Students’ Performance And Perceptions Of Mock Trials As A Teaching And Assessment Activity Over Three Years At Two Institutions, Ettie Rosenberg, Shih-Ying H. Hsu, Hoai-An Truong, Reza Taheri

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: This study aimed to evaluate students’ performance and perception of a mock-trial teaching, learning, and assessment activity over three years at two institutions.

Methods: A mock trial (courtroom-style debate) implemented over three years (2017-2019) in a first professional year (P1) course at two institutions offered active learning in literature critique and evaluation, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, professionalism, and self-awareness. Student teams researched, prepared, and debated controversial topics as counsels, witnesses, or jurors for alternate mock trials. Descriptive analyses evaluated judge and juror trial scores and the 2019 Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) survey.

Results: The mock trials involved 319 student …

Anti-Inflammatory Potential Of Black Cumin Seed Oil And Its Nanoemulsion Formulation Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury In Mice, Shady Swidan, Hesham Hafez, Rehab Hosni, Hatem Amin

Pharmacy

Original Article

Anti-inflammatory potential of black cumin seed oil and its nanoemulsion formulation against lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in mice

Haffez, Hesham^1,2,✉; Hosni, Rehab³; Swidan, Shady A.⁴; Amin, Hatem K.^1,5

Author Information

¹Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, 11795, Cairo, Egypt

²Center of Scientific Excellence “Helwan Structural Biology Research”, Helwan University, Helwan, 11795, Cairo, Egypt

³El Sisi Comprehensive Clinic, General Authority for Health Insurance-Giza, Haram, 12556, Giza, Egypt

⁴Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, The British University in Egypt, El-Sherouk, 11837, Cairo, …

Breast Cancer: Her2-Mutant P53 Cooperation And The Cell-Of-Origin Dependent Dynamics, Abie Williams-Villalobo

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Subtype. Specifically, NCP172 and NCP245 tumors grew faster and were predominantly triple- negative than NCP245. RNA sequencing identified many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tumor and mammary gland controls. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of the DEGs revealed that pathways like Deubiquitination, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, RHO GTPase cycle, and HIF1α Signaling were associated with aggressive tumor characteristics, with heightened pathway activity in NCP172 likely contributing to greater growth and invasiveness.

This study further examined how different cells-of-origin contribute to breast cancer heterogeneity by inducing mutant p53 in either mammary myoepithelial or luminal cells. Tumors originating from myoepithelial cells (Tk5) exhibited …

Flipping The Script: Active Learning In Drug Information, Albert Bach, Ivan Portillo

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

This presentation will highlight successful strategies that incorporate drug information skills into pharmacy laboratory courses across the curriculum. Attendees will gain insights on collaboration between clinical faculty and library services, active learning techniques, and drug information assignments to utilize within a laboratory based course.

Objectives:

Plan an active learning session that introduces first-year students to drug information sources.

Describe how clinical faculty and library services can collaborate to introduce drug information to students.

Explain the implementation of a DI Question during an Order Verification module in the hospital laboratory setting.

Provide students a tool for self-reflection prior to conducting …

Evaluation Of Cardiometabolic Monitoring In Patients Taking Antipsychotic Agents Within A Community Health System., Kendra Yarian Pharmd, Jenna Gilbert Pharmd, Bcpp, Libby Stabler Pharmd, Bcacp, Quyen Nguyen Pharmd, Bcacp, Leia Gaddis Pharmd, Bcps, Dpla

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. New Orleans, LA

This evaluation found that the majority of patients on antipsychotic agents do not have all baseline monitoring completed, and that there are significant gaps especially in lipid panel and hemoglobin A1c. Other parameters (e.g., blood pressure, weight) were more likely to be gathered, likely as part of routine visit procedure.

Medication Use Evaluation Of Fecal Microbiota Spores (Live-Brpk) For The Prevention Of Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile Infection., Haley Michaud Pharmd, Trent Towne Pharmd, Bcps, Sarah Ferrell Pharmd, Bcpps, Bhavika Patel Pharmd, Noah Budi Pharmd

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. New Orleans, LA

This medication use evaluation found that infectious diseases providers were more likely to prescribe advanced treatments such as fidaxomicin or fecal microbiota compared to other specialties. Of the 93.1% of patients seen by Infectious Disease, 62.9% (n=17) of those patients were prescribed fecal microbiota spores (live-brpk) (VOWST). Of the 29 eligible patients, 41.4% (n=12) were identified as missed opportunities.

Optimization Of Beta-Lactam Dosing In Critically Ill Patients With Continuous Veno-Venous Hemofiltration Or Augmented Renal Clearance., Kristin Lytal Pharmd, Mspgx, Robert D. Beckett Pharmd, Bcps, Luke Keller Pharmd, Bcps, Bcccp, Michael Todt Pharmd, Bcccp

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. New Orleans, LA

This evaluation found that traditional dosing of beta-lactams found in practice is often (20 to 90%) suboptimal when compared to ideal evidence-based dosing, that optimizes efficacy while limiting adverse effects from drug toxicity.

Dofetilide Initiation In A Tertiary Medical Center: A Medication Use Evaluation., Zhixi Lui Pharmd, Kris Howard Pharm, Aacc, Megan Straub Pharmd, Bcps, Elizabeth Meisberger Pharmd, Bcps, Bccp, Sarah Ferrell Pharmd, Bcpps

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. New Orleans, LA

This evaluation found that adherence to a pharmacist-managed protocol significantly increased dofetilide continuation rates at discharge and six months. Future implementation includes refining the current dofetilide order set, expanding the pharmacist’s role in dose selection, and standardizing documentation and intervention notes to improve protocol adherence.

Drop-It Like It’S Hot: A Droperidol Medication Use And Efficacy Evaluation In A Community Health System., Caleb Hoppe Pharmd, Sarah Meeks Pharmd, Allison Clemens Pharmd, Robert D. Beckett Pharm D

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. New Orleans, LA

This study found that higher doses of droperidol for abdominal pain could provide more analgesic benefit without compromising patient safety. While droperidol appears effective at relieving nausea, other more cost-effective anti-emetics may be trialed first (without diphenhydramine). Droperidol appeared to provide light sedation, although most doses were low and used on patients without severe agitation (e.g. RASS ≥ 3).

Optimizing Serum Magnesium Monitoring And Replacement In A Community Hospital., Gabrielle O. Carreon Pharmd, Ms, Jesse Christman Pharmd, Bcop, Joshua Winebaugh Pharmd, Bcps, Robert D. Beckett Pharmd, Bcps

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. New Orleans, LA

Findings highlight the need to revise our healthcare system’s standard hematology/oncology treatment plans to better align with appropriate magnesium monitoring, with up to 93% of magnesium lab draws potentially being unnecessary, and replacement, including better utilization of oral magnesium formulations instead of IV which can lower costs.

Discharge Antibiotic Use In Patients Hospitalized With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Copd) Exacerbations., Jennifer Mccarthy Pharmd, Ms, Sarah Pfaehler Pharmd, Mba, Bcps, Pacs, Ross Witte Pharmd, Bcps

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. New Orleans, LA

This medication use evaluation identified opportunities for improved prescribing in this population. The majority of patients receiving antibiotics had increased dyspnea only. Because of this, 90% of patients did not receive antibiotics appropriately; 94% received an excessive duration. The majority of patients had no prior to admission COPD maintenance therapy, potentially related to lack of baseline FEV1 data required for initiating therapy classification.

Physicochemical Property Effects On Immune Modulating Polymeric Nanoparticles: Potential Applications In Spinal Cord Injury, Daniel J. Kolpek, Jaechang Kim, Hisham Mohammed, John C. Gensel, Jonghyuck Park

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nanoparticles (NPs) offer promising potential as therapeutic agents for inflammation-related diseases, owing to their capabilities in drug delivery and immune modulation. In preclinical studies focusing on spinal cord injury (SCI), polymeric NPs have demonstrated the ability to reprogram innate immune cells. This reprogramming results in redirecting immune cells away from the injury site, downregulating pro-inflammatory signaling, and promoting a regenerative environment post-injury. However, to fully understand the mechanisms driving these effects and maximize therapeutic efficacy, it is crucial to assess NP interactions with innate immune cells. This review examines how the physicochemical properties of polymeric NPs influence their modulation of …

Impact Of An Interdisciplinary Team On Patients Seen At A Heart Failure Clinic, Nilda Pelegrino, Faaria Quadri, Elaina Rosario, Jacqualine Igwe, Sandra Chaparro, Lourdes Labrada, Sara Panella, Maria Pulido, Stephen Breazeale, Zhenwei Zhang

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Background: Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome that requires the involvement of interdisciplinary teams to address patient needs and optimize therapy. Interdisciplinary teams, including physicians, advanced practice practitioners, and pharmacists, play a crucial role in implementing guideline-directed medical therapy and addressing barriers to self-care that ultimately improve patients’ overall survival. This study assessed the impact of an interdisciplinary team on patients’ heart failure outcomes compared to patients solely managed by clinical cardiologists. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective chart review study of Baptist Health patients seen at the heart failure clinic. The study compared patients seen by an interdisciplinary …

Policies And Price Controls On The Research And Development Of Orphan Drugs In The United States And The European Union, Bena Pearl Filipczak Smith

Master's Theses

There is substantive literature surrounding the impact of price controls on the research and development (R&D) of new pharmaceutical products. The European Union (EU) and United States (US) are often studied in contrast to examine the influence of price controls as the US has fewer pharmaceutical price controls than the EU.

We find moderate evidence that the US spent more on annual domestic pharmaceutical R&D than the EU between 2004 and 2021, on average, before and after adjusting for GDP growth per capita and year. We find strong evidence that the US increased annual domestic R&D spending at a faster …

Synthesis Of Photocleavable Molecules For Neurological Applications, Nishal Madujith Egodawaththa Arachchilage Don

Theses and Dissertations

In recent biomedical research, the precise control of molecular dynamics through light activation has emerged as a powerful tool, particularly in the field of neurobiology. This approach involves the use of photocleavable cages or photoprotective groups (PPGs) that are chemically tethered to biologically active molecules such as neurotransmitters or calcium chelators. These cages remain inert until exposed to specific wavelengths of light, typically in the visible range, triggering the release of the active compound with high spatiotemporal precision.

For neurotransmitter systems, such as glutamate (Glu), which plays a critical role in synaptic transmission and memory formation, researchers have developed novel …

How Low Can We Go: Evaluation Of A Pharmacist-Led Weight Loss Management Program, Kelly Rubi, Elaina Rosario, Sara Panella, Jacqualine Igwe, Maria Pulido, Faaria Quadri

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Background: Obesity is a major health challenge that is associated with several health risks, including diabetes and hypertension. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacists on the therapy optimization of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in a weight management program. Methods: This project evaluated a quality improvement initiative through a retrospective chart review that included patients who were treated with semaglutide or liraglutide between October 2022 and July 2023, with body mass indices (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or greater with at least one weight-related comorbidity or a BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. …

Avaren-Fc, A Novel Immunotherapeutic, Recruits Nk Cells In B16f10 Melanoma Tumor Tissue, Sreevatsa Vemuri, Katarina L Mayer, Nobuyuki Matoba

The Cardinal Edge

Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the US, with limited effective immunotherapeutic options available for patients. Avaren-Fc (AvFc) is a novel experimental immunotherapeutic agent with a unique “lectibody” property. It is capable of targeting cancer cells through the selective recognition of high mannose glycans, which are aberrantly overrepresented on the surface of malignant cells. Upon binding to cancer cells, AvFc can interact with circulating effector immune cells equipped with Fc receptors, such as natural killer (NK) cells to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and kill the cancer cells. Previous work has shown that AvFc effectively induces ADCC activity …

Anti-Aging Properties Of Cosmetics, Anna Lipinski

The Cardinal Edge

It is well established that external factors, specifically UV exposure, are among the highest contributors to the biological aging of the skin. Prolonged exposure may disrupt skin cell homeostasis through shifts in proteostasis, accumulation of reactive oxidative species, premature cellular senescence, and inflammatory pathways. Cosmetic companies have responded to this by producing products marketed as "youthful" and "anti-aging" by including specific compounds into formulas to combat skin aging. This review discusses the specific mechanisms of anti-aging formulas, including polyphenols as senotherapeutic agents and L-ascorbic acid as an anti-inflammatory compound, in resisting the biological aging of the skin.

Understanding A College Of Health And Human Service’S Needs Around Interprofessional Education, Research, And Practice: A Needs Assessment, Jenni L. Hoffman, Jillian Graves, Andrea Gossett Zakrajsek

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Introduction: A needs assessment can demonstrate when improvement is needed for an organization to function more optimally.

Methods: A college’s emerging interprofessional education center provided the impetus for the needs assessment in an effort to identify and respond effectively to faculty interprofessional education needs.

Results: Twenty-four health professions faculty from the college completed the needs assessment survey, which indicated their experiences with interprofessional education as well as their needs to enhance interprofessional education support at the university.

Discussion: The results of this needs assessment will drive the center’s strategic activities and indicate areas of future research in understanding faculty needs. …

Unravelling The Erythropoietin Heterodimeric Complex: In Silico Analysis Of Complex Assembly And Binding Interface, Atiya Habib, Urooj Qureshi, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Aftab Ahmed, Zaheer Ul-Haq

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Erythropoietin (Epo), a glycosylated protein categorized as a member of the cytokine family, is responsible for the modulation of erythrogenesis. Besides this, the nonhaematopoietic effects of Epo are associated with tissue-protective activity via an antiapoptotic pathway. This function of Epo is linked with its heterodimeric form, i.e. EpoR/βcR belonging to the cytokine family as well. Both receptors are dissected into three domains: extracellular (also known as ligand-binding domain), transmembrane and cytoplasmic domain. The transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains are assumed to play a paramount role in dimerization and tissue protection. However, the tertiary structure of cytoplasmic domains of both …

Payment Disrupters And Opportunities: Key Trends That Impacted Pharmacy In 2024, Craig Kimble, Thomas Pile, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

In 2023, the United States experienced the most significant increase in prescription drug spending (13.6%), totaling $89 billion.1 This was driven by higher utilization and the introduction of new, expensive specialty and biotech drugs. In 2024, other factors continue to drive costs and disrupt the pharmacy landscape, including the implementation of new business models, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, the rebate system, regulatory changes, advancements in provider status, and potential Federal Trade Commission (FTC) interventions.

Mediator Kinase Inhibitors Suppress Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Growth And Extend Tumor Suppression By Mtor And Akt Inhibitors, Xiaokai Ding, Jiaxin Liang, Amanda C. Sharko, Thomas A. Hilimire, Jing Li, Jürgen Loskutov, Zachary T. Mack, Hao Ji, Gary P. Schools, Chao Cai, Elena N. Pugacheva, Mengqian Chen, Igor Roninson, Eugenia Broude

Faculty Publications

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are treated primarily by chemotherapy and lack clinically validated therapeutic targets. In particular, inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, abnormally activated in many breast cancers, failed to achieve clinical efficacy in TNBC due to the development of adaptive drug resistance, which is largely driven by the transcriptomic plasticity of TNBC. Expression of CDK8/19 Mediator kinases that control transcriptional reprogramming correlates with relapse-free survival and treatment failure in breast cancer patients, including TNBC. We now investigated how CDK8/19 inhibitors affect the growth of TNBC tumors and their response to mTOR and AKT inhibitors. In contrast to the effects …

A Systematic Review Of Economic Evaluations Of Clinical Pharmacy Services In The United States: 2018-2022, Abdullah Alsharif, Bertha De Los Santos, Micheal Kim, Daniel Touchette, Alexandra Perez

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Title: A systematic review of economic evaluations of clinical pharmacy services in the United States: 2018-2022 Authors: Bertha De Los Santos PharmD MS, Michael Kim PharmD, Abdullah Alsharif PharmD, Daniel Touchette PharmD MA, Alexandra Perez PharmD MS Background: Our objective was to identify, evaluate and synthesize evidence on the economic impact of clinical pharmacy services (CPS) compared to usual or alternative care in the United States. Methods: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, IPA, Embase, and CINAHL in September 2023 for US-based pharmacist-led clinical interventions published between January 2018 and December 2022. We excluded articles with a team-based intervention where the …

Evaluating Tirzepatide's Therapeutic Potential In Mitigating Obesity-Associated Comorbidities, Zaneh Kahook, Talaya Jones, Carina Bryan, Mayur Parmar

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Objective: The study aims to explore the therapeutic potential of dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist tirzepatide in managing obesity and its associated manifestations, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and obesity-associated cancer (OAC) risks. Background: OSA and HS are the associated comorbidities noted in persons with obesity. Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of cancers, such as breast cancer. Reducing obesity could improve these conditions. Tirzepatide has demonstrated efficacy in reducing body weight, but its benefits in obesity-related conditions and cancer risk need further investigation. Methods: Data was synthesized from peer-reviewed literature on tirzepatide. Additional sources were identified …

Recent Developments In Tirzepatide's Role In Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Talaya Jones, Zaneh Kahook, Carina Bryan, Mayur Parmar

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Objective: This literature review aims to investigate recent developments in tirzepatide’s ability to lessen CVD risk factors for adults with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Background: Tirzepatide is an FDA - approved medication primarily used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by reducing A1C and chronic weight management, however its efficacy for reducing CVD risk factors is under examination. Methods: This review synthesizes data from recent early findings published by the pharmaceutical company, which has not yet undergone peer review, alongside existing literature on tirzepatide. Additional sources were identified through a systematic search of PubMed, …

Effects Of Sex And Estrous Cycle On Extended-Access Oxycodone Self-Administration And Cue-Induced Drug Seeking Behavior, Bhumiben P Patel, Jessica A Loweth

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence indicates that sex is a factor that impacts the abuse liability and relapse vulnerability of prescription opioids like oxycodone. However, while women are more likely than men to be prescribed and to use these drugs, the impact of sex and ovarian hormones on prescription opioid use and relapse vulnerability remains unclear. Accurately assessing these measures is complicated by the fact that chronic opioid exposure can lower ovarian hormone levels and cause cycle irregularities.

METHODS: Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats self-administered oxycodone (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) under extended-access conditions (6 h/day, 10 days) followed by forced abstinence. Separate groups …

Demonstrating Awareness On The Impact Of Vapes In Society, Jean Carlos Cortez-Rivera, Kianie Cruz Rosado, Andrea De Jesús Navia, Kenneth Hartú Rodríguez, Dayrimar Marchena Santiago

College of Pharmacy Student Research

Vaping, initially marketed as a smoking cessation tool, has become a public health concern due to its widespread use, particularly among youth. Despite claims of harm reduction compared to traditional cigarettes, vaping products pose significant health risks. These include respiratory issues, cardiovascular complications, and neurological impacts, largely driven by nicotine addiction and exposure to toxic substances. Vaping's appeal, fueled by extensive advertising and enticing e-liquid flavors, has led to an epidemic among adolescents, with notable social and economic consequences. Additionally, the improper disposal of vaping devices poses environmental hazards, contributing to pollution and carbon emissions. While advocates argue that vaping …

Leveraging Quantitative Systems Pharmacology For Dose Optimization In Oncology Drug Development, Blerta Shtylla

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Cyclic Peptide-Dasatinib Conjugates As Anti-Melanoma Agents, Shaban Darwish, Dorna Davani-Davari, Shirley Tong, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari, Sun Yang, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Herein, we synthesized two amphiphilic cyclic peptides, incorporating tryptophan and arginine residues, linked to dasatinib via a Cathepsin B-sensitive tetrapeptide (Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly). To mitigate steric hindrance and optimize drug release, we integrated two different linkers, succinate and glutarate, between the drug and peptide. The synthesis involved solid-phase techniques for the assembly of the peptide, followed by the coupling of the peptide on-resin with the linker, mild cleavage, and solution-phase cyclization. Conjugation of the peptide-attached linker with dasatinib was conducted in the presence of N-methylmorpholine and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), generating the novel prodrugs. The synthesized compounds were characterized by high-resolution mass …

Predicting And Monitoring Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Using Artificial Intelligence In Pancreatic Cancer, Guangbo Yu, Zigeng Zhang, Aydin Eresen, Qiaoming Hou, Farideh Amirrad, Sha Webster, Surya M. Nauli, Vahid Yaghmai, Zhuoli Zhang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers, primarily due to its late diagnosis and limited treatment options. This review examines the challenges and potential of using immunotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer, highlighting the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a promising tool to enhance early detection and monitor the effectiveness of these therapies. By synthesizing recent advancements and identifying gaps in the current research, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how AI and immunotherapy can be integrated to develop more personalized and effective treatment strategies. The insights from this review may guide future research efforts …