Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Do The Benefits Of Growth Hormone Outweigh The Risks?, Michael D. Goodstein

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Growth hormone treatment was introduced in the 1950s to confront growth hormone deficiency and metabolic irregularities. In 2003, however, the FDA approved growth hormone treatment for patients with abnormal growth rates unlinked to growth hormone deficiency. The treatment has become largely available to the general public, making the safety of growth hormone treatment an extremely important subject. This paper clarifies the benefits and efficacy of growth hormone treatment and analyzes the potential associated risks, including cancer and diabetes.

Nsaids And Oral Drug Absorption: Ibuprofen Through A Pharmacokinetic Lens, Courtney Gant

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Human pharmacokinetics is the study of how administered medications move throughout and behave within the body. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion are four integral parts of this field of study and are commonly known as the ADME principles of pharmacokinetics, but other processes are studied within the field. For orally administered drugs, the absorption process lies within the small intestine and colon, two components of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; this bodily system is associated with many variables––many of which must be considered in the study of oral drug absorption. Often administered orally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) make up a group …

To Determine The Role Of The Platelet Activating Factor - Receptor In Folfirinox Therapy-Mediated Microvesicles Particle Generation, Krishna Awasthi

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Given that Pancreatic cancer continues to be one of the primary causes of cancer-related death and that existing treatment options have a poor success rate, it is important to investigate the role of potential factor(s) involved in pancreatic cancer growth or diminishing the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents. An alternative regimen for pancreatic cancer treatment called FOLFIRINOX has shown to increase the survival rate and improve Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score among the pancreatic cancer patients. However, FOLFIRINOX therapy is associated with several side effects. Through mechanisms involving the secretion of microvesicle particles (MVP), studies, including ours have …

Halogen Bonding Interactions Of Haloaromatic Endocrine Disruptors And The Potential For Inhibition Of Iodothyronine Deiodinases, Craig A. Bayse

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Halogen bonding (XB) is a potential mechanism for the inhibition of the thyroid-activating/deactivating iodothyronine deiodinase family of selenoproteins through interactions with halogenated endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Trends in XB interactions were examined using density functional theory for a series of polyhalogenated dibenzo-1,4-dioxins, biphenyls, and other EDCs with methylselenolate, a simple model of the Dio active site selenocysteine. The strengths of the interactions depend upon the halogen (Br>Cl), the degree of substitution, and the position of the acceptor. In terms of donor-acceptor energies, interactions at the meta position are often the strongest, suggesting a link to the topology of THs, …

An Analysis Of Water Quality At Orange County, California Beaches, Naomi Meurice

Pomona Senior Theses

Beaches in Southern California are highly recreated by residents and visitors, making beaches socially and economically important. Public health departments in coastal communities are in charge of measuring water quality and ensuring it is safe for users. Research in the past has indicated that beach water quality gets worse after storms, with bacteria levels jumping on the day of a storm and staying high for up to five days. Studies have shown these spikes in bacteria to be associated with storm runoff, with beaches closer to runoff discharge locations experiencing more impact. However, prior research has not considered the period …

Effectiveness Of A Long-Acting Cocaine Hydrolase In Metabolizing Cocaine And Its Physiologically Active Metabolites, Linyue Shang

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Cocaine is a widely abused, hepatotoxic drug without an FDA-approved pharmacotherapy specific for cocaine addiction or overdose. Cocaine-induced toxicity in animals and humans is due to its multiple physiological effects on the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, etc. The toxicity of cocaine is highly complex, as its metabolites also contribute to the toxicity. Notably, the combination of cocaine and alcohol is common among drug users and can produce additional metabolites. Some of the metabolites are more toxic than cocaine itself. Hence, to develop an ideal therapeutic candidate, the candidate should not only account for cocaine but should also detoxify other …

Age-Associated Increase Of Gamma Delta T Cells In Visceral Adipose Tissue And Mechanisms Of Their Accumulation, Sujata Mukherjee

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Chronic systemic inflammation, known as inflammaging is considered a hallmark of aging and associated diseases. While adipose tissue has long been considered only as a caloric reservoir regulating systemic energy homeostasis, research in the past couple of decades substantiate its endocrine function to secrete an array of inflammatory mediators and hormones, which have physiological effects on multiple organ systems, and contribute to inflammaging. Redistribution of adipose tissue from subcutaneous to visceral depots, changes in the immune profile and the chronic inflammatory state are among the major sources of adipose tissue dysfunction with aging.

This dissertation is focused on identifying and …

Chemical Immobilization Of Helicopter-Captured Elk (Cervus Canadensis) And Survival Of Elk Calves In Southeastern Kentucky, Kathleen E. Williams

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Safe and effective chemical immobilization is critical to minimize stress and risk of injury when capturing free-ranging, wild ungulates. Many traditionally favored high potency opioids have been phased out or become unavailable because of increased regulations, leading to the development of two pre-mixed combination drugs, butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine (BAM) and nalbuphine-medetomidine-azaperone (NalMed-A). Both drugs have been used to chemically immobilize ungulates, but their efficacy has not been documented in elk captured and transported via helicopter. During 2020 – 2022, we chemically immobilized helicopter-captured female elk (Cervus canadensis) with a single IM-injection of BAM (n = 41) or NalMed-A (n = …

Alternative Pharmacology: Exploring Ketamine Use For Treatment Resistant Mental Health Disorders, Kiersten L. Ash

Soaring: A Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 Vaccination And Alcohol Consumption: Justification Of Risks, Pavel A. Solopov

Bioelectrics Publications

Since the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, pharmaceutical companies and research institutions have been actively working to develop vaccines, and the mass roll-out of vaccinations against COVID-19 began in January 2021. At the same time, during lockdowns, the consumption of alcoholic beverages increased. During the peak of vaccination, consumption remained at high levels around the world, despite the gradual relaxation of quarantine restrictions. Two of the popular queries on search engines were whether it is safe to drink alcohol after vaccination and whether this will affect the effectiveness of vaccines. Over the past two …

Biomonitoring Of Exposure To Multiple Metal Components In Urine, Hair And Nails Of Apprentice Welders Performing Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Smaw), Jairo Buitrago-Cortes, Philippe Sarazin, Denis Dieme, Jonathan Côté, Capucine Ouellet, Naïma El Majidi, Michèle Bouchard

Études primaires

Welding fumes are associated with various diseases. Increased air levels of metals were reported during welding. However, few multielement biomonitoring studies were conducted to assess the actual dose of metal components absorbed in apprentice welders in a learning environment. This research aimed to establish the nature and level of exposure to welding fumes and their metallic components in apprentice welders performing ‘Shielded Metal Arc Welding’ (SMAW), based on multi-element and multi-matrix analyses. A total of 86 apprentice welders were recruited in three different schools in Montreal, Québec, Canada. Twenty-one elements were measured in urine, hair, fingernail, and toenail samples collected …

Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Quantitation Of O-Cresol In Hydrolyzed Human Urine To Assess Toluene Exposure, Eric Langlois, Sébastien Gagné

Études primaires

Rationale

Toluene is a volatile organic compound used in domestic and industrial applications. The main routes of workplace exposure to toluene are inhalation and dermal contact. As toluene exposure can cause severe nervous system damage, its quantification is crucial to prevent occupational illness. Toluene is metabolized mainly as hippuric acid, S-benzylmercapturic acid and epoxides. These are rapidly converted to o-/p-cresol, which is then excreted in the urine as conjugated glucuronides and sulfates. o-Cresol and its conjugates can be chemically hydrolyzed to form free o-cresol, which can then serve as a urinary biomarker of toluene exposure. Current …

Bioaccumulation Of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Compounds And Mercury In A Mining Impacted Aquatic Ecosystem, Michelle Bollini

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The Keweenaw area continues to be influenced by the century of copper mining that ended nearly 50 years ago. This project is focused on Torch Lake, an aquatic ecosystem that has been heavily impacted by mining waste disposal. The watershed has been impaired by mine discharge and tailings, smelter and smokestack plumes, and poor waste disposal practices. The lake is listed as a Great Lakes Area of Concern with beneficial use impairments of restrictions on fish consumption and a degraded benthic community. Polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) and methylmercury (MeHg) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances (PBTs). These contaminants pose threats …

Concrete Everywhere: A Project-Based Analysis Of The Unequal Distribution Of Warehouses In Fontana, Chanah Haigh

Scripps Senior Theses

Unjust legislation and zoning practices drive the excess of warehouses in Fontana, California whose impacts fall disproportionately on low income communities of color. This paper addresses the environmental and health impacts of warehouses, as well as the legislation and the use of zoning which bring them to Fontana. Original maps show the spread of warehouses over census tract level data depicting race, income, and environmental factors such as diesel particulate matter. State and local legislation is analyzed to determine its intended effect and how well it has been enforced. Research was conducted through a project based thesis done in conjunction …

Mitoq Alleviates Hippocampal Damage After Cerebral Ischemia: The Potential Role Of Sirt6 In Regulating Mitochondrial Dysfunction And Neuroinflammation, Ayman A. Ibrahim, Sherif S. Abdel Mageed Dr, Marwa M. Safar Prof.Dr, Mohammed F. El-Yamany Prof.Dr., Mamdouh A. Oraby Dr.

Pharmacy

Aims: Mitochondrial perturbations are the major culprit of the inflammatory response during the initial phase of cerebral ischemia. The present study explored the neuroprotective effect of the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant, Mitoquinol (MitoQ), against hippocampal neuronal loss in an experimental model of brain ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injury. Main methods: Rats were subjected to common carotid artery occlusion for 45 min, followed by reperfusion for 24 h. MitoQ (2 mg/kg; i.p daily) was administered for 7 successive days prior to the induction of brain ischemia. Key findings: I/R rats exhibited hippocampal damage evidenced by aggravated mitochondrial oxidative stress, thereby enhancing mtROS and oxidized …

Teaching Agroecology: Preparing Students For Navigating Uncharted Territory, Charles A. Francis, Steve Gliessman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Agroecologists understand that farming and food systems are more complex than the aggregation of their components. This realization drives our choices of learning strategies and activities that will prepare students for complexity and uncertainty. Our quest for a just, sustainable, and nutritious food system adequate to equitably serve everyone on the planet today and into the future is an enormous challenge. An undertaking of this magnitude will be met only with major adjustments informed by thoughtful teaching and practicing problem solving skills through a new educational lens. The principles of agroecology help us focus this lens on the wicked problems …

Developmental Pharmacokinetics Of Indomethacin In Preterm Neonates: Severely Decreased Drug Clearance In The First Week Of Life., Wojciech Krzyzanski, Bradley Stockard, Andrea Gaedigk, Allison Scott, Whitney M. Nolte, Kim T. Gibson, J Steven Leeder, Tamorah Lewis

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Indomethacin is used commonly in preterm neonates for the prevention of intracranial hemorrhage and closure of an abnormally open cardiac vessel. Due to biomedical advances, the infants who receive this drug in the neonatal intensive care unit setting have become younger, smaller, and less mature (more preterm) at the time of treatment. To develop a pharmacokinetics (PK) model to aid future dosing, we designed a prospective cohort study to characterize indomethacin PK in a dynamically changing patient population. A population PK base model was created using NONMEM, and a covariate model was developed in a primary development cohort and subsequently …

Preclinical Study On Hepatoprotective Potential And Antioxidant Status Analysis Of The Fruit Extract Of Rivina Humilis L. (Red Pigeon Berry) In Rats, Raju Asirvatham, Dinu George, P. A. Daisy, Dawn V. Tomy, G. Boby Johns

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of hydromethanolic extract of Rivina humilis L. fruit (HMERH) was studied using the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and paracetamol (PCM) induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. In both models, rats were divided into five groups having six rats in each. Group I received distilled water. Group II, disease control, Group III received 100 mg/kg of Silymarin. Group IV and Group V received 500, 1000 mg/kg of HMERH. All groups except Group II received treatment twice daily for 7 days. CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg, PCM (2 g/kg), p.o) were administered after the last dose. The degree of liver protection against …

Development Of A Thai Pharmacists’ Cultural Competency Self-Assessment Scale, Auttakrit Aunkaew, Puckwipa Suwannaprom, Siritree Suttajit

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Objective: The objective of the study was to develop and evaluate a cultural competency assessment form for Thai pharmacists. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved item development based on the Campinha-Bacote’s and the ACPP’s concept of cultural competency and the self-assessment of perceived level of cultural competence questionnaire. Seven experts assessed the content validity and face validity. The revised scale was tested for comprehension among 12 pharmacists using the think-aloud technique. Phase 2 constituted the scale development and scale evaluation. The Thai pharmacist cultural competency self-assessment (TPCCS) scale developed from Phase I was …

Pharmacological Evaluation Of The Antirheumatic Activity Of Callicarpa Macrophylla Leaves Extracts By The Estimation Of Hepatic, Renal, And Inflammatory Markers, Harjinder Kaur, Ganesh N. Sharma, Mayur Bhurat

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Callicarpa macrophylla is used in traditional medicine to treat many disorders including analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory. The aim of this study is to investigate the ethanolic and ethylacetate extracts of C. macrophylla leaves against rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity was studied in vivo to determine the toxic doses of the ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts. Anti-rheumatic activity was also evaluated in vivo using formaldehyde and Complete Freund’s Adjuvant models in Wistar rats. After that paw volume was evaluated by the digital Vernier caliper and blood sample was taken by retro-orbital plexus route for the estimation of …

Ascorbic Acid-Loaded Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles Incorporated Into A Polyacrylic Acid Gel As A Promising Tool For Site-Specific Oral Cancer Therapy, Nurul Ain Mohammad Hamdi, Ahmad Fahmi Harun Ismail, Muhammad Salahuddin, Widya Lestari

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Chemotherapy is commonly used in oral cancer therapy, especially as the disease advances. However, it is associated with terrible adverse effects and the occurrence of chemoresistance which causes treatment failure. Thus, discovering a new potential anticancer agent and developing a safe, effective, and non-invasive drug delivery are necessary. Objective: The objective of the current study is to develop ascorbic acid-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (AA-PLGA) nanoparticles incorporated into polyacrylic acid gel intended to treat oral cancer. Materials and methods: Double emulsion solvent evaporation method was used to fabricate AA-PLGA nanoparticles. Optimization was carried out in the primary emulsion based on multilevel …

Vegetable Oil-Based Cannabis: Its Cannabinoid Profiling And Photoprotective Effect On Uva-Irradiated Human Skin Keratinocytes, Nur Alfan Muhammad Zen, Kwanlada Kobtrakul, Petlada Khositanon, Kittipong Sanookpan, Visarut Buranasudja, Sornkanok Vimolmangkang

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Vegetable oils serve as affordable, non-toxic, and eco-friendly solvents for plant extraction. Chemical fingerprinting shows that vegetable oil-based cannabis has a cannabinoid profile similar to that of organic solvent-based cannabis. All samples possess antioxidative effects as they contain several cannabinoids and other unidentified compounds, with rice bran oil-based sample exhibiting the strongest effect. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) content in sesame oil-based and perilla seed oil-based cannabis differed significantly from that in virgin coconut oil (VCO)-based cannabis. In addition, THC and CBD content in all vegetable oil-based samples prepared using the heating and frying method differed significantly from that in …

Clinical Vaccination Education Guideline For The African American Community, Margaret Chinedum Nwoji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractVaccination hesitancy is high among African Americans and other people of color. The practice gap addressed in this project was the lack of a culturally sensitive clinical guideline for vaccination education relevant to the African American community. The practice-focused question was answered by developing an evidence-based Clinical Vaccination Education Guideline for the African American Community (CVEGAAC) that was validated by a group of four content experts using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation tool. The content experts scored each of the domains above 90%, implying that the CVEGAAC is of high quality and ready for implementation. The end users …

The Role Of Platelet-Activating Factor And Microvesicle Particles In Intoxicated Thermal Burn Injury-Induced Multiple Organ Failure, Rushabh Pawan Lohade

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Intoxicated thermal burn injury (ITBI) is more severe than thermal burn injury (TBI) alone and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Evidence from mouse models that replicate the human condition of multiple organ dysfunction has been informative. ITBI results in enhanced bacterial translocation from the gut, increased levels of proinflammatory mediators, and immune cell infiltration in various organs, resulting in inflammation in multiple organs with subsequent dysfunction. In addition, ITBI induces delayed systemic immunosuppression. To understand the mechanism(s) underlying ITBI-induced inflammation and damage in multiple organs, we investigate the role of Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and subcellular microvesicle particles (MVPs) in this …

Regulation Of Cathepsin L Expression And Activity By Cell Confluence And The Circadian Clock, Prashant Gaikwad

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cathepsin L is a lysosomal cysteine protease that is encoded by the CTSL gene in humans. Previous results have shown that CTSL expression and activity towards the DNA repair protein XPA are elevated in lysates of confluent/quiescent HaCaT keratinocytes. Because other nuclear proteins, including 53BP1 and histone H3, have also been reported to be CTSL substrates under conditions of cell differentiation, senescence, or quiescence, CTSL expression and activity (cleavage) of multiple nuclear proteins was examined in lysates from HaCaT cells and other cell lines at various days after plating and cell confluency. Our study found that adding CTSL inhibitors to …

Characterization Of Atr Kinase Function In Quiescent Human Keratinocytes When Exposed To Solar Simulating Uv Radiation, Hrishikesh Tryambak Kadam

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cell cycle control, DNA repair, and cell survival have all been linked to the ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, a vital part of the DNA damage response system. In this work, we looked at the role of ATR kinase in human keratinocytes that were dormant and exposed to solar simulating light (SSL). Our findings demonstrated that SSL activates the ATR kinase, phosphorylating downstream substrates such as KAP1, Chk2, and H2AX. In addition, we noticed that quiescent keratinocytes exposed to SSL experienced a decrease in viability when ATR kinase activity was inhibited. Our research indicates that in quiescent keratinocytes exposed to …

Validation Of A Cell Line Model For Studying Xpd Protein Function In Nucleotide Excision Repair, Naga Swathi Sree Kavuri

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The various environmental factors like toxic chemicals, chemotherapeutic agents and UV radiation impact human health by altering physiological functions of the normal living cells. One of the main consequences of exposure to these factors is DNA damage. Although, living system have inherent DNA repair mechanisms such as Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER), which removes DNA lesions from the genome in the form of small, approximately 30-nt-long DNA oligonucleotides. The accumulation of unrepaired DNA adducts as a result of this NER deficiency causes a variety of syndromes, including Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), Cockayne Syndrome, Neurological syndrome, and carcinoma of skin. To understand more …

Wastewater Pandemic Preparedness: Toward An End-To-End Pathogen Monitoring Program, Justin R Clark, Austen Terwilliger, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Michael Tisza, Juwan Cormier, Sara Javornik-Cregeen, Matthew Clayton Ross, Kristi Louise Hoffman, Catherine Troisi, Blake Hanson, Joseph Petrosino, John Balliew, Pedro A Piedra, Janelle Rios, Jennifer Deegan, Cici Bauer, Fuqing Wu, Kristina D Mena, Eric Boerwinkle, Anthony W Maresso

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Molecular analysis of public wastewater has great potential as a harbinger for community health and health threats. Long-used to monitor the presence of enteric viruses, in particular polio, recent successes of wastewater as a reliable lead indicator for trends in SARS-CoV-2 levels and hospital admissions has generated optimism and emerging evidence that similar science can be applied to other pathogens of pandemic potential (PPPs), especially respiratory viruses and their variants of concern (VOC). However, there are substantial challenges associated with implementation of this ideal, namely that multiple and distinct fields of inquiry must be bridged and coordinated. These include engineering, …

Xylazine Suppresses Fentanyl Consumption During Self-Administration And Induces A Unique Sex-Specific Withdrawal Syndrome That Is Not Altered By Naloxone In Rats, Shailesh N. Khatri, Safiyah M. Sadek, Percell T. Kendrick, Emma O. Bondy, Mei Hong, Sally Pauss, Dan Luo, Thomas E. Prisinzano, Kelly E. Dunn, Julie A. Marusich, Joshua S. Beckmann, Terry D. Hinds Jr., Cassandra D. Gipson

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Prescription and illicit opioid use are a public health crisis, with the landscape shifting to fentanyl use. Since fentanyl is 100-fold more potent than morphine, its use is associated with a higher risk of fatal overdose that can be remediated through naloxone (Narcan) administration. However, recent reports indicate that xylazine, an anesthetic, is increasingly detected in accidental fentanyl overdose deaths. Anecdotal reports suggest that xylazine may prolong the fentanyl “high,” alter the onset of fentanyl withdrawal, and increase resistance to naloxone-induced reversal of overdose. To date, no preclinical studies have evaluated the impacts of xylazine on fentanyl self-administration (SA; 2.5 …

To Determine The Role Of The Platelet Activating Factor - Receptor In Folfirinox Therapy-Mediated Microvesicles Particle Generation, Krishna Awasthi

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Given that Pancreatic cancer continues to be one of the primary causes of cancer-related death and that existing treatment options have a poor success rate, it is important to investigate the role of potential factor(s) involved in pancreatic cancer growth or diminishing the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents. An alternative regimen for pancreatic cancer treatment called FOLFIRINOX has shown to increase the survival rate and improve Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score among the pancreatic cancer patients. However, FOLFIRINOX therapy is associated with several side effects. Through mechanisms involving the secretion of microvesicle particles (MVP), studies, including ours have …