Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

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, …

Critical Physicochemical Properties For Nanoparticle Toxicity: Impact Of Surface Coating And Size On Particle-Induced Cell Transformation And Inflammatory Response, Tiffany Kornberg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nanoparticles, which measure 100 nm in at least one dimension, have surged in development, production, and use for a wide range of applications. However, the rapid pace of development for these emerging materials with unclear/unknown toxicity profiles makes it difficult to adequately assess health risk associated with exposure. One critical obstacle which limits scientific research to fill these critical knowledge gaps is the lack of accurate and predictive models for nanotoxicology studies, particularly those which involve occupationally relevant exposure scenarios (pulmonary exposure to low dose of particles in the circulating air). Typically, animal models are used to assess potential systemic …

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 …

Molecular Pharmacology Of Non-Phyto-Cannabinoid Approaches For Treatment Of Neuropathic Pain, Nadejda A. Blajkevich

Theses and Dissertations

Approximately twenty million people in United States have some form of peripheral neuropathy. It has been shown that the CB₂ cannabinoid receptor is upregulated when there is peripheral nerve injury and activating the CB₂ receptor produces anti-inflammatory effects that translate to a reduction in signs of “neuropathic pain” in animal models. Elevating endogenous cannabinoids by inhibiting degradative enzymes has also been used to reduce neuropathic pain signs in laboratory animal models of pain. We hypothesize that the molecular pharmacology of these two approaches can be leveraged to optimize CB₁/CB₂ activation to improve non-phyto-cannabinoid treatments for …

Development And Ex Vivo Characterization Of Enteric Coated Chitosan Beads For Crohn’S Disease Management, Craig Mendonca

University Scholar Projects

Drug delivery is the process of transporting a drug to its site of action. It includes controlled delivery, where the drug is released at the tissue in a regulated manner. Additionally, it includes targeted delivery, where the drug is aimed at a specific tissue or region to avoid unwanted side effects (that would occur if the drug were distributed throughout the body). A cellulose acetate phthalate coated chitosan bead was developed as a formulation for controlled and targeted release of dexamethasone to the ilium and colon. This formulation was determined to be effective in delaying dexamethasone release until the formulation …

Pharmacy-Based Travel Health Services In The United States, Keri Hurley-Kim, Jeffery Goad, Sheila Seed, Karl M. Hess

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The aim of this paper is to review pharmacy laws and regulations, pharmacist training, clinic considerations, and patient care outcomes regarding pharmacy-based travel health services in the United States. Pharmacists and pharmacies in the United States are highly visible and accessible to the public, and have long been regarded as a source for immunization services. As international travel continues to increase and grow in popularity in this country, there is a pressing need for expanded access to preventative health services, including routine and travel vaccinations, as well as medications for prophylaxis or self-treatment of conditions that may be acquired overseas. …