Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Interclass Gpcr Heteromerization Affects Localization And Trafficking, Rudy Toneatti

Theses and Dissertations

Class A serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) 2A (5-HT_2AR) and class C metabotropic glutamate 2 receptors (mGluR2) are seven transmembrane receptors (7TMRs or G protein-coupled receptors – GPCRs) involved in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. Previous findings from our laboratory reported that 5-HT_2AR and mGluR2 are dysregulated in the prefrontal cortex of patients suffering from this psychiatric condition, although 5-HT_2AR’s expression was recovered in antipsychotic-medicated patients. Genome-wide association studies on schizophrenia reported that endosomal trafficking that regulates cell surface abundance of another 7TMR implicated in this disease (dopamine D2 receptor) can be altered. Ligand-activated receptors, including the …

Achieving Better Care In Pennsylvania By Allowing Pharmacists To Practice Pharmacy, Travis Murray

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Traditionally, state legislatures implemented Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (“PDMPs”) to assist prescribers, pharmacists, and law enforcement in identifying patients likely to misuse, abuse, or divert controlled substances. PDMP databases contain a catalog of a patient’s recent controlled substances that pharmacies have filled, including the date, location, the quantity of medication filled, and the prescribing health care provider. Prescribers in Pennsylvania have a duty to query the PDMP before prescribing controlled substances in most clinical settings. Pharmacists have a similar duty in Pennsylvania to dispense safe and effective medication therapy to patients and to screen patients for potential signs of misuse, …

Evaluating Patient And Provider Knowledge Of Safe Pharmaceutical Disposal Procedures In Vermont Through A Public Health And Environmental Lens, Emily R. Straley

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Patient and provider knowledge of safe pharmaceutical disposal procedures is crucial from both a public health and environmental standpoint. Unfortunately, studies have shown that Vermont residents are largely unaware of safe drug disposal programs in their communities. This project evaluated patient knowledge of drug disposal practices and awareness of safe pharmaceutical disposal procedures at Hinesburg Family Medicine. A short phrase was created to better disseminate information about safe drug disposal in Hinesburg, which can be added to a patient’s after visit summary. Many patients report never discussing medication disposal with their physician. Therefore, increased provider communication regarding leftover and unused …

In Silico Approach For Hepatoprotective Activity Of Piper Crocatum Leaf Toward Cytochrome P450 2e1 Protein, I. Nyoman Ehrich Lister, Chrismis Novalinda Ginting, Ermi Girsang, Wahyu Widowati, Ika Adhani Sholihah

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Liver plays important roles in metabolism of harmful xenobiotics. Prolonged exposure to chemicals, daily dietary supplements, or pharmaceutical drugs may cause liver damage or hepatotoxicity. Acetaminophen is a well-known pharmaceutical drug causing hepatotoxicity through generation of reactive metabolite called N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine through Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) metabolism. In the present study, we intended to predict the possible hepatoprotective properties of red betel (Piper crocatum) leaves. Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) was used to predict the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of major compounds of red betel, namely, eugenol, isoeugenol, chavibetol, hydroxychavicol, and allylpyrocatechol. Molecular docking was performed to analyze binding mode …

Effect Of Co2 Laser Irradiation On Eudragit® L100-55, L100, And S100 Coatings To Modify Drug Release, Varin Titapiwatanakun, Wanjing Li, Simon Gaisford, Abdul W. Basit

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The aim of this work was to investigate the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser irradiation to modify three types of pH-dependent Eudragit® (L100-55, L100, and S100) enteric coats with the aim of modulating drug release kinetics from the tablet cores. CO2 laser irradiation causes rapid melting and resolidification/vaporization of materials locally and precisely through the absorption of infrared energy and so can potentially disrupt the barrier integrity and function of enteric coats. It was successfully utilized to shorten the lag time of drug release (T50% and T80%) during dissolution testing. These changes were mainly caused either by pore formation …

Structure Based Prediction Of A Novel Gpr120 Antagonist Based On Pharmacophore Screening And Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Ajay Pal Mr, James Curtin, Gemma K. Kinsella

Articles

The G-protein coupled receptor, GPR120, has ubiquitous expression and multifaceted roles in modulating metabolic and anti-inflammatory processes. Recent implications of its role in cancer progression have presented GPR120 as an attractive oncogenic drug target. GPR120 gene knockdown in breast cancer studies revealed a role of GPR120-induced chemoresistance in epirubicin and cisplatin-induced DNA damage in tumour cells. Higher expression and activation levels of GPR120 is also reported to promote tumour angiogenesis and cell migration in colorectal cancer. Some agonists targeting GPR120 have been reported, such as TUG891 and Compound39, but to date development of small-molecule inhibitors of GPR120 is limited. …

Utilization Of Paenibacillus Polymyxa In The Recovery Of Lithium Bearing Minerals, Diana Bullen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

In the global transition to green energy in the transportation and power production sectors, lithium has emerged as a viable solution, and crucial component, for the effective storage of renewable resources. To avoid further degradation of the land due to mining for virgin material, methods focused on recovering lithium must be developed. This research project seeks to explore a new way to recover lithium by using the bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa. The bacteria were grown and then applied to the lithium bearing mineral spodumene. Settling velocity profiles were constructed for different treatments of spodumene. It was found that the spodumene …

Structural Characterization And In Vitro Antiproliferative Activity Of Non-Specific Lipid Transfer Protein 1 (Nsltp1) From Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) Seeds, Mekdes Megeressa

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are cationic proteins involved in intracellular lipid shuttling, in growth and reproduction, as well as in defense against pathogenic microbes. Even though the primary and spatial structures of some nsLTPs from different plants indicate their similar features, they exhibit distinct lipid-binding specificities signifying their various biological roles that dictate further structural study. The present study determined the complete amino acid sequence, in silico 3D structure modeling, and in vitro antiproliferative activity of nsLTP1 from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds.

Fennel is a member of the family Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) native to southern Europe and the …

Great East Lake 2021 Water Quality Highlight Report, Amanda Mcquaid, Robert Craycraft

UNH Cooperative Extension

A Water Quality Highlight Report by UNH CE Lakes Lay Monitoring Program for Great East Lake (Wakefield, NH; Acton , ME) for sampling efforts in 2021.

Morphological Changes In Dorsal Root Ganglia Macrophages Associated With Neuropathic Pain Mechanisms Suggest A Novel Target For Chronic Pain Therapy, Emily Kussick

CMC Senior Theses

The present study examined morphological changes in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following an innate immune stimulus. The importance of the DRG has increasingly become recognized in pain processing as more than just the home of primary afferent cell bodies. All sensory information passes through the DRG via the primary afferents, and on to the spinal cord. The primary afferents synapse with second-order neurons in the spinal cord that ascend towards the brain, where they transmit the pain signal to the limbic forebrain and/or the somatosensory cortex for processing. The DRG is an interesting niche to study at as it …

The Protective Effects Of Mir-210 Modified Endothelial Progenitor Cells Released Exosomes In Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injured Neurons, Sri Meghana Yerrapragada

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to provide beneficial effects on oxidative stress. Exosomes (EXs) released from these stem cells could be one of the major contributors, as they are known to convey the benefit of one cell to another cell via microRNAs (miRNA). At first, we determined that EPCs release more EXs when they are serum-starved for 48 hours., and by determining the microRNA-210 (miR-210) levels in the EXs, we found that miRNA is being transferred from cells to EXs. Meanwhile, miR-210 is gaining popularity in reducing elevated oxidative stress levels. In this study, we investigated the role …

Functions Of Atr Kinase In Terminally Differentiated Human Epidermal Keratinocyles And In Human Ex-Vivo Skin After Exposure To Ultraviolet B Radiation, Vivek Shashank Nag Gogusetti

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The functions of Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad-3 related protein (ATR) is very much important in a cell, as it is a DNA damage response protein, which plays an important role in cell division, DNA repair and apoptosis. This protein helps in proliferation in the actively DNA dividing normal cells and in cancer cells. The functions of ATR in a proliferating cell are well studied and known to involve regulation of replication fork and cell cycle progression after DNA damage. Whereas, in a non-replicating cell, the functions of ATR are not so well known. In the human body, most of the …

Xeroderma Pigmentosum A Deficiency Results In Increased Generation Of Microvesicle Particles In Response To Ultraviolet B Radiation, Christian Lea Rajeshkumar

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Xeroderma Pigmentosum is a genetic disorder in which ability to repair DNA damage such as from UV radiation is decreased. Nucleotide excision repair is known for repairing DNA damage caused by UV radiation and XPA plays a major role in recognizing and eliminating abnormal section of DNA. Therefore, XPA deficiency decreases repair efficiency of DNA. Of note, XPA deficiency is linked with photosensitivity. Microvesicle particles are membrane-bound particles which are released into the extracellular environment in response to multiple stimuli including the lipid Platelet activating factor (PAF). Previous studies have shown that XPA deficiency can induce increase production of reactive …

A Qualitative Study Of Nimbyism For Waste In Smaller Urban Areas Of A Low-Income Country, Mzuzu, Malawi, Rochelle H. Holm, Brighton A. Chunga, Adrian Mallory, Paul Hutchings, Alison Parker

Faculty Scholarship

When waste management infrastructure is built, there can be resistance from the local affected populations, often termed the Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) phenomenon. This study aims to understand the forms of resistance that may develop in such contexts, focusing on 2 solid waste and 1 liquid waste management site within Mzuzu City, Malawi. At the newest solid waste site, community resistance had grown to the extent that the site was reportedly destroyed by the local community. Interviews and observations of the sites are complemented by examining historic and recent satellite images. It was found that, at the new solid …

Opioid Use Disorder: The Timeline For Medication Assisted Therapy, Alexander Cristofori

Capstone Showcase

Opioid Use Disorder is patterns of opioid use leading to withdrawal, giving up important life events in order to use opioids, and excessive time spent using opioids, to name a few diagnostic criteria. The clinical progression of the disorder involves periods of acute exacerbation and remission that are cyclic in nature. Treatment is most effective when it includes both pharmacological and psychosocial modalities, referred to as medication assisted therapy (MAT). Three drugs used commonly in MAT-based treatment for OUD from oldest to newest include Methadone, Buprenorphine-naloxone, and Naltrexone. Treatment program models that prioritize total abstinence from the addictive substance attached …

A Temporal Record Of Microplastic Pollution In Mediterranean Seagrass Soils, Martin Dahl, Sanne Bergman, Mats Björk, Elena Diaz-Almela, Maria Granberg, Martin Gullström, Carmen Leiva-Dueñas, Kerstin Magnusson, Candela Marco-Méndez, Nerea Piñeiro-Juncal, Miguel Ángel Mateo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 Elsevier Ltd Plastic pollution is emerging as a potential threat to the marine environment. In the current study, we selected seagrass meadows, known to efficiently trap organic and inorganic particles, to investigate the concentrations and dynamics of microplastics in their soil. We assessed microplastic contamination and accumulation in 210Pb dated soil cores collected in Posidonia oceanica meadows at three locations along the Spanish Mediterranean coast, with two sites located in the Almería region (Agua Amarga and Roquetas) and one at Cabrera Island (Santa Maria). Almería is known for its intense agricultural industry with 30 000 ha of plastic-covered …

Full Issue: Volume 14, Number 2, Spring 2021

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 14, Number 2 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences. Published Spring 2021.

Effects Of Soy Isoflavone, Anne Roberts

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Soy, which contains a form of phytoestrogen known as isoflavones, impacts the biological activity of humans at all stages. There are many aspects to consider when determining whether soy is beneficial. Since the hormone estrogen plays a significant role in maintaining the biochemical and homeostatic conditions of an individual, it follows that the disruption of estrogenic levels can be detrimental. There are many hormone- dependent diseases that can be linked to one’s diet, and the possibility of utilizing phytoestrogens, such as soy, to prevent or control hormonal irregularities is compelling. This paper explores the effects that phytoestrogens, specifically soy, can …

The Relationship Between Autoimmunity And Polyautoimmunity, David Schon

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Autoimmune disease refers to a systemic immune response by the body against its own healthy tissue and cells. This results in various non-specific and systemic inflammatory processes that evolve into more than 100 individual diseases. Numerous biological similarities exist between the different pathophysiological pathways, including biochemical cascades and inflammasome mediators. This paper aims to investigate whether contracting one form of autoimmune disease can lead to the development of polyautoimmunity and multiple autoimmune syndrome. Scientists have identified chronic levels of high stress as a contributor to higher levels of C-reactive protein and several immune modulating interleukins, which can lead to both …

The Riddle Of The Fetal Allograft, Rachel Tepper

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The immunological paradox of nurturing a fetus with paternal antigens poses some perplexing questions. Peter Medawar, an immunologist, asked at a lecture, “How does the pregnant mother contrive to nourish within itself, for many weeks or months, a fetus that is an antigenically foreign body?” Researchers have since then struggled to answer this question. The research on this topic has led to a few general hypotheses that try to explain this phenomenon. The downregulation of T cells toward paternal alloantigens is an accepted hypothesis. Another hypothesis discusses the significance of the decidua and its ability to impair dendritic cells, which …

What Are The Possible Causes And Effective Therapeutic Approaches Of Preeclampsia?, Adina Hadi

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy primarily characterized by hypertension and proteinuria and affects other organs as well. The underlying causes are not yet fully understood. However, it is suggested that angiogenic factors of the placenta, genetic factors, a malfunctioning immune system, and oxidative stress all play a role in causing preeclampsia. Currently, the only definitive cure known for preeclampsia is delivery of the baby. Management of the condition includes taking preventative measures as well as drugs such as labetalol and MgSO4. This paper analyzes mechanisms of preeclampsia and determines the possible causes and most effective ways to manage the …

The Role Of Immunotherapy In Treating High-Risk Neuroblastoma, Mollie Raczkowski

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Neuroblastoma originates from the cells in the neural crest. High-risk neuroblastoma, patients have poor outcomes even with the multi-step treatment plans, including immunotherapy maintenance treatment. Researchers in developmental biology search for unique antigens in neuroblastoma cells to utilize monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Currently, GD2 is the most effective antigen that scientists have isolated in the tumor; these anti-GD2 mAbs are administered in the forms of Dinutuximab or Dinutuximab beta to attack the tumor. Monoclonal antibodies are currently administered in neuroblastoma instead of CAR T (that has seen success in curing different types of leukemias) due to the heterogeneity of this tumor. …

Migraine Triggers, Adina Jeidel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Migraines are a painful and life-interrupting disease which strikes around 23 million Americans every year (Goadsby et al., 2017). Not enough studies have been done to help the public fully understand migraines. Details regarding the causes and pathophysiology of migraines continue to be analyzed by physicians and scientists, as no theory has been fully confirmed regarding a migraine’s concrete path. The goal of this scientific review is to provide an overview for the main triggers of migraines, in reference to recent clinical investigations, and to understand why they might cause patients to be more prone to having a migraine attack …

Effects Of Emerging Contaminants On Centrarchidae And Catostomidae In Midwestern Rivers: A Multiple Biomarker Approach, Camden Garret Nix

Masters Theses

Natural habitats of fish are gradually declining due to land use and pollution caused by industrial wastes, intensive agriculture and contamination from sewage systems. The United States has 14,780 wastewater treatment facilities that discharge effluent into navigable waters, and in some cases these discharge waters represent a considerable proportion of the water system flow. These activities make it critical to discern the effects of pollutants that are entering our waterways at a consistent rate, such as 17β-estradiol (E2) and nickel, on aquatic organisms. To determine the effects of 17β-estradiol on endocrine disruption in fish, Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) …

Retrospective Review Of Pharmacogenetic Testing At An Academic Children's Hospital., Timothy A. Roberts, Jennifer A. Wagner, Tracy L. Sandritter, Benjamin T. Black, Andrea Gaedigk, Stephani L. Stancil

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

There is limited evidence to support pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing in children. We conducted a retrospective review of PGx testing among 452 patients at an academic children's hospital to determine the potential utility of PGx in diseases of childhood and to identify targets for future pediatric pharmacogenetic research. An actionable gene-drug pair associated with the 28 genes tested (Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) level A or B, Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base (PharmGKB) level 1A or B, or US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation and a PharmGKB level) was present in 98.7% of patients. We identified 203 actionable gene-drug-diagnosis groups based on …

Effects Of Acute And Chronic Nicotine Administration On Choice Of Probabilistic Outcomes, Katya A. Nolder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Risky choice can be operationally defined as the choice for a larger, uncertain reinforcer over a smaller, certain reinforcer. Research suggests smokers engage in more risky or maladaptive decisions when compared to nonsmokers. The relation between nicotine and risky choice could benefit from further investigation, since nicotine is the active substance of tobacco products that maintains tobacco addiction. Acute nicotine administration has shown to alter risky choice; however, since the everyday smoker uses nicotine repeatedly, more research on chronic administration is warranted and would allow for assessment of tolerance or sensitization of these effects. The present study investigated effects of …

Exploring Early Signaling Associated With Complex Stressors, Julia A. Penatzer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Humans are constantly exposed to a vast number of stressors in our everyday lives from social interactions to physical activity to chemical exposures, to name a few. These stressors have significant impacts on an individual, from the cellular to whole organismal level. The body contains an intricate communication system that elicits a number of both biological and physiological responses as it attempts to maintain homeostasis. Observing these responses to stressors, can offer insight into a number of outcomes, which can be beneficial (increasing life longevity) or detrimental (leading to a disease state). By measuring specific biological adaptations at particular time …

Melanogenesis, Its Regulatory Process, And Insights On Biomedical, Biotechnological, And Pharmacological Potentials Of Melanin As Antiviral Biochemical, Toluwase Hezekiah Fatoki, Omodele Ibraheem, Catherine Joke Adeseko, Boluwatife Lawrence Afolabi, Daniel Uwaremhevho Momodu, David Morakinyo Sanni, Jesupemi Mercy Enibukun, Ibukun Oladejo Ogunyemi, Akinwunmi Oluwaseun Adeoye, Harriet U. Ugboko, Amoge Chidinma Ogu, Abiodun Samuel Oyedele, Adejoju Omodolapo Adedara, Abiodun Joseph Jimoh, Oluwakemi Ruth Ogundana, Oritsetimeyin Eworitse Ebosa

Chemistry Student Research

Melanin is s most widely distributed pigment and is found in bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. Melanogenesis is under complex regulatory control by multiple agents interacting through pathways activated by hormonal and receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms. There are about 20 genes that are involved in the biochemical pathway of melanogenesis and its regulation, which include: tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, melanocortin1 receptor, adenylate cyclase, protein kinase A. Human melanogenesis regulatory proteins such as MAPK1, CREB3, and CREBP, have binary interaction with the protein of herpesvirus, hepatitis C virus, Human immunodeficiency virus type 1, Simian virus 40, and Human adenovirus A and …

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) Ethanolic Extract Exhibited Activities That Inhibit -Glucosidase Enzymes And Postprandial Blood Glucose Elevation, Maria Dewi Puspitasari Tirtaningtyas Gunawan Puteri, Felicia Melissa Tjiptadi, Phebe Hendra, Filiana Santoso, Zalinar Udin, Nina Artanti, Florence Ignatia Florence Ignatia

Makara Journal of Science

Lemongrass is a common ingredient in Indonesian traditional herbal medicine that potently inhibits carbohydrate hydrolysis. In this study, the in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory (AGI) activity of lemongrass was compared with its in vivo activity to retard postprandial blood glucose elevation, and the bioactive compounds responsible for these activities were observed. Both water and ethanolic extracts of lemongrass (WLG and ELG, respectively) were tested in vitro for its inhibition of the sucrose and maltose hydrolyzing activities of rat intestinal glucosidase. ELG was observed to exert higher inhibitory activities (Sucrase IC₅₀ = 8.74 mg/mL; Maltase IC₅₀ = 18.93 mg/mL) than …

The Effects Of Maternal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol And Cannabidiol Exposure On Fetal Heart Development In Mice, Gregory Robinson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Up to 22.6% of pregnant women consume cannabis during pregnancy despite the uncertainty of teratogenicity of the main ingredients in cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). This study tested the hypothesis that gestational THC and CBD exposure leads to heart abnormalities. Daily, oral THC exposure induced heart abnormalities in 68% of offspring with three main phenotypes including thickened semilunar valves, ventricular myocardial hypertrophy and hypoplastic coronary arteries in fetuses, and postnatal cardiac dysfunction. Altered gene expression of key cardiogenic regulators, increased proliferation, and reduced epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition were demonstrated implicating potential mechanisms responsible for these abnormalities. Also, maternal CBD exposure resulted …