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Effects Of Metal Protoporphyrins On Burn Wound Conversion, Katie Braun Dec 2008

Effects Of Metal Protoporphyrins On Burn Wound Conversion, Katie Braun

Theses and Dissertations

A murine model was utilized to test the influence of heavy metal protoporphyrins on burn conversion, heme oxygenase – 1 (HO-1) expression, and inflammation. Heavy metal protoporphyrins, such as cobalt protoporphyrin (Co PP) and tin protoporphyrin (Sn PP), were used to influence the heme oxygenase activity. The effects of these heavy metal protoporphyrins on burn wound conversion were examined using a burn comb model in rats. In addition to assessing the extent of conversion, HO-1 expression and parameters of inflammation were also examined in the area of injury (interspace region) subject to conversion. These studies demonstrate proof in principal that …


Effects Of Light Exposure On The Release Of Oxygen From Hemoglobin In A Red Blood Cell Suspension, Tanikka Toler Dec 2008

Effects Of Light Exposure On The Release Of Oxygen From Hemoglobin In A Red Blood Cell Suspension, Tanikka Toler

Theses and Dissertations

The main function of the cardiovascular system is to deliver a sufficient quantity of oxygenated blood to the tissues, cells, and organs of the body in order to provide the cells with essential nutrients for metabolism and for the removal of waste products. All cells require and utilize oxygen. Oxygen is transported to various cells and tissues via red blood cells flowing through the microcirculation of an organism. Measurement of oxygen transport in the microcirculation has shown that about ten times more oxygen appears to leave the blood of arterioles than can be accounted for by diffusion. One possibility to …


Co-Administration Of Sildenafil Potentiates Doxorubicin-Induced Apoptosis In Prostate Cancer: The Role Of Nf-Kappab, Sarah Hassanieh Dec 2008

Co-Administration Of Sildenafil Potentiates Doxorubicin-Induced Apoptosis In Prostate Cancer: The Role Of Nf-Kappab, Sarah Hassanieh

Theses and Dissertations

Our recent studies have shown that that erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs including Sildenafil (Viagra), Vardenafil (Levitra) and Tadalafil (Cialis) enhance killing of several types of cancer cells by anticancer drug, Doxorubicin (DOX). We observed increased cell death by apoptosis in response to the combined treatment with ED drugs and DOX. However, the mechanism of such enhancement of cell death by combined treatment of ED drugs and DOX is not fully understood. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is an oxidant-sensitive transcription factor that plays a critical role in the immediate-early activation of a multitude of genes that have been documented to play critical …


The Role Of Microrna-155 And Microrna-146a As Putative Oncomirs In The Tumor Progression Of Prostate Cancer, Jennifer Hoyt Jul 2008

The Role Of Microrna-155 And Microrna-146a As Putative Oncomirs In The Tumor Progression Of Prostate Cancer, Jennifer Hoyt

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer occurring in males. The identification of novel microRNAs (miRs) that contribute to tumor progression represents prospective treatment targets. miRs are small non-coding RNAs important in gene regulation with specific tissue expression patterns. Each miR is thought to affect the expression of hundreds of different RNA targets. Two putative oncomiRs, miR-155 and miR-146a, were shown to be differentially expressed in the human derived, prostate cell sublines M12 and F6. Quantification of endogenous miR expression showed high levels in the metastatic M12 cell line versus low in its weakly tumorigenic F6 variant. The restoration of …


Intravenous Administration Of Perfluorocarbon Emulsions As A Non-Recompression Therapy For Decompression Sickness, Cameron Smith Jun 2008

Intravenous Administration Of Perfluorocarbon Emulsions As A Non-Recompression Therapy For Decompression Sickness, Cameron Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Decompression sickness (DCS) results from a sudden decrease in ambient pressure leading to super-saturation of tissues with inert gas and subsequent bubble formation within both tissues and blood. Perfluorocarbons (PFC) are able to dissolve vast amounts of non-polar gases. The administration of intravenous (I.V.) PFC emulsions reduce both morbidity and mortality of DCS, but the mechanism of this protective effect has not yet been demonstrated. Juvenile Dorper cross sheep between 16 and 24 kg (n=31) were anaesthetized and instrumented for physiological monitoring, the administration of I.V. fluids and sampling of arterial and mixed venous blood. Animals were placed in a …


Effect Of Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers On Arterial Pressure And Vasoactivity In The Rat Mesentery, Michael Kim May 2008

Effect Of Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers On Arterial Pressure And Vasoactivity In The Rat Mesentery, Michael Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers provide a promising future as an alternative to human blood transfusions. Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, HBOCs, provide a lowcost, easy to maintain, and safe solution. They require no refrigeration and are universally compatible, and the required transfusion volume is less than that of a normal transfusion. HBOCs have been known to have adverse side effects such as renal toxicity, gastrointestinal dismotility, and hypertension. Many of these problems stem from the lack of a membrane, which protects the hemoglobin from dissociating and extravasating into the blood vessel wall. Extracellular hemoglobin, like that found in HBOCs, has a greater affinity …


Effects Of Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers On The Vasoactivity Of The Spinotrapezius Muscle Of The Rat, Pete Meliagros Apr 2008

Effects Of Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers On The Vasoactivity Of The Spinotrapezius Muscle Of The Rat, Pete Meliagros

Theses and Dissertations

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) offer a safe, more plentiful and long term alternate to blood banks. However, they have been found to increase blood pressure which can be attributed to an increase in total peripheral resistance (TPR). Lumenal nitric oxide (NO) scavenging by these HBOCs seems to be responsible for this hypertensive effect. In addition, it is believed that hemoglobin (Hb) tetramers and dimers may extravasate and consume additional nitric oxide in the perivascular and interstitial space. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the role of NO scavenging and to confirm extravasation as a contributor to HBOC …


Augmentation Of T Cell Expansion For Adoptive Immunotherapy By Alternate Gamma Chain Cytokines And By Gemcitabine Mediated Inhibition Of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells, Hanh Le Jan 2008

Augmentation Of T Cell Expansion For Adoptive Immunotherapy By Alternate Gamma Chain Cytokines And By Gemcitabine Mediated Inhibition Of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells, Hanh Le

Theses and Dissertations

Successful treatment of cancer with adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) is dependent on the ability to produce large numbers of tumor-specific, functional T cells. The purpose of this thesis is to explore ways in which T cell expansion could be augmented. We have focused on exploring alternate gamma chain cytokines as stimulators of T cell proliferation and differentiation in addition to investigating the potential usefulness of gemcitabine (GEM) in abrogating the immunosuppressive effects of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). B16 melanoma sensitized draining lymph node cells that have been activated in vitro with bryostatin-1 and ionomycin (B/I) were expanded in either IL-7/15 …


The Effect Of Cell Type On The Efficacy Of Cmv Antiviral Drugs, Benjamin Meza Jan 2008

The Effect Of Cell Type On The Efficacy Of Cmv Antiviral Drugs, Benjamin Meza

Theses and Dissertations

Until recently, all in vitro drug susceptibility assays of cytomegalovirus (CMV) were performed in clinically irrelevant fibroblast cells. This study sought to test if drug susceptibility was affected by cell type. MRC-5 embryonic lung fibroblasts and ARPE-19 retinal pigmented epithelial cells were infected with BADrUL131-Y4 epithelial/fibroblast tropic virus under serial concentrations of ganciclovir (GCV) or maribavir (MBV). Virus was quantified using plaque reduction, GFP fluorescence, and yield reduction. Both drugs performed less efficiently in ARPE-19 cells. A cell type effect was observed for both plaque reduction and yield reduction assays with implications for the treatment of CMV retinitis as well …


Role Of Vegf-C In Proliferation And Migration In A Cancer Model, Emily Marie Benke Jan 2008

Role Of Vegf-C In Proliferation And Migration In A Cancer Model, Emily Marie Benke

Theses and Dissertations

Head and neck cancer ranks high among the most common cancers world wide. In addition, there is a high recurrence rate, as well as a high prevalence of loco-regional tumor spread. Among many factors contributing to metastasis is vascular endothelial cell growth factor C. VEGF-C is primarily an inducer of new lymph vessel formation, typically during embryogenesis; however, some advanced cancers show a significant increase in VEGF-C expression, suggesting a role in metastasis. In the current study, the effects of VEGF-C expression were tested in HN12 cells, which are highly metastatic and known to express high levels of the chemokine …