Medical Pharmacology Commons^™

High-Throughput Drug Screening For Disease-Modifying Arthritis Therapy, Janapriya Vijayakumar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Current therapy for arthritis predominantly focuses on the symptoms rather than the underlying causes of disease progression. Thus, it is necessary to identify novel drugs which target the underlying molecular basis of such diseases. Using high-throughput cell-based drug screening, we screened 458 different compounds, narrowed down from 811 starting compounds from the NIH Mechanistic Set. We selected drugs from the Mechanistic Set following Lipinski's Rule of 5 to ensure optimal pharmacokinetic properties. The study used modified primary human chondrocytes (IIAM-PRG4Luc), which secrete a lubricin promoter-driven luciferase reporter. We use this luciferase expression as a proxy to measure lubricin, a compound …

Investigation Of Lubricin-Stimulating Fda-Approved Compounds For A Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritic Drug, Swathi S. Menon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects many people worldwide. Current methods of treatment are palliative, and no treatment exists to fully reverse or cure OA once it begins to progress. The discovery of a disease-modifying osteoarthritic drug (DMOAD) would increase the quality of life for millions and reduce the need for invasive procedures. Screening FDA-approved drugs ensures more promise due to their known safety profile and potential for faster translation to the clinic. The goal of this project was to conduct dose-response assays with FDA-approved drugs that have been shown to stimulate lubricin production in cells that mimic …

A Quality Improvement Initiative To Decrease Sugammadex Expenditures, Jordan Austin Gardo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract

A Quality Improvement Initiative to Decrease Sugammadex Expenditures

Jordan Gardo

Introduction/Background: The manufacturer’s suggestion in the dosing of the Sugammadex is

generally dosed at 2-4 mg/kg of total body weight (TBW) depending on the extent of

neuromuscular blockade. Evidence suggests that in the morbidly obese population, this

can lead to excessive dosing due to the drug's hydrophilic properties, making it less cost-

effective. Dosing based on adjusted body weight (ABW) leads to dose reductions while

achieving full reversal of neuromuscular blockade as measured by quantitative train-of-

four monitoring, resulting in lower costs from decreased vial usage.

Purpose: The purpose …

Utilizing Probiotics To Reduce Diet Induced Dysbiosis And Inflammation In Myelodysplastic Syndromes Susceptible Mice, Tejaswee Bolloju

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Human gut microbiota is helpful in digestion by helping in breaking complex carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibers and many other physiological functions. The Western diet which is high in fat and carbo hydrate percentage alters gut microbiota and leads to growth of pathogenic bacteria and altered gut flora referred to as dysbiosis, which in turn cause gut inflammation and increased permeability of gut and it causes translocation of Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which causes low grade systemic inflammation. Disturbance in gut microbiota correlated with metabolic conditions like obesity and leads to progression of hematologic diseases like Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). Myelodysplastic syndromes are …

Administration Of Anti-Gfap Antibodies Increases Cgrp Expression And Increases Pain Hypersensitivity In Spinal Cord Injured Animals, Georgene W Hergenroeder, Samuel T Molina, Juan J Herrera

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a multitude of cellular and pathological changes including neuronal loss, axonal damage, gliosis, and loss of motor and sensory function. In 40%-70% of patients, SCI can also trigger the development of neuropathic pain. Our previous study demonstrated that SCI patients who developed autoantibodies to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were at increased risk for the subsequent development of neuropathic pain. However, whether GFAP autoantibodies (GFAPab) contribute to the development of neuropathic pain after SCI had yet to be examined.

Objective: Using a mid-thoracic contusion model of SCI in male Sprague-Dawley rats, we examined …

Impact Of Tetrahydrocannabinol (Thc) On Daphnia Magna Heart Rate, Ashley Cosgrave

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Marijuana (Cannabis) is currently federally illegal within the United States and classified as a Schedule I drug. This leaves a large research gap on the impacts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use. Daphnia magna are frequently used as a model organism for the human heart and toxicology screenings due to their myogenic heart, similarities in physiological pathways, and sensitivity to toxins. As such, in order to bridge the research gap and uncover potential use of Daphnia magna as a model organism for humans in regard to impact on heart rate, we hypothesized that if Daphnia magna possess CB1 receptors or an equivalent …

Clinical Pharmacology And Medication Safety: A Remote Learning Elective Designed For Senior Medical Students, Elizabeth B. Graham, William T. Wightkin, Curt R. Bay, Uzoma S. Ikonne

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

In the United States, medical educators have expressed concern that an integrated and condensed pre-clerkship curriculum risks leaving gaps in student pharmacology knowledge. This study evaluates a remote-learning clinical pharmacology elective that integrates fundamental pharmacology concepts and principles of medication safety and explores how the course impacts senior medical students' self-reported readiness for residency. Clinical Pharmacology and Medication Safety is a remote elective course for senior medical students. The course integrates a review of basic pharmacology with clinical pharmacology topics through case-based learning sessions led by clinical pharmacists and physicians. To evaluate the elective's effectiveness, students in the fall and …

Impact Of Tranexamic Acid On Patient Outcomes In Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Review, William G. Johnson

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Introduction: Intracranial hemorrhage is a medical emergency that remains a significant source of death and disability for patients globally. Tranexamic acid has shown promise in treating trauma related bleeding loss in various settings. This study aims to evaluate its role in the management of intracranial hemorrhages.

Methods: A review of data in the PubMed National Library of Medicine was conducted to find relevant and reputable studies related to this topic. Using the search “tranexamic acid AND intracranial hemorrhage*” and the following filters: last 5 years, free full text, English language, including RCTs, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews, 13 results …