Chemicals and Drugs Commons^™

Cannabis- And Substance-Related Carcinogenesis In Europe: A Lagged Causal Inferential Panel Regression Study, Albert S. Reece, Kellie Bennett, Gary K. Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Recent European data facilitate an epidemiological investigation of the controversial cannabis–cancer relationship. Of particular concern were prior findings associating high-dose cannabis use with reproductive problems and potential genetic impacts. Cancer incidence data age-standardised to the world population was obtained from the European Cancer Information System 2000–2020 and many European national cancer registries. Drug use data were obtained from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Alcohol and tobacco consumption was sourced from the WHO. Median household income was taken from the World bank. Cancer rates in high-cannabis-use countries were significantly higher than elsewhere ( -estimate = 0.4165, p …

Impact Of Converging Sociocultural And Substance-Related Trends On Us Autism Rates: Combined Geospatiotemporal And Causal Inferential Analysis, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Whilst cannabis is known to be toxic to brain development, it is unknown if it is driving rising US autism rates (ASMR). A longitudinal epidemiological study was conducted using national autism census data from the US Department of Education Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) 1991–2011 and nationally representative drug exposure (cigarettes, alcohol, analgesic, and cocaine abuse, and cannabis use monthly, daily, and in pregnancy) datasets from National Survey of Drug Use and Health and US Census (income and ethnicity) and CDC Wonder population and birth data. Analysis was conducted in R. 266,950 were autistic of a population of 40,119,464 8-year-olds …

National Health And Medical Research Council Statement On Electronic Cigarettes: 2022 Update, Becky Freeman, Matthew J. Peters, Renee Bittoun, Richard Brightwell, Dallas R. English, David P. Thomas, Margaret F. A. Otlowski, Nicholas A. Zwar, Catherine Chamberlain

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in Australia has rapidly increased since the 2017 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) statement on e-cigarettes. The type of products available and the demographic characteristics of people using these products have changed. New evidence has been published and there is growing concern among public health professionals about the increased use, particularly among young people who do not currently smoke combustible cigarettes. The combination of these issues led NHMRC to review the current evidence and provide an updated statement on e-cigarettes. In this article, we describe the comprehensive process used …

Factors Influencing Medication Adherence Among Adults Living With Diabetes And Comorbidities: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Kendall Gow, Amineh Qin, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose of review: Medication adherence plays an important role in improving health outcomes related to diabetes and comorbidity. The potential factors influencing medication adherence and how they contribute to health behaviors have not been synthesized to date. This review synthesized qualitative studies that identified factors influencing medication adherence among adults living with diabetes and comorbidity. Recent findings: Twenty-eight findings were extracted and synthesized into four themes: perceived support, lack of knowledge, medication issues, and the importance of routine. The findings highlight the factors that support medication adherence and areas that can be targeted to support and promote medication adherence. The …

Exposure To Pcb126 During The Nursing Period Reversibly Impacts Early-Life Glucose Tolerance, Brittany B. Rice, Keegan W. Sammons, Sara Y. Ngo Tenlep, Madeline T. Weltzer, Leryn J. Reynolds, Cetewayo S. Rashid, Hollie I. Swanson, Kevin J. Pearson

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental organic pollutants known to have detrimental health effects. Using a mouse model, we previously demonstrated that PCB126 exposure before and during pregnancy and throughout the perinatal period adversely affected offspring glucose tolerance and/or body composition profiles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the glucose tolerance and body composition of offspring born to dams exposed to PCB126 during the nursing period only. Female ICR mice were bred, and half of the dams were exposed to either vehicle (safflower oil) or 1 µmole PCB126 per kg of body weight via oral gavage on postnatal …

Oral Contraceptives And Affective Disorders: Neurobiology And Informed Choice, Sophia Mae Drezner

Scripps Senior Theses

Pregnancy prevention and female reproductive freedom have been some of the most contested political issues for decades. Abortion, a fundamental part of women’s healthcare, divides liberals and conservatives on an international scale. The consequences of unintended pregnancy without safe and reliable contraception are widespread, disproportionately impacting women of color, trans and non-binary folks, and poorer communities. The birth control pill is the most common form of oral contraception (OC) globally. Many people with ovaries begin the pill or other hormonal contraceptive (HC) methods as young as 11 years old. Exogenous progesterone and estrogen are known to impact mood, affect, physiology, …

Identification Of Novel Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Encoding For Polyketide/Nrps-Producing Chemotherapeutic Compounds From Marine-Derived Streptomyces Hygroscopicus From A Marine Sanctuary, Hannah Ruth Flaherty

Honors Theses and Capstones

Nearly one out of six deaths in 2020, around ten million people, were caused by cancer, making it a leading cause of death worldwide (WHO, 2022). This major public health issue, in addition to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, provides a high demand for the discovery of new pharmaceutical drugs to be used clinically to treat these conditions. The Streptomyces genus accounts to produce 39% of all microbial metabolites currently approved for human health, indicating its potential as an important species to study for antimicrobial and anticancer agents. The long linear genome of Streptomyces contains specialized sequences known as …

Interactions Between Hiv And Opioids On Antiretroviral Accumulation, The Blood Brain Barrier, And The Inflammatory Response In The Brain., Kara Rademeyer

Theses and Dissertations

The complex mechanisms related to HIV infection, neurodegeneration, and chronic neuroinflammation collectively describe neuroHIV (Hauser et al. 2007; Chang et al. 2014; Smith et al. 2014). Specifically, opioid abuse, poor penetration of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, chronic inflammation and neuronal injury/degeneration are all implicated in neuroHIV (Fantuzzi et al. 2003; Letendre et al. 2004; Verani et al. 2005; Duncan and Sattentau 2011; Hong and Banks 2015; Simoes and Justino 2015; Olivier et al. 2018; Murphy et al. 2019; Osborne et al. 2020). For the first time, we demonstrate that morphine, fentanyl, and methadone in vivo alter the brain accumulation of ARVs, …

Prescription Opioid Misuse And Addiction: Healthcare’S Contribution To The Opioid Epidemic And What Can Be Done About It, Emily Larsen, Katrina Ecke

Nursing | Senior Theses

Up to one in four patients undergoing prolonged opioid therapy in a primary care setting battle opioid addiction. In 2020, the CDC found that more than 16,000 deaths involving prescription opioids (limited to natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone) had occurred, which is equivalent to about 45 deaths per day. Opioid overdose death can be identified through three distinct waves; increased prescribing of opioids in the 1990’s began the first wave, the beginning of the second wave came in 2010 with a rapid increase in heroin related overdose deaths, and in 2013 the third wave began with a significant increase …

Examining The Oxidative Stress Effects In Rats Exposed To 2-Aminoanthracene In Utero And High Fat Diet Three Months After, Brianna A. Lanoix

Honors College Theses

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are organic compounds that are created synthetically or found in partially burned oil, gasoline, and coal. 2-aminoanthracene (2AA) is a common example of a PAH and can affect lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and resulting in inflammatory problems and oxidative stress. The objective of the research project is to investigate oxidative stress in relation to diabetes in rats exposed to 2AA in utero and a high fat diet later in life. Pregnant dams were separated into treatment groups based on their dosages of 2AA; 0 mg/kg (control), 50 mg/kg (low), 100 mg/kg (high). During the gestation -postpartum period, …

Analysis Of D- And L- Isomers Of (Meth)Amphetamine In Human K2edta Plasma, Brian Robbins, Jacob Perry, Mary Long, Rob E. Carpenter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Methamphetamine and its metabolite amphetamine are frequently abused drugs. Whether obtained legally or from clandestine laboratories it is of relevance to determine the chiral makeup of these drugs for investigative purpose. Although urine and oral fluid matrices are commonly offered, less available to independent laboratories are techniques to verify dextro (D-) or levo (L-) (meth)amphetamine from human K2EDTA plasma. This paper outlines the development and validation of a method that includes the addition of internal standard and a two-step liquid-liquid extraction to remove the analytes from human K2EDTA plasma by triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The assay was validated according …

Treatment Of Allergic Rhinitis: Diphenhydramine Vs. Fexofenadine, Lauren Setzer

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Allergic rhinitis is a growing allergic illness brought on by the inhalation of allergens, resulting in a list of symptoms, including sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, etc. Among the many treatment options available, H1-antihistamines are a popular choice for allergic rhinitis sufferers. First-generation antihistamines were the first to hit the market and were later discovered to be lipophilic, causing blood-brain barrier penetration and cognitive impairment. Second-generation antihistamines were later developed with lipophobic properties to eliminate any form of cognitive impairment. Both generations are readily available over-the-counter in tablet form, including two commonly used ones: diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) and fexofenadine (Allegra®). These …

Video Game Therapy For Adhd Managment, Wilhelm Alec Sison Beroncal

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stands out as the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, leading to functional challenges in various aspects of the daily lives of affected young individuals (Bul et al., 2016).

There is no current cure for ADHD, however effective treatments are available through medications. The FDA has authorized two types of medications for managing ADHD in children as young as 6 years old: stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine (e.g. Adderall), and non-stimulant options including Strattera, Intuniv, Kapvay, and Qelbree (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023).

The choice of treatment is highly individualized to meet the specific …

Production And Characterization Of A Phage Endolysin With Putative Antimicrobial Activity Against Cutibacterium Acnes, Kathryn M. Collins

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Acne vulgaris (acne) is the eighth most common skin disorder worldwide. Because of the heterogeneous pathology of acne and the increasing antibiotic resistance of the causal agent (Cutibacterium acnes), novel therapeutics need to be developed to treat acne. One option is endolysins, highly conserved enzymes from bacteriophages that disrupt the bacterial cell wall. Endolysins retain bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity when applied to bacteria in vitro and are safe for topical application. We hypothesize that the endolysin (ENDL) from the P100.1 C. acnes bacteriophage will exhibit bacteriostatic activity against C. acnes in vitro. This study aims to bioinformatically characterize the P100.1 …

Self-Assembled Ternary Polypeptide Nanoparticles With Improved Biostability For Drug Delivery In Cancer Therapy, Preye Mike Agbana

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Cancer remains a real and present threat to global health. In the United States, according to cancer statistics, almost 40% of people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. Conventional chemotherapy has become the mainstay for cancer treatment option. However, chemotherapeutic agents are plagued with problems such as poor aqueous solubility, chemical degradation, Bio instability, and off-site toxicity due to non-specificity. New drug modalities are needed to tackle the ever-growing burden on cancer. In recent times, the promise of nanotechnology has aided to develop drug delivery vehicles to facilitate the administration of potent chemotherapeutics. Nanoformulations such …

Enhancing Dna-Damaging Therapy Through The Inhibition Of Dntp Synthesis Using A Synergistic Drug Combination To Treat Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms, Jennifer Castle Md

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

Despite clinical advances, pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNEN) remain a difficult clinical entity to treat and can carry a poor prognosis. Systemic therapy is used to treat pNENs which are not amenable to surgical resection. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, a form of radiation therapy (RT) and cisplatin are two different forms of DNA-damaging therapy in current use to treat pNENs. However, their efficacy remains poor as single agents. This study aimed to increase the sensitivity of pNENs to the DNA-damaging agents, RT and cisplatin, by inhibiting deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) synthesis. Triapine, a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor (RNRi), and ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related …

Efficacy And Safety Of Vibegron For The Treatment Of Overactive Bladder In Women: A Subgroup Analysis From The Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Empowur Trial, Diane K. Newman Dnp, Elizabeth Thomas Ms, Heather Greene Mph, Cornelia Haag-Molkenteller Md, Susann Varano Md

Physician Associate Studies Faculty Publications

Importance The international phase 3 EMPOWUR trial demonstrated efficacy and safety of vibegron, a newer b3-adrenergic receptor agonist, in adults with overactive bladder (OAB). Women are disproportionately affected by OAB, especially those with bothersome symptoms, such as urge urinary incontinence (UUI). Objective This subgroup analysis from EMPOWUR assessed efficacy and safety of vibegron in women. Study Design In EMPOWUR, patients with OAB were randomized 5:5:4 to 12 weeks of treatment with once-daily vibegron 75 mg, placebo, or tolterodine 4-mg extended release. Efficacy end points included change from baseline at week 12 in mean daily number of micturitions, UUI episodes, and …

Marine-Based Candidates As Potential Rsk1 Inhibitors: A Computational Study, Amgad Albohy, Mousa Altarabeen, Peter Proksch, Qosay Al-Balas, Werner Ernst Georg Müller

Pharmacy

Manzamines are chemically related compounds extracted from the methanolic extract of Acanthostrongylophora ingens species. Seven compounds were identified by our research group and are being characterized. As their biological target is unknown, this work is based on previous screening work performed by Mayer et al., who revealed that manzamine A could be an inhibitor of RSK1 kinase. Within this work, the RSK1 N-terminal kinase domain is exploited as a target for our work and the seven compounds are docked using Autodock Vina software. The results show that one of the most active compounds, Manzamine A N-oxide (5), with an IC50 …

Determination Of The Effects Of Added Methionine On The Toxicity Of Platinum Drugs In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Kassidy Owens, Jonathan White

Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal

Platinum (Pt) drugs are used in about half of all anticancer treatments. A common way to study Pt drugs is by using S. cerevisiae (brewer’s yeast) as a model cellular organism. One of the most commonly-used strains of yeast is BY4741, which is auxotrophic for (cannot synthesize) several small-molecule nutrients, including the amino acid methionine. Therefore, methionine must be supplemented in the cell culture medium. Interestingly, it is known that methionine can react with Pt compounds, including Pt drugs. Methionine-supplemented media continues to be used to study Pt drugs in yeast, especially BY4741, yet the potential for methionine to interfere …

Evaluation Of Leishmanicidal Activities Of 4-Thiazolidinones Against Leishmania Major, The Causative Agent Of Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Kiera Bush

All Master's Theses

The leishmaniases are a group of vector-borne parasitic diseases that affect many developing countries including parts of Africa, India, and the Middle East in addition to Southern Europe and the Americas. It is estimated that worldwide, there are about 3 million new cases of leishmaniases each year leading to as many as 50,000 fatalities annually. The parasites that cause leishmaniasis belong to the genus Leishmania spp and are transmitted by the female phlebotomine sand fly. There are three clinical forms of the infection: visceral, mucocutaneous, and cutaneous. However, the focus of this paper is on cutaneous leishmaniasis that causes skin …