we would wile-out at a nearby trap concert.

If you suddenly found yourself turned into a woman, how would you spend your day?

I would hang out at Menchies and eat frozen yogurt all day. I love that stuff, but I don’t like being seen there.

What was the best compliment that you have received?

A group of elderly English ladies, regulars at my restaurant, always say: “you’re too gorgeous to be serving fish”, and my personal favorite: “you remind me of my dead husband”.

When you are training for the beachwear competition, who is your inspiration?

Wiz Khalifa. He rocks the tall-thin body type like an absolute boss.

“University of Alberta Pharmacy, say hello to Mr. Pharmacy 2015: pill pusher, patient pleaser, women wooer, and swag master” - K. Zapf

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 13

MR. PHARMACY

Class of 2017:

ROY TRAM yielded its current bowl like form.

Without the pestle, the mortar would be planar and irrelevant. The pestle necessitates the mortar.

What is the most important factor of the guido lifestyle: Gym, Tan or Laundry?

Why will you win Mr. Pharmacy?

‘Cause I got the juice.

Why is it so important that we talk about men’s health?

Because traditional gender roles are so entrenched in masculine ideology that a good amount of men, especially older ones, are not only succumbing to preventable malignancies, but are also unwilling to reach out to primary caregivers until it’s too late to do so. Let’s make it OK to talk about men’s health so we can shift this way of thinking.

What came first, the mortar or the pestle? Why? Consider this: the mortar is merely a receptacle for trituration. Its origins stem from a slab exposed to continuous pounding which has

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None of the above. I believe in taking care of myself with a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine.

In the morning if my face is a little puffy I’ll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now. After I remove the ice pack I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower I use a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial mask which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.

What did you want to be growing up?

Usher.

If you were to write yourself into a Disney movie, which one would it be and what drug would you use to defeat the villain?

I’d write myself into the Incredibles and use an amphetamine in hopes of controlling Syndromes’ ADHD so he can use his genius to benefit society in a more meaningful way.

Please describe your idea of a

perfect date.

April 25th. Because it’s not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket.

If you suddenly found yourself turned into a woman, how would you spend your day?

Not much to be honest, but when nighttime rolls around I’d hit up the nearest club and try to get as many free drinks as I possibly could.

What was the best compliment that you have received?

Nice watch.

When you are training for the beachwear competition, who is your inspiration?

Dadbod extraordinaire, Christian Lavallee.

MR. PHARMACY

CALLEN KENYON Tan or Laundry?

Gym and Laundry are equally important. As a future pharmacist it is impetrative that we protect our epidermal layers and always wear at least SPF 30.

What did you want to be growing up?

Connor McDavid.

If you were to write yourself into a Disney movie, which one would it be and what drug would you use to defeat the villain?

Sometimes you got to risk it to get the biscuit.

Why is it so important that we talk about men’s health?

My Grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer and because of early screening and intervention he is still alive today. For this reason, we need to drive home the importance of getting checked out What came first, the mortar or the pestle? Why? Neither! In the beginning there was only one. He was the alpha and the omega. He is the beginning and the end of all things compounding.

LöBENBURG!!!!!

What is the most important factor of the guido lifestyle: Gym,

If you suddenly found yourself turned into a woman, how would you spend your day?

I’d pee sitting down and not feel self conscious about it.

What was the best compliment that you have received?

“You make me happier then when I see a well groomed moustache”.

When you are training for the beachwear competition, who is your inspiration?

BAE’s.

Please describe your idea of a perfect date.

IMAGE CREDITS: MOVEMBER FOUNDATION

Why will you win Mr. Pharmacy?

The Lion King. I’d compound a cream with some Vitamin E and maybe a little Cocoa Butter. I’d be grumpy too if I had a Scar on my face like that.

I’d take her out to a sports game then go to her parent’s house and arm-wrestle her dad.

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 15

MR. PHARMACY

Class of 2016:

DEON SOPKO

Why will you win Mr. Pharmacy?

Pretty sure Chandan Sangha already claimed the prize, so I’m just in this for the fun. JK, He doesn’t stand a chance. The last two winners of Mr. Pharmacy- Jason Croteau Walker and Bowden Sych- were from the Peace Country (Google it). I am also from the Peace Country. Coincidence?

I have determined that the mortar and pestle were created simultaneously in 35,000 BC. What is the most important factor of the guido lifestyle: Gym, Tan or Laundry?

This one is tough. I could use a lot more of all three of those things in my life, as is evident by my dad bod, pasty skin, and clothes littered all over my bedroom. The guido lifestyle is definitely not for me.

What did you want to be growing up?

Why is it so important that we talk about men’s health?

Although it’s obvious that women’s health is equally important, many of the prominent fundraising campaigns are focused on women’s health (Breast Cancer, for example). Prostate and testicular cancer rates are also increasing, and it’s important that we also encourage men to take care of themselves and get the proper testing done, as we can be more stubborn. In light of recent events that have happened on campus, it is imperative that mental health awareness is also on the forefront.

What came first, the mortar or the pestle? Why? After a ton of research and searching primary literature (Wikipedia),

16 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

An NHL player. And an astronaut.

Then a school bus driver. A Nascar driver, a police officer. Then a scientist. An optometrist, followed by a lawyer, and I guess a pharmacist now!

If you were to write yourself into a Disney movie, which one would it be and what drug would you use to defeat the villain?

I would definitely write myself into Mighty Ducks: D3. In order to defeat the evil Varsity squad, you can cheer me on as I spike their water bottles with Cialis. I think the effectiveness of this trick is pretty self-explanatory.

Please describe your idea of a perfect date.

Something not romantic. Average dinner at a midscale restaurant. Oilers game, concert, go to a pub with

mutual friends. Stuff like that.

If you suddenly found yourself turned into a woman, how would you spend your day?

Getting ready.

What was the best compliment that you have received?

You have a lot of freckles.

When you are training for the beachwear competition, who is your inspiration?

Selena Gomez. This will make more sense in a few weeks.

MR. PHARMACY

RAJ BHARADIA Why will you win Mr. Pharmacy?

Pretty sure Chandan Sangha already claimed the prize, so I’m just in this for the fun. JK, he doesn’t stand a chance. I’m going to win because I am always Changin’ da Game ©.

Why is it so important that we talk about men’s health?

Men’s health, whether it be physical or mental, is often overlooked. I think that all types of health for all types of people should be equally important, but advocating for men’s health is necessary in our society due to the stigma and attitude around what it means to “be a man”.

What came first, the mortar or the pestle? Why? I’d say the pestle came first. The original mortar was probably the ground, or a rock, or anything hard.

That being said, the original pestle

“The original pestle could have also been anything. Perhaps a human arm. Perhaps an ancient dinosaur learned how to smash something...”

could have also been anything.

Perhaps a human arm. Perhaps an ancient dinosaur learned how to smash something against something else. Truly, we will never know what came first. This question is way too deep. Next please.

What is the most important factor of the guido lifestyle: Gym, Tan or Laundry?

Definitely tan. Naturally, I was born a pre-tanned guido. It’s a gift and a curse.

What did you want to be growing up?

When I was young I wanted to be a garbage man (now formally known as a Refuse Collector or Sanitary Engineer, NOC code 7422). I used to watch them out of the window and thought it was the coolest thing in the world.

If you were to write yourself into a Disney movie, which one would it be and what drug would you use to defeat the villain?

I’d be Rajaladdin. I’d slip Jafar some Heisenberg meth and he would forget all about his issues with me.

Magic carpet rides for days.

Please describe your idea of a perfect date.

A nice dinner, then snuggling up and watching a movie. Please do not confuse this with Netflix and chill.

If you suddenly found yourself turned into a woman, how would

you spend your day?

Winning all arguments even when I’m wrong.

What was the best compliment that you have received?

A systematic review and meta-analysis carried out by Travis Barber, PhD candidate recently proved that I am the most interesting man in the world. (Barber et al, 2015) When you are training for the beachwear competition, who is your inspiration?

Deon Sopko. His intense dedication to training and working out has inspired me to want to do the same.

Although I haven’t gotten around to any training yet, I do really feel inspired. Maybe I’ll hit the gym next week.

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 17

TRAVEL

THE LEONG WEI HOME

BY ALYSSA ACO

5 countries, 20 cities, 7 weeks.

A young man and his journey through Europe and beyond tures and help set up their business website. I learned a lot about the technical duties in the pharmacy.

What activities did you do outside of the pharmacy?

Wei Leong is a 3rd year Pharmacy student with a dream to see the world. His zest for travel is evident in his seven week travel-a-thon through the large, lush playfield that is Europe. In the 2nd year of his program, Wei wondered what Pharmacy must be like on the other side of the world.

“I had an interest in a global perspective of Pharmacy so I picked to go to Germany.” Wei says “I wanted to see new things.”

The Great Adventure started in London to Germany (cheaper flight plan), and all around Dundee, Scottish Highlands, Dusseldorf and Velbert to name a few cities. We got the chance to sit down with the global learner for a quick interview about Pharmacy in Germany, life on exchange and everything in between.

What is the biggest difference between Pharmacy in Germany and Pharmacy in Canada?

A difference between Pharmacy in

18 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

Germany and Pharmacy in Canada is how business-focused they are in Germany. The Pharmacy workflow is very efficient with pre-filled boxes (pack size is exactly 30 pills) and printed prescriptions. They do not label the boxes because of privacy concerns. However, the biggest difference is the lack of clinical services provided by the pharmacists there.

Pharmacists don’t counsel on medications. There is minimal interaction between pharmacists and physicians via fax or phone call. Pharmacists are very competent in compounding medications. They are focused on technical aspect of pill-making with advanced knowledge on Pharmaceutics and industry pharmacy.

Please describe a typical work day during your exchange.

The German Pharmacy student association there organized a BBQ on the riverbank and we spent an afternoon paddling along the river. We visited the University of Heidenberg w/c is one of the oldest campuses in Germany. There was the Heidenberg castle as well as the pharmacy museum. We also went to a fraternity house which was100 years old. It was definitely more fun that just learning in Edmonton.

How did exchange affect your perspective of pharmacy?

I definitely appreciate pharmacy in Canada more now – doctors in Canada are more considerate, appreciate the interdisciplinary practice and I am happy to have Netcare and faxing

I would spend 6-8 hours at the pharmacy, observing the practice and interacting with my co-workers. Though my German is not that great, I still managed to hold simple conversations. I compounded mixPHOTO CREDITS: WEI LEONG

PQ POLLS and phone calling. Doctors in Canada work well with other healthcare professionals and are somewhat welcoming of our expanded scope. I like how pharmacists do consulting here and the clinical services we provide.

Going on exchange once was simply not enough for our travel bug. Wei is thinking of going on exchange once again next summer. “I really want to go to Portugal. I heard it is a beautiful place, I’m definitely thinking about it.” says Wei “We are only young once, its time to have fun.” The next adventure route will feature Italy, Germany and Turkey.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR CLASSMATES REALLY DOING?

BY PAWAN GILL

Mariah Anderson, our IPSF Representative, is available for questions regarding SEP opportunities for the upcoming year. There is an updated list of offered countries on the IPSF SEP database at: http://sep. ipsf.org/associations. This year there are 12 spots available for Canadian students. Application forms are available online at: http://sep.ipsf. org/apply and complete applications will be due on Sunday, December 6th at midnight. Pieces of the application include things such as a resume, motivational letter, preferred dates of travel and field of pharmacy, current study program details and a $150 fee. Please feel free to direct any questions to our IPSF Rep, either in person or by email (mkanders@ ualberta.ca).

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 19

A DAY IN THE LIFE

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

JIM KREMPIEN

ACP COMPLAINTS DIRECTOR QUESTIONS BY GHASAK HUSSAIN Hi Jim! Can you tell me a little bit about your career path since you graduated and how you got to be where you are today?

role was medical logistics. All the medications that all the hospitals were using for the Canadians came through our medical depot.

I graduated from the University of Alberta Faculty of Pharmacy in 1991 and was licensed with the Alberta Pharmaceutical Association later that summer. During my last two years of undergraduate studies in pharmacy, I was taking part in the regular officer training program for the Canadian Armed Forces. My first posting was at CFB Comox in Vancouver island, working as the Pharmacy Officer for the medical clinic and the administrative officer for the hospital. We had a small dispensary and a small inpatient setting, primarily taking care of the pharmacy needs for the members on the base. I was there from 19911993; from there I was posted to CFB Esquimalt, which takes care of Canada’s west coast fleet. I was the chief pharmacist for the hospital.

Again, we focussed primarily on outpatient services for the 10,000 sailors on coast. Our hospital also provided some medical logistics for the fleet. Each ship had a physician’s assistant; the larger ships had on a medical officer. If the smaller ships were short on medications, we would help provision it for them. During my time there I did an overseas deployment and a UN posting in Croatia and Bosnia. My

Wow, that’s quite interesting!

How did you transition from the Canadian Armed Forces to working with ACP?

20 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

My last posting was from 1996 throughout 1999 at the Central Medical Equipment Depot in Ontario, serving first as the Medical Material Control Officer. I retired as the Deputy Commanding Officer. I provided medical logistical support for all of the Canadian bases, both in-country and overseas. I finished my service engagement with the Canadian Armed Forces and settled with my family in Calgary, working at a retail grocery chain. We then moved back to St. Albert, where I was the licensee for a community pharmacy for many years. That’s when I got involved with APhA, and was one of the founding board members of RxA. So I did a lot of community work and was on council with ACP. In 2008 I took my current position as the Complaints Director.

That must have been a great experience being one of the founding members of RxA. Yes, and at the time APhA was

cleaved into 2 units: ACP and RxA. So a lot of transition work had to be done.

Within the complaints department, what does a typical day look like for you?

It’s about resolving complaints. A lot of it is resolution through education.

Between me and my assistant, we respond to calls— mainly from members of the public—with complaints against a pharmacist or a pharmacy as a whole. Often we provide information and education and offer an informal resolution.

Sometimes we take the complaint to the formal route, which will often require investigation. Another thing I will likely be doing in my day is managing and investigating the formal complaints.

That sounds like a lot of work— do you conduct the investigations yourself?

We do have another pharmacist that works on contract to help us out, sometimes he does preliminary investigations. For 95% of the formal complaints, I will do the investigation myself. I will go out and meet with the complainant and the pharmacist, talk with other pharmacy staff members and witnesses, and sometimes speak with other healthcare professionals involved.

How many of the formal complaints go on hearing?

About 10% of the formal complaints

A DAY IN THE LIFE do you receive per year?

I get about 50-60 formal complaints a year; around 5-6 of those go on to hearing.

I know that it must be quite diverse, but what is the nature of most of the claims that are investigated?

It’s still generally a medication error or an error that involves patient care: the traditional dispensing error— another term is a ‘technical mistake’. Now that pharmacists’ scope of practice has expanded, we get some complaints about injection errors and clinical mistakes.

PHOTO CREDITS: GHASAK HUSSAIN

go to hearing. In most cases, we often will take an education or remedial approach. That goes the same for formal complaints.

What is great about the Health Professions Act is that it now allows for different options; one of them is resolving matters by agreement. More than 75-80% of the complaints that go on to investigation can be be resolved by agreement. For pharmacists, this allows them to take reasonable steps to improve their practice.

I can often offer them a unique insight as to how their error could have occurred and how to take some additional steps to improve their practice. When I share the information with the complainant, they gain an understanding of the processes that contributed to the error.

You mentioned that most of the complainants are members of the public. Do the remainder constitute healthcare professionals?

Yes, it could be from pharmacists or physicians. Sometimes the

complaints are generated internally.

In the previous act, before an investigation could start we would have to receive a written complaint from someone. Now, section 56 of the act allows the Complaints Director to start an investigation just from information. In essence, I am the complainant.

If I get a news report or a complaint not in writing I can start an investigation.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

The most rewarding aspect is providing the education. Prior to 2008 I was primarily working in community pharmacy. Dealing with members of the public can be challenging. When I first started working as the complaints director, I did not expect that members of the public would want to resolve issues through an educational agreement.

I am always pleasantly surprised when the public is thankful and appreciative after I’ve provided education and information.

On average, how many complaints

What advice do you have for students and new graduates?

What I would tell them is that whatever you do, do it in your patients’ best interests. We have standards of practice and code of ethics; definitely read, understand and live those. But at the end of the day, if you can’t remember the different principles, just ask yourself whether it’s the benefit of your patient and what would a panel of other pharmacists think about your conduct. If you can check both of those off in a positive, then what you are doing is probably okay.

A couple recent hearing tribunals have involved new graduates and issues surrounding mental health.

Do you have specific advice regarding that?

My general advice is seek help and seek it immediately. I did do a bit of addiction training in California. They had special groups for those with addiction issues just for medical providers like physicians, pharmacists and dentists. What they find with

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 21

FILM SOCIETY

that segment of the population is that they think they can get out of it. Once they go far into the path of addiction, they still think that they are in control. However, we as a profession are no different that anyone else when it comes to stress, mental health, anxiety, medication misuse, drugs and alcohol. When you start think you might have a problem, you probably do. Talk to a colleague, talk to a healthcare provider. Don’t just do nothing.

That is very powerful advice.

Finally, where do you see the profession of pharmacy headed?

I definitely think its going in the right direction. This expanded scope of practice has been around since 2007, but it’s really only now that it’s become common for pharmacists to use their additional prescribing authorities, change dosage, and prescribe for continuity of care. Pharmacists will continue to be to seen as medication management experts— not just healthcare providers that dispense medications.

22 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

FILM SOCIETY: INCEPTION

BY ALYSSA ACO

Dicaprio stars in this epic scifi adventure about dreams, ideas and the lengths we go for redemption. Most critics say this movie was “the greatest”, but in all due respect, they are speaking from a Hollywood perspective. From my untrained eye with no appreciation for artistic direction, I found Inception a bit overwhelming – drowning the audience with so much information and multiple layers of perspective at the same time. Granted, it was suspenseful and engaging with great fight scenes – I mean, Joseph GordonLevitt’s zero gravity fight scene?

I DIED. But I remember when I first watched it, I left the theatre confused, angry and above all –

betrayed. Leaving the audience flabbergasted with a cliffhanger ending like that violates the unwritten contract between director and audience.

As pharmacy students, our minds are already so overworked (Ceutics – need I say more?). A movie like this definitely does not qualify for a Netflix and chill session.

If you crave something intelligent, mind-boggling and thought-provoking, I would highly recommend this sci-fi thriller. But if you’re looking for something to clear your mind from studying, you should probably try an Adam Sandler movie instead.

PHOTO CREDITS: WARNER BROS. PICTURES

FALL FASHION

TRENDING WITH EDDIE HUANG

BY JASMINE HAN

colour of the cardigan - this stale green colour resembles the colour of your grandpa’s sweater! I really like this outfit because you can wear it for business casual at the same time. Personally, I chose this because I have what people call a baby face.

For example, if I were to ask someone to guess my age, they usually go for high school. So I really wanted to mask the misconception of looking young by wearing something more mature. How well it works depends on how people look at it.”

I am sure that there are many fashionable people out there among our “Pharmily”, but Eddie Huang happened to be the one who caught my eyes on our very first day at orientation for Class of 2019. Eddie was born and raised in Edmonton with two other younger brothers.

Luckily, I was given an opportunity to talk to Eddie for some fashion tips, and for this month’s PQ+2 issue, we will be looking at his “Grandpa Style”.

You know someone is a real fashionista when they have divided sections in their closet - Eddie’s closet has different sections. Starting with hangers from left to right, he has a section of dress-shirts, bomber jackets, blazers, suits, dress pants, jeans, and khakis. At the bottom in his drawers, he has sweaters, T-shirts, and other clothes. He has one pair of sweatpants. To me that’s a mindblowing concept, as my closet pretty much equals sweatpants. Funnily enough, Eddie also has a problem most girls would have: when you go through your clothes, there are never really enough clothes to wear.

I then asked him what the key to standing out in the fashion world.

He replied: “I believe that it’s confidence. At the end of the day, it really is up to you, and your mindset. It is what you want.

If you want to look a certain way, or present yourself a certain way, then you just have to put more effort into that style. Being fashionable doesn’t mean wearing what looks good on others or what is trending.

You don’t have to look a certain way at any point in your life. You don’t have to wear a certain style. You don’t have to wear a certain brand either. I don’t think brand names mean anything. You don’t have to be wearing the nicest clothes as long as it is nice and fits you. This will give you self confidence, because you will love what you wear, not what others think you should wear.”

I asked Eddie what made him name it Grandpa Style and who it would suit. This is what he had to say: “I call this Grandpa Style, because of the overall coziness and warmth you get from the style and the combination of colours. Look at the PHOTO CREDITS: JASMINE HAN

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 23

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS

BY WINNIE LO

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS:

SHERLOCK HOLMES PUB

And you’ve got to read this too! Each issue, the PQ will be visiting one of the many restaurants on our APSA membership card to give YOU an inside look at the food you’re missing out on!

This time, we visit a nearby pub with English flair and fun menu items named after all our favourite Sherlock characters. Anyone interested in some of Mrs. Hudson’s Bread Pudding?

Winnie – back once again to eat a small mountain of food #theonetheonly Countryside Shepard’s Pie: Lean ground Alberta beef, local vegetables, beef gravy and mashed potatoes Saskatoon Berry Cobbler: Homemade from local Saskatoon berries grown in Gibbons, AB. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The pie was very different from what I was expecting – instead of a pie crust, there was a layer of mashed potatoes. A little plain on it’s own, but much improved with gravy. The berry cobbler is divine – the juicy Saskatoon berries with the light ice cream can’t go wrong!

Definitely strong contestants for good hearty winter-type meals! 4/5 PHOTO CREDITS: SHERRY ZHU

Sherry – the chronicler returns once more #YorkSherryPudding Mini Yorkshires: Traditional English mini Yorkshire puddings stuffed with shaved Alberta prime rib and rosemary au jus.

Mrs. Hudson’s Bread Pudding: An old English favourite with cinnamon, whiskey, golden raisins and orange zest.

Served with vanilla ice cream.

The beef did not really have much flavour, so if you are going to get this, make sure to get it with gravy. The dough shells were good though, they were crisp and went well with the beef. The bread pudding was quite enjoyable, especially with the ice cream. The orange zest and raisins gave great flavour and the doughy texture was good too. Overall, the food was alright and service was great, but too pricy for my liking. 3/5 24 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

YOU’VE GOT TO TRY THIS Monica – the cutest girl in all four years of pharmacy #theoracle Pound of Chicken Wings – Frank’s Red Hot Sauce World’s Greatest Chocolate Cake: Four indulgent layers of cake and frosting drizzled with chocolate icing and dark chocolate shavings. Served with whipped cream.

You can never go wrong with spicy chicken wings - except I needed additional hot sauce because the sauce that was on it absorbed into the chicken. The World’s Greatest Chocolate Cake was really rich and came in quite a generous slice; I recommend sharing it with friends! Overall, everything I ordered made me feel like hitting the gym and eating a salad after. #sohealthy 4/5 Yusuf – the new trainee of the PQ Committee! #GreenHorn Athena Pizza: Green peppers, black olives, red onion, mushrooms, fresh tomato, feta, and Sherlock’s three cheese blend Saskatoon Berry Cobbler This pizza has my favourite salty foods – feta cheese and black olives. At the same time, the tomatoes would have been better if they were grilled instead of simply thrown on the pizza at the time of baking. Green peppers and mushrooms are good toppings for the three cheeses.

I got the cobbler to provide a second opinion to Winnie but it comes with ice cream so I knew there was no wrong choice. It was like a pie with no crust and was at the perfect temperature so as to melt the ice cream a little but not to turn it to a liquid all at once.. It was filled with berries and wasn’t too sweet. Great dish – the vanilla ice cream completes the package. 4/5

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 25

CAM CORNER CAM CORNER

ARNICA

BY BRANDON WAGSTAFF, GILLIAN BAILEY, KEVIN ZAPF, LAPINDA CHITNUYANONDH & LAUREN ROSS What is Arnica Used For? Over the years, Arnica has been touted for a large variety of uses. Oral arnica has been used for sore throat, cough, fever, trauma, pain, circulation issues and drowsiness 1,4. Topical arnica has been used for aches, bruising, sprains, irritation, wounds, sudden hair loss, gingivitis, boils, tumors, chapped lips, loss of vision, stroke, arthritis and insect bites 3,5. However, many of these uses are debatable. Arnica has been classified by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) as an unsafe herb1,2,3. However, Health Canada has approved arnica for treatment of inflammation and pain of muscles and joints6,7.

What Does the Evidence Say? Arnica contains compounds called sesquiterpene lactones, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities8. However, despite this seemingly logical mechanism of action, evidence on the true effectiveness of arnica is controversial at best. Also, there is no standardization or consensus on the safest and most effective dosing1.

Overall, there is a lack of good quality studies on arnica usage in humans2, especially in children3. A general trend with arnica studies; where there is one study with a positive result for the use of arnica, there is another study with a neutral or negative result8.

In the midst of the conflicting evidence, one promising use is relief of inflammation of joints and muscles, especially in conditions like osteoarthritis. A review of topical arnica gels found that it is probably as effective as a gel containing a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for relief of pain and improvement of function, but possibly with more side effects9.

What is Arnica?

Arnica is a natural product, made from one of the herbs of the Arnica genus from the plant family Asteraceae1,2. These plants are found in many places across both Europe and North America3. Arnica has been used to treat a wide variety of maladies, dating back centuries.

Its first reported use was in the 1100s in German rituals3.

From there, it became increasingly popular in European folk medicine1. In the 1800s, the main usage of arnica became homeopathic preparations3.

Homeopathic medicine uses very dilute natural preparations and is based on the concept that less is more. Today, arnica is available in numerous forms, including capsules for oral use, and gels and creams for topical use2,3.

Safety Issues Topical arnica is considered generally safe8 but it does have the potential to cause skin irritation and cause contact dermatitis (a red and itchy rash)1. Arnica should not be applied to broken skin because it can lead to systemic absorption and serious side effects2. Oral arnica, in homeopathic preparations are unlikely to cause any issues as it is a small amount1. In any larger concentrations, arnica can cause very serious side effects, including internal bleeding4.

Arnica is not recommended for use in pregnancy and lactation due to lack of evidence of safety2 and increased risk of premature labor1. Additionally, there is a risk of increased bleeding when arnica is used together with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications or natural products such as clopidogrel, warfarin, clove, or ginseng3.

The Bottom Line Although arnica preparations have been claimed to treat many conditions, the actual effectiveness has not been established with good quality scientific evidence. Additionally, although most reported side effects are mild, it does have a risk of serious safety issues, which is exacerbated by the lack of standardization of preparations and dosing. Currently, the only condition arnica seems to be effective for is relief of pain and inflammation in muscles and joints.

Topical arnica should only be used for this reason after talking to a physician or pharmacist about different options to relieve symptoms. However, it should not be used by people with any gastrointestinal or cardiovascular issues, including blood pressure problems.

FLICKR IMAGES: LYNETTE, CHRISTINA MAKI

1. Lexicomp Online (2015). Arnica Monograph. Natural Products Database. Retrieved from http://online.lexi.com/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/ fc_rnp2/3750020#f_clinical-overview. (Accessed April 6, 2015) 2. MedicinesComplete (2015). Arnica Monograph. Monographs (A). Retrieved from https://www.medicinescomplete.com/mc/herbals/current/HBL1000728220.htm?q=arnica&t=search&ss=text&p=1#_hit. (Accessed April 6, 2015) 3.Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (2014). Arnica Professional Monograph. Natural Medicines Professional Monographs. Retrieved from https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/ food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=721. (Accessed April 6, 2015) 4. Šutovská, M., Capek, P., Kočmalová, M., Pawlaczyk, I., Zaczyńska, E., Czarny, A., …Franova, S. (2014). Characterization and pharmacodynamics properties of Arnica montana complex. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 69, 214-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.05.051 5. Leu, S., Havey, J., White, L.E., Martin, N., Yoo, S.S., Rademaker, A.W., Alam, M. (2010). Accelerated resolution of laser-induced bruising with topical 20% arnica: a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Dermatology, 163, 557-563. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09813.x 6.Health Canada (2015). Arnica Monograph. Natural Health Products Ingredients Database. Retrieved from http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=arnica&lang=eng. (Accessed April 8, 2015) 7. Health Canada (2015). Arnica Semisolid Dosage Form Monograph. Natural Health Products Ingredients Database. Retrieved from http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=arnica.semi&lang=eng.

(Accessed April 8, 2015) 8. Kouzi, S.A., & Nuzum, D.S. (2007). Arnica for bruising and swelling. American Journal of Health- System Pharmacy, 64, 2434-2443. http://dx.doi.org/10.2146/ajhp070155 9. Cameron, M., & Chrubasik, S. (2013). Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013(5), 1-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010538

DEAR EDITOR

DEAR EDITOR, Lately I’ve been... I’ve been losing sleep, dreaming about the things we could be. But baby I’ve been.. I’ve been praying hard. Said no more counting $ we’ll be counting stars.

Yours truly, Onere publik

Dear Onere Publik, Do you also feel feel something so wrong by doing the right thing? And that everything that kills you also makes you feel alive?

These are classic pharmacy school griefs; we have unfortunately all been there.

You’re losing sleep, you’re dreaming of alternate careers, and you’ve finally put monetary focus on the backburner. At this point, all you want is to be a free spirit, to feel love…. to count stars. To get out of this rut, you have to dig deep and remember why you applied to pharmacy in the first place.

For many of us, we applied because we were old (but not that old), young (but not that bold), and we were just doing what we were told. Up to this point, we have done everything that society has deemed acceptable to do at this phase in our lives. We all chose a career based on our values, interests, GPA, and financial restrictions, hoping that in the long run we will love our chosen path. Yet it is impossible to know for sure if you will love your chosen profession until you are licensed and practicing; will a caterpillar know it loves to fly before it becomes a butterfly? Likely not.

curiosity to try something new. We all have dreams to become something great, to make a difference in this world. Steve Jobs was known for asking himself every morning: “if today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” Ask yourself that same question. If the answer is yes, keep trudging through-- you will get there.

OneRepublic songs make great study music in the meantime. If the answer is not pharmacy, it’s time to sit down with yourself and connect with your passions-what is it that you love? What brings you joy? In the words of Maya Angelo, “you can only become truly accomplished at something you love...don’t make money your goal... instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”

We all deserve to count stars. Good luck, Onere Publik.

Love,

Ghasak Hussain PQ Editor

It sounds like you have a burning FLICKR GRAPHIC: WEBTREATS

Our brand new questions column is now up and running! Do you have a question you’d like to ask our editors’? Drop us a word at our submissions page: tinyurl.com/pq2-questions

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 27

PHARMACY NEWS

A TALE OF TWO DRUGS

BY YUSUF NASIHI The 2015 Nobel Prize, awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, was given to three scientists for the development of two drugs: William Cecil Campbell and Omura Satoshi developed a drug called avermectin and Tu Youyou developed artemisinin.

The development of avermectin started with Satoshi Omura, in Japan. His thousands of samples of Streptomyces avermitilis yielded fifty strains that might be effective in medicine. William Campbell, a scientist at pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co, studied Omura’s cultures and found a substance produced by one those cultures which was effective against parasites in farm animals. Avermectin and its derivative for human use would go on to provide meaningful impact on treating tropical diseases caused by roundworms, like river blindness.

Tu Youyou developed artemisinin under much different circumstances and her story might be considered the more interesting of the two.

Her expertise in traditional Chinese medicine led Mao Zedong, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, to recruit her to a project to find a new treatment for malaria. Interest in antimalarial drugs in China was driven by the Vietnam War in which both sides suffered losses to the mosquitoborne disease.

Government Project 523 started in 1967 and took both traditional and modern approaches to finding a treatment for malaria. Scientists took to the rural areas of Hainan to see if the fever treatments that villagers used had any efficacy. And when the plant qinghao, which was

28 PHARMACY QUARTERLY

already being consumed as tea for malaria treatment, was discovered, the laboratory scientists dealt with bioavailability and metabolism.

Tu Youyou suspected that boiling the herb in water, as the villagers were doing, could eliminate the active ingredient. Tu instead boiled the qinghao using an either-based solvent to isolate the active chemical.

The solvent boiled away at 35 degrees and thus provided the extraction effects while exposing the precious artemisinin to less heat.

Her given name (Youyou) is onomatopoeia of the sound of deer “bleating” (making a wavering cry).

The word comes from a sentence in the Chinese Book of Odes (Shijing) that has been translated as: “Deer bleat “youyou” while they are eating the wild Hao.” Hao is the same class of plant as qinghao, the plant from which artemisinin is extracted.

Where these scientists differ in their careers is made up in the indications of the drugs they developed. The Royal Academy awarded these three for their contributions to developing treatments for diseases caused by parasites. Bringing anti-parasite pharmaceuticals to market, however, was never a guarantee.

As Dr. Judy Gnarpe of the University of Alberta’s Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology explained to PQ + 2, development of drugs which target parasites faces obstacles.

On a chemical level, drugs that are lethal to parasites are difficult to design because most chemicals that are toxic to parasitic fungi and bacteria are also toxic to humans: “Parasites are eukaryotic organisms just as we are. The perfect drug would affect only the parasite and have no

side effects on the human host cells, and this is difficult as the cells are very similar and have similar structures.

In addition to the human toxicity concerns, the concept of resistance to medication exists among eukaryotic microorganisms as well. As Dr. Gnarpe explains, “The parasites that cause most of the problems globally have evolved ways to either mutate or vary the expression of antigens on their surface, so drug design is very difficult.”

On a more positive note, there is reason to believe that prevention can go a lot further than committing time and money to research on pharmaceuticals. Dr. Gnarpe supported this view, saying: “Big pharma is not willing to put a lot of funds into research on novel antimicrobials, particularly in areas [of the world] that cannot afford to buy them.”

Economics will likely always influence the progress of medicine. Indeed, the aforementioned Merck & Co made its money off avermectin use in farm animals first and only then, gave up its patent on the medication for use in humans. But perhaps we should start to consider medication a more worthwhile goal for third-world countries.

Where as measures for prevention of parasitic disease would be ideal, perhaps it can be said that conditions like those in 1960s Vietnam made it necessary to focus on developing a medication. Perhaps countries that are currently in that sort of disarray, like those poor nations in central Africa, would benefit from more medication research. In the future, their governments may invest in medical infrastructure and improve prevention efforts to improve their people’s lives.

Thanks are in order for Dr. Gnarpe for the consultation provided in the writing of this article.

HOROSCOPES

PHARMACY HOROSCOPES

BY MONICA WONG, MAYA CIKALUK, WINNIE LO LIBRA (SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

ARIES (MAR 20 - APR 19)

A. You are tired and need a break.

B. You are hungry and need a break.

C. You are super tired and hungry.

D. All of the above. SURPRISE! The correct answer is E: make sure to eat a good meal and catch some Z’s this month!

Once again the class average was high but do not worry. It is not the grades who make the person, but the person who works hard and does his or her best will surely see some positive results. Just believe you can and you are halfway there!

SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21)

TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20)

This is your month! Time to pull out your throne, crowns, and banners proclaiming your greatness – if you can find it beneath the pile of exams you’ve got coming up! Nonetheless, take some time to celebrate you and your specialness – we need more of you!

Fall is here! The best time of year for all those pumpkin goodies. For an intense studying session, take 1 pumpkin goodie PO PRN, because a good snack is where it’s at.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21)

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20)

Are you at a loss for words when you have to write a reflection? It’s been said a large moustache helps to focus the mind. Stroking the ends will create focus and open the mind to contemplation. Plus who wouldn’t want to grow a ’stache in Movember?

During reading break it may be tempting to drink, and drink…and drink. Be sure to not overdo it and keep fluid levels up with isotonic electrolyte solutions. If you’re unsure of what solution to use, you can always calculate the mEq. If you really want to impress, use alligation to show off your mixology skills.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22 - JAN 19)

CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22)

Getting information to absorb systemically is hard, especially when you have a narrow therapeutic range. Try studying in smaller doses more frequently to stay within your attention span limits, or find a relationship between your study dose and amount of information retained for max grades.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20 - FEB 18)

You always seem to get sick this time of year.

Time to get that annual flu shot - hopefully the adjuvant won’t be too bothersome. If you acquire the common cold however, you’ll just have to suck it up; there is NO CURE for the cold :(

LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22)

You just saw the Mr. Pharmacy video and are swooning like crazy over all the contestants. As you dream one day to become the very best, you confidently brush up on those dazzling counselling skills. Don’t forget: Dress to impress and you will definitely feel like a SCHOLAR!

You look up into the sky and suddenly see an interesting fluffy shaped cloud. It sort of resembles a cat, or was it a dog? Maybe some other fluffy creature comes to mind. Now seems like a good time for some pet therapy. Grab your closest pet or friend and give them a big hug!

PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 19)

VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22)

As the planets of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn align, pharmacy students under the stars of Pisces may find themselves experiencing a string of good luck! Share this happiness with your less fortunate classmates by paying it forward for good karma.

Reaching a study hiccup that no amount of study osmosis can overcome? Shake up your studying environment by checking out a new library, café, or hanging out with a different group of friends! You’ll make that A anyways,

PHARMACY QUARTERLY 29

PRESENTED BY OUR SPONSOR:

SCOTIABANK

PHOTO CREDITS: ELAINE ROSS BAYLON, LARISSA RUSSELL, SHERRY ZHU, HELEN MARIN

This issue, we asked pharmacy students to submit a piece of Movember-related work. The stakes?

3 random submissions would recieve a $10 Starbucks giftcard and a feature in this issue! Pharmacy’s ladies took this task to heart and sent in creative ideas!

This issues’ winners are: Larissa Russell Sherry Zhu Helen Marin

GROWYOUR-OWNMUSTACHESEASON CONTEST