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Comparative Risk of Venous Thromboembolism of Advanced Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Among Older Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Shadi Bazzazzadehgan, Shishir Maharjan, John P. Bentley, Yi Yang, and Yinan Huang
Objective: To evaluate the association between different types of biological (b) and targeted synthetic (ts) diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or b/tsDMARDs, including tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), non-TNFi bDMARDs, and tsDMARDs and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among older adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
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Building Foundations for Graduate Success: The DIRECT Program’s Summer Bridge Initiative for Graduate Students
Melissa King, Marie Barnard, Shawnboda Mead, and Soumyajit Majumdar
The DIRECT (Driving Interdisciplinary Research Expertise through Community Building and Training) Program's first cohort of graduate students successfully completed a three-week summer bridge program designed to enhance their academic preparedness, facilitate their transition into graduate-level study and demystify the “hidden curriculum” of academia. Held prior to the start of their first fall semester, the program aimed to enhance students’ preparedness for graduate studies, foster a sense of community, and equip students with critical skills and knowledge of campus resources necessary for academic success. An evaluation of the program's impact revealed gains in students' understanding of graduate school expectations, their awareness of available resources, and their ability to navigate mentor-mentee relationships. Key outcomes included improved readiness for graduate coursework, strengthened peer networks, and positive feedback regarding the program's role in helping students build meaningful academic relationships and support systems. The curriculum featured various workshops including time management, research ethics, technical writing, stress management, and offered mentorship opportunities with faculty, senior graduate students, and campus leaders. The success of the bridge program indicates that the DIRECT Program's summer initiative can provide a valuable model for supporting graduate students from diverse backgrounds, preparing them for a successful academic career, and equipping them with the tools to thrive in an academic environment.
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Impact of Pausinystalia johimbe on Cytochrome P450: A Potential Risk for Polypharmacy
Pankul Kotwal, Islam Husain, Olivia R. Dale, Suresh Chandra V. A. R. Annam, Amar G. Chittiboyina, Ikhlas A. Khan, and Shabana I. Khan
Pausinystalia johimbe, a tree native to West Africa, contains yohimbine as its primary active compound which was traditionally used as an aphrodisiac, has gained attention for its diverse pharmacological effects such as weight loss promotion, athletic performance enhancement, mood improvement, potential anxiety reduction and cognitive function enhancement. Recent studies have revealed that the primary mechanism of action of yohimbine is as an α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, affecting fat metabolism, vasodilation, and sympathetic nervous system activity. PXR and AhR are xenobiotic receptors that regulate the expression of drugmetabolizing Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) and transporters like Pglycoprotien (P-gp). Concomitant consumption of phytochemicals like yohimbine along with pharmaceutical drugs may act as agonists or antagonists for PXR and AhR, potentially leading to dysregulation of CYP enzymes and transporters. This could increase the risk of herb-drug interactions (HDIs), especially in the context of polypharmacy. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of P. johimbe and yohimbine on CYP enzymes and their potential risks in polypharmacy scenarios.
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The Association between Socioeconomic Status and Appropriate Antibiotic Use among Women with Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection
Nga-Weng (Ivy) Leong, Shishir Maharjan, and Yi Yang
Women with low socioeconomic status (SES) were more likely to develop urinary tract infections. Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to treatment failure and future multidrugresistant infections. However, the relationship between SES and inappropriate treatment has yet to be established.
The study aims to assess the relationship between SES and guidelines-concordance antibiotic use among women with uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI).
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The Association of Opioid Prescribing Continuity and the Risk of Opioid Use Disorder among Older Adults
Prachi Prajapati, Shadi Bazzazzadehgan, Yi Yang, Kaustuv Bhattacharya, Shishir Maharjan, John P. Bentley, and Sujith Ramachandran
Study objective: To evaluate the association between opioid prescribing continuity and risk of opioid use disorder (OUD) among older Medicare beneficiaries on long term opioid therapy (LTOT).
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Dimethylthiourea as a Quencher in Hydroxyl Radical Protein Footprinting Experiments
Anter A. Shami, Sandeep K. Misra, Lisa M. Jones, and Joshua S. Sharp
Hydroxyl radical protein footprinting (HRPF) is a mass spectrometry-based technique for measuring the surface of a protein or protein complex. This method relies on the use of hydroxyl radicals to irreversibly label exposed amino acid side chains in proteins. Although catalase is commonly employed to quench secondary oxidation by catalytic conversion of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water, it possesses certain drawbacks. The inclusion of a relatively high concentration of catalase produces interfering peptides after proteolytic digestion, thereby limiting the method's sensitivity due to dynamic range issues and signal suppression. These drawbacks are most noticeable when dealing with more complex mixtures. We assessed the viability of using dimethylthiourea (DMTU) as a substitute for catalase in HRPF. We measured its effectiveness in quenching secondary oxidation, evaluated its impact on sensitivity, and its ability to handle complex mixtures.
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BioMolecular Science
University of Mississippi. Biomolecular Sciences
Our mission is to drive innovation through combined excellence in the disciplines of Pharmacognosy, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Environmental Toxicology in order to understand and improve human and environmental health. We provide positive impacts to our school, the state of Mississippi, and the world, via education and mentored research at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels, and through our leadership in interdisciplinary chemical and biological sciences.
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Glycore Phase 2
University of Mississippi. BioMolecular Sciences
Poster outlines the four cores of the Glycoscience Center of Research Excellence at the University of Mississippi: administrative, analytical and biophysical research, imaging researching, computational chemistry and bioinformatics research. Research award opportunities are also outlined.
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From Lab to Public Policy: Pioneering Excellence at NCCCRE
University of Mississippi. School of Pharmacy
The National Center for Cannabis Research and Education (NCCRE) focuses the School of Pharmacy’s strengths, history, and capabilities to offer educational opportunities, conduct medical cannabis research, and provide outreach that will benefit Mississippi and the nation.
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Trifluoromethyl Carbohydrate Footprinting for Probing Protein Binding Components of Oligosaccharides Mixture
Quadrat Yusuph, Sandeep K. Misra, and Joshua S. Sharp
Biomolecular footprinting is well-established for nucleic acids and proteins but lacks a method for carbohydrates. Glycan footprinting could enhance understanding of glycan interactions via mass spectrometry. We verified that CF3 labeled the model trisaccharide NAG3 across the oligosaccharide. We developed a quenching and reduction protocol for improved post-labeling analysis and the first radical covalent footprinting method for complex carbohydrates.
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