Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

The Carbon Price Equivalent: A Metric For Comparing Climate Change Mitigation Efforts Across Jurisdictions, Gabriel Weil

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Climate change presents a global commons problem: Emissions reductions on the scale needed to meet global targets do not pass a domestic cost-benefit test in most countries. To give national governments ample incentive to pursue deep decarbonization, mutual interstate coercion will be necessary. Many proposed tools of coercive climate diplomacy would require a onedimensional metric for comparing the stringency of climate change mitigation policy packages across jurisdictions. This article proposes and defends such a metric: the carbon price equivalent. There is substantial variation in the set of climate change mitigation policy instruments implemented by different countries. Nonetheless, the consequences of …

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, …

Novel Mechanistic Insights Towards The Repositioning Of Alogliptin In Parkinson's Disease, Eman Ramadan, Marwa M. Safar

Pharmacy

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impairs people's lives tremendously. The development of innovative treatment modalities for PD is a significant unmet medical need. The critical function of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in neurodegenerative diseases has raised impetus in investigating the repositioning of a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor, alogliptin (ALO), as an effective treatment for PD. As a result, the focus of this research was to assess the effect of ALO in a rat rotenone (ROT) model of PD. For 21 days, ROT (1.5 mg/kg) was delivered subcutaneously every other day. ALO (30 mg/kg/day), delivered by gavage for …

Ecological And Anthropogenic Influences On A Sentinel Species' Gut Microbiome, Carson E. Black

All Master's Theses

Central and South American primates face augmented challenges due to increased rates of forest fragmentation. Among these challenges are implications on the nonhuman primate gut microbiome. Wild Argentine black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) are listed as “least concern” with a population that is decreasing. Despite their propensity to occupy habitats with varying degrees of degradation and disturbance, they are not immune from the stressors that forest fragmentation places on them. Their increased exposure to humans and livestock leaves them vulnerable to cross-species transmission of emerging infectious diseases and pathogens. Therefore, their role as sentinels of ecosystems, …

Formulation And Evaluation Of Fast Disintegrating Tablets Of Domperidone Using Chitosan-Glycine Conjugates As Superdisintegrant, Simran Kaur Zandu, Reena Kumari, Inderbir Singh

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Purpose: The present research was envisaged to employ chitosan-glycine conjugates as superdisintegrant for developing fast disintegrating tablets of domperidone. Materials and Methods: Chitosan-glycine conjugates were prepared by physical mixing and microwave-assisted technique. Micromeritic study, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction methods were employed for characterizing the powdered conjugates. The formulated FDTs were evaluated for wetting time, water absorption ratio, disintegration time, in vitro drug release, and other tablet parametric tests. Results and Discussion: The effective pore radius of unadulterated chitosan was found to be 18.45±1.27 μm whereas the chitosan-glycine conjugates prepared by physical technique and microwave technique …

Development And Radiosynthesis Of A Novel Bifunctional Tri-Γ-Glutamic Acid Polypeptide For Gallium-68 Labeling, Wanchai Chongcharoen, Shuichi Shiratori

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Radiosynthesis of a novel bifunctional chelator for gallium-68 (Ga-68) chelation has been fabricated through peptide synthesis. Using of solid phase peptide synthesizer, linear structure of three repeating unit of glutamic acid was primarily generated. Protecting group of tert-butyl in intermediate was then cleaved and eventually yield as tri-γ-glutamic acid polypeptide (tri- γ-GAP). Mass spectrometry revealed m/z was 406.1378 that well corresponded with proposed structure of three repeating unit of glutamic acids. To label Ga-68 with synthesized tri-γ-GAP, the elution of 68GaCl3 was chelated to tri-γ-GAP with high temperature condition. It was subsequently purified through Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. Radio thin-layer chromatography …

Characterization Of Acyclovir-Isonicotinamide Cocrystal By Solvent Evaporation Method With Ethanol And Glacial Acetic Acid, Hansen Pradana Sutedjo, Agnes Nuniek Winantari, Roisah Nawatila

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Acyclovir is used as the first-line therapy for genital herpes simplex virus, but acyclovir has low solubility and bioavailability. Acyclovir has a water solubility of 2.5 mg/ml at 37°C and belongs to Class IV according to the bioavailability classification system. Cocrystalization is a technology that can be used to improve the solubility of materials by modifying the physical properties of materials, such as melting points, stability, mechanical properties, and polymorphisms of materials. Materials and Method: This study aims to prepare cocrystal of acyclovir with isonicotinamide as coformer using different solvents, namely, ethanol and glacial acetic acid by solvent evaporation …

Doxepin Accelerates The Healing Process Of Burn Wounds In Mice, Elham Saberzadeh, Mohsen Zabihi, Ehsan Motaghi, Fatemeh Shishehbor

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Wound healing following a skin burn is still a concern due to poor effectiveness and the side effects of the available topical and systemic drugs. Doxepin hydrochloride is an approved antidepressant drug (Application No.: 022036) which is effective for the treatment of moderate pruritus in patients with eczema and atopic dermatitis. The current study has evaluated the effect of topical and systemic doxepin to improve the histopathologic process of second-degree burn wound in mice. The mice were divided into six groups (n = 6), including topical normal saline group, topical glycerin group, positive control group (topical phenytoin), topical doxepin 5% …

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 …

Comparative Evaluation Of The Hepatoprotective Activity Of Methanol Leaf Extracts Of Pterocarpus Santalinoides Dc Obtained By Cold Maceration And Soxhlet Extraction Techniques, Thelma Ebele Ihedioha, Isaac Uzoma Asuzu, Aruh Ottah Anaga, John Ikechukwu Ihedioha

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Objectives: This study compared the hepatoprotective activity of Pterocarpus santalinoides cold maceration extract (PSCME) with P. santalinoides Soxhlet extract (PSSE). Materials and Methods: Phytochemical constituents of both extracts were determined. 45 albino rats, randomly assigned into 9 groups (1–9) of 5 rats each, were used for the study. Liver damage was induced in groups 1–8 using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Group 1 served as untreated control, Groups 2–7 were treated with 50, 250 or 500 mg/kg PSCME or PSSE, Group 8 was treated with 100 mg/kg silymarin, while Group 9 served as normal control. Treatment was done orally for 15 days. …

Teaching And Learning Of Smoking Cessation And Tobacco Control In The Pharmacy Program: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study, Pantira Parinyarux, Adinat Umnuaypornlert, Kornkaew Chanthapasa

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction: Pharmacists play an important role in smoking cessation programs. A lack of knowledge among pharmacy students can create a barrier to providing smoking cessation support. Pharmacy training programs should integrate smoking cessation techniques into the core curriculum. Objective: We aimed to explore the current teaching practices for smoking cessation and tobacco control in pharmacy curricula in Thailand. Methods: A questionnaire surveying tobacco control curricula and teaching techniques were distributed to faculty members in all 19 pharmacy departments in Thailand. Results: Twenty-nine faculty members participated in this study. Most pharmacy programs start teaching smoking cessation and tobacco control in the …

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 …

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.

Belleau 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 Belleau Lake in Wakefield, NH for 2021.

Balch Pond 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 Balch Pond (Wakefield, NH; Acton and Newfield, ME) for sampling efforts up to 2021.

Protein Phosphatase 2a In Metformin’S Action In Primary Human Skeletal Muscle Cells, Aktham H. Mestareehi

Wayne State University Dissertations

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia caused by defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Diabetes is associated with damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs, such as the eyes, heart, kid-neys, and brain. Diabetes is mainly classified into type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Diabetes affects more than 34 million people in the USA (about 1 in 10) and more than 90% of diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes (T2D). Insulin resistance is a main characteristic feature of type 2 diabetes. Skeletal muscle insulin resistance is con-sidered to be the primary defect …

Targeted Combination Therapy Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Ketki Bhise

Wayne State University Dissertations

TARGETED COMBINATION THERAPY OF TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCERby KETKI BHISE May 2021 Advisor: Dr. Arun Iyer Major: Pharmaceutical Sciences Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) accounts for 10-20% of the total breast carcinoma cases. There is no FDA-approved targeted therapy for TNBC due to lack estrogen, progesterone and HER-2. We have identified the role of a hypoxia biomarker, carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) in proliferation and metastasis of TNBC. Based on this observation, we have developed CAIX-targeted Doxorubicin (Dox) prodrug, abbreviated as DoxAtz. To improve the delivery of DoxAtz to the tumor, we developed long circulating liposomes (LipoDoxAtz) and …

Therapeutic Dual-Targeting Of Cytosolic And Mitochondrial One-Carbon Metabolism, Aamod Sanjeev Dekhne

Wayne State University Dissertations

One-carbon metabolism (1CM) is compartmentalized in the mitochondria and cytosol and generates a host of metabolites critical to tumor propagation. Although drug-targeting of cytosolic 1CM remains a clinically-relevant mainstay, development of clinically-useful agents targeting mitochondrial 1CM remains elusive. Of particular pharmacological interest is the mitochondrial 1CM enzyme, serine hydroxymethyltransferase2 (SHMT2). SHMT2 expression correlates with the oncogenic phenotype in lung, colon, breast, glioma, and liver cancer and, overall, is the fifth-most differentially expressed metabolic enzyme in cancer cell versus normal tissue. Despite the unequivocal oncogenic importance and therapeutic potential of SHMT2, there are no clinically relevant (i.e. active in vivo) inhibitors …

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 …

The Effect Of Circadian Clock Modulation On Cisplatin Cytotoxicity, Nadeen Nibal Ahmad Anabtawi

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cisplatin is a DNA damage-based chemotherapeutic drug widely used to treat various types of cancers; however, the treatment's toxicity restricts its efficiency. Studies have shown that the circadian rhythm controls the DNA damage response and affects the repair pathways of cisplatin-induced DNA damage. Circadian clock modulation, therefore, has been proposed to be a potential mechanism for enhancing cisplatin tolerability. Here we used clock-enhancing molecules to evaluate the effect of pharmacological clock modulation on cisplatin cytotoxicity. Using cultured human cell lines, cisplatin cytotoxicity was found to be attenuated following treatment with circadian-enhancing molecules KS15 and SR8278. Moreover, the protein and mRNA …

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 …

Stress-Induced Senescence In Human Dermal Fibroblasts : Effects Of Creatine And Nicotinamide Post Stress Treatment, Venkata Sravya Arikatla

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In skin connective tissue, dermal fibroblasts appear to be the most prevalent cell type. They are in charge of making the extracellular matrix that makes up the skin's connective tissue, and also involved in wound healing. Moreover, they produce Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) which helps in activation of Insulin growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). This receptor helps to control cell proliferation and responses to DNA-damaging substances such as UVB radiation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and therapeutic drugs. According to our findings, lack of IGF-1 expression in the dermis of elderly patients due to fibroblast senescence (senescence is characterized by which cells …

Survival, Growth, And Characterization Of Microbes In E-Liquids, Jessica Bunn

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Health risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes have become a concern in the last ten years, including the inhalation of volatile organic compounds, trace heavy metals, and cancer-causing agents. An additional, but poorly characterized health threat for e-liquids is the potential for bacterial contamination since the presence of pathogenic organisms can potentially cause disease from the inhalation of the microbes into the lungs. This work aims to investigate microbial growth and survival within the e-liquid matrix. Bacillus cereus T. strain and Escherichia coli were the chosen organisms for analysis of growth by absorbance, survival by viable plate counts, and …

Analysis Of Ethanol Aerosolized In An Electronic Cigarette By Headspace Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (Gc-Fid) And Particle Size Separation, Erica R. Sales

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) were designed as a healthier alternative nicotine delivery system, and involve the heating of e-liquids. These are composed of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring agents, and nicotine. Recently, ethanol has been identified as an unlabeled ingredient. The health consequences are currently unknown.

The purpose of this study is to quantify the amount of ethanol present in an aerosol cloud and to determine the size of the ethanol particles. A SubOx Mini-C e-cig was used. For ethanol quantification, the e-cig was attached to a Buchner Flask containing 150mL of deionized water, The system was attached to a vacuum …

Long Term Nutrient And Chlorophyll A Dynamics Across Long Island Sound And Impacts On Dissolved Oxygen Conditions Within The Western Sound (1991-2019), Sherry Perreira

Dissertations and Theses

Nitrogen overload, eutrophication, and hypoxia have been challenging and persistent water quality problems in Long Island Sound (LIS) over the past decades with major impacts on commercial industries, ecology, and recreational activities in the region. Recognizing these problems, the EPA enforced three phases of the Clean Water Act (CWA) to reduce nitrogen loads in an effort to improve this important estuary. This study examines how nitrogen (NH₃, NO_x & TDN), chlorophyll a (CHLA), and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations changed in LIS over the past 30 years, in response to water quality regulations as well as changes in …

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 …

Influence Of 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Iodoamphetamine (Doi) On Ethanol Preference And Consumption In C57bl/6 Male Mice, Alaina M. Jaster, Sam Gottlieb, Michael Miles, Javier González-Maeso

Graduate Research Posters

Substance use disorders (SUD) account for a large number of mental health diagnosis in the United States and around the world. Approximately 13.6 million adults 26 or older and 5.1 million young adults (ages 18-24) battled with a SUD in 2017. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) alone effects nearly 6% of the adult population within the United States. This creates a substantial burden on the individual, with alcohol being the third-leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Few treatments for AUD exist, with no new FDA-approved therapeutic treatments within the last 15 years. Additionally, the limited treatments we do …

Mechanisms Of Cadmium-Induced And Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation-Driven Lung Tumorigenesis, Hsuan-Pei Lin

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous pollutant in the environment and a known carcinogen for lung cancer. Cd has been shown to act as a weak mutagen, which suggests that it may exert tumorigenic effect through non-genotoxic ways, such as epigenetic mechanisms. The goal of this project is to investigate the mechanisms of Cd carcinogenesis focusing on the role of lncRNA dysregulations. The Cd-exposed cells formed significantly more colonies in soft agar, displayed cancer stem cell (CSC)-like property and formed tumors in nude mice. Mechanistically, the lncRNA microarray analysis revealed that chronic Cd exposure dysregulates lncRNA expressions. Q-PCR analysis confirmed the …

Science-Based Regulation Of Pharmacological Substances In Competition Horses, Jacob Machin

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Current testing methodologies within equine forensic toxicology focus on arbitrary thresholds and zero-tolerance policy. Modern analytical chemistry’s limits of detection are low enough that oftentimes femtogram-per-milliliter amounts of a substance can readily be identified in both blood and urine of a horse. For most pharmacologically relevant compounds, these concentrations have no relevance to pharmacological effect. It is therefore crucial that testing methodologies to determine appropriate thresholds and cut-offs be developed that are driven by biological activity rather than arbitrary limits of detection. This dissertation looks to address this by suggesting a system of calculated Effective Plasma Concentrations by which a …