Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

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 …

Neoadjuvant Versus Adjuvant Therapy For Stage Iiib-Iiid Melanoma, Bhumik Patel, Sangnya Upadhyaya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The treatment landscape for advanced stage melanoma is rapidly evolving due to advancements in our understanding of melanoma biology and the emergence of novel therapies. This necessitates a comprehensive review to guide clinicians in adopting evidence based and patient centric approaches to treat stage IIIB-IIID melanoma. A literature review was conducted to synthesize current information on the most optimal treatment available. Data available from different clinical trials found that neoadjuvant therapy was a more effective treatment compared to adjuvant therapies alone. Furthermore, neoadjuvant therapy with combination therapy was more efficacious in producing a complete pathological response compared to monotherapy. A …

Amphipathic Hybrid Cyclic-Linear Peptides As A Drug Delivery System, Jonathan Moreno

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Amphipathic Hybrid Cyclic-Linear Peptides as a Drug Delivery System by Jonathan A. Moreno Peptides

[RW]₄ and [R₅W₄] have been previously identified as molecular transporter Cell Penetrating Peptide (CPP) and antimicrobial agents, respectively. These peptides consisted of alternating and non-alternating arginine (R) as positively charged residues and tryptophan (W) as hydrophobic residues. Herein we report the synthesis of two hybrid amphipathic cyclic-linear cell-penetrating peptides [RW]₄K-AH135 (1) and [R₅W₄]K-AH135 (2) composed of [RW]₄ and [R₅W₄] and a linear peptide AH-135 (Ac)NH-RWLRRWLRWWRR-COOH. The …

Targeting Coenzyme A Biosynthesis For Antifungal Development., Jessica Regan

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

An estimated 1.5 million people die each year from invasive fungal infections (IFIs) involving dissemination to the deeper organs via the bloodstream, with estimated healthcare costs of over $7 billion in the U.S. alone. Collectively, several Candida species account for more than 75% of disseminated fungal infections in the U.S., with attributable mortality rates ranging 35-75%. Unfortunately, the prospect of curing these infections is limited by the modest efficacy of the available antifungal drugs: the azoles, echinocandins, and amphotericin B. Approximately one-third of patients with disseminated Candida infections are non-responsive to treatment with the azoles, and favorable response rates are …

Education Of The Effects Of Obesity Medications And A Stepwise Approach To Mitigate Prevalence And Encourage Lifestyle Medicine For Primary Care Physicians, Kiely M. Curran

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

My Capstone project is an Educational Manual that emphasizes a healthcare team approach to the treatment and management of obesity. The Educational Manual consists of a standardized protocol in management of obesity in patients and a document with summarized references for primary care providers; and a simplified document for patient education. There is a growing interest in the usage of obesity medications. The purpose of my Capstone project is to provide a simplified manual for the primary care provider to reference to make knowledgeable and patient-centered decisions in the prescription of obesity medications and decisions in weight-management. My methodology included …

Predicting Ffar4 Agonists Using Structure-Based Machine Learning Approach Based On Molecular Fingerprints, Zaid Anis Sherwani, Syeda Sumayya Tariq, Mamona Mushtaq, Ali Raza Siddiqui, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Aftab Ahmed, Zaheer Ul-Haq

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4 (FFAR4), a G-protein-coupled receptor, is responsible for triggering intracellular signaling pathways that regulate various physiological processes. FFAR4 agonists are associated with enhancing insulin release and mitigating the atherogenic, obesogenic, pro-carcinogenic, and pro-diabetogenic effects, normally associated with the free fatty acids bound to FFAR4. In this research, molecular structure-based machine-learning techniques were employed to evaluate compounds as potential agonists for FFAR4. Molecular structures were encoded into bit arrays, serving as molecular fingerprints, which were subsequently analyzed using the Bayesian network algorithm to identify patterns for screening the data. The shortlisted hits obtained via machine learning protocols …

Broad-Spectrum Activity Of Membranolytic Cationic Macrocyclic Peptides Against Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria And Fungi, Sandeep Lohan, Anastasia G. Konshina, Rakesh K. Tiwari, Roman G. Efremov, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains causes severe problems in the treatment of microbial infections owing to limited treatment options. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are drawing considerable attention as promising antibiotic alternative candidates to combat MDR bacterial and fungal infections. Herein, we present a series of small amphiphilic membrane-active cyclic peptides composed, in part, of various nongenetically encoded hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids. Notably, lead cyclic peptides 3b and 4b showed broad-spectrum activity against drug-resistant Gram-positive (MIC = 1.5–6.2 µg/mL) and Gram-negative (MIC = 12.5–25 µg/mL) bacteria, and fungi (MIC = 3.1–12.5 µg/mL). Furthermore, lead peptides displayed substantial antibiofilm action comparable …

Beyond Mitragynine: Composition Survey And Stability Assessment Of Kratom Tea Ordered Via Food Delivery Platforms In Bangkok, Thailand, Yuta Tokuda, Apinya Tubtimrattana, Nat Tansrisawad, Kornvalee Meesilpavikkai, Parath Thirati

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: Kratom is a native tree to Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves have long been used medicinally and recreationally due to their stimulative and opioid-like effects attributed to high endogenous levels of mitragynine and related alkaloids. Kratom is widely consumed as tea and is now publicly sold, including on food delivery platforms, after recent decriminalization despite selling of kratom products being still considered illegal by other acts.

Objectives: To assess the formulas of kratom teas sold on Thai food delivery platform together with their consistency and the stability of refrigerated teas.

Methods: Kratom alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, and additive contents of …

Aspects Of Pharmaceutical Networks, Hannah Rita Joseph, Afia L. Rahaman, Kaya Wilson

ENGL 1102 Showcase

The theme of our anthology is different drugs and processes of drug usage in the result how the various aspects of the pharmaceutical companies. We analyze the quality of health that Americans receive from certain parts of the health care industry. We have focused on informing and analyzing the increase of insulin prices, and how that affects Americans everyday lives. The delivery methods of medical cannabis, how each method is effective, and how they are administered. As well as pharmaceutical scams and how it affects elderly people, who rely on medication.

Identification And Characterization Of Novel, Small Molecule Inhibitors Of Spermine Oxidase, Amelia Bryn Furbish

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

The major intracellular polyamines spermine and spermidine are abundant endogenous compounds that are essential for cellular growth and development. Dysregulation of polyamine metabolism has been implicated as a key mechanism of injury across multiple forms of clinically challenging pathologies. Of the enzymes within the polyamine pathway, the catabolic enzyme spermine oxidase (SMOX) is of particular interest as it is subject to induction in response to infection, neuronal excitotoxicity, ischemia, and oxidative stress. In addition to the loss of radical scavenging capabilities associated with spermine depletion, catabolism of spermine by SMOX results in the production of toxic byproducts, including H_{2 …}

Synthesis And Characterization Of Polymeric Nanoparticles To Enhance Celleullar Drug Delivery, Rahma Aly

Chemistry Theses

Medicines in the form of nanoparticles called nanomedicines, stand at the forefront of revolutionary advancements in healthcare, offering precise drug delivery and diagnostic capabilities. A recent example of nanomedicine in the clinic is the COVID-19 vaccine, which helped prevent death during the pandemic. While the potential benefits are immense, a myriad of challenges complicate their seamless integration into clinical practice. The design and fabrication of nanoparticles demand meticulous attention to biocompatibility and toxicity. Interactions with biological systems are complex, requiring a delicate balance between therapeutic efficacy and safety. The reticuloendothelial system's rapid clearance of nanoparticles, their instability in physiological environments, …

Role Of Protein Kinase A And A Kinase Anchoring Proteins In Buffering And Compartmentation Of Camp Signalling In Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells, Rinzhin T. Sherpa, Karni S. Moshal, Shailesh R. Agarwal, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Robert D. Harvey

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background and Purpose

In human airway smooth muscle (hASM) cells, not all receptors stimulating cAMP production elicit the same effects. This can only be explained if cAMP movement throughout the cell is restricted, yet the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) contribute to compartmentation of many cAMP responses, but PDE activity alone is predicted to be insufficient if cAMP is otherwise freely diffusible. We tested the hypothesis that buffering of cAMP by protein kinase A (PKA) associated with A kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) slows cAMP diffusion and that this contributes to receptor-mediated, compartmentalized responses.

Experimental Approach

Raster image …

An Injectable In Situ Forming Collagen/Alginate/Caso4 Composite Hydrogel For Tissue Engineering Applications: Optimization, Characterization And In Vitro Assessments, Samar A. Salim, Samar A. Salim

Nanotechnology Research Centre

In situ injectable hydrogels are effectively employed to fill irregular cavitary bone defects with initiating bone growth in targeted areas. Herein, an injectable composited hydrogel composed of collagen and alginate cross-linked in situ using different concentrations of calcium sulfate (0.15, 0.3 and 0.6%, wt./v) was synthesized. Recently, CaSO4 is frequently supported as a bone graft material for bone regeneration, owing to its biocompatibility and osteoconductive properties. Moreover, hydroxyapatite (Hap) after salinization-step by (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) was incorporated for further enhancing the osteoconductive property of injected hydrogels. All fabricated hydrogels were characterized by SEM, FTIR and XRD analyses. While physiochemical characteristics …

“The Role Of Artificial Intelligence In The Pharmaceutical Field: Enhancing Therapeutic Outcomes And Repurposing Through The Acceleration Of Drug Discovery”, Tonivie Valeriano

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The development of new drugs and their repurposing have considerably benefited the field of pharmacy. It will not only affect the pharmaceutical sector but also its diverse facets of health will be significantly influenced. Yet, the development of innovative medical treatments necessitated a lengthy period of expectancy for human survival. Individual survival rates were decreasing over time before the development of the treatment. Humanity has a limited lifespan. Moreover, investments in new drugs often go unnoticed because of the prolonged and complex process of drug research and development (R&D). In the future of pharmacy, artificial intelligence will continue to have …

Methionyl-Trna Synthetase Synthetic And Proofreading Activities Are Determinants Of Antibiotic Persistence, Whitney N. Wood, Miguel Angel Rubio, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Gregory J. Phillips, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Bacterial antibiotic persistence is a phenomenon where bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic and the majority of the population dies while a small subset enters a low metabolic, persistent, state and are able to survive. Once the antibiotic is removed the persistent population can resuscitate and continue growing. Several different molecular mechanisms and pathways have been implicated in this phenomenon. A common mechanism that may underly bacterial antibiotic persistence is perturbations in protein synthesis. To investigate this mechanism, we characterized four distinct metG mutants for their ability to increase antibiotic persistence. Two metG mutants encode changes near the catalytic site …

Mechanistic Investigation Of C—C Bond Activation Of Phosphaalkynes With Pt(0) Complexes, Roberto M. Escobar, Abdurrahman C. Ateşin, Christian Müller, William D. Jones, Tülay Ateşin

Research Symposium

Carbon–carbon (C–C) bond activation has gained increased attention as a direct method for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Due to the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inaccessibility of the C–C bonds, however, activation of C–C bonds by homogeneous transition-metal catalysts under mild homogeneous conditions is still a challenge. Most of the systems in which the activation occurs either have aromatization or relief of ring strain as the primary driving force. The activation of unstrained C–C bonds of phosphaalkynes does not have this advantage. This study employs Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate Pt(0)-mediated C–CP bond activation mechanisms in phosphaalkynes. Investigating the …

Real-Time Camp Dynamics In Live Cells Using The Fluorescent Camp Difference Detector In Situ, Isabella Cattani-Cavalieri, Jordyn Margolis, Camelia Anicolaesei, Francisco J. Nuñez, Rennolds S. Ostrom

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

cAMP Difference Detector In Situ (cADDis) is a novel biosensor that allows for the continuous measurement of cAMP levels in living cells. The biosensor is created from a circularly permuted fluorescent protein linked to the hinge region of Epac2. This creates a single fluorophore biosensor that displays either increased or decreased fluorescence upon binding of cAMP. The biosensor exists in red and green upward versions, as well as green downward versions, and several red and green versions targeted to subcellular locations. To illustrate the effectiveness of the biosensor, the green downward version, which decreases in fluorescence upon cAMP binding, was …

A Novel Micropeptide, Slitharin, Exerts Cardioprotective Effects In Myocardial Infarction, Ahmed G. E. Ibrahim, Alessandra Ciullo, Shukuro Yamaguchi, Chang Li, Travis Antes, Xaviar Jones, Liang Li, Ramachandran Murali, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Niveda Sundararaman, Daniel Soetkamp, Eugenio Cingolani, Jennifer Van Eyk, Eduardo Marbán

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose: Micropeptides are an emerging class of proteins that play critical roles in cell signaling. Here, we describe the discovery of a novel micropeptide, dubbed slitharin (Slt), in conditioned media from Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), a therapeutic cardiac stromal cell type.

Experimental design: We performed mass spectrometry of peptide-enriched fractions from the conditioned media of CDCs and a therapeutically inert cell type (human dermal fibrobasts). We then evaluated the therapeutic capacity of the candidate peptide using an in vitro model of cardiomyocyte injury and a rat model of myocardial infarction.

Results: We identified a novel 24-amino acid micropeptide …

January / February / March 2024, Randy Curry, Cindy Brooks

RURAL ROCKS

This is the January, February, and March issue of Rural Rocks from the SWOSU College of Pharmacy.

Repurposing Of Us-Fda-Approved Drugs As Negative Modulators Of Ubiquitin Specific Protease-7 (Usp7), Seema Zadi, Sumaira Javaid, Atia-Tul-Wahab, Humaira Zafar, Muhammad Awais, Innokentiy Maslennikov, M. Iqbal Choudhary

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Ubiquitin-specific protease7 (USP7) regulates the stability of the p53 tumor suppressor protein and several other proteins critical for tumor cell survival. Aberrant expression of USP7 facilitates human malignancies by altering the activity of proto-oncogenes/proteins, and tumor suppressor genes. Therefore, USP7 is a validated anti-cancer drug target. In this study, a drug repurposing approach was used to identify new hits against the USP7 enzyme. It is one of the most strategic approaches to find new uses for drugs in a cost- and time-effective way. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-based screening of 172 drugs identified 11 compounds that bind to the catalytic domain of …

Evaluation Of Novel Therapeutic Agents For The Treatment Of Chronic Dry Eyes, Lilian Huynh, Evonie Villarete, Surajit Dey

Annual Research Symposium

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular condition, where disrupted tear film stability and ocular surface inflammation affected between 5% to 34% of the worldwide population in 2015 and posed a challenge to conventional ophthalmic treatments. Recent advances have led to potential novel therapeutics aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve patient outcomes.

Nanoparticles For Applications In Specific Diagnostics And Precision Medicine, Naxhije Berisha

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Heterogeneity is common in the expression of cancer and treatment response. Precision medicine enables healthcare providers to tailor medical care to an individual's distinct genetic and environmental makeup. This customization has the potential to result in more efficient treatments while minimizing side effects. We believe that by studying the interface of nanotechnology and cancer medicine we can elucidate innovative solutions that address the challenges of disease heterogeneity. This includes advancements in drug delivery, formulations development, and diagnostic sensing. We highlight three studies that use nanotechnology for applications in precision medicine. In Chapter 2, we highlight design optimization of drug formulations …

Modifying Peptide/Lipid-Associated Nucleic Acids (Planas) For Crispr/Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Delivery, Abdulelah Alhazza, Parvin Mahdipoor, Ryley Hall, Arthur Manda, Sandeep Lohan, Keykavous Parang, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

With the first reports on the possibility of genome editing by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein (Cas)9 surfacing in 2005, the enthusiasm for protein silencing via nucleic acid delivery experienced a resurgence following a period of diminished enthusiasm due to challenges in delivering small interfering RNAs (siRNA), especially in vivo. However, delivering the components necessary for this approach into the nucleus is challenging, maybe even more than the cytoplasmic delivery of siRNA. We previously reported the birth of peptide/lipid-associated nucleic acids (PLANAs) for siRNA delivery. This project was designed to investigate the efficiency of …

Fentanyl And Methamphetamine Mixture Interactions On Drug Choice In Male And Female Sprague Dawley Rats, Voisava Bokciu, Nick Heslep, Allison Ortiz, Matthew L. Banks Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Closer Look At The Humanistic Aspects Of The Opioid Epidemic And Its Implications For Pharmaceutical Ethics And Law, Eriel Burns

Gaines Fellow Senior Theses

This paper elucidates the humanistic elements of this crisis, that is, the ethical challenges it poses and the role of culture in it. The opioid crisis disturbs several bioethics principles as indicated by the fact that it burgeoned out of the health care system as opposed to the illicit environments of the underground market. The book Dreamland by investigative journalist and storyteller, Sam Quinones encapsulates the complexity of the opioid epidemic through research and interviews with important figures related to the crisis such as physicians, people with opioid use disorder, and pharmaceutical sales representatives, among others. Quinones details that the …

Beer, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

The Complex Protein Analysis Of Purified Extracellular Vesicles In The Study Of Colorectal Cancer, Renee Boone, Cecilia Osthoff

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Proteomics, the study of complex protein mixtures in which liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is used to analyze peptide sequences, is commonly utilized to study the double membrane, cell-derived vesicles known as exosomes. Exosomes are double membrane, cell-derived vesicles that contain cell components such as DNA, lipids, and proteins. They function to transport proteins and cellular materials between cells and are involved in the progression and metastasis of cancer. The impact of these extracellular vesicles on cancer spread can be analyzed using proteomics, through the purification of the proteins isolated from the vesicles. The purpose of our research is to analyze …

Wine, Sparkling, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Wine, Other, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Table B: Generally Recognized As Safe (Gras) Food Additives Containing Aluminum, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.