Drugs and the Music Industry: How the Neurological and Visual Effects of LSD and Psilocybin Impact Creativity and Songwriting Abilities

Drugs and the Music Industry: How the Neurological and Visual Effects of LSD and Psilocybin Impact Creativity and Songwriting Abilities Ammar Jawad, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College The 5-hydroxy-tryptamine 2A receptor, 5-HT2A, is a G protein-coupled receptor that belongs to a subtype of receptors known as serotonergic receptors. The 5-HT2A receptor plays a wide variety of roles that are pivotal in the optimal functionality of the brain, such as mediating the neurological, visual, and auditory pathways of the central nervous system. Typical agonists of the 5-HT2A receptor include psychedelic or hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Psychedelic drugs in particular have been a means for many artists and musicians to further enhance their creativity, leading to a subgenre of music and instrumentation known as psychedelic music, or psychedelia. Typically, psychedelic music is characterized by feelings of depersonalization and derealization, and artists who’ve experimented with drugs such as LSD and psilocybin claim to have an expanded imagination, along with a heightened sense of creativity and mesmerism. The research presented in this study explores the overlap between music and psychedelic drugs, namely LSD and psilocybin, and how the 5-HT2A receptor engages and mediates the neurological as well as the biological effects of these substances. This study has concluded that further research is necessary to explore the possibility of activating the 5-HT2A receptors with substances that do not carry the harmful effects that drugs such as LSD and psilocybin do.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1372/thumbnail.jp

The investigation of the skin biophysical measurements focusing on daily activities, skin care habits, and gender differences

Background Skin, as a protective barrier to exogenous substances, can be modulated by various internal and external factors that can affect its functional state. In order to prevent the early symptoms and signs of diseases of the skin, frequent skin health assessment should be performed. The aims of the study were to evaluate four skin properties of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, elasticity, and pigmentation using a non-invasive skin assessment tool, DermaLab Combo®, and also to determine possible factors that may influence skin condition. Methods DermaLab® Combo was used to measure TEWL, hydration, pigmentation, and elasticity on the forearm of volunteers by using different probes. In this study, four parameters were observed to reflect the health of the skin in 100 volunteers. Results There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between TEWL, hydration, pigmentation, and elasticity in different genders on the same anatomical site of the forearm. Female subjects have a higher average value of TEWL, hydration, and elasticity compared to male subjects. The differences may be due to an individual's daily activity and use of skin care products as well as environmental factors. The use of moisturiser and drinking lots of water may keep the skin hydrated and delay the process of skin ageing as shown by the better hydration and elasticity observed (P < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, it can be concluded that DermaLab® Combo is a reliable skin analysis instrument that offers high precision, accuracy, and reproducibility for all the measuring parameters. It has also been found that daily activities and habits influence skin condition as reflected by the measurement of these biophysical skin parameters

Prevalence of Obesity and Overweight among Staff at Technical Institute-Swaira in Middle Technical University

Background: Overweight and obesity defined as "abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health". Obesity is the fifth among global causes of death. The rise in overweight and obesity among adult workers is a global public health concern. It's associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer, as well as increased healthcare expenditures, reduced job productivity, and lost of money. Objective: To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity and to find out relation with some risk factors among staff at Technical Institute-Swaira in Middle Technical University. Patients and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design carried out in Technical Institute-Swaira in Middle Technical University. Included (150) of staff selected. Sampling Technique to selection staff were random (probability sampling). The data collection by direct interview technique of researcher with each participant of staff from 5th November 2021 to 4th July 2022. Results: The study show socio-demographic characteristics. Regarding to staff age (31-40) years constituted the majority (38.0%). High percentage of participants were married (84.7%) and lower percentage were divorced (1.3%), BMI in the study population the high percentage were (42.0%) of participants overweight, BMI was highly significantly by practicing exercise (P= 0.000), significant differences in BMI with regular three meals a day and eat fast food (P= 0.01), (P= 0.03). Conclusion: This study found that a large number of participant were overweight or obese. BMI changes a lot with age. There were big differences in BMI between participant who worked out regularly and participant who ate three meals a day or fast food

Small Molecule Catalysts with Therapeutic Potential

Catalysts are employed in many areas of research and development where they combine high efficiency with often astonishing selectivity for their respective substrates. In biology, biocatalysts are omnipresent. Enzymes facilitate highly controlled, sophisticated cellular processes, such as metabolic conversions, sensing and signalling, and are prominent targets in drug development. In contrast, the therapeutic use of catalysts per se is still rather limited. Recent research has shown that small molecule catalytic agents able to modulate the redox state of the target cell bear considerable promise, particularly in the context of inflammatory and infectious diseases, stroke, ageing and even cancer. Rather than being “active” on their own in a more traditional sense, such agents develop their activity by initiating, promoting, enhancing or redirecting reactions between biomolecules already present in the cell, and their activity therefore depends critically on the predisposition of the target cell itself. Redox catalysts, for instance, preferably target cells with a distinct sensitivity towards changes in an already disturbed redox balance and/or increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Indeed, certain transition metal, chalcogen and quinone agents may activate an antioxidant response in normal cells whilst at the same time triggering apoptosis in cancer cells with a different pre-existing “biochemical redox signature” and closer to the internal redox threshold. In pharmacy, catalysts therefore stand out as promising lead structures, as sensor/effector agents which are highly effective, fairly selective, active in catalytic, i.e., often nanomolar concentrations and also very flexible in their structural design

Possible relationships of selected food items to osteoporosis among a group of Iraqi women

Background: Osteoporosis is a global health problem which is estimated to affect more than 200 million people worldwide, especially postmenopausal women. It is characterized by decreased bone mineral density leading to fragility and increased risk of fractures.  Objective: This study was conducted to explore the consumption of inappropriate foods related to osteoporosis among a group of Iraqi women. JFac Med Baghdad 2021; Vol.63, No. 4 Received: Sep., 2021 Accepted: Nov., 2021 Published: Jan., 2021   Patients and methods: A cross sectional study of 140 females aged ≥ 40 years attending polyclinics in Al-Dora sector in Baghdad city from 18th January to 24th April 2021. The bone mineral density was measured by portable quantitative calcaneal ultrasound machine (osteosystem) and the bone was assessed for osteoporosis by T-score. Food frequency questionnaire was used for collecting data related to food consumption. Results: Out of the total sample, 74 (52.9%) were found to be osteoporotic. There was a significant association with high salt and coffee consumption with the occurrence of osteoporosis (77.3% and 83.3%, respectively, p = 0.001), compared to those who did not consume caffeinated drinks. Participants with daily consumption of caffeinated drinks had a highly significant association with osteoporosis (21.8% vs 100%, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Excessive consumption of salty foods and caffeinated beverages appears to exert a negative effect on bone mineral density and the occurrence of osteoporosis among the studied group of Iraqi women

N/A and signature analysis for malwares detection and removal

Objectives: This study aimed to design an application that effectively scans, detects, and removes malware based on their signatures and behaviours. Methods/Statistical analysis: The rapid growth in the number and types of malware poses high security risks despite the numerous antivirus softwares with Signature-Based Detection (SBD) method. The SBD method depends on the signatures or malware names that are available in the algorithm database. Findings: Malware is a type of malicious software that poses security threats to the targeted system, resulting in information loss, resource abuse, or system damage. The antivirus software is one of the most commonly used security tools to detect and remove malware. However, the malware defences should focus on the malware signatures since there is no universal way of recognising all malware. Therefore, this study suggested N/A detection technique as the dynamic method (behaviour-based detection method) that depends on the Windows Registry (system database). Both static and dynamic detection methods were assessed in this study. Based on the experimental outcomes, SBD method detected and removed most of malware (only known viruses). Application/Improvements: Meanwhile, the N/A detection method detected and removed all injected malware (known and unknown Trojan horse) within a relatively low running time

Formulation and characterization of resiquimod microsponges loaded gel

The aim of this study was to incorporate microponges loaded with resiquimod in gel dosage form. Microsponges were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method using dichloromethane (DCM), ethylacetate (EA), and chloroform in dispersed phase were incorporated into different gels. 0.5% w/w Carbopol® 934 (polyacrylic acid) powder was dispersed into deionized water under constant stirring with a glass rod. 0.2% and 0.02% w/w of methylparaben and propylparaben were used as preservative in the gel. The dispersion was neutralized using 10% sodium hydroxide (2% w/w). Topical microsponges gel formulations were prepared by incorporation of microsponges into the gel. A 0.03% w/w of resiquimod loaded microsponges was incorporated into the gel. Control gels which contained resiquimod only were prepared under the same conditions. Microsponges prepared by 2.5 mL of DCM, 1 mL of chloroform or 5 mL of EA in the dispersion phase were selected and coded as F1, F2 and F3. To study the compatibility of gel excipients along with microsponges, Attenuated Total Reflectance – Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and FESEM microscopy were used. The ATR-FTIR spectrums of different formulations (F1, F2, and F3) are identical. F4 spectrum which contained empty microsponges loaded gel had no additional or missed peaks when compared against spectrums of other formulations. The integrity and surface morphology remained similar when compared to original microsponges observed under FESEM microscopy. Therefore, it can be concluded that there was no chemical interaction between resiquimod loaded microsponges and gel excipients as shown in ATR-FTIR spectrum and FESEM microscope

Validity and reliability of the Malaysian version of parent attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) survey

The number parents in Malaysia that are hesitant about vaccines has grown in recent years. Identifying these parents is important in order to implement the necessary measures to maintain and improve the vaccines intake. The objectives of this study were to translate the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) survey into Bahasa Malaysia, and to assess the reliability and construct a validity of the translated survey

A comparison study of perceived stress and quality of life among Master of Pharmacy and non-pharmacy master's students

Background: Postgraduate students often live with an excessive amount of stress, which can have negative academic, emotional and health-related outcomes.Aim: To examine perceived stress and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) students compared to non-pharmacy master's students (Non-MPharm). Method: The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), SF-12v2 survey and a questionnaire instruments were used to measure stress, HRQOL and factors that MPharm students believed produced and alleviated stress, respectively. Results: One hundred percent of MPharm students (n=26) and 88% of Non-MPharm students (n=100) participated in this study. The mean PSS scores were insignificantly different between the MPharm students and Non-MPharm students. Negative correlations were found between stress and mental and physical HRQOL in MPharm students. However, only negative correlation between stress and mental HRQOL in Non-MPharm students. Conclusion: MPharm students reported relatively lower levels of stress and mental HRQOL than Non-MPharm students did