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Metabolic Stability And Pharmacokinetics In Lead Optimization Of Potential Anti-Psychostimulant Pharmacotherapies, Seshulatha Jamalapuram Jan 2013

Metabolic Stability And Pharmacokinetics In Lead Optimization Of Potential Anti-Psychostimulant Pharmacotherapies, Seshulatha Jamalapuram

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Drug addiction is a chronic disorder characterized by obsessive and uncontrollable drug-seeking behaviors. It is a major public health problem globally as well as in the United States. Apart from causing severe medical complications it also leads to several socioeconomic problems like healthcare expenditures, lost earnings and increase in drug-related crime. The discovery and development of potential pharmacotherapies to treat cocaine dependence has been a high priority for more than two decades but still there is US-FDA approved medication. This illustrates the need for the development of effective medication to treat cocaine and methamphetamine abuse. Sigma receptors have recently been …


Actual And Perceived Sexual Behaviors In College Students, Tabitha Denise Flowers Jan 2013

Actual And Perceived Sexual Behaviors In College Students, Tabitha Denise Flowers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare college students' actual sexual behaviors and their perceptions of sexual behaviors among their peers. The analyses consisted of 65,036 participant's ages 18 to 24, with a mean age of 20.20 years (sdâ±1.55) who completed the American college health association's national college health assessment in 2008. The dependent variables were the normative gap of: number of partners, sexual activity, and condom usage. Three one-way anovas with bonferroni post hoc analyses were used to determine differences between the dependent variables and the following independent variables: age, sexual orientation, and living arrangement. Anovas were used …


Dual Targeting Ligands Of Sigma Receptors And Dopamine Transporters As Potential Pharmacotherapy For Cocaine Abuse, Shivangi Awasthi Jan 2013

Dual Targeting Ligands Of Sigma Receptors And Dopamine Transporters As Potential Pharmacotherapy For Cocaine Abuse, Shivangi Awasthi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.


The Effects Of Whole Body Vibration On Muscle Recovery And Performance, Nicole Dabbs Jan 2013

The Effects Of Whole Body Vibration On Muscle Recovery And Performance, Nicole Dabbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Facilitating muscle recovery in trained individuals is essential, as it allows for a quicker return to activity without reduction in performance. Many proposed modalities have been studied but have not shown consistent effectiveness. A relatively new modality, whole-body vibration (WBV) has been shown to increase strength and power outcomes and recently has been shown to decrease perceived pain associated with muscle soreness. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of WBV following exercise induced muscle damage over a period of 72 hours in recreationally trained females. Participants were randomly selected into either the control group or …


Part A: Antimalarial Agents Modified At The C-16 Position Of Artemisinin; Part B: Lead Optimization Of Falcipain-2 And Falcipain-3 Inhibitors, Yunshan Wu Jan 2013

Part A: Antimalarial Agents Modified At The C-16 Position Of Artemisinin; Part B: Lead Optimization Of Falcipain-2 And Falcipain-3 Inhibitors, Yunshan Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Part A: Antimalarial Agents modified at the C-16 position of Artemisinin. Malaria is a widespread tropical and subtropical parasitic disease which is caused by malarial parasites and transmitted by the infected anopheles mosquitoe. The natural product artemisinin and its derivatives are currently considered the most effective drugs against drug resistant plasmodium falciparum. However, its undesired physicochemical proprieties have limited its usage. In order to improve its effectiveness, scientists around the world have developed novel methodology to synthesize artemisinin derivatives on different positions of the artemisinin skeleton. Previous work in our group has shown that many analogues modified at the C-16 …


Molecular Modeling And Sar Studies Of Cdk5/P25 Selective Inhibitors, Arindam Chatterjee Jan 2013

Molecular Modeling And Sar Studies Of Cdk5/P25 Selective Inhibitors, Arindam Chatterjee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most dreaded forms of progressive neurodegenerative diseases. The two main hallmarks of AD are the formation of amyloid senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Cyclin dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is a proline directed serine/threonine kinase, which expressed primarily in the central nervous system. In the biochemical process the CDK5-natural activator, p35 is cleaved by calpain to a shorter protein p25, which in turn hyperphosphorylates Tau, forms neurofibrillary tangles and causes AD. CDK5 deregulation is also indicated in other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington's chorea, stroke, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, major depression and substance …


The Design, Synthesis, And Biological Evaluation Of Aplysinopsin Analogs As Potential Neuromodulators, Kevin Lewellyn Jan 2013

The Design, Synthesis, And Biological Evaluation Of Aplysinopsin Analogs As Potential Neuromodulators, Kevin Lewellyn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aplysinopsins are tryptophan-derived natural products that have been isolated from a variety of marine organisms and have been shown to possess a range of biological activities. Initial synthesis of a library of 50 aplysinopsin analogs revealed that of the 12 serotonin receptor subtypes and 34 other CNS receptors, aplysinopsin analogs shoa high affinity for the 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C receptor subtypes, with selectivity for 5-HT2B over 5-HT2C. Bromination at C-4 and C-5 of the indole ring resulted in greater binding affinities, with Ki's as low as 35 nM. In addition, biological evaluation of the MAO-A and MAO-B inhibitory activities of these …


Characterization Of Different Hydrophilic Polymers And Their Applicability In Hot Melt Extrusion Technology, Sindhuri Maddineni Jan 2013

Characterization Of Different Hydrophilic Polymers And Their Applicability In Hot Melt Extrusion Technology, Sindhuri Maddineni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research in the pharmaceutical field involves investigation of a new drug, delivery route, a delivery system, a technology to design the delivery system, or a combination thereof. Scientists have explored several delivery routes such as oral, pulmonary, nasal, injection/implant, transdermal/dermal, transmucosal etc. for their potential to transport a variety of small and large drug molecules. In the present research work, oral route, a widely accepted route of administration, for the delivery of products with a major market share, has been considered for the delivery of poorly soluble actives. The use of appropriate carrier matrices (polymers) and excipients help in incorporating …


Community Pharmacists' Attitudes Toward An Expanded Class Of Nonprescription Drugs, Ruchitbhai Mukesh Shah Jan 2013

Community Pharmacists' Attitudes Toward An Expanded Class Of Nonprescription Drugs, Ruchitbhai Mukesh Shah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: there has been considerable discussion about creating a third class of drugs which would not require a prescription, but require a pharmacist's consultation upon purchase. Very recently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a hearing which repositioned a third class as an expanded nonprescription drug class termed as the "new paradigm" using certain innovative technologies. The specific objectives of this study were to: 1) measure community pharmacists' attitudes toward an expanded nonprescription drug class under the FDA’s proposed "new paradigm"; 2) determine if attitudes of community pharmacists toward an expanded nonprescription drug class under the FDA’s proposed "new …


Structural Characterization And Bioactivity Of Cranberry Oligosaccharides, Kimberly M. Auker Jan 2013

Structural Characterization And Bioactivity Of Cranberry Oligosaccharides, Kimberly M. Auker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Complex carbohydrates from plant sources, such as the fruits of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton), promote human health in a variety of ways. However, complete studies of carbohydrate function often hinge on a detailed understanding and thorough elucidation of the chemical structure. Several methods have been used in the structure elucidation of cranberry oligosaccharides, such as derivatization folloby analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In this manner, the identity and quantity of glycosyl units within two cranberry oligosaccharides were investigated through hydrolysis of the oligomers and subsequent synthesis of trimethylsilyl and alditol acetate derivatives. Further analysis using partially methylated alditol acetate …


A Neurophysiological Examination Of Stress Control In Martial Artists, Jack Pemment Jan 2013

A Neurophysiological Examination Of Stress Control In Martial Artists, Jack Pemment

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The philosophies behind many martial arts often claim that by practicing martial arts individuals can gain better control over stress. We tested this idea by using controlled physical stressors to elicit an acute stress response from martial artists (n=15) and non-martial artists (n=18). To measure the extent of the stress response, we looked at changes in heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and galvanic skin level. These three measures explore both parasympathetic and sympathetic responses, and changes in these variables continue to be explored in studies of stress and reactive aggression. In addition to our physical stressors we also exposed individuals …


Using A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach To Address Individual And Community Health In Charleston, Ms. The Initial Step: A Formative Needs Assessment, Catherine Dane Woodyard Jan 2013

Using A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach To Address Individual And Community Health In Charleston, Ms. The Initial Step: A Formative Needs Assessment, Catherine Dane Woodyard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this formative study was to use a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach to conduct a comprehensive health needs assessment (CHNA) in Charleston, Mississippi (MS) to determine perceived needs of the community and identify priority health issues. A second purpose was to provide methodological and scholarly contributions to the existing literature regarding CBPR and CHNAs. The target population was residents living in Charleston, MS (N=2,193). Eighty-five residents participated in the study. This was a five-part study including: (1) Key informant interviews (n=11), (2) Focus groups (n=8), (3) Assessment of the built environment, (4) Assessment of the nutrition environment, …


A Process Evaluation Of The Brief Alcohol Screening Intervention For College Students Program At The University Of Mississippi, Tiffany Bouldin Lawson Jan 2013

A Process Evaluation Of The Brief Alcohol Screening Intervention For College Students Program At The University Of Mississippi, Tiffany Bouldin Lawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol misuse by students is a prevalent public health problem on college campuses across the nation. Underage drinking and binge drinking are two distinct forms of alcohol misuse that are comamong college students and often result in negative consequences for the students, the universities, and the surrounding communities. As a result, there is an increasing need for universities to provide targeted intervention programs for students who misuse alcohol. Furthermore, it is important that the selected interventions are capable of successful implementation on campus. The University of Mississippi currently utilizes the brief alcohol screening intervention for college students (basics) program for …


Concurrent Adherence To Multiple Chronic Disease Medications: Examining The Behavior And Issues Concerning Its Measurement, Ram Sankar Basak Jan 2013

Concurrent Adherence To Multiple Chronic Disease Medications: Examining The Behavior And Issues Concerning Its Measurement, Ram Sankar Basak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives the objectives were to 1) examine adherence to multiple medications prescribed for a chronic disease (intra-disease multiple medication adherence) and that of multiple chronic diseases (inter-disease multiple medication adherence); 2) determine appropriate measurement paradigm from different intra-disease multiple medication adherence measurement approaches; 3) identify optimal cut-point for a dichotomized composite measure. Methods a retrospective study design was used. The subjects came from the marketscanâ® commercial claims and encounters data 2002-2003 and filled both sulfonylurea (su) and thiazolidinedione (tzd). Adherence was measured by proportion of days covered (pdc) over each period of 30 or 90 days and cumulatively. Random components …


Effects Of A Brief, Three-Day Mindfulness Meditation Protocol, Andrew James Kurz Jan 2013

Effects Of A Brief, Three-Day Mindfulness Meditation Protocol, Andrew James Kurz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Skin Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, And Preventative Behaviors Among North Mississippi Landscapers, Vinayak Kumar Nahar Jan 2013

Skin Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, And Preventative Behaviors Among North Mississippi Landscapers, Vinayak Kumar Nahar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Skin cancer is a significant public health problem in the US. Each year over 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in more than two million individuals, resulting in nearly 12,000 deaths (American Cancer Society, 2012). Many studies have been conducted on outdoor workers to assess quantitative data of exposure and protection behaviors, with the majority of studies carried out on farmers, construction workers, and postal workers (Saraiya et al., 2004). Nonetheless, far too little attention has been given to members of other occupational groups who mainly work outdoors, such as landscapers. It was estimated in the US that …


Synthesis Of Natural Product-Based Sphingosine Derivatives, Zarana Daksh Chauhan Jan 2013

Synthesis Of Natural Product-Based Sphingosine Derivatives, Zarana Daksh Chauhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Marine sponges represent an excellent source of sphingolipids and their metabolites, especially sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P plays an important role in cell differentiation, survival, proliferation and the immune response. The enzyme sphingosine kinase (SK) is critical for the phosphorylation of sphingosine to S1P and has been examined as a druggable target for the treatment of hyper-proliferative diseases, inflammation, cancer and other pathological conditions. Natural products that consist of an azetidine ring represents an interesting class of conformationally constrained scaffolds that may serve as effective lead compounds for SK inhibitor development. Hence, the goal of this thesis research was to synthesize natural-product …


Scaffold Perception, Compharmacophore Model Development, And Quantitative Structure-Affinity Relationships Of Sigma Site Ligands, David Enos Watson Jan 2013

Scaffold Perception, Compharmacophore Model Development, And Quantitative Structure-Affinity Relationships Of Sigma Site Ligands, David Enos Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sigma receptors are endogenous proteins with potential utility in treating psychological disorders, ischemia, the psychological and convulsive effects of drugs of abuse, and as an imaging agent for cancerous tissues, among others. Drug design efforts targeting these receptors have been hindered by a lack of structural information of the receptors themselves. Traditional ligand-based approaches have succeeded in generating many compounds with high affinity, and quite a few with selectivity for σ-1 receptors. There are few selective ligands for use as pharmacological probes for the σ-2 receptor. Much effort has gone into exploring the structure activity relationships of ligands targeting these …


The Impact Of Dietary And Exercise Habits On College Students' Life Satisfaction, Megan L. Marsh Jan 2013

The Impact Of Dietary And Exercise Habits On College Students' Life Satisfaction, Megan L. Marsh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A majority of college students do not maintain healthy lifestyle practices. Few college students achieve recommendations for adequate nutrition and instead typically consume diets high in fat, sodium, and sugar and low in fruits and vegetables. In addition, few college students meet current physical activity recommendations, and 40-50% do not exercise at all. Life satisfaction is associated with low levels of stress, academic achievement, goal progression, and personal growth initiative, all of which contribute to success in college as well as the transition from college into the working world. Exercise, fruit and vegetable intake, and avoidance of fat intake are …


Potential Natural Product Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors, Michael John Cunningham Jan 2013

Potential Natural Product Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors, Michael John Cunningham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three different studies set forth to investigate the role of phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzyme inhibitors in sexual dysfunction and mood regulation. First, naturalproducts were screened by computer modeling of PDE5A1. Second, compounds were isolated from a plant traditionally used as an aphrodisiac. Third, a new synthesis of psychoactive PDE4 inhibitor was attempted. An in silico screen was performed using chemical structures of isolated compounds thought to have some PDE inhibitory activity based on traditional use of the plants. A collection of compounds with structures similar to known natural product inhibitors was also included in the docking library. Glide docking software (Schrödinger) …


Impact Of Time-Varying And Time-Invariant Measures Of Adherence To Secondary Prevention Therapies Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction: An Application Of Marginal Structural Models (Msms), Tasneem Taher Lokhandwala Jan 2013

Impact Of Time-Varying And Time-Invariant Measures Of Adherence To Secondary Prevention Therapies Post-Acute Myocardial Infarction: An Application Of Marginal Structural Models (Msms), Tasneem Taher Lokhandwala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between patient adherence to secondary prevention therapies post an initial episode of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and subsequent risk of cardiovascular events by using time-invariant and time-varying measures of adherence. The effectiveness of both measures in predicting a (i) recurrent AMI, and (ii) mortality using various mathematical models and statistical techniques was compared. Time dependent confounding was accounted for by using marginal structural models (MSMs). A longitudinal cohort observational study design was employed using the retrospective Medicare 5% random national sample claims data from January 1st, 2006 to December 31st, …