Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

July / August 2023, Randy Curry, Cindy Brooks

RURAL ROCKS

This is the July & August 2023 issue of Rural Rocks from the SWOSU College of Pharmacy.

Exploring The Experiences Of Underrepresented Students Pursuing Health-Related Graduate Or Professional Programs, Alison Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For many years graduate and professional education programs for the health professions have sought to increase the diversity of their student body to include students from a wider variety of backgrounds. Increasing the diversity of healthcare providers is an essential component of addressing inequities in healthcare. However, despite initiatives to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the health professions, these professions remain largely White and female. Previous researchers have sought to identify the reasons that racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in healthcare, and the barriers to persistence and success. Little research exists explaining why men are underrepresented in the …

The Incidence Of Hematological Toxicities In Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated With Fluoropyrimidine-Based Regimens At Princess Noorah Oncology Center., Mansoor Khan, Sara Alharbi, Shahad Aljuhani, Mariam Tunkar, Amjaad Morya, Abdelmajid Alnatsheh Pharmd, Majed Alshamrani, Razaz Felemban

PCI Publications and Projects

Background Fluoropyrimidine-based regimens are used for the management of colorectal cancer, which is the second most common cancer in Saudi Arabia. We aimed to study the incidence of hematological toxicities in colorectal cancer patients treated with fluoropyrimidine and fluoropyrimidine-based regimens at Princess Noorah Oncology Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  Methods A retrospective cohort study that included adult colorectal cancer patients who were treated with fluoropyrimidine-based regimens from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 at Princess Noorah Oncology Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was performed. Our primary objective was to determine the incidence of anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia …

Prorelaxant E-Type Prostanoid Receptors Functionally Partition To Different Procontractile Receptors In Airway Smooth Muscle, Ajay P. Nayak, Elham Javed, Dominic R. Villaba, Yinna Wang, Henry P. Morelli, Sushrut D. Shah, Nicholas Kim, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Reynold A. Pannettieri Jr., Steven S. An, Dale D. Tang, Raymond B. Penn

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Prostaglandin E2 imparts diverse physiological effects on multiple airway cells through its actions on four distinct E-type prostanoid (EP) receptor subtypes (EP1–EP4). Gs-coupled EP2 and EP4 receptors are expressed on airway smooth muscle (ASM), yet their capacity to regulate the ASM contractile state remains subject to debate. We used EP2 and EP4 subtype-specific agonists (ONO-259 and ONO-329, respectively) in cell- and tissue-based models of human ASM contraction—magnetic twisting cytometry (MTC), and precision-cut lung slices (PCLSs), respectively—to study the EP2 and EP4 regulation of ASM contraction and signaling under conditions of histamine or methacholine (MCh) stimulation. ONO-329 was superior (<0.05) to ONO-259 in relaxing MCh-contracted PCLSs (log half maximal effective concentration [logEC50]: 4.9 × 10−7 vs. 2.2 × 10−6; maximal bronchodilation ± SE, 35 ± 2% vs. 15 ± 2%). However, ONO-259 and ONO-329 were similarly efficacious in relaxing histamine-contracted PCLSs. Similar differential effects were observed in MTC studies. Signaling analyses revealed only modest differences in ONO-329– and ONO-259–induced phosphorylation of the protein kinase A substrates VASP and HSP20, with concomitant stimulation with MCh or histamine. Conversely, ONO-259 failed to inhibit MCh-induced phosphorylation of the regulatory myosin light chain (pMLC20) and the F-actin/G-actin ratio (F/G-actin ratio) while effectively inhibiting their induction by histamine. ONO-329 was effective in reversing induced pMLC20 and the F/G-actin ratio with both MCh and histamine. Thus, the contractile-agonist–dependent differential effects are not explained by changes in the global levels of phosphorylated protein kinase A substrates but are reflected in the regulation of pMLC20 (cross-bridge cycling) and F/G-actin ratio (actin cytoskeleton integrity, force transmission), implicating a role for compartmentalized signaling involving muscarinic, histamine, and EP receptor subtypes.

Comments Re: Workshop On Transforming Discoveries Into Products: Maximizing Nih’S Levers To Catalyze Technology Transfer, Fred D. Ledley M.D., Edward Zhou Pharm. D, Paula Chaves Da Silva, Ph. D.

CISI Publication

We are pleased to offer written comments to this workshop focused on “… making federally funded inventions more accessible to the public… .” These comments are informed by recent research from the Center for Integration of Science and Industry at Bentley University that has:

• Quantified the scope of NIH funding for basic or applied research, clinical development, or patents associated with drugs approved by the FDA 2010-2019. This work identified $187 billion in NIH-funded research directly related to these drugs (applied research – 17%) or their biological targets (basic research – 83%), representing a (discounted) investment comparable to reported levels …

Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy Of Curcumin: Advances In Delivery Systems And Clinical Applications., Hossein Omidian, Renae L. Wilson, Sumana Dey Chowdhury

HPD Articles

Curcumin, a potent active compound found in turmeric and Curcuma xanthorrhiza oil, possesses a wide range of therapeutic properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing activities. However, its clinical effectiveness is hindered by its low bioavailability and rapid elimination from the body. To overcome these limitations, researchers have explored innovative delivery systems for curcumin. Some promising approaches include solid lipid nanoparticles, nanomicelle gels, and transdermal formulations for topical drug delivery. In the field of dentistry, curcumin gels have shown effectiveness against oral disorders and periodontal diseases. Moreover, Pickering emulsions and floating in situ gelling systems have been developed to …

Α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Interaction With G Proteins In Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Motility, And Calcium Signaling, Murat Oz, Justin R. King, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Sarah Khushaish, Yulia Tchugunova, Maitham A. Khajah, Yunus A. Luqmani, Nadine Kabbani

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Chronic smoking is a primary risk factor for breast cancer due to the presence of various toxins and carcinogens within tobacco products. Nicotine is the primary addictive component of tobacco products and has been shown to promote breast cancer cell proliferation and metastases. Nicotine activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that are expressed in cancer cell lines. Here, we examine the role of the α7 nAChR in coupling to heterotrimeric G proteins within breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Pharmacological activation of the α7 nAChR using choline or nicotine was found to increase proliferation, motility, and calcium signaling in MCF-7 cells. This effect …

An Analysis Of Patterns Of Distribution Of Buprenorphine In The United States Using Arcos, Medicaid, And Medicare Databases, Zhi-Shan Hsu, Justina A. Warnick, Tice R. Harkins, Briana E. Sylvester, Neal K. Bharati, Letausjua B. Eley, Stephanie D. Nichols, Kenneth Mccall, Brian J. Piper

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Opioid overdose remains a problem in the United States despite pharmacotherapies, such as buprenorphine, in the treatment of opioid use disorder. This study characterized changes in buprenorphine use. Using the Drug Enforcement Administration's ARCOS, Medicaid, and Medicare claims databases, patterns in buprenorphine usage in the United States from 2018 to 2020 were analyzed by examining percentage changes in total grams distributed and changes in grams per 100 K people in year-to-year usage based on ZIP code and state levels. For ARCOS from 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020, total buprenorphine distribution in grams increased by 16.2% and 12.6%, respectively. …

The Structural Characterization And Bioactivity Assessment Of Nonspecific Lipid Transfer Protein 1 (Nsltp1) From Caraway (Carum Carvi) Seeds, Taibah Aldakhil, Saud O. Alshammari, Bushra Siraj, Bishoy El-Aarag, Shamshad Zarina, David Salehi, Aftab Ahmed

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Carum carvi (caraway) of the Apiaceae family has been used in many cultures as a cooking spice and part of the folk medicine. Previous reports primarily focus on the medicinal properties of caraway seed essential oil and the whole seeds extract. However, no effort has been made to study caraway proteins and their potential pharmacological properties, including nonspecific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP), necessitating further research. The current study aimed to characterize nonspecific lipid transfer protein 1 (nsLTP1) from caraway seed, determine its three-dimensional structure, and analyze protein–ligand complex interactions through docking studies. We also evaluated nsLTP1 in vitro cytotoxic …

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma - A Case Report, Dr Godha Keesara Reddy Dr, Dr Anupama Chandrappa Dr, Dr Deepak K S

Radiology Teaching Files

15 year old male who presented with a 6 month history of nasal obstruction and recurrent nasal bleeding. He had had about ten episodes of epistaxis in the 3 months. Examination revealed that vital signs were essentially within normal limits.The nasal cavity revealed fresh blood in the right nasal cavity but the bleeding site could not be visualized. An impression of epistaxis secondary rhinosinusitis was made.

Spending On Phased Clinical Development Of Approved Drugs By The Us National Institutes Of Health Compared With Industry, Edward W. Zhou, Matthew J. Jackson, Fred D. Ledley

Natural & Applied Sciences Faculty Publications

The launch of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to advance new cures and address public concern regarding drug prices has raised questions about the roles of government and industry in drug development.

This cross-sectional study examined NIH funding for published research reporting the results of phased clinical trials of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019 and compared the findings with reported industry spending estimates. Data analysis was performed between May 2021 and August 2022 using PubMed data from January 1999 through October 2021 and NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Results data from January 1999 through …

Proteoglycan 4 (Prg4)/Lubricin And The Extracellular Matrix In Gout, Khaled A. Elsaid, Gregory D. Jay, Ru Liu-Bryan, Robert Terkeltaub

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) is a mucinous glycoprotein secreted by synovial fibroblasts and superficial zone chondrocytes, released into synovial fluid, and adsorbed on cartilage and synovial surfaces. PRG4′s roles include cartilage boundary lubrication, synovial homeostasis, immunomodulation, and suppression of inflammation. Gouty arthritis is mediated by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal phagocytosis by synovial macrophages, with NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β release. The phagocytic receptor CD44 mediates MSU crystal uptake by macrophages. By binding CD44, PRG4 limits MSU crystal uptake and downstream inflammation. PRG4/CD44 signaling is transduced by protein phosphatase 2A, which inhibits NF-κB, decreases xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), urate production, and ROS-mediated IL-1β …

The Effect Of Heat Treatment And Chemical Treatment On Natural Fibre To The Durability Of Wood Plastic Composites – A Review, Nuratiqah Asyiqin Mohd Nasharudin, Nur Fatihah Sulaiman, Nurul Aziemah Mohammad, Wan Nor Raihan Wan Jaafar, Falah Abu Dr., Siti Norasmah Surip

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

The application of WPC is not only limited to indoor applications but has been extended to exterior applications where properties of WPC could compromise during service life. WPC was derived from wood fiber of various sizes to reinforce polymers. Wood fiber has the advantage of a cheaper price, being abundantly available, and ease of processing, however, the critical factor is its hydrophilic nature, where moisture absorption is likely to occur. Thus, treatments for reducing the hydrophilicity of wood fibers are applied. By treatment of wood fiber, the surface impurities were removed, leaving the roughened surface of fibers, thus providing a …

High-Performing Conductive Hydrogels For Wearable Applications., Hossein Omidian, Sumana Dey Chowdhury

HPD Articles

Conductive hydrogels have gained significant attention for their extensive applications in healthcare monitoring, wearable sensors, electronic devices, soft robotics, energy storage, and human-machine interfaces. To address the limitations of conductive hydrogels, researchers are focused on enhancing properties such as sensitivity, mechanical strength, electrical performance at low temperatures, stability, antibacterial properties, and conductivity. Composite materials, including nanoparticles, nanowires, polymers, and ionic liquids, are incorporated to improve the conductivity and mechanical strength. Biocompatibility and biosafety are emphasized for safe integration with biological tissues. Conductive hydrogels exhibit unique properties such as stretchability, self-healing, wet adhesion, anti-freezing, transparency, UV-shielding, and adjustable mechanical properties, making …

Navigating The Path To Safe Compounding In Health Systems, Thomas Pile, Craig Kimble, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Across the country health systems are facing increasing drug shortages that are forcing pharmacists to rely far more heavily on compounding to meet the needs of patients. Additionally, several high-profile compounding incidents have helped highlight the importance of ensuring best practices are followed during sterile and nonsterile compounding to support patient safety and high-quality care. Specifically, in 2022, 160 drug shortages were reported in pharmacies. From January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023, 47 drug shortages were reported, 55% of which were for injectables. In response, compounding has increasingly become a solution to bridge that gap.

Phad 690: Data Management & Statistical Software, Sujith Ramachandran Ph.D., Yinan Huang, Ms, Ph.D.

GMAS Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Sharksrx Newsletter Summer 2023, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Sharks Rx

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Nanoparticle Weight On The Cellular Uptake And Drug Delivery Potential Of Plga Nanoparticles, Prabhat Kattel, Shoukath Sulthana, JiřÍ Trousil, Dinesh Shrestha, David Pearson, Santosh Aryal

Pharmacy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) stand out as a key tool for improving drug bioavailability, reducing the inherent toxicity, and targeting the intended site. Most importantly, the ease of polymer synthesis and its derivatization to add functional properties makes them potentially ideal to fulfill the requirements for intended therapeutic applications. Among many polymers, US FDA-approved poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) is a widely used biocompatible and biodegradable co-polymer in drug delivery and in implantable biomaterials. While many studies have been conducted using PLGA NPs as a drug delivery system, less attention has been given to understanding the effect of NP weight …

Drug Repurposing: New Mechanisms And Applications Of Existing Compounds, Biyun Celia Cui

Theses and Dissertations

HIV infection remains a significant global health challenge. Despite the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV (PLWH) still face a disproportionate burden of major health problems. One of these problems is HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which includes a spectrum of cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments. Although severe forms of HAND have decreased, milder forms are on the rise, posing a significant obstacle for PLWH.

The persistence of HIV in the central nervous system (CNS) is a challenge of HAND treatment and involves a combination of factors, including neurotoxic HIV proteins, chronic neuroinflammation, and comorbidity with substance …

Cdk8 And Cdk19 Mediator Kinases As Novel Targets In Advanced Prostate Cancer, Jing Li

Theses and Dissertations

Following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), prostate cancers (PCa) progress to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) status, where their growth becomes independent of androgen signaling, through altered androgen receptor (AR) signaling or other genetic or transcriptional changes. Metastatic CRPC remains incurable, and the most potent new drugs prolong survival by only a few months. There is an urgent need for novel agents against advanced CRPC. Here we have investigated the roles of CDK8 and CDK19, two isoforms of Mediator kinase, which regulates transcriptional reprogramming, in regard to their biological activities and as potential novel targets for the treatment of CRPC.

To …

Prevalence, Disparities, And Health Outcomes In Patients With Alzheimer’S Disease, Dementia, And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Xiaomo Xiong

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), an umbrella term to describe progressive neurodegenerative disorders linked to cognitive impairment and dementia, impose significant disease and economic burdens on the patients. Therefore, understanding the prevalence of these disorders is crucial, particularly for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate phase between normal aging and dementia that may be reversible through early detection and intervention. Moreover, it is essential to identify the predictors of MCI to facilitate early detection. Additionally, addressing the existing health disparities in the prevalence and treatment of ADRD and MCI is imperative to help improve patients’ health outcomes. Meanwhile, …

The Mechanism Of Pda-Peg/Copper Selectively Killing Cancer Cells And Its Application In Treating Triple-Negative Breast Cancer And Advanced Ovarian Cancer, Xiangxiang Hu

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is one of the leading modality diseases. The number of cancer patients has increased in the last decades due to radiation, aging, stress condition, and other reasons. There are three traditional cancer therapies (radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery). Even though these treatments improve the life span of cancer patients, many cancer patients still lost their lives due to the development of tolerance. Thus, it is urgent to develop new kinds of treatments to extend the life span of patients. In recent decades, nanomedicine, which utilizes nanotechnology to deliver chemotherapy agents into tumor sites and improve the anticancer effect and …

Pd-L1 Nano-Eraser: A Novel Intracellular Pd-L1 Degradation Approach And Its Application In Cancer And Alzheimer’S Disease Therapy, Mingming Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticle-based targeted therapeutics have revolutionized the field of pharmaceutics by providing precise and efficient drug delivery systems. These therapeutics utilize nanoparticles as carriers to transport drugs selectively to the target site, reducing side effects and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Although significant advancements have been made in nano-targeted therapies, there are many challenges that need to be addressed to fully realize their potential.

In this study, we proposed a novel approach to extend the potential application of anti-Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody (aPDL1) in cancer treatment and Alzheimer’s disease therapy by leveraging the Trim-Away pathway. aPDL1-based Trim-Away involves tagging target PD-L1 …

The Importance Of The First Generic Substitution: Evidence From Sweden, Aljoscha Janssen, David Granlund

Research Collection School Of Economics

We analyze changes in the willingness to substitute from prescribed pharmaceuticals to more affordable generic equivalents in response to the first experience with a substitution. Using Swedish individual-level data of prescribed and dispensed pharmaceuticals, we em-ploy a dynamic event study and an instrumental variable approach to show that an initial substitution reduces the probability of opposing subsequent substitutions by 39 percent-age points. We recommend that policy-makers target patients with a history of opposed substitution and offer additional discounts to promote substitution as long-term savings outweigh one-time costs.

Mechanisms Of Theta Burst Transcranial Ultrasound Induced Plasticity In The Human Motor Cortex, Yazan Shamli Oghli, Talyta Grippe, Tarun Arora, Tasnuva Hoque, Ghazaleh Darmani, Robert Chen

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique with high depth penetrance and spatial resolution. Theta-burst TUS (tbTUS) is a plasticity-inducing protocol which increases motor cortical excitability for up to 30 min following 80s of sonication. While this protocol may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, the mechanisms of action of TUS remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted the first pharmacological study to examine the mechanisms of TUS in human primary motor cortex. By administering brain-active drugs with known mechanisms of action, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of tbTUS.

METHODS: Fourteen …

Advancements And Applications Of Injectable Hydrogel Composites In Biomedical Research And Therapy., Hossein Omidian, Sumana Dey Chowdhury

HPD Articles

Injectable hydrogels have gained popularity for their controlled release, targeted delivery, and enhanced mechanical properties. They hold promise in cardiac regeneration, joint diseases, postoperative analgesia, and ocular disorder treatment. Hydrogels enriched with nano-hydroxyapatite show potential in bone regeneration, addressing challenges of bone defects, osteoporosis, and tumor-associated regeneration. In wound management and cancer therapy, they enable controlled release, accelerated wound closure, and targeted drug delivery. Injectable hydrogels also find applications in ischemic brain injury, tissue regeneration, cardiovascular diseases, and personalized cancer immunotherapy. This manuscript highlights the versatility and potential of injectable hydrogel nanocomposites in biomedical research. Moreover, it includes a perspective …

Hubungan Karakteristik Pasien, Prosedur, Dan Penyakit Penyerta Dengan Biaya Langsung Medis Pada Pasien Rawat Inap Jantung Koroner, Rita Tri Wahyuni, Eri Witcahyo, Yennike Tri Herawati

Jurnal Ekonomi Kesehatan Indonesia

Coronary heart disease is a catastrophic disease that causes a high burden of medical costs. At Dr.Iskak Tulungagung hospital, coronary heart disease is the disease with the highest cost. The number of coronary heart patients who are hospitalized is also increasing every year. Several Previous studies have shown that the amount of direct medical costs of coronary heart patients reach more than 50% of the total costs of treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to do research on the factors associated with the increasing direct medical costs of coronary heart patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors …

Evaluasi Penerapan Pilot Project Global Budget Sebagai Sistem Pembayaran Klaim Pada Rsud Wates, Mega Handayani, Laili Rahmatul Ilmi, Zennul Mubarrok1 Mubarrok

Jurnal Ekonomi Kesehatan Indonesia

Claims payment for health services is one of the factors that affect the financial health of a hospital. Indonesia itself has experienced several changes to the existing payment system. BPJS-K started an operational study on the implementation of the INA-CBGs and the Global Budget mixed-method payment system since 2018 with three stages in five districts/city in Indonesia. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the Global Budget system at RSUD Wates in Kulon Progo Regency that appointed as a BPJS-K pilot project. This research is qualitative research and data collection was carried out by studying documents and interviews. As …

An Evidence-Based Approach To Identify Student Success Strategies: Focus On Individualized Reassessment, Bhavik Shah, Cynthia Sanoski, Gina Bellottie, Emily Hajjar, Amber King, Nicholas Leon, Emily Scopelliti, Elena Umland

College of Pharmacy Posters

Objectives

• Describe a process for engaging faculty in evaluating the feasibility of and designing and implementing evidence-based strategies to improve student success.
• Highlight one successful outcome of this process: IR.

Cryogels: Advancing Biomaterials For Transformative Biomedical Applications., Hossein Omidian, Sumana Dey Chowdhury, Niloofar Babanejad

HPD Articles

Cryogels, composed of synthetic and natural materials, have emerged as versatile biomaterials with applications in tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and therapeutics. However, optimizing cryogel properties, such as mechanical strength and release profiles, remains challenging. To advance the field, researchers are exploring advanced manufacturing techniques, biomimetic design, and addressing long-term stability. Combination therapies and drug delivery systems using cryogels show promise. In vivo evaluation and clinical trials are crucial for safety and efficacy. Overcoming practical challenges, including scalability, structural integrity, mass transfer constraints, biocompatibility, seamless integration, and cost-effectiveness, is essential. By addressing these challenges, cryogels can transform biomedical …