Design of screen-printed potentiometric platform for sensitive determination of mirabegron in spiked human plasma; molecular docking and transducer optimization.

The integration of molecular modelling simulation and electrochemical sensors is of high interest. Herein, for the first time, a portable solid-contact potentiometric electrode was designed for the sensitive determination of mirabegron (MIR) in human plasma and pharmaceutical formulation. A two-step optimization protocol was investigated for the fabrication of an ion on sensing polymeric membrane.

Inflammasome activation and pyroptosis mediate coagulopathy and inflammation in Salmonella systemic infection.

Inflammasome activation is a critical defense mechanism against bacterial infection. Previous studies suggest that inflammasome activation protects against Salmonella oral infection. Here we find inflammasome activation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Salmonella systemic infection.

Circadian disruption and psychostimulants dysregulates plasma acute-phase proteins and circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA.

Background: Previous studies have indicated a close link between the inflammatory response, exacerbated by circadian disruption and psychostimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine (METH). Indicators of this inflammation include cortisol and acute-phase proteins (APPs) like C-reactive protein (CRP), complement C3 (C3), and serum amyloid A (SAA). The connection between these inflammation markers and circulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been gaining attention.

Racial and Regional Disparities Surrounding In-Hospital Mortality among Patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Evidence from NIS Sample in 2020.

Objective: This study explores differences in COVID-19 in-hospital mortality rates by patient and geographic factors to identify at-risk populations and analyze how strained health disparities were exacerbated during the pandemic.

Methods: The latest 2020 United States National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data was used to obtain a population-based estimate for patients with COVID-19. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective data analysis, and sampling weights were used for all statistical analyses to represent nationwide in-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19.

Is patients' rurality associated with in-hospital sepsis death in US hospitals?

Background: The focus of this study was to explore the association of patients' rurality and other patient and hospital-related factors with in-hospital sepsis mortality to identify possible health disparities across United States hospitals.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify nationwide sepsis patients ( = 1,977,537, weighted  = 9,887,682) from 2016 to 2019. We used multivariate survey logistic regression models to identify predictors for how patients' rurality is associated with in-hospital death.

Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns and Virulence-Associated Factors of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcal Isolates from Tertiary Care Hospitals.

This study explored the prevalence of multi-drug resistance and virulence factors of enterococcal isolates obtained from various clinical specimens ( = 1575) including urine, blood, pus, tissue, catheter, vaginal wash, semen, and endotracheal secretions. Out of 862 enterococcal isolates, 388 (45%), 246 (29%), 120 (14%), and 108 (13%) were identified as , , , and , respectively, using standard morphological and biochemical methods. The antibiotic resistance profile of all these enterococcal isolates was checked using the disc diffusion technique.

Design, synthesis, and antitumor efficacy of novel 5-deazaflavin derivatives backed by kinase screening, docking, and ADME studies.

Novel 5-deazaflavins were designed as potential anticancer candidates. Compounds and demonstrated high cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell line with IC of 0.5-190nM.

An amber-encoding helper phage for more efficient phage display of noncanonical amino acids.

Using an amber suppression-based noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) mutagenesis approach, the chemical space in phage display can be significantly expanded for drug discovery. In this work, we demonstrate the development of a novel helper phage, CMa13ile40, for continuous enrichment of amber obligate phage clones and efficient production of ncAA-containing phages. CMa13ile40 was constructed by insertion of a Candidatus Methanomethylophilus alvus pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/PylT gene cassette into a helper phage genome.

Application of Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate in Development of Co-Amorphous Formulations of Tacrolimus for Bioavailability Enhancement.

The focus of the present work was to develop co-amorphous dispersion (CAD) formulations of tacrolimus (TAC) using sucrose acetate isobutyrate as a carrier, evaluate by in vitro and in vivo methods and compare its performance with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) based amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) formulation. CAD and ASD formulations were prepared by solvent evaporation method followed by characterization by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dissolution, stability, and pharmacokinetics. XRPD and DSC indicated amorphous phase transformation of the drug in the CAD and ASD formulations, and dissolved more than 85% of the drug in 90 min.

Development of optimal in vitro release and permeation testing method for rectal suppositories.

Currently there are no compendial assays for testing drug release from rectal suppositories. It is therefore essential to study different in vitro release testing (IVRT) and in vitro permeation testing (IVPT) methods for identifying a suitable technique to compare in vitro drug release and to predict in vivo performance of rectal suppositories. In the present study, three different rectal suppository formulations of mesalamine (CANASA, Generic, and In-house) were studied for in vitro bioequivalence.

In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of the Transdermal Gel Formulation of Desloratadine for Prevention of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome.

Chronic use of antihistamines can induce abnormalities in lipid absorption with potential excessive accumulation of lipids in the mesentery that can lead to the development of obesity and a metabolic syndrome. The focus of the present work was to develop a transdermal gel formulation of desloratadine (DES) to prevent/reduce obesity and metabolic syndromes. Nine formulations were prepared to contain hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (2-3%), DES (2.

A Systematic Review of Weight-Based Metoprolol for Acute Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Rate.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia encountered in the emergency department (ED) and when patients present in acute AF with rapid ventricular rate (RVR), it can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Primary treatment modalities are aimed at rate control with the two most common agents being intravenous metoprolol and diltiazem. Some evidence suggests that diltiazem may be more effective at controlling rate in these patients; however, the dosing strategies, pharmacologic differences, and study designs may play a role in the observation of these differences.

Health-Related Behaviors and Psychological Status of Adolescent Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: The 2019 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey.

Objective: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the common chronic diseases that occur in children and adolescents as a chronic relapsing pruritic inflammatory skin disease. This study investigated how AD is associated with stress and depressive symptoms in a large representative sample of adolescents in South Korea.

Methods: The Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey 2019 was used in this study (n = 57,069, weighted national estimates = 2,672,170).

The beneficial role of exercise in preventing doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Doxorubicin is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat a variety of cancers. However, the clinical application of doxorubicin is limited due to its adverse effects on several tissues. One of the most serious side effects of doxorubicin is cardiotoxicity, which results in life-threatening heart damage, leading to reduced cancer treatment success and survival rate.

Systemic Anti-Inflammatory Therapy Aided by Curcumin-Laden Double-Headed Nanoparticles Combined with Injectable Long-Acting Insulin in a Rodent Model of Diabetes Eye Disease.

Therapeutic interventions that counter emerging targets in diabetes eye diseases are lacking. We hypothesize that a combination therapy targeting inflammation and hyperglycemia can prevent diabetic eye diseases. Here, we report a multipronged approach to prevent diabetic cataracts and retinopathy by combining orally bioavailable curcumin-laden double-headed (two molecules of gambogic acid conjugated to terminal carboxyl groups of poly(d,l-lactide--glycolide)) nanoparticles and injectable basal insulin.

The Fermi problem: Estimation of potential Billing losses due to Undercoding of Florida Medicare data.

Billing issues are more commonplace than most healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, even realize. Undercoding-or billing outpatient visits for a lower level of service than may be justified-leads to decreased reimbursement, but almost no data captures what is being sacrificed, especially at the state level. Using publicly available data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, we attempt to approximate just how much Medicare reimbursement is lost annually to undercoding in Florida.

Palliative care and healthcare utilization among metastatic breast cancer patients in U.S. Hospitals.

There is a lack of research focused on understanding the different characteristics and healthcare utilization of metastatic breast cancer patients by palliative care use. This study aims to investigate trend of in-patient palliative care and its association with healthcare utilization among hospitalized metastatic breast cancer patients in the US. National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to identify nationwide metastatic breast cancer patients (n = 5209, weighted n = 25,961) from 2010 to 2014.

Successes and challenges in implementing specifications grading in skills-based laboratory courses: Experiences at two colleges of pharmacy.

Background And Purpose: Specifications grading, a grading schema focused on mastery of skills, may provide an alternative to traditional grading. Specifications grading uses three components (pass/fail grading, bundles, and tokens) to allow students to demonstrate competency in specific areas as part of competency-based education. The purpose of this article is to outline specifications grading and review its implementation at two colleges of pharmacy.

A Comprehensive Review of mRNA Vaccines.

mRNA vaccines have been demonstrated as a powerful alternative to traditional conventional vaccines because of their high potency, safety and efficacy, capacity for rapid clinical development, and potential for rapid, low-cost manufacturing. These vaccines have progressed from being a mere curiosity to emerging as COVID-19 pandemic vaccine front-runners. The advancements in the field of nanotechnology for developing delivery vehicles for mRNA vaccines are highly significant.

Nitroso Impurities in Drug Products: An Overview of Risk Assessment, Regulatory Milieu, and Control Strategy.

Many nitrosamines have been recognized to be carcinogenic for many decades. Despite the fact that several nitrosamine precursors are frequently used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, their potential presence in pharmaceutical products has previously been overlooked due to a lack of understanding on how they form during the manufacturing process. From the risk assessment, it is clear that nitrosamines or their precursors may be present in any component of the finished dosage form.

Circulating exosomal immuno-oncological checkpoints and cytokines are potential biomarkers to monitor tumor response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) including anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 antibodies, have significantly changed the treatment outcomes of NSCLC patients with better overall survival. However, 15-40% of the patients still fail to respond to ICIs therapy. Identification of biomarkers associated with responses are mandated in order to increase the efficacy of such therapy.

Financial reimbursement and productivity metrics for pharmacist-led chronic care management services in rural practice settings.

Background: The implementation of chronic care management (CCM) services has often been hindered by issues with reimbursement, raising concerns about sustainability. To date, little if any literature has examined the financial feasibility and sustainability of CCM services in rural practice settings.

Objective: Assess financial reimbursement and productivity metrics for pharmacist-led CCM services at a rural, medically underserved family medicine clinic.

Chitosan-graphene quantum dot based active film as smart wound dressing.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), are biocompatible materials, with mechanical strength and stability. Chitosan, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and biocompatibility. Wound healing is a challenging process especially in chronic diseases and infection.

Biomedical applications of three-dimensional bioprinted craniofacial tissue engineering.

Anatomical complications of the craniofacial regions often present considerable challenges to the surgical repair or replacement of the damaged tissues. Surgical repair has its own set of limitations, including scarcity of the donor tissues, immune rejection, use of immune suppressors followed by the surgery, and restriction in restoring the natural aesthetic appeal. Rapid advancement in the field of biomaterials, cell biology, and engineering has helped scientists to create cellularized skeletal muscle-like structures.