Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Pseudo-Hallucinations: A Diagnostic Conundrum, Dr Sankram Nayak, Manju Aswath, Vathsalya S. Gowda

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background:

Pseudohallucinations are vivid, hallucination-like experiences that are internal, recognized as unreal. Distinguishing from true hallucinations remains a diagnostic challenge.

Case-report

33-year-old female with family history of psychosis presented with 10-year duration of delusion of infidelity and auditory experiences, with normal Biopsychosocial functioning. She had multiple psychiatric consultations, diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia, treated with  various antipsychotics, ECT, current prescription of clozapine(350mg) with clozapine induced seizure.  Reported that her husband was emotionally unavailable. She described the voices in her head which were non-threatening, praising her for having qualities of an ideal-wife.  They were constant companions giving her solace and hence refrained …

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement In Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Series And Review Of Short- And Long-Term Outcomes, Chris T. Derk, Ahmadreza Badali, Esra Mehmetoglu, Anvitha Mummadisetty, Amit Syal, Konstantinos Parperis

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Objectives: A higher frequency of valvular heart disease is seen among Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients. Advanced aortic valve stenosis leads to significant morbidity in these patients with multiple other comorbidities. In this study, we aim to define the short- and long-term outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures in SSc patients. Methods: We undertook a retrospective chart review of all patients with SSc who underwent a TAVR procedure at our institution over a defined 11-year period. Demographics as well as short- and long-term outcomes were identified. Results: Fourteen SSc patients underwent a TAVR procedure between 2012 and 2023. They …

Dietary Flavonoid Intake And Psychological Well-Being – A Bidirectional Relationship, Alysha S. Thompson, Nicola P. Bondonno, Yan Lydia Liu, Farah Qureshi, Laura D. Kubzansky, Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald, Julia K. Boehm, Eric B. Rimm, Aedín Cassidy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aim: Higher dietary flavonoid intake has been associated with lower risks of mortality and major chronic disease, yet its relationship with psychological well-being (PWB), a key contributor to health and quality of life, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate bidirectional associations between dietary flavonoid intake and two PWB facets: happiness (positive emotional state) and optimism (generalized expectation of positive outcomes). Specifically, we examined whether (1) overall flavonoid-rich dietary patterns (flavodiet score), (2) intake of specific flavonoid-rich foods, and (3) total flavonoid and subclass intakes were each associated with happiness and optimism over time. Methods: Data were drawn …

Presentations Of Cutaneous Disease In Various Skin Pigmentations: Tinea Corporis, Braden Van Alfen, Navya Peddireddy, Marshall Hall, Henry Lim, Christian Scheufele, Garrett Furth, Dustin Wilkes, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Tinea corporis is a common superficial fungal infection caused by dermatophytes. It typically presents as well-defined, pruritic, annular papules and plaques with central hypopigmentation. The differential diagnosis includes pityriasis rosea, nummular dermatitis, plaque psoriasis, tinea versicolor, granuloma annulare, and discoid lupus. This article compares different presentations of tinea corporis in various skin types as classified by the Fitzpatrick scale. Recognizing varying presentations of tinea in patients of different skin tones will aid in early and appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Presentations Of Cutaneous Disease In Various Skin Pigmentations: Keratosis Pilaris, Henry Lim, Reem Ayoub, Madelyn Richards, Marshall Hall, Christian Scheufele, Dustin Wilkes, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common benign disorder involving hyperkeratosis of the skin. It is associated with other common dry skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis and ichthyosis vulgaris. Lesions are clinically characterized as symmetrically distributed, monomorphic, folliculocentric, hyperkeratotic papules with a variable degree of perifollicular erythema. The appearance can be likened to spikey bumps that are commonly located on the arms, legs, and buttocks. Awareness of KP is important as every primary care clinician will see patients with this disorder. Identification can support the diagnosis of other associated skin diseases. Education about KP and its treatment may alleviate psychological …

Selectivity Modulation Of Small Cationic Membrane-Active Cyclic Peptides With Broad-Spectrum Activity Against Bacteria And Fungi, Sandeep Lohan, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Kaustav Das Gupta, Shakti Singh, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

To investigate how ring size and backbone flexibility influence antimicrobial potency and cytotoxicity, we synthesized a series of macrocyclic peptides of lead peptide p1 (c[Arg-Arg-arg-arg-dip-Trp-dip]) by incorporating Gly, 2-aminoethoxyacetic acid (EAA), or 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (Dab). Two optimized peptides, 6b and 10b, retained broad-spectrum activity against drug-resistant Gram-positive (MIC, 1.5–6.2 μg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC, 4–25 μg/mL), as well as pathogenic fungi, while exhibiting enhanced selectivity for microbial cells. Their therapeutic indices (TI ∼407 and ∼394, respectively) were ∼2-fold higher than p1, indicating improved safety. Both peptides remained effective against Gram-negative pathogens beyond the reach of daptomycin, were rapidly bactericidal, and …

Comparison Of Ventilation Support During Laser Treatment Of Retinopathy Of Prematurity, Jason Peng, Raghav Taneja, Barry N. Wasserman, Krystal Hunter, Vineet Bhandari, Alla Kushnir

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Highlights: What are the main findings? Preterm infants undergoing ROP laser surgery with routine elective intubation had significantly longer durations of post-operative mechanical ventilation. Routine intubation during this procedure did not improve short-term clinical outcomes, such as overall hospital length of stay or timing of laser intervention in the infant’s life. What are the implications of the main findings? Routine intubation strategies may unnecessarily increase exposure to mechanical ventilation without improving clinical outcomes. Standardization of perioperative intubation practices across hospitals may be needed to optimize respiratory support in this vulnerable population. Objective: To compare respiratory outcomes between infants undergoing retinopathy …

Tadalafil Monotherapy Is A Reasonable Alternative For The Treatment Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms In Patients With Comorbid Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia And Erectile Dysfunction, Daniel M. Ibrahim, Anam Ahmed, Swetha Reddy, Meet S. Patel, Nabeel Sumbal, Adam Chaban, Aminah I. Fayyaz

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising

Oelke M, Giuliano F, Mirone V, Xu L, Cox D, Viktrup L. Monotherapy with tadalafil or tamsulosin similarly improved lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia in an international, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur Urol. 2012;61(5):917-925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2012.01.0131

for a vigorous 75-year-old man with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED) who discontinued dutasteride due to intolerable sexual side effects.

Evidentiary Standards For Newly Approved Antibiotics For Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections, Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio, Enrique Seoane-Vazquez, John H. Powers Iii

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Importance: Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections and are typically treated with existing oral antibiotics. In 2024–2025, the FDA approved two new oral agents, sulopenem etzadroxil/probenecid and gepotidacin, via expedited review pathways, for the treatment of uUTIs. Objective: To assess the clinical significance and regulatory evidence supporting FDA approval of sulopenem/probenecid and gepotidacin for uUTI, and to analyze the adherence of pivotal phase III trials to regulatory standards for approval and FDA guidelines. Design, Setting, and Participants: Comparative descriptive analysis of publicly available data from phase 3 randomized, double-blind, active-controlled clinical …

Outcomes Of Radiation Integrated With T-Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibodies In Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma, Heta Patel, Harper Hubbeling, Kyle Yu, Maribel Carpenter, Michael Lariviere, John Plastaras, Adam Cohen, Shivani Kapur, Dan Vogl, Adam Waxman, Edward Stadtmauer, Alfred Garfall, Sandra Susanibar-Adaniya

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

No abstract provided.

The Path Forward For T Cell Engagers In Patients With Prostate Cancer, Sumit K. Subudhi, Bilal A. Siddiqui, Kevin K. Zarrabi, William K. Kelly, Charles G. Drake

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

T cell engagers (TCEs) recruit T cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME) to induce antitumor immune responses. TCEs have demonstrated promising clinical responses in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and have advanced into phase 3 clinical trials. Here we provide an overview of the mechanisms of action of TCEs, including both CD3-targeted and CD28-targeted agents, and review the clinical development of these agents for prostate cancer. We propose a path forward for TCEs in prostate cancer, in which innovative clinical trials will facilitate a biological understanding of mechanisms of efficacy and toxicity to inform: (1) development of predictive biomarkers …

Musculoskeletal Infection Reporting And Data System (Mski-Rads): Reviewed And Explained, Angela He, Flavio Duarte Silva, Mina Guirguis, Erin F. Alaia, William B Morrison, Avneesh Chhabra

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

A standardized guideline and scoring system are recommended for the imaging evaluation of musculoskeletal infections on MR imaging. The Musculoskeletal Infection Reporting and Data System (MSKI-RADS) is a recently developed and validated classification system using MR imaging that can be used to classify the severity and extent of musculoskeletal infections, improve radiology-pathology concordance, and outline the corresponding management recommendations. This review article explains MSKI-RADS and discusses the different elements of this system in detail with a review of pertinent literature so that the readers can apply it in their practices. The work outlines the technical considerations for optimal MR imaging …

Plasma Ca125 Levels As A Predictor Of Major Adverse Cardiac Events In Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Six-Month Follow-Up Study, Nazlı Dilek Çolak, Turgut Karabağ, Onuralp Çalışkan, Songül Tezcan

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objectives: Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is associated with different cardiovascular conditions. This study aimed to determine CA125 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the potential relationship between major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in the short-term following.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a coronary care unit between May and November 2022. Plasma CA125 levels were measured only once upon hospital admission. Patients were followed for six months. All-cause mortality, recurrent acute coronary syndrome, requirement for revascularization, decompensated heart failure, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, atrial fibrillation, and stroke were recorded as MACE.

Results: A total of 127 …

Disruption Of Proteoglycan 4 (Prg4)-Cd44 Signaling Modulates Chronic Synovitis In Conditionally Inactivated Mice, Khaled A. Elsaid, Ling Zhang, Thomas Zhao, Ava Marks, Derek Jenkins, Gregory D. Jay

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Proteoglycan-4 (PRG4) is a mucinous glycoprotein secreted by synovial fibroblasts and superficial zone chondrocytes. PRG4 inhibits synovial macrophage (SM) activation via xanthine oxidase (XO) and hypoxia inducible factor alpha (HIF-1α) suppression. We aimed to evaluate the contribution of PRG4-CD44 interaction to synovial homeostasis and investigate PRG4’s signaling dysfunction in synovial tissues from patients with osteoarthritis (OA). We hypothesized that CD44 mediates synovitis due to PRG4 loss and that PRG4 signaling dysfunction is associated with high-grade synovitis in OA.

Methods

Prg4^{FrtloxP/FrtloxP} are transgenic mice wherein tamoxifen (TAM) inactivates the Frt allele and creates a knockout state (Prg4^{FrtKO/FrtKO …}

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System In Preeclampsia: Pathophysiological Insights And Links To Vascular Dementia, Robin C. Finch, Jenny Lutshumba, Elizabeth Mirsky, Esther Ndashaala, Kelsey Bullens, Emma Smith

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Pre-eclampsia, a condition characterized by new-onset hypertension during pregnancy and one or more indices of organ damage, is a major driver of both short and long-term maternal health outcomes. Individuals with a history of pre-eclampsia are at increased risk for cardiovascular, renal, and other chronic diseases. Recent studies have linked pre-eclampsia history with increased risk of dementia later in life, underscoring the importance of new guidelines emphasizing blood pressure control to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, neither mechanisms underlying causes of pre-eclampsia nor their links with cognitive function are well understood. Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia …

The Ninth Chondroid Syringoma With Bone Formation: A Case Report, Mojan Deriss, Kelsey Ouyang, Parnian Alizadeh, Amir Qorbani, Voicu S. Ciobanu

Annual Research Symposium

This poster presents a rare case of chondroid syringoma with ossification, representing only the ninth reported instance of bone formation within this adnexal tumor. The report describes a slowly enlarging facial nodule in a 34-year-old male, detailing clinical presentation, surgical excision, and histopathologic findings. Microscopy revealed characteristic epithelial cords and tubules within a myxoid stroma, along with mature lamellar bone formation, confirming the diagnosis. The case expands the known morphologic spectrum of chondroid syringomas and highlights the importance of considering this entity in the differential diagnosis of benign facial masses, particularly when unusual features such as ossification are present.

Combination Lingual Compression And Maxillomandibular Fixation For Persistent Acquired Macroglossia: A Case Report, Emma De Ravin, Annie Moroco, Adam J. Luginbuhl

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Management Of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Review, Chetan Jeurkar, Lana King, David Baek, Lindsay Wilde, Gina Keiffer, Margaret Kasner

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy with historically poor outcomes, particularly among older adults and patients harboring high-risk molecular features. Advances in genomic profiling have enabled the development of targeted therapies, reshaping treatment algorithms beyond conventional cytarabine-anthracycline induction and hypomethylating agent-based regimens. This review summarizes current evidence and emerging therapeutic strategies across four evolving areas: menin inhibition, FLT3 inhibition, IDH inhibition and treatment approaches for TP53-mutated AML. Methods: We reviewed published clinical trials, preclinical studies, and ongoing clinical trials evaluating targeted therapies in AML. Emphasis was placed on agents with regulatory approval or substantial clinical development, …

Evaluating The American Society Of Hematology Quality Measure On Timeliness Of Analgesics For Sickle Cell Disease Pain Crisis, Ibrahim Gwarzo, Harish Chandra Dega, Paula Tanabe, Robin Miller, David C. Brousseau

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) proposed the median time to first emergency department (ED) administration of pain medication for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) vaso-occlusive pain episodes (VOE) as a site-level quality measure. Generalizable studies assessing current guideline adherence recommending pain medications within 60 minutes are lacking. We leveraged multisite electronic health record data from Epic's Cosmos research platform to analyze ED encounters for SCD VOE from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2024, with administration of at least 1 pain medication. We calculated the quality measure (median time to first pain medication) and ranked sites based on …

Biomarkers In Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials: 2025, Amanda M. Leisgang Osse, Yadi Zhou, Jefferson W. Kinney, Andrew Hooyman, Ayan Sengupta, Jorge Fonseca, Aaron H. Burstein, Laura Nisenbaum, Howard M. Fillit, Feixiong Cheng, Jeffrey L. Cummings

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Biomarkers play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials in several contexts of use, including defining trial eligibility and serving as outcome measures. Utilizing clinicaltrials.gov, a registry of clinical trials, we assessed biomarker usage across all active AD disease-targeted therapeutic (DTT) trials. Biomarkers are widely used in AD DTT trials, with 84% including a fluid, imaging, and/or digital biomarker, either as an inclusion criterion or as an outcome measure. In DTT trials, biomarkers were included in 83% of Phase 3 trials, 91% of Phase 2 trials, and 72% of Phase 1 trials. Biomarkers were used for trial inclusion …

Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer To The Penis Resulting In Malignant Priapism And Urethral Obstruction, Courtney Stewart, Joon Yau Leong, William Kevin Kelly, Mihir Shah

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

A 76-year-old male with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer was found to have metastatic disease to the urethra and penis on PSMA PET scan. This resulted in constant pain due to obstruction of blood flow through the corpora cavernosum resulting in priapism and urethral obstruction. The patient underwent a radical penectomy, partial urethrectomy and perineal urethrostomy creation. Final pathology confirmed metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. Although rare, prostate cancer can metastasize to the corpora spongiosum or cavernosa. Treatment options are limited, and surgical excision with urinary diversion is likely to provide the most durable outcomes for one's quality of life.

Optimizing Electrode Placement And Information Capacity For Local Field Potentials In Cortex, Jace A Willis, Christopher E Wright, Ruoqian Zhu, Yilan Ruan, Joshua Stallings, Amada M Abrego, Takfarinas Medani, Promit Moitra, Arjun Ramakrishnan, Charles E Schroeder, Anand A Joshi, Nitin Tandon, Richard M Leahy, John C Mosher, John P Seymour

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent neurosurgery advancements include improved stereotactic targeting and increased density and specificity of electrophysiological evaluation. This study introduces a subject-specific, in silico modeling tool for optimizing electrode placement and maximizing coverage with a variety of devices. The basis for optimization is the Shannon-Hartley information capacity of field potentials derived from dipolar sources. The approach integrates subject-specific MRI data with finite element modeling (FEM) used to simulate the sensitivity of subdural and intracortical devices. Sensitivity maps, or lead fields, from these models enable the comparison of different electrode placements, contact sizes, contact configurations, and substrate properties, which are often overlooked factors. …

Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Tissue Classification From Pathology Slide Images: Detecting Phenotypes Using Computer Vision, Chloe Martin-King, Ali Nael, Louis Ehwerhemuepha, Blake Calvo, Quinn Gates, Jamie Janchoi, Elisa Ornelas, Melissa Perez, Andrea Venderby, John Miklavcic, Peter Chang, Aaron Sassoon, Brian Rubio, Ghislaine Barrigan, Kenneth Grant

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Background and Aims

Methods

Results …

Reliability Of Existing Measures And Classification Systems For Trochlear Dysplasia, Sean R. Waldron, Nihar S. Shah, Matthew W. Veerkamp, Brendan A. Williams, John A. Schlechter, Lauren H. Redler, Matthew D. Ellington, Shital N. Parikh

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral instability (PFI) is common in adolescent patients and can lead to a reduction in quality of life and function, as well as long-term arthritis. Treatment of PFI involves assessing and, at times, surgically correcting underlying anatomic abnormalities. Trochlear dysplasia is the most common anatomic risk factor present in PFI.

PURPOSE: To determine the interrater reliability of existing measures and classification systems for the assessment of trochlear dysplasia.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS: As part of the PRISM (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) patellar instability Research Interest Group (RIG) project, a …

A Rare And Challenging Polymicrobial Pleural Infection Involving Cupriavidus Pauculus In A Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Multiple Complications, Moiz Ahmed Khan, Syeda Samiya Kamal, Muhammad Muneeb, Summaya Zafar

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

A 58-year-old female with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a history of treatment consisting of methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, and chronic prednisolone therapy, presented with fever, productive cough, dyspnea, and left leg cellulitis. She developed septic shock complicated by tension pneumothorax requiring emergency thoracostomy and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Pleural fluid culture grew Cupriavidus pauculus, a rare environmental gram-negative bacillus, alongside Burkholderia cepacia and Candida parapsilosis, indicating polymicrobial infection which was most likely predisposed by patient's immunosuppressed state from RA and prolonged steroid use. Treatment consisted of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, meropenem, fluconazole, and cardiopulmonary support, and culminated in …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Criteria In The First Pathologically Confirmed Thai Cohort: A Pilot Study, Thanapoom Taweephol, Thachamai Smitasiri, Thanakit Pongpitakmetha, Sekh Thanprasertsuk, Anand Viswanathan

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: The gold standard for diagnosing cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), full brain post-mortem examination, is rarely performed. Current diagnostic criteria, primarily based on clinico-radiological features, were developed from Western populations and may have limited applicability to Asian populations.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of current diagnostic criteria and examine the clinico-radiological characteristics of Thai CAA patients.

Methods: Brain histopathological specimens from patients with clinical symptoms of CAA who underwent neurosurgical procedures, including intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) evacuation, between 2011 and 2021 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand, were reviewed. Patient characteristics and clinical events for each individual were retrospectively …

Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy In Association With Statin Exposure, Charlie E. Babcock, Phebie Rossi, Jennifer Hasvold

Aesculapius Journal (Health Sciences & Medicine)

Statins are first-line therapy for hyperlipidemia and are widely prescribed in primary care. Although generally safe, they carry rare but serious risks that must be considered on an individual basis. One such complication is immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), an autoimmune condition characterized by persistent muscle weakness and elevated creatine kinase (CK) despite discontinuation of the statin. We describe an 87-year-old man with a history of atorvastatin intolerance who was reinitiated on the medication five years later. Shortly thereafter, he developed progressive weakness, recurrent hospitalizations, and ultimately was diagnosed with IMNM confirmed by biopsy and HMG-CoA reductase antibodies. Despite treatment with …

Phytic Acid (Insp6) Activates Hdac3 Epigenetic Axis To Maintain Intestinal Barrier Function, Sujan Chatterjee, Zachery Sin, Nguyen Tran, Loretta Vierra, Anuj Shukla, Tam Tran, George Koshkaryan, Kevin Ritter, Xue Bessie Sue, Saharat Jolak Ragsac, Seungman Park, Qian Liu, Richard Van, Katherine Huang, Kayci Huff-Hardy, Richard Rood, Anas Gremida, Martin Gregory, Chien-Huan Chen, Mira V. Han, Parakkal Deepak, Adikfi Saiardi, Henning J. Jensen, Prasun Guha

Life Sciences Faculty Research

HDAC inhibition shows promise in cancer treatment but pan-HDAC inhibitors cause gastrointestinal issues in 48% of patients. Understanding HDAC activation mechanisms is crucial to treating diverse diseases beyond cancer. Our study reveals that inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK) and inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6 or phytic acid), enriched in vegan diets, play essential roles in activating the HDAC3 epigenetic axis and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity. IPMK binds to HDAC3 and drives InsP6 synthesis, which selectively activates HDAC3 at a 10 nM concentration by recruiting the DAD domain of its corepressor protein. IPMK deletion diminishes HDAC3 activation, leading to histone hyperacetylation and MMP gene …

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose As A Mucoadhesive Polymer In Ethanol-Free Buprenorphine Gel For Neonatal Sublingual Delivery, Sanskruti Dave, Viren Soni, Samarth A. Shah, Walter K. Kraft, Gagan Kaushal

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Buprenorphine (BUP) is widely used in the treatment of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). However, the most compounded formulation contains 30% ethanol, despite regulatory and clinical concerns regarding ethanol exposure in pediatric patients. Thus, this research aimed to develop an ethanol-free sublingual (SL) gel formulation of BUP that would be safe, stable, and suitable for NOWS. Multiple polymers were screened as gelling agents, with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) emerging as the ideal base polymer for the formulation due to its optimal pH, rheological characteristics, and stability. The formulated gels were stored at room temperature and refrigerated conditions for 30 days and …

Hyaluronan 35 Prevents Endotoxin-Mediated Dysregulated Skeletal Muscle Proteostasis During Ethanol Exposure, Nicole Welch, Pugazhendhi Kannan, Gangarao Davuluri, Annette Bellar, Amy H. Attaway, Saurabh Mishra, Jasmin A. Cunningham, Avinash Kumar, Ryan Musich, Elif G. Ertugral, Vandana Agrawal, Isaac L. Hu, Terri J. Hartford, Noah L. Weisleder, Vidula T. Vachharajani, Chandrasekhar R. Kothapalli

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Sarcopenia in alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is of high clinical significance, but there are no effective treatments. Hyaluronan 35 kDa (HA35), a glycosaminoglycan polymer, modulates responses to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a lipopolysaccharide receptor, to improve hepatic and macrophage function in ALD. We evaluated skeletal muscle responses to HA35 in preclinical models of ALD. Responses to ethanol, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and HA35 were studied in differentiated murine C2C12/human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived myotubes, and wild-type/HA receptor CD44 knockout (CD44(-/-)) mouse models of ALD (mALD). Signaling molecules and measures of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) were quantified by immunoblots, mitochondrial oxidative function was determined …