Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons^™

Substitution Of Cannabis For Prescribed Medications In The Management Of Anxiety And Depression Among Midlife Women: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jocelyn Mueller, Jamia Sapp, Jennifer Attonito, Aditya Chakraborty, Karina Villalba

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background and Aims

Given the rising prevalence of cannabis use as an alternative strategy for managing mental health symptoms, there is a crucial need to understand the determinants of substitution behavior, particularly among midlife women who may experience distinct psychosocial and clinical profiles. This study examined the predictors of cannabis substitution among midlife women by comparing profiles of women who substituted cannabis for antidepressant medications versus those who substituted for anxiolytic medications.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 172 women who reported substituting cannabis for either anxiety or depression medications was conducted. Measures included the PHQ-8, OASIS, AUDIT, and ACEs. Logistic …

Varieties And Forms Of Capstone Experiences In U.S. Pharmacy Education, Mohammed A. Islam, Erfan Kohzadi, Laleh Zamirian

Health Professions Education

Purpose: In health professions education, capstone courses provide students with a culminating experience, enabling them to integrate and apply clinical and practice skills in real-world settings. With their growing adoption in Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curricula, this study examined the prevalence, diversity, and structure of capstone courses across US programs. The aim was to identify emerging patterns that can inform the development of models aligned with accreditation standards, workforce expectations, and ongoing curricular improvement.

Methods: A systematic content analysis of 142 US pharmacy program websites was performed. The recorded data included course objectives, format, credit hours, course placement, teaching methods, …

Formulation Development Of Topical Inserts Containing Doxycycline And Doxycycline Combined With Tenofovir Alafenamide And Elvitegravir For The Prevention Of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Vivek Agrahari, M. Melissa Peet, Jasmin Monpara, Rijo John, Sriramakamal Jonnalagadda, Pardeep K. Gupta, Meredith R. Clark, Gustavo F. Doncel

CONRAD Publications

Despite advances in oral and injectable HIV prevention options and oral prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) of bacterial origin, there remains a critical need for effective on-demand topical (vaginal and rectal) products for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP). To fill this gap, we have developed single and first-in-kind multi-active topical inserts for bacterial STIs and HIV/STIs prevention. We have formulated two different inserts, one containing doxycycline (DOX) at 10, 50, and 100 mg doses for bacterial STI prevention, and a multipurpose prevention product (TED insert) that combines DOX (10 mg) with the antiretrovirals tenofovir alafenamide (TAF; 20 …

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Smart Vaginal Formulation Development, Deborah A. Ogundemuren, Vivek Agrahari, Andrew P. Wong, Carolina Herrera, Margaret O. Ilomuanya, Gustavo F. Doncel

CONRAD Publications

Vaginal drug delivery in women's health remains underutilized and insufficiently studied, largely due to the complexity and dynamic nature of the vaginal microenvironment. Variations in vaginal pH, hormonal levels, and microbiota composition introduce significant biological variability, complicating formulation design and contributing to inconsistent therapeutic outcomes and poor patient adherence. Conventional vaginal formulations often fail to account for these individual differences, highlighting the need for more adaptive and predictive approaches. Emerging advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer promising strategies to address these challenges by enabling multi-parameter, data-driven formulation development that explicitly considers biological variability. Despite their transformative …

Partial Post-Exposure Protection By Topical Inserts Containing Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate/Elvitegravir In A Macaque Model Of Rectal Simian Hiv (Shiv) Infection, Natalia Makarova, Tyana Singletary, M. Melissa Peet, Kristen Kelley, Ryan Johnson, Vivek Agrahari, Maria Mendoza, Yi Pan, Walid Heneine, Meredith R. Clark, J. Gerardo García Lerma, Gustavo F. Doncel, James W. Smith

CONRAD Publications

On-demand topical inserts for HIV prevention may be a good option for people who have a low frequency of sexual activity. We recently demonstrated in a preclinical macaque model that rectal application of inserts containing tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) and elvitegravir (EVG) conferred protection against SHIV infection (93% efficacy) when applied as pre-exposure prophylaxis 4 hours before SHIV exposure. Here, we show that the same inserts provide significant postexposure protection (82.9% efficacy) when applied 4 hours after SHIV exposure. Our findings further support the ongoing clinical development of TAF/EVG inserts for on-demand HIV prevention.

Effect Of Lifestyle And Medication Adherence On Type 2 Diabetes Management In Hospital Patients, Mohammed Irfan Lari

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Research News, Publications, 2026, Volume 1, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of January 1 - March 31, 2026.

Research News, Publications, 2026, Volume 2, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of April 1 - June 30, 2026.

Research News, Publications, 2026, Volume 3, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period of July 1 - September 30, 2026

Children With Cystic Fibrosis Can Lead Normal Lives; It All Started With The Nih, The Center For Integration Of Science And Industry

CISI Publication

Cystic fibrosis is a model of what can be accomplished with sustained support from the government, public, and biotechnology industry.

Our research shows that the NIH funded research underlying >99% of all drugs approved 2010-2024 with an average spending of $1.4 billion/drug approval.1-4 This research creates the foundational knowledge required for successful drug development by industry.

Microsponge Technology: A Comprehensive Review Of Advanced Drug Delivery - From Formulation Science To Therapeutic Applications, Akash Pawar, Nagesh C, Sunil Attimarad, Suma Naduvinamani, Savita Ullegaddi

Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences

Microsponge technology has emerged as a promising drug delivery system due to its unique porosity structure, linked pores and large surface area. These features allow effective drug loading, encapsulation, and sustained drug release, making microsponges suitable for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Their structural integrity provides controlled release profile and prevents deep penetration, localizing drugs in the epidermis. Its versatility allows incorporation into topical and oral forms, addressing limitations of traditional systems such as unwanted side effects, greasiness, or odor. Multiple fabrication methods including liquid–liquid suspension polymerization and quasi-emulsion techniques produce robust, cost-effective microsponges. Standard evaluation includes particle size, drug loading, …

A Systematic Review On Niosomes: Composition, Preparation, And Applications, Sanket Gawade Mr., Sunil Attimarad, Vishakha Desai Ms.

Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences

Conventional drug carrier systems are restricted owing to poor bioavailability, weak stability and non-specific localization, which causes systemic toxicities and reduced therapeutic efficacy. Niosomes, one of the nonionic surfactant vesicular systems, have been suggested that value to overcome these constraints. In this review, we give an account of recent progress in niosome research, highlighting their merits, composition, characterization, and applications.

Niosomes offer several advantages including increased drug bioavailability, targeted delivery and reduced toxicity. Bilayered niosomes can entrap both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, therefore allowing simultaneous delivery of actives components. We provide an overview of various techniques for niosome preparation including …

Research News, Grants, 2026, Volume 1, Soumyajit Majumdar

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during January - March 2026

Research News, Grants, 2026, Volume 2, Soumyajit Majumdar

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during April - June 2026

Research News, Grants, 2026, Volume 3, Soumyajit Majumdar

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during July - September 2026

Proteome-Based Identification And Validation Of Nxpe3 In Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Najia Tabassum, Yamna Khurshid, Basir Syed, Aftab Ahmad, Sadia Muhammad, Rehan Imad, Talat Mirza

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (cALL) tends to metastasize to central nervous system. Treatment with antileukemic agents against CNS leukaemia is an essential component for cure in ALL. Hence, it is essential to identify biomarkers for CNS infiltration. Proteomics, supported by mass spectrometry, is the platform for exploring biomarkers in various biological samples, contributing to translational research. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the plasma proteome profile of children across different risk groups of cALL. Neurexophilin and PC-esterase family, member 3 (NXPE3), was validated. The protein-protein interactions (PPI) of NXPE3 were evaluated with bioinformatics analyses. Methods: Plasma …

Sglt2 Inhibitors In Cardio-Oncology: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Luigi Spadafora, Marco Bernardi, Gianmarco Sarto, Beatrice Simeone, Erica Rocco, Salvatore Carbone, Laura Adelaide Dalla Vecchia, Roberto Franco Enrico Pedretti, Valentina Valentine, Rachele Di Mario, Maurizio Forte, Giacomo Frati, Antonio Abbate, Michele Golino, Francesco Versaci, Mariangela Peruzzi, Pierre Sabouret, Giuseppe Biondi Zoccai, Sebastiano Sciarretta

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Background

According to available evidence, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) may confer cardioprotection in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Objectives

The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of SGLT2i on all-cause mortality and heart failure (HF) outcomes in this population.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase through August 2025 for studies of SGLT2i in adult patients with cancer. Random-effects models were used to pool effects for all-cause mortality and an HF composite (new-onset HF and/or HF hospitalization) in cancer patients >18 years. Meta-regression tested effect modification by beta-blockers, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, age, and …

Investigating The Immunostimulatory Potential Of Dsrna-Silk Nanoparticle Complexes In Melanoma, Samuel J. Peters

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The rate of resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in metastatic melanoma is quite high, with an overall rate of 70%. Melanoma achieves these high rates of resistance by suppressing the immune response in the tumour microenvironment (TME), making them immunologically “cold”. The type 1 interferon response could be leveraged to initiate immune responses in melanoma, making their “cold” TMEs “warm” again. Double-stranded ribonucleic acids (dsRNAs) are potent activators of an innate immune response; however, they are susceptible to degradation by nucleases present in the body and need a carrier. Silk nanoparticles (SNPs) are an ideal drug-delivery platform as they …

Clinical Outcomes With Perioperative Nivolumab By Nodal Status In Patients With Stage Iii Resectable Nsclc: Phase 3 Checkmate 77t Exploratory Analysis, Mariano Provencio, Mark M Awad, Jonathan D Spicer, Annelies Janssens, Fedor Moiseyenko, Yang Gao, Yasutaka Watanabe, Aurelia Alexandru, Florian Guisier, Nikolaj Frost, Fabio Franke, T Jeroen Nicolaas Hiltermann, Jie He, Fumihiro Tanaka, Shun Lu, Cinthya Coronado Erdmann, Padma Sathyanarayana, Phuong Tran, Vipul Devas, Tina Cascone

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Individuals with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with metastases to the ipsilateral mediastinum or subcarinal lymph nodes (N2 disease) have poor long-term survival. This exploratory analysis from the randomized phase 3 CheckMate 77T study assessed clinical outcomes by nodal status in individuals with stage III NSCLC who received neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant nivolumab (nivolumab) versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant placebo (placebo). Here we show that among patients with N2 disease, nivolumab versus placebo improved event-free survival (1-year rate, 70% versus 45%; hazard ratio, 0.46 (95% confidence interval, 0.30–0.70)) and pathological complete response rate …

Ethical Considerations For Hospice Patients In Inpatient Settings: A Systematic Review And Thematic Analysis, Matthew D. Harry

Honors Theses and Capstones

Hospice care is intended to prioritize comfort, dignity, symptom management, and quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illness. However, when hospice-eligible patients are managed within inpatient hospital settings, significant ethical challenges frequently emerge due to the tension between comfort-focused care and the curative, intervention-driven structure of acute care medicine. This paper presents a systematic literature review and thematic analysis examining the ethical considerations surrounding hospice patients in inpatient settings, with particular attention to clinical decision-making, communication, prognostic uncertainty, moral distress among nurses, and conflicts involving patient autonomy and family wishes. A structured review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted using …