Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

Collaborative Pharmacy Practice: An Update, Anandi V. Law, Eric K. Gupta, Micah Hata, Karl M. Hess, Roger S. Klotz, Quang A. Le, Emmanuelle Schwartzmann, Bik-Wai Bilvick Tai

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Collaborative practice among health professionals is slowly coming of age, given the global focus on efficiency and effectiveness of care to achieve positive patient outcomes and to reduce the economic burden of fragmented care. Collaborative pharmacy practice (CPP) is accordingly evolving within different models including: disease management, medication therapy management, patient centered medical home, and accountable care organizations. Pharmacist roles in these models relate to drug therapy management and include therapy introduction, adjustment, or discontinuation, patient counseling and education, and identification, resolution, and prevention of problems leading to drug interactions and adverse reactions. Most forms of CPP occur with physicians …

Liposomal Fasudil, A Rho-Kinase Inhibitor, For Prolonged Pulmonary Preferential Vasodilation In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Vivek Gupta, Nilesh Gupta, Imam H. Shaik, Reza Mehvar, Ivan F. Mcmurty, Masahiko Osa, Eva Nozik-Grayck, Fakhrul Ahsan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Current pharmacological interventions for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) require continuous infusions, multiple inhalations, or oral administration of drugs that act on various pathways involved in the pathogenesis of PAH. However, invasive methods of administration, short duration of action, and lack of pulmonary selectivity result in noncompliance and poor patient outcomes. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that encapsulation of an investigational anti-PAH molecule fasudil (HA-1077), a Rho-kinase inhibitor, into liposomal vesicles results in prolonged vasodilation in distal pulmonary arterioles. Liposomes were prepared by hydration and extrusion method and fasudil was loaded by ammonium sulfate-induced transmembrane electrochemical gradient. Liposomes were …

Design, Synthesis And Evaluation Of Antimicrobial Activity Of N-Terminal Modified Leucocin A Analogues, Krishna Chaitanya Bodapati, Rania Soudy, Hashem Etayash, Michael Stiles, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Class IIa bacteriocins are potent antimicrobial peptides produced by lactic acid bacteria to destroy competing microorganisms. The N-terminal domain of these peptides consists of a conserved YGNGV sequence and a disulphide bond. The YGNGV motif is essential for activity, whereas, the two cysteines involved in the disulphide bond can be replaced with hydrophobic residues. The C-terminal region has variable sequences, and folds into a conserved amphipathic α-helical structure. To elucidate the structure–activity relationship in the N-terminal domain of these peptides, three analogues (1–3) of a class IIa bacteriocin, Leucocin A (LeuA), were designed and synthesized by …

Acute Coronary Syndromes: Current Treatment Guidelines And Updates, Bernard Lau, Michael Lee, Thien Tran, Laura Tsu

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

This home-study CPE activity has been developed to educate pharmacists on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its medical management.

What Evidence Is Available On Aldosterone Antagonists For Use In Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction?, Vivian Loo, Laura Tsu

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

This drug information question and answer sheet discusses the use of aldosterone antagonists for use in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles: A Future Therapeutic Platform For The Treatment Of Osteomyelitis?, Tejal A. Dasai, Vuk Uskoković

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

No abstract provided.

Chikungunya Virus Infection Results In Higher And Persistent Viral Replication In Aged Rhesus Macaques Due To Defects In Anti-Viral Immunity, Ilhem Messaoudi, Jennifer Totonchy, Thomas Totonchy, Craig N. Kreklywich, Kristen Haberthur, Laura Springgay, James D. Brien, Michael S. Diamond, Victor R. Defilippis, Daniel N. Streblow

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne Alphavirus that causes a clinical disease involving fever, myalgia, nausea and rash. The distinguishing feature of CHIKV infection is the severe debilitating poly-arthralgia that may persist for several months after viral clearance. Since its re-emergence in 2004, CHIKV has spread from the Indian Ocean region to new locations including metropolitan Europe, Japan, and even the United States. The risk of importing CHIKV to new areas of the world is increasing due to high levels of viremia in infected individuals as well as the recent adaptation of the virus to the mosquito species Aedes …

Aberrant Proliferation In Cxcr7+ Endothelial Cells Via Degradation Of The Retinoblastoma Protein, Jennifer Totonchy, Jessica M. Osborn, Sara Botto, Lisa Clepper, Ashlee V. Moses

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the growth and dissemination of solid tumors. Indeed, tumor vasculature is abnormal and contributes to the development and spread of malignancies by creating a hostile microenvironment. The alternative SDF-1/CXCL12 receptor, CXCR7, is frequently and specifically expressed in tumor-associated vessels. In this study, we examine the role of endothelium-expressed CXCR7 in tumor vascular dysfunction by specifically examining the contribution of CXCR7 to endothelial cell (EC) proliferation. We demonstrate that CXCR7 expression is sufficient to drive post-confluent growth in EC cultures. Further, we provide a novel mechanism for CXCR7-mediated proliferation via proteasomal degradation of the tumor …

Corneal Gene Therapy: Basic Science And Translational Perspective, Rajiv R. Mohan, Jason T. Rodier, Ajay Sharma

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Corneal blindness is the third leading cause of blindness worldwide. Gene therapy is an emerging technology for corneal blindness due to the accessibility and immune-privileged nature of the cornea, ease of vector administration and visual monitoring, and ability to perform frequent noninvasive corneal assessment. Vision restoration by gene therapy is contingent upon vector and mode of therapeutic gene introduction into targeted cells/tissues. Numerous efficacious vectors, delivery techniques, and approaches have evolved in last decade for developing gene-based interventions for corneal diseases. Maximizing the potential benefits of gene therapy requires efficient and sustained therapeutic gene expression in target cells, low toxicity, …

Bmp7 Gene Transfer Via Gold Nanoparticles Into Stroma Inhibits Corneal Fibrosis In Vivo, Ashish Tandon, Ajay Sharma, Jason T. Rodier, Alexander M. Klibanov, Frank G. Rieger, Rajiv R. Mohan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

This study examined the effects of BMP7 gene transfer on corneal wound healing and fibrosis inhibition in vivo using a rabbit model. Corneal haze in rabbits was produced with the excimer laser performing -9 diopters photorefractive keratectomy. BMP7 gene was introduced into rabbit keratocytes by polyethylimine-conjugated gold nanoparticles (PEI2- GNPs) transfection solution single 5-minute topical application on the eye. Corneal haze and ocular health in live animals was gauged with stereo- and slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The levels of fibrosis [a-smooth muscle actin (aSMA), F-actin and fibronectin], immune reaction (CD11b and F4/80), keratocyte apoptosis (TUNEL), calcification (alizarin red, vonKossa and osteocalcin), and …

Multifunctional Hydroxyapatite And Poly(D,L-Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Nanoparticles For The Local Delivery Of Cholecalciferol, Nenad Ignjatović, Vuk Uskoković, Zorica Ajduković, Dragan Uskoković

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Cholecalciferol, vitamin D3, plays an important role in bone metabolism by regulating extracellular levels of calcium. Presented here is a study on the effects of the local delivery of cholecalciferol (D3) using nanoparticulate carriers composed of hydroxyapatite (HAp) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). Multifunctional nanoparticulate HAp-based powders were prepared for the purpose of: (a) either fast or sustained, local delivery of cholecalciferol, and (b) the secondary, osteoconductive and defect-filling effect of the carrier itself. Two types of HAp-based powders with particles of narrowly dispersed sizes in the nano range were prepared and tested in this study: HAp nanoparticles as direct cholecalciferol delivery …

The Antiinflammatory Action And Pharmacokinetics Of A Novel Glucosamine-Based Di-Peptide Aminosugar, Mohammad H. Gilzad-Kohan, Kamaljit Kaur, Fakhreddin Jamali

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose. We have previously shown favorable in vitro gut permeability for three novel dipeptide esters of glucosamine (GlcN) likely facilitated by the peptide transporter 1 (PepT1). Herein, we report the development of a novel assay for the determination of bioavailability of the peptide ester of interest, the anti-inflammatory properties of a glycine-valine ester derivative of GlcN (GVG) as well as its pharmacokinetics under healthy and inflammatory conditions.

Methods. A pre-column derivatization (with 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) HPLC assay was developed to study bioavailability of GVG, GlcN or cleaved GlcN in the rats that were cannulated in their right jugular vein for …

Phase Composition Control Of Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles For Tunable Drug Delivery Kinetics And Treatment Of Osteomyelitis. Part 1: Preparation And Drug Release, Vuk Uskoković, Tejal A. Dasai

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Developed in this study is a multifunctional material for simultaneous osseoinduction and drug delivery, potentially applicable in the treatment of osteomyelitis. It is composed of agglomerates of nanoparticles of calcium phosphate (CAP) with different monophasic contents. The drug loading capacity and the release kinetics were investigated on two model drug compounds with different chemical structures, sizes and adsorption propensities: bovine serum albumin and fluorescein. Loading of CAP powders with small molecule drugs was achieved by physisorption and desiccation-induced agglomeration of nanoparticulate subunits into microscopic blocks. The material dissolution rate and the drug release rate depended on the nature of the …

Variceal Bleeding From Cirrhosis: A Clinical Review Of Causes And Pharmacotherapy Options, Hillary Aphaisuwan, Ibrahim Lala, Laura Tsu

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

This home-study CPE activity has been developed to educate pharmacists on the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic esophageal varices resulting from cirrhosis.

Disparity Implications Of The Medicare Medication Therapy Management Eligibility Criteria: A Literature Review, Kiraat D. Munshi, Ya-Chen Tina Shih, Lawrence M. Brown, Samuel Dagogo-Jack, Jim Y. Wan, Junling Wang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The emphasis on eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare has received national attention, with various policy initiatives addressing this problem and proposing solutions. However, in the current economic era requiring tight monetary constraints, emphasis is increasingly being placed on economic efficiency, which often conflicts with the equality doctrine upon which many policies have been framed. The authors’ review aims to highlight the disparity implications of one such policy provision – the predominantly utilization-based eligibility criteria for medication therapy management services under Medicare Part D – by identifying studies that have documented racial and ethnic disparities in health status and …

Nanoparticles Of Cobalt-Substituted Hydroxyapatite In Regeneration Of Mandibular Osteoporotic Bones, Nenad Ignjatović, Zorica Ajduković, Vojin Savić, Stevo Najman, Dragan Mihailović, Perica Vasilijević, Zoran Stojanović, Vuk Uskoković, Dragab Uskoković

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Indications exist that paramagnetic calcium phosphates may be able to promote regeneration of bone faster than their regular, diamagnetic counterparts. In this study, analyzed was the influence of paramagnetic cobalt-substituted hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on osteoporotic alveolar bone regeneration in rats. Simultaneously, biocompatibility of the material was tested in vitro, on osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 and epithelial Caco-2 cells in culture. The material was shown to be biocompatible and nontoxic when added to epithelial monolayers in vitro, while it caused a substantial decrease in the cell viability as well as deformation of the cytoskeleton and cell morphology when incubated with the osteoblastic …

Phase Composition Control Of Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles For Tunable Drug Delivery Kinetics And Treatment Of Osteomyelitis. Part 2: Antibacterial And Osteoblastic Response, Vuk Uskoković, Tejal A. Dasai

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Osteomyelitis has been traditionally treated by the combination of long-term antibiotic therapies and surgical removal of diseased tissue. The multifunctional material was developed in this study with the aim to improve this therapeutic approach by: (a) enabling locally delivered and sustained release of antibiotics at a tunable rate, so as to eliminate the need for repetitive administration of systemically distributed antibiotics; and (b) controllably dissolving itself, so as to promote natural remineralization of the portion of bone lost to disease. We report hereby on the effect of the previously synthesized calcium phosphates (CAPs) with tunable solubilities and drug release time …

Pharmacokinetics And Brain Uptake In The Rhesus Monkey Of A Fusion Protein Of Arylsulfatase A And A Monoclonal Antibody Against The Human Insulin Receptor, Ruben J. Boado, Jeff Zhiqiang Lu, Eric Ka-Wai Hui, Rachita K. Sumbria, William M. Pardridge

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lysosomal storage disorder of the brain caused by mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal sulfatase, arylsulfatase A (ASA). It is not possible to treat the brain in MLD with recombinant ASA, because the enzyme does not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the present investigation, a BBB-penetrating IgG-ASA fusion protein is engineered and expressed, where the ASA monomer is fused to the carboxyl terminus of each heavy chain of an engineered monoclonal antibody (MAb) against the human insulin receptor (HIR). The HIRMAb crosses the BBB via receptor-mediated transport on the endogenous BBB insulin receptor, …

Development Of A Men’S Preference For Testosterone Replacement Therapy (P-Trt) Instrument, Sheryl L. Szeinbach, Enrique Seoane-Vazquez, Kent H. Summers

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: This study used a standard research approach to create a final conceptual model and the Preference for the Testosterone Replacement Therapy (P-TRT) instrument.

Methods: A discussion guide was developed from a literature review and expert opinion to direct one-on-one interviews with participants who used testosterone replacement therapy and consented to participate in the study. Data from telephone interviews were transcribed for theme analysis using NVivo 9 qualitative analysis software, analyzed descriptively from a saturation grid, and used to evaluate men’s P-TRT. Data from cognitive debriefing for five participants were used to evaluate the final conceptual model and …

Anti-Neoplastic Activity Of Two Flavone Isomers Derived From Gnaphalium Elegans And Achyrocline Bogotensis, Christan M. Thomas, Robert C. Wood Iii, Jarrett E. Wyatt, Morgan H. Pendleton, Ruben B. Torrenegra, Oscar E. Rodriguez, Sam Harirforoosh, Maria Ballester, Janet Lightner, Koyamangalath Krishnan, Victoria P. Ramsauer

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Over 4000 flavonoids have been identified so far and among these, many are known to have antitumor activities. The basis of the relationships between chemical structures, type and position of substituent groups and the effects these compounds exert specifically on cancer cells are not completely elucidated. Here we report the differential cytotoxic effects of two flavone isomers on human cancer cells from breast (MCF7, SK-BR-3), colon (Caco-2, HCT116), pancreas (MIA PaCa, Panc 28), and prostate (PC3, LNCaP) that vary in differentiation status and tumorigenic potential. These flavones are derived from plants of the family Asteraceae, genera Gnaphalium and Achyrocline reputed …

Selectivity Of The Ubiquitin-Binding Modules, Simin Rahighi, Ivan Dikic

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Ubiquitin-binding modules are constituents of cellular proteins that mediate the effects of ubiquitylation by making transient, non-covalent interactions with ubiquitin molecules. While some ubiquitin- binding modules bind single ubiquitin moieties, others are selective for specific ubiquitin chains of different linkage types and lengths. In recent years, functions of ubiquitin chains that are polymerized through their Lys or N-terminal Met (i.e. linear chains) residues have been linked to a variety of cellular processes. Selectivity of ubiquitin-binding modules for different ubiquitin chain types appears as a key to the distinct regulatory consequences during protein quality control pathways, receptor endocytosis, gene transcription, signaling …

Pharmacists And Pharmacogenomics: An Evaluation Of Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes And Practices, Laressa Bethishou, Angela Chen, Chrissie Chew, Richard Dang, Courtney Greenber, Rebecca Ashlee Klevens, Vlada Treynker, Andrew Warnock, Melissa Durham, Jeffery A. Goad, Edith Mirzaian

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Pharmacogenomics is the term used to describe the rapidly advancing study on how genetic makeup can impact drug therapy. In specialized clinical situations, such as the use of irinotecan in colon cancer or abacavir in HIV infections, it is now possible to identify specific genotypes that correlate strongly with a patient's therapeutic outcome, with implications on both efficacy and side effects. On a broader scale, a systematic review published by the Journal of the American Medical Association on the top 27 adverse reaction-causing drugs found that a majority of the adverse effects have a genetic component, suggesting that an analysis …

Medication Therapy Management, Challenges: The Pharmacist’S Emerging Role, Parth D. Shah, Jeffery A. Goad, Edith Mirzaian, Melissa Durham

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"The pharmacist's role on the healthcare team has received much attention lately as the new Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare legislation creates opportunities for pharmacists. lnterprofessional collaboration will transform the way pharmacists deliver health services to patients with respect to their medications. In the community, pharmacist-provided services have been moving away from the traditional role of dispensing to cognitive services that maximize the patient's safe and effective use of medications. The current movement in medical care within the United States is to adopt a model that is patient-centric. The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) recognizes that "patient-centric" systems are evolving, …

Ginkgo Extract Egb761 Confers Neuroprotection By Reduction Of Glutamate Release In Ischemic Brain, Alexander Mdzinarishvili, Rachita K. Sumbria, Dorothee Lang, Jochen Klein

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose - Ginkgo extract EGb761 has shown anti-edema and anti-ischemic effects in various experimental models. In the present study, we demonstrate neuroprotective effects of EGb761 in experimental stroke while monitoring brain metabolism by microdialysis. Methods - We have used oxygen-glucose deprivation in brain slices in vitro and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in vivo to induce ischemia in mouse brain. We used microdialysis in mouse striatum to monitor extracellular concentrations of glucose and glutamate. Results - In vitro, EGb761 reduced ischemia-induced cell swelling in hippocampal slices by 60%. In vivo, administration of EGb761 (300 mg/kg) reduced cell degeneration and edema …

Synthetic Peptides Derived From The Sequence Of A Lasso Peptide Microcin J25 Show Antibacterial Activity, Rania Soudy, Liru Wang, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Microcin J25 (MccJ25) is a plasmid-encoded, ribosomally synthesized antibacterial peptide with a unique lasso structure. The lasso structure, produced with the aid of two processing enzymes, provides exceptional stability to MccJ25. We report the synthesis of six peptides (1–6), derived from the MccJ25 sequence, that are designed to form folded conformation by disulfide bond formation and electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions. Two peptides (1 and 6) display good activity against Salmonella newport, and are the first synthetic derivatives of MccJ25 that are bactericidal. Peptide 1 displays potent activity against several Salmonella strains including two …

Vorinostat: A Potent Agent To Prevent And Treat Laser-Induced Corneal Haze, Ashish Tandon, Jonathan C. K. Tovey, Michael R. Waggoner, Ajay Sharma, John W. Cowden, Daniel J. Gibson, Yuanjing Liu, Gregory S. Schultz, Rajiv R. Mohan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

PURPOSE—This study investigated the efficacy and safety of vorinostat, a deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, in the treatment of laser-induced corneal haze following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in rabbits in vivo and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) -induced corneal fibrosis in vitro.

METHODS—Corneal haze in rabbits was produced with −9.00 diopters (D) PRK. Fibrosis in cultured human and rabbit corneal fibroblasts was activated with TGFβ1. Vorinostat (25 μm) was topically applied once for 5 minutes on rabbit cornea immediately after PRK for in vivo studies. Vorinostat (0 to 25 μm) was given to human/rabbit corneal fibroblasts for 5 minutes or 48 …

Effects Of Simulations On The Learning Of Pharmacokinetic Concepts, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: Although the use of computer simulations in pharmacokinetics courses is not new, the data on the effects of simulation on student learning are scarce. The objective of this study was to design and evaluate the use of Web-based simulations on the learning of pharmacokinetic concepts by doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students.

Method: Six online modules were designed to allow the instructor and students to use “what-if” scenarios for understanding the effects of various dosage regimens and/or pharmacokinetic parameters on the plasma concentration-time courses of drugs. The designed modules were intravenous and oral pharmacokinetic concepts, bioavailability, intravenous infusion, …

N-Myristoylglutamic Acid Derivative Of 3′-Fluoro-3′- Deoxythymidine As An Organogel, Bhupender S. Chhikara, Rakesh Tiwari, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Designing microbicidal gels of anti-HIV drugs for local application to prevent HIV infection is a subject of major interest. 3′-Fluoro-3′-deoxythymidine (FLT), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), was conjugated with a N-myristoylglutamate scaffold. The conjugate showed gelation at 1% (w/w) in different organic solvents, such as toluene, dichloromethane, and chloroform. The gels were opaque and stable at room temperature. The results indicate that myristoyl glutamate derivative of FLT can form an organogel. The gel could have potential application as a topical anti-HIV microbicidal agent.

Bsa Nanoparticles For Sirna Delivery: Coating Effects On Nanoparticle Properties, Plasma Protein Adsorption, And In Vitro Sirna Delivery, Haran Yogasundaram, Markian Stephan Bahniuk, Harsh-Deep Singh, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi, Hasan Uludag, Larry David Unsworth

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Developing vehicles for the delivery of therapeutic molecules, like siRNA, is an area of active research. Nanoparticles composed of bovine serum albumin, stabilized via the adsorption of poly-L-lysine (PLL), have been shown to be potentially inert drug-delivery vehicles. With the primary goal of reducing nonspecific protein adsorption, the effect of using comb-type structures of poly(ethylene glycol) (1 kDa, PEG) units conjugated to PLL (4.2 and 24 kDa) on BSA-NP properties, apparent siRNA release rate, cell viability, and cell uptake were evaluated. PEGylated PLL coatings resulted in NPs with ζ-potentials close to neutral. Incubation with platelet-poor plasma showed the composition of …

Melatonin Membrane Receptors In Peripheral Tissues: Distribution And Functions, Radomir M. Slominski, Russel J. Reiter, Natalia Schlabritz-Loutsevich, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Andrzej T. Slominski

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Many of melatonin’s actions are mediated through interaction with the G-protein coupled membrane bound melatonin receptors type 1 and type 2 (MT1 and MT2, respectively) or, indirectly with nuclear orphan receptors from the RORα/RZR family. Melatonin also binds to the quinone reductase II enzyme, previously defined the MT3 receptor. Melatonin receptors are widely distributed in the body; herein we summarize their expression and actions in non-neural tissues. Several controversies still exist regarding, for example, whether melatonin binds the RORα/RZR family. Studies of the peripheral distribution of melatonin receptors are important since they are attractive targets for immunomodulation, regulation of endocrine, …