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A survey of administrative structure and academic status of clinical faculty in accredited schools of pharmacy showed that all responding schools (70 per cent return) have a full-time clinical faculty category with most having part-time and unsalaried as well. Information on departmental power, promotion, tenure, and reappointment are included. (JT)

The literature concerning the use of fructose to lower ethanol blood levels in acute alcoholic intoxication is reviewed. Studies indicate that 500 ml of a 40% infusion of fructose solution given over a 30-minute period can increase the rate of decline of ethanol blood levels by 25%. The recommended daily dosage is one to three liters of a 10% solution. Lactic acidosis is a potentially serious side effect of large doses of fructose. The lack of controlled clinical studies or other convincing evidence makes the routine use of fructose to treat acute alcoholic intoxication inadvisable.

A course in psychotropic drug therapy for first-year psychiatry residents at the University of Connecticut Health Center is described. The course is taught by a pharmacist with training and experience in the psychiatric patient care setting. During the 8-week, 16-hour course, emphasis is placed on the practical aspects of selection and use of psychotropic drugs, including antipsychotic agents, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety agents. A major objective of the course is to familiarize the residents with current psychotropic drug literature. Within the context of this course offering, the role of the pharmacist as an educator of the physician is discussed.

The rates of deamination of arabinosylcytosine (Ara-C), cytidine (Cyd) and cytosine (C) are compared in the presence and in the absence of catalytic buffers. Ratios of the rate constants in the absence of intermolecular catalysis by buffers indicate intramolecular catalysis by the 2′-hydroxyl in Ara-C. For example, the ratio of the deamination rate constants at pH 4.7, 70° is 53/1.4/1 for Ara-C/Cyd/C. In contrast to Cyd and C which show catalysis by both the acidic and basic components of the buffers, Ara-C exhibits only general-acid catalysis. These data suggest that intramolecular participation by the 2′-hydroxyl in Ara-C replaces the general-base catalytic role which the buffers perform in the deamination of C and Cyd. Mechanisms for inter- and intramolecular catalysis in the deamination of Ara-C, Cyd, and C are discussed.

The literature concerning the use of fructose to lower ethanol blood levels in acute alcoholic intoxication is reviewed. Studies indicate that 500 ml of a 40% infusion of fructose solution given over a 30-minute period can increase the rate of decline of ethanol blood levels by 25%. The recommended daily dosage is one to three liters of a 10% solution. Lactic acidosis is a potentially serious side effect of large doses of fructose. The lack of controlled clinical studies or other convincing evidence makes the routine use of fructose to treat acute alcoholic intoxication inadvisable.