Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Portable Bacterial Identification System Based On Elastic Light Scatter Patterns, Euiwon Bae, Dawei Ying, Donald Kramer, Valery Patsekin, Bartek Rajwa, Cheryl Holdman, Jennifer Sturgis, Vincent J. Davisson, J Paul Robinson

Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Faculty Publications

Background

Conventional diagnosis and identification of bacteria requires shipment of samples to a laboratory for genetic and biochemical analysis. This process can take days and imposes significant delay to action in situations where timely intervention can save lives and reduce associated costs. To enable faster response to an outbreak, a low-cost, small-footprint, portable microbial-identification instrument using forward scatterometry has been developed.

Results

This device, weighing 9 lb and measuring 12 × 6 × 10.5 in., utilizes elastic light scatter (ELS) patterns to accurately capture bacterial colony characteristics and delivers the classification results via wireless access. The overall system consists of …

Research News: 2012, No. 1, University Of Mississippi. School Of Pharmacy

Research News: Grants and Publications (2000-2014)

Grants, publications, technology transfer, special announcements

Influence Of Electrostatic Charge Upon The Deposition Behavior Of Pharmaceutical Aerosols Within Cascade Impactors, Megha Mohan

Theses and Dissertations

Cascade impactors, routinely used for in vitro particle size characterization of pharmaceutical aerosols, are calibrated using dilute, charge-neutralized, monodisperse aerosols. But pharmaceutical aerosols are known to generate concentrated, inherently charged, polydisperse aerosol clouds. A computational model of the Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI) suggested that the presence of charge on aerosol particles may influence their deposition within the ACI, but experimental validation of the model is warranted. This dissertation investigates the influence of electrostatic charge upon the deposition behavior of aerosols within cascade impactors, to address the impact of charge on particle size characterization. The influence of applied charge upon the …

Educating Pharmacy Students To Improve Quality (Epiq) In Colleges And Schools Of Pharmacy, Adrienne M. Gilligan, Jaclyn Myers, James D. Nash, Jill Lavigne, Leticia R. Moczygemba, Kimberly S. Plake, Ana C. Quiñones-Boex, David Holdford, Donna West-Strum, Terri L. Warholak

Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications

Objective. To assess course instructors’ and students’ perceptions of the Educating Pharmacy Students and Pharmacists to Improve Quality (EPIQ) curriculum.

Methods. Seven colleges and schools of pharmacy that were using the EPIQ program in their curricula agreed to participate in the study. Five of the 7 collected student retrospective pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Changes in students’ perceptions were evaluated to assess their relationships with demographics and course variables. Instructors who implemented the EPIQ program at each of the 7 colleges and schools were also asked to complete a questionnaire.

Results. Scores on all questionnaire items indicated improvement in students’ perceived …

The Enhanced Pneumococcal Lamp Assay: A Clinical Tool For The Diagnosis Of Meningitis Due To Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Dong Wook Kim, Paul E. Kilgore, Eun Jin Kim, Soon Ae Kim, Dang Duc Anh, Bai Qing Dong, Jung Soo Kim, Mitsuko Seki

Department of Pharmacy Practice

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of invasive bacterial disease in developed and developing countries. We studied the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique to assess its suitability for detecting S. pneumoniae nucleic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Methodology/Principal Findings: We established an improved LAMP assay targeting the lytA gene (Streptococcus pneumoniae [Sp] LAMP). The analytical specificity of the primers was validated by using 32 reference strains (10 Streptococcus and seven non-Streptococcus species) plus 25 clinical alpha-hemolytic streptococcal strains, including four S. pneumoniae strains and 21 other strains (3 S. oralis, 17 S. mitis, and …

Discovery And Biophysical Characterization Of Allosteric Inhibitors Of Factor Xia (Fxia), Malaika Argade

Theses and Dissertations

Thrombosis is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity that is associated with myocardial infarction, stroke and pulmonary embolism. Anti-thrombotic agents which intend to reduce the occurrence and severity of thrombosis usually target the enzymes of the coagulation cascade. FXIa, a 160 kDa homodimer is gaining popularity of late as a potential target for anti-thrombotic agents due to its relative safety. A number of inhibitors which target the active site of FXIa have been reported but to our knowledge there have been no inhibitors which act via an allosteric mechanism. The aim of this project was to screen …

Α2-Adrenoceptor And 5-Ht3 Serotonin Receptor Ligands As Potential Analgesic Adjuvants, Genevieve Alley

Theses and Dissertations

There continues to be a need for more effective analgesics. The α2-adrenoceptor (AR) agonist clonidine is an analgesic whose use is severely limited by undesirable side effects. meta-Chlorophenylguanidine (MD-354), an agent developed in our laboratory, selectively potentiates the antinociceptive effects of clonidine in a biphasic manner. Mechanistic studies suggest that both 5-HT3 receptor and α2-AR mechanisms are involved. To further evaluate mechanisms underlying the analgesia-potentiating effect of clonidine by MD-354, pharmacological studies using more established 5-HT3 receptor agonists: meta-chlorophenylbiguanide (mCPBG) and centrally-acting SR57227A, and non-selective α2-adrenoceptor ligand TDIQ, administered alone and in combination with clonidine, were conducted in mouse antinociceptive …

Opinion: Bias Is Unavoidable, Lisa Cosgrove

Counseling, School Psychology & Sport Faculty Publication Series

It is part of the human condition to have implicit biases—and remain blissfully ignorant of them. Academic researchers, scientists, and clinicians are no exception; they are as marvelously flawed as everyone else. But it is not the cognitive bias that’s the problem. Rather, the denial that there is a problem is where the issues arise. Indeed, our capacity for self-deception was beautifully captured in the title of a recent book addressing researchers’ self-justificatory strategies, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me).

Design, Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Cannabinoid Antagonist, Abha Verma

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study was aimed at the development of novel CB1 cannabinoid receptor antago­nists that may have clinical applications for the treatment of cannabinoid and psychostimulant addiction. The rationale for the design for our target was to incorporate a bioisosteric 1,2,3-triazole ring into the vicinal diaryl group revealed in the prototypical antagonist/inverse agonist SR141716 (Rimonabant) that was pre­sumed to interact with a unique region in the CB1 receptors. Based on our prelimi­nary results we identified a novel series of 1,2,3-triazole ester and keto deriva­tives as lead compounds for biological evaluation. Here in the design rationale, syn­thesis and CB1 receptor affinity for …

Quantification And In Vitro Analysis Of Nanolipoproteins (Nlps) Containing Adjuvants, Purna Venkataraman, Craig Blanchette, Nicholas O. Fischer

STAR Program Research Presentations

Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) self-assemble into nanoscale structures that can be used as vaccines or drug delivery agents. Due to the nature of the NLPs, a variety of immune stimulating compounds or adjuvants can be readily incorporated into NLPs: a characteristic difficult to engineer into most other nanoscale platforms. In light of this, a method for quantifying the amount adjuvant actually incorporated into NLPs is a question of high importance. Through the use of reverse phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and an Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD), standard curves can be constructed by analyzing mixtures of NLP components of known concentration, …

Creating A Model Antigen System To Test The Mechanism Of Gcc-Specific Tolerance, Patrick Ihejirika

Summer Training Program in Cancer Immunotherapy

Immunotherapeutics for colorectal cancer have been under investigation for decades. Unfortunately, a recent meta-analysis has revealed only a 1% response rate for all immunotherapeutic trials in colorectal cancer, highlighting the need for improved immunotherapeutic target antigens which are tumor-specific, immunogenic, and shared by patients. However, to produce immunological responses targeting tumor/self antigens, one has to overcome tolerance, which has constituted an obstacle to previous studies. Guanylyl cylcase C is the index cancer-mucosa antigen, an emerging class of tumor antigens in colorectal cancer. As a mucosa-restricted antigen, GCC is amenable to immunological targeting and uniquely suited for immunotherapy of colorectal cancers. …

Identifying Neurotransmitter Spill-Over In Hippocampal Field Recordings, Emily Stone, Katie Hoffman, Michael P. Kavanaugh

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

A model of synaptic and extra-synaptic excitatory signaling in the hippocampus is presented. The model is used to analytically evaluate the potential contributions of homosynaptic and heterosynaptic glutamate spill-over to receptor signaling during an electrophysiological experiment in which glutamate transporters are pharmacologically blocked. Inhibition of glutamate uptake selectively prolongs the decay kinetics of the second field excitatory postsynaptic potential evoked by paired pulse stimulation of Schaffer collateral axons in area CA1. The model includes AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors, and the removal of glutamate by transporters and diffusion. We establish analytically that the prolongation cannot be caused by local …

Inhibition Of Breast Cancer Angiogenesis And Metastasis Ay Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1Α, Chikezie O. Madu

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The current clinical chemotherapy agents are not ideal for breast cancer as they are not curative, but only provide a modest extension of survival with sometimes a severely adverse effect on the patient’s quality of life. There is, therefore, an urgent need to search for new and more effective anti-breast cancer drugs. However, the existing screening system is inefficient and time-consuming despite the extremely large amount of small molecule compounds in database currently available, and thereby hindering the effort for selecting new and effective anti-cancer drugs.

The majority of locally advanced solid tumors contain regions of reduced oxygen availability. Hypoxia …

Discovery Of Dihydroartemisinin And Dasatinib Drug Combination To Cure Pooroutcome Bcr-Abl+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Harpreet Singh

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Oncogenic signaling by the Philadelphia chromosome-encoded BCR-ABL fusion kinase initiates and drives both Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved BCR-ABL-specific kinase inhibitors (BCR-ABL–KIs) imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib induce prolonged remissions in CML but poor leukemia-reduction and relapse-control in Ph+ ALL. The relative primary BCR-ABL–KI-resistance in Ph+ ALL patients carrying predominantly BCR-ABLWT disease cannot be attributed to drug-resistant BCR-ABL mutations (BCR-ABLMUTANTS), and remains poorly understood.

We established a cell-based platform to evaluate the modulation of anti-Ph+ ALL activity of drugs by both tumor-extrinsic cytokines normally present in the leukemia …

Investigation Of Enhancement Of Furosemide Solubilization With Cyclodextrins And A Novel Octenyl Succinate Anhydride Starch, Rui Zhu

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Solubility behavior is one of the most challenging aspects for drug commercialization and often the main reason of drug that do not reach to its full potential. Now nearly 60% new chemical entities possess solubility problems, whereas practically no drug products with less than 10 µg/ml solubility in 70’s or 80’s. There is an ever increasing need to develop new formulation techniques and exicipients with novel mechanisms of action. Various techniques have been applied to enhance the drug solubility such as co-solvents, particle size reduction, lipid based drug delivery systems, nanosuspension, use of surfactants, salt formation, cyclodextrin complexes and solid …

Targeting Traf6 For Cancer Therapeutical Development, John K. Morrow

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-Receptor Associated Factors (TRAFs) are a family of signal transducer proteins. TRAF6 is a unique member of this family in that it is involved in not only the TNF superfamily, but the toll-like receptor (TLR)/IL-1R (TIR) superfamily. The formation of the complex consisting of Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κ B (RANK), with its ligand (RANKL) results in the recruitment of TRAF6, which activates NF-κB, JNK and MAP kinase pathways. TRAF6 is critical in signaling with leading to release of various growth factors in bone, and promotes osteoclastogenesis. TRAF6 has also been implicated as an oncogene in …

Assessment Of The Role Of Solute Carrier Drug Transporters In The Systemic Disposition Of Fluoroquinolones: An In Vitro - In Vivo Comparison, Aditi Mulgaonkar

Theses and Dissertations

Fluoroquinolones (FQ) are broad-spectrum charged antimicrobials exhibiting excellent tissue/fluid permeation. Thus, FQ disposition depends essentially on active transport and facilitative diffusion. Although most early transporter studies investigating renal elimination of FQs have focused on apical efflux of FQs from renal proximal tubule cell (RPTC) into urine, their basolateral uptake mechanism(s) from blood into RPTC (i.e., first step to tubular secretion) has not yet been explored in detail. Renally expressed SLC22 members: organic anion (OATs) and cation (OCTs) transporters are known to transport such small organic ionic substrates (molecular weight ~400 Da). Hence it is of interest to explore the role …

In Vitro In Vivo Methods And Pharmacokinetic Models For Subcutaneously Administered Peptide Drug Products, Amit Somani

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last several years, injectable drugs have been a growing area for the treatment of various therapeutic conditions and they are projected to comprise an even larger proportion among the drugs that will be available in the years to come. The injectable drugs are administered by various routes such as intramuscular (IM), intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC) and others, however, the majority of these drugs are administered subcutaneously. Even though subcutaneous delivery has been utilized for a number of years, very little is known about the processes governing the absorption of macromolecules from the interstitial space; and the resulting impact …

Prediction Of Human Systemic, Biologically Relevant Pharmacokinetic Properties Based On Physicochemical Properties Of Calcium Channel Blockers, Tafif Abdullah Al

Theses and Dissertations

This research explored quantitative relationships (QSPKR) between different molecular descriptors and pertinent, systemic PK properties for 14 calcium channel blockers (CCB). Physicochemical properties (PC) such as molecular weight (MW), molar volume (MV), calculated logP (clogP), pKa, calculated logD7.4 (clogD), % ionized at pH 6.3 and pH 7.4, hydrogen bond donors (HBD), hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA), and number of rotatable bonds (nRot) were chosen as possible predictor variables for systemic PK properties for CCB, obtained from pertinent literature, assessing the PK of CCB after intravenous administration to healthy humans. All PC properties and molecular descriptors were computed using ACD-solubility/DB 12.01. Total …

Preparation And Evaluation Of Deconstruction Analogs Of 7-Deoxykalafungin As Akt Inhibitors, Sudha Korwar

Theses and Dissertations

Pyranonaphthoquinone lactones have been recently found to be selective inhibitors of the serine-threonine kinase AKT/PKB. AKT/PKB plays a major role in tumorigenesis, hence these compounds have a great potential to act as anti-cancer agents. They act by a novel bioreductive alkylation mechanism of inhibition of AKT/PKB. In this work, 7-deoxykalafungin, a pyranonaphthoquinone lactone and its deconstruction analogs were synthesized. The structural features of the compounds necessary to inhibit AKT1 potently and selectively were determined. It was observed that compounds with a pyran ring were more potent in inhibiting AKT1. Conversely, flexible compounds were found to be weak inhibitors of AKT1. …

Towards Understanding The Mechanism Of Action Of Abused Cathinones, Rakesh Vekariya

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine transporter (DAT) mediates reuptake of dopamine from the synaptic cleft into the presynaptic terminus and plays a critical role in maintaining the normal function of dopaminergic neurons. DAT is the major target of widely abused psychostimulant drugs, including cocaine and amphetamine. DAT also figures into disease states, and it is a target for therapeutic drugs. It is known that cathinone and methcathinone, β-keto analogs of amphetamine and methamphetamine, respectively, produce pharmacological actions similar to amphetamine. Cathinone and methcathinone analogs are recently gaining in popularity on the clandestine market (e.g. ‘bath salts’). Cathinone and methcathinone analogs as well as …

Modeling Of Pharmacokinetics Of Cocaine In Human Reveals The Feasibility For Development Of Enzyme Therapies For Drugs Of Abuse, Fang Zheng, Chang-Guo Zhan

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

A promising strategy for drug abuse treatment is to accelerate the drug metabolism by administration of a drug-metabolizing enzyme. The question is how effectively an enzyme can actually prevent the drug from entering brain and producing physiological effects. In the present study, we have developed a pharmacokinetic model through a combined use of in vitro kinetic parameters and positron emission tomography data in human to examine the effects of a cocaine-metabolizing enzyme in plasma on the time course of cocaine in plasma and brain of human. Without an exogenous enzyme, cocaine half-lives in both brain and plasma are almost linearly …

Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cell Association And Distribution Of A 5 Nm Ceria Engineered Nanomaterial, Mo Dan, Michael T. Tseng, Peng Wu, Jason M. Unrine, Eric A. Grulke, Robert A. Yokel

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Ceria engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have current commercial applications and both neuroprotective and toxic effects. Our hypothesis is that ceria ENMs can associate with brain capillary cells and/or cross the blood-brain barrier.

METHODS: An aqueous dispersion of ∼5 nm ceria ENM was synthesized and characterized in house. Its uptake space in the Sprague Dawley rat brain was determined using the in situ brain perfusion technique at 15 and 20 mL/minute flow rates; 30, 100, and 500 μg/mL ceria perfused for 120 seconds at 20 mL/minute; and 30 μg/mL perfused for 20, 60, and 120 seconds at 20 mL/minute. The capillary …

Plant Lectin Can Target Receptors Containing Sialic Acid, Exemplified By Podoplanin, To Inhibit Transformed Cell Growth And Migration, Jhon Ochoa-Alvarez, Harini Krishnan, Yongquan Shen, Nimish Acharya, Min Han, Dean Mcnulty, Hitoki Hasegawa

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Cancer is a leading cause of death of men and women worldwide. Tumor cell motility contributes to metastatic invasion that causes the vast majority of cancer deaths. Extracellular receptors modified by α2,3-sialic acids that promote this motility can serve as ideal chemotherapeutic targets. For example, the extracellular domain of the mucin receptor podoplanin (PDPN) is highly O-glycosylated with α2,3-sialic acid linked to galactose. PDPN is activated by endogenous ligands to induce tumor cell motility and metastasis. Dietary lectins that target proteins containing α2,3-sialic acid inhibit tumor cell growth. However, anti-cancer lectins that have been examined thus far target receptors …

Small Molecules As Negative Allosteric Modulators Of Alpha7 Nachrs, Osama Alwassil

Theses and Dissertations

Alpha7 Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are involved in essential physiological functions and play a role in disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. MD-354 (3-chlorophenylguanidine; 21), the first small–molecule negative allosteric modulator (NAM) at alpha7 nAChRs, served as a lead in developing structure–activity relationships for NAMs at a7 nAChRs. MD-354 (21) also binds at 5-HT3 receptors. Analogs of MD-354 with structural features detrimental to 5-HT3 receptor affinity were evaluated in patch-clamp recordings and an aniline N-methyl analog resulted in a more potent and selective NAM than MD-354. A new N-methyl series of compounds was synthesized in which the 3-position was replaced …

Myxobacteria Versus Sponge-Derived Alkaloids: The Bengamide Family Identified As Potent Immune Modulating Agents By Scrutiny Of Lc-Ms/Elsd Libraries., Tyler A. Johnson, Johann Sohn, Yvette M. Vaske, Kimberly N. White, Tanya L. Cohen, Helene C. Vervoort, Karen Tenney, Frederick A. Valeriote, Leonard F. Bjeldanes, Phillip Crews

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Faculty Scholarship

A nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) luciferase assay has been employed to identify the bengamides, previously known for their anti-tumor activity, as a new class of immune modulators. A unique element of this study was that the bengamide analogs were isolated from two disparate sources, Myxococcus virescens (bacterium) and Jaspis coriacea (sponge). Comparative LC-MS/ELSD and NMR analysis facilitated the isolation of M. viriscens derived samples of bengamide E (8) and two congeners, bengamide E' (13) and F' (14) each isolated as an insperable mixture of diastereomers. Additional compounds drawn from the UC, Santa Cruz repository allowed expansion of the structure activity relationship …

Rxp Project: Prescription Privileges For Psychologists: Perceptions, Knowledge And Attitude Change Of Oregon Psychologists, Jenna D. Johnson, Amber Hay, Allyna Murray, Jessica C. Lucas, Tanya Tompkins

2012 Projects

The Keck Summer Collaborative Research Program provides opportunities for Linfield College students and faculty to conduct research on issues related to the Pacific Northwest, and to bring the research findings back into the classroom within the subsequent academic year. Students partner with faculty to conduct research and present their work to other students, Linfield staff and faculty, and community members during a series of brown bag lunches. Jenna Johnson, Amber Hay, Allyna Murray, and Jessica Lucas conducted research with Tanya Tompkins and gave this presentation during the summer of 2012.

Over the past two decades, an important, and at times …

The College Of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University

Jackrabbits Script and Scope (Formerly called College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions Magazine)

[Page] 2 Wall Drug Few stop at Wall Drug to see Cindy Dinger, but the pharmacist is appreciated.
[Page] 4 Family of the Year Beastroms, Markls honored for contributions to SDSU.
[Page] 6 Female pharmacists It’s a family tradition in the Garry family, dating back to 1945.
[Page] 8 Making an impact P2 Student Sara Wettergreen named to national education committee.
[Page] 10 Omathanu Perumal Honored for research work in developing novel carriers for drug delivery.
[Page] 11 Chandradhar Dwivedi Father figure receives State’s first departmental leadership honor.
[Page] 12 Jane Mort Work with acetaminophen combinations earns recognition from FDA, …

The Crossroads Of Interprofessionalism: Four Avenues Of Collaboration At The Wegmans School Of Pharmacy, David Hutchinson, Jane M. Souza, Jennifer Mathews, Anthony Corigliano, Katherine Juba, Jill Lavigne, Andrea Traina, Karen A. Bobak, Constance Baldwin, O.J. Sahler

Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications

Objective: The utilization of interprofessional education and collaborative practice delivers optimal health services and improves patient outcomes. Training future healthcare providers in an integrated environment promotes a “collaborative practice-ready” workforce. The aim of this study was to identify ongoing specific interprofessional collaborative projects and promote their awareness among faculty at the St. John Fisher College Wegmans School of Pharmacy.

Methods: Faculty members were surveyed to identify the ongoing interprofessional collaborative initiatives among pharmacy faculty.

Results: A total of four collaborative practices were identified among faculty: ambulatory care, assisted-living, didactic, and assessment. The ambulatory care setting at an osteoporosis clinic provides …

Individualized Reflective Learning Through Portfolio Use In Pharmacy School Education, Melinda E. Lull, Jennifer Mathews, C. R. Utter, R. J. Bova

Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications

Objectives: The ability to teach one’s self is a skill that will greatly enhance students in their future professional lives. To this end, learning portfolios have often been used longitudinally as a development tool. The objective of this study was to design and implement the use of an electronic portfolio to individualize student learning experiences in a one-semester pharmacy elective course.

Methods: In a forensic toxicology pharmacy elective course, students were asked to find specific articles related to lecture material but geared toward their individual interests, attach it to an online portfolio, and answer four short reflective questions. Students then …