Particle shape anisotropy in pickering interfacial catalysis for Knoevenagel condensation.

Dispersions of two immiscible liquids stabilized by solid particles are termed as Pickering emulsions. Stability of such emulsions is affected by various parameters such as amount of solid particle, method of emulsification, size, and shape of particles, etc. In this study, MgO samples prepared by different methods and characterized by XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, DLS, and CO2-TPD techniques were utilized for stabilizing o/w Pickering emulsions. The effect of particle shape on Pickering Interfacial Catalysis (PIC) for Knoevenagel condensation was investigated. It was found that in the case of rod and plate shaped particles, emulsion stability and catalytic activity were higher as compared to those obtained with other MgO samples prepared. The applicability of the MgO-PIC system is also successfully demonstrated for gram scale synthesis (85 % yield in 30 min). The MgO-PIC system was found to be reusable for at least five cycles without substantial loss in activity.

New horizons of microphysiological systems: India forging its path in human-relevant research.

The past decade has seen expeditious developments in our ability to grow and maintain a variety of human cells and tissues, with properties closely mimicking those in the human body. Prominent researchers and entrepreneurs from all over the world assembled in Hyderabad, India to discuss developments in this field that have not only aided fundamental understanding of organ development and disease processes but have served as good physiological models for toxicity testing and drug development. The speakers presented ingenious, cutting-edge technology and forward-thinking ideas. This report presents the salient aspects of their discussions, highlights the importance of identifying unmet needs, and discusses setting of standards that will help regulatory approvals as we move into a new era, with nominal animal use in research and effective drug discovery.

Pickering Interfacial Catalysis-Knoevenagel Condensation in Magnesium Oxide-Stabilized Pickering Emulsion.

In the present study, a novel catalytic route for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction has been developed by Pickering interfacial catalysis using magnesium oxide (MgO) as both an emulsion stabilizer and a base catalyst. MgO was prepared by the precipitation method using sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide as the precipitating agent and calcined at different temperatures. The calcined samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, AFM, BET, and DLS techniques. The catalytic application of the emulsions stabilized by MgO was investigated for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction of benzaldehyde and its derivatives with malononitrile. All of the reactions were carried out at an ambient temperature (30 °C) under static conditions without stirring. Both the emulsion-stabilizing ability and the catalytic activity of MgO were found to be affected by the method of preparation, calcination temperature, and the nature of the oil phase. It was observed that the method of preparation varied the texture and morphology of MgO and thus the stability and droplet size of the emulsion formed. This was further reflected in the catalytic activity. The highest yield (87%) of the condensation product was obtained with MgO prepared by precipitation using a strong base (NaOH) and further calcined at 400 °C. The developed catalytic system offers several green chemistry advantages such as reusable solid-base catalyst and use of a single material as both emulsion stabilizer and catalyst. Room-temperature reaction under static conditions is an additional advantage of the developed catalytic system.

Implementation of a Renal Replacement Therapy Simulation to Strengthen Essential Pharmacist Skills.

Objective. To assess third-year pharmacy students' knowledge and application of renal pharmacotherapy using a renal replacement therapy (RRT) simulation. Methods. A simulation was developed that involved three stations related to RRT: peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and hemodialysis. Stations involved demonstration of each modality, literature searches for drug information questions related to renal dosing with written recommendations, and utilization of an electronic medical record (EMR) to develop a verbal Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) for a patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Pre- and post-simulation assessments regarding therapeutic knowledge of RRT was used. Results. All 174 students completed the pre- and post-simulation assessments over the course of two years. Student performance indicated significant improvement in overall knowledge based on the assessments with significant overall differences in questions relating to indications for RRT, type of RRT indicated for hemodynamic instability, and agents used to maintain circuit patency. Overall inter-class differences were also identified at baseline and specifically for the questions regarding indications for RRT and agents used to maintain circuit patency. Both classes showed significant improvement in overall knowledge based on the post-simulation assessments. Debrief sessions and course evaluations indicated student satisfaction with the simulation experience. Students reported that the experience met the simulation objectives. Conclusion. Participation in an RRT simulation allowed pharmacy students to apply knowledge and skills learned didactically related to renal pharmacotherapy.

Impact of an interprofessional transition of care service on 30-day hospital reutilizations.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an interprofessional Transitions of Care (TOC) service on 30-day hospital reutilization inclusive of hospital readmissions and ED visits. This was a retrospective cohort study including patients discharged from an academic medical center between September 2013 and October 2014. Patients scheduled for a hospital follow-up visit in the post-acute care clinic (PACC) were included in the intervention group and patients without a post-discharge interprofessional TOC service were included in the comparison group. The intervention included a hospital follow-up visit with an interprofessional healthcare team. The primary composite outcome was hospital reutilization, defined as a hospital readmission or ED visit within 30 days of the discharge date. Overall, 330 patients were included in each group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the primary composite outcome was not significantly different between groups (16.97% vs. 19.39%, P = 0.4195) whereas in the per-protocol analysis (all patients who showed to their PACC appointment), the primary outcome was significantly different in favor of the intervention group (9.28% vs. 19.39%, P = 0.0009). When components were analyzed separately, there was a statistically significant difference in favor of intervention group for hospital readmissions, but there was no difference for ED visits. This study demonstrates that an outpatient interprofessional TOC service with patient engagement from a team of nurses, pharmacists, physicians, and social workers may reduce 30-day hospital readmissions but may not impact 30-day ED visits.

A pilot IPE workshop integrating OT, pharmacy, PT, and PA programs.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of an interprofessional education (IPE) experience. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: The IPE experience included 53 student learners from occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, and physician assistant programs at the University of the Sciences (USciences). This experience used an icebreaker activity and a stroke case-based activity as the activities within the workshop. The core faculty utilized the jigsaw technique to increase student confidence with uni-profession and interprofessional discussions of the patient case. Learners were asked to evaluate their perceptions of the IPE learning experience. FINDINGS: Results from a summative quality improvement evaluation indicated that learners had positive perceptions of this curricular innovation. DISCUSSION: This pilot IPE workshop illustrates the possibilities for collaboration among health professional programs at USciences, a private health sciences university without an affiliated medical center. SUMMARY: Discussion of the process to create, implement, and evaluate this pilot IPE activity is imperative due to increased expectations within professional accrediting guidelines in regards to IPE.

Enhancing Student Knowledge Through a Comprehensive Oncology Simulation.

Objective. To evaluate the impact of a comprehensive oncology simulation on pharmacy students' knowledge and perceptions related to oncology pharmacy practice. Methods. Third-year pharmacy students at the University of South Florida completed an ovarian cancer case-based simulation. Stations involved patient-specific order set completion, counseling, order verification, and aseptic technique. Pre- and post-simulation assessments regarding therapeutic knowledge and aseptic technique as well as perceptions of pharmacists' roles in oncology practice were evaluated. Results. All students (n=109, 100%) completed the pre- and post-simulation assessments. There was an increase in knowledge after the simulation, which was statistically significant in three of the six questions. Furthermore, students' perceptions regarding pharmacist roles and self-confidence in ability to prepare patient-specific regimens increased on a 5-point Likert scale from 3.8 and 3.2 to 4.5 and 4.2 on the post-assessment, respectively. Conclusion. Participation in the simulation improved students' oncology-related knowledge and perceived understanding of the roles of oncology pharmacists.

Using high-fidelity simulation to teach fundamental principles of cardiac catheterisation to pharmacy students.

Background: Pharmacy students often find the pathophysiology and treatment of comorbid heart conditions challenging to understand. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a cardiac catheterisation lab simulation on pharmacy students' knowledge related to cardiology and critical care pharmacotherapy. Methods: Third-year pharmacy students at the University of South Florida completed a high-fidelity cardiac catheterisation simulation. Specific aspects within the activity involved review of clinical parameters and images during catheterisation, identification of access points for catheter insertion, review of the types of stents available and associated pharmacotherapeutic considerations, and discussion of protective measures to prevent radiation exposure. Students completed knowledge-based presimulation and postsimulation assessments regarding these aspects of cardiac catheterisation. Results: All students (n=111, 100%) completed the presimulation and postsimulation assessments. There was an increase in knowledge after the simulation, which was statistically significant in five out of nine questions, P<0.001. Based on course evaluations, students believed this activity enhanced their learning and ability to apply the material due to the close alignment and timing with their acute coronary syndrome lectures and the critical care module in the Pharmacotherapeutics course. Conclusions: Participation in the simulation improved students' knowledge related to cardiology pharmacotherapy and associated acute procedures.

Evaluation of pharmacy students' knowledge and perceptions of pharmacogenetics before and after a simulation activity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate students' knowledge and perceptions of the clinical application of pharmacogenetics through a simulation activity and to assess communication of pharmacogenetic-guided treatment recommendations utilizing standardized patients. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Third-year students in the four-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program at University of South Florida College of Pharmacy completed a pharmacogenetics simulation involving a patient case review, interpretation of pharmacogenetic test results, completion of a situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) note with drug therapy recommendations, and patient counseling. Voluntary assessments were completed before and after the simulation, which included demographics, knowledge, and perceptions of students' ability to interpret and communicate pharmacogenetic results. FINDINGS: Response rates for the pre- and post-simulation assessments were 109 (98%) and 104 (94%), respectively. Correct responses in application-type questions improved after the simulation (74%) compared to before the simulation (44%, p < 0.01). Responses to perception questions shifted towards "strongly agree" or "agree" after the simulation (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY: The simulation gave students an opportunity to apply pharmacogenetics knowledge and allowed them to gain an appreciation of pharmacists' roles within the pharmacogenetics field.

Rethinking transitions of care: An interprofessional transfer triage protocol in post-acute care.

Readmissions to hospitals from post-acute care (PAC) units within long-term care settings have been rapidly increasing over the past decade, and are drivers of increased healthcare costs. With an average of $11,000 per admission, there is a need for strategies to reduce 30-day preventable hospital readmission rates. In 2018, incentives and penalties will be instituted for long-term care facilities failing to meet all-cause, all-condition hospital readmission rate performance measures. An interprofessional team (IPT) developed and implemented a Transfer Triage Protocol used in conjunction with the INTERACT programme to enhance clinical decision-making and assess the potential to reduce the facility's 30-day preventable hospital readmission rates by 10% within 6 weeks of implementation. Results from quantitative analysis demonstrated an overall 35.2% reduction in the 30-day preventable hospital readmission rate. Qualitative analysis revealed the need for additional staff education, improved screening and communication upon admission and prior to hospital transfer, and the need for more IPT on-site availability. This pilot study demonstrates the benefits and implications for practice of an IPT to improve the quality of care within PAC and decrease 30-day preventable hospital readmissions.

Partners in Public Health: Public Health Collaborations With Schools of Pharmacy, 2015.

To collect data on public health collaborations with schools of pharmacy, we sent a short electronic survey to accredited and preaccredited pharmacy programs in 2015. We categorized public health collaborations as working or partnering with local and/or state public health departments, local and/or state public health organizations, academic schools or programs of public health, and other public health collaborations. Of 134 schools, 65 responded (49% response rate). Forty-six (71%) responding institutions indicated collaborations with local and/or state public health departments, 34 (52%) with schools or programs of public health, and 24 (37%) with local and/or state public health organizations. Common themes of collaborations included educational programs, community outreach, research, and teaching in areas such as tobacco control, emergency preparedness, chronic disease, drug abuse, immunizations, and medication therapy management. Interdisciplinary public health collaborations with schools of pharmacy provide additional resources for ensuring the health of communities and expose student pharmacists to opportunities to use their training and abilities to affect public health. Examples of these partnerships may stimulate additional ideas for possible collaborations between public health organizations and schools of pharmacy.

High fat diet modifies the association of lipoprotein lipase gene polymorphism with high density lipoprotein cholesterol in an Asian Indian population.

BACKGROUND: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL) have been shown to influence metabolism related to lipid phenotypes. Dietary factors have been shown to modify the association between LPL SNPs and lipids; however, to date, there are no studies in South Asians. Hence, we tested for the association of four common LPL SNPs with plasma lipids and examined the interactions between the SNPs and dietary factors on lipids in 1,845 Asian Indians. METHODS: The analysis was performed in 788 Type 2 diabetes cases and 1,057 controls randomly chosen from the cross-sectional Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study. Serum triacylglycerol (TAG), serum total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured using a Hitachi-912 autoanalyzer (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany). Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The SNPs (rs1121923, rs328, rs4922115 and rs285) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme digestion and 20% of samples were sequenced to validate the genotypes obtained. Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows version 22.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: After correction for multiple testing and adjusting for potential confounders, SNPs rs328 and rs285 showed association with HDL-C (P = 0.0004) and serum TAG (P = 1×10-5), respectively. The interaction between SNP rs1121923 and fat intake (energy %) on HDL-C (P = 0.003) was also significant, where, among those who consumed a high fat diet (28.4 ± 2.5%), the T allele carriers (TT + XT) had significantly higher HDL-C concentrations (P = 0.0002) and 30% reduced risk of low HDL-C levels compared to the CC homozygotes. None of the interactions on other lipid traits were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that individuals carrying T allele of the SNP rs1121923 have increased HDL-C levels when consuming a high fat diet compared to CC homozygotes. Our finding warrants confirmation in prospective studies and randomized controlled trials.

Heterogeneously Catalyzed Domino Synthesis of 3-Indolylquinones Involving Direct Oxidative C-C Coupling of Hydroquinones and Indoles.

A domino synthesis of 3-indolylquinones was achieved successfully via direct oxidative C-C coupling of hydroquinones with indoles over Ag2O and Fe3O4/povidone-phosphotungstic acid (PVP-PWA) catalysts using H2O2 in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. Ag2O catalyzed the in situ oxidation of hydroquinone and 3-indolylhydroquinone intermediates, whereas ferrite solid acid, Fe3O4/PVP-PWA, with a 1:4:1 ratio of Fe3O4, PVP, and PWA, catalyzed the activation of quinones. The efficiency of this catalytic domino approach was established by a broad scope of substrates involving a variety of hydroquinones and quinones to give high yields (81-97%) of 3-indolylquinones. Fe3O4/PVP-PWA was separated magnetically, whereas simple filtration could separate Ag2O, both of which could be recycled several times without losing their activities.

Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica-Supported Copper Oxide (CuO/HMS) Catalyst: Synthesis of Primary Amides from Aldehydes in Aqueous Medium.

Hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS)-supported copper oxides (CuO/HMS) have been prepared by a sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N2 sorption, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), H2 temperature-programed reduction (TPR), NH3 temperature-programed desorption (TPD), and high-resolution (HR)-TEM techniques. An analysis of these results revealed a mesoporous material system with a high surface area (974 m2 g-1 ) and uniform pore-size distribution. The catalytic efficacy of CuO on the HMS support with varying Cu loadings (1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 wt %) was investigated for the transformation of aldehydes to primary amides; 3 wt % CuO/HMS exhibited good catalytic performance with good to excellent yields of amides (60-92 %) in benign aqueous medium. The intrinsically heterogeneous catalyst could be recovered after the reaction and reused without any noticeable loss in activity.

EPA-Registered Repellents for Mosquitoes Transmitting Emerging Viral Disease.

In many parts of the United States, mosquitoes were previously nuisance pests. However, they now represent a potential threat in the spread of viral diseases. The Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex species mosquitoes are endemic to the United States and together may transmit a variety of viral diseases of growing concern, including West Nile virus, chikungunya, dengue fever, and Zika virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) as a first-line mosquito repellent, but for patients refusing to use DEET or other conventional repellents, guidance is limited to any EPA-registered product. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify which EPA-registered personal mosquito repellent provides the best protection from A. aegypti, A. albopictus, and Culex spp. mosquitoes. We abstracted data from 62 published reports of EPA-registered mosquito repellents. The conventional repellent picaridin has the strongest data to support its use as a second-line agent, while IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus are reasonably effective natural products. Citronella, catnip, and 2-undecanone offer limited protection or have limited data. These results can be used by pharmacists and other health care professionals to advise patients on the selection of an EPA-registered mosquito repellent. Regardless of the repellent chosen, it is vital for patients to follow all instructions/precautions in the product labeling to ensure safe and effective use.

Correlation of serum estradiol level on the day of ovulation trigger with the reproductive outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

BACKGROUND: Serum estradiol (E2) levels are measured in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI), to assess the ovarian response and to predict ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The impact of peak E2 levels on IVF-ICSI outcome was found to be inconsistent in the previous studies. AIM: To evaluate the impact of the serum E2 levels on the day of ovulation trigger with the reproductive outcome of ICSI. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. ART Center, at a Tertiary Care University Teaching Hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine infertile women, who underwent ICSI with fresh embryo transfer over a period of 3 years, were included in the study. The study subjects were grouped based on the serum E2 level on the day of ovulation trigger:- Group I - <1000 pg/ml, Group II - 1000-2000 pg/ml, Group III - 2000.1-3000 pg/ml, Group IV - 3000.1-4000 pg/ml, and Group V >4000 pg/ml. The baseline characteristics and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) outcome were compared among the study groups. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test, Student's t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The study groups were comparable with regard to age, body mass index, ovarian reserve. Group V had significantly higher number of oocytes retrieved than I and II (18.90 vs. 11.36 and 11.33; P = 0.009). Group IV showed significantly higher fertilization rate than I, III, and V; (92.23 vs. 77.43, 75.52, 75.73; P = 0.028). There were no significant differences in the implantation rates (P = 0.368) and pregnancy rates (P = 0.368). CONCLUSION: Higher E2 levels on the day of ovulation trigger would predict increased oocyte yield after COH. E2 levels in the range of 3000-4000 pg/ml would probably predict increased fertilization and pregnancies in ICSI cycles.

Structure-function studies of HNF1A (MODY3) gene mutations in South Indian patients with monogenic diabetes.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a genetically heterogeneous monogenic form of diabetes characterized by onset of diabetes below 25 years of age, autosomal dominant mode of inheritance and primary defect in insulin secretion. Mutations in the gene (HNF1A) encoding transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 1A (HNF-1A) results in one of the most common forms of MODY (MODY3). HNF-1A is mainly enriched in pancreatic ß-cells and hepatocytes and important for organ development and normal pancreatic function. We here report on the functional interrogation of eight missense HNF1A mutations associated with MODY3 in South Indian subjects, and the contributing effect of common variant (S487N) within HNF1A. Of the eight mutations, three mutations (p.R171G, p.G245R and p.R263H), in particular, affected HNF-1A function in transfected HeLa cells by reducing both transcriptional activity and nuclear localization, possibly due to disruption of the integrity of the three dimensional structure. The common variant p.S487N contributed further to the loss-of-function of p.R271Q (p.R271Q+p.S487N double mutant), in vitro, on both activity and localization. Our data on the first functional study of HNF1A mutations in South India subjects confers that the defect of the HNF-1A mutant proteins are responsible for MODY3 diabetes in these patients.

Development and implementation of a transitions of care elective course.

BACKGROUND: To develop and implement a transitions of care (TOC) course, assess students׳ knowledge, participation and communication skills during in-class activities, and obtain students׳ perspectives and feedback on the course. Educational Activity-this was a two-credit elective course offered to third professional year Doctor of Pharmacy students (P3) at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences. It was designed using an interactive, hands-on approach through the use of patient cases, simulation, interprofessional education, student presentations, and a capstone project. The content of the course included TOC concepts relevant to pharmacists practicing within different health care settings. Several assessments were used to evaluate the students using various rubrics and self-reflection. Quantitatively, the students achieved high grades on individual assignments ranging from B to A+. Critical analysis of the educational activity overall, the students described the course as a "great experience" based on the qualitative thematic analysis. CONCLUSION: Developing and implementing a TOC elective provided P3 students with an opportunity to learn about pharmacists׳ role during various points of the TOC process and may have future implications in their performance on rotation and career choice.

C3G (RapGEF1), a regulator of actin dynamics promotes survival and myogenic differentiation of mouse mesenchymal cells.

RapGEF1 (C3G) is a ubiquitously expressed protein that is essential for mammalian embryonic development. We have shown earlier that C3G regulates cytoskeletal dynamics and is required for neuronal differentiation. To determine if C3G plays a wider role in differentiation of multiple tissue types, we examined its role in skeletal muscle differentiation using the model system of C2C12 cells in culture. C3G protein is highly expressed in mouse skeletal muscle and its transcript and protein levels increase as C2C12 cells are induced to differentiate. Increase in C3G was predominantly seen in the nuclei of myotubes. Ectopic expression of C3G promoted myotube formation when cells were cultured in growth as well as differentiation medium and, enhanced MHC levels were associated with C3G expression. C3G induced differentiation required its catalytic and protein interaction domains and was dependent on the function of cellular R-Ras. Knockdown of cellular C3G using small hairpin RNA reduced expression of muscle specific markers and ß-catenin, resulting in impaired differentiation. Disabling C3G function also resulted in enhanced cell death suggesting that cellular C3G is required for cell survival. In cells grown in growth medium, over-expressed C3G increased Akt activity, and C3G knockdown reduced it. C3G expression also suppressed cyclin D1 levels, and induced p27 expression, molecules involved in regulating cell proliferation. Endogenous C3G localizes to focal adhesions in myotubes and C3G expressing cells show distinct stress fibers, elongation and parallel alignment. Expression of a dominant negative construct of C3G, disrupts actin cytoskeleton and formation of focal adhesions resulting in detachment of cells from the substratum and inhibition of differentiation. Our results provide evidence that C3G plays an important role in myogenic differentiation by coordinating cell cycle exit, actin dynamics and survival signaling.