Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Effect Of Various Lactobacillus Probiotic Strains On Oral Antihypertensive Drug Response: A Systematic Review, Khoirunnisa Ramadhani, Keri Lestari

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy can be influenced by metabolic and systemic inflammatory factors associated with gut microbiota conditions. Probiotic strains from the genus Lactobacillus have been reported to modulate antihypertensive effects through complex biological mechanisms. This article evaluates experimental evidence from seven in vivo studies on the influence of Lactobacillus strains on the response to antihypertensive drugs, including pharmacodynamic mechanisms and drug–probiotic interactions. The combination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum with amlodipine enhanced nitric oxide production, increased eNOS expression, reduced IL-6 levels, and improved drug bioavailability, leading to greater blood pressure …

Optimization Of Guava Leaf Extract Cream Formulation Through Variations Of Xanthan Gum And Stearic Acid For Wound Cure In Rats, Ayudia Cipta Khairani, Mia Ariasti

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Cuts are among the most common skin injuries caused by sharp objects and can lead to infection if not properly treated. Natural ingredients such as guava leaves have been widely investigated for their wound-healing potential. Guava leaves contain bioactive compounds including flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and tannins, which contribute to anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and tissue regeneration processes. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate the physical properties and wound-healing effectiveness of guava leaf ethanol extract cream with varying concentrations of xanthan gum and stearic acid as emulsifiers. The extract was obtained by maceration using 70% ethanol and formulated into four cream formulas …

Drug-Related Problems In Hemodialysis Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Study At X Hospital (January–May 2022), Muhammad Refki Abrari, Jatmiko Susilo

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Indonesia has increased from 2.0 ‰in 2013 to 3.8 ‰in 2018. The presence of complex comorbidities associated with CKD causes varied therapy regimens (poly-pharmacy), leading to an increased risk of drug-related problems (DRPs). To overcome these complications, dialysis is often used to remove metabolic waste and rebalance electrolytes to maintain life in patients experiencing rapid loss of kidney function. This study aims to evaluate drugs consumed as well as DRPs experienced by patients diagnosed with CKD undergoing hemodialysis at X Hospital from January to May 2022. The study procedures were carried out …

What Is The Hospital Pharmaceutical Care? Perceptions And Expectations Of Doctors In Interprofessional Collaboration In 2 Types Of Indonesia Hospitals, Anisyah Achmad, Savvy Augustin Tirta, Titi Annisa Bella, Ratna Kurnia Illahi, Bambang Sidharta, Valentina Yurina, Wara Rejeki

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Hospital Pharmaceutical Care (HPC) is the pharmacist’s direct responsibility to aim for patient safety and quality of life. HPC is a means of avoiding medication and human errors. Carrying out a HPC requires a good collaboration between doctors and pharmacists in treatment management. The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between doctors’ perceptions and expectations of clinical pharmacists at HPC. This research is descriptive quantitative observational with a cross-sectional approach. The data were collected using purposive sampling (type A hospital) and total sampling (type C hospital) through interviews using perception and expectations questionnaires on doctors’ to pharmacists …

Β-Glucan As A Potential Modulator Of Tgf-Β Signaling And Emt-Driven Resistance In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Hanifa Dinda Hayati, Riezki Amalia, Gemilang Lara Utama, Dika Pramita Destiani

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks expression of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, limiting the effectiveness of targeted therapies and making chemotherapy the primary treatment option. However, resistance to chemotherapy remains a major clinical challenge, often driven by dysregulation of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. TGF-β plays a dual role in cancer, initially acting as a tumor suppressor but later promoting tumor progression through mechanisms such as epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune evasion, and the establishment of cancer stemness. This review aims to explore the role of TGF-β signaling and EMT …

Perceived Effects Of Verbal Orders On In-Patient Medication Reconciliation And Safety: A Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study, Yahaya Jafaru, Abubakar K. Sahabi, Mohammed M. Sani

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Medication reconciliation presents significant challenges for healthcare professionals, particularly due to communication gaps that contribute to patient safety incidents. The aim of the study was to investigate the perceived effect of verbal orders on in-patient medication reconciliation and safety. The study was a cross-sectional survey with nurse employees of the three tertiary hospitals in Kebbi State, Nigeria as population of the study. The instrument for the data collection was a 21-items researcher-constructed self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square and binomial regression analysis were used in data analysis. Over two-thirds (70.7%) of the respondents reported a negative perceived effect on the patient’s compliance. The …

Crosstalk Between Gut Microbiota And Antihypertensive Drugs: A Systematic Review, Dhiya'ul Haq, Keri Lestari

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Hypertension is a multifactorial condition characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure. In addition to genetic and environmental factors, recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota contributes to the development of hypertension and modulates the response to antihypertensive therapy. This review aims to summarize the latest knowledge on the bidirectional interaction between gut microbiota and antihypertensive drugs. Original studies published up to May 2025 on this topic were collected from two online databases: PubMed and Scopus. A total of 220 articles were identified, and 9 articles met the inclusion criteria for further discussion. Three of these included articles discussed how gut …

Anti-Inflammatory Actions Of Trigonella Foenum-Graecum L. In Acute And Chronic Inflammation: Insights From Preclinical Studies, Angel Christella, Dzava P. F. Ismail, Eli Halimah

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Chronic inflammation is a major factor in various degenerative diseases. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is often the main choice, but long-term side effects such as gastrointestinal irritation and nephrotoxicity limit their use. Therefore, natural alternatives such as Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) have attracted attention due to their bioactive compound contents with anti-inflammatory properties. This narrative review was conducted through a systematic search of articles from the last 10 years in PubMed and Scopus. Keywords used a combination of MeSH and free terms related to fenugreek and anti-inflammatory agents. In vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the anti-inflammatory effects …

Environmental Risk Assessment Of Textile Waste From Bio-Engineered Fibers In The Fashion Industry, Aayush Pankaj Agarwal, Harshit Soral, Irmak Aktan, Karol Montserrat Gonzalez Saad, Maria Daniela Saa Espinosa, Sheetal Suhas Dhanuka, Yi Yang

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

The global fashion industry generates over 92 million tons of textile waste annually, a figure projected to increase significantly by 2030. Bio-engineered fibers, including bacterial cellulose, mycelium-based leather, and recombinant protein textiles emerge as sustainable alternatives to conventional fibers. Despite their promise, recent evidence suggests that these fibers may pose environmental risks at the end-of-life stage, such as incomplete biodegradation in landfills, microfiber shedding, and chemical leaching from dyes and coatings. The purpose of this study is to examine how these risks are represented through scientific literature, corporate sustainability reports, and policy frameworks, and to identify strategies for integrating risk …

The Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium's Consensus-Based Framework For Assigning Allele Function., Bailey M. Tibben, Andrea Gaedigk, Li Gong, Katrin Sangkuhl, Michelle Whirl-Carrillo, Mary V. Relling, Roseann S. Donnelly, Teri E. Klein, Kelly E. Caudle

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) is dedicated to integrating pharmacogenetic testing into clinical practice by developing and disseminating peer-reviewed, evidence-based gene-drug clinical practice guidelines. A critical component of this effort is the assignment of clinical function to pharmacogene alleles, which informs the translation of genetic test results into actionable prescribing decisions. This technology review outlines the standardized procedures and framework used by CPIC to assign allele clinical functional status through the work of Pharmacogene Curation Expert Panels (PCEPs). These panels, comprising multidisciplinary experts, systematically review and evaluate evidence to assign functional status to pharmacogenetic haplotypes. The process includes rigorous …

Grapes Cure Cancer: My First Molecular Docking Analysis Of Resveratrol Binding To Anti-Apoptotic Protein Bcl-2: In Silico, Sydni Ann Kolokoltsev, Vishwas Joshi

Publications and Research

B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) is an anti-apoptotic protein frequently overexpressed in cancer, enabling tumor cells to evade programmed death. Resveratrol, a grape-derived polyphenol, has reported anticancer properties. Here we performed in silico docking of resveratrol to human BCL-2 using AutoDock Vina. The best-ranked pose exhibited a predicted binding free energy of 8.0 kcal/mol and formed at least one short hydrogen bond (~1.8 Å) with pocket residues. These results support further evaluation of resveratrol as a potential modulator of BCL-2-mediated apoptosis.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid Oil-Based Microdroplets: A Promising Novel Class Of Microdroplets, Ramiz S. Alejilat

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Droplet-based microfluidics has rapidly advanced numerous fields, including chemistry, biology, materials science, medicine, food science, and cosmetics. In these systems, fluorocarbon oil combined with fluorinated surfactants is the preferred medium for fluid encapsulation, offering exceptional stability and biocompatibility essential for sensitive biological and chemical processes. However, growing concerns about the environmental and biological risks associated with fluorinated chemicals have prompted a search for alternatives.

This study is the first to explore the use of unsaturated fatty acids derived from emu oil for microdroplet formation. We characterized droplet formation based on flow rates and the presence non-fluorinated surfactant at a certain …

The Triangular Interaction Between Dietary Polyphenols, Gut Microbiota, And Metabolic Syndrome, Emily Bayliss

Senior Honors Theses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global health concern characterized by peripheral insulin resistance as well as impaired insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome, specifically gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiome, is a critical modulator of the pathophysiology of T2DM. Dietary polyphenols, a diverse group of bioactive compounds that are abundant in plant-based foods, have recently gained attention for their potential to attenuate metabolic disorders through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as through modulating the composition and activity of gut microbes, thereby attenuating dysbiosis. However, the diabetic state …

Development Of A Method For Using Effective Elements For The Storage Of Electrical Energy, Jasur M. Melibaev, Nasiba U. Abduraimova, Sardor S. Abriev, Yulbarskhon N. Mansurov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The aim of the work is to find ways to use cryotic metals that also provide added value to the economy, using the example of tantalum and zirconium. Among the critical metals, there are those that are rarely found in the Earth’s crust but possess unique properties. These include tantalum and zirconium. While zirconium finds industrial applications, tantalum is still rarely used – its main application in capacitors for producing phones, computers, and automotive electronics. A small amount of tantalum is used to make hard alloy elements. Analysis showed that between zirconium and tantalum, there is a mixture of two …

Using Insecticidal Compounds To Elucidate The Potential Role Of Neurotransmitters In Lepidoptera Pupal Ecdysis, Niranjana Krishnan, Cassandra Gorman, Jillian Stewart, Steven Bradbury, Russell Jurenka

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Previously, we reported final-instar lepidopteran larvae exposed to low doses of imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam had arrest in pupal ecdysis, which is a novel adverse outcome for neonicotinoid insecticides. Since neonicotinoids disrupt acetylcholine signaling, we hypothesized that the excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine plays a critical role in regulation of pupal ecdysis, likely by modulating the release of peptides from crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) neurons. In this paper, using two lepidopteran species, we undertook studies with five additional nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists and three muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonists to hypothesize the putative nAChR subunits that mediate pupal ecdysis. We also …

Environmental Sanitation In Long-Term Care Facilities: A Focus On Regulations And Implementations, Ruwan Dissanayake Dissanayake Mudiyanselage

All Theses

Environmental sanitation is a fundamental component of infection prevention in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), where residents are at increased risk due to advanced age, underlying health conditions, and communal living arrangements. Despite its critical role, significant gaps remain in implementing environmental sanitation procedures and the regulatory frameworks that guide them.

This study combines two components: (1) an across-state regulatory review of environmental sanitation in LTCF regulations and (2) a cross-sectional survey assessing environmental sanitation characteristics of nursing homes (NHs) and assisted living facilities (ALFs) and Rural and Urban LTCF observation study in South Carolina (SC) . For the regulatory review …

Predicting Accelerated And Delayed Aging In Global Settings: Biobehavioral Age Gaps And The Role Of Global Exposomes, Hernan Hernandez, Hernando Santamaria-Garcia, Sebastian Moguilne, Agustina Legaz, Pavel Prado, Jhosmary Cuadros, Liset Gonzalez, Cyprian Mostert, Chinedu Momoh, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Global health challenges like aging and dementia are shaped bysocioeconomic disparities, environmental factors, and social determinants of health.We developed a behavioral age gap (BAG), measuring the difference between expectedbehavioral age and chronological age

Method: We utilized a cross-sectional sample (n = 161,981) comprising countriesfrom Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Behavioral age was estimated usinga Gradient Boosting Regressor with 10-fold cross-validation, incorporating multiplerisk factors (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, female sex, visual impairment andhearing impairment) and protective factors (cognition, functional ability, education)associated with healthy aging. BAG was calculated as the difference between predictedand chronological age, and adjusted gaps were derived …

Evaluating Fall And Spring Planted Cover Crops For Integrated Management Of Herbicide Resistant Palmer Amaranth And Effect On Soil Health, Vipin Kumar

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) pose a severe threat to agronomic crop productivity in the United States, including corn and soybean production in Nebraska. Therefore, there is an urgent need for diversified and sustainable management approaches. Integrating cover crops (CCs) with herbicide programs represents a promising strategy to achieve Palmer amaranth suppression, sustain crop yields, and contribute to long-term soil health in irrigated corn–soybean production systems in Nebraska.

A meta-analysis of 41 studies and 595 paired observations demonstrated that CCs reduced Amaranthus spp. density and biomass by 37–59% depending on the growing season, with grasses and mixtures …

Fast & Forensic: Rapid Detection & Quantitation Of 30 + Emerging Novel Psychoactive Substances In Hair Using Lc-Ms/Ms, Seokjin Hwang

Student Theses

The continuous emergence of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) poses a significant challenge for forensic and clinical toxicologists, due to their structural diversity, rapid turnover on the illicit drug market, and limited toxicological information. Hair is a powerful matrix for retrospective drug exposure assessment and monitoring NPS worldwide. Not only does it provide a broad window of detection but also a simple sample exchange amongst laboratories. However, the extraction of multi-class NPS in a single method remains an analytical challenge. Therefore, there is an urgent need for extraction techniques and analytical methods that are both rapid and capable of multi-class quantitation …

Characterizing Hexavalent Chromium Neurotoxicity Across Laboratory Models., Samuel Thomas Vielee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and potent toxicant. Exposure to Cr(VI) in drinking water is primarily associated with cancers, inflammation, and hepatotoxicity; however, recent studies have identified Cr(VI) as a neurotoxicant in rodent and cell culture models. The literature suggest chromium accumulates in the brain, induces widespread neurodegeneration, and alters rodent behaviors. Despite these data, we lack a detailed and consistent assessments of Cr(VI) neurotoxicity across models, and interactions between aging and Cr(VI) neurotoxicity are not reported in the literature. In this dissertation, we characterize Cr(VI) neurotoxicity across 3 laboratory models: Sprague-Dawley rats, Caenorhabditis elegans, and …

Exposure To Pm2.5 And Aging., Daniel Chris Gomes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inhalation of fine airborne particulate matter (PM_2.5) is an environmental risk factor for numerous health disorders, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While several studies have shown that PM_2.5 exposure can induce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation, the underlying mechanisms that translate these effects into systemic pathology remain poorly understood. Some recent studies have shown that PM_2.5 exposure can lead to telomere shortening in leukocytes, but the generality of this outcome and contribution to endothelial dysfunction has not yet been fully explored. We hypothesized that PM_2.5inhalation accelerates cellular aging and senescence in both circulating peripheral …

A Ralgef Inhibitor Suppresses Lung Cancer Stem Cell Development And Tumorigenesis., Raphael Ngozichi Suarez Jigo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The RALGEF family of proteins are direct downstream effectors of the RAS oncoprotein. RALGEFs act as guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for downstream RAL proteins, thus tying RAS to the regulation of RAL. Genetic studies have demonstrated RAL proteins to be key drivers of RAS-driven transformation and metastasis. Furthermore, this pathway has been implicated in chemoresistance, exocyst-mediated transport, and the modulation of cancer stem cells. Previous work in our lab reported the activity of a novel pan-RALGEF inhibitor (C4-180) against RAS-driven pancreatic cancer models. Here we show the agent to be active against in vitro and in vivo models of …

The Influence Of Tert-Butylhydroquinone (Tbhq) On Acod1/Irg1-Driven Inflammatory Pathways, Alyssa M. Whisel

All Dissertations

The demand for processed foods has led to increased use of synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs), notably tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), to inhibit lipid oxidation and prolong shelf life. While TBHQ is deemed safe at regulated levels, concerns arise from studies indicating potential adverse effects such as oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and impaired immune function. To investigate TBHQ's immunomodulatory effects, RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were pre-treated with TBHQ and subsequently stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C, PIC) to simulate bacterial or viral challenges. Results demonstrated that TBHQ at high non-cytotoxic doses reduced nitric oxide and IL-10 production while promoting phagocytosis and …

Emission Characterization And Health Risk Assessment Of Volatile Organic Compounds From Automotive Painting In Thailand, Vanitchaya Kultan, Sarawut Thepanondh, Jutarat Keawboonchu, Nattaporn Pinthong, Wissawa Malakan

Kesmas

The automotive industry is a significant source of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, particularly from solvent-based painting processes. This study evaluated VOC characteristics and distribution to assess associated health risks for workers and communities at varying distances from automotive painting facilities in Thailand, focusing on stacks and wastewater treatment plants that handle solvent-containing wastewater. The findings revealed aromatic compounds were predominant (66% of the total emissions), followed by oxygenated VOCs (26%). The stacks mainly emitted aromatics such as toluene and ethylbenzene, whereas the wastewater released oxygenated VOCs, particularly methyl isobutyl ketone and methyl ethyl ketone. The exposure concentrations in each …

The Impact Of Food Insecurity On The Physical And Mental Health Of Food Service Workers And Their Households, Pedro Andrade

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Food insecurity in the United States continues to be a persistent problem, as this household stressor has worsened in the past decade. The prevalence of food insecurity varies by demographic; however, income is a key factor when discussing food security status. One group experiencing food insecurity, but often overlooked when talking about solutions, is food service workers. This research sought to understand the impact of food insecurity on food service workers and their households. A literature review was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the associations between food insecurity and physical health, mental health, household health, and occupational and …

First Report Of A Bat Guano Fire From A Cave In Southeast Asia, Sopark Jantarit, Martin Ellis, Pruet Kalasuwan, Neeranuch Phusunti, Pimonsri Mittraparp-Arthorn, Jiranan Pattano, Arnon Chukamnerd, Turdtun Tong-In, Natthawut Khrueaaunruean

International Journal of Speleology

Fires occurring in cave guano are a rare and unusual phenomenon and the occurrence of such events in Southeast Asia is particularly novel. In this study, we document the first recorded instance of a bat guano fire in a tropical cave at Tham Chao Ram in Sukhothai province, northern Thailand. A bacteriological analysis was made of the guano at the fire site and from a control site within the cave. We give a comprehensive review of global reports on bat guano fires in caves, conduct an initial investigation of the physical factors at the fire site and discuss the potential …

Effects Of Photo-Oxidized Crude Oil On Gulf Killifish Early Life Stages, Charles Campbell

LSU Master's Theses

Photo-oxidation of spilled crude oil generates polar compounds that can heighten toxicity to marine fish embryos. We investigated the effects of photo-oxidized crude oil on early life stages of Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) by exposing embryos under flow-through conditions to water-accommodated fractions of four oil treatments: fresh oil unexposed to either sunlight or weathering referred to as dark control (DC), a UV-light oxidized whole oil (LT), the polar fraction extracted from LT (Pol) and the remnants after extracting the Pol from LT (NP). Oil loadings of 0.38–3.00 g oil/kg water were tested. Total PAH concentrations and chemical profiles …

Alirocumab In Dexamethasone-Induced Metabolic Syndrome: Therapeutic Benefits And Potential Hepatic Risks Through Rxr-Α / P-Akt Modulation, Miad A. Aljuhani, Mohamed S. Abdel-Bakky

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) elevates the risk of developing cardi-ovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes., driven by insulin resistance (IR), inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. The PI3K/AKT pathway shows a key part in glucose and lipid metabolism. Alirocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor, lowers LDL-C and improves IR but may cause hepatotoxicity. Aims: This study examines ali-rocumab’s effects on dexamethasone-induced MetS in rats, focusing on its metabolic benefits and potential liver toxicity. Methods: Over 30 days, 40 male Albino rats were distributed into control, Alirocumab, Dexamethasone, and Dexa-methasone+Alirocumab groups, with the latter receiving Dexamethasone to induce metabolic syndrome followed by Alirocumab administration. Results: …

An Integrated Ca–Markov Modeling Framework For Forecasting Land Use And Land Cover Dynamics In Arkansas, Usa, Rasool Vahid, Mohamed H. Aly

Environmental Dynamics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes significantly shape urban environments and directly impact ecological and socioeconomic systems. This study aims to explore these interconnections by employing the Cellular Automata–Markov (CA–Markov) model to assess and predict LULC dynamics in Arkansas. Historical LULC datasets from 2001 to 2021, obtained from the National Land Cover Database, were simplified from 11 into 5 classes to facilitate analysis and effectively map transitions. The model was validated by predicting LULC for 2016 and 2021 and comparing the predictions with the real maps, achieving an overall accuracy of approximately 91.9%, using model validation metrics, including precision, …

Losing Focus In The Age Of Tik Tok: Clinical Evidence For Policy Action On Social Media Use, Megan Conefrey, Robert Griffin

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.