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Nanoparticle Approaches For The Renin-Angiotensin System, Sajini D. Hettiarachchi, Young M. Kwon, Yadollah Omidi, Robert C. Speth

HPD Articles

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormonal cascade that contributes to several disorders: systemic hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, and neurodegenerative disease. Activation of the RAS can promote inflammation and fibrosis. Drugs that target the RAS can be classified into 3 categories, AT1 angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and renin inhibitors. The therapeutic efficacy of current RAS-inhibiting drugs is limited by poor penetration across the blood-brain barrier, low bioavailability, and to some extent, short half-lives. Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery systems (DDSs) are possible emerging alternatives to overcome such limitations. Nanoparticles are ideally 1-100 nm in size and are …

Artificial Intelligence Modelling To Assess The Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease In Oncology Patients., Samer S Al-Droubi, Eiman Jahangir, Karl M Kochendorfer, Marianna Krive, Michal Laufer-Perl, Dan Gilon, Tochukwu M Okwuosa, Christopher P Gans, Joshua H Arnold, Shakthi T Bhaskar, Hesham A Yasin, Jacob Krive

HPD Articles

AIMS: There are no comprehensive machine learning (ML) tools used by oncologists to assist with risk identification and referrals to cardio-oncology. This study applies ML algorithms to identify oncology patients at risk for cardiovascular disease for referrals to cardio-oncology and to generate risk scores to support quality of care.

METHODS AND RESULTS: De-identified patient data were obtained from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Patients with breast, kidney, and B-cell lymphoma cancers were targeted. Additionally, the study included patients who received immunotherapy drugs for treatment of melanoma, lung cancer, or kidney cancer. Random forest (RF) and artificial neural network (ANN) ML models …

Ace2/Ang1-7 Mas Axis: The Counter-Regulator Of The Classical Renin Angiotensin System, Widelyne Dorsainval

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

To maintain homeostasis, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) works to regulate the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, and neurological systems of the body. However, there is evidence that abundant amounts of certain components of the RAS have detrimental effects and enhance disease. Recent studies have proved that there is a lesser known RAS which acts to counterbalance the classical RAS. To better understand their interaction, the effects of the alternate RAS against the classical RAS in the homeostatic systems of the body are researched and analyzed. The classical pathway employs these components: angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II (AngII), and angiotensin II type …

Hyperinsulinemia, Cancer And Maqui Berry: The Promise Of Nutritional Supplementation, Brett Deters, Mir Saleem

Biology Faculty Articles

Nutritional supplementation has long been studied as a possible treatment alternative or as an adjunct to the standard treatments for common ailments and diseases. According to the latest research, the Chilean maqui berry, Aristotelia chilensis, has been shown to reduce postprandial insulin levels by as much as fifty percent. The berry, which has been shown to be as effective as metformin at increasing insulin sensitivity and controlling blood glucose levels, follows a simple mechanism of action that involves the inhibition of sodium dependent glucose transporters in the small intestine, slowing the rate at which sugars enter the bloodstream and thereby …

Lose To Win: Fighting Obesity In The Workplace, Latoya Dotson

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Obesity is a significant healthcare problem in modern American society. It has led to decreased longevity of employees and decreased productivity in day-to-day duties of healthcare workers. There are more negative attributes to obesity than positive, regardless of the race affected. One of the leading causes of death in 2012 was cardiovascular disease. Due to poor dietary choices, the promotion of sedentary lifestyle has led to complications of obesity such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Major improvements can be made within a community that acknowledges the risks of obesity and seeks to implement preventive programs. Increasing one’s physical …

Ptsd Subtypes, Depressive Presentation, Dissociation, And Cognitive Appraisals And Their Impact On Cardiovascular Reactivity Responses To Stress, Dyona Augustin

Theses and Dissertations

Both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are related to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), with links to ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac mortality, and other cardiac conditions. Given that these disorders are associated with increased medical costs, disability, and employer burden, research has investigated which factors increase the likelihood that one will develop CVD. While one hypothesis suggests that individuals who exhibit exaggerated responses to stress are at greater risk of developing CVD, individuals with PTSD/depression have been shown to exhibit both exaggerated and blunted stress responses. The purpose of the present study …