Digital Commons Network^™

Metal Additive Manufacturing For Fixed Dental Prostheses, Mai El Najjar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The use of additive manufacturing (AM) in dentistry has gained momentum in recent years. However, high initial costs and uncertainty surrounding the quality of AM products are considered barriers to their use. This research compared dental substructures fabricated by AM versus conventional casting and milling.

Cobalt-chromium alloy rectangular bars and three-unit bridge substructures were fabricated by AM, casting or milling. Bars manufactured by AM exhibited superior flexural strength, shear bond strength of porcelain coating, and Vickers hardness. Bridge substructures fabricated by AM showed similar flexural stiffness to cast, similar flexural loads at failure to milled and cast, and overall accuracy …

Does Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Alter The Biomechanics Of The Orbit?, Leigh J. Sowerby, Matthew S. Harris, Rootu Joshi, Marjorie Johnson, Tom Jenkyn, Corey C. Moore

Bone and Joint Institute

© 2020 The Author(s). Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine if removal of ethmoid cell septations as commonly performed in endoscopic sinus surgery leads to a change in orbital wall fracture patterns and the force required to create them. Methods: Six fresh-frozen cadaveric heads were acquired and underwent endoscopic uncinectomy, maxillary antrostomy, and anterior and posterior ethmoidectomy on one, randomized, side. The contralateral sinuses were used as intra-specimen control. Hyaluronic acid gel globe injections were performed to simulate normal intra-ocular pressure. Post-op CT scans confirmed no orbital fractures or violation of the lamina papyracea prior to trauma …

Utilization Of Healthcare By Immigrants In Canada: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Canadian Community Health Survey, Nisanthini Ravichandiran

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Immigrants to Canada face unique barriers to health care, which leads to inequities in the utilization of health care. Lower utilization of health care by immigrants to Canada is associated with the deteriorating health of individual immigrants as well as costs to the health care system. The existing literature suggests that time since immigration is an important predictor for utilization of healthcare for Canadian immigrants. This thesis uses Andersen and Newman’s Framework of Health Service Utilization and data from the 2015-2016 Canadian Community Health Survey to examine health care utilization among immigrants in Canada. The objectives were: (1) To examine …

Determining A Bayesian Predictive Power Stopping Rule For Futility In A Non-Inferiority Trial With Binary Outcomes., Anna Heath, Martin Offringa, Petros Pechlivanoglou, Juan David Rios, Terry P Klassen, Naveen Poonai, Eleanor Pullenayegum

Paediatrics Publications

Background/Aims: Non-inferiority trials investigate whether a novel intervention, which typically has other benefits (i.e., cheaper or safer), has similar clinical effectiveness to currently available treatments. In situations where interim evidence in a non-inferiority trial suggests that the novel treatment is truly inferior, ethical concerns with continuing randomisation to the "inferior" intervention are raised. Thus, if interim data indicate that concluding non-inferiority at the end of the trial is unlikely, stopping for futility should be considered. To date, limited examples are available to guide the development of stopping rules for non-inferiority trials.

Methods: We used a Bayesian predictive power approach to …

Determining A Bayesian Predictive Power Stopping Rule For Futility In A Non-Inferiority Trial With Binary Outcomes., Anna Heath, Martin Offringa, Petros Pechlivanoglou, Juan David Rios, Terry P Klassen, Naveen Poonai, Eleanor Pullenayegum

Paediatrics Publications

Background/Aims: Non-inferiority trials investigate whether a novel intervention, which typically has other benefits (i.e., cheaper or safer), has similar clinical effectiveness to currently available treatments. In situations where interim evidence in a non-inferiority trial suggests that the novel treatment is truly inferior, ethical concerns with continuing randomisation to the "inferior" intervention are raised. Thus, if interim data indicate that concluding non-inferiority at the end of the trial is unlikely, stopping for futility should be considered. To date, limited examples are available to guide the development of stopping rules for non-inferiority trials.

Methods: We used a Bayesian predictive power approach to …

Determining A Bayesian Predictive Power Stopping Rule For Futility In A Non-Inferiority Trial With Binary Outcomes., Anna Heath, Martin Offringa, Petros Pechlivanoglou, Juan David Rios, Terry P Klassen, Naveen Poonai, Eleanor Pullenayegum

Paediatrics Publications

Background/Aims: Non-inferiority trials investigate whether a novel intervention, which typically has other benefits (i.e., cheaper or safer), has similar clinical effectiveness to currently available treatments. In situations where interim evidence in a non-inferiority trial suggests that the novel treatment is truly inferior, ethical concerns with continuing randomisation to the "inferior" intervention are raised. Thus, if interim data indicate that concluding non-inferiority at the end of the trial is unlikely, stopping for futility should be considered. To date, limited examples are available to guide the development of stopping rules for non-inferiority trials.

Methods: We used a Bayesian predictive power approach to …

Nurses' And Midwives' Experiences As Mentors In A Clinical Mentorship Program In Rwanda, Marie Chantal Murekatete

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In Rwanda, the provision of maternal and child health care is often hindered by gaps in health care providers’ (HCP) knowledge and skills, and the management of pregnancy-related complications in health facilities. These factors contribute to maternal and child mortality rates (MMR). To help respond to the gaps, the Training Support and Access Model (TSAM) project implemented a practice-based clinical mentorship program (CMP) in the Northern and Southern provinces of Rwanda that involved mentors supporting mentees’ professional development to strengthen nurses’ and midwives’ capacity to provide knowledgeable maternal and child health care.

This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore nurses’ …

Machine Learning For Prostate Histopathology Assessment, Wenchao Han

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Pathology reporting on radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens is essential to post-surgery patient care. However, current pathology interpretation of RP sections is typically qualitative and subject to intra- and inter-observer variability, which challenges quantitative and repeatable reporting of lesion grade, size, location, and spread. Therefore, we developed and validated a software platform that can automatically detect and grade cancerous regions on whole slide images (WSIs) of whole-mount RP sections to support quantitative and visual reporting. Our study used hæmatoxylin- and eosin-stained WSIs from 299 whole-mount RP sections from 71 patients, comprising 1.2 million 480μm×480μm regions-of-interest (ROIs) covering benign and cancerous tissues …

Optimizing Fecal Microbiota Transplantations For Therapeutic Use Beyond Clostridioides Difficile Infection, Laura J. Craven

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging and effective therapy for the treatment of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. Members of the gut microbiome have been implicated in other diseases and FMT has been considered as a potential therapy. Two such conditions include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), both of which involve increased small intestinal permeability believed to contribute to the development and disease progression. One of the aims of this project was to determine if FMT could be safely used in patients with NAFLD and MS to improve health outcomes. Before starting the clinical studies, optimal …

Organizational Guidance For The Care Of Patients With Head-And-Neck Cancer In Ontario., J Irish, J Kim, J Waldron, A C Wei, E Winquist, J Yoo, A Boasie, M Brouwers, E Meertens, S Mcnair, C Walker-Dilks

Paediatrics Publications

Background: At the request of the Head and Neck Cancers Advisory Committee of Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), a working group and expert panel of clinicians with expertise in the management of head-and-neck cancer developed the present guideline. The purpose of the guideline is to provide advice about the organization and delivery of health care services for adult patients with head-and-neck cancer.

Methods: This document updates the recommendations published in the Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) 2009 organizational guideline

Results: To ensure that all patients have access to the highest standard of care available in Ontario, the guideline establishes the …

New Horizons In The Genetic Etiology Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus And Lupus-Like Disease: Monogenic Lupus And Beyond, Erkan Demirkaya, Sezgin Sahin, Micol Romano, Qing Zhou, Ivona Aksentijevich

Paediatrics Publications

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous autoimmune disease. The etiology of lupus and the contribution of genetic, environmental, infectious and hormonal factors to this phenotype have yet to be elucidated. The most straightforward approach to unravel the molecular pathogenesis of lupus may rely on studies of patients who present with early-onset severe phenotypes. Typically, they have at least one of the following clinical features: childhood onset of severe disease (<5 >years), parental consanguinity, and presence of family history for autoimmune diseases in a first-degree relative. These patients account for a small proportion of patients with lupus …

A Coaching And/Or Education Intervention Targeting Physical Activity And Nutrition Behaviours In Parents With Overweight/Obesity And Their Children, Shazya Karmali

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide a detailed overview of, findings from, and experiences participating in a 3-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) targeting obesity-related behaviours in parents with overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m²) and their children (2.5-10 years old, any weight; N = 50 dyads). A concurrent mixed methods study comprised of an RCT and descriptive qualitative design was utilized. Parent-participants received Co-Active Life Coaching (CALC) and webinar-based health education (intervention) or education only (control). To address the dissertation’s purpose, Chapter II provides a detailed methodological account of the program, including rationale and …

Survey Of Canadian Orthodontists Regarding Orthodontic Miniscrew Usage, Leah A. Van Sant

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Purpose: To obtain information on the clinical utilization of orthodontic miniscrews (OMSs) among orthodontists in Canada

Methods: Web-based software was used to fabricate a questionnaire in which respondents were asked questions regarding their usage of OMSs in their clinical practice. The survey consisted of between 11 and 39 questions, depending on the respondents’ answers. The survey was distributed via email to the 353 active Canadian members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).

Results: A total of 82 Canadian orthodontists responded to the survey, for a response rate of 23.2%. Among them, 65.8% currently used miniscrews in their clinical practice. …

Treatment De-Escalation For Hpv-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma With Radiotherapy Vs. Trans-Oral Surgery (Orator2): Study Protocol For A Randomized Phase Ii Trial., Anthony C Nichols, Pencilla Lang, Eitan Prisman, Eric Berthelet, Eric Tran, Sarah Hamilton, Jonn Wu, Kevin Fung, John R De Almeida, Andrew Bayley, David P Goldstein, Antoine Eskander, Zain Husain, Houda Bahig, Apostolos Christopoulous, Michael Hier, Khalil Sultanem, Keith Richardson, Alex Mlynarek, Suren Krishnan, Hien Le, John Yoo, S Danielle Macneil, Adrian Mendez, Eric Winquist, Nancy Read, Varagur Venkatesan, Sara Kuruvilla, Andrew Warner, Sylvia Mitchell, Martin Corsten, Murali Rajaraman, Stephanie Johnson-Obaseki, Libni Eapen, Michael Odell, Shamir Chandarana, Robyn Banerjee, Joseph Dort, T Wayne Matthews, Robert Hart, Paul Kerr, Samuel Dowthwaite, Michael Gupta, Han Zhang, Jim Wright, Christina Parker, Bret Wehrli, Keith Kwan, Julie Theurer, David A Palma

Paediatrics Publications

BACKGROUND: Patients with human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC) have substantially better treatment response and overall survival (OS) than patients with HPV-negative disease. Treatment options for HPV+ OPC can involve either a primary radiotherapy (RT) approach (± concomitant chemotherapy) or a primary surgical approach (± adjuvant radiation) with transoral surgery (TOS). These two treatment paradigms have different spectrums of toxicity. The goals of this study are to assess the OS of two de-escalation approaches (primary radiotherapy and primary TOS) compared to historical control, and to compare survival, toxicity and quality of life (QOL) profiles between the two approaches. …

Outcomes In Pediatric Studies Of Medium-Chain Acyl-Coa Dehydrogenase (Mcad) Deficiency And Phenylketonuria (Pku): A Review., Michael Pugliese, Kylie Tingley, Andrea Chow, Nicole Pallone, Maureen Smith, Alvi Rahman, Pranesh Chakraborty, Michael T Geraghty, Julie Irwin, Laure Tessier, Stuart G Nicholls, Martin Offringa, Nancy J Butcher, Ryan Iverson, Tammy J Clifford, Sylvia Stockler, Brian Hutton, Karen Paik, Jessica Tao, Becky Skidmore, Doug Coyle, Kathleen Duddy, Sarah Dyack, Cheryl R Greenberg, Shailly Jain Ghai, Natalya Karp, Lawrence Korngut, Jonathan Kronick, Alex Mackenzie, Jennifer Mackenzie, Bruno Maranda, John J Mitchell, Murray Potter, Chitra Prasad, Andreas Schulze, Rebecca Sparkes, Monica Taljaard, Yannis Trakadis, Jagdeep Walia, Beth K Potter

Paediatrics Publications

BACKGROUND: Inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) are a group of individually rare single-gene diseases. For many IMDs, there is a paucity of high-quality evidence that evaluates the effectiveness of clinical interventions. Clinical effectiveness trials of IMD interventions could be supported through the development of core outcome sets (COSs), a recommended minimum set of standardized, high-quality outcomes and associated outcome measurement instruments to be incorporated by all trials in an area of study. We began the process of establishing pediatric COSs for two IMDs, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency and phenylketonuria (PKU), by reviewing published literature to describe outcomes reported by authors, …

Growth Hormone Deficiency In Megalencephaly-Capillary Malformation Syndrome: An Association With Activating Mutations In Pik3ca, Shanlee Davis, Meredith A Ware, Jordan Zeiger, Matthew A Deardorff, Katheryn Grand, Adda Grimberg, Stephanie Hsu, Megan Kelsey, Shideh Majidi, Revi P Matthew, Melanie Napier, Natalie Nokoff, Chitra Prasad, Andrew C Riggs, Margaret L Mckinnon, Ghayda Mirzaa

Paediatrics Publications

Megalencephaly-capillary malformation syndrome (MCAP) is a brain overgrowth disorder characterized by cortical malformations (specifically polymicrogyria), vascular anomalies, and segmental overgrowth secondary to somatic activating mutations in the PI3K-AKT-MTOR pathway (PIK3CA). Cases of growth failure and hypoglycemia have been reported in patients with MCAP, raising the suspicion for unappreciated growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Here we report an observational multicenter study of children with MCAP and GH deficiency. Eleven participants were confirmed to have GH deficiency, all with very low or undetectable circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3. Seven underwent GH stimulation testing and all had …

Evaluating The Utility Of Protein Biomarker, S100a7, And Diagnostic Test, Straticyte, In Predicting The Progression Of Oral Dysplasia, Lachlan Mclean

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Five-year survival of oral cancer has remained relatively unchanged despite advancements in treatment, mostly because diagnosis is often made at an advanced stage of disease. The progression of dysplasia to oral cancer often follows a stepwise progression. Histopathology is considered the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing dysplasia and lesions at a high risk of progression to oral cancer, but lends itself to subjectivity. The protein biomarker, S100A7, in oral dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma has shown some predictive value for the transformation of dysplasia to cancer. Straticyte, a diagnostic test utilizing S100A7 to predict the probability of progression of oral dysplasia …

The Effect Of Pigmentation On Thermoplastic And Thermoset Elastomeric Power Chain, William Taylor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Aim: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of pigmentation on force levels and their degradation over time in orthodontic power chain of different chain types and manufactures.

Materials & Methods: Groups consisted of closed power chain from American Orthodontic (AO) thermoplastic (TP) in 5 colors, AO thermoset (TS) in 2 colors, Ormco TP in 4 colors, Ormco TS in 2 colors, and Rocky Mountain Orthodontics (RMO) TS in 5 colors (18 groups total, 10 chain samples in each group). Testing was performed over a period of 6 weeks at intervals of initial (T0), 1 hour (T1), …

Functional Localization Of The Frontal Eye Fields In The Common Marmoset Using Microstimulation, Janahan Selvanayagam, Kevin D. Johnston, David J. Schaeffer, Lauren K. Hayrynen, Stefan Everling

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Copyright © 2019 the authors. The frontal eye field (FEF) is a critical region for the deployment of overt and covert spatial attention. Although investigations in the macaque continue to provide insight into the neural underpinnings of the FEF, due to its location within a sulcus, the macaque FEF is virtually inaccessible to electrophysiological techniques such as high-density and laminar recordings. With a largely lissencephalic cortex, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a promising alternative primate model for studying FEF microcircuitry. Putative homologies have been established with the macaque FEF on the basis of cytoarchitecture and connectivity; however, physiological investigation …

Discovery Of Novel Mechanisms Regulating Cancer Extravasation In The Chorioallantoic Membrane Model, Yohan Kim

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cancer metastasis is a multistep process that begins with the invasion of tumour cells into the stroma and migration towards the blood vessels. Tumour cells that have entered the bloodstream must then survive and leave by a process known as extravasation. Finally, extravasated cells proliferate and establish the secondary site in the metastatic cascade. Although extravasation encompasses key events during cancer cell invasion to aid in the development of effective treatments, an in vivo model that rapidly, reproducibly and economically recapitulates cancer cell extravasation is needed. Therefore, the objectives of my research were to 1) establish and validate an in …

High Frequency Oscillations Are Phase-Amplitude Coupled In Stress Induced Seizures Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Paul Jung

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) often leads to the development of epilepsy, especially with the occurrence of stressful events. Stressors increase the levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the amygdala, which can be damaged by the secondary effects of TBI. It is hypothesized that the activity of CRF receptor type 1 (CRFR₁) in the amygdala is altered post-TBI and supports the generation of epileptiform waves, namely high-frequency oscillations (HFOs). Sprague-Dawley rats were given a moderate TBI and in vivo recordings of the amygdala were taken during the administration of an acute tail pinch stressor. The stressor increased broadband activity …

Piezo1: Proteins For Mechanotransduction And Integration Of Endothelial Shear Stress & Intravascular Pressure, Juan Garcia Robledo M.D.

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Piezo proteins are transmembrane ion channels, specialized in detecting mechanosensitive stimuli and transduce mechanical forces into biochemical signals. Piezo proteins research has helped understand physiological mechanisms, but the integrative role that Piezo1 plays in the regulation of the microvasculature has remained unstudied. Our main objective was to characterize ex vivo microvascular responses to the blockade of Piezo1 mechanotransduction in male (n=29) and female (n=24) Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Gracilis arterioles (GA) and middle cerebral arterioles (MCA) were harvested for ex-vivo vessel preparations. After vessel viability confirmation, every vessel was submitted to myogenic and flow challenges under control conditions and after Grammostola …

Comorbid Metabolic Syndrome And Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease In A Rat Model, Nadezda Ivanova

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), the development of which is associated with high-caloric Western diet intake, represents a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and appears to contribute to AD progression when MetS and AD are comorbid. The interaction between AD and MetS might be through white matter inflammation, since white matter abnormalities and inflammation are important early events in the etiopathogenesis of both diseases. In these investigations, the effect of a high-caloric diet (HCD), to induce metabolic disturbances, on white matter neuroinflammation and cognitive function was investigated in a transgenic (TG) rat model of prodromal AD …

Performance Of Qct-Derived Scapula Finite Element Models In Predicting Local Displacements Using Digital Volume Correlation, Jonathan Kusins, Nikolas Knowles, Melissa Ryan, Enrico Dall'ara, Louis Ferreira

Bone and Joint Institute

© 2019 Subject-specific finite element models (FEMs)of the shoulder complex are commonly used to predict differences in internal load distribution due to injury, treatment or disease. However, these models rely on various underlying assumptions, and although experimental validation is warranted, it is difficult to obtain and often not performed. The goal of the current study was to quantify the accuracy of local displacements predicted by subject-specific QCT-based FEMs of the scapula, compared to experimental measurements obtained by combining digital volume correlation (DVC)and mechanical loading of cadaveric specimens within a microCT scanner. Four cadaveric specimens were loaded within a microCT scanner …

Effect Of Histatin- And Statherin-Derived Engineered Salivary Peptides On Streptococcus Mutans Adhesion And On Enamel Demineralization Provoked By Cariogenic Biofilms, Lina Maria Marin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Dental biofilm is formed onto dental surfaces covered by a layer of specific salivary proteins and peptides named acquired enamel pellicle (AEP). It was previously demonstrated that the statherin- and histatin-derived engineered salivary peptides DR9-DR9 and DR9-RR14 were able to reduce enamel demineralization and displayed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans, respectively. However, these studies were carried under experimental conditions that did not mimic caries development induced by biofilm and sucrose exposure, the most cariogenic dietary sugar. In this thesis we assessed the effect of the engineered salivary peptides on 1) the adherence of S. mutans to hydroxyapatite (HAp), and …

Exploring Current Topics And Trends In Anatomy Education: A Scoping Review, Alex Wolf

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Within the field of health professional education, one finds that anatomy often presents students with a great deal of difficulty. The literature in this area is piecemeal and there is limited work available examining the whole of this topic. A scoping review was conducted to determine how students are taught anatomy across multiple disciplines (medicine, dentistry, rehabilitation sciences, and undergraduate education) and to assess for any notable differences between these populations. The results found that scholarship on anatomy instruction varies based on educational context, and medical students are the most frequently targeted student population. It also found that the use …

Quantifying The Outcomes Of A Virtual Reality (Vr)-Based Gamified Neck Rehabilitation, Shahan Salim

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Neck pain is a major global public health concern and adds a significant financial burden to both the healthcare system as well as people suffering from it. Additionally, it presents measurement and evaluation challenges for clinicians as well as adherence challenges and treatment barriers for the patients. We have developed a virtual reality (VR)-based video game that can be used to capture outcomes that may aid in the assessment and treatment of neck pain. We investigated: (i) performance metrics of overall accuracy, accuracy based on movement difficulty, duration, and total envelope of movement; (ii) stability across sessions; (iii) accuracy across …

Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy In First-Episode Schizophrenia: Measuring Glutamate And Glutathione Dynamics At 7-Tesla, Peter Jeon

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric illness without known etiology or cure. Current efforts for symptom treatment still seem to leave a large portion of affected individuals without proper symptom management, with those experiencing symptom relief still having to wrestle with potential side-effects from medication trials. There has been growing evidence suggesting that glutamate and glutathione abnormalities hold major roles in development and manifestation of schizophrenia symptoms.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides a non-invasive means to observe in-vivo brain chemistry, including glutamate and glutathione. By adding a functional component to an MRS paradigm (fMRS), such as the color-word Stroop task, it is …

The Role Of The Tau N-Terminal Phosphatase-Activating Domain And Phosphorylation At Thr175 In The Formation Of Tau Cytoplasmic Inclusions, Matthew A. Hintermayer

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cytoplasmic inclusions and fibrils of the microtubule-associated protein tau (tau protein) are a key neuropathological hallmark in tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with cognitive impairment. Previous research has demonstrated that the phosphorylation of tau protein at Thr¹⁷⁵ is sufficient for the initiation of fibril formation both in vitro and in vivo. Here we use mutated tau protein constructs to demonstrate that phosphorylation at Thr¹⁷⁵ results in the aberrant exposure of an N-terminal phosphatase-activating domain (PAD). The tau PAD interacts with protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) leading to the activation of glycogen synthase …

Maternal Nicotine Exposure Induces Congenital Heart Defects In The Offspring Of Mice, Elizabeth Greco

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Congenital heart defects are the most prevalent birth defect, and maternal cigarette smoking is a known risk factor. Nicotine replacement therapies are recommended to pregnant women who smoke to aid in smoking cessation, as this alternative is thought to be much safer compared to cigarette smoking. However, these products contain nicotine, and the safety of nicotine on the developing heart is not well known. In this thesis, a mouse model was used to test the hypothesis that maternal nicotine exposure (MNE) during pregnancy leads to congenital heart defects and coronary artery defects in the offspring of mice. MNE resulted in …