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Articles 1381 - 1410 of 6950

Full-Text Articles in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health

Using Mycelium To Bioremediate Environments Damaged By Acid Mine Drainage, Michael Lazar, Jacquelyn Maddox Apr 2022

Using Mycelium To Bioremediate Environments Damaged By Acid Mine Drainage, Michael Lazar, Jacquelyn Maddox

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major source of environmental contamination around areas that were once utilized by the mining industry, and does not have many pragmatic remediation solutions. Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium has been previously tested and shown to be able to biosorb a variety of heavy metals into its mycelial tissue. This project utilized P. ostreatus mycelium as a novel and natural approach to bioremediate acid mine drainage. There were two experiments: one proof-of-concept experiment and one situational experiment that used stream mesocosms. (Project II)


The Effects Of Paclitaxel On Cellular Migration And The Cytoskeleton, Ashley Salguero-Gonzalez Apr 2022

The Effects Of Paclitaxel On Cellular Migration And The Cytoskeleton, Ashley Salguero-Gonzalez

Thinking Matters Symposium

In a clinical setting, some patients are exposed to an anti-cancer chemotherapy agent, paclitaxel. Cancerous cells undergo rapid, continuous cell division without control. Chemotherapy treatments try to slow and stop the uncontrollable cell division cycles and eliminate cancerous cells in the process. Paclitaxel serves as a treatment for some types of cancers, including lung, melanoma, bladder, and esophageal. Because it targets the cytoskeleton, paclitaxel can also influence cell migration. This project utilizes a cellular migration assay and an immunohistochemistry assay to analyze the effects of paclitaxel on the movement of cells and on the cytoskeleton of neuroglia rat cells with …


Investigating The Efficacy Of Tazemetosttat For In Vitro Treatment Of Human Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Harshita Indukuri Apr 2022

Investigating The Efficacy Of Tazemetosttat For In Vitro Treatment Of Human Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Harshita Indukuri

Honors Scholars Collaborative Projects

Cancer is a formidable, genetic disease that affects many people, either directly or indirectly. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide (31). Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer that has a higher lethality compared to other breast cancers and has a poor prognosis due to its highly invasive nature and limited treatment options. Finding safe, effective, and accessible treatment for TNBC is integral to treating TNBC patients. Tazemetostat is an EZH2-inhibitor that has recently been approved for use in epithelioid sarcoma (23). EZH2 is an overexpressed protein in many cancers, including TNBC (11). However, …


Fruits Of Nandina Domestica Are (Sometimes) Cyanogenic And (Sometimes) Hazardous To Birds, Scott Zona Apr 2022

Fruits Of Nandina Domestica Are (Sometimes) Cyanogenic And (Sometimes) Hazardous To Birds, Scott Zona

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

A 12-month survey of cyanogenesis in the fruits and leaves of Nandina domestica (Berberidaceae) revealed that the leaves are strongly cyanogenic throughout the year, as measured by the Feigl-Anger test. Fruits vary in their cyanogenic potential depending on the degree of ripeness and clone. Green fruits are strongly and rapidly cyanogenic, but most ripe fruits are weakly and slowly cyanogenic. Some fruits tested negative for cyanide. Fruits tend to become less cyanogenic the longer they remain on the plant, so birds feeding on older fruits are at a lower risk of poisoning. More than other frugivores, cedar waxwings (Bombycilla …


The Development Of Inhibitors For Sars-Cov-2 Orf8, My Thanh Thao Nguyen Apr 2022

The Development Of Inhibitors For Sars-Cov-2 Orf8, My Thanh Thao Nguyen

CSB and SJU Distinguished Thesis

An unexpected outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 caused a worldwide pandemic in 2020. Many repurposed drugs were tested, but there are currently only three FDA approved antivirals (Merck’s antiviral Molnupiravir, Pfizer’s antiviral Paxlovid, and Remdisivir).1 Most of the antiviral drugs tested SARS-CoV-2 main protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. However, it is important to explore different drug targets of SARS-CoV-2 to prepare for the virus mutations of the future. This research looks at an alternative approach in which SARSCoV- 2 Open Reading Frame 8 (ORF8), which has been shown to be a rapidly evolving hypervariable gene, was chosen to be the protein of …


Neuroprotective Effect Of Liraglutide In An Experimental Mouse Model Of Multiple Sclerosis: Role Of Ampk/Sirt1 Signaling And Nlrp3 Inflammasome, Reham A. Ammar, Ahmed F. Mohamed, Mohamed M. Kamal, Marwa M. Safar, Noha F. Abdelkader Apr 2022

Neuroprotective Effect Of Liraglutide In An Experimental Mouse Model Of Multiple Sclerosis: Role Of Ampk/Sirt1 Signaling And Nlrp3 Inflammasome, Reham A. Ammar, Ahmed F. Mohamed, Mohamed M. Kamal, Marwa M. Safar, Noha F. Abdelkader

Pharmacy

The heterogeneous nature of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the unavailability of treatments addressing its intricate network and reversing the disease state is yet an area that needs to be elucidated. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue, recently exhibited intriguing potential neuroprotective effects. The currents study investigated its potential effect against mouse model of MS and the possible underlying mechanisms. Demyelination was induced in C57Bl/6 mice by cuprizone (400 mg/kg/day p.o.) for 5 weeks. Animals received either liraglutide (25 nmol/kg/day i.p.) or dorsomorphin, an AMPK inhibitor, (2.5 mg/ Kg i.p.) 30 min before the liraglutide dose, for 4 weeks (starting from the …


Evaluation Of Protective Efficacy Of Viral Vector Based Swine Influenza Vaccine And A Method For B Cell Culture For Monoclonal Antibody Generation, Sushmita Kumari Apr 2022

Evaluation Of Protective Efficacy Of Viral Vector Based Swine Influenza Vaccine And A Method For B Cell Culture For Monoclonal Antibody Generation, Sushmita Kumari

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Influenza A virus of the swine (IAV-S) is an economically important swine pathogen that has the potential to spread to humans, thus posing an ongoing public health concern due to its zoonotic potential. Hemagglutinin (HA), the most abundant viral envelope protein, is known to be the key protective antigen. Anti-HA antibodies alone, have been shown to prevent IAV infection. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of a recombinant tri segmented Pichinde virus (PICV) as a viral vector to deliver IAV-S hemagglutinin antigen in pigs. Four groups of weaned pigs (T01-04) were immunized twice with PBS, rPICV-GFP as a vector …


The Sublethal Response Of Cambarus Sp. To Acute Low Dose Herbicide Exposure Evidenced By A Change In Ggt Levels And Apoptosis, Amelia Wickham Apr 2022

The Sublethal Response Of Cambarus Sp. To Acute Low Dose Herbicide Exposure Evidenced By A Change In Ggt Levels And Apoptosis, Amelia Wickham

Senior Honors Theses

Following application, herbicidal runoff can collect in freshwater ecosystems, briefly exposing non-target organisms. As biological indicators, crayfish serve as models to assess freshwater health. Chemically stressed crayfish form reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are neutralized by the glutathione pathway. As glutathione depletes, γ-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) upregulates to increase glutathione formation. High oxidative stress lowers glutathione levels and subsequent apoptosis occurs. For this acute study, crayfish were exposed to 5ppb and 50ppb of atrazine, glyphosate, and 2,4-D. Herbicide exposures were expected to induce higher GGT production, increased oxidative stress, and increased apoptosis. Instead, GGT and apoptosis predominately decreased relative to the control. …


Sex Differences In Lateral Hypothalamic Extracellular Glucose Concentrations During Cumulative Dosing Of Methamphetamine In Rats, Joshua A. Jolton Apr 2022

Sex Differences In Lateral Hypothalamic Extracellular Glucose Concentrations During Cumulative Dosing Of Methamphetamine In Rats, Joshua A. Jolton

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The present study experimentally investigated sex differences in lateral hypothalamic glucose concentrations following cumulative dosing of methamphetamine. Male (n=17) and female (n=11) rats were surgically implanted with enzyme-based glucose biosensors in the lateral hypothalamus. Rats then received a saline injection followed by four methamphetamine doses (0.025 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, and 0.2 mg/kg) spaced 55 minutes apart. We found that while there was a general decrease in glucose baseline throughout the study for both sexes, the magnitude of the decrease was significantly greater in females compared to males. On a rapid timescale, fixed sex effects existed at the lower …


Comparative Assessment Of The Fate And Toxicity Of Chemically And Biologically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Toward Juvenile Clams, Mercenaria Mercenaria, Amar Yasser Al-Rshim Apr 2022

Comparative Assessment Of The Fate And Toxicity Of Chemically And Biologically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Toward Juvenile Clams, Mercenaria Mercenaria, Amar Yasser Al-Rshim

Theses and Dissertations

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with unique nanoscale properties, including novel optical behavior and superparamagnetic, are continually being developed for biomedical and industrial applications. In specific biomedical applications, ENMs are surface-functionalized using polymers, proteins, and other stabilizing agents to facilitate their resistance to salt-induced aggregation. Since their colloidal stability in high ionic-strength matrices, functionalized ENMs are anticipated to be persistent aquatic contaminants. Despite their potential environmental significance, the persistence of surface-functionalized ENMs as individually stabilized nanoparticles in marine environments is largely unknown. Further, few studies have investigated the fundamental factors that influence ENMs uptake and fate/transport processes in ecologically susceptible aquatic biota, …


Investigation Of Oncogenic Ras And Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Calcium Flux And Their Relationship In The Context Of Tumorigenesis, Emma Anderson Apr 2022

Investigation Of Oncogenic Ras And Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Calcium Flux And Their Relationship In The Context Of Tumorigenesis, Emma Anderson

Senior Honors Theses

Intracellular calcium as a signaling molecule is a pervasive feature of cellular pathways, especially those that manage internal homeostasis and transitions through the cell cycle, so much so that regulated, responsive calcium flux between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the mitochondria has been suggested to play a major role in cancer development. Another factor commonly implicated in tumorigenesis is RAS, an oncogene that controls signaling for many pathways that are also regulated by calcium. While both calcium and oncogenic RAS signaling are implicated in cancer development, possible links between them have yet to be determined. The identification of these links …


Targeting Squalene Epoxidase Interrupts Homologous Recombination Via The Er Stress Response And Promotes Radiotherapy Efficacy, Zhipeng Hong, Tao Liu, Lingfeng Wan, Pengyan Fa, Pankaj Kumar, Yanan Cao, Chandra Bhushan Prasad, Zhaojun Qiu, Joseph Liu, Hongbing Wang, Zaibo Li, Qi-En Wang, Peixuan Guo, Deliang Guo, Ayse S. Yilmaz, Lanchun Lu, Ioanna Papandreou, Naduparambil K. Jacob, Chunhong Yan, Qing-Bai She Apr 2022

Targeting Squalene Epoxidase Interrupts Homologous Recombination Via The Er Stress Response And Promotes Radiotherapy Efficacy, Zhipeng Hong, Tao Liu, Lingfeng Wan, Pengyan Fa, Pankaj Kumar, Yanan Cao, Chandra Bhushan Prasad, Zhaojun Qiu, Joseph Liu, Hongbing Wang, Zaibo Li, Qi-En Wang, Peixuan Guo, Deliang Guo, Ayse S. Yilmaz, Lanchun Lu, Ioanna Papandreou, Naduparambil K. Jacob, Chunhong Yan, Qing-Bai She

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Over 50% of all patients with cancer are treated with radiotherapy. However, radiotherapy is often insufficient as a monotherapy and requires a nontoxic radiosensitizer. Squalene epoxidase (SQLE) controls cholesterol biosynthesis by converting squalene to 2,3-oxidosqualene. Given that SQLE is frequently overexpressed in human cancer, this study investigated the importance of SQLE in breast cancer and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), two cancers often treated with radiotherapy. SQLE-positive IHC staining was observed in 68% of breast cancer and 56% of NSCLC specimens versus 15% and 25% in normal breast and lung tissue, respectively. Importantly, SQLE expression was an independent predictor of …


Targeting Delivery Of Bcl-2 Family Protein Inhibitor Has The Potential To Treat Cancer And Fibrosis, Mohammad Nurul Huda Apr 2022

Targeting Delivery Of Bcl-2 Family Protein Inhibitor Has The Potential To Treat Cancer And Fibrosis, Mohammad Nurul Huda

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Apoptosis is a naturally occurring cell death mechanism to remove the selective cell population. B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) family protein plays a critical role in activating the upstream apoptosis signaling pathway, primarily the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. The BCL-2 family consists of both pro-and anti-apoptotic proteins, which are structurally and functionally similar, containing up to four BCL-2 homologies (BH) motifs (BH1-4). Defecting apoptosis along this signaling pathway can lead to various events, including malignant cell transformation, tumor metastasis, tissue fibrosis, and drug resistance. In fibrosis, the aberrant apoptosis signaling also activates multiple effector proteins and growth factors, such as TGF-β, CTGF, and …


Superfund And Society Benumbed: An In-Depth Look At Environmental Justice In South Carolina, Sydney A. Hampton Apr 2022

Superfund And Society Benumbed: An In-Depth Look At Environmental Justice In South Carolina, Sydney A. Hampton

Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the relationship between superfund sites in minority communities and their public health through the lens of social vulnerability. Various demographic parameters were used to assess the risk associated with minority communities and exposure to hazardous waste. After investigating the history of the Environmental Justice movement, three superfund sites of interest in South Carolina, and demographic and public health data; each community was analyzed to determine association between exposure to hazardous waste and minority status. Each examined community exhibited characteristics contributing to heightened social vulnerability, potentially causing increased susceptibility to negative health outcomes from exposure to hazardous waste.


Describing The Impact Of The Sales Of Antibiotics On The Environment And In Population Health, Andrés Gaviria-Figueroa Apr 2022

Describing The Impact Of The Sales Of Antibiotics On The Environment And In Population Health, Andrés Gaviria-Figueroa

Theses and Dissertations

The role of antibiotics in human health is of significant importance in the advancement of the medical field. It has contributed to an improvement of the quality of life and the age expectancy of the population. Antibiotic resistance is an expected consequence of the use of antibiotics. Bacteria have developed biological mechanisms that would help them become resistant to antibiotics. The uncontrolled use of antibiotics is significantly contributing to the ability of bacteria to become resistant to those antibiotics. This study, using the model of the Socio-Ecological Coupling of Antibiotic Resistance, explains how social and environmental factors interact and impact …


Female Reproductive Toxicity Of Harmful Algal Blooms-Produced Toxin Microcystin, Yingzheng Wang Apr 2022

Female Reproductive Toxicity Of Harmful Algal Blooms-Produced Toxin Microcystin, Yingzheng Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have become a global emerging environmental concern; however, its impact on women’s reproductive health is poorly understood. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most common and hazardous type of HAB toxin. Using both a chronic oral exposure mouse model and an acute exposure mouse model, I found that human-relevant exposure to MC-LR could compromise follicle ovulation via affecting follicle maturation. Both in vivo mouse exposure model and encapsulated in vitro follicle growth (eIVFG) model revealed that exposure to MC-LR did not affect follicle development, but significantly reduced the expression of some follicle maturation-related genes, such as Lhcgr and …


The Efficacy And Safety Of Roxadustat For The Treatment Of Anemia In Non-Dialysis Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: An Updated Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Clinical Trials, Basel Abdelazeem, Joseph Shehata, Kirellos Said Abbas, Nahla Ahmed El-Shahat, Bilal Malik, Pramod Savarapu, Mostafa Eltobgy, Arvind Kunadi Apr 2022

The Efficacy And Safety Of Roxadustat For The Treatment Of Anemia In Non-Dialysis Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: An Updated Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Clinical Trials, Basel Abdelazeem, Joseph Shehata, Kirellos Said Abbas, Nahla Ahmed El-Shahat, Bilal Malik, Pramod Savarapu, Mostafa Eltobgy, Arvind Kunadi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background Roxadustat (ROX) is a new medication for anemia as a complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ROX, especially on the cardiovascular risks, for anemia in NDD-CKD patients. Methods Electronic databases were searched systematically from inception to July 2021 to look for randomized control trials (RCTs) that evaluated ROX NDD-CKD patients. Hemoglobin level and iron utilization parameters, including ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation (TSAT), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin, and hepcidin were analyzed for efficacy. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated and presented with their …


Attempted Synthesis & Antibacterial Properties Of Apt-6k Against Ndm-1 K. Pneumoniae, Alec Bofetiado Mar 2022

Attempted Synthesis & Antibacterial Properties Of Apt-6k Against Ndm-1 K. Pneumoniae, Alec Bofetiado

Honors Theses

NDM-1 K. pneumoniae is a highly resistant bacterial organism that is capable of causing debilitating nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients. Only "last-resort" antibiotics--such as colistin--work against this organism. Therefore, new antibiotics are needed to help fight against these types of infections. APT-6K is a novel compound that was demonstrated to be effective against MRSA with nanomolar concentrations in a prior study. Novel methods of APT-6K synthesis and its testing for antibiotic effects against NDM-1 K. pneumoniae were attempted in this research. APT-6K synthesis was unsuccessful. Commercially-prepared APT-6K also did not demonstrate growth inhibition against NDM-1 K. pneumoniae nor against a …


Antibacterial, Hemagglutination, And Insecticidal Activity Studies On The Solvent Extracts Of The Roots Of Olea Ferruginea, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Kamran, Arshad Farid, Salmah Ismail, Muhammad Muzammal, Kamal Abdul Amir, Muhammad Hashim Khan, Sohail Ahmad, Sheikh Abdur Rashid Mar 2022

Antibacterial, Hemagglutination, And Insecticidal Activity Studies On The Solvent Extracts Of The Roots Of Olea Ferruginea, Muhammad Yaseen, Muhammad Kamran, Arshad Farid, Salmah Ismail, Muhammad Muzammal, Kamal Abdul Amir, Muhammad Hashim Khan, Sohail Ahmad, Sheikh Abdur Rashid

Makara Journal of Science

Olea ferruginea has been used to treat skin ailments, as well as kidney and ocular problems for a long time. The current study was designed with the aim of investigating and scientifically validating its widespread use. Chloroform, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate were used to assess the antibacterial, hemagglutination, and insecticidal properties of O. ferruginea roots. Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were among the bacterial strains selected for assessing antibacterial activity. The results showed that ethyl-acetate (EtOAc) extract (56%) and chloroform (CHCl3) extract (56%) showed the widest zone of inhibition against …


Targeting The Side-Chain Convergence Of Α-Helical Hot Spots To Design Small-Molecule Mimetics Disrupting Protein-Protein Interaction, Zhen Wang Mar 2022

Targeting The Side-Chain Convergence Of Α-Helical Hot Spots To Design Small-Molecule Mimetics Disrupting Protein-Protein Interaction, Zhen Wang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

α-Helix accounts for the largest class of protein secondary structures and plays a key role in mediating protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Small-molecule α-helix mimetics mimic the structural features of α-helical hot spots and offer a powerful tool to unravel complex signaling networks and mitigate aberrant PPIs. In this dissertation, the side-chain conformational convergence of α-helical hot spots was disclosed, and insights into the side-chain convergence were exploited to instruct the design of small-molecule α-helix mimetics. The first chapter of this dissertation provides an overview of the characteristics of α-helical hot spots and current strategies to design small-molecule α-helix mimetics. In chapter …


Efforts To Increase The Ketamine-Like Activity Of The Rapid-Acting Antidepressant Ro-25-6981 (Mi-4) By Increasing Ampa Potentiation, Nathan Heger Mar 2022

Efforts To Increase The Ketamine-Like Activity Of The Rapid-Acting Antidepressant Ro-25-6981 (Mi-4) By Increasing Ampa Potentiation, Nathan Heger

Annual Research Symposium

The small molecule ketamine has generated much interest due to its rapid antidepressant effects. Despite having a rapid onset, ketamine has poor bioavailability, short duration of action, toxicities with long-term use, and a high potential for abuse. The molecule MI-4 (RO 25-6981) has also been shown to have both a rapid and sustained antidepressant effect. Most of the research into the mechanism of the rapid onset of MI-4 and ketamine has focused on their interaction with the NMDA receptor in addition to some monoamine transporters. Some recent publications have shown a significant role of AMPA receptors in the ketamine antidepressant …


Response To A Water Bolus In Long Term Oral Contraceptive Users, Whitley C. Atkins, Brendon P. Mcdermott, Abigail T. Colburn, Stavros A. Kavouras Mar 2022

Response To A Water Bolus In Long Term Oral Contraceptive Users, Whitley C. Atkins, Brendon P. Mcdermott, Abigail T. Colburn, Stavros A. Kavouras

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of our study was to determine the responses to an acute water bolus in long-term oral contraception (OCP) users. Seventeen female volunteers (27 ± 5 y, 64.1 ± 13.7 kg, 39.6 ± 5.9 kg/LBM) provided consent and enrolled in our study. All were long-term OCP users and participated in two trials, one during the active pill (High Hormone, HH) dose of their prescribed OCP and one during the sham pill (Low Hormone, LH) dose. Participants reported to the laboratory euhydrated, were fed breakfast, remained seated for 60 min and were provided a bolus of room temperature water in …


Antimicrobial Activity Of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Compared To Silver Nanoparticles Administered Towards Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilms, Kevin Núño Mar 2022

Antimicrobial Activity Of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Compared To Silver Nanoparticles Administered Towards Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilms, Kevin Núño

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and chitosan nanoparticles have strong antibacterial activity as a broad-spectrum antibiotic against multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. MDR bacteria have a mechanism that increases antibiotic resistance through biofilm formations. MDR methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus BAA-1720 was chosen for an in vitro assessment to calculate the biofilm reduction rate and the median effective dose (ED50) by performing biofilm quantification. Dynamic light scattering was chosen to determine the physiochemical characteristics of ZnO NPs, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and chitosan NPs. Transmission electron microscopy was conducted to verify each treatment’s physiochemical characteristics. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of broad-spectrum and …


Behavioral And Physiological Effects Of Heavy Metals On Fish: A Review And Preliminary Results, Diana V. Morales Mar 2022

Behavioral And Physiological Effects Of Heavy Metals On Fish: A Review And Preliminary Results, Diana V. Morales

Theses and Dissertations

Pollution, specifically heavy metal pollution, in various bodies of water has been a significant issue for decades. Research has been conducted on heavy metals and their effects on the environment, larger fish species, and humans since the 1970s (Skidmore, 1964; Adeniyi et al., 2007; Adeosun et al., 2015; Bawuro et al., 2018). It is known that zinc is a neurotoxin in some species and causes harm to the environment. It is also known that it causes harm to people if it is ingested or if they are exposed to it for long periods of time (Mahurpawar, 2015; Mizuno and Kawahara, …


The Use Of Atmospheric-Pressure Chemical Ionization For Pesticide Analysis Using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, Pei-Ting Jiang, Kuan-Lu Wu, Hsueh-Ting Wang, Sung-Fang Chen Mar 2022

The Use Of Atmospheric-Pressure Chemical Ionization For Pesticide Analysis Using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, Pei-Ting Jiang, Kuan-Lu Wu, Hsueh-Ting Wang, Sung-Fang Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Based on the regulations of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) of Taiwan in 2017, an analysis of 373 pesticides in food was conducted using the MOHW official method. The analyses involved the use of either liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI) or gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with electron ionization (EI). In this study, the applicability of detecting pesticides using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) was investigated and evaluated. The pesticides were separated using an aqueous solution of ammonium formate with methanol as the mobile phase, and ionization efficiency was compared between APCI, ESI, and …


A Substructure-Based Screening Approach To Uncover N-Nitrosamines In Drug Substances, Yu-Ting Kao, Shu-Fen Wang, Meng-Hsiu Wu, Shwu-Huey Her, Yi-Hsuan Yang, Chung-Hsien Lee, Hsiao-Feng Lee, An-Rong Lee, Li-Chien Chang, Li-Heng Pao Mar 2022

A Substructure-Based Screening Approach To Uncover N-Nitrosamines In Drug Substances, Yu-Ting Kao, Shu-Fen Wang, Meng-Hsiu Wu, Shwu-Huey Her, Yi-Hsuan Yang, Chung-Hsien Lee, Hsiao-Feng Lee, An-Rong Lee, Li-Chien Chang, Li-Heng Pao

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Drug substances are at risk of contamination with N-nitrosamines (NAs), well-known carcinogenic agents, during synthesis processes and/or long-term storage. Therefore, in this study, we developed an efficient data-based screening approach to systemically assess marketed products and investigated its scalability for benefiting both regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical industries. A substructure-based screening method employing DataWarrior, an open-source software, was established to evaluate the risks of NA impurities in drug substances. Eight NA substructures containing susceptible amino sources for N-nitrosation have been identified as screening targets: dimethylamine (DMA), diethylamine, isopropylethylamine, diisopropylamine, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dibutylamine, methylphenylamine, and tetrazoles. Our method detected 192 drug …


Repurposing Lansoprazole And Posaconazole To Treat Leishmaniasis: Integration Of In Vitro Testing, Pharmacological Corroboration, And Mechanisms Of Action, Yash Gupta, Steven Goicoechea, Jesus G. Romero, Raman Mathur, Thomas R. Caulfield, Daniel P. Becker, Ravi Durvasula, Prakasha Kempaiah Mar 2022

Repurposing Lansoprazole And Posaconazole To Treat Leishmaniasis: Integration Of In Vitro Testing, Pharmacological Corroboration, And Mechanisms Of Action, Yash Gupta, Steven Goicoechea, Jesus G. Romero, Raman Mathur, Thomas R. Caulfield, Daniel P. Becker, Ravi Durvasula, Prakasha Kempaiah

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Leishmaniasis remains a serious public health problem in many tropical regions of the world. Among neglected tropical diseases, the mortality rate of leishmaniasis is second only to malaria. All currently approved therapeutics have toxic side effects and face rapidly increasing resistance. To identify existing drugs with antileishmanial activity and predict the mechanism of action, we designed a drug-discovery pipeline utilizing both in-silico and in-vitro methods. First, we screened compounds from the Selleckchem Bio-Active Compound Library containing ~1,622 FDA-approved drugs and narrowed these down to 96 candidates based on data mining for possible anti-parasitic properties. Next, we completed preliminary in-vitro testing …


Effect Of Repeated Shengmai-San Administration On Nifedipine Pharmacokinetics And The Risk/Benefit Under Co-Treatment, Hong-Jaan Wang, Elise Chia-Hui Tan, Tzu-Yi Chiang, Wei-Ching Chen, Chien-Chang Shen, Yune-Fang Ueng Mar 2022

Effect Of Repeated Shengmai-San Administration On Nifedipine Pharmacokinetics And The Risk/Benefit Under Co-Treatment, Hong-Jaan Wang, Elise Chia-Hui Tan, Tzu-Yi Chiang, Wei-Ching Chen, Chien-Chang Shen, Yune-Fang Ueng

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Herbal interactions with nifedipine/felodipine through cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A inhibition is significant in humans. Shengmai-San (SMS), a three-herbal formula of Chinese medicine, is commonly prescribed in Asia populations for cardiovascular disorders. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of SMS on nifedipine/felodipine treatment by the findings from rat pharmacokinetic study of nifedipine to the retrospective cohort study of patients with hypertension. The 3-week SMS treatment increased the systemic exposure to nifedipine by nearly two-fold and decreased nifedipine clearance by 39% in rats. Among the ingredients of SMS component herbs, schisandrin B, schisantherin A, and methylophiopogonanone A, inhibited the nifedipine oxidation …


Evaluation Of Opioid Consumption Trends For Pain In Taiwan And Comparison With Neighboring Asian Countries, Jhi-Joung Wang, Shu-Fang Teng, Yu-Roo Chu, Chin-Chen Chu, Chung-Han Ho, Li-Ling Chu Mar 2022

Evaluation Of Opioid Consumption Trends For Pain In Taiwan And Comparison With Neighboring Asian Countries, Jhi-Joung Wang, Shu-Fang Teng, Yu-Roo Chu, Chin-Chen Chu, Chung-Han Ho, Li-Ling Chu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Opioids are effective analgesics for pain relief, however, inappropriate use may cause risks. The aims of the study were to evaluate trends of opioid consumption for pain management in Taiwan and compare them among neighboring Asian countries. Opioid consumption data, including fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, codeine, and pethidine, were collected from the Controlled Drugs Management Information System of Taiwan Food and Drug Administration from 2008 to 2018. Data of different continents and neighboring Asian countries were retrieved from the WHO website. The major findings include: (1) In Taiwan, the total annual opioid consumption has gradually increased from 2008 to 2018, …


A Three-Step Stacking Capillary Electrophoresis Of Field-Amplified Sample Injection, Sweeping, And Micellar Collapse For Determination Of Dabigatran And Its Active Metabolite In Human Plasma, Cheng-Wei Cheng, Wen-Han Feng, Wei-Hua Tang, Hwang-Shang Kou, Chun-Chi Wang, Shou-Mei Wu Mar 2022

A Three-Step Stacking Capillary Electrophoresis Of Field-Amplified Sample Injection, Sweeping, And Micellar Collapse For Determination Of Dabigatran And Its Active Metabolite In Human Plasma, Cheng-Wei Cheng, Wen-Han Feng, Wei-Hua Tang, Hwang-Shang Kou, Chun-Chi Wang, Shou-Mei Wu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

A three-step stacking capillary electrophoresis (CE) composed of field-amplified sample injection, sweeping, and analyte focusing by micellar collapse (FASI-sweeping-AFMC) was developed to determine dabigatran (D) and its major active metabolite, dabigatran acyl-beta-d-glucuronide (DAG), in human plasma. After optimization and validation, this novel approach was further applied to monitor 5 real samples, and the 25.2 to 186.8 ng mL-1 D could be observed among those. Based on these results, the novel CE stacking strategy was successfully applied for the analysis of D and DAG in human plasma and could be served as a tool for clinical assays.