Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Disability In An American Indian Community : Prevalence, Distribution, And The Role Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Thoin Farzana Begum

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Akwesasne reservation along the St. Lawrence River has experienced significant exposure to several persistent organic pollutants due to rapid industrialization. The Aluminum Company of America, General Motors, and Reynolds Metals operated aluminum foundries that used polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as hydraulic fluids, which contaminated the community environment, the soil, air and water, and community food sources with PCBs. We administered the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II) to 119 Akwesasne Mohawk adults residing along the St. Lawrence River in New York. We used exploratory factor analysis to summarize the 36- items comprising the WHODAS II. The 7 …

Trace Elements In Nails And Anemia In Children Living Along The Interoceanic Highway, Madre De Dios, Peru / Narrative Competence And Cognitive Mapping As A Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy In The Education Of Emergent Bilinguals, Tia Marks

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Anthropogenic changes in the Peruvian Amazon, including deforestation, highway development, agriculture, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), have increased community concern about potential exposures toxic trace elements (TTE) including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb). Such exposures can lead to detrimental health effects in children, such as developmental delays and anemia. The overarching goal of my dissertation was to understand exposure to both toxic and essential (manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn)) trace elements, anemia prevalence, and the associations between hemoglobin (Hb) levels and trace elements. To do this, I leveraged existing data from a …

Disability In An American Indian Community : Prevalence, Distribution, And The Role Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Thoin F. Begum

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Phthalates have been implicated as reproductive toxicants in animal models and in human populations. This study examined associations between potential exposure sources and urinary phthalate concentrations among couples undergoing infertility treatment. Women (n=56) and their male partners (n=43) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were enrolled in a prospective cohort investigation of environmental chemicals and IVF outcomes at an academic medical center. On the day of oocyte retrieval, participants provided urine samples and completed questionnaires detailing use of personal care products (PCPs), and consumption of medications, foods, and beverages in the preceding 24-hours. Urine was analyzed for MEP, MBP, MPP, MHxP, …

Developing High-Resolution Meteorological Datasets To Assess The Short-Term Association Between Meteorological Factors And Green Space And Mental Disorders, Xinlei Deng

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Global climate change is linked to the frequency and intensity of local climate extremes such as heatwaves, cold spells, and flooding. Scientific evidence indicates that heatwaves and higher ambient temperature could increase the risk of hospital admission and emergency department (ED) visits for mental disorders (MDs). On the other hand, urban green space is considered a way to reduce heat island effects and provide comfort for area residents. However, there still exist huge research gaps. Except for temperature, few studies have examined how other meteorological factors (relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), heat index (HI), and rainfall) are associated with …

The Effects Of Gestational Exposure To Buprenorphine Or Morphine On Offspring Development, Abigail Myers

Wayne State University Theses

The opioid crisis in the United States has grown to epidemic proportions with opioid dependence among pregnant women quadrupling from 1999-2014. Opioid-dependent pregnant women are commonly given opioid maintenance therapies (e.g., buprenorphine), but the developmental and neurological effects of these drugs on offspring development are poorly understood. Our study uses a translational rodent model to characterize the developmental consequences of gestational morphine (“MS”; mimicking opioid use disorder) or buprenorphine (“BUP”; mimicking opioid maintenance therapy) exposure on exposed offspring. Female rats started BUP (1.0 mg/kg) or MS (3-6.0 mg/kg) exposure 7 days before pregnancy to represent an established user and either …

An Analysis On Various Treatment Options For Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Elisheva Dusowitz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a highly invasive, under-researched subtype of Breast Cancer. Patients lack receptors for the protein Human Epidermal Growth Factor, and both estrogen and progesterone. This negatively impacts treatment by making all hormone-sensitive treatments unavailable to TNBC patients. Since the effectiveness of various options has remained understudied, the prognosis remains poor. This paper attempts to analyze and compare the effectiveness of various treatment options. Because TNBC is very aggressive, the standard approach is to jump in with harsh surgical procedures, including mastectomies and lumpectomies. This analysis finds that more aggressive treatment may not be necessary to treat …

The Development And Future Of Prosthetics Controlled By Myoelectrical Impulses, Chaya Podemski

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Objective: To document the developmental history of prostheses to better understand the circumstances that led to enabling amputees to experience touch through sensory reinnervation surgery in conjunction with an innovative bionic arm; and to prove that sensory reinnervation is the key to further progress. Methods: The topic was researched extensively using scholarly databases and read relevant accounts of experimental studies and outcomes. Results: By examining the progress made in the field of prostheses, it has been determined that a sensory reinnervation technique is at the forefront of bionic limb technology and predict that it will continue to be utilized and …

Full Issue: Volume 15, Number 2, Spring 2022

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 15, Number 2 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences. Published Spring 2022.

Is Deep Brain Stimulation A Desirable Therapy For Parkinson’S Disease?, Chana Steinberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that currently impacts 6.1 million people globally. Although it has different presentations, its core features are tremors, postural instability, bradykinesia (slowing of movement), and psychological disabilities such as mood disorders and cognitive decline. A primary treatment is Levodopa, but it has limited success. A promising treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been shown to induce significant improvements in motor skills where Levodopa has failed to help. Deep Brain Stimulation works via implanted electrodes. It has been used successfully in many studies to decrease motor issues associated with Parkinson’s, but potential side effects pose …

Cardiovascular Disease - Is A Whole Food Plant-Based Diet The Answer?, Shalom Katz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Objective: To determine if a whole food plant-based diet can prevent and cure cardiovascular disease. Results: People on whole food plant-based diets exhibit extremely low levels of plasma LDL. Another risk factor for developing atherosclerosis, is inhibited production of nitric oxide, which is vital for healthy blood flow. One of the main inhibitors of nitric oxide production is asymmetric dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA). An inverse relationship was found between dietary fat and ADMA levels. The diets with the best results were the diets where oil intake was reduced to a minimum. Clinically, people who went on whole food plant-based diets had their …

Osteoporosis: A Comprehensive Review, Eliyahu Greenberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Osteoporosis is a disease of the skeleton that becomes more common with advanced age, especially in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures, thereby reducing the quality of life for those who suffer from it. Due to the aging population, direct costs resulting from osteoporosis are projected to reach upward of $25 billion per year by 2025. The main pharmaceuticals primarily target osteoclasts. Exercise may be an effective method of preventing osteoporosis, although more research needs to be done. More research should be conducted to explore potential ways to enhance osteoblastic activity as a method to treat and/or reverse …

Does Exercise Make You Smarter?, Avi Derkhidam

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Physical exercise has been applauded for its beneficial cardiovascular and mental effects for decades. Recently, researchers have begun to study exercise from a different perspective, focusing on the positive relationship between exercise and cognition. One area of cognition highlighted in association with exercise is its positive impact on executive function. Executive function refers to the collection of neurocognitive processes involved in goal-directed problem-solving. Improved levels of cognitive function have been found to impact significant achievements throughout life. Because of this, the development, improvement, and preservation of these functions are essential. While research has proven a correlation between exercise and improved …

Can Androgenetic Alopecia Be Reversed And What Are The Effective Treatments?, Michelle Aminova

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Androgenic alopecia (AGA), also known as male and female pattern baldness, is the loss of hair on the scalp for both men and women. The onset of hair loss for men suffering from this condition can occur as early as their teens or early 20s. Symptoms include a receding hairline and gradual disappearance of hair at the vertex and frontal scalp. When women have female pattern baldness (FPB), their hair doesn’t appear thinning until they reach their 40s or older. Generally, women experience a thinning of the hair over the whole scalp, with the most extensive hair loss at the …

Optimal Treatment Of Osteoporosis, Yehoshua Wiederkehr

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Osteoporosis affects tens of millions of people in America and is the most common disease of the bones. New treatments are constantly sought, as existing ones have documented side effects. This review seeks to pinpoint the most effective and safe treatment for osteoporosis by looking at head-to-head trials and research regarding combination therapies. This review also looks at the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic treatments and whether any options are beneficial. The importance of an open patient/provider relationship proves itself, as many medications and treatment plans depend on personal factors that need to be measured and weighed by a medical professional together …

Effective Treatments For Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, Moshe Picciotto

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) is the most common form of breast cancer wherein its progression interrupts the hormonal receptors and genetic variation of one’s DNA. DCIS can be caused by hereditary means, or through mutations. Fortunately, due to the many different modes of contraction, there is a plethora of treatments available in the forms of mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapeutic drugs, and PARP inhibitors, each with their own mechanism of action to combat the tumor and any metastatic effects the cancer may have on the body. This paper analyzes the cancer’s mechanism of action upon the body and the positive effects …

Not Coming Home: The Flaws In Skilled Nursing Facilities And Their Contribution To Cyclical Hospitalizations Of Post-Acute Patients, Kate Eisenbraun

Pitzer Senior Theses

This literature review will discuss the experience of patients within the US healthcare system, focusing on skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and their contribution to cyclical hospitalizations. SNFs differ from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities by providing short-term, post-operational rehabilitation at a cost lower than what is offered at hospitals. Despite their critical role, SNFs often face fundamental issues, such as understaffing, underfunding, and staff burn-out, which result in lower quality patient care. This thesis argues that the issues faced by SNFs are a result of inconsistencies with state and federal staffing regulations, as well as inadequate insurance reimbursements. …

Building Tools For Improved Modulation Of The Human Gabaa Receptor, A Central Nervous System Target For The Treatment Of Anxiety, Garrett Edward Zinck

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

In the U.S., anxiety is recognized as an increasing range of mentally and physically debilitating psychiatric health disorders with significant economic repercussions. Over the last 20 years, several novel anti-anxiety therapies have entered the drug development pipeline, but none have made it to market.

The work in this dissertation focused on structurally modifying valerenic acid (VA), a structurally unique carboxylated sesquiterpene acid found in Valeriana officinalis. VA is putatively reported to have allosteric modulatory activity of the human GABA_A receptor, a ligand-gated ion channel responsible for attenuating neurotransmissions. Structural modeling of VA’s GABA_A receptor interaction suggests that …

Response Of Dopaminergic System To Cocaine Exposure, Recovery After Cocaine Abstinence, And Impact Of A Long-Acting Cocaine Hydrolase, Jing Deng

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Cocaine produces its physiological effects by targeting multiple proteins in the central nervous system, particularly by binding with dopamine transporter (DAT) to block the normal dopamine (DA) recycling process. This process along with the pleasure feeling would wear off shortly after the abstinence from the drug. However, chronic cocaine use is associated with neuroadaptations in the dopaminergic system, including increases in the density of DAT on plasma membrane of dopaminergic neurons. Given the critical role of DAT in neurotransmission, various studies have been carried out on animal models to learn its structure, function, and distribution. Long-standing evidence supports that DAT …

Endocrine Disruptors: Challenges And Future Directions In Epidemiologic Research, V. Ho, L. Pelland-St-Pierre, S. Gravel, M. F. Bouchard, M.-A. Verner, F. Labrèche

Études primaires

Public concern about the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on both humans and the environment is growing steadily. Epidemiologic research provides key information towards our understanding of the relationship between environmental exposures like EDCs and human health outcomes. Intended for researchers in disciplines complementary to epidemiology, this paper highlights the importance and challenges of epidemiologic research in order to present the key elements pertaining to the design and interpretation of an epidemiologic study on EDCs.

The conduct of observational studies on EDCs derives from a thoughtful research question, which will help determine the subsequent methodological choices surrounding the careful …

Microbial Contamination And Metabolite Exposure Assessment During Waste And Recyclable Material Collection, Fabiola Salambaga, Loïc Wingert, Isabelle Valois, Nancy Lacombe, François Gouin, Julien Trépanier, Maximilien Debia, Ewelina Soszczyńska, Magdalena Twarużek, Robert Kosicki, Marta Dias, Susana Viegas, Liliana Caetano, Carla Viegas, Geneviève Marchand

Études primaires

Waste workers are exposed to bioaerosols when handling, lifting and dumping garbage. Bioaerosol exposure has been linked to health problems such as asthma, airway irritant symptoms, infectious, gastrointestinal and skin diseases, and cancer. Our objective was to characterize the exposure of urban collectors and drivers to inhalable bioaerosols and to measured the cytotoxic effect of air samples in order to evaluate their health risk.

Personal and ambient air sampling were conducted during the summer of 2019. Workers from 12 waste trucks collecting recyclables, organic waste or compost were evaluated. Bacteria and fungi were cultured, molecular biology methods were used to …

Emerging Technologies For The Production Of Nanocellulose From Lignocellulosic Biomass, Dileswar Pradhan, Amit Jaiswal, Swarna Jaiswal

Articles

Nanocellulose is a unique and promising natural nanomaterial and has gained significant attention due to its applications in several important areas. Thus, researchers are continuously looking for the most efficient, sustainable, economically viable, and environmentally friendly production technologies to fulfil its growing demand. Conventional production technologies, which include various physical, chemical, and physicochemical methods, are currently inadequate for this purpose and have several limitations such as long processing time, high energy consumption, low recovery of nanocellulose, and many others. To overcome these shortcomings, scientists have investigated the prospect of utilizing emerging processing technologies such as microwave irradiation, deep eutectic solvent, …

Climate Change And Environmental Sustainability Module: Activity Booklet, Fozia Parveen, Sara Hassan, Subhan Khan

Books

Dear readers (teachers, parents, and students), Thank you for accessing our activity booklet. The information booklet introduced concepts relating to climate change and environmental sustainability. In this booklet several cross cutting activities on various themes have been presented. The booklet contains ready-made activities containing but not limited to comic strips, experiments, conversations, writing, simple tag, cut and paste as well as research activities. We hope you enjoy, adapt and implement these activities in your community.

Climate Change And Environmental Sustainability Module: Information Booklet, Fozia Parveen, Sara Hassan, Subhan Khan

Books

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Effects Of Mechlorethamine On The Dermal-Epidermal Junction, Trishaal Janardhanam Raghavendra Rao

Theses and Dissertations

Sulfur Mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent first utilized on the battlefield more than 100 years ago. To the present time, no antidote to combat the dermatotoxicity of SM exists. Mechlorethamine (HN2) is a derivative of SM which is used in anticancer therapy. Dermal exposure of HN2 is associated with dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) disruption (vesication) which limits its clinical usefulness. The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms of vesication caused by HN2 using an in vivo mouse ear vesicant model (MEVM). The ears of male or female C57BL/ 6J mice were exposed to a …

Hemogram Results And Renal Function Before And After Administration Of Black Cumin Seed Oil In Healthy Volunteers, Titiek Hidayati, Akrom Akrom, Sagiran Sagiran, Indrayanti Indrayanti

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Black cumin seed oil (BSCO) is widely used to maintain health and strengthen the people of Indonesia’s immune system and proved to be safe for kidneys. However, the effect of BSCO usage in a healthy kidney is remaining unknown. This study was aimed to determine the impact of the 20-day administration of BCSO on kidney function in healthy volunteers. We conducted a pre- and post-control design trial in 36 healthy volunteers. The volunteers had to hold a valid health certificate from the hospital, be willing to be involved in the research as evidenced by their willingness to complete and sign …

Improved Virus Inhibition By Microencapsulated Monoclonal Antibody Against Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, Rachatapan Junchay, Patcharapong Thangsunan, Kittipat Supchukun, Jakarwan Yostawonkul, Sasithon Temisak, Kaewta Rattnapisit, Teerapong Yata, Waranyoo Phoolcharoen

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has been affecting the swine industry, especially in suckling pigs with a high mortality rate. Among all the strategies to overcome PEDV, boosting mucosal immunity in the pig intestines through oral administration appears to be more efficient than other routes. However, there are biological obstacles such as an acidic environment that could damage biologics, a product from organisms often used for PEDV treatment. The plant-derived 2C10 monoclonal antibody (mAb) from Nicotiana benthamiana produced by transient expression was revealed as one of the potential candidates against PEDV through oral delivery. Herein, we demonstrated the calcium-alginate microencapsulation …

The Successful Treatment Of Brevundimonas Diminuta Using Ceftriaxone, In A Patient On Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis: A Case Report And Literature Review, Sukrit Kanchanasurakit, Natnicha Woranithipokin, Piyakamol Teeranaew, Natthawee Kaewrattanapatthama, Chotirat Nakaranurack

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Brevundimonas diminuta (B. diminuta) is found in the healthcare environment and in the community. At present, there are few reports of infections caused by this microorganism, especially in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A 44-year-old woman undergoing CAPD was diagnosed with a B. diminuta infection. Ceftriaxone was given both intravenously and intraperitoneally. After treatment with ceftriaxone, the peritoneal dialysis fluid white cell count, neutrophil count, and symptoms improved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a B. diminuta infection in a patient had undergoing CAPD in Thailand.

Impaired Β-Cell Neogenesis In A Mouse Model Of Metabolic Syndrome, Modhi Abdullah Alshammari

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Pancreatic islet β-cell plays an essential role in insulin release and hence glucose homeostasis. The maintenance of glucose homeostasis depends on β-cell ability to cope with enough insulin to fulfill metabolic and physiological demands. Adequate insulin release is the result of highly complex and dynamic interplays between acute changes in β- cell electrical activity, exocytosis and chronic adaptations in cellular function, volume, mass and proliferation. All of this appears modulated, to some extent, by the functional presence of Slc12a2 symporters, also known as Na+K+2Cl– cotransporter-1 (Nkcc1), which accumulates intracellular Cl– above its electrochemical equilibrium. Recent studies from our laboratory showed …

Exploiting Modulation Of The Blood-Brain And Blood-Tumor Barrier Permeability By Translational Focused Ultrasound For Therapeutic Delivery To Cns Metastases, Tasneem A. Arsiwala

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Transcranial low-intensity focused ultrasound is a unique technology to modulate the integrity of tight endothelial junctions and transiently increase BBB/BTB permeability to enhance therapeutic delivery. Despite promising early studies, present literature lacks agreement on key experimental conditions, which restricts our knowledge and the technique's widespread translation. This dissertation first provides a critical review of the current gaps in knowledge regarding the universal use of LiFUS in preclinical and clinical use. We then identify key parameters for translational and predictable opening of the BBB using a 3T MRI coupled with a clinical device. Our investigation highlights that passive permeability of the …

Toxic Effects Of Silver Ions On Early Developing Zebrafish Embryos Distinguished From Silver Nanoparticles, Martha S. Johnson, Preeyaporn Songkiatisak, Pavan Kumar Cherukuri, Xiao-Hong Nancy Xu

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Currently, effects of nanomaterials and their ions, such as silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and silver ions (Ag⁺), on living organisms are not yet fully understood. One of the vital questions is whether nanomaterials have distinctive effects on living organisms from any other conventional chemicals (e.g., their ions), owing to their unique physicochemical properties. Due to various experimental protocols, studies of this crucial question have been inconclusive, which hinders rational design of effective regulatory guidelines for safely handling NPs. In this study, we chronically exposed early developing zebrafish embryos (cleavage-stage, 2 hours post-fertilization, hpf) to a dilution series of …