Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

Small Current, Big Potential: Bridging Mechanistic Insight Of The Sk Channel With Translational Promise, Yang Zheng, Miao Zhang, Nipavan Chiamvimonvat

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, with a lifetime risk of approximately 1 in 4 for adults aged 40 years and above. Despite advances in clinical management, AF remains a major public health concern. Its burden extends beyond symptoms; it quadruples the risk of heart failure and increases the likelihood of stroke fivefold – strokes that are often more severe and fatal than those unrelated to AF. In the United States alone, AF-associated healthcare costs exceed $26 billion annually, and the cost is projected to grow as the population ages (Ko et al., 2025). Regarding current treatments, …

Choline-An Essential Nutrient With Health Benefits And A Signaling Molecule, Brianne C. Burns, Jitendra D. Belani, Hailey N. Wittorf, Eugen Brailoiu, G. Cristina Brailoiu

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Choline has been recognized as an essential nutrient involved in various physiological functions critical to human health. Adequate daily intake of choline has been established by the US National Academy of Medicine in 1998, considering choline requirements for different ages, sex differences and physiological states (e.g., pregnancy). By serving as a precursor for acetylcholine and phospholipids, choline is important for cholinergic transmission and the structural integrity of cell membranes. In addition, choline is involved in lipid and cholesterol transport and serves as a methyl donor after oxidation to betaine. Extracellular choline is transported across the cell membrane via various transport …

A Genetically-Engineered Thyroid Gland Built For Selective Triiodothyronine Secretion, Cintia E. Citterio, Berenice Morales-Rodriguez, Xiao-Hui Liao, Catherine Vu, Rachel Nguyen, Jessie Tsai, Jennifer Le, Ibrahim Metawea, Ming Liu, David P. Olson, Samuel Refetoff, Peter Arvan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Thyroid hormones (thyroxine, T₄, and triiodothyronine, T₃) are indispensable for sustaining vertebrate life, and their deficiency gives rise to a wide range of symptoms characteristic of hypothyroidism, affecting 5–10% of the world’s population. The precursor for thyroid hormone synthesis is thyroglobulin (Tg), a large iodoglycoprotein consisting of upstream regions I-II-III (responsible for synthesis of most T₄) and the C-terminal CholinEsterase-Like (ChEL) domain (responsible for synthesis of most T₃, which can also be generated extrathyroidally by T₄ deiodination). Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis, we engineered a knock-in of secretory ChEL into the endogenous TG …

Pharmacogenetic Exploration Of Burenorphine And Related Metabolites In Umbilical Cord Blood, Amelia Monfared, Derek E. Murrell, Darshan S. Shah, Melissa Hoang, Stacy D. Brown, Sam Harirforoosh

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The goal of this study was to explore associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and umbilical cord blood concentrations of buprenorphine and its metabolites following maternal administration. This is a sub-study of a prospective observational cohort investigation which included pregnant women receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder during pregnancy. Following delivery, umbilical cord blood samples were collected and genotyped using a pharmacogenetic panel. The drug and metabolite concentrations were analyzed through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and genetic association analysis was completed using PLINK software. The included neonates (n = 14) had a mean birth weight of 3.00 ± 0.39 kg and were …

Patient Information Needs During Ambulatory Medication Changes: A Qualitative Study, Elaine Giletta, Vanessa B. Hurley, Yushi Yang, Jessica L. Schwartz, Rabia Jalalzai, Nicole L. Mollenkopf, Raquel Mayne, Samantha I. Pitts

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: We performed interviews with patients and caregivers to explore whole-person, whole-regimen information needs at times of routine outpatient medication changes. We categorized information needs in this relatively unstudied context and identified which needs were commonly recognized as insufficiently met.

Methods: We explored the content of the semi-structured interviews, which involved nine patients and two caregivers of pediatric patients, all of whom experienced a recent medication change in the outpatient setting of a large urban academic healthcare system. We used inductive thematic analysis to organize information needs into categories to identify key information gaps.

Results: We identified five categories of …

Cilia In The Brain Display Region-Dependent Oscillations Of Length And Orientation, Roudabeh Vakil Monfared, Sherif Abdelkarim, Pieter Derdeyn, Kiki Chen, Hanting Wu, Kenneth Leong, Tiffany Chang, Justine Lee, Sara Versales, Surya M. Nauli, Kevin Beier, Pierre Baldi, Amal Alachkar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

In this study, we conducted high-throughput spatiotemporal analysis of primary cilia length and orientation across 22 mouse brain regions. We developed automated image analysis algorithms, which enabled us to examine over 10 million individual cilia, generating the largest spatiotemporal atlas of cilia. We found that cilia length and orientation display substantial variations across different brain regions and exhibit fluctuations over a 24-h period, with region-specific peaks during light-dark phases. Our analysis revealed unique orientation patterns of cilia, suggesting that cilia orientation within the brain is not random but follows specific patterns. Using BioCycle, we identified rhythmic fluctuations in cilia length …

Modulation Of Redox-Sensitive Cardiac Ion Channels, Rawan S. Orfali, Al Hassan Gamal El-Din, Varnika Karthik, Elisanjer Lamis, Vanna Xiao, Alena Ramanishka, Abdullah Alwatban, Osama Alkhamees, Ali Alaseem, Young-Woo Nam, Miao Zhang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Redox regulation is crucial for the cardiac action potential, coordinating the sodium-driven depolarization, calcium-mediated plateau formation, and potassium-dependent repolarization processes required for proper heart function. Under physiological conditions, low-level reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated by mitochondria and membrane oxidases, adjust ion channel function and support excitation–contraction coupling. However, when ROS accumulate, they modify a variety of important channel proteins in cardiomyocytes, which commonly results in reducing potassium currents, enhancing sodium and calcium influx, and enhancing intracellular calcium release. These redox-driven alterations disrupt the cardiac rhythm, promote after-depolarizations, impair contractile force, and accelerate the development of heart diseases. Experimental models demonstrate …

Kshv Vil6 Inhibits Functional B Cell Maturation During De Novo Infection, Wajd Zakir, Jessica M. Osborn, Jennifer Totonchy

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Despite causative links to lymphoproliferative disorders, little is known about early events governing KSHV infection in B lymphocytes. IL-6 signaling plays a critical role in KSHV-mediated disease, with human IL-6 (hIL6) levels correlating with viral load and disease progression. This dynamic is even more complex due to the coexistence of hIL6 and KSHV-encoded viral IL-6 (vIL6) in these diseases. We hypothesize that hIL6 and vIL6 play critical, separable and collective roles in the early stages of KSHV infection in B cells. In this study, we use our ex vivo model of KSHV infection in human tonsil lymphocytes to investigate the …

Pacific Rxtracts - July 2025, Pacific Rxtracts

Pacific RxTracts

Articles:

• First Blood Test Approved For the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease
• Rare Withdrawal Reaction Prompts Label Update for Common Antihistamines
• FDA Approves SUSVIMO: Shifting Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment from Monthly Injections to Continuous Therapy
• Battle Against Resistant Hypertension
• Two Is Better than One: Obicetrapib and Ezetimibe, a Novel Combination Pill for High Cholesterol
• Histo-blood Group ABO System Transferase and Venous Thromboembolism Risk
• GLP-1 Agonists and Thiazolidinedione Combination Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes
• Dual Pathway Targeting in Type 2 Diabetes: Exploring the Synergy of GLP1- RAs and SGLT2-inhibitors
• Two Vaccines, One Shot: Combined Immunizations Against COVID-19 and Influenza
• Mirikizumab: A New Frontier …

New Onset Diabetic Retinopathy With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: A Case Report, Jennifer Ko, Yaseman Jahromi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Artificial Intelligence For Detecting Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (Nash), Muhammad Wildan Gifari, Yogi Ramadhani, Dhadhang Wahyu Kurniawan

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an inflammatory disease of the liver, has recently raised concern among healthcare professionals worldwide due to its asymptomatic features, making early diagnosis challenging. If left unnoticed, NASH often progresses to lethal diseases such as liver fibrosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) might facilitate the early diagnosis of NASH in a more efficient manner, forming a promising strategy to diagnose patients. In simple terms, AI is any machine that is capable of human-level intelligence, including visual perception, speech recognition, or decision making. A subclass of AI, which particularly deals with knowledge-based …

Gene Expression Signatures Of Response To Fluoxetine Treatment: Systematic Review And Meta-Analyses, David G. Cooper, J. Paige Cowden, Patrick M. Vo, Parker A. Stanley, Jack T. Karbowski, Victoria S. Gaertig, Caiden J. Lukan, Ariel D. Worthington, Caleb Class

Scholarship and Professional Work – COPHS

BACKGROUND: Genomic (and other ‘omic) data have provided valuable insights on the pharmacological signatures of antidepressant response, but results from individual studies are largely heterogeneous. In this work, we synthesized gene expression data for fluoxetine treatment in both human patients and rodent models, to better understand biological pathways affected by treatment, as well as those that may distinguish clinical or behavioral response.

METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we searched the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) for studies profiling humans or rodent models with treatment of the antidepressant fluoxetine, excluding those not done in the context of depression or anxiety, in an …

Uses Of Digital Technologies For Maxillofacial Prosthesis Manufacturing, Reem Abdulrahim Alobaidy

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Digital technologies play a great role in prosthodontics generally and specifically in maxillofacial prosthetics, this revolutionary approach has become an important way for rehabilitation of different modalities in maxillofacial prosthetic field. In this article we will summarize many contents of dental researches, web researches, on-line data bases, discussions of experts and clinicians with the most recent publications and new products releases and evaluate them. Describing the techniques in designing and fabrication for facial prosthesis applying computer aided method and manufacturing (CADCAM). As the development of digital dentistry took apart to overcome complexity of prosthesis construction and the limited expertise in …

Distribution Of Secretor Status In A Sample Of Iraqi Population Based On Their Gender, Blood Groups And Body Mass Index, Ola Amer Jasim

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

The ABO blood group system was divided into four phenotypes i.e., A, B, AB, and O following its discovery by Karl Landsteiner in 1990. Antigens of the ABO blood group can be found in bodily fluids such as the salivary and digestive fluids. Furthermore, People are classified as ``secretors'' or ``non-secretors'' based on their ability to secrete (ABO blood group) antigens in body fluids. The control-based study was conducted on 342 Iraqi adults who were presented at educational institutions. The study lasted from October 2022 to February 2023 and aimed to determine the relationship between secretor status with (gender, blood …

Synthesis Of A New Composite Nanomaterial Consisting Of Bentonite-Polyethylene Glycolphthalate, Tariq Yassin Mahmoud

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

In this study, a new composite material was characterized and prepared by polymerizing ethylene glycol located among bentonite layers with phthalic anhydride. The results showed that the polymer bonds with the clay structure through hydrogen bonding. The polymerization process led to the destruction of the three-dimensional crystal structure of the clay and the isolation of its layers in the form of two-dimensional nanoscale shells. The growth of the polymer around the isolated clay layers increased the total particle size at the microscopic scale.

Comparative Study Between Attendance Patients To Babylon Teaching Hospital In Babylon And Al-Alawiyah Teaching Hospital In Baghdad Infected With Intestinal Parasites, I. M. Al-Saqur, E. M. Abdul Ameer, A. N. Al-Thwani, S. S. Hassan, Z. J. Mazher, A. A. Abd Al-Hussein, R. A. Aziz, N. M. Butrus

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

This study included detecting the rate of human infection with intestinal parasites on patients arriving the laboratories of Babylon Teaching Hospital and Al-Alawiya Children's Hospital In Baghdad for the period from beginning of January 2023 to the end of December 2023. The total number of examined people in the former hospital was 796, infected patients were (384 with 48.49%), The highest percentage of parasites recorded were Endameba coli (85.47%) followed by E. histolytica (63.44%) then Trichuris trichura (45.9%) the others parasites were Giardia lambelia (39.09%) Enterobius vermicularis (34.71%), Chilomastix mesnili (31.5%), Ancylostoma duodenale (19.04%), Hymenolpis nana (18.48%), Ascaris lunmbricoides …

Study Of Urinary Tract Infection Among Pregnant Women Attending Al Elywiah Maternity Hospital In Baghdad/Iraq, Abass T. Al-Joudi, Randa Abdal Jaleel Habeeb, Ali Dawoud Ramadan, Hussein Ibrahim Aliwi

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Urinary tract infection is a vary series symptom that pregnant women must be looking for treat as it effects in pregnant woman health baby for a long of 9 months of pregnant, this symptoms effect in different way on baby and mother health. The study on pregnant women carried out by examination of fresh samples taken from registered mothers in Maternity hospital and then carried varies analysis, physical, chemical and microscopic tests with bacterial and antibiotic sensitivity tests About 70 Urine sample taken from pregnant women that follow up their health in Al Elywiah maternity Hospital, the rested women …

Evaluation Of Phytotoxicity Of Greenly Treated Domestic Wastewater By Spent Plant Leaf Powders, Adnan Ahmad Ali-Nizam, Magdi Amin, Isam Shaker Hemza

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Health and ecosystems face widespread, impactful problems. Untreated wastewater is discharged into waterways and lands in most developing countries, containing harmful substances and pathogens. WHO estimates that nearly 1.7 billion people drink contaminated water in developing countries, and that contamination leads to nearly 500,000 diarrheal deaths each year. However, existing treatment methods are insufficient to remove dissolved substances and specific pollutants; they are very expensive, energy-intensive, require advanced technologies, and high operational skills. The process of removing pollutants from wastewater using plant waste powders involves a combination of mechanisms, including adsorption, complexation, and ion exchange. These processes are characterized by …

Utilizing Pharmacogenomics To Improve Students' Self-Perception On The Interprofessional Competencies Of Roles And Responsibilities, And Teams And Teamwork, Amanda Brown, Moom R. Roosan, Robert Goldsteen, Scott D. Ochs, Reza Taheri

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is an emerging discipline with the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine, but its successful implementation requires interprofessional collaboration. To address this need, a virtual interprofessional education (IPE) session was designed for student pharmacists and medical students to engage in a case-based learning experience.

Objective

The primary objective was to develop and implement an IPE activity focused on a patient case requiring PGx-guided dual antiplatelet therapy and to assess students' perceptions of two Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Version 3 Core Competencies. A secondary objective was to identify key lessons from the session.

Methods

Pharmacist and physician faculty collaboratively …

July 2025, Swosu Rural Health Center

RURAL ROCKS

July 2025 Rural Rocks

• Three Ways Tech Can Help
• Can a Face Mask Diagnose Kidney Disease?
• EXTRA - Chronic Kidney Disease
• Pharmacy Technicians as Community Health Workers Pilot Program in Oklahoma

Sharksrx Newsletter Summer 2025, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Sharks Rx

No abstract provided.

Emerging Biomimetic Drug Delivery Nanoparticles Inspired By Extracellular Vesicles, Viswanathan Sundaram, Santosh Aryal

Pharmacy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nanoparticles (NPs) made up of cellular components such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) with a biomimetic outlook have emerged as a revolutionary approach in nanomedicine, providing significant benefits for targeted drug administration, immunotherapy, monitoring therapeutic response, and diagnostic applications. Utilizing the distinctive characteristics of natural cell membranes, membrane proteins, and cellular contents, these biomimetic NPs acquire essential biological functions from their source and biogenesis, including immune evasion, extended circulation, and target recognition, rendering them optimal candidates for therapeutic applications. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the methodologies of EVs infused with synthetic.

Identification Of Milk And Milk Product Adulteration By Molecular Methods, Isam Shaker Haza, Saad Sabah Fakhry

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS-PAGE) has been extensively used to separate native and denaturalized proteins. In various countries this has been useful to detect milk adulteration with whey, which is a fraud according to the current legal standards. The presence of glycomacropeptide (GMP) constitutes a marker of adulteration. It is released to the serum due to the hydrolysis of --casein peptide catalyzed by rennin incheese elaboration. In this work, the GMP detection was standardized as a pasteurized milk adulteration index, by means of GMP isolation with sequential precipitation in trichloroacetic acid at 24% and 50%, treatment with ethanol-ether …

Impact Of Hypocalcemia On Dickkopf-Related Protein 1 And Hmgb1 In Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients, Haneen Azeez Falih

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) is associated with various symptoms including anaemia and bone problems. There is a need for more biomarkers of calcium disorders in TDT patients. In the present study, DKK 1 and HMGB1 are studied in TDT patients with hypocalcemia (TDT+Hypocalcemia) and normocalcemia (TDT+Normocalcemia) as a function of inflammation. Methods: TDT patients were classified according to the cut-off value (2.12 mM) of the adjusted serum calcium (Adj.T.Ca) into TDT+Normocalcemia (n = 54) and TDT+Hypocalcemia (n = 41) groups. Forty healthy controls have participated in the present study. DKK1 and HMGB1 were measured using the ELISA technique. Results: Both …

Diversity And Equity In Medical Education Over The Past Decade: Applications, Matriculations, And The Growing Gaps, Gang Lv, Xiangxiang Jiang, Jordan Franklin, Minghui Li, Jing Yuan, Z Kevin Lu Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background

Diversity and race-concordant relationships contribute to improved patient experiences and outcomes. In contrast, the representation of underrepresented in medicine (URiM) individuals in different medical specialties is declining. The essential pathway to improving diversity within the future workforce centers around the inclusion of a diverse cohort of medical students. We aimed to examine the diversity of medical school applications and admissions across sex, race and ethnicity over the past decade.

Methods

This study used data from the Association of American Medical Colleges from 2015 to 2024. URiM individuals refer to minority populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession, including …

The Impact Of Utilizing Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin And Collagen Plugs For Maintaining The Tooth Extraction Socket: A Review Study, Esraa Hameed Hassan, Ali H. Abbas Alhussaini

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Tooth extraction initiates a cascade of biological changes that result in alveolar bone resorption, compromising both the esthetic and functional outcomes of future dental rehabilitations, particularly implant placement. Socket preservation strategies have emerged as crucial interventions aimed at minimizing post-extraction ridge collapse. This review explores the synergistic effects of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) and collagen plugs in enhancing socket preservation outcomes. Collagen plugs serve as biocompatible scaffolds, promoting hemostasis, cellular migration, and angiogenesis, while supporting soft tissue healing and bone regeneration. Concurrently, I-PRF-an autologous, growth factor-rich biomaterial-provides a dynamic reservoir of platelets, leukocytes, and key cytokines such as Platelet-Derived Growth …

Impact Of Insulin Resistance In Pcos (Lh/Fsh) In A Group Of Woman In Baghdad City, Roua Shehab-Aldeen Ahmed, Fatima Amer Abd Aljabar, Nadia Mohammed Mahdi Al-Shakir

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an endocrinological disorder influencing ladies, and it is the foremost common cause of menstrual unsettling influence amid the regenerative age. Polycystic ovary disorder (PCOS) is in fact a chronic form of anovulation that is usually observed besides a large spectrum of clinical symptoms and signs. Objectives: The study's main goal is to evaluate the hormonal indicators of ``PCOS'' and insulin resistance and determine how insulin resistance affects these hormones. Materials and methods: This study included 130 women, aged 19--38, who were separated into three bunches: 40 women with ``PCOs'' who were treated with metformin and …

Exploring The Role Of Hepcidin And Some Biochemical Indicators In Β-Thalassemia Major Patients With Negative And Positive Entamoeba Histolytica, Jafar Jamal Abdullah, Mohammed Mezher Hussain, Abdul Rasool Kh. Saeed

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Thalassemia syndromes encompass a wide range of hemoglobin disorders characterized by either the absence or diminished production of normal globin chains. Hepcidin, a peptide produced by the liver with antimicrobial properties, is mainly synthesized by hepatocytes situated near the portal veins, which are responsible for transporting dietary iron, as well as by Kupffer cells. Before blood transfusions, increased erythropoietic activity leads to a reduction in hepcidin, resulting in lower hepcidin levels that enhance the absorption of dietary iron. Parasite protozoa depend on iron for their survival, as it plays a crucial role in the growth and enzymatic functions of E. …

Surface Keratin 1, A Tumor-Selective Peptide Target In Human Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Shih-Jing Yao, Farideh Amirrad, Elmira Ziaei, Azam Saghaeidehkordi, Moom R. Roosan, Kiumars Shamloo, Ajay Sharma, Rachita K. Sumbria, Surya M. Nauli, Christopher G. Bunick, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Targeting drugs to cancer cells via overexpressed cell-surface receptors has emerged as an effective therapeutic strategy for several cancers. However, identifying cell-surface receptors that allow selective uptake of targeting ligands by cancer cells—while sparing normal cells—remains a challenge, especially for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks a well-defined receptor for targeted delivery. In this study, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis revealed that human TNBC patient tissues have significantly higher levels of keratin 1 (K1) compared to normal breast tissues. Among TNBC tissues, grade 3 tumors showed significantly higher (threefold) K1 expression compared to grade 2 tumors. We analyzed human TNBC and normal …

Automated Dispensing Cabinet Stocking Schedule And Inventory Management Optimization, Daniel Elkes, Victoria Timmons

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Prior practice in a 523-bed community hospital required automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) to be replenished daily by early afternoon to ensure accurate drug ordering. Because of the tight time window, technicians frequently refilled ADCs during peak medication administration times. After a positive report from a smaller facility in the health system, the study facility implemented a quality improvement project to optimize the ADCs. This involved new processes of every-other-day ADC replenishment staggered via shift-specific workflows, and a dedicated technician was assigned to optimize ADC inventories.

Methods

Monthly reports of ADC refilling and dispensing transactions were compiled from inpatient, nonprocedural …