Organic Chemicals Commons^™

Phytochemical And In-Vitro Cytotoxic Analyses Of Flavonoid Species Isolated From Chromolaena Leivensis, Luke A. Bryant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a leading cause of death worldwide, cancer and its treatments remain a primary source of interest among researchers. Modern studies are looking into bioselective cytotoxicity to create new chemotherapies that do not have the same harsh side effects as those we use today. Natural product research has a promising future for the development of such treatments. Specifically, polar flavonoids may be the key to a bioselective treatment. Such flavonoid species are native to plants, often within flower petals or within the body. A natural antioxidant, they are designed not to harm healthy cells. This study focuses on the plant …

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations In Georgia And Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks, Khloe R. Osborne

Honors Theses

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations in Georgia and Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks

One of the most daunting challenges of the industrial world is air pollution. Within this broad spectrum, there is an inhalable particle group named PM2.5, which contains black carbon. Black carbon has evidence that supports the generation and worsening of adverse health impacts, which may include birth complications, cognitive deficits in children, pulmonary aggravation, asthma, cardiovascular issues, neurological degenerative patterns, and cancer risk. This is especially seen in vulnerable populations, like children, elderly, and those who already suffer from weakened health, many of which reside in the southern …

A Study Of Awareness Of Antiseptics And Disinfectant Use Among Allied Health Sciences Students And Interns Of A Tertiary Care Hospital, Pooja M, Puneeth A, Sharmi Nm

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background:

Antiseptics and disinfectants are among the most vital tools in infection prevention and control (IPC), especially in healthcare settings where the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a significant concern. This study aims to assess the awareness and knowledge of antiseptics and disinfectants among Allied Health Sciences (AHS) students and interns, identify knowledge gaps at different stages of training, and recommend educational interventions.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted among 1st to 3rd-year AHS students and interns at a tertiary care hospital. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire via a Google form after obtaining approval from …

Investigating The Role Of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine For Cancer Symptom Management In Older Adults: A Rapid Review, Isabelle C. Karshner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Patients with cancer often experience symptoms related to disease, complications, and treatment. One potential method of alleviating these symptoms is traditional Chinese herbal medications (TCHM). This rapid review explores the role of traditional Chinese herbal medications in treating cancer-related symptoms in older adults.

Purpose: The purpose of this rapid review is to gain and provide a better understanding of the effects of TCHM on cancer-symptom management in the older adult population. This review explores the association between TCHM and effects on cancer symptoms in older adults, including interactions, toxicity, and signs/symptoms of TCHM use that may be useful information …

Investigation Of Genx Exposure To Pathways Associated With Colorectal Cancer Risk, Emily J. Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants widely detected in drinking water and food sources, resulting in chronic human exposure. Among these compounds, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), commonly known as GenX, has been introduced as a short-chain replacement for legacy PFAS such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Although GenX is believed to be a safer alternative, emerging research suggests it can still affect human health.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, highlighting the need to better understand environmental …

Computational Insights Into The Structural Basis For Reduced Hepatotoxicity Of Novel Nonopioid Analgesics, Claire Coderch, Hernan A. Bazán, Nicolas G. Bazan, Bhattacharjee Surjyadipta, Julio Alvarez-Builla, Beatriz De Pascual-Teresa

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Acetaminophen (ApAP) toxicity arises from the reactive intermediate N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), a degradation product known to cause significant liver damage and kidney injury. This toxicity is a major concern associated with the widespread use of ApAP, a commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. To address this important issue, a series of novel nonopioid analgesic candidates with reduced toxicity have been recently reported. However, the molecular and atomic-level mechanisms underlying their decreased toxicity remain largely unexplored. In this study, computational analyses is performed to investigate the dynamic behavior, physicochemical properties, and ligand-receptor interactions of these new chemical entities (NCEs). The findings provide …

The Effect Of Tranexamic Acid On Blood Coagulation In Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Rotational Thromboelastometry: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Uzung Yoon, David Beausang, Elia Elia, Marc Torjman, Jeffrey Mojica, James J. Purtill, David Nazarian, P. Maxwell Courtney, Yoogoo Kang

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Tranexamic acid (TXA), is commonly administered prophylactically to reduce blood loss in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, its effect has never been studied. We hypothesized that no difference exists in the degree of fibrinolysis and blood loss between patients receiving prophylactic TXA and placebo.

METHODS: This double-blinded randomized-controlled trial included 50 patients undergoing primary THA in 2021-2023. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03897621). Rotational-thromboelastometry (ROTEM) were performed to test blood coagulability using non citrated whole blood (NATEM) and blood treated with TXA (T-APTEM). The intervention group received TXA intravenously. The placebo group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The primary outcome measure …

Novel Piperidone And Bispidine Derivatives: A New Approach In Cancer Therapy, Lereen Khaled Youssry

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. As a result, scientists have been trying to find novel therapeutic approaches that target specific metabolic pathways selective to tumor cells. In this study, two novel piperidone and bispidine derivatives, organic molecules that target polyamine metabolism, were synthesized, and their potential cytotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were investigated. Polyamines are naturally occurring metabolites that were reported to be in excess at cancer cells and were accounted for tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Accordingly, the novel piperidone and bispidine derivatives were expected to disrupt tumor growth and progression via up-regulation of key …

Examining The Relationship Between Sleep Habits And Caffeine Consumption, Daniel Calaff, Rachel Pruchno

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Sleep is essential for cognitive function, mood regulation, immune defense, and metabolic health. Despite widespread caffeine use, its impact on sleep remains debated. It was initially hypothesized that higher caffeine consumption would correlate with greater sleep disturbances. This study explored the relationship between caffeine consumption and sleep habits in a general adult population using a Qualtrics-based self-report survey. Participants (n=93) reported average hours slept per night, time to fall asleep, and number of nighttime awakenings. Caffeine consumption was calculated based on reported intake and categorized into four dosage groups. Sleep outcomes were statistically compared using ANOVA, t-tests, and Pearson correlation. …

A Case Of Turmeric-Induced Hepatotoxicity With Hyperferritinemia, Nina R. Spitofsky, Albert A. Huang, Aria Jalalian, Stefanie Gallagher, Scott Fink

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Introduction: We present the first published case of turmeric-associated drug-induced liver injury (DILI) accompanied by significant ferritin elevation. Case Presentation: Our patient, a 59-year-old female with DILI caused by long-term ingestion of oral turmeric supplements, presented with painless jaundice on an annual exam. The patient’s liver function tests exhibited a hepatocellular pattern and hyperferritinemia (>2,000 ng/dL). Additional testing was negative except for heterozygosity for the H63D allele associated with hemochromatosis. A liver biopsy indicated acute hepatitis without fibrosis or stainable iron. Conclusion: Upon discontinuation of the supplement, liver enzymes normalized within a month. This case highlights the potential for …

Design And Investigation Of Small Molecule Drugs For Potential Treatment Of Cns Disorders, Flaviviral Infections, And Cancers, Viktoriya Mashinson

Theses & Dissertations

Chapter 1 discusses the development of antagonists against the dopamine 4 receptor (D4R) that is expressed in the motor, associative, and limbic subdivisions of the basal ganglia network and is involved in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Levodopa is the firstline drug for the management of PD symptoms but its long-term use often leads to development of levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). D4R antagonists have been shown to decrease the abnormal involuntary movement scores in mouse models of LID. Chapter 1 outlines the development and optimization of selective D4R antagonists for potential treatment of LID. During the investigation of our D4R antagonists we discovered …

Sk609, A Novel Dopamine D3 Receptor Agonist And Norepinephrine Transporter Blocker With Putative Pro-Cognitive Actions, Does Not Induce Psychostimulant-Like Increases In Risky Choice During Probabilistic Discounting, Christopher P. Knapp, Brooke Fallon, Sandhya Kortagere, Barry D. Waterhouse, Stan B Floresco, Rachel L Navarra

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

RATIONALE: Psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (AMPH) and methylphenidate (MPH), non-selectively elevate extracellular concentrations of the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), and are common pharmacological strategies used to improve prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent cognitive dysfunction. However, this approach can be problematic given AMPH has been shown to increase preference for risky choices in a rodent assay of risk/reward decision making. SK609 is a novel NE reuptake blocker that selectively activates DA D3 receptors without affinity for the DA transporter. SK609 has been shown to improve cognitive performance without increasing psychostimulant-like spontaneous locomotor activity, suggesting SK609 may benefit neurocognitive function without …

Targeting Ribosome Biogenesis Is A Novel Approach For The Management Of Pancreatic Cancer, Mudassier Ahmad, Haider Ahsan, Carlos Perez, Muhammad Bangash, Andrew Massey, Emmanuel Anning, Manish Tripathi, Dae Kim, Subhash C. Chauhan, Bilal Bin Hafeez

Research Colloquium

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States with limited therapeutic options available. Gemcitabine, a deoxycytidine nucleoside analog is currently considered the most effective therapy for PanCa. However, it shows only a marginal survival benefit of six months. Aberrant ribosome biogenesis occurs in most tumor types. We observed that PanCa cells are addicted to ribosome biogenesis, which supports their highly aggressive metastatic phenotypes. Thus, strategically targeting ribosome biogenesis process could be one of the ideal strategies for the prevention and treatment of PanCa. In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms of POLR1A …

Uses Of Herbal Extracts In Endodontology: A Literature Review, Reem Chamseddine, Roula S. Abiad

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The use of natural herbal extracts in the field of dentistry, and specifically in endodontology had gained a high popularity in the past few years. The main objective of endodontic treatment is to prevent and eliminate the infection from the root canal, seize the invasion of microorganisms to periradicular tissues and preserve the natural dentition. Studies had shown that some herbs are better alternatives to traditional chemical irrigants or medicaments used in root canal treatment, based on their potential antimicrobial effect, smear layer removal capabilities, tissue dissolution effect, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. Aim: The purpose of this literature review …

An Integrative Review Of The Absorption Of Fda-Approved Chemical Sunscreen Filters Into The Blood, Srinidhi Banala, Samrat Gollapudi, Abhiram Gollapudi, Bhaumik Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: This integrative review examines the absorption of FDA-approved chemical sunscreen filters, specifically avobenzone and oxybenzone, into the bloodstream. The study aims to compare the levels of absorption and potential health effects of systemic exposure to these sunscreen ingredients in the United States.

Methods: The researchers conducted a literature search of 57 articles, of which 15 were used for the review. Inclusion criteria focused on studies discussing absorption levels of avobenzone and oxybenzone, as well as methods of absorption into the bloodstream. Exclusion criteria included sunscreen ingredients not approved in the United States, non-English studies, and studies on methods to …

An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of Xanthorrhiza Simplicissima And Its Secondary Alkaloids As Antibiotics Against Staphylococcus Aureus With The Use Of Reserpine, Donald Bothe, Savita Chaurasia

Undergraduate Theses

Xanthorhiza simplicissima is a plant that is steeped in medical history. It has been used for hundreds of years by the Native Americans, and later by the Europeans, of Appalachia for its medicinal properties. One of the most useful medical applications of this plant are its antibiotic properties, as typified by its use as a tea that was consumed to treat mouth sores. These antibiotic properties can be attributed to some of its secondary alkaloids such as berberine, liriodenine, oxyacanthine, and magnoflorine. These compounds have been studied in other systems; however, oxyacanthine and magnoflorine have not been researched in tandem …

Killing Cancer: Manipulating Hydrophobic Vanadium Complexes To Improve Anti-Cancer Activity, Levi Ausherman, Debbie C. Crans, Peter A. Lay, Maggi Braasch-Turi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Hydrophobic vanadium complexes have recently shown improved anti-cancer activities compared to cisplatin. The hydrophobicity and anti-proliferative activity of [VO(Hshed)(dtb)] ([Hshed= N-(salicylideneaminato)-N’-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and dtb= 3,5-di(tert-butyl)catechol)]) have inspired the development of a library of hydrophobic vanadium complexes. Increasing the steric bulk of the catechol ligand has been shown to have a direct impact on hydrophobicity and anti-proliferative activities. Currently at Fort Hays State University, the Braasch-Turi group is synthesizing VO(HSHED)(dtb) to build up material to support the chemical analysis and biological assay performed by our collaborators at Colorado State University and the University of Sydney, Australia, respectively. In the future, we plan …

Reducing Food Scarcity: The Benefits Of Urban Farming, S.A. Claudell, Emilio Mejia

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Urban farming can enhance the lives of communities and help reduce food scarcity. This paper presents a conceptual prototype of an efficient urban farming community that can be scaled for a single apartment building or an entire community across all global geoeconomics regions, including densely populated cities and rural, developing towns and communities. When deployed in coordination with smart crop choices, local farm support, and efficient transportation then the result isn’t just sustainability, but also increasing fresh produce accessibility, optimizing nutritional value, eliminating the use of ‘forever chemicals’, reducing transportation costs, and fostering global environmental benefits.

Imagine Doris, who is …

Her3 Targeting Augments The Efficacy Of Panobinostat In Claudin-Low Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Hui Lyu, Defu Hou, Hao Liu, Sanbao Ruan, Congcong Tan, Jiande Wu, Chindo Hicks, Bolin Liu

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have a poor prognosis and high relapse rate due to limited therapeutic options. This study was conducted to determine the mechanisms of action of panobinostat, a pan-inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and FDA-approved medication for multiple myeloma, in TNBC and to provide a rationale for effective drug combinations against this aggressive disease. RNA sequencing analyses of the claudin-low (CL) TNBC (MDA-MB-231) cells untreated or treated with panobinostat were performed to identify the differentially expressed genes. Adaptive alterations in gene expression were analyzed and validated in additional CL TNBC cells. Tumor xenograft models were used …

Exogenous Exposure To Dihydroxyacetone Mimics High Fructose Induced Oxidative Stress And Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Raj Mehta

Honors Theses

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a three-carbon sugar that is the active ingredient in sunless tanning products and a by-product of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) combustion. Increased use of sunless tanning products and e-cigarettes has elevated exposures to DHA through inhalation and absorption. Studies have confirmed that DHA is rapidly absorbed into cells and can enter into metabolic pathways following phosphorylation to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), a product of fructose metabolism. Recent reports have suggested metabolic imbalance and cellular stress results from DHA exposures. However, the impact of elevated exposure to DHA on human health is currently under-investigated. We propose that exogenous exposures to …

Study Of The Potential Toxicity Of Adrenaline To Neurons, Using The Sh-Sy5y Human Cellular Model, Vera Marisa Costa, João Paulo Capela, Maria Lourdes Bastos, Fernando Remião, Kurt James Varner, José Alberto Duarte, Félix Carvalho

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Prolonged overexposure to catecholamines causes toxicity, usually credited to continuous adrenoceptor stimulation, autoxidation, and the formation of reactive pro-oxidant species. Non-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells were used to study the possible contribution of oxidative stress in adrenaline (ADR)-induced neurotoxicity, as a model to predict the toxicity of this catecholamine to peripheral nerves. Cells were exposed to several concentrations of ADR (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1mM) and two cytotoxicity assays [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction] were performed at several time-points (24, 48, and 96h). The cytotoxicity of ADR was concentration-and time-dependent in both assays, since the lowest concentration …

Nicotinamide Riboside And Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Activate Parallel Pathways For C. Elegans Lifespan Extension, Mckenzie Peters

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Supplementation with nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3 and a precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) extends lifespan in the nematode C. elegans and delays aging-related pathologies in mammals. During aging, levels of NAD⁺ decline causing metabolic dysfunction and oxidative damage. Studies in C. elegans found that when NR was administered during larval development it induced the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt), which is frequently associated with lifespan extension. Both calorie restriction (CR) and ketogenic diets (KD) have been shown to extend lifespan, in part through increasing NAD⁺ and through increasing levels …

Design And Synthesis Of Peripherally Selective Endocannabinoid Enzyme Inhibitors For Ocular Indications, Kezia Reji Thomas

Senior Honors Theses

Peripherally selective compounds have been found to stimulate endocannabinoid receptor activity, which has been observed to have positive physiological effects such as ocular wound healing and inflammation control. The activation of the cannabinoid 1 receptor via binding of the endogenous ligands, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, has been indicated to elicit these effects. Both ligands are controlled by two hydrolase enzymes, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), which can be targeted for therapeutic inhibition. Sulfonamide derivatives of JZL195 containing carbamate functionalities in the southern region of the inhibitor compounds were produced using novel carbamate exchange reactions. Polar functionalities were …

Potential Of Dietary Flavonoids In The Prevention And Therapy Of Covid-19 : Focusing In Mast Cell - Calcium Ion Channel Axis, Aryo Tedjo

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Syndrome Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS COV2) is the virus that causes the COVID19 disease and has caused more than 4 million deaths worldwide. This virus infects the host cell through the interaction between the virus’s glycoprotein S molecule with the ACE2 which is the virus receptor, binding, undergoes membrane fusion and enters the cell and replicates in it. Currently, several strategies used in developing anti-viral compounds are targeting compounds that play a role in the process of entering the virus into host cells such as ACE2, S glycoprotein, and TMPRSS2, while some target main proteases such as RNA …

Identification Of Novel Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Encoding For Polyketide/Nrps-Producing Chemotherapeutic Compounds From Marine-Derived Streptomyces Hygroscopicus From A Marine Sanctuary, Hannah Ruth Flaherty

Honors Theses and Capstones

Nearly one out of six deaths in 2020, around ten million people, were caused by cancer, making it a leading cause of death worldwide (WHO, 2022). This major public health issue, in addition to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, provides a high demand for the discovery of new pharmaceutical drugs to be used clinically to treat these conditions. The Streptomyces genus accounts to produce 39% of all microbial metabolites currently approved for human health, indicating its potential as an important species to study for antimicrobial and anticancer agents. The long linear genome of Streptomyces contains specialized sequences known as …

Isoprenylation Inhibition Suppresses Fcεri-Mediated Mast Cell Function And Allergic Inflammation, Aditya Kotha, Jordan M. Dailey, Aslamuzzaman Kazi, Said Sebti, John J. Ryan

Undergraduate Research Posters

Allergic disease is driven by cell signaling cascades that activate immune cells. One key player is mast cells, which is activated by IgE antibodies signaling through the high affinity IgE receptor, FceRI. Therefore, targeting FceRI-mediated cascades can offer for novel treatments for allergic disease. Statins have been demonstrated to reduce the severity of asthma, a common allergic airway disease. Statins are an FDA approved class of drugs with the intended purpose of lowering blood cholesterol. We previously found that while statins inhibit mast cell function in allergic disease, these anti-inflammatory effects vary widely amongst differing mouse strains and human donors, …

Development Of A Chemical Biology Approach To Uncover The Influence Of Sequence Variations On Ces1 Activity In Live Cells, Samuel James Knebel

Masters Theses

Drug metabolism is the biochemical process of modifying drugs to detoxify and remove them through enzymatic transformations. These biotransformation’s occur primarily in the liver and are critical to understanding how pharmaceutical compounds are chemically altered inside the human body. Human carboxylesterases (CESs) catalyze the hydrolysis of esters, amides, thioesters, and carbamates. CES-mediated hydrolysis plays an important role in the metabolism of many drugs including the first FDA approved antiviral treatment for COVID-19, remdesivir (Veklury), the seizure control medication rufinamide (Banzel), and the flu antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu). CES activity is known to be influenced by a variety of factors including …

Effect Of Calcium Chloride And Isoflurane On Force Frequency Relationship In Canines, Harrison Patrizio, Lawrence Mulligan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Proper calcium cycling is critical for a optimally functioning heart.

Improper calcium cycling in humans can contribute to heart failure.

Human calcium cycling is difficult to study due to the risks of damaging the patient’s cardiac tissue.

Risk of further damaging cardiac tissue is substantially increased in a heart failure patient.

Past studies focus on studying the effects of changing calcium cycling in lab rats.

Current research shows limited alternative methods in studying relationships between calcium cycling and FFR in larger mammals.

This project analyzes data to determine the response of the canine force frequency relationship to calcium chloride and …

A Quantitative Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Various Essential Oils Against The Sars Cov-2 Virus, Elizabeth Wagstaff, Chandrelyn Kraczek, Jack Brandon Lopez

Annual Research Symposium

A poster presentation and abstract for the Roseman Symposium. The project focuses on testing 3 essential oil blends and two disinfectants containing an essential oil blend against SARS CoV-2 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project procedure involves plaque assays, disinfection, and neutralization techniques.

The Benefits Of Astaxanthin To Improve Pain Relief In Patients With Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: An Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Trial, Rizaldy Taslim Pinzon, Mary Rose Angelina Budi Harsana

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Treatment of diabetic neuropathy is still carried out by providing symptomatic therapy, which only improves ± 50% of the total symptoms felt by patients, but does not tackle the underlying causes of the disease. Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic carotenoid that could be an additional treatment option. We aimed to measure the effectiveness of administering astaxanthin as an additional therapy to improve the impact of pain and discomfort experienced daily by diabetes mellitus patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. We conducted a randomized experimental study with an open label design of 36 patients who had been diagnosed with …