Howard University Research Articles

Abstract C073: Assessing the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases among breast cancers cases at the Howard University Cancer Center

Abstract Background: Cardiometabolic disorders encompass a spectrum of cardiovascular and metabolic system diseases including heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. Common risk factors among these diseases include abdominal obesity, hyperlipidemia, and increased blood pressure. Cardiometabolic diseases disproportionately impact African American women, especially those with cancer. Evidence indicates that women with breast cancer are more likely to pass away from cardiometabolic diseases than cancer itself. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases among female breast cancer patients diagnosed at the Howard University Cancer Center between January 2012 and December 2022. Methods: A retrospective chart review will be conducted using the cancer registry data from The Howard University Cancer Center and electronic medical records from the Howard University Faculty Practice Plan Outpatient Electronic Medical Records (Allscripts). This will be conducted in two phases. In Phase I, we will recruit women 18 to 88 years old diagnosed with breast cancer between 2012 and 2022. Howard University has approximately 70 to 100 breast cancer cases per year. It is anticipated that approximately 1,000 cases will be identified. From this sample, we will collect information regarding cancer diagnosis, treatment composite, and tumor characteristics. Assuming this generates 1,000 cases, we will randomly select 25% of this number (250 cases) to obtain the other variables of interest from the medical records. This initiates phase II, where we will use the medical record number provided by the cancer registry to identify and review records of the 250 cases. The electronic medical records will be reviewed on-site upon approval of the Director of Outpatient Medical Records. The variables assessed will include demographic data (age at diagnosis, ethnicity, geographical location, and level of education), body mass index (BMI), date of diagnosis, treatment composite (initial treatment at the time of diagnosis), menopausal status, tobacco use, cardiometabolic diseases (diabetes, heart attack, stroke, abdominal obesity), cardiometabolic risk factors (hypertension and hyperlipidemia), and tumor characteristics (number of primary sites and stages of cancer). All data will be maintained using REDCap which is a secure web-based application designed to manage online surveys and data. An electronic data abstraction form will be developed in REDCap to record all of the information listed below in Table 1. All statistical analyses will be conducted using SPSS. The quantitative data will be characterized by means, medians, modes, and frequencies in a descriptive analysis. Log-binomial regression will be used to calculate prevalence ratios. A chi-square test will be utilized to examine cardiometabolic disorders and breast cancer at diagnosis. Anticipated Deliverable: Determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases among female breast cancer patients diagnosed at The Howard University Cancer Center. Citation Format: Ozioma A. Scott. Assessing the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases among breast cancers cases at the Howard University Cancer Center [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C073.

The Relative Impact of Historically Black College and University Economics Departments and Economists: Has the Hierarchy Changed Since the Turn of the Century?

This study examines citation patterns associated with the research being done by the current generation of economists affiliated with America's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In terms of mean citations, we report that the economics department at Bethune-Cookman University ranks first, followed by South Carolina State University and Tennessee State University. In terms of total citations, we find that Howard University ranks first, followed by North Carolina A&T State University and Tennessee State University. Our study is also the first to examine the relative impact of individual economists across the HBCU landscape. In doing so, we report that Elizabeth Asiedu of Howard University ranks first, followed by Ekanayake Ekanayake of Bethune-Cookman University and Faridul Islam of Morgan State University. Lastly, a separate analysis reveals a strong positive correlation between the relative sizes of the economics departments at HBCUs and the research impact of those economics departments. Thus, it appears as though institutions that commit a greater proportion of their resources (i.e., faculty lines) to economics have more influential economists.

Mildronate Ameliorates Kidney Function and Reduces Inflammation in SCD Mice

INTRODUCTION:Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic hemoglobin disorder characterized by hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusive crisis and inflammation that affects organs such as the kidney, liver, brain, spleen, and heart. SCD is driven by a mutation in the β-globin gene that causes sickling of red blood cells (RBCs). More than 50% of SCD patients are affected by chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and other comorbidities. Vasculopathy is caused by hemolysis-related endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, which collectively contribute to the development of renal disease. Mildronate (also known as Meldonium) is an anti-ischemic and cardio protecting medication approved in Eastern Europe. Mildronate facilitates a switch from fatty acid oxidation to less oxygen-intensive glycolysis that allows less oxygen consumption by peripheral tissues and higher oxygenation of heart. We hypothesized that mildronate administration would reduce tissue hypoxia and decrease inflammation in SCD mice. METHODS: The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Howard University (IACUC). We employed the Townes SCD mouse model, which mimics SCD complications. SCD and control mice were injected with mildronate (400 mg/kg in saline) intraperitoneally or saline as vehicle control over the course of ten days. Blood and plasma were collected and used for hematological parameters analysis. Cytokines were measured by Bio-plex suspension array in plasma and real-time RT-PCR or ELISA in organs. Protein expression of HO-1, HIF-1α, NFκB and NRF2 was measured by Western blot. The effect of Mildronateon systemic and renal oxidative stress was measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) using ELISA (Abcam). RESULTS: We observed significant reduction in the cytokine's levels of IFN-γ, IL-1, and TNF-α in plasma of SCD mice after mildronate injection. We also observed reduction in IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 levels but differences were not statistically significant. There were no significant changes in hematological parameters (Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, CMCH, Erythrocytes, Hemoglobin) after mildronate injection. Also, we did not observe changes in MDA levels in plasma or kidney in SCD mice compared to control mice, both non-injected and mildronate injected. We further evaluated HO-1 and NRF2 protein expression by western blot and observed no significant differences between SCD mice with or without mildronate injection. In H&E staining, cortex glomerular area and medullar congestion area were significantly reduced after mildronate injection. We also observed reduction of proteinuria in SCD mice injected with mildronate. DISCUSSION: Our examination of the effect of mildronate showed decreases inflammation in the mildronate injected SCD mice evidenced by reduced levels of IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α in circulation. There was a slight decrease in the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 after mildronate injection. HO-1 is crucial for the catabolism of hemoglobin and protects against tissue damage in hemolysis. The HO-1 promoter has binding sites for several transcription factors, including phosphorylated Nrf2. Previous studies from our lab showed increased HIF-1α expression in PBMCs obtained from SCD patients. Here we did not detect significant changes in NFκB-p65 or HIF-1α expression levels. While we expected mildronate to decrease the oxidative stress, we did not observe significant reduction in MDA levels in treated mice compared to control mice. CONCLUSION: Mildronate improved kidney function in SCD mice by reducing circulatory and renal inflammation. In future, we plan to assess in more details the mildronate's impact on kidney function and inflammation. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This work was supported by NIH grants 1R01HL125005, 5U54MD007597, and 1SC1HL150685.

Prevalence of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Adult Sickle Cell Clinic Patients and Cardiovascular Correlates

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is strongly correlated with hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the general population, and especially in African Americans. In Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), the adverse effect of nocturnal hypoxemia is anticipated to have additional adverse effects with the sickling of red blood cells and microvascular thrombosis unique to the disease. Prospective data regarding the prevalence and consequences of SDB in this population are lacking. In an ongoing study, 27 adult subjects (age > 18 years), with homozygous HbSS genotype, presenting to the Howard University Sickle Cell Center for routine follow up have been recruited irrespective of the presence of sleep symptoms. Exclusion criteria include previous diagnosis or treatment of a sleep disorder or requirement for supplemental oxygen. Testing occurs when subjects are in a stable phase of disease, with no hospitalizations or medication changes for 4 weeks. In addition to clinical history and questionnaires, participants are assessed with blood work, 6 minute walk testing, pain and sleep diaries during 1 week actigraphy, transthoracic echocardiography and overnight in lab polysomnography with capnography. At the time of this interim analysis, the mean age is 42 (range 29-71, +/- std dev 11) and male:female distribution is 17:10. The mean BMI is 20.4 (+/- 4.5). Mean Hgb is 9.1 g/dl (+/- 1.8) and mean LDH is 325 iu/L (+/- 163). Polysomnography scoring utilized a 3% desaturation criterion for hyponeas as per American Academy of Sleep Medicine Scoring Manual Chapter VIII, 1A. Mean sleep efficiency is 77% ( std dev +/- 4.2%). 48% of subjects demonstrate some degree of sleep disordered breathing as defined by an AHI > 5 events/hour (33% mild, 4% moderate, 11% severe). 70% of subjects demonstrate an RDI > 5 events/hour (40% mild, 19% moderate, 11% severe). Twelve participants (44%) exhibit more than 5 minutes sleep duration at saturations <89% (mean = 187 minutes). Hypercapnia is not suggested as an important component of SDB with the mean ET CO2 = 40.7 mm Hg (range 30-46 mm Hg). Echocardiographic values (LVPWd, Lad, MV E/A, PVV, and RVSP) do not correlate with any indices of sleep disordered breathing other than minutes <89% saturation correlating with RVSP. In summary, this interim analysis of sleep in a population of unselected Sickle Cell Clinic patients demonstrates a striking frequency of sleep disordered breathing. This is despite a generally low BMI for these patients which is typically considered one of the most important risk factor for sleep apnea. Ongoing recruitment is planned to confirm these findings. Correlation with clinical outcomes and potential response to therapeutic interventions will be important future research questions.

Review of We Belong to Big Church: Caribbean Soundings and Stories in Anglicania


 We Belong to Big Church: Caribbean Soundings and Stories in Anglicania provides a rare insight into the cross-cultural dynamics of Afro-Anglicanism in the Caribbean and in North America. The historic fictional religious narratives of the first section give a voice to the ecclesial and cultural adjustments of the Anglican Caribbean Diaspora in America. The second section is a compilation of the author’s sermons, addresses, and lectures that engage issues of multiculturalism, inclusion, and racism as a call to stimulate further conversations on a proposed way forward in the Ecclesia Anglica. As the Professor of Theology at Howard University School of Divinity, Kortright Davis’ book is a creative and educative gem that fills the void of Afro-Caribbean literature and is a good starting place for navigating the conversations on cultural diversity.

Personal Reflections on the Life and Legacy of Bill Spriggs

Dr. William E. Spriggs, chief economist of the AFL-CIO and economics professor at Howard University passed away unexpectedly in June 2023. In honor of his memory, the authors discuss his many professional accomplishments and share personal reflections on the economist, mentor, colleague and friend they and others knew simply as Bill.

History of neurosurgery at Howard University: the nation's only historically black academic institution that practices neurological surgery.

Howard University Hospital has been a pillar for healthcare delivery in the Black community, an underserved sector of Washington, DC, since its founding in 1862. Neurological surgery, one of the many areas of service provided, was established by trailblazer Dr. Clarence Greene Sr., who was appointed the division's first chief in 1949. Because of the color of his skin, Dr. Greene had to complete his neurosurgical training at the Montreal Neurological Institute, as he was refused the opportunity to train in the United States. He went on to become the first African American to be board certified in neurological surgery in 1953. Drs. Jesse Barber, Gary Dennis, and Damirez Fossett, the subsequent division chiefs, have all continued Dr. Greene's legacy of providing academic enrichment and subserving a disparate population. Many patients who may not have received treatment otherwise have been able to receive exemplary neurosurgical care from them. Under their tutelage, numerous African American medical students have gone on to train in neurological surgery. Future directions include developing a residency program, collaborating with other neurosurgery programs in continental Africa and the Caribbean, and establishing a fellowship for training international students.

Exploring the Incidence and Associated Risk Factors of Barrett's Esophagus in African Americans: A Retrospective Study.

The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in African Americans (AA) is uncertain. However, several potential risk factors, includes family history, male sex, ethnicity, chronic heartburn and acid reflux, age over 60, current or past smoking, and obesity are associated with BE. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of BE in AA patients who underwent Esophageal Gastro Endoscopy (EGD). Medical and demographic data of 1,253 AA patients with various symptoms, including BE, Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), esophageal squamous adenocarcinoma (SCC), hiatal hernia, H. pylori infection, Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastritis, and esophagitis, were collected from January 2004 to December 2014 at Howard University Hospital. Among the 1,253 patients, the median age was 61 and 49% were male out of the total. The frequencies of EAC (p= 0.05), and SCC (p= 0.002) were significantly high in males, along with SCC frequency significantly increased with older age (p<0.001). Furthermore, esophageal polyps with hiatal hernia (p=0.008) and H. pylori (p=<0.001) were found to be associated with esophagitis, and its presence may contribute to the development of BE. The findings highlighted the high prevalence of GERD symptoms and pathologic gastritis along with EAC was less common than SCC and both types of esophageal cancer were associated with male gender and older age whereas, H. pylori infection was identified as a risk factor for pathologic gastritis in AA. Overall data emphasize the need for extensive research, increased awareness, diagnosis, and management of GERD, gastritis, and related conditions to uncover the underlying mechanisms and factors contributing to these conditions in the AA population.

Food insecurity is associated with lower diet quality among dental students.

Food insecurity is associated with lower diet quality, adverse health outcomes, and academic difficulty among undergraduate students. The objective was to identify the relationship between food security status and diet quality in dental students. All dental students attending Howard University (n=286) or the University of Iowa (n=326) during the fall 2021 semester were invited to complete a cross-sectional survey designed to query demographics, food security status (i.e., United States Department of Agriculture's ten item Adult Food Security Module), and diet quality (i.e., short Healthy Eating Index). The survey was administered using the Qualtrics platform. Response rates were similar for Howard (32.5%) and Iowa (29.4%). Students with food insecurity (46.0%) were slightly older and more likely to be Black or other, first generation professional/graduate students, and receive financial aid than peers with food security (p<0.050). Food insecurity was associated with lower intakes of fruits and vegetables (p ≤ 0.005), higher intakes of added sugars (p<0.001), and lower diet quality (p=0.003). In linear regression analyses that controlled for other variables, food insecurity (p=0.012), school site (p=0.027), and gender (p=0.039) were predictive of lower diet quality. The inability to procure adequate and appropriate foods was associated with marginal dietary habits (i.e., less than ideal food choices and eating behaviors) and lower diet quality in dental students. Both marginal dietary habits and lower diet quality increase chronic disease risk and may present a barrier to academic success. Addressing food insecurity among dental students is necessary to ensure equitable opportunities for a healthy workforce in the future.

Doing the Work of God: HBCU’s and Black America’s Response to the Influenza Pandemic of 1918

This study illuminates African American responses to the Influenza pandemic of 1918, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in particular. We chose a decolonized approach to historical inquiry, centering Black narratives, periodicals, and historical documents to better understand the African American experience and thereby the world. Our investigation revealed institutions that readily and dutifully responded to the pandemic as a function of their expertise and as a strategy to advance the freedom cause of African Americans. Places like Howard University, Knoxville College, and Meharry Medical College were resources for Black folks, their communities, and for the first time, White Americans. HBCU giants, W. E. B. Du Bois and C.V. Roman emerged in new ways to help Black America balance its duties to society, democracy, and to the race. Despite valor in war and medical service to the country, Black America would continue to struggle for full citizenship.

High Prevalence of Diabetes Among Hospitalized COVID-19 Minority Patients: Data from a Single Tertiary Hospital.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common comorbidity in the minority population and is associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients. We hypothesized that COVID-19 patients with pre-existing diabetes mellitus are prone to fatal outcomes compared to non-diabetic patients. We aimed to illustrate the characteristics and outcomes and identify the risk factors for in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients with DM. In this single-center retrospective study, electronic medical records of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis at Howard University Hospital (HUH) from March 2020 to Dec 2021 were analyzed. Clinical, demographic, and serological information, as well as outcomes, were recorded and analyzed. Among 463 COVID-19 patients, 66.3% (n = 307) were African Americans (AA) and 35.9% (n = 166) had diabetes, with a mean age of 64years. The majority of the diabetic patients were AA (n = 123, 74.1%) and had a higher mortality rate (n = 26, 74.3%) compared to others. Length of stay in the hospital is significantly more for the diabetic than for the non-diabetic patients (11.3 vs. 8.3days, p = 0.03). A higher proportion of ICU admission (32.3% vs. 17.9%, p = < 0.001), intubation (17% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.04), and increased mortality (21.1% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.01) were identified in COVID-19 patients with DM than in those with no DM. Among DM patients, non-survivors were older (69.9 vs. 62.9years). DM patients were more likely to have underlying hypertension (72.3% vs. 43.3%, p = < 0.001), obesity (44.8% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.007), chronic kidney disease (23.6 vs. 11.8%, p = 0.001), and cardiovascular disease (29.5% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.001) than the non-DM patients. HbA1C above 9%, indicating poorly controlled hyperglycemia, was associated with poor outcome among the DM subjects. AST (23.5% vs. 31.3%) and creatinine (61.4% vs. 37.9%) were significantly more elevated in DM COVID-19 patients (all p-values < 0.05). The levels of serum troponin (42.5% vs. 30.9%, p = 0.03), interleukin-6 (67.2 vs. 50%, p = 0.04), ferritin (65.6% vs. 44.6%, p = 0.03), procalcitonin (58.1% vs. 46.1, p = 0.03), and D-dimers (92.8% vs. 86.5%, p = 0.04) were significantly higher in DM patients as compared to those in non-DM COVID-19 patients, indicating more susceptibility of diabetic COVID-19 patients to coagulation dysfunction and inflammatory storm. The prevalence of DM is high among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in our cohort. While DM patients have a higher mortality rate and ICU admission than non-DM patients, other factors such as underlying comorbidities, old age, elevated creatinine, AST, serum inflammatory markers, and D-dimer are more significant predictors of fatal outcomes. DM patients had higher metabolic derangements, hypercoagulability, and severe inflammatory response. No significant difference of outcome was noted between DM patients of different races in our cohort. In the diabetic group, it appears that race may not significantly contribute to the observed mortality disparity. This could be attributed to the significant influence of diabetes, which acts as a major effector, potentially overshadowing the significance of race in this context.

Recuperation and Cooptation in Undermining the BLM Movement

The Black Lives Matter movement, originating in 2013 is “a Black-centered political will and movement building project” (Howard University School of Law, 2018). In the spring and summer of 2020, the BLM movement was reinvigorated by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers, resulting in some of the biggest protests America had ever seen. In order to deal with these protests and the demands for radical systemic change while maintaining the status quo, American corporations, government bodies, and law enforcement agencies engaged in a number of tactics broadly belonging to the idea of recuperation, the idea that "capitalism [can] appropriate even the most radical ideas and return them safely in the form of harmless ideologies” (Vague, 2012). In this paper, I use the frame of recuperation and cooptation to analyze how the demands of the BLM movement were undermined and neutralized.

Non-Approved Uses of Celecoxib and Indomethacin: Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge and Opinions

A survey was conducted among first-year pharmacy students at Howard University College of Pharmacy to measure their level of knowledge and gauge their opinion regarding the off-label uses of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), indomethacin and celecoxib. The average level of knowledge on indomethacin and celecoxib was 36.2% and 31.2%, respectively. Among the five knowledge-based questions on each of these drugs, the highest correct response rate was obtained on indomethacin dosing at 72.9%, and 64.7% on the class of drugs celecoxib belongs to. In the responses to questions on indomethacin, the highest correct response of 72.9% was significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than responses to other knowledge-based questions, except for the knowledge level on the class of drugs (59.5%; p=0.3257). In the same manner, the correct response rate of 64.7% for the class of drugs that celecoxib belongs to was significantly higher than the response rates for the other questions (p&lt;0.05), except when compared to the response to the question whether hyperplastic polyps and serrated polyps can develop into cancer (41.2%, p=0.0883). The opinions of the students varied, with a majority (55.9%) agreeing that serious diseases should be treated with non-approved medications. In the case of indomethacin, 35.5% of the respondents believed that because of toxicity issues, it should not be used outside the approved indications, while 27.8% believed that the safety has been established and can be used outside the approved use. Most respondents (55.9%) on celecoxib thought colorectal cancer is a serious disease and can be treated with non-approved drugs.

Howard University Hospital, Cancer Center, DC

Howard University Hospital, Cancer Center, DC

CPR's Howard Law‐Ray Corollary Initiative Event Seeks to Expand the ADR Profession's Diversity Efforts

On May 16, selectors (i.e., actors that appoint neutrals for their conflict resolution matters) and neutrals gathered in Washington, D.C., for a historic evening at Howard University School of Law.

Noted social justice scholar named president of Mount Holyoke

After nine years as dean and professor of law at Howard University School of Law, Danielle R. Holley will assume the presidency of Mount Holyoke College July 1, becoming the first Black woman to serve as permanent president in the 186‐year history of the renowned women's college.

CLASSICAL DIFFUSION

At Howard University, the only historically Black university in the United States with a Classics department, campus leaders decided in 2021 to eliminate that department after a three-year review of its academic programs. The response was vehement and swift, with students, faculty, and alumni condemning the decision as a case of administrative overreach. The philosopher Cornel West described the divestment from the Classics curriculum as a ‘spiritual catastrophe’ for the institution. Few missed the irony that Toni Morrison, one of Howard's most celebrated alumni, studied with Frank Snowden, Jr., a renowned professor of Classics, and received a ‘minor’ in that field as an undergraduate; or that the central inspiration for Morrison's Beloved was a fugitive slave woman named Margaret Garner who became known as ‘the modern Medea’ for having decided (in 1856, in flight from her master's agents) that it was better to kill her children than see them returned to enslavement in the American South. Others would point to the long tradition of transformational Black thinkers who admit to having been inspired by the classics, including Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Economic and environmental analysis of a grid-connected hybrid power system for a University Campus

BackgroundThe generation of clean and affordable energy by 2030 is a challenging task, necessitating the integration of renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal, crude oil, and natural gas. This study examines the optimization and performance analysis of a hybrid microgrid for a university campus as a potential solution to achieve this goal. The primary objective is to decrease the cost of energy and reduce CO2 emissions on the campus using a hybrid approach.ResultsThe Howard college campus of the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) was used as a case study, with meteorological data obtained from NASA and real hourly electrical load data for 2019 from the university smart meters. HOMER, an optimization software, was employed to model and simulate the case study. The results demonstrated significant savings of R15.7 million (approximately $ 820 000) in annual utility bills, a 51% reduction in CO2 emissions, a return on investment of 20%, and a payback period of 4 years.ConclusionThe study's findings suggest that universities can become self-sustaining during load shedding periods, as recently experienced in South Africa. The implementation of a hybrid microgrid system on a university campus offers considerable economic and environmental benefits, providing a potential blueprint for other large institutions seeking to achieve similar sustainability goals.

Duloxetine Use in the Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence &amp; Students’ Survey

The goal of this study is to assess the knowledge and opinion of students regarding the off-label use of duloxetine in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The Survey questions were provided during the Drug Information Course at Howard University (HU) College of Pharmacy in a class where first-year pharmacy students learn how to conduct a literature search and a survey. A total of 39 students responded to the survey. There were more females (n=23; 56.1%) with an age range between 18 – 24 years. About two-thirds (n=29; 70.7%) had a four-year degree before starting the pharmacy program. Overall, participants scored less than the passing 70% mark on the knowledge questions, which may call for educators to make a special effort to incorporate off-label and approved indications of medication teaching therapeutic-related courses. For example, more than sixty percent of respondents (n=25; 61%) incorrectly stated that duloxetine is a narrow therapeutic drug. The majority (n=; 34; 82.9%) of the participants responded wrongly that urinary incontinence is more common in women during their childbearing age. The opinion survey showed that most participants (n=25; 61%) did not believe there were many FDA-approved effective drugs for treating SUI. Over sixty percent of participants (n=25; 61%) considered SUI a severe illness and did not agree to use a non-approved drug such as duloxetine, although several published clinical studies support its effective use. Participants were split in their opinion regarding the non-approved use of medications. Study results suggest that students may need encouragement to explore medications with non-FDA approvals.

Review of Omega-3’s Health Benefits in Parkinson’s Disease and Students Survey

In this study, a literature search and review were conducted on the beneficial effects of omega-3 in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) along with a survey of pharmacy students. This survey was completed at Howard University College of Pharmacy as part of a Drug Informatics course, where first-year Doctor of Pharmacy students were taught how to conduct literature searches. The literature search retrieved a sufficient number of studies to support the use of omega-3 in PD. Based on this, a survey tool was developed and administered. A total of 42 student respondents participated in the survey. The survey questionnaire incorporated demographics, knowledge, and opinion-based questions. There were a set of knowledge and opinion-based questions included. The results show that on the overall knowledge-based questions, only a little over half of the participants (n=25; 59.5%) answered them accurately, which indicates limited knowledge among the participants. Among the knowledge questions, the highest number of accurate responses (n=30; 71.4%) was acquired for the statement that one should avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol while taking omega-3, since they also contain omega-3. Regarding the opinion questions, the respondents were divided evenly (50%; n=21) in most of the opinion questions. The question that acquired the highest variance was the one that refers to the belief that omega-3 supplement reduces the signs and symptoms of PD (mean 2.29+1.02). Overall, even though there are multiple studies that supported the beneficial use of omega-3, in this study, we found a limited knowledge and a wide variance of opinions among the study participants.