Welcome to the Excerpts in Pharmacy Research Journal

The editorial board at Cedarville University School of Pharmacy welcomes you to the inaugural issue of the Excerpts in Pharmacy Research Journal (ISSN 2374-4693)

The Impact of a Flipped Classroom Compared to Lecture-Based Teaching on Achieving Course Outcomes

Education is one of the most vital components that compose a modern society and as such, its improvement and optimization is always sought. This study investigates the efficacy between two learning methods in a graduate level biochemistry course: complete active learning and a hybrid of active and passive learning. Active learning is one method of achieving course outcomes with an emphasis on student responsibility through self-studying of course material followed by classroom discussion. In comparison, passive learning emphasizes instructor responsibility through didactic lecturing of course material. The aftermath results following a hybrid form of active and passive learning (in-class didactic lecture and team-based learning) versus complete active learning (self-studying course material before class, classroom discussion, and team-based learning) will be compared among four cohorts of biochemistry students. A survey will be sent out seeking to gather qualitative and quantitative data that may later contribute to the confounding of main objective results. Descriptive statistics analyses will sort, organize, and filter survey responses in order to examine whether or not differences there affected the objective. Main objective results will rely on exam and readiness assessment test (RAT) scores from all four cohorts of students. Various biochemistry topics will be compared per these scores. An independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and ANCOVA test will be used to assess all the data. Within some of these statistical tests, survey responses will be accounted, assessed, and controlled so as not to convolute findings. These factors include: continuous independent variables (Example: age), nominal variables (Example: undergraduate status), and covariates (Example: GPA). The hypothesis of this study is that there will be a statistically significant difference between the cohorts that use a hybrid of active and passive learning and the cohorts that use complete active learning

The Impact of a Flipped Classroom Compared to Lecture-Based Teaching on Achieving Course Outcomes

Education is one of the most vital components that compose a modern society and as such, its improvement and optimization is always sought. This study investigates the efficacy between two learning methods in a graduate level biochemistry course: complete active learning and a hybrid of active and passive learning. Active learning is one method of achieving course outcomes with an emphasis on student responsibility through self-studying of course material followed by classroom discussion. In comparison, passive learning emphasizes instructor responsibility through didactic lecturing of course material. The aftermath results following a hybrid form of active and passive learning (in-class didactic lecture and team-based learning) versus complete active learning (self-studying course material before class, classroom discussion, and team-based learning) will be compared among four cohorts of biochemistry students. A survey will be sent out seeking to gather qualitative and quantitative data that may later contribute to the confounding of main objective results. Descriptive statistics analyses will sort, organize, and filter survey responses in order to examine whether or not differences there affected the objective. Main objective results will rely on exam and readiness assessment test (RAT) scores from all four cohorts of students. Various biochemistry topics will be compared per these scores. An independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and ANCOVA test will be used to assess all the data. Within some of these statistical tests, survey responses will be accounted, assessed, and controlled so as not to convolute findings. These factors include: continuous independent variables (Example: age), nominal variables (Example: undergraduate status), and covariates (Example: GPA). The hypothesis of this study is that there will be a statistically significant difference between the cohorts that use a hybrid of active and passive learning and the cohorts that use complete active learning

Content Uniformity of Over-the-Counter Melatonin

Dietary supplements are loosely regulated in comparison to over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Numerous tests for safety and efficacy are required before drugs can be marketed. However, the Food and Drug Administration does not require thorough examination of supplements before they are sold. Dietary supplements generally adhere to the phrase, “safe, until proven unsafe,” with safety determined solely through post-market adverse event reports. Substandard regulation of supplement manufacturing leads to warranted doubt about the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements. Within the dietary supplement market there are regulatory bodies, such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), that provide optional verification services to manufacturers. If utilized, these regulatory bodies ensure that manufacturers meet specific standards in regard to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), purity of ingredients, and overall integrity of their product. Numerous studies have revealed a history of inaccuracies in supplement product labeling. Researchers conducting these studies consistently conclude that there is a need for stricter regulation and finer application of cGMP within supplement manufacturing companies. One of the most popular dietary supplements on the market, melatonin, has been the focus in a number of studies evaluating supplement product content integrity. Melatonin is commonly used to treat insomnia and to cure symptoms of jet lag. According to past research, these melatonin products often contain an amount of active ingredient that significantly differs from respective product labeling. Most research regarding melatonin product integrity has occurred outside of the past ten years, leaving the need for newer research. Melatonin 3 mg will be purchased from six different manufacturers with three manufacturers possessing USP verification. Within each manufacturer, melatonin 3 mg from five separate lot numbers will be purchased. Ten tablets from each bottle (totaling 300 tablets) will be analyzed using a high-pressure liquid chromatography machine in order to determine actual melatonin content in each tablet. Data will be recorded and compared to determine accuracy of product labeling and batch-to-batch content uniformity. Data from USP-verified melatonin will be compared with non-verified products in order to determine if regulatory body verification is effective at improving content uniformity

Correlation Study: Student Success in Biochemistry as a Prerequisite for Integrated Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry

Background A rise in new schools of pharmacy has led to implementation of new curriculums. Pharmacy schools must adhere to standards set by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education in order to provide knowledge of foundational sciences and prepare pharmacy students for the future. Prerequisites are typically foundational science courses taken early in the program so that students have the knowledge necessary to be excellent pharmacists. Within the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy, Biochemistry is a prerequisite course for Integrated Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology (PCoMedChem). Objectives The goal of this study is to determine if Biochemistry should remain a prerequisite course for Integrated Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology at Cedarville University under a TBL setting based on if student success in Biochemistry influences student success in PcoMedChem. Methodology The study will evaluate student individual and overall course grades for both Biochemistry and PcoMedChem. The data will include grades from the 2018-2021 cohorts of pharmacy students. Inclusion criteria consists of completion of Biochemistry and Integrated Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology. No exclusion of students exist because all student data will be evaluated. Students will complete a survey through Qualtrics regarding extracurricular commitments as well as perceptions towards the courses to supplement the findings and explain discrepancies. Analysis The demographics and students’ perceptions will be compared in SPSS by analyzing frequency of responses. Using SPSS, the Wilcoxon test and Levene’s test will be conducted followed by a Pearson or Spearman correlation, depending on distribution, in order to determine correlation between grades in Biochemistry and PcoMedChem. Additionally, an ANCOVA test will be used to analyze the data gathered from our survey. A p-value of 0.05 will be indicative of statistical significance

Simulation of Lower Limb Axial Arterial Length Change During Locomotion

The effect of external forces on axial arterial wall mechanics has conventionally been regarded as secondary to hemodynamic influences. However, arteries are similar to muscles in terms of the manner in which they traverse joints, and their three-dimensional geometrical requirements for joint motion. This study considers axial arterial shortening and elongation due to motion of the lower extremity during gait, ascending stairs, and sitting-to-standing motion. Arterial length change was simulated by means of a graphics based anatomic and kinematic model of the lower extremity. This model estimated the axial shortening to be as much as 23% for the femoropopliteal arterial region and as much as 21% for the iliac artery. A strong correlation was observed between femoropopliteal artery shortening and maximum knee flexion angle (r2=0.8) as well as iliac artery shortening and maximum hip angle flexion (r2=0.9). This implies a significant mechanical influence of locomotion on arterial behavior in addition to hemodynamics factors. Vascular tissue has high demands for axial compliance that should be considered in the pathology of atherosclerosis and the design of vascular implants

Simulation of Lower Limb Axial Arterial Length Change During Locomotion

The effect of external forces on axial arterial wall mechanics has conventionally been regarded as secondary to hemodynamic influences. However, arteries are similar to muscles in terms of the manner in which they traverse joints, and their three-dimensional geometrical requirements for joint motion. This study considers axial arterial shortening and elongation due to motion of the lower extremity during gait, ascending stairs, and sitting-to-standing motion. Arterial length change was simulated by means of a graphics based anatomic and kinematic model of the lower extremity. This model estimated the axial shortening to be as much as 23% for the femoropopliteal arterial region and as much as 21% for the iliac artery. A strong correlation was observed between femoropopliteal artery shortening and maximum knee flexion angle (r2=0.8) as well as iliac artery shortening and maximum hip angle flexion (r2=0.9). This implies a significant mechanical influence of locomotion on arterial behavior in addition to hemodynamics factors. Vascular tissue has high demands for axial compliance that should be considered in the pathology of atherosclerosis and the design of vascular implants

GMO vs. Non-GMO: Comparing the Addictiveness of Corn in Rats

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) refer to organisms whose DNA has been altered to produce a certain characteristic. GMOs account for a significant proportion of the crops produced in the United States. Specifically, GMO corn accounted for approximately 88% of all corn grown for human and animal consumption in the year 2012. Previously conducted studies have not uniformly demonstrated the safe use of GMO corn, and no studies have been conducted analyzing the addictiveness of GMO corn. The idea of addiction refers to more than just a physical dependence, but to a psychological dependence on something as well. It is sometimes accompanied by compulsive, uncontrollable behaviors that can interfere with other activities and which increase in intensity as there is an increase in access to the substance. Because food addiction is implicated in the prevalence of obesity and its associated pathologies, identifying addictiveness in GMO products may lead to changes in crop production, food production, and use. This study will compare the addictive behaviors of rats who are fed GMO corn. The rats will be randomly divided into three groups. Each group will be fed a diet containing a portion of corn consisting of 0%, 50%, or 100% GMO corn, respectively, for 28 days. After the 28 day treatment period, the rats will be fed a corn-free diet for 10 days. The assessments will include both cage food consumption and body weight measurements taken during both the treatment and withdrawal periods, and behavioral symptoms observed in an open field test during the withdrawal period. The presence of withdrawal indicators will be scored for each rat, and the scores will be compared between the groups using a repeated measures ANOVA test

GMO vs. Non-GMO: Comparing the Addictiveness of Corn in Rats

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) refer to organisms whose DNA has been altered to produce a certain characteristic. GMOs account for a significant proportion of the crops produced in the United States. Specifically, GMO corn accounted for approximately 88% of all corn grown for human and animal consumption in the year 2012. Previously conducted studies have not uniformly demonstrated the safe use of GMO corn, and no studies have been conducted to analyze the addictiveness of GMO corn. The idea of addiction refers to more than just a physical dependence, but to a psychological dependence on something as well. Addiction is sometimes accompanied by compulsive, uncontrollable behaviors that can interfere with other activities and which increase in intensity as there is an increase in access to the substance. Because food addiction is implicated in the prevalence of obesity and its associated pathologies, identifying addictiveness in GMO products may lead to changes in crop production, food production, and use. This study will compare the addictive behaviors of rats who are fed GMO corn. The rats will be randomly divided into three groups. Each group will be fed a diet containing a portion of corn consisting of 0%, 50%, or 100% GMO corn, respectively, for 28 days. After the 28 day treatment period, the rats will be fed a corn-free diet for 10 days. The assessments will include both cage food consumption and body weight measurements taken during both the treatment and withdrawal periods, and behavioral symptoms observed in an open field test during the withdrawal period. The presence of withdrawal indicators will be scored for each rat. The scores will then be compared between the groups using a repeated measures ANOVA test