Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

Application Of Informatics Tools To Facilitate The Practice Of Precision Medicine With Genomic Testing And Clinical Data, Michael Sayer

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

The practice of precision medicine considers a variety of sources of information to optimize patient care. Factors such as patient demographics, clinical history, and lab test values have well understood effects on treatment outcomes and influence decision making. However, effective inclusion of biomolecular data such as protein expression and DNA sequencing data within the practice of precision medicine needs continued study. Informatics tools offer solutions to allow these complex data sources to be effectively embraced. Utilization of informatics tools to visualize data pertaining to the gene selection practices of pharmacogenomic (PGx) tests effectively communicated large amounts of information into concise …

Quantitative Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals Unique Camp Signaling Pools Emanating From Ac2 And Ac6 In Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells, Isabella Cattani-Cavalieri, Yue Li, Jordyn Margolis, Amy S. Bogard, Moom R. Roosan, Rennolds S. Ostrom

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Human airway smooth muscle (HASM) is the primary target of ßAR agonists used to control airway hypercontractility in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ßAR agonists induce the production of cAMP by adenylyl cyclases (ACs), activate PKA and cause bronchodilation. Several other G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) expressed in human airway smooth muscle cells transduce extracellular signals through cAMP but these receptors elicit different cellular responses. Some G-protein coupled receptors couple to distinct adenylyl cyclases isoforms with different localization, partly explaining this compartmentation, but little is known about the downstream networks that result. We used quantitative phosphoproteomics to define the …

The Science Of Oral Carbapenems, Landon Olsen, Daniel J. Yang, Aiyi Chen, Thahn-Liem Vu, H. Stephen Lee

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Effects Of B4galnt1 Expression On Metastatic Phenotype And Response To Treatment In Osteosarcoma Cell Lines, Fatemeh Zareihajiabadi

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Antifungal Efficacy In The Treatment Of Candida Auris Bloodstream Infections, Monique Busacay, Kaylee Putney, Rebecca Jayakumar

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Adverse Infusion-Related Event Severity In Oncology Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Agents Vs. Immunotherapy Agents, Tayler Hutto

Annual Research Symposium

In recent years, immunotherapy investigational drugs in cancer research has been underway in treating multiple forms of cancer due to a lower side effect profile and decreased severe infusion-reaction risk compared to conventional chemotherapy agents. The purpose of this study was to determine the infusion reaction severity among patients receiving either chemotherapy treatment or immunotherapy agents based on the CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) scale to improve patient care outcomes.

In this intent-to-treat, retrospective observational study, a survey of patients throughout 10 Intermountain Healthcare infusion clinics was conducted to obtain documentation on patients who had received chemotherapy and/or …

A Critical Appraisal Of The Physicochemical Properties And Biological Effects Of Artificial Tear Ingredients And Formulations, Judy Weng, Michael K. Fink, Ajay Sharma

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Dry eye disease is among the most prevalent diseases affecting the ocular surface. Artificial tears remain the cornerstone therapy for its management. There are currently a wide variety of marketed artificial tears available to choose from. These artificial tears differ significantly in their composition and formulation. This article reviews the physicochemical and biological properties of artificial tear components and how these characteristics determine their use and efficacy in the management of dry eye. Furthermore, this article also discusses the various formulations of artificial tears such as macro and nanoemulsion and the type of preservatives present in them.

Prg4/Cd44/Pp2a Signaling Axis: A Significant Regulator Of Gout Arthritis, Sandy Elsayed

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Introduction: Gout is a common chronic arthritis caused by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition in joints leading to activation of synovial resident macrophages and downstream production of interleukin-1b (IL-1b). Xanthine oxidase (XO) catalyzes purines into uric acid (UA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that activate NLRP3 inflammasome. Protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) may be involved in regulating inflammatory pathways in macrophages. Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) and its receptor CD44 and its transducer PP2A signaling axis play a biologically significant role in regulating urate crystal inflammation.

Methods: Monocytes and macrophages were primed with TLR2 agonist and stimulated with MSU crystals. Fingolimod (PP2A …

Influences Of Host Cytokine Signaling On Kshv Infection In Tonsil-Derived B Lymphocytes, Nedaa Alomari

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of kaposi sarcoma. It is also associated with the B cell lymphoproliferative disorders, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) and KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS). Existing research reveals that KSHV has developed numerous strategies to alter host cytokine signaling activities to facilitate viral persistence and escape host immune surveillance.

Despite three decades of research, there are still many questions in this field awaiting further investigation. This dissertation will investigate host cytokines as factors influencing the establishment of KSHV infection in the human tonsil. We have identified and characterized different cytokines …

Formulation Of Pectin-Based Double Layer-Coated Tablets Containing Dexamethasone And Probiotics For Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Erny Sagita, Ronaldo Ongki Winata, Raditya Iswandana

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition in the colon that includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Dexamethasone is a steroid anti-inflammatory drug that can be used in IBD therapy. This study aims to obtain an optimum formulation of a dexamethasone drug delivery system for IBD treatment and to investigate its release profile based on an in vitro dissolution test. Dexamethasone was formulated as a double-coated tablet in combination with a probiotic L. acidophilus and B. longum mixture (1:1). The core tablets were produced using the wet granulation method, after which they were coated with pectin 4% b/v …

Antiproliferative Activity Of Philippine Marine Sediment-Derived Actinomycetes, Jon Ray M. Maglonzo, Edna M. Sabido, Cristina C. Salibay, Doralyn S. Dalisay, Jonel P. Saludes

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

The Philippine archipelago is rich in marine biodiversity and resources that are widely unexplored. Its marine sediments harbor marine microbes that possess secondary metabolites with potent bioactivities. This study aims to determine the antiproliferative activity of the crude extracts of selected Actinomycete isolates (DSD011, DSD017, and DSD042) from Islas de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo. The antiproliferative screening was done using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism. Crude extracts of isolates that are active in inhibiting the growth of S. cerevisiae were determined using the broth microdilution method. Afterward, the active extract was tested using antiproliferative and budding yeast assays. With the …

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant And Cytotoxic Activity Of Lannea Egregia Engl. & K. Krause Stem Bark Extracts, Seide M. Akoro, Mutiat A. Omotayo, Oyinlade C. Ogundare, Stemon A. Akpovwovwo, Gbemileke P. Bello

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

This study investigates the phytochemical contents, antioxidants and cytotoxic activities of Lannea egregia Engl. & K. Krause stem bark extracts. Secondary metabolites were extracted using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol by successive maceration. The concentrated extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening using standard procedures. The crude flavonoid was obtained from the plant material using Harborne’s method and then profiled using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activities of the plant extract were assessed using reducing power assay and DPPH scavenging activity, while the cytotoxic activity was determined using the brine shrimp lethality assay. The crude extract of n-hexane or …

The Potential Application Of Clitoria Ternatea For Cancer Treatment, Anita Purnamayanti, Krisyanti Budipramana, Marisca Evalina Gondokesumo

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

The Clitoria ternatea flower, known as bunga telang in Indonesia, is commonly mixed with food and beverages to provide a natural blue colour. Aside from its popular culinary use, it is a traditional medicine in Indonesia for diseases in the eyes, urinary tract and skin, as well as functioning as an anti-toxin. Furthermore, recent advances in science and technology have revealed that the C. ternatea flower contains a high level of polyphenol compounds that possess anticancer activity, including saponins, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids, kaempferol, and quercetin. This review aims to identify and analyse recent articles regarding the phytochemical activities of C. …

Characterisation And Antibacterial Activity Of Green Tea Extract-Enriched Solid Goat’S Milk Soap, Uswatun Chasanah, Dian Ermawati, Dwi Putri Utami, Angela Nora Hayati

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Solid goat’s milk soap is organic and beneficial for the health and appearance of the skin. One of the components in green tea known to display antibacterial activities is epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC). In this study, the effects of solid goat’s milk soap containing 1%, 2%, and 4% green tea extract on the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were examined. The soap was characterized for its organoleptic, pH, free fatty acid, alkalinity, water content, foam stability, and hardness. In addition, an in vitro antimicrobial test was performed utilising the well-diffusion method. The findings revealed that all the …

Pneumococcal Vaccine Guidance 2022, Bona Shin, Michael Do, Elaina Lioudis

Transformative Medicine (T-Med)

PCV15 and PCV20 received FDA approval in 2021. This article provides an overview of all pneumococcal vaccines - PPSV23, PCV13, PCV15, and PCV20 and their place in therapy. It provides a summary of pneumococcal disease burden in the U.S., vaccine spectrum of activity, indications, adult/pediatric dosing schedules, efficacy, and common adverse drug reactions.

Structure-Based Rational Design Of Small Α-Helical Peptides With Broad-Spectrum Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens, Sandeep Lohan, Anastasia G. Konshina, Roman G. Efremov, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A series of small (7–12 mer) amphipathic cationic peptides were designed and synthesized to create short helical peptides with broad-range bactericidal activity and selectivity toward the bacterial cells. The analysis identified a lead 12-mer peptide 8b with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive (MIC = 3.1–6.2 μg/mL) and Gram-negative (MIC = 6.2–12.5 μg/mL) bacteria and selectivity toward prokaryotic versus eukaryotic cells (HC50 = 280 μg/mL, >75% cell viability at 150 μg/mL). The rapid membranolytic action of 8b was demonstrated by a calcein dye leakage assay and confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. According to circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy, the peptides have an …

Editorial: Adenylyl Cyclase Isoforms As Potential Drug Targets, Tarsis F. Brust, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Val J. Watts

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Editorial on the Research Topic Adenylyl cyclase isoforms as potential drug targets

Il-21 Signaling Promotes The Establishment Of Kshv Infection In Human Tonsil Lymphocytes By Increasing Differentiation And Targeting Of Plasma Cells, Nedaa Alomari, Jennifer Totonchy

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Factors influencing Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) transmission and the early stages of KSHV infection in the human immune system remain poorly characterized. KSHV is known to extensively manipulate the host immune system and the cytokine milieu, and cytokines are known to influence the progression of KSHV-associated diseases. Our previous work identified the early targeting of plasma cells for KSHV infection. In this study, we examine whether IL-21, a cytokine known to profoundly influence plasma cell fate, influences the early stages of KSHV infection in B lymphocytes.

Methods: Using our unique model of ex vivo KSHV infection in tonsil lymphocytes, …

Role Of Macrophages In Ocular Surface Fibrosis, Alyanna Corpuz

Pharmaceutical Sciences (MS) Theses

The present study is designed to investigate whether irradiation as used for conditioning regimen to ablate recipient’s diseased bone marrow prior to transplantation could trigger macrophage activation and polarization and whether macrophages could cause the transdifferentiation of ocular surface fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, thus contributing to oGVHD-associated fibrosis.

Bone marrow cells were cultured in M-CSF to obtain M0 macrophages, which were subsequently polarized into M1 and M2 phenotypes using IFN-g + LPS and IL-4, respectively.

The macrophages were exposed to 7 Gy radiation. The effect of irradiation on macrophage activation markers, phagocytosis, and apoptosis was assessed using real-time PCR, confocal microscopy, …

Membrane-Active Cyclic Amphiphilic Peptides: Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity Alone And In Combination With Antibiotics, Eman H. M. Mohammed, Sandeep Lohan, Tarra Ghaffari, Shilpi Gupta, Rakesh K. Tiwari, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

We designed a library of 24 cyclic peptides containing arginine (R) and tryptophan (W) residues in a sequential manner [RnWn] (n = 2–7) to study the impact of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio, charge, and ring size on the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Among peptides, 5a and 6a demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity. In combination with 11 commercially available antibiotics, 5a and 6a showed remarkable synergism against a large panel of resistant pathogens. Hemolysis (HC50 = 340 μg/mL) and cell viability against mammalian cells demonstrated the selective lethal action of 5a against bacteria over …