Efficacy of Antidepressant Drugs for the Treatment of Covid-19

In adult populations (18-65), does the administration of antidepressants, compared to not administering antidepressants, reduce the severity of the Covid-19 infection? Current treatment protocols for Covid-19 virus are still new and needing improvement. Discovering a new pharmacologic approach has been on the forefront of medical research since the beginning of the pandemic. The purpose of this paper is analyzing the efficacy of antidepressant drugs for reducing morbidity and mortality associated with Covid-19 virus. A literature search was conducted using Cinahl, Google Scholar, and UMaine Nursing Reference Center. The search words included covid, covid-19, pandemic, coronavirus, antidepressants, and SSRI. The inclusion criteria were all adults, male and female aged 18-65. The exclusion criteria included all viruses other than Covid-19, patients under 18, and patients over 65. Our search included 10 articles. Studies found that the administration of antidepressants has the potential to decrease the severity of the Covid-19 infection and improve outcomes. Specific antidepressants including fluoxetine and fluvoxamine were shown to decrease mortality in patients with Covid. Other studies suggest venlafaxine, mirtazapine, paroxetine, and escitalopram limited the need for intubation in those with serious covid infections. Promising research has emerged in the past few years suggesting there may be a link between antidepressant use and decreased symptoms of Covid-19. Some even suggest the use of certain antidepressants can decrease the risk of contracting the virus. Because Covid-19 is a relatively new disease, more research is needed to truly determine the applications antidepressants could have on patients who have contracted the virus

Investigation into Regulation of the SNF2 Gene by Alternate mRNA Isoforms in S. cerevisiae Yeast

Eukaryotic organisms have evolved complex gene regulatory networks to launch coordinated responses to external conditions and stimuli. Under environmental stress, such as nutrient depletion, these responses involve reallocation of cellular resources away from the products of growth and cell cycle stimulating genes and towards the products of stress-responsive genes. This occurs through several mechanisms, including changes in transcription, decreased ribosome biogenesis, altered translation initiation, and changes in mRNA features that modulate translation efficiency and transcript stability. Upon nutrient starvation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, diploid cells undergo meiosis leading to sporulation. Previous studies show that the catalytic component of the Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling complex, Snf2, is responsible for shifting gene expression away from intron-rich ribosomal protein genes (RPGs) to enhance splicing of meiotic intron-containing genes (ICGs) during sporulation, and that a similar process occurs during the transition from growth to quiescence known as the diauxic shift in yeast. During both of these complex cell-state transitions, Snf2 protein levels change dramatically while SNF2 mRNA levels remain relatively stable.The aim of this study is to understand the mechanism by which Snf2 protein levels change in response to nutrients. Here I describe alternate transcription start sites (TSS) at the SNF2 gene locus under batch growth conditions, which produce SNF2 transcripts with distinct 5’ leaders affecting downstream translation propensity. Specifically, a long transcript isoform of SNF2 mRNA containing three upstream open reading frames (uORFs), is capable of inhibiting the translation of the downstream protein-coding ORF. I identified the previously unannotated TSS of the long SNF2 isoform and performed RNA analysis in mutant and wild-type cells under various conditions to demonstrate that the transcript isoforms undergo nutrient-responsive transcript isoform switching, which is affected by the transcriptional regulator Ume6. Parallel protein analysis via Western blotting shows that this regulation indeed affects Snf2 expression, and that there is an inverse relationship between expression of the long SNF2 isoform and Snf2 protein levels. In light of the conservation of Snf2-family proteins, investigating SNF2 regulation in response to environmental changes in S. cerevisiae may carry important implications for understanding the regulation of Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling activity in higher eukaryotes

Formation of Unimolecular G-Quadruplex Macrocycles from N9-Modified Guanine Derivatives

Our genetic information is protected by single-stranded, guanine-rich DNA sequences called telomeres, which have been shown to form guanine quadruplex structures in vivo. When stabilized, G-quadruplexes inhibit the activity of telomerase, an enzyme that contributes to the immortality of cancer cells. Due to recent interest in the anticancer potential of guanine quadruplexes, the need exists for understanding their self-assembly. As such, recent studies have focused on the formation of these structures from guanine derivatives. We have successfully synthesized G-quadruplex forming subunits from the coupling of N2-acetylguanine and 3,5-di-substituted benzylbromide derivatives followed by amide deprotection. Upon addition of potassium salts, these subunits were confirmed, though nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, to form G-quartets. Following cation-templated ring-closing metathesis using Grubb’s 2nd generation catalyst, G-quadruplex macrocycles were successfully formed. Future studies will investigate the macrocycles\u27 ability to bind G-quadruplex stabilizing ligands and determine their potential to serve as model G-quadruplexes and aid in the search for new anti-cancer drugs

2012 Survey of States - Successes and Challenges During a Time of Change (NCEO State Survey Report)

A report providing a snapshot of new initiatives, trends, accomplishments, and emerging issues during this important period of education reform as states document the academic achievement of students with disabilities. This is the thirteenth such survey of states conducted by NCEO. States also reported information about the alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS), and on new developments in assessment such as teacher evaluation and how they are contributing to the consortia. In the three years since the previous survey, states continued to make strong progress, though challenges remained and several new issues emerged.The Center is supported through a Cooperative Agreement (#H326G110002) with the Research to Practice Division, Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. The contents of this report were developed under the Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Education, but does not necessarily represent the policy or opinions of the U.S. Department of Education or Office within it

Use of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography in Emergency Departments: A Literature Review

Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has become the most widely used technique for diagnosis or exclusion of a pulmonary embolism (PE). It has been suggested that overuse of this imaging type may be prevalent, especially in emergency departments (EDs). The purpose of this literature review was to explore the use of CTPAs in EDs worldwide. A review following PRISMA guidelines was completed, with research published between September 2010 and August 2020 included. Five key topics emerged: use of CTPAs; explanations for overuse; use of D-dimer; variability in ordering practices between clinicians; and strategies to reduce overuse. This review found that CTPAs continue to be overused in EDs, leading to superfluous risks to patients. Published studies identify that while clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have a strong effect on reducing unnecessary CTPAs with no significantly increased risk of missed diagnosis, the adoption of these tools by ED clinicians has remained low. This literature review highlights the need for further research into why CTPAs continue to be overused within EDs and why clinicians are hesitant to use CPGs in the clinical setting. Moreover, investigations into other potential strategies that may combat the overuse of this diagnostic tool are essential to reduce potential harm

Improving Native Habitat for Monarchs and Other Pollinators

This course focuses on the native plant communities of prairies, wetlands, and woodlands and the dependence these communities have on pollinators. This class collaborated with Muncie Public Library staff from the Maring-Hunt library to research, design, and install a monarch waystation and develop educational materials for the library to use with their youth programs. Landscape Architecture Class 342/598, Spring 2022