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Time Delayed Protein Complementation, Diana L. Lakusta

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The time delayed complementation of plant proteins was tested in weanling Sprague-Dawley male rats by measuring growth rates as well as plasma and tissue free amino acids. Diets of pinto beans with rice, corn or wheat were pair-fed in combination or alternating 4 times a day at 6 and 11 am, and 4 and 9 pm for 4 weeks. Plasma, liver and muscle samples were obtained 2 hours postprandial, a time determined most suitable for sacrifice, and analyzed for free amino acids via ion-exchange chromatography. There were no significant differences in growth of rats fed combination or alternating diets.during week …

Depth Profiles And Soil Textures Of The Vernal Pools Of The Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve, Riverside County, California, Ralph Charles Workman Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this project was to study the edaphic and topographic characteristics of the 13 vernal pools on the Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve, thus documenting the role soil texture plays in vernal pool formation.

Several field and laboratory procedures were used to demonstrate that there is a higher percentage of clay present within vernal pools than in soils outside the margin of the pools, for 11 out of the 13 pools. Statistical tests showed that the percentage of clay was highly significant within the center soil of the pool as compared to the soil outside the margin of the …

Hyperosmotic Modification Of Brain Extracellular Space And Blood-Brain Barrier In The Rat As Observed By Electron Microscopy, Susan A. Meacham

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The highly selective permeability of cerebral blood vessels, termed the blood-brain barrier, is due to endothelial tight junctions (zonulae occludentes). Hyperosmotic solutions reversibly open the blood-brain barrier. The purpose of this study is to determine the immediate effect of hyperosmotic arabinose perfusion upon the cerebrovascular endothelium, the morphology of the cerebral cortex, and the cortical extracellular space.

Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into three groups of four animals each: control, intermediate, and extreme. Controls were perfused with a Tyrode's solution prewash followed by trialdehyde fixative. The intermediate group received a prewash of 740 mmol/kg arabinose followed by the …

Morphological And Biochemical-Based Phylogenetic Analyses Of Opuntiae Prickly Pear Cacti Of Southern California, Lyla S. Richards

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Phylogenetic analyses are used to suggest phylogenetic relationships for series Opuntiae (genus Opuntia, subgenus Opuntia) present in Southern California. The bases of the analyses were electrophoretic characters utilizing allelic band data obtained from electrophoretic assays conducted in this study and morphological and chromatographical characters compiled from data in existing literature. Cladograms produced from the different data bases yielded similar relationships. The electrophoretic-based cladogram provided the strongest support for Benson's (1982) classification with the o. littoralis complex represented as a monophyletic group, unlike the morphological and chromatographic-based cladograms. Placements of hybrids "Occidentalis C" and "Occidentalis D" were also considered.

[Key Words: …

Signal Processing In Bacterial Chemotaxis, Jimmie Marquette Smith

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study localized 1) the site of ATP utilization in the signal transduction pathway of bacterial chemotaxis and 2) the point of convergence of the methylation-independent systems of chemotaxis with the methylation-dependent system. The site of ATP utilization was localized at the CheY protein/switch point. In an Eaeheriehia call strain (BT3077) containing the cheY, motor and switch genes, ATP depletion, accomplished by treating the cells with arsenate, suppressed the CheY protein-induced tumbling. ATP was not required by the switch for directing the clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of the flagellar motor. ATP did not appear to be required for normal steady-state …

Insulin And Glucagon Responses To Dietary Protein In Diabetic And Nondiabetic Men, Monica L. Blomstedt

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Five men with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and fourteen nondiabetic men, were given test meals with soy protein, casein or additional carbohydrate in place of protein. Blood levels of insulin, glucagon, glucose and lipids were measured at fasting, one-half hour and two hours postprandial. To all meals, the nondiabetic subjects responded with a quick rise of the insulin level which decreased at two hours. In contrast, the diabetics showed a significantly lower insulin response at one-half hour (p < 0.05), but a tendency to higher levels at two hours. The same pattern was observed in the insulin to glucagon ratio. No significant difference between the meals was found in regard to insulin or glucagon responses, suggests that a sustained, although delayed postprandial insulin response, may be a precursor to the higher cholesterol and increased risk for cardiovascular disease among diabetics.

Effect Of Disulfiram On The Urinary Excretion Of The Serotonin Metabolites 5-Hydroxytryptophol And 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid In Problem Drinkers, Mark D. Harding

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Problem drinkers (N=7) were given 500mg disulfiram daily for one week. Urine was collected before and after disulfiram intake. 5-Hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) was determined by a modification of the method of Davis et al. and adapted to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an electrochemical detector setting of 0.75V. 5-Hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5- HIAA) was determined using the HPLC method of Shihabi et al. (1980). Urinary excretion of 5-HTOL in ug/gm creatinine before and after disulfiram was 25.4± 3.3 and 110.5± 27.1 respectively, p < 0.02. 5-HIAA in mg/gm creatinine before and after disulfiram was 4.9±0.9 and 3.6±0.8 respectively, p > 0.16. The data shows that disulfiram administration alters serotonin metabolism resulting in increased 5-HTOL which is known to increase …

Maternal And Umbilical Plasma Lipids Obtained During Elective Cesarean Section As Predictors Of Macrosomia In Diabetic Pregnancy, Dianne Greive Butler

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Twenty-five pregnant women were recruited for this study as they presented for elective cesarean section at term. Comparison was made between 10 diabetic women and 15 nondiabetic women: 13 nondiabetic women with normal weight babies and six diabetic women with macrosomic babies. Radial artery, uterine vein, umbilical vein, and umbilical artery blood samples were analyzed in the fasting state for lipoprotein composition. Diabetic and diabetic-macrosomic infants had greater birth weight and skinfold measurements but not greater birth length.

It appears that higher triglyceride (TG) levels found A in diabetics (p=0.035) are transferred to the fetus more efficiently (p=0.009) than in …

The Determination Of Antibody Levels In Endodontic Patients Against Eleven Microorganisms Using Ifa And Elisa Techniques, William C. Payne

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Endodontic (root canal) infections are generally considered to be caused by the invasion of microorganisms which destroy pulp tissue and extend to the periapical region. No definitive study has identified a specific bacterium or group of bacteria as etiological agents. We quantitively measured antibodies present in the serum of 30 normal individuals and patients with either chronic (n = 30) or acute (n = 30) periapical lesions with the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG and IgM against 11 oral microorganisms routinely isolated from such lesions. The results were analyzed statistically. Analysis of variance of …

A Non-Human Primate Model For Studying Corticotomy-Facilitated Orthodontic Tooth Movement, R. David Rynearson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that a corticotomised tooth moves as a tooth-bone unit when under orthodontic force. A non-human primate model was designed to test the hypothesis. The non-human primate selected was Macaca fasicularis. Three adult males with erupted third molars were chosen so that extrapolation could be made to the adult human. The methods employed included the following: 1) Each animal had one treatment quadrant and one control quadrant per arch; 2) Pre-op and post-op study models were made; 3) All 2nd premolars, 2nd molars, and 3rd molars were banded; 4) A full-thickness flap …

Histologic Host Response To Polyoxymethylene Prosthesis As A Temporomandibular Joint Condylar Replacement, Frederick R. Mathews

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Polyoxyinethylene (Delrin) is a polyacetyl homopolymer which has been used successfully in many orthopedic joint replacements. To determine histologic host response to Delrin as a temporomandibular joint condylar replacement condyles were removed from ten fully mature macaca fasicularis monkeys. The condyles were replaced with a total prosthetic Delrin condyle attached to a titanium mesh. Specimens obtained at one, two, and six months indicated total acceptance of the Delrin, remodeling of the glenoid fossa and formation of bone between the middle cranial fossa and the roof of the glenoid fossa. These findings would indicate Delrin is a viable option for condylar …

Fasting Plasma Amino Acids In Relation To Serum Lipids In Human Male Subjects, Helen G. Mendiola

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The association of fasting plasma amino acids with serum lipids was studied in 23 healthy human male subjects with ages ranging from 31 to 62 years (45±9, mean± SD). There were 12 normocholesterolemic (serum cholesterol = 183±17 mg/dL) and 11 hypercholesterolemic (271±27 mg/dL) subjects. Venous blood samples were drawn three times at weekly intervals. Plasma amino acids were determined by ion-exchange chromatography, and serum cholesterol and triglycerides by enzymatic methods. Hypercholesterolemic subjects had significantly higher lysine and lower serine levels than normocholesterolemic subjects (p < .05). Serum cholesterol levels were positively correlated with plasma levels of lysine, ornithine and the lysine/arginine ratio (p < .04); and negatively correlated with phenylalanine and urea (p < .05). Serum triglyceride levels were positively correlated with plasma levels of lysine, glutamic acid, and valine (p <. 02); and negatively correlated with serine, glutamine, and asparagine (p < .04). These results add support to the hypothesis that specific plasma amino acids are associated with the metabolism of serum lipids.