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Based on Ben Franklin's project to develop his virtuousness, we present an assignment that provides a structured process to facilitate students' virtuousness in their day-to-day lives. Students determine four virtues they wish to develop. Each week, students focus on behaving consistently with one of these virtues. At the end of each day, they record whether their behaviors were consistent with each of their four virtues. On a weekly basis, students engage in self-reflection, practical reflexivity, peer coaching, and a class discussion of their experiences of attempting to live out their chosen virtues and what they are learning about being virtuous, and with what actions and structures they might experiment to improve their effectiveness. These practices deepen students' self-understanding and improve their abilities to be virtuous. Student feedback strongly supports that engaging in the assignment helped them identify meaningful virtues and personal behaviors consistent, and inconsistent, with those virtues, improve their abilities to behave consistently with these virtues, understand the impact of living out their virtues within the context of their day-to-day lives, increase their self-understanding, and improve their abilities to engage in self-observation and self-reflection.

The conversion of melanocytes into cutaneous melanoma is largely dictated by the effects of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Yet to be described, however, is exactly how these cells are affected by intense solar UVR while residing in their natural microenvironment, and whether their response differs in persons with a history of melanoma when compared to that of healthy individuals. By using laser capture microdissection (LCM) to isolate a pure population of melanocytes from a small area of skin that had been intermittingly exposed or un-exposed to physiological doses of solar UVR, we can now report for the first time that the majority of UV-responsive microRNAs (miRNAs) in the melanocytes of a group of women with a history of melanoma are down-regulated when compared to those in the melanocytes of healthy controls. Among the miRNAs that were commonly and significantly down-regulated in each of these women were miR-193b (P

Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic inflammatory dermatosis that can affect all age groups. This evidence-based guideline addresses important clinical questions that arise in its management. In this final section, treatments for flare prevention and adjunctive and complementary therapies and approaches are reviewed. Suggestions on use are given based on available evidence.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, pruritic inflammatory dermatosis that affects up to 25% of children and 2% to 3% of adults. This guideline addresses important clinical questions that arise in atopic dermatitis management and care, providing recommendations based on the available evidence. In this third of 4 sections, treatment of atopic dermatitis with phototherapy and systemic immunomodulators, antimicrobials, and antihistamines is reviewed, including indications for use and the risk-benefit profile of each treatment option.

Atopic dermatitis is a common and chronic, pruritic inflammatory skin condition that can affect all age groups. This evidence-based guideline addresses important clinical questions that arise in its management. In this second of 4 sections, treatment of atopic dermatitis with nonpharmacologic interventions and pharmacologic topical therapies are reviewed. Where possible, suggestions on dosing and monitoring are given based on available evidence.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic, inflammatory dermatosis that affects up to 25% of children and 2% to 3% of adults. This guideline addresses important clinical questions that arise in the management and care of AD, providing updated and expanded recommendations based on the available evidence. In this first of 4 sections, methods for the diagnosis and monitoring of disease, outcomes measures for assessment, and common clinical associations that affect patients with AD are discussed. Known risk factors for the development of disease are also reviewed.

This article presents a student-established, shared-purpose process used to increase student engagement with, commitment to, and responsibility for their learning. In addition to establishing a shared purpose for their course, the students establish and commit to ways of being, doing, and interacting with one another necessary to intentionally and mutually achieve the shared purpose and other meaningful learning outcomes. They also commit to an individual practice that they believe will increase the likelihood of achieving the shared purpose, as well as identify personal inhibitors to achieving it. This process represents a form of experiential/case-in-point, student-centered, transformative, and partnership learning that is relevant to leadership, team, and organizational development courses. Based on the established shared purpose, we share how to effectively facilitate additional partnership and in-class experiential learning opportunities over the course of the semester.

Background: Recent data have demonstrated a lower incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease utilizing preemptive CMV treatment compared to universal prophylaxis in CMV seronegative liver transplant recipients who receive allografts from CMV seropositive donors (donor‐positive [D+]recipient‐negative [R−]). However, there are little data on the feasibility and outcomes after switching transplant center protocols from universal CMV prophylaxis to preemptive treatment. Methods: All D+R− adult liver transplant recipients underwent pharmacist‐led weekly monitoring of World Health Organization standardized quantitative plasma CMV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) after transplant for 6 months. Valganciclovir was started when plasma CMV viral load (VL) reached 100 IU/mL. All patients who were at least 12 months post‐liver transplant were retrospectively reviewed for incidence of CMV DNAemia and CMV disease in this cohort study. Results: Among 30 CMV D+R− liver transplant recipients, 23 (77%) developed target CMV DNAemia (≥100 IU/mL) at a median of 26 (range: 10–37) days after transplant with a median peak CMV VL of 947 IU/mL. Valganciclovir was started promptly with a median lag time of 1 (range: 0–5) day. There were no differences in surgical or infectious complications and readmission rates between patients with and without CMV DNAemia. Two patients had possible CMV disease in the first 6 months. None developed CMV disease in 6–12 months posttransplant. Only two patients who developed CMV DNAemia had acute cellular rejection, and none had graft loss or death. Weekly CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was late on only three occasions for all patients before reaching the target CMV VL (<4%). Among those who remained nonviremic, 85% of scheduled weekly CMV PCR testing was completed in the first 3 months. Conclusion: Preemptive CMV treatment in high‐risk liver transplant recipients is feasible and safe. There was a low rate of CMV disease in the first 12 months post‐liver transplant with a pharmacist‐led protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between food insecurity and inflammatory-mediated dermatological diseases. The study found that food insecurity may be more prevalent in individuals with certain skin conditions, such as alopecia and atopic dermatitis. Inflammatory skin diseases have been associated with processed foods, additives, and low nutrient levels. The study suggests that individuals experiencing food insecurity may be at an increased risk of developing inflammatory skin conditions or experiencing a higher burden of their disease. However, the study is limited by a small sample size and predominantly female participation. Further research is needed to investigate the influence of food insecurity on dermatological diseases. [Extracted from the article]