Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Integrating Western Science And Indigenous Knowledge For Just Practices In Conservation, Cierra Lea Keith

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

What Are The Best Treatment Options For Infantile Cataracts?, Breindy Hecht

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Congenital and infantile cataracts are characterized by opacity of the ocular lens, causing decreased visual acuity and inducing amblyopia. Treatment of pediatric patients is complicated because the eye is still growing during childhood, and the mind-eye connection is developing during this time. Anything that obstructs visual input from the eye to the brain raises risks of permanent visual deficit. Treatment includes immediate cataract extraction; this is sometimes followed by intraocular implantation of an artificial lens. After surgery, treatment continues in the form of occlusive patching therapy, corrective spectacles, or cycloplegic eye drops. Oftentimes, several methods are used simultaneously for maximal …

Full Issue: Volume 17, Number 2, Spring 2024

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 17, Number 2 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences. Published Spring 2024.

The Effects Of Electronic Cigarettes On The Oral Cavity, Batsheva Saposh

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Electronic cigarettes, which became available for purchase in the United States in 2007, were initially touted as a harmless aid for smoking cessation. However, recent research into the impact of electronic cigarettes on the human body has shown potential deleterious effects. This paper aims to examine the effects electronic cigarette usage has on the oral cavity. The methods to compile research involved reading through many peer-reviewed articles to analyze the most current information on the topic. The findings indicate several potentially adverse effects on the oral cavity including oral cancer, periodontitis, dental caries, xerostomia, facial fractures, failed dental implants, and …

Sibo And The Effectiveness Of Treatment Via Diet And Medication, Elizabeth C. Hersko

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

This study delves into small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), exploring its origins, diagnosis, and treatment methods. The research illuminates the complexities of SIBO, a condition characterized by an abnormal surge of bacteria in the small intestine. Factors contributing to SIBO include impaired motility, anatomical abnormalities, and digestive system dysfunctions. Diagnosing SIBO proves challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms which often overlap with other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Various diagnostic approaches, including lactulose breath testing, blood tests, stool analysis, and imaging, aim to identify SIBO and its underlying causes. Treatment involves dietary modifications—such as low FODMAP, biphasic, or fast …

Non-Surgical Treatment Options For Male-Pattern Baldness, Robert Schiffer

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Male pattern baldness affects nearly 50% of the world’s male population. It is associated with physiological conditions such as cardiovascular disease as well as psychological issues with self-image and self-esteem. Although surgical treatments exist, they are associated with risks and complications. Various non-surgical treatment modalities for male pattern baldness are available for patients. Topical and oral formulations of minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride can be used, in addition to low level light therapy (LLLT) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy. As many treatment options exist, it may be challenging for patients to decide which to choose. Although there have been few …

Targeting Vs. Modulating: How To Confront Variation In Cystic Fibrosis?, Yechiel Muller

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease with over 2,000 reported mutation varieties. It affects a chloride channel called CFTR, which by the transmembrane transport of chlorine, maintains an apical membrane electrolyte equilibrium in luminal epithelial cells. Its malfunction results in cystic fibrosis which causes excess mucus in various organs and is associated with respiratory complications and salty sweat. Treatment of cystic fibrosis has primarily taken two approaches: a mutation-specific method, targeted at a particular mutation to restore its function, and a mutation-non-specific method, which modulates intracellular barriers to CFTR trafficking or cellular repression of mutant protein function. This paper presents …

Lead Exposure: Neurological Implications, Transmission In Utero, And Treatment, Chana Birnbaum

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Blood lead levels are routinely measured in pediatric clinics due to the well-documented detrimental effects of lead exposure on neurodevelopment and consequently cognition. Reading difficulties, impaired detailed movement, and depressed reaction time are three areas, among others, implicated in lead toxicity (Needleman, 1990). Furthermore, lead toxicity can be of particular concern in pregnant women, as placental transmission is viable (Gundacker & Hengstschläger, 2012, as cited in Sun et al., 2018). Future research investigating the transmission of lead from mother to fetus may provide insight into the timeline of in utero lead transmission and consequently the ability to direct anti-toxicity treatment …

Is Ozempic A Safe Way To Lose Weight?, Elizer Terebelo

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Obesity, as classified by the AHA, is a chronic disorder affecting many people worldwide. Providing treatments for obesity is a multi-million-dollar industry. There are many different types of treatments offered for obesity, ranging from pills to surgeries. Ozempic has been touted as an FDA-approved supplement that can help someone lose weight. These GLP-1 agonists are used to treat type-2 diabetes and have been shown to help patients lose weight. Type-2 diabetes is a chronic illness that can lead to cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, serious eye disease, neuropathy, and many other diseases. For this reason, most risks that Ozempic would …

Is It Possible For Glp-1ras To Combat Type 2 Diabetes And Its Comorbidities?, Michael Weingarten

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction, leading to chronic hyperglycemia and comorbidities such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. Traditional treatments focus on glycemic control, but often fail to address the broader spectrum of related conditions. This study investigates the potential of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) to combat type 2 diabetes and its comorbidities through their diverse mechanisms of action. GLP-1RAs not only improve glycemic control by enhancing insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon release, but also promote weight loss, reduce inflammation, and lower cardiovascular risk. The efficacy of GLP-1RAs …

Muscle Degradation Due To Aging And The Role Of Exercise In Aging Adults, Chava Rosenbaum

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Skeletal muscle contraction is essential for the human body’s movement, balance, and formation. As aging sets in, the skeletal muscular system begins to decay, leading to a decline in muscle strength, reducing strength, and increasing the risk of falling. Studies have found changes in hormone levels and muscle communication are key factors contributing to muscle movement and mass decline. Consequently, different exercise methods have been explored to slow down the rapidly deteriorating muscles and help maintain a healthy, strong muscular system. This paper delves into specific exercise routines proven through studies to be beneficial for the body. While some research …

Is Manual Therapy An Effective Modality Of Physical Therapy?, Caryn Karfunkel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Physical therapy provides relief to patients with musculoskeletal disorders who experience pain and have difficulty functioning. Manual therapy is one of the therapeutic modalities of physical therapy, and helps treat patients through utilizing human touch and pressure. This paper analyzes studies that aim to understand the reasoning behind manual therapy’s effectiveness as a physical therapy modality, questioning whether its benefits are primarily biomechanical or psychological. The research was conducted by analyzing relevant literature on academic databases on topics such as pain, physical therapy, manual therapy, and human touch. The findings reveal that manual therapy is an effective modality of physical …

Full Issue: Volume 18, Number 1, Fall 2024

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 18, Number 1 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences. Published Fall 2024.

Can Immunotherapy Treat Food Allergies?, Baila Klahr

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Food allergies among children are highly prevalent. The elimination diet and fear of allergic reactions cause anxiety in many children and their parents. Immunotherapy stimulates the production of Treg cells which inhibit IgE-mediated allergic reactions. This can successfully desensitize children to their allergens. Subcutaneous immunotherapy can be used for environmental allergens while sublingual or oral immunotherapy should be used for food allergies. There are some risks associated with oral immunotherapy and research is ongoing to study the safety and efficacy of oral immunotherapy.

Overview Of Weight Loss Medications, Malky Mandel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Obesity is a complex medical condition that is multifactorial in origin. About one-third of adults in the United States are obese, and another third are overweight (Ogden et al., 2007). Obesity is associated with a multitude of comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and osteoarthritis (Lim, Boster, 2023). Additionally, obesity may cause psychological disorders due to social prejudice and discrimination toward obese people (Wadden et al. 2002). Economically, obesity is also a tremendous financial burden (Tremmel et al. 2017). It is estimated that the overall cost of obesity-related illness in the US is nearly $500 billion (Cawley et al., …

The Biobehavioral Effects Of Embryonic Exposure To Neural Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In Zebrafish, Dalton J. Anderson

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to improve understanding of the neurodevelopmental effects of embryonic exposure to elevated inflammation and oxidative stress induced by the antipyretic drug acetaminophen (APAP). Our study was the first to examine the interactive effects of APAP and inflammation in zebrafish embryos and how the treatments affect brain development and larval behavior. Experimental groups of zebrafish larvae were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation, APAP, or LPS + APAP and larval behavior was analyzed using Ethovision automated behavioral tracking software. We also measured changes in whole-brain Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (GSK3B) and GSK3B phosphorylation, …

Kvx-053, A Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 4a3 Inhibitor, Ameliorates Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein Subunit 1 - Induced Acute Lung Injury In Mice, Pavel A. Solopov, Ruben Manuel Luciano Colunga Biancatelli, Tierney Day, Betsy Gregory, Elizabeth R. Sharlow, John S. Lazo, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), often preceded by acute lung injury (ALI), is characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory fluid in the lung alveoli, leaky alveolar epithelium and endothelium, and overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This progression from ALI to ARDS is a major contributor to the high mortality observed in COVID-19 patients. The Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to lung ACE2 and, in addition to facilitating viral cell entry, it plays an important role in the development of ALI and ARDS, especially in the later phases of COVID-19 as well as long COVID. Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 4A3 is …

Implementation Of Prognosticator Algorithm For Initiation Of Serious Illness Discussions And Improving The Rate Of Palliative And Hospice Referrals, Joy Isebor

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Context: Early serious illness conversations related to end-of-life and goals of care with seriously ill patients have been associated with improving patients' outcomes and quality of care (Bernacki et al., 2015). However, initiating these serious illness discussions has been challenging in the home-based primary care setting.

Objectives: To train and support home-based primary care clinicians in integrating best practices in serious illness discussions and decision-making engagement among patients sixty-five and older with serious illnesses, optimize the alignment between patient goals and the medical care they receive, improving their quality of life and the rate of palliative care and hospice referrals. …

Design Of Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists For Potential Treatment Of Multiple Sclerosis, Lindsay Kornberger

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and neuroinflammation. There is currently no cure for MS. There is a critically unmet need for the development of pharmacotherapies that can induce remyelination promoting both repair and recovery. The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) has been identified as a potential target for the development of remyelinating pharmacotherapies. KOR activation has been shown to promote functional recovery and remyelination preclinically. However, typical KOR agonists like U50,488 have limitations such as sedation and dysphoria limiting their use. This necessitates further development of new KOR agonists that maintain …

Sensitizing Keap1 Loss Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer To Artesunate Anti-Cancer Activity, Keng Hee Peh

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Lung cancer is the global leading cause of cancer related death. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of lung cancer diagnoses conferring a significant disease burden. However, certain mutations in tumor suppressors such as Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) confers resistance to standard of care therapy in NSCLC. KEAP1 is known to regulate multiple cellular processes such as oxidative stress response and anti-apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, KEAP1 loss of function in NSCLC is associated with poorer clinical outcomes and there are no currently approved therapies for KEAP1 loss NSCLC and represents an unmet clinical need. Artesunate (Art) demonstrated anti-cancer …