Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Cocaine Hydrolase Engineered From Human Butyrylcholinesterase As A Medical Countermeasure For Aldicarb Poisoning, Johnathan E. Lesaint, Nellore Bhanu Chandar, Annet Kyomuhangi, Huimei Wei, Fang Zheng, Chang-Guo Zhan

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Aldicarb is known to be the most toxic carbamate pesticide and could be used easily by terrorists to cause a mass casualty incident. It is highly desired to discover a medical countermeasure for aldicarb poisoning. Based on structural insights from molecular modeling and in vitro experimental validation, CocH3-Fc(M3), a potent cocaine hydrolase engineered from human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), has a ~4-fold improved binding affinity with aldicarb compared to wild-type human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and BChE and a 9-28-fold improved bimolecular rate constant for the carbamylation with aldicarb compared to AChE. CocH3-Fc(M3) also has significant catalytic activity for aldicarb hydrolysis and, hence, is …

Development Of A Ghrelin Deacylase To Attenuate Drug Reward And Associated Effects Of Methamphetamine, Madeline J. Stewart, Huimei Wei, Nellore Bhanu Chandar, Fang Zheng, Chang-Guo Zhan

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

All addictive substances directly or indirectly interact with the dopamine reward system to alter the brain’s dopamine receptor activities. It is essential for a truly effective addiction medication to attenuate substance reward and normalize the brain’s physiological functions. Conventional pharmacological intervention approaches to the treatment of substance addiction usually aim to develop and deliver a potential therapeutic agent to the brain to directly block or decrease actions of the substance or its therapeutic target in the brain. However, it is a grand challenge to attenuate the substance reward without affecting the normal physiological functions of brain receptors or transporters. Here, …

Effects Of Biased Analogues Of The Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist, U50,488, In Preclinical Models Of Pain And Side Effects, Ross Van De Wetering, Loan Y. Vu, Lindsay D. Kornberger, Dan Luo, Brittany Scouller, Sheein Hong, Kelly F. Paton, Thomas E. Prisinzano, Bronwyn M. Kivell

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists have well-established antinociceptive effects. However, many KOR agonists have negative side effects, which limit their therapeutic potential. Some researchers have suggested that the development of biased agonists that preferentially stimulate KOR G-protein pathways over β-arrestin pathways may yield drugs with fewer adverse side effects. This was investigated in the current study. We describe the synthesis and characterization of three U50,488 analogues, 1, 2, and 3. We evaluated the acute and chronic antinociceptive effects of these compounds in mice using the warm-water tail flick assay and in a paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain model. Side …

Effects Of Fentanyl-Adulterated Methamphetamine On Circulating Ghrelin In Rats, Huimei Wei, Elise C. Maul, Shawn Park, Kaniz Fatema, Daniel J. Peter, Chang-Guo Zhan, Fang Zheng

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The appetite hormone ghrelin influences biological processes that are responsible for substance use disorder, which is related to alcohol and most abused drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, etc. In general, upregulation of the ghrelin system enhances drug cravings and substance use. Studies reported in the literature consistently demonstrated that the ghrelin system is associated with stimulants. However, research on opioids in combination with methamphetamine has not been reported. In this study, we examined the relationship of circulating ghrelin with the polydrug use of fentanyl and methamphetamine in male Sprague-Dawley rats, demonstrating for the first time that concurrent use of fentanyl …

Effects Of Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine On Circulating Ghrelin, Insulin, And Glucose Levels In Rats, Huimei Wei, Elise C. Maul, Annet Kyomuhangi, Shawn Park, Maddilynn L. Mutchler, Chang-Guo Zhan, Fang Zheng

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Opioid mixed with cocaine has been increasingly implicated in overdose deaths, including both intentional co-use of opioid and cocaine and fentanyl-adulterated drug supply. As ghrelin plays an important role in drug reward and can also influence insulin, this study aimed to assess responses of the circulating ghrelin, insulin, and glucose levels to the combined use of fentanyl and cocaine (a polydrug) in rats by performing combined animal behavioral experiments and biochemical analysis. The experimental data consistently revealed that the fentanyl and cocaine co-use can significantly elevate both the acyl-ghrelin and desacyl-ghrelin levels and significantly decrease the insulin level without significant …

Fluorescence-Guided Resection Of Gl261 Red-Fluc And Trp-Mcherry-Fluc Mouse Glioblastoma Tumors, Louis T. Rodgers, Bryan J. Maloney, Anika M. S. Hartz, Björn Bauer

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Most preclinical studies on glioblastoma (GBM) fail to provide translational utility in the clinic. Fluorescence-guided surgery using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) improves tumor resection, disease prognosis, and, thus, patient outcomes. Given the critical role of surgery in managing recurrent GBM, it is essential to incorporate surgical elements into preclinical models to accurately reflect clinical scenarios and enhance translational success. However, existing protocols for 5-ALA-guided resection in preclinical models are limited and often lack clinical relevance.

Methods: To address this gap, we developed a novel protocol for the 5-ALA-guided resection in two mouse GBM models: TRP-mCherry-FLuc and GL261 Red-FLuc.

Results: The …

Development Of Zafirlukast Analogues For Improved Antithrombotic Activity Through Thiol Isomerase Inhibition, Justine A. Keovilay, Kaitlind C. Howard, Kirk A. Taylor, Sabeeya Khan, Sienna E. Wurl, Melanie K. Szahaj, Tanya Sage, Nishad Thamban Chandrika, Caixia Hou, Oleg V. Tsodikov, Jonathan M. Gibbins, Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova, Daniel R. Kennedy

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background:   Thiol isomerases play essential and nonredundant roles in platelet activation, aggregation, and thrombus formation. Thiol isomerase inhibitors have the potential to overcome the 2 major drawbacks of current antithrombotic therapies, as they target both arterial and venous thrombosis without enhancing bleeding risks. Recently, a Food and Drug Administration–approved drug, zafirlukast (ZAF), was shown to be a promising pan-thiol isomerase inhibitor. The objective of this study is to develop analogues of ZAF with optimized thiol isomerase inhibition and antithrombotic activity.   Methods:   Thirty-five ZAF analogues were tested in an insulin turbidometric assay for thiol isomerase inhibition. Analogues were tested for platelet …

Functional And Structural Studies On The Esperamicin Thioesterase And Progress Toward Understanding Enediyne Core Biosynthesis, Erome D. Hankore, Mitchell D. Miller, Abigael J. Kosgei, Weijun Xu, Kemin Tan, Michael Endres, Minakshi Bhardwaj, Grazyna Joachimiak, Andrzej Joachimiak, George N. Phillips Jr., Jon S. Thorson, Steven G. Van Lanen

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Enediynes are among the most potent antitumor and antibacterial natural products. Studies on their biosynthetic pathways have identified a shared, linear polyene precursor generated from an iterative type I polyketide synthase (PKSE) as the source of the enediyne warhead. A key step is the release of this polyene from the PKSE by a discrete thioesterase (TE). Here, we used X-ray crystallography, site-directed mutagenesis, and heterologous coexpression of PKSEs and TEs to elucidate how enediyne TEs mediate the production of the polyene. We solved the structure of wild-type EspE7 from esperamicin producer Actinomodura verrucosospora. The substrate binding pocket was also …

Academic Proficiency In Ugandan Children With Sickle Cell Anemia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Robert Opoka, Shubaya Kasule Naggayi, Paul Bangirana, Simple Ouma, Betty Nyangoma, Annet Birabwa, Grace Nambatya, Maxencia Kabatabaazi, Ann Jacqueline Nakitende, Dennis Kalibbala

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Introduction: Academic proficiency is crucial for advancing learning goals, school advancement, and future economic security. Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may be at risk of disease-associated learning difficulties. Limited data exist on this topic among school-age children in the region. We aimed to assess academic proficiency in a sample of children with SCA in Uganda compared with unaffected controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kampala, Uganda. Participants were school-going children with SCA, aged 6–12 years, attending Mulago Hospital SCA Clinic, and age-matched sibling controls without SCA. Academic proficiency was assessed by the Wide …

Hypertensive Hijinks: Implementation Of An Emergency Department Hypertensive Emergency Order Panel, Caleb Hoppe Pharmd Candidate

Pharmacy Residency

This evaluation found that the order panel was effective in promoting rapid blood pressure attainment and appropriate antihypertensive dosing.

This was presented at the OHIO PRC.

Daratumumab Monotherapy: Reconsidering Relapsed And Refractory Multiple Myeloma Maintenance Therapy, Gabrielle O. Carreon Pharmd, Ms

Pharmacy Residency

Results from this study support the continued use of daratumumab monotherapy in carefully selected patients who may not be candidates for more intensive combination therapies due to age, comorbidities, or prior toxicities. However, further research is needed to confirm these early observations.

Presented at Great Lakes PRC

Silent Pressure: Outcomes Of As-Needed Antihypertensives In Hospitalized Adults*, Corey Uetrecht Pharmd Candidate

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at ACCP

This study found that PRN antihypertensives are frequently used for AEBP in hospitalized patients, despite limited benefit and potential risk of hypotension-related adverse events.

Development And Implementation Of An Analgesia, Sedation, And Paralysis Order Panel For Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients At A Large Community Health System, Kristin Lytal Pharmd, Mspgx

Pharmacy Residency

This project describes best practices and steps taken in development of a protocol for analgesia, sedation, and paralysis in pediatric patients.

This was presented at OHIO PRC.

Association Between Lifetime Interpersonal Violence And Post– Covid-19 Condition Among Women In Kentucky, 2020-2022, Ayşe Güler, Heather M. Bush, Katie Schill, Nurlan Kussainov, Ann L. Coker

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of interpersonal violence. We investigated the association between lifetime interpersonal violence experience and risk of post–COVID-19 condition (the persistence of symptoms of COVID-19 and severity of health problems associated with COVID-19 that last a few weeks, months, or years) among women with lifetime interpersonal violence experience.   Methods: Women participants aged ≥18 years in Kentucky’s Wellness, Health & You—COVID-19 study completed online quantitative surveys about the impacts of the pandemic, developing COVID-19, and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition. We conducted cross-sectional analyses estimating rate ratios of developing COVID-19 and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition during the …

Nightmare, Phoebe E. Bowen

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Nh State Parks Outdoor Recreation And Wellbeing, Muriel C. Bennett

Honors Theses and Capstones

This evaluation strives to analyze NH residents’ usage of outdoor spaces (adults 18+) and NH State Park lands. The general purpose of this evaluation is to gain evidence and develop an understanding of participant use of outdoor spaces and whether participant’s mental well-being is a driving factor in outdoor recreation. As children and adults are spending increasingly more time indoors and on phones and computers, it is necessary for further research and advocacy efforts to be developed on the importance of time outdoors. It has be found that “urban lifestyles impose increasing demands on our cognitive resources” (Ohily, 2010) which …

Development Of Audiovisual Media For Child Marriage Prevention To Improve Knowledge, Perception, And Motivation Among Junior High School Students In Malang Regency, Chabibah Ilmiyah, Windi Chusniah Rachmawati, Sapto -. Adi, Nurnaningsih Herya Ulfah

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Child marriage is an issue that significantly impacts adolescent well-being and is often attributed to low levels of knowlede, poor perception, and low motivation among adolescents regarding its prevention. This study aimed to develop an audiovisual medium in the form of an animated video as a health promotion tool to prevent child marriage among junior high school students in Malang Recenty. The Research and Development (R&D) method, specfically the the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation), was employed in this study. The results of expert validation indicated that the video medium was categorized as “highly Feasible:, with percentages …

Hearing Rehabilitation In Serac1 Related Megd(H)El Syndrome – Implications From A Multi-Center Retrospective Cohort Study, Sebastian Roesch, Anna O'Sullivan, Stefan Tschani, Anna Baghdasaryan, Shanti Balasubramaniam, Ivo Barić, Lonneke De Boer, Sarah C Grünert, Anna Guzek, Mirian Janssen, Zita Krumina, Mary Kay Koenig, Ashleigh M Lewkowitz, Fanny Mochel, Arianne Monge Naldi, Barbara Plecko, Kerem Öztürk, Lauren O'Grady, Gillian Riordan, Daisy Rymen, Inderneel Sahai, René Santer, Manuel Schiff, Georg M Stettner, Konstantinos Tsiakas, Sema Kalkan Uçar, Özlem Ünal Uzun, Corina Weigel, Peter Witters, Kajus Merkevicius, Johannes A Mayr, Saskia B Wortmann, Katarzyna Iwanicka-Pronicka

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: 3-methylglutaconic aciduria (MEG), dystonia-deafness (D), (hepatopathy (H)), encephalopathy (E), and Leigh-like-syndrome (L) (MEGD(H)EL) syndrome is a rare, severely disabling progressive mitochondrial disease associated with biallelic pathogenic variants in SERAC1. Knowledge about hearing loss (HL) and hearing rehabilitation is scarce but highly sought after for best possible care in the absence of causative treatment.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Results: This study analyzed the audiometric data of 36 MEGD(H)EL patients (14 unpublished). Bilateral HL was diagnosed in 31 individuals (86 %). Detailed audiometric data, available for 23 of 31 patients, did not allow for general statements on site and degree of …

Adaptability Is Key, Denise Maihofer

AADEJ - The Communicator

This quarter, AADEJ Executive Director Denise Maihofer highlights the constant nature of change and the AADEJ board's commitment to adaptability in evolving communication platforms and trends. She announces AADEJ's first webinar for 2025, "Guidance for Authors and Editors on the Use of Generative AI," held on March 20, which serves as a precursor to a comprehensive white paper on the subject. This webinar, free for renewed or new 2025 members, aims to provide a structured overview of generative AI's capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations, along with best practices for transparency and accuracy. Maihofer also shares "exciting news" about AADEJ partnering …

Aadej Comm 11 4 2025

AADEJ - The Communicator

The Communicator is the official journal of the American Association of Dental Editors and Journalists (AADEJ), an organization founded in 1931 serving individuals and publications across the dental field, including state dental associations, component societies, specialty groups, alumni publications, student publications, allied professional organizations, and commercial publications.

AADEJ's mission is to promote the advancement of all phases of dental journalism and dental literature. Guided by its vision of "Elevating Dental Journalism and Communications," AADEJ advances ethical journalism by promoting responsible editorial practices, setting high professional standards, and providing education and services that foster the professional development of its members.

The …

Meet The 2025–2026 Aadej Board

AADEJ - The Communicator

On "The Back Page" we proudly introduce  the recently installed officers and committee chairs for the 2025–2026 term of the AADEJ. Led by President Dr. Jasmine Shafagh, the leadership team aims to provide national support, education, and networking opportunities for dental communicators. The board includes a mix of returning leaders and welcomes Dr. Cathy Hung as our new editor.

Robotic Transabdominal Preperitoneal Morgagni Hernia Repair, Chris Robert, Furrukh Jabbar

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Morgagni hernia is a rare type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, representing about 3% of all cases. It occurs due to a defect in the development of the diaphragm in the Morgagni foramen, also known as the sternocostal triangle. Case presentation: A 63-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension, hypothyroidism, Barrett’s esophagitis, and cirrhosis secondary to alcohol intake (Child Pugh A) presented with increasing shortness of breath and spasmodic right sided chest pain. A diagnostic workup with a CT chest revealed herniation of fat and a portion of the colon into the right chest with adjacent atelectasis of …

Medical Reversals In The Management Of Patients With Ventral Hernia Following Publication Of Randomized Control Trials, Anila Punjwani, Vaibhav Varma, Mike Liang

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Initiation Of Sterile Vaginal Preps Prior To Cesarean Sections: A Quality Improvement Project, Diane Gilbertson, Timothy Kremer, Kimberly Udell

North Texas Research Forum 2025

OBJECTIVE: Research on patients undergoing routine gynecological procedures with a vaginal preparation has demonstrated a significant reduction in post-operative infections by decreasing the burden of vaginal bacteria. Despite this research, as well as evidence that they reduce postpartum endometritis, especially in labor patients or those with ruptured membranes (Lui), vaginal preparations prior to cesarean section are not standard practice. Prior to the initiation of this quality improvement project, no patients delivering at Medical City Arlington received a vaginal preparation prior to a cesarean delivery. The goal of this quality improvement project is to improve clinical care, patient safety, and healthcare …

The Demographics Of Vasopressor Requirements In Covid-19 Patients, Sammy R. Ghaoui, Paloma A. Molina, Romina Flores, Adela Bazbaz, Daryelle Varon, Joseph Varon

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

The Major League Baseball Pitch Clock: One Year Position Player Injury Analysis, Troy Puga, Nicholas Scigliano, Mckenna Box, John T. Riehl

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Background In 2023, Major League Baseball (MLB) implemented the pitch clock. The effects of the pitch clock on player injury rates is largely unknown, and some, including the major league baseball players association, have suggested that pitchers may be at an increased risk of injury with its implementation. Position players have received little attention in these discussions, even though they may be at the same theorized risk of injuries. The aim of this study is to determine if implementation of the 2023 MLB pitch clock influenced the incidence of injuries in position players. It is hypothesized that implementation of the …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of A Rapid Response Training Course, Nasima Mehraban, Caroline Brooke, Vivek Punjabi, Veeranna Vibhuti

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Rapid response teams are crucial in healthcare settings for managing clinical emergencies. To enhance the preparedness of interns in handling such situations, we developed a rapid response training course. This study aimed to evaluate the course's effectiveness by examining changes in residents' self-reported confidence levels before and after completing the training. Methods: A group of interns participated in five simulated rapid response scenarios. Before the training, participants rated their confidence level on a scale from 1 (not confident in running a rapid response) to 10 (very confident). Following the training, they reassessed their confidence level. Pre- and post-training ratings …

Cryptococcal Meningitis In A Patient With Multiple Sclerosis On Fingolimod, Syed Hassan Amir, Teena Mathew

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Background: There are a host of pathogens that thrive only when the host is weakened enough to be susceptible – Cryptococcus is one such organism that causes fatal meningitis, primarily in HIV patients. Those immunocompromised by other means are also susceptible. Among them, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) pose a significant challenge as what may initially be considered an MS flare could mask a serious underlying infection. Objective: This case study discusses an MS patient on Fingolimod, an immunosuppressant, that likely made them vulnerable to cryptococcal meningitis. Pathogenesis: Cryptococci are encapsulated yeast that enter the body via inhalation of spores …

Retroperitoneal Schwannoma: An Abnormal Presentation Mimicking A Pelvic Mass, Isabella Sciacca, Christelle Reeves, Cameron Stokes, Steven Seligman

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: A schwannoma is an encapsulated nerve sheath tumor originating from differentiated Schwann cells. They are preferentially localized to the head, neck and extremities with a minor occurrence of 1-3% in the retroperitoneal space. Schwannoma symptoms often are asymptomatic due to slow growth but can present with symptoms according to their location. We report a case of a 45-year-old female with a retroperitoneal schwannoma that mimicked an ovarian mass. Case Summary: A 45-year-old female with a ten-year history of a right ovarian cyst presented with lower abdominal pain, early satiety, hematuria, low back pain and constipation. Transabdominal ultrasound showed right …

Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonist Effects On Outcomes Of Hemiarthroplasty For Femoral Neck Fractures In Diabetics, Mckenna W. Box, Troy Puga, Neil Werthmann, Yingxian Liu, John T. Riehl

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: To determine if the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients affects outcomes after hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fractures (FNFs). Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of a local hospital system database was performed using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes to identify T2DM patients who were at least 18 years of age who underwent hemiarthroplasty (HA) for FNFs and were on a GLP-1RA at the time of injury. A random patient sample of those who underwent HA and were not on a GLP-1RA was used as a …