Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

Amphiphilic Peptides For Efficient Sirna Delivery, Saghar Mozaffari, Emira Bousoik, Farideh Amirrad, Robert Lamboy, Melissa Coyle, Ryley Hall, Abdulaziz Alasmari, Parvin Mahdipoor, Keykavous Parang, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A number of amphiphilic cyclic peptides—[FR]4, [WR]5, and [WK]5—containing hydrophobic and positively-charged amino acids were synthesized by Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide methods and evaluated for their efficiency in intracellular delivery of siRNA to triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, in the presence and absence of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE). Among the peptides, [WR]5, which contains alternate tryptophan (W) and arginine (R) residues, was found to be the most efficient in the delivery of siRNA by improving the delivery by more than 3-fold when compared to other synthesized cyclic peptides that were not efficient. The data also showed that co-formulation of [WR]5 …

Extended Infusions Of Meropenem For Febrile Neutropenia, Daniel J. Przybylski, Pharmd, David J. Reeves, Pharmd, Bcop

BU Well

Background: Neutropenic fever is an oncologic emergency that requires quick intervention with anti-pseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotics, such as meropenem. Previous literature suggests that extended infusions of beta-lactam antibiotics may improve clinical outcomes. To date, there are 3 prior studies utilizing an extended infusion beta-lactam in this population; however, there is only one previous study investigating the use of extended infusion meropenem in patients with febrile neutropenia.

Objective: To describe the outcomes of eight patients receiving extended infusions of meropenem for the treatment of febrile neutropenia.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed including adult patients admitted to a community teaching hospital …

Synthesis And Antiproliferative Activities Of Conjugates Of Paclitaxel And Camptothecin With A Cyclic Cell-Penetrating Peptide, Naglaa Salem El-Sayed, Amir Nasrolahi Shirazi, Muhammad Imran Sajid, Shang Eun Park, Keykavous Parang, Rakesh Tiwari

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Cell-penetrating peptide [WR]5 has been previously shown to be an efficient molecular transporter for various hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules. The peptide was synthesized using Fmoc/tBu solid-phase chemistry, and one arginine was replaced with one lysine to enable the conjugation with the anticancer drugs. Paclitaxel (PTX) was functionalized with an esterification reaction at the C20 hydroxyl group of PTX with glutaric anhydride and conjugated with the cyclic peptide [W(WR)4K(bAla)] in DMF to obtain the peptide-drug conjugate PTX1. Furthermore, camptothecin (CPT) was modified at the C(20)-hydroxyl group through the reaction with triphosgene. Then, it was conjugated with two functionalized cyclic peptides through …

The Landscape Of Cellular And Gene Therapy Products: Cost, Approvals, And Discontinuations, Vaishali Shukla, Enrique Seoane-Vazquez, Souhiela Fawaz, Lawrence M. Brown, Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background The past 10 years witnessed a significant increase in the approval of cellular and gene therapy products worldwide. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 3 gene therapy products within the last 4 months of 2017. The objective of this study was to examine the approval characteristics, discontinuations and cost of all cellular and gene therapy products approved worldwide. Data and Methods We conducted an electronic search of approved cell and gene therapy products from the databases of the main drug regulatory agencies including the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Korea Ministry …

Fluorometholone Modulates Gene Expression Of Ocular Surface Mucins, Jonathan Taniguchi, Ajay Sharma

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

Mucins are vital to keep the ocular surface hydrated. Genes encoding for mucins contain a glucocorticoid response element. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fluorometholone, a glucocorticoid receptor agonist used in the management of dry eye, on the gene expression of conjunctival and corneal epithelial cell mucins.

Methods

Stratified cultures of human conjunctival and corneal epithelial cells were exposed to 25, 50 and 100 nM of fluorometholone alone or in presence of mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. The mRNA was isolated from the cells and reverse transcribed to cDNA. The cDNA was used for …

Improving Physician Office Quality Measures By Evaluating Statin Prescribing In Type 2 Diabetic Patients, Choniece Phillips, Kathleen Dawson, Lindsay Roberts, Jamie Mcconaha, Megan Bookser

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Abstract

Objective

The focus of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacist’ intervention on quality metrics focusing on patients with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II (T2DM) not currently prescribed statin therapy.

Methods

This retrospective cohort investigational study was conducted in four lowest performing office locations of a nineteen regional primary care physician group practice. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of T2DM without active statin therapy. Data was excluded from analysis for patients younger than age 40 or older than age 75, or if the most recent LDL documented was less than 70 mg/dL. Recommendations for initiation of …

The Importance Of Goal Setting: Why Every Pharmacist Should Make Goal Setting A Habit, Albert Bach, Laressa Bethishou

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"But how many of us actually practice what we preach? We have pledged to apply our knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of our ability to assure optimal outcomes for our patients. As the pharmacy profession evolves, and as we train future generations of pharmacists, we have increased opportunities to expand our role and impact as a pharmacist. Goal setting is an important and valuable tool to support us in our personal and professional growth."

The Pharmabiotic For Phenylketonuria: Development Of A Novel Therapeutic, Chloé Elizabeth Lebegue

Senior Theses

Phenylketonuria, now known as phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency, is a genetic disorder of metabolism affecting approximately one in every 15,000 infants born in the United States. Patients have nonfunctional PAH enzyme secondary to one or more genetic mutations. The enzyme deficit results in destructive supraphysiologic blood phenylalanine levels upon consumption of the essential dietary amino acid phenylalanine. Current standards of care mitigate signs and symptoms of the disorder, but do not approach a cure. The methods for creating a prototype pharmabiotic as an innovative treatment strategy for PAH deficiency are described herein.

DNA molecular cloning techniques were utilized to engineer …

2018-2019 Acip Immunization Updates: Highlights For Pharmacists, Laressa Bethishou, Luma Munjy, Jeff Goad

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Vaccinations have significantly reduced the burden of infectious diseases, preventing almost 6 million deaths worldwide.^1,2 In the United States, vaccines have led to a decrease in incidence of vaccine-preventable illness, mortality, and disease sequelae.³ Despite the proven benefit of vaccines, misinformation and failure to vaccinate has led to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. As of December 29, 2018, 372 cases of measles (from 17 outbreaks) and 2251 cases of mumps were reported in the United States in 2018.^4,5 These outbreaks support the need for continued education of patients and active immunization by pharmacists."

The Role Of Thyroglobulin In Thyroid Hormonogenesis, Cintia E. Citterio, Héctor M. Targovnik, Peter Arvan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

In humans, the thyroid hormones T₃ and T₄ are synthesized in the thyroid gland in a process that crucially involves the iodoglycoprotein thyroglobulin. The overall structure of thyroglobulin is conserved in all vertebrates. Upon thyroglobulin delivery from thyrocytes to the follicular lumen of the thyroid gland via the secretory pathway, multiple tyrosine residues can become iodinated to form mono-iodotyrosine (MIT) and/or di-iodotyrosine (DIT); however, selective tyrosine residues lead to preferential formation of T₄ and T₃ at distinct sites. T₄ formation involves oxidative coupling between two DIT side chains, and de novo T₃ formation involves …

Shingrix Revaccination And Vaccination In Vulnerable Populations, Laressa Bethishou, Luma Munjy, John Andraos

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a painful cutaneous eruption that develops following the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox.¹ About 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, with an estimated 1 million cases occurring annually. Anyone with a history of chickenpox is at risk for shingles, but the risk increases with age and in patients who are immunocompromised.²"

Nurse Practitioner And Pharmacist Collaboration In Rural Congregate Housing Facility, Kendra Babcock Pharmd

Theses and Dissertations

A Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) expanded her clinical services to include a project called Senior Transitions (ST). The CNP visited assisted living facilities in the area and conducted rounds on each of the facility’s patients participating in the ST program. The CNP had collaborated with pharmacists in her prior practice setting and wanted to continue doing so in her new practice setting. A pharmacy resident was assigned to participate in co-visits with the CNP at a local assisted-living facility and consulted on any medication-related questions regarding long-term care facility patients which were followed by the practitioner. While conducting co-visits and …

Purification And Characterization Of A Nonspecific Lipid Transfer Protein 1 (Nsltp1) From Ajwain (Trachyspermum Ammi) Seeds, Meshal Nazeer, Humera Waheed, Maria Saeed, Saman Yousuf Ali, M. Iqbal Choudhary, Zaheer Ul-Haq, Aftab Ahmed

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) belongs to the family Umbelliferae, is commonly used in traditional, and folk medicine due to its carminative, stimulant, antiseptic, diuretic, antihypertensive, and hepatoprotective activities. Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) reported from various plants are known to be involved in transferring lipids between membranes and in plants defense response. Here, we describe the complete primary structure of a monomeric non-specific lipid transfer protein 1 (nsLTP1), with molecular weight of 9.66 kDa, from ajwain seeds. The nsLTP1 has been purified by combination of chromatographic techniques, and further characterized by mass spectrometry, and Edman degradation. The ajwain nsLTP1 …

Systematic Literature Review Of Quetiapine For The Treatment Of Psychosis In Patients With Parkinsonism, Jack J. Chen, Henry Hua, Lilian Massihi, Ivan Portillo, Azita Alipour, William Ondo, Khashayar Dashtipour

Library Articles and Research

Objective:

The purpose of this article was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine compared with placebo or other interventions for psychosis in parkinsonism.

Methods:

Participants with a diagnosis of parkinsonism participated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine for psychotic symptoms within a defined follow-up period. The authors conducted searches on PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, and EMBASE for articles published from January 1991 to October 2017. Study methodology and patient- and treatment-level data were independently extracted and summarized by using descriptive statistics. Studies underwent quality assessment for risk of bias.

Results: …

An Investigation Of Stimulants: Reviewing Their Effects On The Brain, Including Memory And Microglia, Michael Douchey

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Stimulants are a class of drugs that have a variety of effects on the brain, including changes in receptor activity in the brain areas responsible for- memory, attention, emotion, motor control, and the reward pathway. Stimulants may be generally classified by their availability. For example, prescription stimulants, which include drugs such as methylphenidate (Concerta™, Ritalin™) and mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall™), must be prescribed by medical professionals. Another regulated stimulant, albeit one available without a prescription, is nicotine; a highly addictive chemical that is age-restricted by the U.S. federal government. Nicotine is found in tobacco products, and in tobacco-free alternatives including …

Mass Caffeination, Michael J. Leach

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

This poem reflects on caffeine intake in modern society from the perspective of a pharmacologist. It is a free verse, concrete poem that communicates the science of caffeine through both words and visual images.

Small Peptide Ligands For Targeting Egfr In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Hanieh Hossein-Nejad-Ariani, Emad Althagafi, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The efficacy of chemotherapy for cancer treatment can be increased by targeted drug delivery to the cancer cells. This is particularly important for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) for which chemotherapy is a major form of treatment. Here we designed and screened a library of 30 peptides starting with a previously reported epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting peptide GE11 (YHWYGYTPQNVI). A direct peptide array-whole cell binding assay, where the peptides are conjugated to a cellulose membrane, was used to identify four peptides with enhanced binding to TNBC cells. Next, the four peptides were synthesized as FITC-labelled soluble peptides to …

Innovation And Competition In Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products, Enrique Seoane-Vazquez, Vaishali Shukla, Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), including gene therapy, cell therapy, and tissue engineering products, represent a paradigm shift in health care as they have great potential for preventing and treating many diseases (Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2013). By way of example, only 367 (8.0%) of the 4,603 rare diseases and conditions listed by the NIH Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center had at least one FDA-approved drug therapy in early 2018. An estimated 3,038 (66.0%) of those rare diseases and conditions are congenital and genetic diseases that could potentially be treated by gene therapy. There are already ATMPs under …

Transforming Growth Factor-Β1 Decreases Β2-Agonist–Induced Relaxation In Human Airway Smooth Muscle, Christie A. Ojiaku, Elena Chung, Vishal Parikh, Jazmean K. Williams, Anthony Schwab, Ana Lucia Fuentes, Maia L. Corpuz, Victoria Lui, Sam Paek, Natalia M. Bexiga, Shreya Narayan, Francisco J. Nunez, Kwangmi An, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Steven S. An, Reynold A. Pannettieri Jr.

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Helper T effector cytokines implicated in asthma modulate the contractility of human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells. We have reported recently that a profibrotic cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, induces HASM cell shortening and airway hyperresponsiveness. Here, we assessed whether TGF-β1 affects the ability of HASM cells to relax in response to β₂-agonists, a mainstay treatment for airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Overnight TGF-β1 treatment significantly impaired isoproterenol (ISO)-induced relaxation of carbachol-stimulated, isolated HASM cells. This single-cell mechanical hyporesponsiveness to ISO was corroborated by sustained increases in myosin light chain phosphorylation. In TGF-β1–treated HASM cells, ISO evoked markedly lower …

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation And Molecular Modeling Studies Of Novel Chromone/Aza-Chromone Fused Α-Aminophosphonates As Src Kinase Inhibitors, S. Bapat, N. Viswanadh, M. Mujahid, Amir Nasrolahi Shirazi, Rakesh Tiwari, Keykavous Parang, M. Karthikeyan, M. Muthukrishnan, Renu Vyas

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A series of novel chromone/aza-chromone fused α-aminophosphonate derivatives were synthesized in good yields using silica chloride as the catalyst. All the synthesized compounds were tested for their c-Src kinase inhibitory activity. Aza-chromone compound showed Src kinase inhibition with an IC50 value of 15.8 µM. The compounds were subjected to molecular docking and dynamics simulations to study the atomic level interactions with an unphosphorylated proto-oncogenic tyrosine protein kinase Src (PDB code 1Y57) as well as phosphorylated tyrosine protein kinase Src (PDB code 2H8H). Docking and molecular dynamic results revealed phosphorylated Src tyrosine kinase protein better results than unphosphorylated tyrosine Src kinase …

Src Family Kinase Inhibitors Block Translation Of Alphavirus Subgenomic Mrnas, Rebecca Broeckel, Sanjay Sarkar, Nicholas A. May, Jennifer Totonchy, Craig N. Kreklywich, Patricia Smith, Lee Graves, Victor R. Defilippis, Mark T. Heise, Thomas E. Morrison, Nathaniel Moorman, Daniel N. Streblow

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Alphaviruses are arthropod-transmitted RNA viruses that can cause arthralgia, myalgia, and encephalitis in humans. Since the role of cellular kinases in alphavirus replication is unknown, we profiled kinetic changes in host kinase abundance and phosphorylation following chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection of fibroblasts. Based upon the results of this study, we treated CHIKV-infected cells with kinase inhibitors targeting the Src family kinase (SFK)–phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)–AKT–mTORC signaling pathways. Treatment of cells with SFK inhibitors blocked the replication of CHIKV as well as multiple other alphaviruses, including Mayaro virus, O’nyong-nyong virus, Ross River virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Dissecting the effect of …

The Promises And Challenges Of Erythropoietin For Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease, Jiahong Sun, Jan Michelle Martin, Victoria Vanderpoel, Rachita K. Sumbria

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the world, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular amyloid-beta protein deposits represent the major pathological hallmarks of the disease. Currently available treatments provide some symptomatic relief but fail to modify primary pathological processes that underlie the disease. Erythropoietin (EPO), a hematopoietic growth factor, acts primarily to stimulate erythroid cell production, and is clinically used to treat anemia. EPO has evolved as a therapeutic agent for neurodegeneration and has improved neurological outcomes and AD pathology in rodents. However, penetration of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and negative hematopoietic effects are the two …

Assessing The Use Of Pre-Treatment Medications In The Management Of Infusion-Related Reactions In An Outpatient Infusion Center, Alyssa Boesche, Alyssa Augst, Bill Kuhlman

Pharmacy Posters

Introduction

• Infusion-related reactions (IRRs) are well-known adverse drug reactions of many biological agents and antineoplastic medications
• While typically mild-to-moderate in intensity, IRRs can be severe, with potentially life-threatening consequences requiring urgent interventions
• Appropriate use of pre-treatment medications, such as corticosteroids, antihistamines, intravenous fluids, and antiemetics reduces the incidence and severity of IRRs

Purpose

• Evaluate the use of pre-treatment medications in patients with experienced IRRs at an outpatient infusion center
• Identify opportunities to improve treatment plans and reduce the occurrence of IRRs

Evaluating The Effect Of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate In Acute Hyperkalemia Management, Austin Brandes, Hannah Thompson, Paul Huiras

Pharmacy Posters

Introduction

• Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9) can acutely decrease serum potassium (K) levels after one dose and may have favorable side effects compared to sodium polystyrene sulfate (SPS).
• ZS-9 replaced oral SPS in the Hyperkalemia Order Set at St. Cloud Hospital in April 2019

Purpose

• To characterize the acute potassium-lowering effects of one 10-gram dose of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate in conjunction with other potassium-lowering medications

The Scientific Problems With Using Non-Human Animals To Predict Human Response To Drugs And Disease, Ray Greek, Lisa A. Kramer

Pharmacology and Animal Models in Research Collection

Every year, and in countries around the world, significant time and resources are devoted to the noble cause of developing drugs to treat and cure human disease. With rare exception, drug interventions cannot reach commercialization without safety and efficacy having first been demonstrated in animal models. The intention of regulations, which require the use of animal models in such contexts, is to ensure that only safe and effective drugs end up being used by patients. Similarly, it is standard practice for researchers to employ animal models in their attempts to understand the way diseases present and progress in humans. Unfortunately, …

Actionable Patient Safety Solutions (Apss) #3a: Medication Errors, Ron Jordan, Jerika Lam, Peter Antevy, Steven Barker, Linda Beneze, Michel Bennett, Laressa Bethishou, Jim Broselow, John Burnam, Mitchell Goldenstein, Kari Hamlin, Helen Haskell, Christopher Jerry, Edwin Loftin, Ariana Longley, Jacob Lopez, Anne Lyren, Brendan Miney, Sidney Morice, Steve Mullenix, Robert Nickell, Rochelle Sandell, David Shane Lowry, Robin Shannon, Deeba Siddiqui, Charles Simmons, Nat Sims, Robert Stein, Laura Townsend, Jason Yamaki, Sun Yang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A medication error is a preventable event in any healthcare setting that may lead to inappropriate medication use while in the control of the healthcare professional or patient, ultimately leading to patient harm and/or death. Medication errors can be classified into five categories: 1) wrong drug, 2) wrong dose, 3) wrong route, 4) wrong frequency and/or 5) wrong patient.

Actionable Patient Safety Solutions (Apss) #6: Hand-Off Communications, Steven Barker, Nick Adams, Misti B. Baskett, Victoria Baskett, Michael Becker, Michel Bennett, Laressa Bethishou, Mike Ramsay, Jeff Dunn, Hisham El-Bayar, William Floyd, Frank Gencorelli, Christina Hazekamp, Kristy Blomquist, Edwin Loftin, Ariana Longley, Jacob Lopez, David Lubarsky, Pete Melrose, Brent Nibarger, Karen Rehling, Patricia Roth, Kris Stegner, Laura Townsend

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Hand-off communications, or hand-off processes, involve the transition of care as well as the transfer of patient-specific information by one healthcare professional to another with the purpose of providing a patient with safe, continuous care. A successful hand-off can only be achieved by effective communication.

Hematologic Safety Of Chronic Brain-Penetrating Erythropoietin Dosing In App/Ps1 Mice, Jiahong Sun, Joshua Yang, Kathrine Whitman, Charlene Zhu, David H. Cribbs, Ruben J. Boado, William M. Pardridge, Rachita K. Sumbria

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Low blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and hematopoietic side effects limit the therapeutic development of erythropoietin (EPO) for Alzheimer's disease (AD). A fusion protein of EPO and a chimeric monoclonal antibody targeting the mouse transferrin receptor (cTfRMAb) has been engineered. The latter drives EPO into the brain via receptor-mediated transcytosis across the BBB and increases its peripheral clearance to reduce hematopoietic side effects of EPO. Our previous work shows the protective effects of this BBB-penetrating EPO in AD mice but hematologic effects have not been studied. Herein, we investigate the hematologic safety and therapeutic effects of chronic cTfRMAb-EPO dosing, …

National And Local Antibiotic Prescribing Trends And Prescribing Appropriateness In Older Adults, Fawaz M. Alotaibi

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Antibiotic overuse/misuse has been documented in several reports to increase the risk of Clostridioides difficile (C.diff) infection and antibiotic resistance. The older adult population is more prone to use antibiotic medications than any other age group due to decreased immune function, use of urinary catheters, ventilation during hospitalization and other factors. Antibiotic resistance and C.diff are major public health problems. However, studies examining the trends of antibiotic use and the association between the antibiotic use and negative health outcomes among older adults in the outpatient and emergency department settings are limited.

Objectives: The main objectives of this …

Understanding Medication Self-Management Capacity Among Older Adults Living In Low-Income Housing Communities, Amal M. Badawoud

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding Medication Self-Management Capacity among Older Adults Living in Low-Income Housing Communities

ABSTRACT

Background: Medication self-management capacity (MMC) is an individual’s cognitive and functional ability to self-administer a medication regimen as prescribed. Poor MMC is an issue in older adults often resulting in negative health outcomes and loss of independence. Therefore, understanding low-income older adults’ capacity to manage their medications may help identify individuals who are at risk for developing medication mismanagement and guide future intervention strategies based on an individual need to promote safe medication use and healthy aging in place in the community.

Objectives: 1) To determine the …