UHSP Collections (University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy)
Not a member yet
1490 research outputs found
Sort by
Top-Down Analysis of In-Source HDX of Native Protein Ions
No full textHydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) is used in protein biophysics to probe folding dynamics, intermolecular interactions, epitope and other mapping. A typical procedure often involves HDX in buffered D2O solution followed by pepsin digestion, and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis. In this work, HDX of protein ions was conducted in the ESI source. Both native electrospray droplets of ubiquitin and denatured myoglobin were exposed to D2O vapor in the source region of a Bruker SolariX 12T FTICR-mass spectrometer. Electron capture dissociation was used to assess deuterium incorporation at the residue level. This in-source HDX, on the millisecond-time scale, exchanges side-chain hydrogens and fast-exchanging amides compared to conventional minutes-to-hours HDX of backbone hydrogens in solution with less sample preparation (i.e., no D2O/protein mixing and incubation, no quenching, protein digestion, or LC separation)
Opportunities, barriers, and recommendations in down syndrome research
No full textBACKGROUND: Recent advances in medical care have increased life expectancy and improved the quality of life for people with Down syndrome (DS). These advances are the result of both pre-clinical and clinical research but much about DS is still poorly understood. In 2020, the NIH announced their plan to update their DS research plan and requested input from the scientific and advocacy community. OBJECTIVE: The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and the LuMind IDSC Foundation worked together with scientific and medical experts to develop recommendations for the NIH research plan. METHODS: NDSS and LuMind IDSC assembled over 50 experts across multiple disciplines and organized them in eleven working groups focused on specific issues for people with DS. RESULTS: This review article summarizes the research gaps and recommendations that have the potential to improve the health and quality of life for people with DS within the next decade. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights many of the scientific gaps that exist in DS research. Based on these gaps, a multidisciplinary group of DS experts has made recommendations to advance DS research. This paper may also aid policymakers and the DS community to build a comprehensive national DS research strategy
American College of Clinical Pharmacy Global Health Practice and Research Network\u27s opinion paper: Pillars for global health engagement and key engagement strategies for pharmacists
No full textThe scope of pharmacy practice in global health has expanded over the past decade creating additional education and training opportunities for students, residents and pharmacists. There has also been a shift from short-term educational and clinical experiences to more sustainable bidirectional partnerships between high-income countries (HICs) and low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). As more institutional and individual partnerships between HICs and LMICs begin to form, it is clear that there is a lack of guidance for pharmacists on how to build meaningful, sustainable, and mutually beneficial programs. The aim of this paper is to provide guidance for pharmacists in HICs to make informed decisions on global health partnerships and identify opportunities for engagement in LMICs that yield mutually beneficial collaborations. This paper uses the foundations of global health principles to identify five pillars of global health engagement when developing partnerships: (a) sustainability, (b) shared leadership, (c) mutually beneficial partnerships, (d) local needs-based care and (e) host-driven experiential and didactic education. Finally, this paper highlights ways pharmacists can use the pillars as a framework to engage and support health care systems, collaborate with academic institutions, conduct research, and interface with governments to improve health policy
Global health learning outcomes by country location and duration for international experiences
No full textObjective. To determine the impact of country income classification and experience duration on learning outcomes for student pharmacists participating in international advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). Methods. A mixed-methods, longitudinal study evaluated 81 fourth-year student pharmacists participating in an international APPE through one of three US universities. A pre-post survey was administered to evaluate students’ self-perceived growth across 13 competencies established by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH). The survey included four additional open-ended questions. Student pharmacists were also invited to participate in a focus group. Paired and independent t tests and multiple linear regression were conducted. Qualitative survey and focus group data underwent a two-cycle, open-coding process using conventional content analysis. Results. Students who completed their APPE in a low-to middle-income country had greater growth in all CUGH competency statements compared to those who completed their APPE in a high-income country. Completing the APPE in a low-to middle-income country and prior travel for non-vacation purposes were significant predictors of student growth. Students who went to a low-to middle-income country demonstrated increased cultural sensitivity, more patient-centered care, and skill development, while students who went to a high-income country displayed increased knowledge regarding differ-ences in health care system components, pharmacy practice, pharmacy education, and an appreciation for alternative patient care approaches. Conclusion. Learning outcomes differed between students who completed an APPE in a high-income rather than a low-to middle-income country, with both types of locations providing valuable educational opportunities and professional and personal development
Application of enzymes in regioselective and stereoselective organic reactions
No full textNowadays, biocatalysts have received much more attention in chemistry regarding their potential to enable high efficiency, high yield, and eco-friendly processes for a myriad of applications. Nature’s vast repository of catalysts has inspired synthetic chemists. Furthermore, the revolutionary technologies in bioengineering have provided the fast discovery and evolution of enzymes that empower chemical synthesis. This article attempts to deliver a comprehensive overview of the last two decades of investigation into enzymatic reactions and highlights the effective performance progress of bio-enzymes exploited in organic synthesis. Based on the types of enzymatic reactions and enzyme commission (E.C.) numbers, the enzymes discussed in the article are classified into oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, and lyases. These applications should provide us with some insight into enzyme design strategies and molecular mechanisms
A systematic review of hand-hygiene and environmental-disinfection interventions in settings with children
No full textBackground: Helping adults and children develop better hygiene habits is an important public health focus. As infection causing bacteria can live on one\u27s body and in the surrounding environment, more effective interventions should simultaneously encourage personal-hygiene (e.g. hand-hygiene) and environmental-disinfecting (e.g. cleaning surfaces). To inform the development of a future multi-faceted intervention to improve public health, a systematic literature review was conducted on behavior change interventions designed to increase hand-hygiene and environmental-disinfecting in settings likely to include children. Methods: The search was conducted over two comprehensive data-bases, Ebsco Medline and Web of Science, to locate intervention studies that aimed to increase hand-hygiene or environmental-disinfecting behavior in settings likely to include children. Located article titles and abstracts were independently assessed, and the full-texts of agreed articles were collaboratively assessed for inclusion. Of the 2893 titles assessed, 29 met the eligibility criteria. The extracted data describe the Behavior Change Techniques (version 1) that the interventions employed and the interventions\u27 effectiveness. The techniques were then linked to their associated theoretical domains and to their capability-opportunity-motivation (i.e., COM-B model) components, as described in the Behavior Change Wheel. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies\u27 methods and measures, a meta-analysis was not conducted. Results: A total of 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of interventions were designed to increase hand-hygiene alone (N = 27), and the remaining two interventions were designed to increase both hand-hygiene and environmental-disinfecting. The most used techniques involved shaping knowledge (N = 22) and antecedents (N = 21). Interventions that included techniques targeting four or more theoretical domains and all the capability-opportunity-motivation components were descriptively more effective. Conclusions: In alignment with previous findings, the current review encourages future interventions to target multiple theoretical domains, across all capability-opportunity-motivation components. The discussion urges interventionists to consider the appropriateness of interventions in their development, feasibility/pilot, evaluation, and implementation stages. Registration: Prospero ID - CRD42019133735
Assessing the association between medication adherence, as defined in quality measures, and disease-state control, health care utilization, and costs in a retrospective database analysis of Medicare supplemental beneficiaries using statin medications
No full textBACKGROUND: Adherence to medication, and related health and economic outcomes, is becoming increasingly important as populations age and as the number of Americans managing chronic conditions increases. The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) statin medication adherence measure is used in Medicare star ratings to evaluate health plan performance. Yet, limited evidence exists that investigates the association between statin medication adherence, as specified in the PQA adherence quality measure, and disease-state control, health care utilization, and costs. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between adherence (≥80% proportion of days covered) and disease-state control, health care utilization, and health care costs for Medicare supplemental beneficiaries using statin medications eligible for inclusion in the PQA statin adherence quality measure. METHODS: This retrospective study used a cohort of eligible beneficiaries for inclusion in the PQA statin adherence measure with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) laboratory values from IBM MarketScan Medicare Supplemental Research Databases (2009-2015). A logistic regression model assessed the association between adherence and LDL control (controlled individuals had LDL levels ≤ 100 mg/ dL). Health care utilization and costs during a 1-year period, from first statin medication claim, were compared between adherent and nonadherent groups using generalized linear models with log link and negative binomial distribution (utilization) or gamma distribution (costs), adjusting for covariates. Beta coefficients were used to compute cost ratios (CR) and rate ratios (RR). Cohort characteristics were assessed using t-tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, or chi-square tests. An a priori alpha level of 0.001 was used. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 77,174 beneficiaries, of whom 58,668 (76.0%) were classified as adherent to their statin medications. After controlling for other factors, odds of diseasestate control were approximately 2 times higher among medication adherent beneficiaries compared with their nonadherent counterparts (OR = 2.192; 95% CI = 2.109-2.278). Multivariable analyses showed adherers experienced 4.7% fewer outpatient (RR = 0.953; 95% CI = 0.940-0.965) and 27.5% fewer inpatient (RR = 0.725; 95% CI = 0.687- 0.766) visits; had 9.9% lower outpatient (CR = 0.901; 95% CI = 0.885- 0.916) and 28.3% lower inpatient (CR = 0.717; 95% CI = 0.705-0.729) costs; 14.7% lower total costs (CR = 0.853; 95% CI =0.838-0.868); and 7.0% higher prescription drug costs (CR = 1.070; 95% CI = 1.052-1.089) than nonadherers. Adherence to statin medications was associated with a reduction in total costs of 157.32 per member per month, despite having higher prescription drug costs. Finally, these results provide important new information by demonstrating that adherence (≥ 80%) is associated with lower health care costs in a short (1-year) time frame
Financial Responsibility Reporting Policy
No full textThis policy establishes guidelines for complying with the Department of Education’s (“DOE”) regulations requiring the University to notify DOE of certain events that might materially impact the University\u27s financial position, accreditation status, or legal authority to conduct business operations
Community health worker perspectives of an academic community medication therapy management collaboration
No full textObjective: To qualitatively assess community health workers’ (CHWs’) perceptions of the challenges and benefits associated with participating in a collaborative, interprofessional medication therapy management (MTM) program for rural, underserved, predominantly Latinx, patients with diabetes and hypertension. Methods: Nine CHWs participated in a 1-hour, semistructured focus group that explored their experiences while assisting in the delivery of MTM services through an academic community partnership between an MTM provider and participating rural clinics. Audio recordings of the focus group were transcribed and thematically analyzed by 2 independent reviewers. Results: All program-involved CHWs participated in the focus group. Qualitative analysis identified 2 overarching themes: (1) opportunities and (2) challenges. Opportunities were further subcategorized as benefits to (1) CHWs, (2) patients, or (3) academic community MTM research. The CHWs perceived that they served as a liaison among the medical provider (prescriber), patient, and MTM pharmacist. Benefits to the patients focused on the integration of CHWs as essential to patient recruitment, especially for those who were reluctant to participate or receive a phone call from a stranger. The major challenges identified were (1) interruptions in workflow and (2) communication between CHWs and the health care practitioners (physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists). Specifically, the CHWs universally agreed that they needed more time after receiving patient report, scheduling a visit with the patient, and communicating with the patient\u27s health care provider to better understand the individual\u27s circumstances and needs. Conclusion: This study identified perceived opportunities and challenges faced by CHWs and chronically ill, rural Latinx patients in the acceptance of MTM program. These findings may be useful for all interprofessional health care team members to better understand and appreciate the role of CHWs, while simultaneously enhancing and improving respective medication adherence efforts, and to improve collaborative, academic community programs in the future