Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of All-Trans Retinoic Acid And Fatty Acids On Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cell Progression, David Brown

David C. Brown

Vitamin A metabolites and retinoids may slow the progression of breast cancer and elicit anti-neoplastic properties similar to those of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies using animal models show a decrease in the incidence, growth and metastisis of mammary tumors in the presence of specific fatty acids. This effect is also seen with use of retinoids, specifically all-trans retinoic acid (AtRA). Thus, fatty acids may also alter retinoid homeostasis in mammary carcinoma cells (MCF-7s). The potential for inter/co dependency among fatty acids and retinoids is considerable, and here it has been hypothesized that a decrease in cancer progression will occur in …

Getting To The Root Of Bacterial Hairs: What Is “S”?, Rebecca Gaddis, Samantha O'Conner, Evan Anderson, Terri Camesano, Nancy Burnham

Nancy A. Burnham

An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to measure the steric forces of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on the biofilm-forming bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is well known that LPS play a vital role in biofilm formation. These forces were characterized with a modified version of the Alexander and de Gennes (AdG) model for polymers, which is a function of equilibrium brush length, L, probe radius, R, temperature, T, separation distance, D, and an indefinite density variable, s. This last parameter was originally distinguished by de Gennes as the root spacing or mesh spacing depending upon the type of polymer adhesion; however since …

A Biopsychosocial Examination Of Atod Use Among Middle And High School Students, Russell Warne

Russell T Warne

Unexpected Synthesis Of 1,3,5-Triarly-1,5-Diketones From Aryl Ketones Via Di-Enamine Mechanism, Bin Liu, Junfeng Wang, Yi Pang, Zemei Ge, Runtao Li

Yi Pang

An unexpected reaction of aryl ketone with acetohydrazone of aromatic aldehyde via 1,2-di-enamine/diiminium mechanism was discovered, leading to efficient synthesis of 1,3,5-triaryl-1,5-diketones in good to excellent yields. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Health Action Process Approach: Application To Medication Adherence In Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients, Anna Greer, Kerry Milner, Richard Marcello, Katie Mazin

Anna E. Greer

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) post-intentional constructs (maintenance self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy, action planning, coping planning) and medication adherence among phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients. Research Method: Purposive sampling was used to recruit 91 phase II CR patients age 50 years and over. All respondents completed paper and pencil questionnaire examining HAPA post-intentional constructs (action planning, coping planning, maintenance self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy), medication adherence, and demographic characteristics. Validity and reliability were confirmed for all scales included in the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe respondents’ characteristics. Bivariate statistics …

A Novel Human Radixin Peptide Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Infection At The Level Of Cell Entry, Terence Bukong, Karen Kodys, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

Hepatitis C virus infection of hepatocytes is a multistep process involving the interaction between viral and host cell molecules. Recently, we identified ezrin-moesin-radixin proteins and spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) as important host therapeutic targets for HCV treatment development. Previously, an ezrin hinge region peptide (Hep1) has been shown to exert anti-HCV properties in vivo, though its mechanism of action remains limited. In search of potential novel inhibitors of HCV infection and their functional mechanism we analyzed the anti-HCV properties of different human derived radixin peptides. Sixteen different radixin peptides were derived, synthesized and tested. Real-time quantitative PCR, cell toxicity assay, …

Micrornas In Alcoholic Liver Disease, Gyongyi Szabo, Abhishek Satishchandran

Gyongyi Szabo

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by hepatocyte damage, inflammatory cell activation and increased intestinal permeability leading to the clinical manifestations of alcoholic hepatitis. Selected members of the family of microRNAs are affected by alcohol, resulting in an abnormal miRNA profile in the liver and circulation in ALD. Increasing evidence suggests that mRNAs that regulate inflammation, lipid metabolism and promote cancer are affected by excessive alcohol administration in mouse models of ALD. This communication highlights recent findings in miRNA expression and functions as they relate to the pathogenesis of ALD. The cell-specific distribution of miRNAs, as well as the significance …

Atrial Fibrillation--Advances In Drug Therapy, Sudip Nanda, Sultan Siddique, Matthew Martinez, Shree Sharma, Nainesh Patel, Santo Longo

Nainesh C Patel MD

No abstract provided.

An Overview Of Alcohol Testing And Interpretation In The 21st Century, Anna Kelly, Ashraf Mozayani

Ashraf Mozayani, Ph.D., PharmD

Ethanol analysis is the most commonly carried out drug testing in a forensic toxicology laboratory. Determination of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is needed in a multitude of situations, including in postmortem analysis, driving under the influence (DUI) and drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases, workplace drug monitoring, and probation investigations. These analyses are carried out by direct measurement of ethanol concentrations as well as of metabolic by-products, such as ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS). This review article will discuss pharmacokinetics, including absorption, distribution, and elimination of ethanol, methods for the detection of ethanol, the effect of ethanol on human …

Interview With Celia Schiffer, Celia Schiffer

Celia A. Schiffer

Celia Schiffer, a Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology; a former Director of UMass Center for AIDS Research; and a Founder and Co-Director for the Institute for Drug Resistance (University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, USA). Schiffer has an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Chicago, with a PhD in biophysics from University of California, San Francisco (CA, USA). She was a postdoctoral associate first at the ETH in Zurich and then at Genentech in San Francisco. Schiffer has published more than 100 peer reviewed journal articles. Her laboratory primarily uses structural biology, biophysical and chemistry techniques to …

Prototypical Recombinant Multi-Protease Inhibitor Resistant Infectious Molecular Clones Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Vici Varghese, Yumi Mitsuya, W. Jeffrey Fessel, Tommy F. Liu, George Melikian, David Katzenstein, Celia Schiffer, Susan Holmes, Robert Shafer

Celia A. Schiffer

The many genetic manifestations of HIV-1 protease inhibitor (PI) resistance present challenges to research into the mechanisms of PI-resistance and the assessment of new PIs. To address these challenges, we created a panel of recombinant multi-PI resistant infectious molecular clones designed to represent the spectrum of clinically relevant multi-PI resistant viruses. To assess the representativeness of this panel, we examined the sequences of the panel's viruses in the context of a correlation network of PI-resistance amino acid substitutions in sequences from more than 10,000 patients. The panel of recombinant infectious molecular clones comprised 29 of 41 study-defined PI-resistance amino acid …

Isoniazid Completion Rates For Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among College Students Managed By A Community Pharmacist, Karl Hess, Jeffery Goad, Joanne Wu, Kathleen Johnson

Jeff Goad

Objective: The authors' objective was to document 9-month and previously recommended 6-month treatment completion rates for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a pharmacist-managed LTBI clinic in a community pharmacy oil a college Campus. and to describe patient characteristics. Participants: Participants were university Students diagnosed with LTBI. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review, of pharmacy records from 2000 to 2006. Main outcome measures included 6-month and 9-month LTBI treatment completion rates, total isoniazid (INH) tablets taken. characteristics of completers versus noncompleters. average time to treatment completion, and reported adverse drug events. Results: The 9-month completion rate was 59%, and the …

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases In Travelers, Edith Mirzaian, Jeffery Goad, Ani Amloian, Fady Makar

Jeff Goad

Travel to the developing world is increasing among those from developed countries, placing them at risk for vaccine preventable and non-vaccine preventable diseases. From 2007-2011, the GeoSentinel Network reported 737 returned travelers with a vaccine preventable disease. While it is essential that clinicians use vaccines when available for a disease of risk, they should also be aware that the vast majority of diseases acquired by travelers are non-vaccine preventable. The vaccine preventable diseases can be divided into routine travel vaccines, special travel vaccines and routine vaccines used for travel. The routine travel vaccines include Hepatitis A and B, typhoid; special …

Non-Prescription And Household Substances Of Abuse, J. Mallari, L. Nguyen, Jeffery Goad

Jeff Goad

"Reasons for abuse of [household products and over-the-counter (OTC) medications] can vary widely depending on the type of product used. Because these items can be readily found in pharmacies and stores, it is important for pharmacists to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of abuse, and street names by which these agents are known (see Table 1). Pharmacists, especially in the community setting, may be able to identify patterns of abuse since they are in contact with patients more frequently than other healthcare providers."

Reversible Nonthrombocytopenic Palpable Purpura Associated With Metoclopramide, Jeffery Goad

Jeff Goad

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of reversible nonthrombocytopenic palpable purpura associated with metoclopramide. CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old white man was admitted for worsening palpable purpura over a two-day period. Two days prior to admission, metoclopramide 10 mg orally three times per day was started for a gastrointestinal condition. Upon admission, all drugs were continued except metoclopramide. Over the next two days, the purpura began to resolve. Platelet count was within normal limits on admission and the patient developed no serious consequences because of the purpura. DISCUSSION: According to the literature, reversible nonthrombocytopenic palpable purpura has not been previously reported with …

Dysfunctional Conformational Dynamics Of Protein Kinase A Induced By A Lethal Mutant Of Phospholamban Hinder Phosphorylation, Jonggul Kim, Larry R. Masterson, Alessandro Cembran, Raffaello Verardi, Lei Shi, Jiali Gao, Susan S. Taylor, Gianluigi Veglia

Larry Masterson

Synchronous Opening And Closing Motions Are Essential For Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase A Signaling, Atul K. Srivastava, Leanna R. Mcdonald, Alessandro Cembran, Jonggul Kim, Larry R. Masterson, Christopher L. Mcclendon, Susan S. Taylor, Gianluigi Veglia

Larry Masterson

Antipsychotic Use In Nursing Homes Varies By Psychiatric Consultant, Jennifer Tjia, Terry Field, Celeste Lemay, Kathleen Mazor, Michelle Pandolfi, Ann Spenard, Shih-Yieh Ho, Abir Kanaan, Jennifer Donovan, Jerry Gurwitz, Becky Briesacher

Jennifer Tjia

BACKGROUND: The relationship between psychiatric consultation and antipsychotic prescribing in nursing homes (NH) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To identify the association between psychiatric consultant groups and NH-level antipsychotic prescribing after adjustment for resident case-mix and facility characteristics. RESEARCH DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Nested cross-sectional study of 60 NHs in a cluster randomized trial. We linked facility leadership surveys to October 2009-September 2010 Minimum Data Set, Nursing Home Compare, the US Census, and pharmacy dispensing data. MEASURES: The main exposure is the psychiatric consultant group and the main outcome is NH-level prevalence of atypical antipsychotic use. We calculated annual means and interquartile ranges …

Comparison Of Insulin Infusion Protocols Targeting 110-140 Mg/Dl In Patients After Cardiac Surgery., Vasudev Magaji, Shriddha Nayak, Amy Donihi, Lauren Willard, Srinivasa Jampana, Parachur Nivedita, Raymond Eder, Jann Johnston, Mary Korytkowski

Vasudev G Magaji MD, MS

BACKGROUND: Continuous intravenous insulin infusion (CII) following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery reduces postoperative complications and hospitalization duration. Because of limited data evaluating outcomes of CII with revised glycemic targets (110-140 mg/dL) in cardiac surgery, this study compared efficacy and safety of two different CII protocols having revised targets. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study comparing two different protocols between August 2009 and March 2010. Protocol 1 consists of four algorithms, and Protocol 2 is a table to adjust CII. Blood glucose (BG) and CII rates were recorded for 48 h postoperatively or CII discontinuation. Efficacy was …

Adverse Drug Events After Hospital Discharge In Older Adults: Types, Severity, And Involvement Of Beers Criteria Medications, Abir Kanaan, Jennifer Donovan, Nerissa Duchin, Terry Field, Jennifer Tjia, Sarah Cutrona, Shawn Gagne, Lawrence Garber, Peggy Preusse, Leslie Harrold, Jerry Gurwitz

Jennifer Tjia

OBJECTIVES: To characterize adverse drug events (ADEs) occurring within the high-risk 45-day period after hospitalization in older adults.

DESIGN: Clinical pharmacists reviewed the ambulatory records of 1,000 consecutive discharges.

SETTING: A large multispecialty group practice closely aligned with a Massachusetts-based health plan.

PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalized individuals aged 65 and older discharged home.

MEASUREMENTS: Possible drug-related incidents occurring during the 45-day period after hospitalization were identified and presented to a pair of physician-reviewers who classified incidents as to whether an ADE was present, whether the event was preventable, and the severity of the event. Medications implicated in ADEs were further characterized according …

Effects Of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (Pcb) On Response Perseveration And Ultrasonic Vocalization Emission In Rat During Development, Howard Cromwell

Howard Casey Cromwell

The 3 major symptoms of autistic spectrum disorders include 1) social behavioral alterations, 2) problems in communication and 3) higher-order motoric deficits of perseveration and stereotyped movements. Previous work has shown that early developmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) alters rat pup social motivation and juvenile rat social recognition/investigation. The present work extends this previous research by examining how perinatal PCB exposure alters motoric functions and communication abilities at different stages of development. Action perseveration was examined using performance measures from a T-maze environment. Communication abilities were evaluated by monitoring ultrasound emission in rat pups during a brief isolation from …

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Of Adjunctive Ramelteon For The Treatment Of Insomnia And Mood Stability In Patients With Euthymic Bipolar Disorder, Edward Norris, Karen Burke, Julia Correll, Ken Zemanek, Joel Lerman, Ralph Primelo, Michael Kaufmann

Edward R Norris MD, FAPA, FAPM

No abstract provided.

Venous Thromboembolism In Patients With Heart Failure: In-Hospital And Chronic Use Of Anti-Coagulants For Prevention, Nasir Shariff, Abdul Aleem, Vadim Levin, Sudip Nanda, Matthew Martinez, Stacey Smith, Ronald Freudenberger

Vadim A Levin MD

No abstract provided.

Ranolazine—Treatment Of Ventricular Tachycardia And Symptomatic Ventricular Premature Beats In Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Sudip Nanda, Vadim Levin, Matthew Martinez, Ronald Freudenberger

Vadim A Levin MD

No abstract provided.

Novel Oral Anticoagulants For Stroke Prevention In Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Dawn Of A New Era, Tahmeed Contractor, Vadim Levin, Matthew Martinez, Francis Marchinski

Vadim A Levin MD

No abstract provided.

Warfarin Use And Outcomes In Patients With Advanced Chronic Systolic Heart Failure Without Atrial Fibrillation, Prior Thromboembolic Events, Or Prosthetic Valves, Marjan Mujib, Abu-Ahmed Rahman, Ravi Desai, Mustafa Ahmed, Margaret Feller, Inmaculada Aban, Tomas Love, Michel White, Prakash Deedwania, Wilbert Aronow, Gregg Fonarow, Ali Ahmed

Ravi V Desai MD

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Co-Existing Atrial Fibrillation On The Efficacy Of Atorvastatin Treatment In Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Pilot Study, Agata Bielecka-Dabrowa, Jan Goch, Jacek Rysz, Marek Maciejewski, Ravi Desai, Wilbert Aronow

Ravi V Desai MD

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Left And Right Ventricular Ejection Fractions In Chronic Advanced Systolic Heart Failure: Insights From The Best Trial, Ravi Desai, Philippe Meyer, Mustafa Ahmed, Marjan Mujib, Chris Adamopoulos, Michel White, Inmaculada Aban, Ami Iskandrian, Ali Ahmed

Ravi V Desai MD

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Warfarin On Outcomes In Septuagenarian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation, Brita Roy, Ravi Desai, Marjan Mujib, Andrew Epstein, Yan Zhang, Jason Guichard, Linda Jones, Margaret Feller, Mustafa Ahmed, Inmaculada Aban, Thomas Love, Michel White, Wilbert Aronow, Ali Ahmed

Ravi V Desai MD

No abstract provided.

Alcohol Facilitates Hcv Rna Replication Via Up-Regulation Of Mir-122 Expression And Inhibition Of Cyclin G1 In Human Hepatoma Cells, Wei Hou, Terence Bukong, Karen Kodys, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies demonstrate synergistic liver damage by alcohol and hepatitis C virus (HCV); however, the mechanisms by which alcohol promotes HCV infection remain obscure. The liver-specific microRNA-122 (miR-122) regulates HCV replication and expression of host genes, including Cyclin G1. Here, we hypothesized that alcohol regulates miR-122 expression and thereby modulates HCV RNA replication. METHODS: The J6/JFH/Huh-7.5 model of HCV infection was used in this study. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and confocal microscopy were used for experimental analysis. RESULTS: We found that acute alcohol exposure (25 mM) significantly increased intracellular HCV RNA as …