Digital Commons Network^™

Cancer Immunotherapy: A Breakthrough In Patient Care, Abdou-Samad Kone, Nour El Imane Issam Salah, Amina Ghouzlani, Abdallah Badou

Health Sciences

Cancer is one of the world's leading causes of death. Conventional therapies, such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have improved patient management and have shown overwhelming progress. However, the incidence and mortality rates among cancer patients are still extremely high, at approximately 20,5 % and 10,6 % for both sexes, respectively. This may be due to the heterogeneity of tumors, their special microenvironment, and the development of resistance to certain conventional therapies. The concept of immunotherapy provided a new perspective on patient treatment. The interaction of tumor cells with their microenvironment depends on different factors and conditions that promote …

Influences Of Host Cytokine Signaling On Kshv Infection In Tonsil-Derived B Lymphocytes, Nedaa Alomari

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of kaposi sarcoma. It is also associated with the B cell lymphoproliferative disorders, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) and KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS). Existing research reveals that KSHV has developed numerous strategies to alter host cytokine signaling activities to facilitate viral persistence and escape host immune surveillance.

Despite three decades of research, there are still many questions in this field awaiting further investigation. This dissertation will investigate host cytokines as factors influencing the establishment of KSHV infection in the human tonsil. We have identified and characterized different cytokines …

Potential Impact Of Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test (Rast) On Providence Oregon Hospitals Currently Without, Andrew Ly, Mark Vance

Providence Pharmacy PGY1 Program at Providence Portland and Providence St. Vincent Medical Centers 2023

No abstract provided.

Retrospective Review Of The Utility Of Mrsa Naat Screening To Predict Mrsa Infections, Nyles T Fowler, Brent Footer, Caitlin Morris

Providence Pharmacy PGY1 Program at Providence Portland and Providence St. Vincent Medical Centers 2023

No abstract provided.

Industry Update October 2022, Elaine Harris

Articles

Company news Bend Bioscience invests in expansion of drug-delivery capabilities Bend Bioscience (OR, USA) and NovaQuest Private Equity, have announced plans on 11 October 2022 to invest in a new facility in Bend, Oregon. The group will focus on developing new R&D partnerships, and early phase manufacturing and development activities based on proprietary particle engineering-based drug-delivery technologies. This new facility will consist of approximately 20,000 square feet of laboratory and processing areas and it is anticipated that manufacturing and analytical capabilities will operational by the end of Q2 2023. Announcing the investment decision, Dan Dobry, Bend Bioscience’s co-founder said “We …

Striving For Appropriate Antibiotic Use: A Biomarker Initiative, And Outcomes Associated With Azithromycin Exposure, Amanda Gusovsky

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

The introduction of antibiotics into clinical practice is considered the greatest medical breakthrough of the 20^thcentury. However, the use of antibiotics can contribute to the development of resistance. In the United States (U.S.), approximately 2.8 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result. Moreover, some antibiotics are known to cause cardiac side effects including QT prolongation, hypotension, and ventricular arrythmias. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines appropriate antibiotic use as the effort to use “the right antibiotic, at the right dose, for the right …

Investigation Of Folate-Poly(Glutamic Acid)/Polyethylenimine/Dna Complexes For In Vitro Gene Delivery, Caleb Akers

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Gene therapy is currently being studied as a treatment for a variety of indications, including cancer, infectious disease, and cardiovascular diseases, among others. While many of the early treatments in the field involved the use of viral delivery methods, various safety, ethical, and financial concerns limit the potential uses of this methodology. As such, more recent research has focused on developing non-viral delivery platforms to alleviate some of the issues inherent in viral delivery. Recently, the release of the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna represents a promising use of non-viral delivery as both utilized a lipid-based delivery vector.

Despite …

Developing A Biocatalytic Toolbox To Aid In Understanding Nucleoside Antibiotics, Jasmine Brianna Woods

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria develop the ability to survive medications that normally terminate them. Instead, these super germs are able to survive in the body and produce a community of antibiotic resistance germs which can cause human fatalities. It is important to discover and develop new compounds and molecules that will improve this clinical obstacle. This research focused on analyzing the biosynthesis that incorporates distinctive chemical characteristic of various nucleoside antibiotics, ß-hydroxy amino acids and α-methyl-amino acids. ß-hydroxy amino acids and α-methyl-amino acids are considered an important class of industrially useful compounds, particularly for pharmaceutical development, and are found …

The Nih-Moderna Vaccine: Public Science, Private Profit, And Lessons For The Future, Christopher J. Morten

Faculty Scholarship

This commentary highlights the scientific history of the NIH-Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and corroborates Sarpatwari’s theme of private capture of value created by the public. The commentary also identifies missteps by the Trump and Biden Administrations and offers policy recommendations: better contracts with and incentives for pharmaceutical manufacturers and a not-for-profit “public option” for pharmaceutical development.

Identifying Unexpected Inflammation Resulting From Drug-Drug Interactions, Keegan Jolly

All Master's Theses

Adverse drug events result in nearly 1.3 million emergency room visits per year in the United States of America. As much as 30% of these adverse events are a result of drug-drug interactions (DDI’s). There is a gap in knowledge concerning these DDI outcomes especially when it comes to inflammation. Inflammation is linked to a variety of chronic health conditions and non-infectious diseases such as cancer. Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine how many active drug ingredients from FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), when combined (in groups of two or more), elicit an inflammatory response …

A Quasi-Experimental Study Of Trough-Guided Versus Area Under The Curve-Guided Vancomycin Monitoring In Patients With Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia Using Desirability Of Outcome Ranking (Door), Justin Donat, Brent Footer, Gregory B. Tallman

Providence Pharmacy PGY1 Program at Providence Portland and Providence St. Vincent Medical Centers 2023

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Hiv-1 Tat And Morphine On Spatial Distribution Of Drugs In The Brain., Austin M. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Despite combination antiretroviral therapy effectively suppressing HIV within the periphery, the central nervous system (CNS) remains affected by the virus. Approximately half of people living with HIV will experience HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) or neuroHIV. Concurrent opioid use exacerbates neuroHIV by promoting neuroinflammation, viral replication, and potentially altering the antiretroviral concentrations within the brain.

Using a transgenic mouse that expresses the HIV-1 Tat protein, we examined the effects of Tat and morphine on antiretroviral accumulation and distribution and the effects of Tat on morphine accumulation within the brain using infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization with mass spectrometry imaging (IR-MALDESI-MSI). …

Transmission Competence Of B. Burgdorferi Infected Ixodes Ticks And Development Of An Ospc-Based Lyme Disease Vaccine, Samanta Kamalika

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction. Lyme disease, otherwise called Lyme borreliosis, is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Studying the increase in overall Lyme disease incidence requires understanding the role of the vector Ixodes scapularis (I. scapularis) as the agent that carries the spirochete which is important to limit the occurrence of Lyme disease. Once we understand the vector-pathogen response, it also becomes important to determine the remedies for Lyme disease. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics if detected early, but the major obstacle lies in the early detection process. Therefore, it is important to investigate alternative preventive …

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic (Pbpk) Modeling For The Preclinical Development Of Spectinamide Antibiotics, Keyur R. Parmar

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Despite being an ancient disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and after decades of research, tuberculosis (TB) still affects millions of people every year worldwide. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 10 million people developed tuberculosis and 1.5 million died of the disease. With the increase in the multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) cases, the treatment for TB with the standard first and second-line therapy is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find new anti-TB drugs as combination partners of existing and experimental classes of antimicrobial agents to shorten and simplify the …

Elafibranor Modulates Ileal Macrophage Polarization To Restore Intestinal Integrity In Nash: Potential Crosstalk Between Ileal Il-10/Stat3 And Hepatic Tlr4/Nf-Κb Axes, Andrew Hakeem, Mohamed M. Kamal, Rasha A. Radwan, Basma A. Abdelrahman, Olfat A. Hammam, Mohey M. Elmazar, Aiman S. El-Khatib, Yasmeen M. Attia

Pharmacy

Experimental and clinical evidence implicate disrupted gut barrier integrity in provoking innate immune responses, specifically macrophages, towards the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), a subset of the nuclear receptor superfamily, act to fine-tune several metabolic and inflammatory processes implicated in NASH. As such, the current study was carried out to decipher the potential role of dual PPAR α/δ activation using elafibranor (ELA) on ileal macrophage polarization (MP) and its likely impact on the liver in a NASH setting. To achieve this aim, an in vitro NASH model using fat-laden HepG2 cells was first used to validate …

An Updated Examination Of The Perception Of Barriers For Pharmacogenomics Implementation And The Usefulness Of Drug/Gene Pairs In Latin America And The Caribbean, Aimeé Salas-Hernández, Macarena Galleguillos, Matías Carrasco, Andrés López-Cortés, María Ana Redal, Dora Fonseca-Mendoza, Patricia Esperón, Farith González-Martínez, Ismael Lares-Asseff, Alberto Lazarowski, Verónica Loera-Castañeda, Diadelis Remírez, Matías F Martínez, Rodrigo Vargas, Fabricio Rios-Santos, Antonio Macho, Juan P Cayún, Germán R Perez, Carolina Gutierrez, Leslie C Cerpa, Tamara Leiva, Susan Calfunao, Lesly Xajil, Christopher Sandoval, Marcelo Suárez, Ariana Gonzalez, Gabriela Echeverría-Garcés, Luis Sullón-Dextre, Eugenia Cordero-García, Alexis R Morales, Andrea Avendaño, Enrique Sánchez, Laura C Bastone, Cesar Lara, Patricia Zuluaga-Arias, Ana María Soler, Julio Da Luz, Gabriela Burgueño-Rodríguez, Marcelo Vital, Elizabeth Reyes-Reyes, Alexander Huaccha, Yeimy V Ariza, Naomi Tzul, Ana L Rendón, Roberto Serrano, Larissa Acosta, Angelo Motta-Pardo, Leonardo Beltrán-Angarita, Erika Brand, Miguel A Jiménez, Gladys Maribel Hidalgo-Lozada, Marina M J Romero-Prado, Karla Escobar-Castro, Mariel Umaña-Rivas, Juan D Vivas, Paola Lagos, Yineth Ballén Martínez, Sharleth Quesada, Camila Calfio, Maria L Arias, María A Lavanderos, Dante D Cáceres, Alberto Salazar-Granara, Nelson M Varela, Luis A Quiñones

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is considered an emergent field in developing countries. Research on PGx in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region remains scarce, with limited information in some populations. Thus, extrapolations are complicated, especially in mixed populations. In this paper, we reviewed and analyzed pharmacogenomic knowledge among the LAC scientific and clinical community and examined barriers to clinical application. We performed a search for publications and clinical trials in the field worldwide and evaluated the contribution of LAC. Next, we conducted a regional structured survey that evaluated a list of 14 potential barriers to the clinical implementation of biomarkers …

Electrochemical Biosensors For The Detection Of Antibiotics In Milk: Recent Trends And Future Perspectives, Baljit Singh Dr., Abhijnan Bhat, Lesa Dutta, Kumari Riya Pati, Yaroslav Korpan, Isha Dahiya

Articles

Antibiotics have emerged as ground-breaking medications for the treatment of infectious diseases, but due to the excessive use of antibiotics, some drugs have developed resistance to microorganisms. Because of their structural complexity, most antibiotics are excreted unchanged, polluting the water, soil, and natural resources. Additionally, food items are being polluted through the widespread use of antibiotics in animal feed. The normal concentrations of antibiotics in environmental samples typically vary from ng to g/L. Antibiotic residues in excess of these values can pose major risks the development of illnesses and infections/diseases. According to estimates, 300 million people will die prematurely in …

Research News, Publications, 2023, Volume 1, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of January 1 through March 31, 2023

Research News, Publications, 2023, Volume 2, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of April 1 through June 30, 2023

Research News, Publications, 2023, Volume 3, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of July 1 through September 30, 2023

Peptidases Are Potential Targets Of Copper(Ii)-1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-Dione Complex, A Promising And Potent New Drug Against Trichomonas Vaginalis, Graziela Vargas Rigo, Fernando Gomes Cardoso, Matheus Menonca Pereira, Michael Devereux, Malachy Mccann, Andre L.S. Santos, Tiana Tasca

Articles

Trichomonas vaginalis is responsible for 156 million new cases per year worldwide. When present asymptomatically, the parasite can lead to serious complications, such as development of cervical and prostate cancer. As infection increases the acquisition and transmission of HIV, the control of trichomoniasis represents an important niche for the discovery and development of new antiparasitic molecules. This urogenital parasite synthesizes several molecules that allow the establishment and pathogenesis of infection. Among them, peptidases occupy key roles as virulence factors, and the inhibition of these enzymes has become an important mechanism for modulating pathogenesis. Based on these premises, our group recently …

Development Of Plant-Produced Proteins For Treatment And Prevention Against Rsv Type A (Rsv-A), Nuttapat Pisuttinusart

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a highly contagious virus known to cause severe respiratory illnesses, poses a significant health threat, particularly impacting vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. It is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections, often resulting in serious complications like pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Despite its substantial impact, there is currently only an approved RSV vaccine specifically designed for the elderly, emphasizing the urgency of continued research in this area for developing broader coverage of the population. The plant expression platform for producing therapeutic proteins offers a cost-effective and scalable solution, presenting a …

Exploring The Implementation Of National Strategic Plan On Antimicrobial Resistance In The Appropriate Use Of Antimicrobials, Shinnawat Saengungsumalee

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In August 2016, the Cabinets of Thailand approved the National Strategic Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2021. The Strategy 5 of the National Strategic Plans aimed to enhance the public's understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and promote awareness of appropriate use of antimicrobials (AMU). This study aims to investigate the implementation process and activities of Strategy 5 and the factors contributing to the implementation process and activities of Strategy 5. The study was divided into 2 phases. Phase I used a descriptive survey study to answer the implementation process and activities of Strategy 5. Phase II used an in-depth interview with …

Radiosynthesis Of Novel 68ga-Labelled-Α-Cyclodextrin For Pet Imaging, Sirapop Sriaumpai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides composed of glucose units linked by α-1,4 glycosidic bond. CDs are commonly used as pharmaceutical excipients and they offer versatile benefits in various industries. Recently, CDs have been promising for the application of medical imaging, especially nuclear medicine imaging. Herein, we aim to radiosynthesize 68Ga-alpha-cyclodextrin (68Ga-αCD) by directly radiolabeling Ga-68 to αCD. Briefly, Ga-68 was eluted, mixed with αCD solution and heated at 100 °C for 20 min. Subsequently, the reaction was allowed to cool down at room temperature. The resulting 68Ga-αCD was characterized using mass spectrometry (MS) and elucidated by in silico computational studies. …

Screening Sars-Cov-2 Main Protease Inhibitory Activity Of Herbal Extracts And Development Of Alpha-Mangostin Loaded Polymeric Micelles, Su Sundee Myint

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease. The outbreak of COVID-19 that emerged in December 2019 has caused a serious pandemic and detrimental impacts on people worldwide. Both vaccinations and treatments are needed to achieve the comprehensive level of health care against COVID-19. Several novel vaccines and drugs have been discovered and developed, but the problem has not been fully resolved due to their associated adverse effects. Since traditional herbal medicines have been used for many years in various disease treatments due to their safety and efficacy, developing natural product-based drugs could be one of the most promising …

Structure-Based Rational Design Of Small Α-Helical Peptides With Broad-Spectrum Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens, Sandeep Lohan, Anastasia G. Konshina, Roman G. Efremov, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A series of small (7–12 mer) amphipathic cationic peptides were designed and synthesized to create short helical peptides with broad-range bactericidal activity and selectivity toward the bacterial cells. The analysis identified a lead 12-mer peptide 8b with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive (MIC = 3.1–6.2 μg/mL) and Gram-negative (MIC = 6.2–12.5 μg/mL) bacteria and selectivity toward prokaryotic versus eukaryotic cells (HC50 = 280 μg/mL, >75% cell viability at 150 μg/mL). The rapid membranolytic action of 8b was demonstrated by a calcein dye leakage assay and confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. According to circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy, the peptides have an …

Unraveling The Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms And Efficacy Of Cannabidiol On The Progression Of A Murine Model Of Multiple Sclerosis From The Innate To The Adaptive Immune System To Clinical Symptoms, Christa Marie Frodella

Theses and Dissertations

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid with structural similarity to Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is currently being investigated as a therapeutic for its immunosuppressive effects. One disease for which CBD is extensively researched is multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating, autoimmune disorder, and its murine model counterpart, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The focus of this dissertation aimed to analyze the transcriptomic brain pathways in EAE and its comparison to MS in addition to CBD’s immunosuppressive mechanisms in the innate and adaptive immune systems. Evidence presented here showed that transcriptomic signaling pathways in the EAE brain of mice with clinical symptoms were similar …

Evaluation Of Antimicrobial Prophylaxis In Spine Surgery Within An Enhanced Recovery Program At A Large Community Teaching Hospital, Sabrina Dipietro, Klea Noskey, Richard Zoltowski, Tania Saeed, Sapna Shah

Posters

The risk of surgical site infections post spine surgery is 0% to 18%.1

• American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society guidelines recommend using an agent with activity against the most common surgical site pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus. 2,3

• The preferred agent is cefazolin 2 grams intravenous (IV) (3 grams if patient weighs ≥120 kilograms [kg]) administered 30 minutes prior to skin incision and re-dosed every four hours intraoperatively.2,3

• In the case of a cephalosporin allergy, clindamycin 900 milligrams (mg) IV or vancomycin 15 mg/kg IV are recommended alternatives.2,3

• Due …

Evaluation Of Antibiotic Selection And Duration In Patients With Non-Severe Community Acquired Pneumonia, Emily Reich, Sandra Hartnagle, Jennifer Pilotto, Heidi Klotz, Ryan Herc

Posters

No abstract provided.

Isolation And Characterization Of Flavonoid Naringenin And Evaluation Of Cytotoxic And Biological Efficacy Of Water Lilly (Nymphaea Mexicana Zucc.), Shajrath Din, Saima Hamid, Aadil Yaseen, Ali Mohd Yatoo

Faculty and Student Publications

Despite its limited exploration, Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. can be beneficial if pharmacology, isolation, and biological evaluation are given attention. It is an aquatic species that belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. The thrust area of the work was the extraction, isolation, and biological evaluation of different extracts of the N. mexicana Zucc. plant. The primary goal of this research was to assess the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of the extracts and to isolate the target naringenin compound. Comparative FT IR analysis of different extracts of this plant revealed the presence of functional groups of plant secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, flavonoids, …