Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Phytochemical Screening And Medicinal Properties Of Caralluma Fimbriata And Moringa Oleifera, Ammara Tariq, Anum Ashfaq, Kalsoom Sughra, Ayesha Hameed

Journal of Bioresource Management

The research was intended to evaluate the medicinal properties of Caralluma fimbriata and Moringa oleifera, as these plants are well known for their therapeutic activities. Qualitative analysis of the phytochemical components of these plants was used to identify the existence of potentially useful therapeutic compounds. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts were assessed and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated using the DPPH assay and the protein denaturation inhibition assay, respectively. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition tests were utilized to determine the plant extract's effectiveness as an antidiabetic agent. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of medicinally beneficial compounds …

Potential Health Risks From Trace Elements In Four Commercially Important Fish Species From The Gulf Of Alaska And Bering Sea Excel Data Sheet, Miranda Brohman, Dimtirios Giarikos, Amy Hirons

SECLER Data

Alaskan waters support a diverse array of fish species that are critical to apex predators and substantial commercial fisheries. Archived white lateral muscle tissue for capelin, herring, walleye pollock, and Pacific cod, from 1993 to 1996 were analyzed for 15 trace elements using induced coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This analysis serves as a proxy for assessing trace element concentrations in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea. The highest concentrations of eight of the 15 elements (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, iron, manganese, selenium, vanadium, and zinc) were found in fish from the central Gulf of Alaska, while capelin showed the …

Visualizing Parcel-Level Lead Risk Using An Exterior Housing-Based Index., Neal J. Wilson, Ryan Allenbrand, Elizabeth Friedman, Kevin Kennedy, Amy Roberts, Stephen Simon

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Pediatric lead poisoning remains a persistent public health problem. Children in the US spend the preponderance of their time at home; thus, housing is an important social determinant of health. Improving health outcomes derived from housing-based sources involves differentiating the risks posed by the existing housing stock. In this paper, we developed a parcel-level lead risk index (LRI) based on external housing conditions and the year of home construction. The purpose of this study was to introduce a housing-based lead risk index (LRI), developed using retrospective data, to estimate parcel-by-parcel variation in housing-based lead risk. We described how the LRI …

Advancing Continuous Manufacturing: The Role Of Process Analytical Technology In Process Development, Samuel R. Henson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The pharmaceutical industry is actively pursuing technologies which improve manufacturing processes with the goal of producing high-quality pharmaceutical products for patients, manifesting in an industry-wide investment in continuous manufacturing (CM). Process analytical technology (PAT) has been recognized for its successful monitoring of critical quality attributes during routine production and is often cited alongside CM due to its ability to make timely, in-line measurements of intermediate materials. Various PAT tools are valuable in process development, particularly as continuous wet granulation processes are developed for use within pharmaceutical manufacturing. This work applied PAT and chemometric modeling during CM process development to enhance …

Ccr5-Ligand Decorated Rilpivirine Lipid-Based Nanoparticles For Sustained Antiretroviral Responses, Milankumar Patel

Theses & Dissertations

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the standard remedy to improve the health-related quality of life of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, limited access to the viral reservoir has significantly hindered its effectiveness in fully eradicating HIV. Therefore, to improve HIV therapy, here we propose a C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5)-targeted theranostic lipid Based Nanoparticles (LBNPs) to noninvasively track and specifically deliver the antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to the viral reservoir. A multi-modular radioactive nanoprobe was synthesized and co-encapsulated with rilpivirine (RPV, an ARV) into the LBNP to achieve a theranostic LBNP that can be tracked by positron emission …

Using Bivalves As An Indicator For Fecal Bacteria, Kamala Chuss

Honors Scholar Theses

This project focuses on the integration of fecal bacteria from warm-blooded animals into bivalve tissue, and the utilization of bivalves as an indicator for fecal bacteria in waterways. Bivalves may give a more representative long-term average of fecal bacteria in water as compared to direct water testing. The primary objective is to create a standard operating procedure to use bacterial testing of bivalves as a proxy for bacteria concentration in the water. This method can be used in places where bivalves do not already exist by adding them to a body of water, or by collecting bivalves that already exist …

Activities Of Cellulolytic, Amylolytic, And Secondary Metabolites From Thermophilic Actinomycetes Collected From The Heated Soil Around Cisolok Geyser, Dhian Chitra Ayu Fitria Sari, Fitria Ningsih, Mazytha Kinanti Rachmania, Akira Yokota, Wellyzar Sjamsuridzal

Makara Journal of Science

This study investigated the antimicrobial activity, cellulolytic, and amylolytic abilities of eight thermophilic Actinomy-cetes isolated from the heated soil around the Cisolok geyser, West Java, Indonesia. Cellulolytic and amylolytic abili-ties were screened for on media by adding 1% (w/v) soluble starch and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), respectively. Antimicrobial activity was screened for using the agar-plug diffusion method by cultivating strains on various growth media. Growth at various temperatures showed that six strains could grow up to 50 °C. Seven out of eight strains showed amylolytic ability at 40 °C and 45 °C, and only four strains did so at 50 °C. Screening …

Comparing Multivalent Cross-Linked Sodium Alginate/ Montmorillonite Beads Containing Curcumin Or Cayenne Pepper As Drug Carriers And Their Antimicrobial Resistance, Shionainn Traynor, Shubham Sharma

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

The aim of the following work was to investigate and compare curcumin and cayenne pepper in microbeads composed of sodium alginate (SA) crosslinked with montmorillonite (MMT) to act as drug carriers and their antimicrobial resistance. The microbeads were prepared through ion-exchange in multivalent solutions of CaCl₂, MgCl₂ and AlCl₃. The microbeads were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and the time required for intercalation of curcumin and cayenne pepper with MMT. Simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.3) and gastric fluid (pH 1.2) at 37°C were used for comparison in swelling studies. …

Editorial - Sure Journal Vol 6, Anne M. Friel, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

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Pediatric Flecainide Pharmacogenomics: A Roadmap To Delivering Precision-Based Care To Pediatrics Arrhythmias., Ronald Palmen, Mollie Walton, Jonathan B. Wagner

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Flecainide acetate is a Class 1c anti-arrhythmic with a potent sodium voltage gated channel blockade which is utilized for the second-line treatment of tachyarrhythmias in children and adults. Given its narrow therapeutic index, the individualization of drug therapy is of utmost importance for clinicians. Despite efforts to improve anti-arrhythmic drug therapy, there remain knowledge gaps regarding the impact of variation in the genes relevant to flecainide's disposition and response. This variability is compounded in developing children whose drug disposition and response pathways may remain immature. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to outline flecainide's disposition and response pathways while …

Acknowledgment Of Reviewers_2024

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

No abstract provided.

Alanine Supplementation Enhancing Cordycepin Production In Cordyceps Militaris Via Upregulation Of Cns2 And Cns3 Genes Expression Levels, Wenbin Yu, Zeying Zhao, Bin Zeng, Yayi Tu, Bin He

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Cordycepin, a key bioactive compound produced by Cordyceps militaris, faces the challenge of low productivity forcommercial use. In this study, alanine supplementation in Cordyceps militaris boosted cordycepin production, peakingat 3 mg/g with 12 g/L concentration. Transcriptome analysis revealed 1711 differentially expressed genes, Pathwayanalysis indicates that protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum was the most affected pathway. In addition, thetranscriptome showed that adenylosuccinate lyase is essential for the synthesis of cordycepin. The modulation of fourgenes (Cns1-4) points to a regulatory mechanism that could increase cordycepin biosynthesis, offering a strategy to overcome low productivity for commercial applications.

Cinnamic Acid Lowers Blood Pressure And Reversesvascular Endothelial Dysfunction In Rats, Abdul Jabbar Shah, Hafiz Misbah-Ud-Din Qamar, Umme Salma, Taous Khan

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Cinnamic acid (CA) possesses important cardiovascular effects such as cardioprotective, antiatherogenic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant, which predicts its potential role in the treatment of hypertension. The study wasexecuted to investigate the antihypertensive potential of CA in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats followed by evaluation indiverse vascular preparations. Invasive blood pressure monitoring technique was used in normotensive and hyper-tensive rats, under anesthesia. Isolated aortic rings from rat and rabbit, Langendorrf's perfused isolated rabbit heart and guinea-pig right atria were used to probe the underlying mechanisms. The responses were recorded with pressure andforce transducers connected to PowerLab Data Acquisition System. Intravenous administration of CA …

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Of Pembrolizumab With Chemotherapy For Metastatic Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer In Taiwan, Wei-Ling Lee, Wan-Hsuan Chou, Wei-Pin Chang, Tsung-Wei Chang, Chun-Nan Kuo, Wei-Chiao Chang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

This study was aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy (pembrolizumabcombination therapy) and compare it with standard-of-care platinum-based chemotherapy (chemotherapy alone) as a first-line treatment for metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC from the perspective of Taiwan's third-party-payer public health-care system. We used a partitioned survival model with an estimated time horizon of 10 years. The partitionedsurvival model uses KaplaneMeier estimates of progression-free and overall survival from the KEYNOTE-189 clinicaltrial. The quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) values were based on utility values by progression status calculated from theKEYNOTE-189 trial. This study examined costs related to treatment regimens, disease management, second-line therapy,end-of-life care, and …

Fluorescent “On–Off–On” Sensor Based On N, P Co-Doped Carbon Nanoparticles For Specific Detection Of Fe3+ And Ascorbic Acid, Li Li, Ming Zhang, Xiang Liu, Shaoqing Zhu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Ascorbic acid (AA) is used as a food additive for its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. However, excessive intake of AA is harmful to humans. Therefore, the detection of Fe³⁺ and AA is generally recognized to be meaningful. In this work, a one-step hydrothermal tactics is developed for the preparing nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped carbon nanoparticles (N, P-CNPs) by using sucrose and ammonium orthophosphate as raw materials. The N, P-CNPs not only exhibited an enhanced fluorescent efficiency with a relatively high quantum yield up to 28%, but also showed satisfactory stability, water solubility and photostability. The fluorescence of N, P-CNPs …

Aromatic Compounds And Organic Acids Identified From Ganoderma Formosanum Exhibit Synergistic Anti-Melanogenic Effects, Chen-Che Hsieh, Chih-Yao Hou, Hsiao-Yun Lei, Darin Khumsupan, Huey-Jine Chai, Pek-Kui Lim, Cheng-Chih Hsu, Sz-Jie Wu, Kai-Wen Cheng, Yi-Chen Chen, Kuan-Chen Cheng

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

This study reveals the anti-tyrosinase activity of Ganoderma formosanum extracts, pinpointing compounds including gluconic acid, mesalamine, L-pyroglutamic acid, esculetin, 5-hydroxyindole, and salicylic acid, as effective melanin production inhibitors in melanoma cells and zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, multiple molecular docking simulations provided insights into interactions between the identified compounds and tyrosinase, increasing binding affinity up to -16.36 kcal/mol. The enhanced binding of identified compounds to tyrosinase facilitated synergistic inhibitory effects on melanin production. This study highlights the potential of GFE-EA as a source of natural tyrosinase inhibitors and contributes to understanding the role of active compounds extracted from G. formosanum.

Bio-Inspired Chitosan/Polydopamine-Nanoparticle Based Sorbent Bead: A Versatile Platform For Separation And Hplc Analysis Of Tetracycline Antibiotics From Various Sample Matrix, Emmanuvel Arputharaj, Yu-Hui Huang, Shivangi Singh, Chen-Han Zhuang, Kuei-Ying Lin, Sri Sudewi, You-Rong Wu, Yeou-Lih Huang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

This study introduces an innovative bio-based sorbent bead crafted by integrating chitosan (CS) biopolymers, Fe(NO₃)₃ and polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) via glutaraldehyde crosslinking. The primary focus of this study was the concurrent separation of diverse tetracycline antibiotics (TCs), followed by rigorous reversed-phase liquid chromatography analysis. The fabricated CS/Fe@PDA sorbent beads were comprehensively characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, revealing a surface rich in active carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) moieties. The proposed method demonstrated substantial analytical robustness, enabling the sorbent bead to detect low concentrations of TCs, with limit of detection values …

Bitter Acids From Humulus Lupulus L. Alleviate D-Galactose Induced Osteoblastic Senescence And Bone Loss Via Regulating Akt/Mtor-Mediated Autophagy, Tian-Shuang Xia, Sheng-Yan Xu, Li-Yong Lai, Yi-Ping Jiang, Na-Ni Wang, Hai-Liang Xin

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Bitter acids (BA) are main component of Humulus lupulus L. (hops). They are known for beer brewing and have various biological and pharmacological properties, especially the bone-protective effect confirmed by our previous in vivo study. Here we aimed to elucidate the anti-senior osteoporosis (SOP) effect of BA on osteoblasts and explore its underlying mechanism. In vitro SOP model was established by D-galactose (D-gal) injured osteoblasts, and the bone formation markers and apoptosis level were measured. mCherry-EGFP-LC3 adenovirus infection and autophagic markers including beclin1 and LC3 proteins were detected to investigate the autophagy level in osteoblasts. To further verify whether BA …

Development And Industrial Application Of Geographical Origin Identification For Taiwanese Oolong Tea, Tien-Lin Liu, Jia-Ru Dai, Tsung-Chen Su, Chun-Huo Chiu, Hsien-Tsung Tsai, Chui-Feng Chiu, Jin-Chih Lin, Chih-Yi Hu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Taiwanese oolong tea is renowned for its excellent quality and enjoys a prestigious reputation both domestically and internationally. In recent years, there has been an issue with imported Taiwanese-style oolong tea being sold as genuine Taiwanese oolong tea, which has adversely affected the brand value of Taiwanese oolong tea. In this study, samples of domestic oolong tea (Taiwanese oolong tea) and Taiwanese-style oolong tea produced abroad (including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, etc.) were collected. A multi-elements analysis method was applied to establish an elemental database of tea leaf samples. Subsequently, various widely used classification methods were employed to develop a …

The Effects Of Fermentation By Different Species Oflactic Acid Bacteria On Betalains And Polyphenol Profile And In Vitro Bioactive Potential Of Red Beetroot Juice, Tomasz Sawicki, Monika Jabłońska, Małgorzata Starowicz, Lucyna Kłębukowska, Wioletta Błaszczak

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

In the current study, the effects of fermentation by Lactobacillus acidophilus, Levilactobacillus brevis or Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (La/Lb/Lp, 1-2.5%) and incubation (30/37℃, C1/C2) of red beetroot juice on the profile of betalains and polyphenols (UHPLC-DAD-MS), and antioxidant capacity using photochemiluminescence (PCL) and spectrophotometric assays (DPPH/ABTS) was investigated. Additionally, anti-glycaemic (anti-AGEs) and anti-cholinergic (anti-AChE) potential in vitro was analysed. Fermentation distinctly initiated isobetanin and neobetaninformation and enhanced flavonoid concentration, emphasising rutin, kaempferol and (+)-catechin. The fermented juices inhibited protein glycation in the BSA-GLU model and showed high DPPH and ABTS values. LP2.5% juice was the only one indicating anti-AChE potential.

Determination And Validation Of Polycyclic Aromatichydrocarbons (Pah4) In Katsuobushi, Plant-Basedfood Supplements, And Cocoa Bean Shells Using Gc-Ms/Ms, Chia-Hsin Liu, Yu-Ning Shin, Ya-Chun Chou, Guan-Jhih Peng, Ying-Ru Shen, Nu-Ching Lin, Shu-Han Chang, Ya-Min Kao, Su-Hsiang Tseng, Der-Yuan Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are primarily generated through the incomplete combustion or pyrolysis oforganic materials in various industrial processes. Foods may become contaminated with environmental PAHs found inair, soil, or water, or through industrial food processing methods such as smoking, roasting, drying, and grilling. The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan has established maximum levels for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and indicativevalues for BaP as well as PAH4 (the sum of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) infoods as operational guidelines. The current study developed an analytical method for simultaneous determination of PAH4 levels in katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes), cocoa bean shells, …

A Novel Selective Medium For Isolation Of Limosilactobacillus Reuteri From Dietary Supplements, Yu-Ting Wang, Jyue-Wei Chuang, Ming-Sian Wu, Min-Cheng Wang, Yu-Cheng Yang, Jun-Jie Yang, Shih-Ting Chiou, Chun-Hsien Li, Che-Yang Lin, Shou-Chieh Huang, Su-Hsiang Tseng, Der-Yuan Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Limosilactobacillus reuteri is a probiotic bacterium known for its numerous beneficial effects on human health and is commonly utilized in various dietary supplements. Previously, we encountered difficulties in isolating L. reuteri from retail dietary supplements containing complex probiotic compositions by using non-selective media such as de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) agar. Our findings reveal that MRS agar using D-gluconic acid as the carbon source and peptone from soymeal as the nitrogen source provid a growth advantage for L. reuteri. Furthermore, all the tested L. reuteri strains exhibit higher resistance to oxacillin compared to non-L. reuteri strains and …

Herbal Nanoemulsions In Cosmetic Science: A Comprehensive Review Of Design, Preparation, Formulation, And Characterization, Benni Iskandar, Ta-Wei Liu, Hui-Ching Mei, I-Chih Kuo, Meircurius Dwi Condro Surboyo, Hsiu-Mei Lin, Ching-Kuo Lee

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The rapid development of delivery systems for cosmetics has revealed two critical challenges in the field: enhancing the solubility of active ingredients and ensuring the stability of natural materials used in cosmetics. Nanoemulsion technology has emerged as an indispensable solution for addressing these challenges, not only enhancing the stability of cosmetics but also improving the solubility of pharmaceuticals and active ingredients with poor solubility. Nanoemulsion formulations have reinforced stability and amended the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. Moreover, nanoemulsion exhibit excellent skin penetration and long-lasting effects, making them particularly appealing to consumers, especially in the cosmetic industry. This article aims to …

Therapeutic Approach Of Carbon Nanotube: Revolutionize Nanomaterial In Biomedical And Pharmaceutical Sector, Shovan Ghosh, Vivek Dave, Pranay Wal

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has emerged as a promising nanomaterial with a wide range of potential applications due to their unique structural, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. However, numerous obstacles must be overcome for CNTs to be used successfully, including low solubility, aggregation, and a lack of specialized functions. Diverse techniques have been developed for the manufacture, purification, and functionalization of CNTs in order to overcome these issues. The main aim of this review article is to provide brief knowledge about CNTs and strategies to use this revolutionized nanomaterial in drug delivery. Prepare CNTs cannot be directly used as drug carrier …

Updates On The Conversion Of Nanosuspensions To Solid Oral Dosage Forms, Anastasia Tsiaxerli, Elisavet Vardaka, Christos Moutroupidis, Kevin M.G. Taylor, Kyriakos Kachrimanis, Maria Malamatari

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Pharmaceutical nanosuspensions, also called nanocrystals, are heterogeneous mainly aqueous dispersions of insoluble drug particles stabilised by surfactants and/or polymers. Nanosuspensions as liquid formulations suffer from instability. Solidification of nanosuspensions to solid dosage forms is a way to combine the advantages of nanocrystals with the advantages of the solid state. In this review, advances regarding stabilisation and production of nanosuspensions are briefly covered. Updates on the methods used to convert nanosuspensions to solid oral dosage forms (e.g., powder, granules, pellets, tablets, and films) are presented in depth. From these methods, spray drying and freeze drying are widely used. Granulation and hot-melt …

Mechanobactericidal Nanotopographies For Food Industry: A Promising Strategy For Eradicating Foodborne Pathogens - Progress And Challenges, Deepak Patil

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Nowadays, food preservation, quality maintenance, and safety are major emerging concerns in the food industry. Methods for removing pathogens from the outside surfaces of food products would be an effective way to prevent bacterial contamination. Nanotopographies found on natural surfaces have been shown to mechanically damage the membranes of foodborne bacteria. Thus, using bioinspired mechanobactericidal nanostructures in food packaging and processing materials has the potential to lower surface bacterial contamination while increasing food safety. However, putting this concept into practice remains a challenge. This review discussed recent advances in understanding mechanobactericidal mechanisms, issues concerning the durability of nanotopography under external …

Naloxone Prescribing At Hospital Discharge: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Timothy Ford

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Opioid overdose deaths remain one of the largest public health challenges in the United States. Naloxone allocation is an important tool to help combat opioid overdose deaths. The literature supports that hospitalized patients are generally receptive to receiving naloxone and opioid education and interdisciplinary teams working together can help facilitate identification of high-risk patients for naloxone allocation. This quality improvement change, guided by the IHI Triple Aims and Model for Healthcare Improvement frameworks, sought to increase the rate of patients leaving the Hospital Medicine Service with naloxone. To accomplish this, during the target units’ daily interdisciplinary rounds, providers were prompted …

Design, Synthesis, And Nmr-Guided Characterization Of A Targeted Covalent Inhibitor-Like Molecule Against Ivyp1 From P. Aeruginosa, Samuel Taylor Moore

Master's Theses

Multi-drug resistance poses a serious threat to future generations and historical antibiotic pipelines; consequently, the medical and economic burdens associated with treating multidrug-resistant bacteria are substantiated. In this context, P. aeruginosa (PA) emerges as one of the most significant healthcare challenges, being a leading cause of resistance-associated mortality worldwide. Despite modern efforts to combat these poor outcomes, drug-resistant cases continue to rise, and the need for novel antibiotic treatment is apparent. To this end, we investigated relevant resistance mechanisms and past antibiotic targets within PA, and in doing so, we identified relationships between peptidoglycan biology and a periplasmic protein, Inhibitor …

Composting For Cleaner Air, Simi Benisty, Katie Bui, Narmin Solman, David Woo

Master's Projects and Capstones

The aim of this project was to address food waste at Mary's Kitchen by implementing a composting initiative to divert organic waste from landfills. The project took place in a nonprofit organization that serves food to the homeless, where the target population includes staff, volunteers, and clients of the kitchen. Key interventions involved creating educational materials on composting, recycling, and waste management, including flyers in both English and Spanish, as well as a QR code for easy access. Additionally, smaller, color-coded buckets were introduced to replace the 33-gallon bins, making waste sorting more manageable. Measures included staff and volunteer compliance …

Population-Based Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Cannabis Use Among Kentucky Adults, 2020– 21, Sydney Shafer, Gunnar Kennedy, W. Jay Christian

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Purpose We conducted this study to assess cannabis use rates in the state of Kentucky relative to socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic factors, as well as reasons for use and modes of use, before the legal medical marijuana market commences in 2025.

Methods We pooled Kentucky Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data for 2020–2021 and used weighted responses for all analyses. We estimated current cannabis use (at least once in the past 30 days), and heavy use (at least 20 of the past 30 days) prevalence rates for Appalachian, Delta, and Central geographic regions of Ken- tucky. We tabulated descriptive …