Chemicals and Drugs Commons^™

Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor-2, Hiv-Tat, And Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor-A In Hiv-Infected Children With Renal Disease Activate Rho-A And Src In Cultured Renal Endothelial Cells., Jharna R Das, J Silvio Gutkind, Patricio E. Ray

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Renal endothelial cells (REc) are the first target of HIV-1 in the kidney. The integrity of REc is maintained at least partially by heparin binding growth factors that bind to heparan sulfate proteoglycans located on their cell surface. However, previous studies showed that the accumulation of two heparin-binding growth factors, Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A) and Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2), in combination with the viral protein Tat, can precipitate the progression of HIV-renal diseases. Nonetheless, very little is known about how these factors affect the behavior of REc in HIV+ children. We carried out this study to determine how …

Microvascular Endothelial Cells-Derived Microvesicles Imply In Ischemic Stroke By Modulating Astrocyte And Blood Brain Barrier Function And Cerebral Blood Flow, Qunwen Pan, Caixia He, Hua Liu, Xiaorong Liao, Bingyan Dai, Yanfang Chen, Yi Yang, Bin Zhao, Ji C. Bihl, Xiaotang Ma

Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Publications

Background

Endothelial cell (EC) released microvesicles (EMVs) can affect various target cells by transferring carried genetic information. Astrocytes are the main components of the blood brain barrier (BBB) structure in the brain and participate in regulating BBB integrity and blood flow. The interactions between ECs and astrocytes are essential for BBB integrity in homeostasis and pathological conditions. Here, we studied the effects of human brain microvascular ECs released EMVs on astrocyte functions. Additionally, we investigated the effects of EMVs treated astrocytes on regulating BBB function and cerebral ischemic damage.

Results

EMVs prepared from ECs cultured in normal condition (n-EMVs) or …

Comparison Of Drug Delivery With Autoinjector Versus Manual Prefilled Syringe And Between Three Different Autoinjector Devices Administered In Pig Thigh, Robert Hill, John Wilmot, Beth Belluscio, Kevin Cleary, David Lindisch, Robin Tucker, Emmanuel Wilson, Rajesh Shukla

Radiology Faculty Publications

Parenteral routes of drug administration are often selected to optimize actual dose of drug delivered, assure high bioavailability, bypass first-pass metabolism or harsh gastrointestinal environments, as well as maximize the speed of onset. Intramuscular (IM) delivery can be preferred to intravenous delivery when initiating intravenous access is difficult or impossible. Drugs can be injected intramuscularly using a syringe or an automated delivery device (autoinjector). Investigation into the IM delivery dynamics of these methods may guide further improvements in the performance of injection technologies. Two porcine model studies were conducted to compare differences in dispersion of injectate volume for different methods …

Investigation Of Tattoo Pigments By Raman Spectroscopy, Betsy Jean Yakes, Tara Jade Michael, Marianita Perez-Gonzalez, Bhakti Petigara Harp

United States Food and Drug Administration: Publications

As a result of the increase in the practice of tattooing, the US Food and Drug Administration has identified a need for improved analytical methods to detect the pigments and potential impurities in the inks. Raman spectroscopy allows for nondestructive identification of compounds and is commonly used in art, archaeology, and forensics; however, the technique has only limitedly been applied to the identification of tattoo pigments. In this study, approximately 30 inorganic, organometallic, and organic pigmentswere evaluated with Raman spectroscopy by using 532, 633, and 780-nmlasers. Individual optimization of the instrumental parameters was performed for each pigment in order to …

Bacterial Endotoxin Detection In Hyaluronic Acid-Based Medical Devices, Larissa F. Baeva, Srilekha Sarkar Das, Victoria M. Hitchins

United States Food and Drug Administration: Publications

A simple and rapid method has been developed for testing bacterial endotoxin in hyaluronic acid (HA)-based medical devices. High-molecular-weight HA (HMW HA) in solution or HA-based medical devices was digested by the enzyme hyaluronidase to reduce solution viscosity by truncating the long chains of HA and to test for bacterial endotoxin. The bacterial endotoxin level was detected and measured by kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay. The method was applied to two different ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) and one dermal filler, and may easily be adapted to use with up to 3% HA solutions and other HA-based medical devices.

Privacy And Accountability In Black-Box Medicine, Roger Allan Ford, W. Nicholson Price Ii

Law Faculty Scholarship

Black-box medicine—the use of big data and sophisticated machine learning techniques for health-care applications—could be the future of personalized medicine. Black-box medicine promises to make it easier to diagnose rare diseases and conditions, identify the most promising treatments, and allocate scarce resources among different patients. But to succeed, it must overcome two separate, but related, problems: patient privacy and algorithmic accountability. Privacy is a problem because researchers need access to huge amounts of patient health information to generate useful medical predictions. And accountability is a problem because black-box algorithms must be verified by outsiders to ensure they are accurate and …

Endothelial Progenitor Cells And Neural Progenitor Cells Synergistically Protect Cerebral Endothelial Cells From Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Injury Via Activating The Pi3k/Akt Pathway, Jinju Wang, Yusen Chen, Yi Yang, Xiang Xiao, Shuzhen Chen, Cheng Zhang, Bradley S. Jacobs, Bin Zhao, Ji C. Bihl, Yanfang Chen

Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Publications

Background

Protection of cerebral endothelial cells (ECs) from hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced injury is an important strategy for treating ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigated whether co-culture with endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) synergistically protects cerebral ECs against H/R injury and the underlying mechanism.

Results

EPCs and NPCs were respectively generated from inducible pluripotent stem cells. Human brain ECs were used to produce an in vitro H/R-injury model. Data showed: 1) Co-culture with EPCs and NPCs synergistically inhibited H/R-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) over-production, apoptosis, and improved the angiogenic and barrier functions (tube formation and permeability) in …

Analyses Of Endothelial Cells And Endothelial Progenitor Cells Released Microvesicles By Using Microbead And Q-Dot Based Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, Jinju Wang, Yun Zhong, Xiaotang Ma, Xiang Xiao, Chuanfang Cheng, Yusen Chen, Ifeanyi Iwuchukwu, Kenneth J. Gaines, Bin Zhao, Shiming Liu, Jeffrey B. Travers, Ji C. Bihl, Yanfang Chen

Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Publications

Accurate analysis of specific microvesicles (MVs) from biofluids is critical and challenging. Here we described novel methods to purify and detect MVs shed from endothelial cells (ECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by combining microbeads with fluorescence quantum dots (Q-dots) coupled nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). In the in vitroscreening systems, we demonstrated that 1) anti-CD105 (EC marker) and anti-CD34 (EPC marker) conjugated-microbeads had the highest sensitivity and specificity for isolating respective MVs, which were confirmed with negative controls, CD41 and CD235a; 2) anti-CD144 (EC marker) and anti-KDR (EPC marker) conjugated-Q-dots exhibited the best sensitivity and specificity for their respective …

Ascorbic Acid For The Treatment Of Rasburicase Induced Methemoglobinemia In The Setting Of Acute Renal Failure, David J. Reeves, Lindsay Saum, Ruemu Birhiray

Scholarship and Professional Work – COPHS

Purpose A case of apparent rasburicase-induced methemoglobinemia and acute kidney injury treated with i.v. ascorbic acid because of suspected glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is reported.

Summary A 46-year-old African-American man with a recent diagnosis of multiple myeloma and renal insufficiency was admitted to the hospital with a cough, hemoptysis, and fatigue. His medical history included hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular tachycardia, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and pleural effusion. No treatments for multiple myeloma were started before hospital admission. Levofloxacin 750 mg orally daily for possible pneumonia, lenalidomide 10 mg orally daily, and dexamethasone 20 mg orally weekly were administered. Plasmapheresis was also initiated. …

Endocidal Regulation Of Secondary Metabolites In The Producing Organisms, Shiyou Li, Ping Wang, Wei Yuan, Zushang Su, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

Secondary metabolites are defined as organic compounds that are not directly involved in the normal growth, development, and reproduction of an organism. They are widely believed to be responsible for interactions between the producing organism and its environment, with the producer avoiding their toxicities. In our experiments, however, none of the randomly selected 44 species representing different groups of plants and insects can avoid autotoxicity by its endogenous metabolites once made available. We coined the term endocides (endogenous biocides) to describe such metabolites that can poison or inhibit the parent via induced biosynthesis or external applications. Dosage-dependent endocides can selectively …

Effect Of The Il-1 Receptor Antagonist Kineret® On Disease Phenotype In Mdx Mice., Margaret E. Benny Klimek, Arpana Sali, Sree Rayavarapu, Jack Van Der Meulen, Kanneboyina Nagaraju

Genomics and Precision Medicine Faculty Publications

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked muscle disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. The pathology of DMD manifests in patients with progressive muscle weakness, loss of ambulation and ultimately death. One of the characteristics of DMD is muscle inflammation, and dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscles produce higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in response to toll like receptor (TLR) stimulation compared to controls; therefore, blocking the IL-1β pathway could improve the disease phenotype in mdx mice, a mouse model of DMD. Kineret® or IL-1Ra is a recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist approved by the FDA for treating …

Biosimilars: Potential Implications For Clinicians, Misty G. Eleryan, Sophia Akhiyat, Monica Rengifo-Pardo, Alison Ehrlich

Dermatology Faculty Publications

With the expiration of patent protection for several biologics looming, the production of highly similar therapeutic agents has begun to emerge on the pharmaceutical market. These alternative drugs are referred to as biosimilars. Many anticipate that the introduction of these agents will result in a reduction in health care costs, which may create a more affordable biopharmaceutical market and also improve patient access. In contrast to generics, which are exact copies of their original products, biosimilars are not identical to their reference products. Due to concern about the safety and efficacy of biosimilars, separate regulatory approval pathways have been developed …

Micrornas Are Involved In The Development Of Morphine-Induced Analgesic Tolerance And Regulate Functionally Relevant Changes In Serpini1., Jenica D. Tapocik, Kristin Ceniccola, Cheryl L. Mayo, Melanie L. Schwandt, Matthew Solomon, Bi-Dar Wang, Truong V. Luu, Jacqueline Olender, Thomas Harrigan, Thomas M. Maynard, Greg I. Elmer, Norman H. Lee

Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty Publications

Long-term opioid treatment results in reduced therapeutic efficacy and in turn leads to an increase in the dose required to produce equivalent pain relief and alleviate break-through or insurmountable pain. Altered gene expression is a likely means for inducing long-term neuroadaptations responsible for tolerance. Studies conducted by our laboratory (Tapocik et al., 2009) revealed a network of gene expression changes occurring in canonical pathways involved in neuroplasticity, and uncovered miRNA processing as a potential mechanism. In particular, the mRNA coding the protein responsible for processing miRNAs, Dicer1, was positively correlated with the development of analgesic tolerance. The …

Can A Metallated Cyclen Species Be Used To Prepare New Odorants?, Jalynn Taylor-Farmer

UROP Posters

Scientists in the fragrance industry are constantly searching for new odors to create as well as new, more efficient processes to create them. Scientists mainly look for new ways to synthesize fragrances that will reduce the impact on the environment, produce them at lower costs, produce higher yields, and sometimes to produce a more potent odor [4]. In this research, we investigated the use of metallic macrocycles and/or metal-dioxygen chemistry to prepare new fragrances.

Cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) has significant uses in many pharmaceutical and medicinal research developments such as advances in targeted cancer and Alzheimer’s agents. Macrocyclic amines like cyclen are …

Uvb Generates Microvesicle Particles Via Platelet-Activating Factor-Receptor Signaling: A Novel Pathway By Which A Skin-Specific Stimulus Exerts Systemic Effects, Jeffrey B. Travers, Christine M. Rapp, Katherine E. Fahy, Christina E. Borchers, Richard Simman, Langni Liu, Yanfang Chen, Ji C. Bihl

Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Publications

Though Ultraviolet B radiation (290-320 nm; UVB) exerts profound systemic effects, it is absorbed only in the epidermis. One important question in photobiology is how UVB signals are emanated from the epidermis. Microvesicle particles (MVP) are small (200-1000nm diameter) membrane-bound vesicles released by numerous cell types and can be found in the circulation. MVP can contain both nuclear and cytoplasmic components and are thought to provide a mechanism by which cells transmit signals systemically. Though various stressors have been demonstrated to generate MVP, the ability of UVB to exert this effect has not been demonstrated. Previous studies from ours and …

The Novel Methods For Analysis Of Exosomes Released From Endothelial Cells And Endothelial Progenitor Cells, Jinju Wang, Runmin Guo, Yi Yang, Bradley S. Jacobs, Suhong Chen, Ifeanyi Iwuchukwu, Kenneth J. Gaines, Yanfang Chen, Richard Simman, Guiyuan Lv, Keng Wu, Ji C. Bihl

Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Publications

Exosomes (EXs) are cell-derived vesicles that mediate cell-cell communication and could serve as biomarkers. Here we described novel methods for purification and phenotyping of EXs released from endothelial cells (ECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by combining microbeads and fluorescence quantum dots (Q-dots®) techniques. EXs from the culture medium of ECs and EPCs were isolated and detected with cell-specific antibody conjugated microbeads and second antibody conjugated Q-dots by using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) system. The sensitivities of the cell origin markers for ECs (CD105, CD144) and EPCs (CD34, KDR) were evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity were determined by using positive …

Development Of A Chemical Genetic Screen To Determine Synergistic Compounds With Laromustine In Treating Glioblastoma Multiforme Cultured Cells, Ryan Weeks

Honors Theses

Laromustine is a chemotherapeutic sulfonylhydrazine prodrug used in clinical trials to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). While treatment of AML with laromustine has more demonstrative clinical success, there are enough promising data against GBM to pursue additional pre-clinical and clinical experiments. To determine the synergistic effects caused by treating cultured GBM cells with laromustine and a library of FDA-approved compounds, a chemical genetic screen was developed. To optimize the screen, optimal cultured GBM cell seed density, growth period and maximum well capacity were determined. The treatment period for a lethal dose of laromustine in cultured GBM …

The Influence Of Safety, Efficacy, And Medical Condition Severity On Natural V. Synthetic Drug Preference, Brian P. Meier, Courtney M. Lappas

Psychology Faculty Publications

Research indicates that there is a preference for natural v. synthetic products, but the influence of this preference on drug choice in the medical domain is largely unknown. We present 5 studies in which participants were asked to consider a hypothetical situation in which they had a medical issue requiring pharmacological therapy. Participants ( N = 1223) were asked to select a natural, plant-derived, or synthetic drug. In studies 1a and 1b, approximately 79% of participants selected the natural v. synthetic drug, even though the safety and efficacy of the drugs were identical. Furthermore, participants rated the natural drug as …

Piperlongumine (Piplartine) And Analogues: Antiproliferative Microtubule-Destabilising Agents, Mary J. Meegan, Seema M. Nathwani, Brendan Twamley, Daniela M. Zisterer, Niamh O'Boyle

Articles

Piperlongumine (piplartine, 1) is a small molecule alkaloid that is receiving intense interest due to its antiproliferative and anticancer activities. We investigated the effects of 1 on tubulin and microtubules. Using both an isolated tubulin assay, and a combination of sedimentation and Western blotting, we demonstrated that 1 is a tubulin-destabilising agent. This result was confirmed by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, which showed that microtubules in MCF-7 breast cancer cells were depolymerised when treated with 1. We synthesised a number of analogues of 1 to explore structure-activity relationships. Compound 13 had the best cytotoxic profile of this series, …

Is The High Frequency Of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac And Lung Surgeries Related To Hypomagnesemia And Releases Of Ceramides And Platelet-Activating Factor?, Burton M. Altura, Nilank C. Shah, Gatha J. Shah, Aimin Zhang, Wenyan Li, Bella T. Altura

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Middletown) Publications and Research

The authors discuss the possible role of hypomagnesemia, ceramides and platelet-activating factor in the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac and lung surgeries.

Medical Marijuana And Pain Management: The Physician’S Catch 22, James M. Mckivigan

College of Health & Human Services (TUN) Publications and Research

In this paper, concerns connected to the usage of marijuana in treating patients are extensively analyzed. It is revealed that physicians have been in conflict with the federal government as to whether to use cannabis for medical purposes or if they should consider prescribing other drugs. A large percentage of physicians admit that marijuana could be an effective drug in treating patients, especially those with acute pain, nausea, AIDS, muscle spasms, and cancer, among other ailments. However, patients and physicians are scared of the strict laws that criminalize the use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Physicians are also …

The Effects Of Testosterone Supplementation On Cognitive Functioning In Older Men, Eka Wahjoepramono, Prita Asih, Vilia Aniwiyanti, Kevin Taddei, Satvinder Dhaliwal, Stephanie Fuller, Jonathan Foster, Malcolm Carruthers, Giuseppe Verdile, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Ralph Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Reduction in testosterone levels in men during aging is associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia. Animal studies have shown benefits for testosterone supplementation in improving cognition and reducing Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study of men with subjective memory complaint and low testosterone levels, we investigated whether testosterone treatment significantly improved performance on various measures of cognitive functioning. Forty-four men were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to establish the baseline prior to being randomly divided into two groups. The first group (Group A) received 24 weeks of testosterone treatment (T treatment) followed by 4 …

Pharmacokinetics And Distribution In Interstitial And Pulmonary Epithelial Lining Fluid Of Danofloxacin In Ruminant And Preruminant Calves, D. A. Mzyk, R. E. Baynes, K. M. Messenger, M. Martinez, G. W. Smith

United States Food and Drug Administration: Publications

The objective of this study was to compare active drug concentrations in the plasma vs. different effector compartments including interstitial fluid (ISF) and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF) of healthy preruminating (3-week-old) and ruminating (6-month-old) calves. Eight calves in each age group were given a single subcutaneous (s.c.) dose (8 mg/kg) of danofloxacin. Plasma, ISF, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were collected over 96 h and analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. PELF concentrations were calculated by a urea dilution assay of the BAL fluids. Plasma protein binding was measured using a microcentrifugation system. For most preruminant and ruminant calves, the …

Postprandial Paraoxonase 1 Activity Following Consumption Of Recommended Amounts Of Mixed Meals In Healthy Males, Noriko Kameyama, Chizuko Maruyama, Kazuhiko Kotani, Russell Caccavello, Alejandro Gugliucci, Sadako Matsui, Taro Maruyama

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Osteopathic Medicine

Aim: Postprandial lipid level increases induce oxidative stress, which is involved in atherogenesis. The antioxidant properties of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) have attracted attention. However, changes in postprandial PON1 levels differ across prior studies, and changes in PON1 lactonase activity, potentially relevant to PON1 physiology, after the consumption of ordinary meals are unknown. Herein we evaluated postprandial serum lipid levels and PON1 changes following mixed-meal consumption of the amounts recommended for ordinary meals.
Methods: Nine healthy male volunteers consumed three different meals in a randomized cross-over design. The test meals were as follows: S, white rice; SMF, S with …

Isavuconazole In The Treatment Of Invasive Aspergillosis And Mucormycosis Infections, Monica A. Donnelley, Elizabeth S. Zhu, George R. Thompson Iii

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

We have a limited arsenal with which to treat invasive fungal infections caused by Aspergillus and Mucorales. The morbidity and mortality for both pathogens remains high. A triazole antifungal, isavuconazole, was recently granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. A randomized double-blind comparison trial for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis found isavuconazole noninferior to voriconazole. A separate, open-label study evaluating the efficacy of isavuconazole in the treatment of mucormycosis found comparable response rates to amphotericin B and posaconazole treated historical controls. The prodrug isavuconazonium sulfate …

Genetic Variation In The Histamine Production, Response, And Degradation Pathway Is Associated With Histamine Pharmacodynamic Response In Children With Asthma., Bridgette Jones, Catherine M T Sherwin, Xiaoxi Liu, Hongying Dai, Carrie A. Vyhlidal

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Introduction: There is growing knowledge of the wide ranging effects of histamine throughout the body therefore it is important to better understand the effects of this amine in patients with asthma. We aimed to explore the association between histamine pharmacodynamic (PD) response and genetic variation in the histamine pathway in children with asthma. Methods: Histamine Iontophoresis with Laser Doppler Monitoring (HILD) was performed in children with asthma and estimates for area under the effect curve (AUEC), maximal response over baseline (Emax), and time of Emax (Tmax) were calculated using non-compartmental analysis and non-linear mixed-effects model with a linked effect PK/PD …

Contraceptive Provision To Adolescent Females Prescribed Teratogenic Medications., Stephani L. Stancil, Melissa K. Miller, Holley Briggs, Daryl Lynch, Kathy Goggin, Gregory Kearns

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rates of adult women receiving contraceptive provision when simultaneously prescribed a known teratogen are alarmingly low. The prevalence of this behavior among pediatric providers and their adolescent patients is unknown. The objective of this study was to describe pediatric provider behaviors for prescribing teratogens concurrently with counseling, referral, and/or prescribing of contraception (collectively called contraceptive provision) in the adolescent population.

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted examining visits in 2008-2012 by adolescents aged 14 to 25 years in which a known teratogen (US Food and Drug Administration pregnancy risk category D or X) was prescribed. The electronic …

Anticancer, Biophysical And Computational Investigations Of Half-Sandwich Ruthenium(Ii) Thiosemicarbazone Complexes: The Effect Of Arene Versus Thiacrown Face-Cap, Floyd A. Beckford, Alyssa Stott, P. Canisius Mbarushimana, Marc-Andre Leblanc, Kinsey Hall, Samantha Smith, Jimmie L. Bullock, Dennis J. Houghton, Alvin A. Holder, Nikolay Gerasimchuk, Antonio Gonzalez-Sarrías

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

A series of half-sandwich ruthenium complexes, two containing an arene face-cap and the other a thiacrown ether face-cap were synthesized to investigate the necessity of the arene for anticancer activity in this class of compounds. The complexes are formulated as [(h⁶-p-cymene)Ru(dmabTSC)Cl]PF₆, [(h⁶-benzene)Ru(dmabTSC)Cl]PF₆ (arene complexes), and [([9]aneS₃(dmabTSC)Cl]PF₆ (dmabTSC = dimethylaminobenzaldehye thiosemicarbazone). It was observed that none of the complexes showed good anticancer activity in vitro against HCT-116 and Caco-2 (colon adenocarcinoma) cells. All three complexes can bind strongly to calf-thymus DNA with binding constants on the order of 10 …

Rna Nanotechnology For Next Generation Targeted Drug Delivery, Fengmei Pi

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

The emerging field of RNA nanotechnology is developing into a promising platform for therapeutically application. Utilizing the state-of-art RNA nanotechnology, RNA nanoparticles can be designed and constructed with controllable shape, size for both RNA therapeutics and chemical drug delivery. The high homogeneity in particle size and ease for RNA therapeutic module conjugation, made it feasible to explore versatile RNA nanoparticle designs for preclinical studies.

One vital module for therapeutic RNA nanoparticle design is RNA aptamer, which can enable the RNA nanoparticles find its specific target for targeted drug delivery. A system of screening divalent RNA aptamers for cancer cell targeting …

The Role Of Pxr And Ikkβ Signaling In Cardiometabolic Disease, Robert N. Helsley

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and is partially attributed to perturbations in lipid metabolism. Xenobiotics, such as pharmaceutical drugs and environmental chemicals, have been associated with increased risk of CVD in multiple large-scale human population studies, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. We and others have identified several xenobiotics as potent agonists for the pregnane X receptor (PXR), a nuclear receptor that can be activated by numerous drugs as well as environmental and dietary chemicals. However, the role of PXR in mediating the pathophysiological effects of xenobiotic exposure in humans and animals remains elusive. …