Metabolic-Glycoengineering-Enabled Molecularly Specific Acoustic Tweezing Cytometry for Targeted Mechanical Stimulation of Cell Surface Sialoglycans.

In this study, we developed a novel type of dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-functionalized microbubbles (MBs) and validated their attachment to azide-labelled sialoglycans on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) generated by metabolic glycoengineering (MGE). This enabled the application of mechanical forces to sialoglycans on hPSCs through molecularly specific acoustic tweezing cytometry (mATC), that is, displacing sialoglycan-anchored MBs using ultrasound (US). It was shown that subjected to the acoustic radiation forces of US pulses, sialoglycan-anchored MBs exhibited significantly larger displacements and faster, more complete recovery after each pulse than integrin-anchored MBs, indicating that sialoglycans are more stretchable and elastic than integrins on hPSCs in response to mechanical force.

Resonant Acoustic Rheometry to Measure Coagulation Kinetics in Hemophilia A and Healthy Plasma: A Novel Viscoelastic Method.

Compared with conventional coagulation tests and factor-specific assays, viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHAs) can provide a more thorough evaluation of clot formation and lysis but have several limitations including clot deformation. In this proof-of-concept study, we test a noncontact technique, termed resonant acoustic rheometry (RAR), for measuring the kinetics of human plasma coagulation. Specifically, RAR utilizes a dual-mode ultrasound technique to induce and detect surface oscillation of blood samples without direct physical contact and measures the resonant frequency of the surface oscillation over time, which is reflective of the viscoelasticity of the sample.

High Frequency Spectral Ultrasound Imaging Detects Early Heterotopic Ossification in Rodents.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a devastating condition in which ectopic bone forms inappropriately in soft tissues following traumatic injuries and orthopedic surgeries as a result of aberrant mesenchymal progenitor cell (MPC) differentiation. HO leads to chronic pain, decreased range of motion, and an overall decrease in quality of life. While several treatments have shown promise in animal models, all must be given during early stages of formation.

Modes of Action of a Bi-domain Plant Defensin MtDef5 Against a Bacterial Pathogen .

Defensins are small cysteine-rich endogenous host defense peptides expressed in all higher plants. They are thought to be important players in the defense arsenal of plants against fungal and oomycete pathogens. However, little is known regarding the antibacterial activity of these peptides.

Systems analysis of dynamic transcription factor activity identifies targets for treatment in Olaparib resistant cancer cells.

The development of resistance to targeted therapeutics is a challenging issue for the treatment of cancer. Cancers that have mutations in BRCA, a DNA repair protein, have been treated with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which target a second DNA repair mechanism with the aim of inducing synthetic lethality. While these inhibitors have shown promise clinically, the development of resistance can limit their effectiveness as a therapy.

Effects of chromosomal deletion of the operon encoding the multiple resistance and pH-related antiporter in Vibrio cholerae.

To examine the possible physiological significance of Mrp, a multi-subunit cation/proton antiporter from Vibrio cholerae, a chromosomal deletion Δmrp of V. cholerae was constructed and characterized. The resulting mutant showed a consistent early growth defect in LB broth that became more evident at elevated pH of the growth medium and increasing Na+ or K+ loads.

Staging a reflective capstone course to transition PharmD graduates to professional life.

Objective: To develop and implement a capstone course that would allow students to reflect on their development as a professional, assess and share their achievement of the college's outcomes, complete a professional portfolio, establish a continuing professional development plan, and prepare to enter the pharmacy profession.

Design: Students were required to complete a hybrid course built around 4 online and inclass projects during the final semester of the curriculum.

Assessment: Faculty used direct measures of learning, such as reading student portfolios and program outcome reflections, evaluating professional development plans, and directly observing each student in a video presentation.

Meeting the challenge of public health information delivery in the digital age.

Objective: To discuss the current status of public health messaging and how pharmacists can become more active participants.

Summary: Public health needs can be addressed by using Internet videos as a model to disseminate medical information. Introducing student pharmacists to new ways of developing and delivering targeted public health messages can increase their awareness that public health intervention is part of the emerging scope of practice.

Using focus groups to inform pharmacy research.

Background: Focus groups are a powerful research tool for collecting qualitative information across many contexts. The focus group offers pharmacy researchers benefits that support many of the important lines of investigation at the forefront of contemporary pharmacy-based research, particularly within the areas of patient compliance/concordance, customer behavior, patient-provider collaboration, health literacy research, and disease management. This article introduces the focus group as a research method that offers powerful investigative potential to researchers who are attempting to understand human-based phenomena.

Pharmacist-facilitated enrollment in medication assistance programs in a private ambulatory care clinic.

Purpose: Efforts to reduce patients' out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs by incorporating pharmaceutical manufacturer assistance programs (PMAPs) into a private ambulatory care facility's pharmaceutical services are described.

Summary: From March 2001 through March 2002, the clinic's pharmacist prospectively evaluated patients for PMAP enrollment. The pharmacist completed the pharmaceutical manufacturer's application forms for patients identified as candidates for PMAP assistance and helped them obtain documentation.

Improving aspirin prophylaxis in a primary care diabetic population.

Study Objective: To evaluate and improve adherence to American Diabetes Association guidelines for prophylactic aspirin therapy in ambulatory patients with diabetes using a pharmacy-directed intervention.

Design: Unblinded, single intervention.

Setting: Rural, primary care clinic.

On-the-job writing tasks of clerkship preceptors.

The frequency with which various types of documents were written on-the-job by Pharm. D. clerkship preceptors was studied, along with the value that these documents added to their professional practice.

Writing tasks performed by doctor of pharmacy students during clerkship rotations.

The range of writing tasks undertaken by students during doctor of pharmacy clerkship rotations was studied. Data collection involved a review between August and November 1998 of writing samples selected by postbaccalaureate Pharm. D.