Molecular and Device Engineering Towards the Study of Potential Anti-MRSA Agents

At the intersection of bio-device engineering and bio-pharmaceutical studies, our project involved the design of a hydraulic manifold to be used in isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), with the ultimate goal of using ITC to study the thermodynamic binding parameters of potential anti-Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) agents to our drug target, Sortase A. The hydraulic manifold redesign included the analysis of materials such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE, ‘Teflon’), and polycarbonate as well as the implementation of a new construct of the manifold itself. Sortase A is a transpeptidase found in Gram-positive bacteria and catalyses the attachment of virulent surface proteins to the cell wall by recognizing a specific amino acid motif (LPXTG). The ability of the bacterium to communicate with and infect host cells is linked to the Sortase A mechanism. We have identified pyridostigmine bromide as the primary drug target based upon the analysis of ITC data

A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of Asthma, Hypertension and Diabetes Emergency Encounters; New Insights for Community Health Needs Assessments

Community Health Needs Assessments and the developed strategies corresponding to any findings provide opportunities to improve the health of communities by targeted, coordinated efforts to meet the community needs. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment utilized numerous data sources yet found data gaps pertaining to the health status of immigrant populations due to limitations of surveying methods. Large amounts of electronic patient-specific information are generated, exchanged, and stored as “big data” in health information exchanges. The Greater Philadelphia region uses the HealthShare Exchange, the regional HIE, as a community asset to facilitate this data transfer. The HealthShare Exchange provides a Clinical Database Repository (CDR), which was used for this study to (1) identify rates and possible disparities of asthma, hypertension, and diabetes among emergency encounters in Philadelphia and (2) assess the utility of the CDR for Community Health Needs Assessments. There were significant disparities identified between race/ ethnicities, genders (asthma and hypertension only), and geographic regions for these diagnoses. With the future acquisition of primary health facility data and subsequent to further validity testing, the HealthShare Exchange’s Clinical Database Repository shows promise in identifying disparities for future needs assessments and targeted intervention