Effects Of Dexmedetomidine As An Adjunct To General Anesthesia On Postoperative Pain And Opioid Consumption In Major Abdominal Surgery, Ahmad H. Elrefahy

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This review examines the impact of dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, on postoperative pain and opioid consumption in major abdominal surgery. Dexmedetomidine, known for its sedative, analgesic, and opioid-sparing properties, is increasingly used as an adjunct to anesthesia. Analyzing existing literature, the review found that dexmedetomidine administration alongside general anesthesia significantly improves postoperative pain management and reduces opioid consumption. Patients receiving dexmedetomidine reported decreased postoperative pain ratings and required fewer opioids during the recovery phase. Additionally, intraoperative dexmedetomidine use correlated with reduced postoperative pain severity and increased patient satisfaction compared to control groups. However, potential side effects such as …

Mechanistic Investigation Of C—C Bond Activation Of Phosphaalkynes With Pt(0) Complexes, Roberto M. Escobar, Abdurrahman C. Ateşin, Christian Müller, William D. Jones, Tülay Ateşin

Research Symposium

Carbon–carbon (C–C) bond activation has gained increased attention as a direct method for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Due to the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inaccessibility of the C–C bonds, however, activation of C–C bonds by homogeneous transition-metal catalysts under mild homogeneous conditions is still a challenge. Most of the systems in which the activation occurs either have aromatization or relief of ring strain as the primary driving force. The activation of unstrained C–C bonds of phosphaalkynes does not have this advantage. This study employs Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate Pt(0)-mediated C–CP bond activation mechanisms in phosphaalkynes. Investigating the …

Variables Affecting The Extraction Of Antioxidants In Cold And Hot Brew Coffee: A Review, Brian Yust, Frank Wilkinson, Niny Rao

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Coffee beans are a readily available, abundant source of antioxidants used worldwide. With the increasing interest in and consumption of coffee beverages globally, research into the production, preparation, and chemical profile of coffee has also increased in recent years. A wide range of variables such as roasting temperature, coffee grind size, brewing temperature, and brewing duration can have a significant impact on the extractable antioxidant content of coffee products. While there is no single standard method for measuring all of the antioxidants found in coffee, multiple methods which introduce the coffee product to a target molecule or reagent can be …

Folate Deficiency Modifies The Risk Of Cin3+ Associated With Dna Methylation Levels: A Nested Case–Control Study From The Ascus-Col Trial, María C. Agudelo, Samuel Agudelo, Attila Lorincz, Arianis Tatiana Ramírez, Kelly Melisa Castañeda, Isabel Garcés-Palacio, Arnold H. Zea, Chandrika Piyathilake, Gloria Ines Sanchez

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: To our knowledge, there are very few studies evaluating if the levels of folate modify the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 and higher (CIN2+ and CIN3+) associated with the levels of HPV genome methylation, two cofactors related to single carbon metabolism and independently associated with cervical cancer in previous studies. We conducted a case–control study nested in a three-arm randomized clinical pragmatic trial (ASCUS-COL trial) to evaluate the risk of CIN3+ associated with methylation levels according to serum folate concentrations. Methods: Cases (n = 155) were women with histologically confirmed CIN2+ (113 CIN2, 38 CIN3, and 4 …

Association Of Chlamydia Trachomatis Burden With The Vaginal Microbiota, Bacterial Vaginosis, And Metronidazole Treatment, Caleb M. Ardizzone, Christopher M. Taylor, Evelyn Toh, Rebecca A. Lillis, Jacob H. Elnaggar, John W. Lammons, Patricia Dehon Mott, Emily L. Duffy, Li Shen, Alison J. Quayle

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota, is a common coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), and BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) and their products have been implicated in aiding Ct evade natural immunity. Here, we determined if a non-optimal vaginal microbiota was associated with a higher genital Ct burden and if metronidazole, a standard treatment for BV, would reduce Ct burden or aid in natural clearance of Ct infection. Cervicovaginal samples were collected from women at enrollment and, if testing positive for Ct infection, at a follow-up visit approximately one week later. Cervical Ct burden was assessed by inclusion forming …

In Vitro Evaluation Of Phthalimide Derivatives Against Cancer Cell Lines, Crystel A. Sierra Rivera, Muhammad Kashif, Lenci Karina Vazquez Jimenez, Gildardo Rivera Sanchez, Alfredo Juarez Saldivar, Alma Delia Paz Gonzalez, Alejandro Zugasti Cruz

Research Symposium

Los cánceres de pulmón, próstata e hígado se encuentran entre los más prevalentes en los hombres. El cáncer de mama, de cuello uterino y de tiroides se encuentran entre los más prevalentes en mujeres (OMS, 2019). El tratamiento del cáncer generalmente incluye quimioterapia y radioterapia; sin embargo, los medicamentos contra el cáncer disponibles tienen una selectividad baja y causan efectos adversos graves, como nefrotoxicidad, neurotoxicidad y mielosupresión (Matsuo et al., 2010). Por tanto, el diseño y desarrollo de compuestos como nuevos agentes anticancerígenos frente a los tipos de cáncer de mayor incidencia son de vital importancia en el campo de …

Minoxidil Weakens Newly Synthesized Collagen In Fibrotic Synoviocytes From Osteoarthritis Patients, Stefan Sarkovich, Peter P. Issa, Andrew Longanecker, Davis Martin, Kaitlyn Redondo, Patrick Mcternan, Jennifer Simkin, Luis Marrero

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: Synovial fibrosis (SFb) formation and turnover attributable to knee osteoarthritis (KOA) can impart painful stiffness and persist following arthroplasty. To supplement joint conditioning aimed at maximizing peri-operative function, we evaluated the antifibrotic effect of Minoxidil (MXD) on formation of pyridinoline (Pyd) cross-links catalyzed by Plod2-encoded lysyl hydroxylase (LH)2b that strengthen newly synthesized type-I collagen (COL1) in fibroblastic synovial cells (FSCs) from KOA patients. MXD was predicted to decrease Pyd without significant alterations to Col1a1 transcription by FSCs stimulated with transforming growth factor (TGF)β1. Methods: Synovium from 10 KOA patients grouped by SFb severity was preserved for picrosirius and LH2b …

Growing Use Of Xylazine As An Adulterant In Opioids And Its Effects, Oluwapelumi Oluwo

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Xylazine, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is a non-opioid tranquilizer used in veterinary medicine. Although this drug has not been approved for human use, it can be linked to an increase in opioid overdose deaths due to its role as an adulterant in drugs like fentanyl.

Xylazine was detected in drugs involved in 41% of all opioid-involved unintentional deaths and in 44% of all unintentional overdose deaths with fentanyl involved in the year of 2021 in Philadelphia.

Case Series: Continued Remission Of Ptsd Symptoms After Discontinuation Of Prazosin, Christie Richardson, Jonathan Yuh, Jing Su, Martin Forsberg

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Scholarship

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a debilitating chronic illness that affects 6 out of 100 adults after a severe trauma. The alpha-adrenergic antagonist prazosin, which is prescribed off-label for flashbacks and nightmares due to trauma, is often continued indefinitely due to reports of symptoms returning upon discontinuation. There is no standard guidance for a trial of discontinuation of prazosin due to intolerance or side effects. In this case series, three patients are started on prazosin leading to remission of trauma-related symptoms, and symptoms continue to remit after treatment for an average of about 2 years followed by discontinuation of the medication. …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Some Disubstituted Cyclopentadienyl Rhenium Complexes As Potential Candidates In Semiconductive Materials, Chloe Vernon

Senior Honors Theses

Since 2000, when the Nobel Prize in Chemistry as awarded for conductive polymer research few studies have been performed concerning the conductive capabilities of discrete organometallic compounds. For this project, organometallic compounds were formed specifically with a transition metal included in the structure. Through oxidation and reduction reactions, the variation in the electrical conductivity could allow for an analysis of whether this unique structure would allow for tunability. The goal of this research was to begin with aromatic substituted fulvenes and perform various multistep synthesis processes, utilizing thallium salt intermediates, to produce several disubstituted cyclopentadienyl rhenium complexes. In this project, …

Triazole Compounds – Potentials In The Treatment Of Cystic Fibrosis, Maggie Taylor

Undergraduate Research Conference

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that affects the respiratory and digestive system and is most common among Caucasians of Northern European origin. CF is caused by mutations in a membrane protein CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane-conductance Regulator). This mutation impairs the membrane protein’s chloride ion channel function. One of the most common CFTR mutations is the DF508 mutation that affects over 70% of CF cases. Our research has shown that the DF508-CFTR mutation can be partially reversed by physical and chemical means [Heda & Marino, BBRC, 271:659-664, 2000]. In cell lines expressing DF508-CFTR, synthetic anion carriers have shown to …

Combination Sodium Nitrite And Hydralazine Therapy Attenuates Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Severity In A “2-Hit” Murine Model, Kyle B. Lapenna, Zhen Li, Jake E. Doiron, Thomas E. Sharp, Huijing Xia, Karl Moles, Kashyap Koul, John S. Wang, David J. Polhemus, Traci T. Goodchild, Ravi B. Patel, Sanjiv J. Shah, David J. Lefer

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that cardiac nitrosative stress mediated by pathological overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) via inducible NO synthase (iNOS) contributes to the pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Other studies have suggested that endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) dysfunction and attenuated NO bioavailability contribute to HFpEF morbidity and mortality. We sought to further investigate dysregulated NO signaling and to examine the effects of a NO-based dual therapy (sodium nitrite+hydralazine) following the onset of HFpEF using a “2-hit” murine model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice (n=15 per group) were treated concurrently with high-fat …

Designing And Synthesizing A Warhead-Fragment Inhibitory Ligand For Ivyp1 Through Fragment-Based Drug Discovery, Samuel Moore

Symposium of Student Scholars

Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a powerful tool for developing anticancer and antimicrobial agents. Within this, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) provides a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative approach to screening and validating weak and robust binders with targeted proteins, making NMR among the most attractive strategies in FBDD. Inhibitor of vertebrate lysozyme (Ivyp1) of P. aeruginosa serves as an excellent target because of its active cellular location and implications in clinical prognosis for cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. This study uses current NMR and biophysical techniques to develop a covalent, fragment-linked warhead inhibitor for Ivyp1 through synthetic methods, warhead linking, and …

Synthesis And Biological Testing Of Small-Molecule Mitochondrial Complex I Inhibitors, Willough Sloan

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis delineates two main projects: the first outlines the structure elucidation efforts toward a Diels-Alder adduct of a novel reaction for the synthesis of chimaphilin, a naphthoquinone-based natural product with apoptotic or antiproliferative activity in certain cancer cells^1,2. The structure elucidation extends to derivatives of chimaphilin synthesized by the same cyclization reaction. While Diels-Alder reactions are usually regioselective, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR of the adducts was inconclusive and indicated the possibility of regioisomer presence, with one regioisomer being chimaphilin (or derivatives). A multitude of crystallization methods were carried out in order to be able to analyze …

Treating Trichotillomania With Olanzapine, Christopher Lee

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Trichotillomania (TTM) is characterized by repetitive pulling of one’s hair leading to hair loss and problems in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Often individuals with TTM try to decrease or stop hair pulling, however are often unsuccessful without treatment. Community prevalence studies suggest that TTM is a common disorder with point prevalence estimate of 0.5% to 2.0% and with significant psychological comorbidity. Of note, people with TTM are often embarrassed about their condition, so epidemiology data may be underestimated compared to the true prevalence of this condition. The female to male ratio for this condition is 4:1. …

Antibacterial Activity, Structure-Activity Relationships, And Scale-Up Reaction Of 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles, Olivia Marie Smith

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Oxadiazoles are compounds in the field of organic chemistry that have been gathering interest in the medicinal chemistry and microbiology communities for their biological properties, which range from anti-inflammatory agents, to chemotherapy drugs, to antibiotics. The synthesis of oxadiazoles can be difficult due to the expensive and complex nature of the techniques used as well as the volatile reagents and elevated temperatures that are often required in organic synthesis. The Grote lab has recently developed a new method for the synthesis of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles under mild conditions. The goals of this thesis were thus twofold: to develop a viable scale-up procedure …

Synthesis Of Selenotryptophan For Protein Elucidation, James P. Reiselman

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Through complex intermolecular and intramolecular forces, proteins conformationally change to form complex 3-d geometry that carries out biochemical processes and mapping their structures is becoming a field of interest in the biological community. Techniques for modeling protein’s structure typically follow the path of X-ray crystallography, which has an intrinsic phase problem that can make reading the electron density map they produce very difficult. This can be mitigated by appending a heavy-atom containing amino acid analogue into a crystal sample of the protein being studied. A selenium containing tryptophan analogue will be synthesized to be appended into proteins as a chemical …

Design And Synthesis Of Small Molecular Probes For Cns And Kidney Disorders, Swagat H. Sharma

Theses & Dissertations

The G protein regulated inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRK) are a family of inwardly rectifying potassium channels and are key effectors in signaling pathways. GIRK 1/2 channel subunit, predominantly found in the brain, is involved pathophysiology of various neurological disorders including, but not limited to, epilepsy, anxiety, Parkinson's, pain, reward, and addiction. Previously, our laboratory had identified a series of urea containing molecules as GIRK1/2 preferring activators. Unfortunately, the urea series suffers from significant PK liabilities (solubility, brain penetration and high clearance). The chapter 1 of the dissertation describes our efforts in developing three new series of activators with improved …

Dz-Bau2021-14n As Novel Pyrazolopyridine Nanocrystals: Appraisal Of Anticancer Activity Against Hct-116 And Ht-29 Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines, Zahra Kassem, Soumaiah Abou Staiteieh, Jamal Nasr, Amina Mneimneh, Ali Youssef, Nadine Darwiche, Doaa Issa, Raghida Bou Merhi, Mohammed Mehanna

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Mentioning DZ-BAU2021-14 (C₁₉H₁₇N₅O₂,347.370 g/mol) developed in BAU Labs, its promising preliminary antitumor effect nominated it to be selected as a lead antiproliferative compound against colorectal cancer cell lines owing to its proved Cyclin Dependent Kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibition (Kassem et al., 2021). Solving many problems restricting traditional cancer therapy, nanotechnology is offering safety margins and targeted delivery of poorly soluble drug. The potential effect of this compound was combined with the advantages of nanotechnology, precisely nanocrystals to achieve better antiproliferative and hopeful less cytotoxic patterns. The nanocrystals DZ-BAU2021-14N were …

Preparation Of Meta-Nitrobenzoylhydrazone Ferrocenoylacetone And Synthesis On Its Basis, Zilola Abduraxmonovna Sulaymonova, Bako Bafayevich Umarov Doctor Chemical Science, Professor

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

β-diketone-ferrocenoylacetone was obtained by Claisen condensation. Meta-nitrobenzoylhydrazone of ferrocenoylacetone (H₂L) was synthesized by the interaction of meta-nitrobenzoic acid hydrazide with ferrocenoylacetone. On its basis, complexes with copper(II) and nickel(II) ions were synthesized. The obtained compounds were characterized by the methods of elemental analysis, IR-, ¹H NMR andelectronic spectroscopy. The research results showed that H₂L in solution exists in the form of a tautomeric mixture: hydrazone, α-hydroxyazine, and cyclic 5-hydroxypyrazoline forms. According to the results of IR and ¹H NMR spectra, the complexes were assigned a planar-square structure, and in them the doubly deprotonated …

Design, Synthesis And Evaluation Of Molecules With Selective And Poly-Pharmacological Actions At D1r, D3r And Sigma Receptors, Pierpaolo Cordone

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) is one of the most studied receptors involved in drug addiction. One of the most common strategies to treat substance use disorders is via D3R antagonism. The majority of the D3R antagonists synthesized so far have poor pharmacokinetic properties and/or lack selectivity toward D3R. In this thesis, the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel molecules that target the dopamine D1 receptor (D1R), D3R and the serendipitous discovery of molecules that target s receptors will be described.

Chapter 1 presents a survey of the fundamental pharmacology of D1R, D3R and s receptors and the therapeutic …

Heterocyclic Amines And Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 2 Polymorphism In Pathogenesis Of Insulin Resistance., Kennedy M. Walls

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are formed when cooking meats at high temperatures or for long periods of time, and their major metabolic pathway includes hepatic N‑hydroxylation by CYP1A2 followed by O-acetylation by N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). NAT2 is a highly polymorphic gene involved in metabolism of drugs and xenobiotics, and its single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) produce phenotypes characterized as slow, intermediate, or rapid acetylator. Recent studies have documented associations between HCAs and insulin resistance and between certain NAT2 phenotypes and insulin resistance. In this study, we demonstrated that NAT2 activity and exposure to certain HCAs may alter cellular glucose …

Synthesis Of 1-(4-Ethoxy-3-Methoxybenzyl)-1,10-Phenanthrolin-1-Ium Bromide And Its Evaluation As Antiplasmodium Through Heme Polymerization Inhibitory Activity (Hpia) Assay, Dhina Fitriastuti, Viny Alfiyah, Mustofa Mustofa, Jumina Jumina, Muhammad Idham Darussalam Mardjan

Makara Journal of Science

This study describes the development of N-benzyl-1,10-phenantrolinium salt as an antiplasmodium agent. The salt, that is, 1-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-1,10-phenanthrolin-1-ium bromide, was prepared using vanillin as the starting material in four simple synthetic steps. First, the alkylation of vanillin using diethyl sulfate produced 4-ethoxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde in 79% yield. Second, the reduction of the protected vanillin by NaBH₄ through the grinding method allowed us to obtain 4-ethoxy-3-methoxybenzyl alcohol in 96% yield. Next, the bromination of the benzyl alcohol under solvent-free condition led to the formation of the corresponding benzyl bromide, which in turn underwent bimolecular nucleophilic substitution with 1,10-phenanthroline to produce the desired …

Synthesis Of 5-Membered Ring Heterocycles For Alzheimer’S Disease, Daniel Fajardo

Honors Scholars & Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium Programs

The progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is correlated to the degenerative activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) located in the brain. They are a family of five G-protein coupled receptors, (M1-M5), linked to functions within the central and peripheral nervous system.1 More specifically, activation of M1 with positive allosteric modulators (PAM), have shown to bind to the allosteric pocket and slow the degenerative process of AD with minimal intrinsic effects.2 Structural motifs of potent PAM activity and weak agonism proposed a synthesis of an isooxazoline compound, incorporating a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The core motif of the proposed isooxazoline structure has been …

'Induction Of Apoptosis, Cytotoxicity And Radiosensitization By Novel 3,4-Dihydroquinazolinone Derivatives, Eman Ramadan, Amira Khalil

Pharmacy

Twenty new quinazolinone derivatives bearing a piperonyl moiety were designed and synthesized. The structures of the target compounds were in agreement with the microanalytical and spectral data. Compounds 4-10, 13, 14 and 17-27 were screened for their cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The target compounds showed IC₅₀ in the range of 2.46-36.85 µM and 3.87-88.93 µM for HepG-2 and MCF-7, respectively. The promising compounds 7, 19, 26 and 27 were selected to measure their EGFR inhibitory activity. The IC₅₀ values of the promising compounds were in the range of 146.9-1032.7 nM for EGFR in …

Impact Of Ketorolac On Opioid Consumption After Open Heart Surgery, Laura Neubauer, Radhan Gopalani, Kristen De Almeida, Andrea Marr-Peralto

All Publications

No abstract provided.

Gama-Lactams And The Reformatsky Reaction: New Tricks For Old Chemistry, Dylan Dupont

Honors Theses

DUPONT, DYLAN. An Alternative Synthetic Pathway to γ-Lactam Compounds

Through the Application of Novel Reformatsky-Type Chemistry. Department

of Chemistry, June 2020

ADVISOR: James C. Adrian Jr. Ph.D.

It is the intent of the present report to relate the results of our attempt to elucidate and optimize a novel preparation of γ-lactam compounds. To achieve this end, it is proposed that the use of novel Reformatsky-type chemistry may provide a viable means. Generally, it has herein been validated that employment of α-amino ketones in traditional Reformatsky chemistry will form the traditional Reformatsky ester-adduct, and that this adduct is capable of spontaneously …

Synthesis Of Fluorinated Pyrazoles Via Intra- And Intermolecular Cyclization Reactions, Matthew Saucier

Honors Theses

Pyrazole-based pharmaceuticals treat a wide array of diseases and conditions including obesity, diabetes, cancer, microbial and viral infections, pain and inflammation, and many neurological disorders. Syntheses for this biologically significant substrate have been well developed, but current methods to afford fluorinated pyrazoles are limited by variability and selectivity. By 2013, over 25% of all drugs available on the market contained the element fluorine due to its unique characteristics leading to improved target protein binding, bioavailability, and metabolic stability. In order to harness these pharmaceutical benefits of fluorine and overcome its difficulty in handling and stability, we set out to develop …

Fluorometric Characterization Of A Methylene Blue Derivative Sensitive To Reactive Oxygen Species (Ros), Matthew Weeks

Honors Theses

Methylene blue (MB) has many uses within both microbiology and pharmacology. MB can treat disorders such as methemoglobinemia, malaria, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain forms of cancer. MB is also useful for molecular imaging due to its off-on fluorescent capabilities. MB derivatives with a urea bond at the 10-N position have been cleavable by triggers such as light. However, I was interested in sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, I wanted to determine if the MB derivative MB-EA exhibited sensitivity to ROS. MB-EA was exposed to varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and MB release was measured. I concluded …

Hailey-Hailey Disease Successfully Treated With Low-Dose Naltrexone, John Moesch, Richard Miller

West Florida Division Virtual Research Day 2020

Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) is an uncommon autosomal dominant disorder resulting from a mutation in the ATP2C1 gene resulting in dysfunction of the Golgi apparatus calcium-associated ATPase, thus interfering with intercellular calcium signaling.

HHD presents clinically as flaccid blisters and erosions in intertriginous areas, especially the axillae and groin.

The major histologic finding is acantholysis throughout the spinous layer of the epidermis, commonly referred to as a “dilapidated brick wall” appearance.

The initial lesions and associated symptoms usually develop during the second or third decade of life.

Complications of HHD include infections (bacterial, fungal, and viral), and malignant transformation (cutaneous squamous …