Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Clustering Microbiome Data Using Mixtures Of Logistic Normal Multinomial Models, Yuan Fang, Sanjeena Subedi

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Discrete data such as counts of microbiome taxa resulting from next-generation sequencing are routinely encountered in bioinformatics. Taxa count data in microbiome studies are typically high-dimensional, over-dispersed, and can only reveal relative abundance therefore being treated as compositional. Analyzing compositional data presents many challenges because they are restricted to a simplex. In a logistic normal multinomial model, the relative abundance is mapped from a simplex to a latent variable that exists on the real Euclidean space using the additive log-ratio transformation. While a logistic normal multinomial approach brings flexibility for modeling the data, it comes with a heavy computational cost …

The Price Of Competition: Analyzing Anticompetitive Tactics In Pharmaceutical Markets During The Hatch-Waxman Era, William Ulrich

Notre Dame Journal on Emerging Technologies

Pharmaceutical manufacturers can delay the generic entry for a blockbuster drug. In order to keep the generic system on track, it is critical to expose the various avenues of generic delay. Part I of this Note briefly describes the generic entry process as prescribed by the Hatch-Waxman Act. Part II details four well-known tactics used by brand-name manufacturers to block or delay the entry of generic competition, highlighting how the tactics are successful. Part III concludes by examining the nature of the various problems and arguing that the first step towards ending the different forms of anticompetitive behavior is through …

The High Cost Of Pharmaceutical Acquisitions: Increasing Social Welfare Or Furthering Inequality?, Timothy J. Haltermann

Notre Dame Journal on Emerging Technologies

This note will argue that government and regulatory authorities should focus on easing access to downstream innovation by broadening research exemptions to patent infringement. Part I of this note will focus on the current state of patent protection and exclusivity afforded to pharmaceutical companies. Part II will discuss incentives created that lead rational actors to engage in M&A instead of through internal R&D. Part III will address the development of innovation as a standalone theory of harm in merger review, and the fallacies associated with labeling certain transactions as “killer acquisitions.” Finally, Part IV of the note will look at …

Artificial Intelligence Is Revolutionizing Controlled Substance Diversion Detection, Brian Cox, Alberto Coustasse, Craig Kimble

Management Faculty Research

In community and institutional health care sectors, artificial intelligence (AI) use is expanding. AI is being tapped broadly in operations, customer service, and scheduling, with major pharmacy chains such as Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens, already starting to implement AI applications in their pharmacies. So far, Kroger has begun to use AI for employee onboarding and training processes, CVS is applying AI in negotiations with suppliers, and Walgreens is using it to streamline vaccine scheduling. With these advances in major pharmacy chains, the next extensive application for AI has become clearer: diversion monitoring. Diversion occurs in health care settings when a …

Equine In Vivo Metabolite Profiling Of The Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator Lgd-3303 For Doping Control, Malin Nilsson Broberg, Heather Knych, Ulf Bondesson, Curt Pettersson, Börje Tidstedt, Scott Stanley, Mario Thevis, Mikael Hedeland

UK CARES Faculty Publications

LGD-3303 is a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is prohibited in both equine and human sports due to its anabolic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the equine in vivo metabolite profile of LGD-3303 and identify drug metabolites that can be suitable as new and improved analytical targets for equine doping control. This was performed by an oral administration of 0.05 mg⋅kg 1 LGD-3303 to horses, where blood and urine samples were collected up to 96 h after administration. The in vivo samples consisting of plasma, urine and hydrolyzed urine were analyzed utilizing ultra-high performance liquid …

A Real-World Comparison Of Apixaban And Rivaroxaban In Obese And Morbidly Obese Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation, Kevin T. Burnham, Tianrui Yang, Jessica Wooster

Pharmacy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Contemporary guidelines for managing nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) include apixaban and rivaroxaban as first-line anticoagulation treatment options. Minimal guidance is available regarding selecting anticoagulants for patients with class I-III obesity. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of apixaban and rivaroxaban in both obese and morbidly obese patients with NVAF. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an outpatient cardiovascular clinic after Institutional Review Board approval. Patients were eligible if they were ≥18 years of age, had a BMI ≥30 kg/m2, and took apixaban or rivaroxaban for NVAF for ≥3 months. The primary endpoint …

Isatin-Pyrimidine Hybrid Derivatives As Enoyl Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase (Inha) Inhibitors Against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Amira Khalil, Samy Mohamady, Amgad Albohy, Marwa M. Abdel-Aziz, Abdalrahman Khalifa

Pharmacy

Tuberculosis is a worldwide problem that impose a burden on the economy due to continuous development of resistant strains. The development of new antitubercular drugs is a need and can be achieved through inhibition of druggable targets. Mycobacterium tuberculosis enoyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase (InhA) is an important enzyme for Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival. In this study, we report the synthesis of isatin derivatives that could treat TB through inhibition of this enzyme. Compound 4l showed IC50 value (0.6 ± 0.94 µM) similar to isoniazid but is also effective against MDR and XDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains (MIC of 0.48 and …

Unleashing The Potential Of 1,3-Diketone Analogues As Selective Lh2 Inhibitors, Juhoon Lee, Hou-Fu Guo, Shike Wang, Yazdan Maghsoud, Erik Antonio Vázquez-Montelongo, Zhifeng Jing, Rae M. Sammons, Eun Jeong Cho, Pengyu Ren, G. Andrés Cisneros, Jonathan M. Kurie, Kevin N. Dalby

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Lysyl hydroxylase 2 (LH2) catalyzes the formation of highly stable hydroxylysine aldehyde-derived collagen cross-links (HLCCs), thus promoting lung cancer metastasis through its capacity to modulate specific types of collagen cross-links within the tumor stroma. Using 1 and 2 from our previous high-throughput screening (HTS) as lead probes, we prepared a series of 1,3-diketone analogues, 1−18, and identified 12 and 13 that inhibit LH2 with IC50’s of approximately 300 and 500 nM, respectively. Compounds 12 and 13 demonstrate selectivity for LH2 over LH1 and LH3. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) modeling indicates that the selectivity of 12 and 13 may stem from …

Significant Improvement Of Fidelity For Encoded Quantum Bell Pairs At Long And Short-Distance Communication Along With Generalized Circuit, Syed Emad Uddin Shubha, Md Saifur Rahman, M R C Mahdy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Quantum entanglement is a unique criterion of the quantum realm and an essential tool to secure quantum communication. Ensuring high-fidelity entanglement has always been a challenging task owing to interaction with the hostile channel environment created due to quantum noise and decoherence. Though several methods have been proposed, correcting almost all arbitrary errors is still a gigantic task. As one of the main contributions of this work, a new model for 'large distance communication' has been proposed, which may correct all bit flip errors or other errors quite extensively if proper encoding and subspace measurements are used. To achieve this …

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (Sln): Formulation And Fabrication, Gabriella F. Punu, Yahdiana Harahap, Qonita Kurnia Anjani, Pietradewi Hartrianti, Ryan F. Donnelly, Delly Ramadon

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) have emerged as a novel drug delivery system and have been utilized for delivering various kinds of drugs since the 1990s. These particles may consist of multiple solid lipids, including glycerides, waxes, and fatty acids, and can be stabilized by a wide range of surfactants. SLN have garnered significant attention from researchers due to its innovative and versatile nature. Moreover, such delivery system has numerous advantages over traditional colloidal carriers, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and emulsions. Several research groups have been developing SLN formulations and fabrication techniques based on their intended purpose, and this research …

Optimization Of Lubrication And Compression Process Parameters Of Vitamin C Film-Coated Caplets, Ernestine Arianditha Pranasti, Ratna Annisa Utami, Yuda Prasetya Nugraha

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Tablet production is a very intricate process influenced by numerous process variables or parameters. This study aimed to identify the critical processing variables that affect Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) of vitamin C film-coated caplets utilizing a statistical experimental design. A two-level complete factorial design with two central points was used to examine the process parameters that posed the greatest risk to CQAs. The process variables investigated included mesh size and duration for the lubrication process, as well as speed and main thickness for compression. Statistical results showed that mesh number, lubrication time, and their interaction significantly affect flow rate, Hausner …

Utilization Of Pvp-Pla Combination In Fabricating Theophylline-Loaded Filament For 3d Printing With Immediate Release Behavior, Arief Kurniawan, Silvia Surini

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), known as a highly effective 3D printing technique, holds promise as an alternative approach to tablet manufacturing. While commonly employing thermoplastic polymers as starting materials, the integration of established pharmaceutical excipients remains unexplored. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is a frequently used excipient known for its potential to confer immediate-release properties to drugs. However, its suitability for extrusion is hindered by its thermal and melt-rheological properties. In contrast, polylactic acid (PLA), which has robust mechanical strength and thermal plasticity, was expected to overcome PVP’s limitations. This study aims to obtain drug-loaded filaments using the combination of PVP and …

Optimization Of 3,4-Dimethoxychalcone And Rutin Containing Gel With Simplex Lattice Design And In Vitro-In Vivo Test As A Sunscreen, Hana Anisa Fatimi, Abdul Karim Zulkarnain, Marlyn Dian Laksitorini

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

3,4-Dimethoxychalcone and rutin, a flavonoid that contains chromophore groups, can absorb UV light and thus can be developed as a sunscreen. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum formula of 3,4-dimethoxychalcone and rutin containing gel, evaluate its physical stability, and activity of 3,4-dimethoxychalcone and rutin gel as a sunscreen through in vitro and in vivo tests. HPMC, CMC-Na, and methylcellulose were formulated into a gel base to obtain good adhesion and a clear appearance gel. Simplex Lattice Design (SLD) with Design Expert software version 10 was utilized to determine the optimum gel formulation. UVA-PF protection, photostability with …

Evaluation Of Anti-Vegf And Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation Laser Therapies In Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients: A Systematic Review, Senyum Indrakila, Namira Putri Imani, Aiman Hilmi Asaduddin, Muzakiya Lailatul Karima, Lygia Angelica Widjaja

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that is one of the top five causes of blindness in those over 50. The standard treatment is pan-retinal photocoagulation, which is effective but has established side effects. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy becomes an alternative to avoid the side effects caused by laser therapy. This systematic review aims to know the effectiveness of anti-VEGF therapy compared to the pan-retinal photocoagulation laser therapy in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. This review was carried out using a systematic review checklist on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The articles reviewed …

Eplerenone Crystal Nanosuspension For Solubility Enhancement: Preparation And Evaluation, Hawraa K. Khafeef, Nawal A. Rajab

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Eplerenone is an aldosterone receptor inhibitor utilized for management of hypertension and chronic heart failure. However, it’s low solubility and dissolution-dependent absorption lead to reduced oral bioavailability (The absolute bioavailability of eplerenone is 69%). This study aimed to develop and optimize eplerenone nanosuspension (EPLNS) to enhance its solubility and improve dissolution rate. The nanosuspension (NS) was produced using the solvent anti-solvent precipitation method, and an investigation was conducted to assess the effect of variables such as stabilizer type, stabilizer concentration, and stirring rate on particle size (PS) and polydispersity index (PDI). The results showed that most of the prepared EPLNS …

Individual And Combined Effect Of Eudragit® Rs 100 And Eudragit® Rl 100 On Sustained Release Characteristics Of Ropinirole Hcl-Loaded Microparticles, Aamir Hayyat, Nabeel Siddique

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Ropinirole HCl is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist which is recommended for the treatment of both Parkinson’s disease and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Its half-life is about 6 hours and it is metabolized in the liver primarily by CYP1A2. Its metabolites are water-soluble and rapidly excreted from the body in urine. However, its oral bioavailability is low. Therefore, this current project aimed to produce and evaluate sustained release ropinirole microparticles coated with Eudragit^® RS 100 and RL 100 by varying polymer types and concentrations. Ropinirole microparticles were prepared by oil in oil emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Emulsifier concentration was constantly …

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy From Brain To Muscle: The Role Of Brain Dystrophin Isoforms In Motor Functions, Nalaka Wijekoon, Lakmal Gonawala, Pyara Ratnayake, Dhammika Amaratunga, Yetrib Hathout, Chandra Mohan, Harry W. M. Steinbusch, Ashwin Dalal, Eric P. Hoffman, K. Ranil D. De Silva

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Brain function and its effect on motor performance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an emerging concept. The present study explored how cumulative dystrophin isoform loss, age, and a corticosteroid treatment affect DMD motor outcomes. A total of 133 genetically confirmed DMD patients from Sri Lanka were divided into two groups based on whether their shorter dystrophin isoforms (Dp140, Dp116, and Dp71) were affected: Group 1, containing patients with Dp140, Dp116, and Dp71 affected (n = 98), and Group 2, containing unaffected patients (n = 35). A subset of 52 patients (Group 1, n = 38; Group 2, n = …

Alcohol Use And High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Members Of A Latino Migrant Worker Community In Central Florida, Jesus Sanchez, Jodi-Ann Hibbert

HPD Articles

Background: Latino and Latina migrant workers constitute a vast amount of the agricultural workforce within the United States. A few studies indicate that a significant segment of the Latino migrant worker population in the United States is at high risk for alcohol abuse and related high-risk behaviors. Information about the prevalence of alcohol use and abuse and its association with high-risk sexual behaviors is needed to design effective prevention strategies in this underserved population.

Aims: To assess the association between alcohol use and high-risk sexual behaviors in this population.

Methods: Cross-sectional data was obtained from March 2018 through December 2019 …

A Tale Of Two Situations: A Case Report Of The Merger Between Dermatology Outcomes And Prescription Drug Access, Kara Ye, Yasseen Amellal, Will Evans, Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber

Cooper Rowan Medical Journal

This case report illustrates a case of guttate psoriasis in a young adult and the logistical role dermatologists can play in patients acquiring their prescriptions and improving the quality of their care.

Targeting Breast Cancer: The Familiar, The Emerging, And The Uncharted Territories, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi, Arthur Manda, Riya Sidgal, Co Chung

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Breast cancer became the most diagnosed cancer in the world in 2020. Chemotherapy is still the leading clinical strategy in breast cancer treatment, followed by hormone therapy (mostly used in hormone receptor-positive types). However, with our ever-expanding knowledge of signaling pathways in cancer biology, new molecular targets are identified for potential novel molecularly targeted drugs in breast cancer treatment. While this has resulted in the approval of a few molecularly targeted drugs by the FDA (including drugs targeting immune checkpoints), a wide array of signaling pathways seem to be still underexplored. Also, while combinatorial treatments have become common practice in …

Effects Of Transition From Closed-Book To Open-Book Assessment On Students’ Scores In A Pharmacokinetics Course, Reza Mehvar, Richard Beuttler

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Closed-book summative assessment of student learning, common in pharmacy education, is challenging to administer in a remote setting due to the need for costly and intrusive monitoring technology. Therefore, open-book assessments without monitoring have been considered an alternative in remote settings. The present study investigated the effects of the transition from in-person closed-book to remote open-book format on the students’ scores in different assessment categories in a Pharmacokinetics course. The students’ performances in the transition cohort (Transition, n = 96) during the in-person and remote periods were compared with those of an in-person cohort (Control, n = 85) during the …

Phytochemical Profile And Cervical Anticancer Activity Of An In Vitro N-Hexane Extract Of Kunto Dewo Fruit (Kigelia Pinnata) Peel And Flesh, Swarnasari Nurandita Isbandiputri, Surya Dwira, Diyah Kristanty

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Cervical cancer is the fourth highest cancer occurring and causes death in women. Therefore, adequate management is needed to prevent its development. Currently, the treatment has a variety of adverse side effects, so it needs alternative treatments that are supportive and with minimal side effects. One way is to use herbal plants, such as the Kunto Dewo (Kigelia pinnata) plant which is often used as traditional medicine. This plant has antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Knowing the phytochemical profile and in-vitro anticancer activity of the n-hexane extract of peel and flesh of Kunto Dewo (Kigelia pinnata) fruit against …

Effects Of Digestion, Cell Culture Media, And Mucous On The Physical Properties, Cellular Effects, And Translocation Of Polystyrene And Polymethacrylate Nanoparticles, Zainab Jabor, Steev Sutton

Pharmacy Student Publications

The discovery of plastic and metal nanoparticles in organisms, foods, and beverages has generated numerous studies on the effects of these particles on the barrier cells and their subsequent absorption into the body. Following ingestion, nanoparticles travel down the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and their physicochemical characteristics change in response to the change in proteins and pH during their digestion. We measured the translocation of digested nanoparticles across a co-culture monolayer of Caco-2 and various combinations (1:9, 5:5, and 9:1) of HT29-MTX-E12. The in vitro model of the intestine was used to determine the translocation of digested 20 nm polymethacrylate (PMA) …

Nanoformulations Of Essential Oils Extracted From Pistacia Lentiscus And Boswellia Sacra And Investigation Of Their Anticancer, Antimicrobial, And Antioxidant Activities., Obaydah Abd Alkader Alabrahim

Theses and Dissertations

Essential oils (EOs) obtained from natural sources have shown promising biological and therapeutical properties such as anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, attributing to their high content of a variety of bioactive components. However, EOs’ therapeutic properties are limited by their low stability, poor bioavailability, high volatility, and low targeting ability. Therefore, the encapsulation and nanoformulation of EOs can maximize their therapeutical efficiency and physicochemical properties while overcoming their undesirable side effects and drawbacks. EOs extracted from the resins of Pistacia Lentiscus var. Chia (P.oil) and Boswellia Sacra (B.oil) are two promising EOs that have shown great therapeutic potential. P.oil was …

Assessing Pharmacists' Knowledge Of Drugs' Dialyzability In Four Health Institutions In Al-Najaf, Iraq, Zahraa Saad Oufi, Ihsan Salah Rabeea

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Drugs' dialyzability is the degree to which a drug is filtered out of the blood stream during dialysis. This process is influenced by various factors, including properties of the drug and dialysis procedure. As drug experts, pharmacists must pay close attention to drugs' dialyzability when counseling patients on medications to ensure that therapeutic drug concentrations are maintained in the patient's body.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of pharmacists working in dialysis centers or hospitals with dialysis wards regarding drugs' dialyzability.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in November 2022. A three-section questionnaire was developed and …

Advanced Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characteristics And Applications, Asmaa Abdelaziz Mohamed, Marwa Malik Kamil, Firas Aziz Rahi, Noor Zuhair Kbah

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Recent breakthroughs in pharmaceutical delivery methods employing a range of carriers have radically transformed modern diagnostic and therapeutic practices. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were created due to the demand for substances with superior thermal and chemical capabilities. These ordered porous substances have generated a lot of interest as carriers due to their distinct advantages over the competition. They may be made economically using a simple process. Moreover, the shape, pore size, and particle size may all be changed by modifying the synthesis's conditions. Investigations on MSNs as drug carriers have reportedly accelerated in recent years, highlighting the potential benefits of …

Encephalopathy Tango: When Beta-Lactam Antibiotics Waltz With Gaba Receptor, Ali Mohamed, Nagesh Jadhav, Mohamed Elbathani, Abubaker Farah

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Beta-lactam antibiotics are a class of drugs that are widely used to treat a variety of infections. They are generally well-tolerated, but they can cause a variety of side effects, including allergic reactions, acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and neurotoxicity.

We present a patient who developed neurotoxicity after being treated with cephalosporin and carbapenem antibiotics. A 76-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with osteomyelitis of the right foot. She was initially treated with cefepime and daptomycin. She was discharged and then began to experience delirium with visual hallucinations and acute kidney injury. After common causes of confusion were excluded, the …

Exploring Chemovar-Specific Cannabis Extracts Quantification And Evaluation Of Cytotoxic Compounds For Targeting Glioblastoma Multiforme, Ashraf Duzan, Mufeed Basti, Travis Cesarone, Waldemar Debinski, Daniel Todd

HPD Articles

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) represents one of the most aggressive and metastatic brain tumors, with a dismal success rate of less than three percent after five years, particularly in tumors with active immune checkpoints. This necessitates the development of targeted endogenous agents for precise GBM treatment. Previous experiments utilizing Chemovar Specific Cannabis Extractions (CSCEs), fractionated with polar solvents and quantified using Liquid and Gas Column Chromatography combined with Mass Spectrometry (LC/GCMS), have shown reduced viability and motility in human GBM cell lines. However, the complexity of the botanical substance has hindered the personalization of standard cannabis medicines for GBM due to …

Design And Synthesis Of Small Molecule Drugs For Cns Disorders, Kirsten T. Tolentino

Theses & Dissertations

Dopamine (DA) is an important neurotransmitter for the regulation and long-term function of the central nervous system (CNS). DA binds to Dopamine Receptors (DR) to stimulate or inhibit adenyl cyclase production to further elicit a pharmacological response. DRs were cloned, and it was determined that there are two families separated by their function and five total subtypes distinguished by their amino acid structure. The Dopamine 4 receptor (D4R) is the second least studied subtype but has high expression in the frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, globus pallidus, substantia nigra pars reticula, and thalamus. Dopamine signaling and transmission, especially in the …

Design, Synthesis, And Evaluation Of Novel Peptidomimetics As Neurolysin Activators For The Treatment Of Ischemic Stroke., Md. Shafikur Rahman

Theses & Dissertations

Stroke is the world's second-leading cause of death and disability. Ischemic stroke (IS), a primary subtype of stroke, has ineffective and limited treatment options, resulting in a significant unmet medical need for novel therapies. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the sole FDA-approved medication now in use; however, it has a narrow therapeutic window (3 to 4.5 h). Unfortunately, few individuals have this opportunity to be diagnosed with stroke in time to begin therapy with tPA. Additionally, treatment with tPA can have major adverse effects, such as bleeding, which can exacerbate the consequences of a stroke on the brain. To overcome …