Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Eggs On Inflammatory And Immune Profiles In Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos), Clara Martin

Honors Scholar Theses

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder affecting approximately 5-15% of women of reproductive age. Characterized by symptoms such as hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and insulin resistance, PCOS is also linked with significant health complications including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. Recent studies highlight the critical role of immune dysfunction and chronic inflammation in exacerbating PCOS pathology, suggesting that managing these immune responses could alleviate the broader health impacts of the disorder.

Nutritional interventions, particularly those targeting immune and inflammatory pathways, have emerged as promising strategies for managing PCOS. Among various dietary components, the intake of …

Ischemic Stroke Induces Gut Permeability And Enhances Bacterial Translocation Leading To Sepsis In Aged Mice, Venugopal Reddy Venna, Joshua Crapser, Rodney Ritzel, Rajkumar Verma, Fudong Liu, Anjali Chauhan, Edward Koellhoffer, Austin Ricker, Kendra Maas, Joerg Graf, Louise D. Mccullough

UCHC Articles - Research

Aging is an important risk factor for post-stroke infection, which accounts for a large proportion of stroke-associated mortality. Despite this, studies evaluating post-stroke infection rates in aged animal models are limited. In addition, few studies have assessed gut microbes as a potential source of infection following stroke. Therefore we investigated the effects of age and the role of bacterial translocation from the gut in post-stroke infection in young (8-12 weeks) and aged (18-20 months) C57Bl/6 male mice following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or sham surgery. Gut permeability was examined and peripheral organs were assessed for the presence of …

The Effect Of Sleep Quality And High Intensity Physical Activity On Inflammation And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In College Students, Catherine Abraham

Honors Scholar Theses

Background: Inflammation is the common denominator in chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and depression. While adequate physical activity and optimal sleep quality may help maintain normal inflammation levels, evidence is somewhat conflicting. Aim: This cross-sectional observational study aimed to assess how sleep quality and high intensity physical activity associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers in a sample of young adults (n=106, ages 18-25 years). Methods: Laboratory-based assessments included lifestyle behaviors (sleep quality, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; self-reported frequency/intensity of physical activity; Healthy Behavior Index derived from reported preference for diet and physical activity), CVD risk …

Sex Differences And The Role Of Il-10 In Ischemic Stroke Recovery., Sarah E. Conway, Meaghan Roy O’Reilly, Brett Friedler, Ilene Staff, Gilbert Fortunato, Louise D. Mccullough

UCHC Articles - Research

Females experience poorer recovery after ischemic stroke compared to males, even after controlling for age and stroke severity. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine produced by T regulatory cells and Th2 CD4⁺ helper T cells. In ischemic stroke, an excessive IL-10 response contributes to post-stroke immunosuppression, which worsens outcomes. However, it is unknown if sex differences exist in IL-10 levels after ischemic stroke. In this study, we found that higher levels of IL-10 were associated with poor acute and long-term outcomes after ischemic stroke in female patients but not in males. After controlling for confounders, IL-10 was not an independent …

The Effects Of Phytosterols On Lipoprotein Particle Size, Laura J. Kunces

Master's Theses

Phytosterols (PS) have become a recent popular medication alternative for treatment of hypercholesterolemia and have proven effective. Whether PS decrease risk of cardiovascular disease through other mechanisms, such as lipoprotein particle size and inflammatory markers, remains unclear. PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of two forms of PS in milk on lipoprotein particle size, inflammatory markers and fat-soluble vitamins. METHODS: Twenty subjects (13 males, 7 females; age; 55±6.1 years, height; 169±10 cm, weight; 77.9±16.9 kg, BMI; 27.3) consumed 16oz of cow’s milk daily for 12 weeks. The three sequential four-week phases consisted of 2% …

Pharmacological And Therapeutic Effects Of A3 Adenosine Receptor (A3ar) Agonists, Bruce T. Liang

UCHC Articles - Research

The G_i-coupled A₃ adenosine receptor (A₃AR) mediates anti-inflammatory, anticancer and anti-ischemic protective effects. The receptor is overexpressed in inflammatory and cancer cells, while low expression is found in normal cells, rendering the A₃AR as a potential therapeutic target. Highly selective A₃AR agonists have been synthesized and molecular recognition in the binding site has been characterized. The present review summarizes preclinical and clinical human studies demonstrating that A₃AR agonists induce specific anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects via a molecular mechanism that entails modulation of the Wnt and the NF-κB signal transduction …

Effects Of Chronic And Acute Oestrogen Replacement Therapy In Aged Animals After Experimental Stroke, Louise D. Mccullough, Fudong Liu, S. E. Benashski, M. Siegel

UCHC Articles - Research

The effect of oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on stroke incidence and severity has been extensively debated. Clinical trials of ERT have demonstrated an increased risk of stroke in treated women, although the study participants were well past menopause when therapy was initiated. It has been suggested that detrimental effects of ERT may be unmasked after prolonged periods of hypoestrogenicity. To date, very few studies have examined the effect of ERT in aged animals, although the timing of replacement may be critical to the neuroprotective effects of ERT. We hypothesised that chronic ERT initiated in late middle age would decrease infarct …

Short-Term And Long-Term Effects Of Orthopedic Biodegradable Implants, Ami R. Amini, James S. Wallace, Syam P. Nukavarapu

Articles - Patient Care

Presently, orthopedic and oral/maxillofacial implants represent a combined $2.8 billion market, a figure expected to experience significant and continued growth. Although traditional permanent implants have been proved clinically efficacious, they are also associated with several drawbacks, including secondary revision and removal surgeries. Non-permanent, biodegradable implants offer a promising alternative for patients, as they provide temporary support and degrade at a rate matching tissue formation, and thus, eliminate the need for secondary surgeries. These implants have been in clinical use for nearly 25 years, competing directly with, or maybe even exceeding, the performance of permanent implants. The initial implantation of biodegradable …

Polymorphisms In The Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Gene And Bone Loss In Postmenopausal Women, George A. Kuchel, Anne M. Kenny

UCHC Articles - Research

Osteoporosis is a severe condition in postmenopausal women and a common cause of fracture. Osteoporosis is a complex disease with a strong genetic impact, but susceptibility is determined by many genes with modest effects and environmental factors. Only a handful of genes consistently associated with osteoporosis have been identified so far. Inflammation affects bone metabolism by interfering with the interplay between bone resorption and formation, and many inflammatory mediators are involved in natural bone remodeling. The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been shown to affect bone density in rodents, and polymorphisms in the human MIF promoter are associated …