Chemicals and Drugs Commons^™

Formulation And Characterisation Of Isoniazid By Spray Drying For Use By Dry Powder Inhalers To Treat Tuberculosis, Damiana Gabrielli, Seán Roche

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

The targeted delivery of antibiotics by dry powder inhalers (DPIs) is an increasingly important area of research, driven by the growing global burden of respiratory infections and the advantages of localized drug delivery to the lungs. Over the past five years, respiratory infections have risen significantly, with recent epidemiological data indicating a global increase in incidence by over 30%, largely due to factors such as air pollution, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging respiratory pathogens. One major challenge in developing DPI formulations for antibiotics is the need to optimize the particle physicochemical properties for deep lung deposition while accommodating the high doses …

Suitability Of Mobile Phase Recycling For Methylxanthine Quantification In Coffee Samples Using Hplc, Kaitlin O’Keeffe, Marcos Mariano, Brian Murphy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Caffeine, theobromine and theophylline fall under a drug class known as methylxanthines. These three compounds are of major interest in the food industry due to their presence in popular foods and beverages such as tea, coffee, and chocolate. As these compounds can cause physical and mental stress at high dosages, their quantification is essential to ensure product safety and quality. Here, we describe an eco-friendly HPLC method developed to quantify the amount of these analytes in coffee samples sourced across the SETU Waterford, Cork Road campus. Using an isocratic mixture of water and methanol, a mobile phase recycling approach was …

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Solvent Composition For Enhanced Extraction Of Phenolic Content And Antioxidant Activity From Coleus Scutellarioides Through I-Optimal Mixture Design, Sinta Mutiara Dwi Lestari, Utami Dyah Syafitri, Waras Nurcholis

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Reactive oxygen species are unstable molecules that contribute to oxidative stress and are associated with numerous degenerative diseases. The leaves of Coleus scutellarioides are rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which possess strong antioxidant properties.
Objectives: This study aimed to optimize the composition of water, ethanol, and methanol as solvents using the I-optimal mixture design to enhance the extraction of total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP).
Methods: Each extraction was performed by macerating 1 g of powdered C. scutellarioides leaves in 20 mL of the designated …

P-E-S-T-O-G-O: This Third Circuit Ruling Has Got To Go, A Deep Dive Into The Circuit Split Issue Of Fifra Preemption, R. Dylan Smith

Journal of Food Law & Policy

The American public is becoming increasingly concerned about pesticides. From “forever chemicals” to environmental justice concerns, public awareness of pesticide issues is only becoming more prevalent. However, one pesticide has seized public attention in a significant way. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s “Roundup” and other commercial pesticides has been the subject of heated debate in federal courtrooms across the nation. The rising controversy over glyphosate has even led some jurisdictions to attempt to ban or restrict the use of the product altogether.

While the scientific studies and legal definitions about glyphosate and its cancer link are inconsistent, a reasonable …

Long Covid Incidence Across Sars-Cov-2 Lineages And Identification Of Conserved Spike Targets For Multivalent Vaccines, Grace J. Kim, Md Ashad Alam, Judy S. Crabtree, Rebecca Rose, Susanna L. Lamers, San Chu, Ronald Horswell, Daniel Fort, Lucio Miele

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Long COVID remains poorly characterized at the genomic level. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between viral sequences and the incidence of Long COVID at a tertiary care center in Louisiana between April 2020 and December 2022. A secondary aim was analysis of the Spike protein to identify conserved regions for multivalent vaccine targets. Method: To estimate Long COVID incidence across variants, we linked 4,789 SARS-CoV-2 sequences to 3,090 de-identified patient electronic health record information. The base population was defined as any patient with an International Classification of Diseases-10-Clinical Modification COVID-19 diagnosis code (U07.1) …

The Effect Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists On Reoperation Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion, Nicholas C. Bank, Daniel Whittingslow, Sam Duggan, Joshua L. Morningstar, Douglas S. Weinberg

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: Pseudarthrosis remains a significant complication of ACDF, contributing to patient morbidity and increased healthcare costs. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), widely prescribed for diabetes and obesity, have been shown to reduced odds of pseudoarthrosis after ACDF. However, it remains unclear whether these reductions meaningfully translate to reduced odds of subsequent cervical surgery.

METHODS: The TriNetX United States Collaborative Network was queried for patients who underwent single- or multi-level ACDF between 2013-2023. Patients with perioperative GLP-1RA use and propensity-score-matched controls without GLP-1RA use were compared for subsequent rates of pseudoarthrosis and cervical reoperation at 6-, 12-, and 24-month intervals. Odds …

Early Intervention In Helminth Infections: Investigating Albendazole’S Effects On C. Elegans Egg Hatch Rate And Health, Giselle Domingo Diaz

Student Scholar Symposium

Over 1.5 billion of the poorest people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STH) such as whipworm, hookworm, and Ascaris which have devastating effects on human growth, nutrition, and cognition, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. The World Health Organization only approves four anthelmintic drugs to treat STH for mass drug administration (MDA), with Albendazole being the drug of choice. Due to these drugs only having two mechanisms of action, resistance to these drugs has been reported over the years. We aim to better understand STH susceptibility to drugs at multiple points in their life stage. Previously, the effects of Albendazole and …

Quantum Rings Simulations Of Cisplatin, Clinton Hutchins, Laci Walmer

Student Scholar Symposium

Cisplatin is a major chemotherapy drug that relies on a platinum-based core to deliver the properties necessary to combat cancer. This platinum-based core creates an undesired toxicity that poses challenges during treatment. The aim of this research is to employ quantum simulations to explore the stability of biochemicals such as cisplatin and predict their binding affinities for targets of interest. Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) simulations are used to explore if the substitution of a core like Au or Pd are possible to retain anticancer efficacy but reduce its toxicity. With the use of these quantum simulations, we can run different …

Exploration Of Euclidean Distances In Five-Dimensional Color Space As Proof-Of-Concept For Identification Of Promising Alternatives To Platinum-Based Cancer Drug Candidates, Kiomi Tanakura, Elena G. Harvey

Student Scholar Symposium

Cisplatin, cis-Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂, is one of the most successful anticancer drugs of all time. However, it has some negative aspects, including toxicity to healthy cells, side effects, and cost. Our goal in this project is to design metal-based anticancer drugs that would be less expensive, less toxic, and more efficient for cancer patients than cisplatin. To begin this research we calculated Euclidean distances - as used by computerized recognition systems - to compare the properties of colors within seasonal palettes that are proven and visible to the eye. These Euclidean distances were then used …

6ppd-Quinone In Middle Tennessee Waters: Assessing Ecological Impact, Andrew Davis Todd, Raphael Marquise Chandler, Kerolos Gerges Basalos, Denise Lori Loewinger

Student Scholar Symposium

This poster presents the dangers of a toxic chemical used on car tires that is entering aquatic ecosystems and harming fish populations.

Investigation Of Aldehyde Oxidase Inhibition By Clopidogrel And Its Thiol Metabolite, Rachel Crouch, Merna Kamal, Hilina Woldeamanuel

Student Scholar Symposium

Aldehyde oxidase (AO) is an enzyme that metabolizes drugs containing aromatic azaheterocycles. Small thiol-containing molecules have been reported to inactivate AO. Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet agent used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Clopidogrel is a prodrug that is bioactivated in vivo by cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 into a thiol metabolite. Our research aims to explore whether the clopidogrel thiol metabolite can inhibit AO, leading to potential drug-drug interactions when co-administered with other drugs that are metabolized by AO. In order to determine whether the prodrug clopidogrel and/or its thiol metabolite inhibit AO, O6-benzylguanine (AO substrate) was incubated with human …

Have You Had Your Vitamins Today? Development Of An Lc-Ms/Ms Method With A 100% Aqueous Gradient To Simultaneously Measure B Vitamins In Plasma From Study Participants In A “Greens” Nutritional Supplement Clinical Trial, Kennedy Brothers, Abigail Davis, Anna Losher, Yusra Ahmed, Sora Ghanem, Matthew J. Vergne

Student Scholar Symposium

This study assessed the absorption of key micronutrients from the multi-ingredient supplement using a novel developed LC-MS/MS method capable of analyzing B vitamins in a single run.

The study a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 16 healthy participants (8 males, 8 females) to measure plasma nutrient appearance over 8 hours after supplement consumption. Serial blood samples were collected pre-consumption and at specified intervals post-ingestion. The novel LC-MS/MS method simultaneously quantified biotin, nicotinamide, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and thiamin in blood samples.

Results:The LC-MS/MS method had a range of 0.1 ng/mL to 1000 ng/mL and it proved to be robust and …

Investigating The Efficacy Of Mebendazole On C. Elegans: Implications For Anthelmintic Drug Development, Brooke Brewer, Saja Al-Saweily

Student Scholar Symposium

About 1.5 billion people in the world are infected with soil-transmitted helminths, especially those who live in high poverty areas. These infections affect communities with poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene in tropical and subtropical areas, keeping them in a state of poverty. Our research focuses on drugs that target the parasitic worms currently approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO currently only has 4 approved drugs for Mass Drug Administration, due to low profit margins, complex parasite life cycles, and rising drug resistance (World Health Organization 2023). While Mebendazole is effective against many common parasitic …

Isolation And Scale-Up Of Fimh, Audrey Cox, Kerolos Ghobrial, Caroline King

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Equity Dead Zones: Legal Intersectionality Failure Points In Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Tearria N. Simmons

The Guardianship Journal

Legal intersectionality failure points describe the systemic fractures that occur where overlapping legal, social, and economic inequalities converge, potentially producing compounded barriers to relief. Each failure point marks a site of marginalization. In what ways do individuals already recognized as vulnerable in Chapter 13 bankruptcy face a heightened risk when multiple forms of disadvantage intersect? When these intersections combine in mutually reinforcing ways—racial, economic, and relational disparities colliding with structural deficiencies in family, property, and bankruptcy law—does it result in pronounced negative outcomes, and, if so, what are those outcomes? Within this convergence, could there be a space where compounded …

Effects Of Pamam Dendrimer Size On Antimicrobial Activity For Acne Treatment, Elise M. Inae

Honors Theses

This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of G1, G2, and G3-Hex-NH2 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with an emphasis on how dendrimer size influenced their efficacy against C. acnes and S. epidermidis. Dendrimers are nano-sized, radially symmetric polymers composed of highly branched units that extend out from a central core. Dendrimers are known to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria by disrupting the lipid bilayer and causing membrane damage. This study explored their effect on a different group of microorganisms–Gram-positive skin flora. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion tests were performed to evaluate minimum inhibitory concentrations for each dendrimer solution. All generations of PAMAM dendrimers …

Neuropathic Pain And Related Depression In Mice: The Effect Of A Terpene And A Minor Cannabinoid In Combination, Jose Rios, Mohammed Alnoud, Mohammad Hussain, Zayd Ayas, Emmanuel Franco, Justin D. Mills, Joshua Nwose, Maria Sophia Malbas, Hiram L. Garcia, Manish Kumar Tripathi, Khalid Benamar

School of Medicine Publications

Background/Objectives: Neuropathic pain is one of the most severe types of chronic pain. Although it is difficult to manage, it often co-occurs with depression. Yet, no medication addresses the neuropathic pain and depression comorbidity. Therefore, developing integrated treatment strategies that address both pain and depression is a major public health priority and an unmet need affecting millions. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effect of combining a terpene, Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP), and cannabidiol (CBD) on neuropathic pain and associated depression. We employed a chronic constriction injury (CCI) neuropathic pain model and a series of behavioral tests to evaluate …

Radiogenomic Profiling Of Prostate Tumors Prior To External Beam Radiotherapy Converges On A Transcriptomic Signature Of Tgf-Β Activity Driving Tumor Recurrence, Anson T. Ku, Uma Shankavaram, Shana Y. Trostel, Hong Zhang, Sumeyra Kartal, Houssein A. Sater, Stephanie A. Harmon, Nicole V. Carrabba, Yang Liu, Hyunnam Ryu, James A. Proudfoot, Boon Hao Hong, Bradford J. Wood, Peter A. Pinto, Peter L. Choyke, Mack Roach, Howard M. Sandler, Stephanie L. Pugh, Kenneth L. Zeitzer, Lucas C. Mendez, Nirav S. Kapadia, William A. Hall, Anand B. Desai, Radka S. Stoyanova, Alan Pollack, Elai Davicioni, Melvin L. K. Chua, Baris Turkbey, Adam G. Sowalsky, Deborah E. Citrin

Einstein Health Papers

PURPOSE: Clinical risk grouping based on PSA, tumor grade, and disease extent guides treatment intensity for localized prostate cancer. However, many patients with intermediate- or high-risk disease treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) still develop biochemical recurrence (BCR). Early identification of patients at high risk for BCR could enable personalized treatment strategies.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We prospectively enrolled 29 patients with intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer undergoing EBRT and ADT. Pretreatment biopsies (n = 60) underwent whole-transcriptome microarray and whole-exome sequencing. Patients received multiparametric MRI at baseline and 6 months after treatment, with a median follow-up …