The work-recovery cycle of kidney strain and inflammation in sugarcane workers following repeat heat exposure at work and at home.

Purpose: To examine heat exposure at work and home and the work-recovery cycle and temporal variation of kidney strain, muscle injury and inflammation biomarkers in sugarcane workers.

Methods: 20 male sugarcane workers (age: 33 ± 7 years) with a workplace Rest.Shade.

An multi-organ microphysiological system (MPS) to investigate the gut-to-brain translocation of neurotoxins.

The death of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra in the base of the brain is a defining pathological feature in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is, however, a multi-systemic disease, also affecting the peripheral nervous system and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that interact via the gut-brain axis (GBA). Our dual-flow GIT-brain microphysiological system (MPS) was modified to investigate the gut-to-brain translocation of the neurotoxin trigger of PD, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP), and its impact on key GIT and brain cells that contribute to the GBA.

Potential value of animal microphysiological systems.

Microphysiological systems (MPS) are designed to recapitulate aspects of tissue/organ physiology in vivo, thereby providing potential value in safety and efficacy assessments of FDA-regulated products and regulatory decision-making. While there have been significant advances in the development, use, and proposals of qualification criteria for human organ MPS, there remains a gap in the development using animal tissues. Animal MPS may be of value in many areas including the study of zoonotic diseases, assessment of the safety and efficacy of animal therapeutics, and possibly reduction of the use of animals in regulatory submissions for animal therapeutics.

Prevalence of Bronchodilator Responsiveness: A Comparison of Old Versus New Criteria.

Background: In 2021, the European Respiratory Society (ERS)/American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines issued a new definition of bronchodilator responsiveness, which is now defined as an increase in FEV or FVC by ≥ 10% of the predicted FEV or FVC. The impact of this revised definition on bronchodilator responsiveness prevalence has been relatively understudied.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 2,696 subjects who performed pulmonary function testing at the University of Iowa from 1997 to 2018.

Building Interprofessional Competencies Through a Collaborative Prescribing Activity With Osteopathic, Pharmacy, and Physician Assistant Students.

Introduction: Medication errors can lead to significant adverse events. Nearly 50% of medication errors occur during the prescription-writing stage of the medication use process, and effective interprofessional collaboration and communication are key to reducing error in this process.

Methods: We developed a three-part, 60-minute, interprofessional education activity providing medical, physician assistant, and pharmacy students the opportunity to practice collegial interprofessional communication surrounding prescribing practices.