Life Sciences Commons^™

Molecular Mechanisms Of Opioid Use Disorder In Human Brain Models, Emily Mendez

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a national and global public health crisis with no end in sight. While studies from animal models hint at widespread epigenetic and transcriptomic alterations of opioid drugs, the molecular consequences of long-term exposure to opioid drugs in human brain is still unclear, and human-centered translational models are necessary to discern the human cell type-specific effects of OUD.

Using postmortem brain Brodmann area 9 (BA9) from the UTHealth Brain Collection for Research on Psychiatric Disorders, I identified angiogenic gene networks perturbed in the RNA and protein of OUD subjects, as well as downregulation of many neuron-correlated …

The Development Of A New Water-Soluble Zinc Porphyrin, Zntpp-2mp, As A Photodynamic Therapy Agent, Emily Payne

Scholars Day Conference

Photodynamic therapy is a new technique used in cancer treatment involving the use of a photosensitizer and light exposure to kill malignant cells. This research tested the use of ZnTPP-2MP as a photosensitizer using white light as a source of possible treatment of the A549 cancer cell line, with preliminary testing on MYC-22 and other G- quadruplex DNA samples. ZnTPP-2MP was synthesized by the reaction of the porphyrin, ZnTPPC, with 2-amino-2- methyl-1-propanol. Following synthesis, the new porphyrin was purified by column chromatography using Sephadex LH-20 and G-50. To confirm the identity and structure of the product, ZnTPP-2MP was analyzed through …

Targeting Tgf-Β During Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Progression As An Effective Therapy Against Colorectal Cancer, Joyce Fan

Undergraduate Research

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Understanding the mechanisms of colorectal cancer progression is crucial for the development of effective therapeutics. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is a hallmark feature of cancer and is defined as the loss of epithelial cell features, such as apical-basal polarity and high expression of cell adhesion molecules, and the development of mesenchymal features, such as lack of polarity and increased cell mobility. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal is essential for cell migration, proliferation, and tumor growth. Both the TGF-β and SMAD pathway are associated with colorectal cancer progression. TGF-β is crucial to the cellular mechanism of cell …

Differential Behavioral Responses In Male And Female Mice Lacking Either Rgs2 Or Rgs4 Proteins After Acute Administration Of Antidepressants And Anxiolytics, Hiroyoshi Matsui, Sarah Seeley, Manoranjan S. D'Souza

ONU Student Research Colloquium

The overall objective of the study was to assess the acute behavioral effects of currently used antidepressants and anxiolytics in male and female mice lacking regulator of G protein-signaling (RGS) proteins 2 and 4 and their wild-type counterparts. RGS 2 and 4 proteins negatively modulate signaling pathways of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which play an important role in mediating the effects of monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These neurotransmitters in turn play an important role in the action of antidepressant and anxiolytic medications. The study was undertaken because no studies till date have systematically assessed the behavioral …

Increased Healthspan From Exercise, Nicholas Boros

Scholar Week 2016 - present

In this talk we discuss important factors for increased healthspan. Much of the discussion will focus on strength training and cardiovascular training. In particular we outline optimal ways to increase strength and VO₂ max, which are the largest contributors to increased healthspan. We will also explain what makes a strength training program “optimal” mathematically.

Apigenin Alleviates Autistic-Like Stereotyped Repetitive Behaviors And Mitigates Brain Oxidative Stress In Mice, Petrilla Jayaprakash, Dmytro Isaev, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Rami Beiram, Murat Oz, Bassem Sadek

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Studying the involvement of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), specifically α7-nAChRs, in neuropsychiatric brain disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has gained a growing interest. The flavonoid apigenin (APG) has been confirmed in its pharmacological action as a positive allosteric modulator of α7-nAChRs. However, there is no research describing the pharmacological potential of APG in ASD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the subchronic systemic treatment of APG (10–30 mg/kg) on ASD-like repetitive and compulsive-like behaviors and oxidative stress status in the hippocampus and cerebellum in BTBR mice, utilizing the reference drug aripiprazole (ARP, 1 …

Ongoing Study Of The Association Of Apoe Gene Polymorphisms With Cognitive Impairment In The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Population, Jaime Miguel L. Saveron, Daniela Gamez, Chun Xu

Research Symposium

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, exhibits a significant genetic component. In addition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a key risk factor for AD. While certain demographic factors and genetic variants associated with AD and cognitive impairment have been identified in non-Hispanic populations, limited research exists on this subject within the Hispanic population, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the APOE gene, specifically its ε4 allele, and cognitive impairment in the Hispanic population of the Rio Grande Valley.

Methods: A total of 269 Hispanic subjects, aged 60 and above, with …

Exploring Neuroplasticity Changes In Neurotoxin-Induced Parkinson’S Disease: A Preliminary Analysis Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Tomas Gomez Jr., Daniel Salinas, Kelsey Potter-Baker, Nawaz Hack, Ramu Vadukapuram

Research Symposium

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition that affects movement, cognition, gait, and significantly impacts one's quality of life. Studies have suggested that neurotoxin pre-exposure is related to PD pathology and progressive motor/non-motor deficits, though it remains unclear how neurotoxin exposure affects neuroplasticity. The present study aimed to examine neurotoxin–induced PD-associated neuroplasticity changes in relationship to mental acuity and PD motor functionalities.

Methods: 7 voluntary participants experiencing early-stage PD symptoms with self-reported neurotoxin pre-exposure were enrolled in the longitudinal, repeated-measures clinical study; 2 sex-matched, age-matched, and occupation-matched healthy subjects were recruited for controlled comparative analysis (n=9). UTRGV’s Institute …

Vkorc1 Polymorphisms And Complete Resistance To Vitamin K Antagonists: About Two Cases., Ilham Benyamna, Houda El Fissi, Fadoua Bouzid, Abdelhamid El Mousadik, Najat Alif

BioMedicine

Complete resistance to vitamin K antagonists is a rare but serious. It can complicate therapeutic management, especially when direct oral anticoagulants cannot be used. Some single mutations in the VKORC1 gene have been identified in patients partially or completely resistant to vitamin K antagonists. We report the cases of two women in their fifties who presented an unexplained peripheral venous thrombosis. The aetiological assessment did not show any abnormalities. Genetic testing showed that both patients had the VKORC1 5417GG genotype. The VKORC1 3673 genotype was GG in case 1 and GA in case 2. The two patients showed complete resistance …

Computational Analysis Of Dimer G6pd Structure To Elucidate Pathogenicity Of G6pd Variants, Shamini Chandran, Naveen Eugene Louis, Syazwani Itri Amran, Nurriza Ab Latif, Muaawia Ahmed Hamza, Mona Alonazi

BioMedicine

An inherent genetic enzyme disorder in humans, known as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, arises due to specific mutations. While the prevailing approach for investigating G6PD variants involves biochemical analysis, the intricate structural details remain limited, impeding a comprehensive understanding of how different G6PD variants of varying classes impact their functionality. This study examined the dynamic properties of G6PD wild types and six G6PD variants from different classes using molecular dynamic simulation (MDS). The wild-type and variant G6PD structures unveil high fluctuations within the amino acid range of 274-515, the structural NADP⁺ binding site, pivotal for enzyme dimerization. Specifically, two …

Ethanol Leaf Extracts Of Anogeissus Leiocarpus In Antioxidants And Hepatotoxic Effects Of Escherichia Coli Infected Swiss Mice, Fred Coolborn Akharaiyi, Chioma Bertha Ehis-Eriakha, Peter Taiwo Olagbemide, Stephen Eromosele Akemu

BioMedicine

Introduction: Diseases caused by bacteria can be managed with medicinal plants with rightful dosage that will not affect body physiology and organs.

Aim: This research aimed to evaluate the antioxidants and the effects of Anogeisus leiocarpus on liver function.

Materials and Methods: Ethanol leaf extracts were processed for antioxidants and hepatotoxic effects using animal models. Group one (negative control) was given access to water and regular feed, group two (positive control) was dosed with 107 CFU/ml of Escherichia coli O157:H7, and groups 3-6 were dosed with 107 E. coli O157:H7 for 3 days and treated with extract concentrations of 12, …

Impact And Prevalence Of Comorbidities And Complications On The Severity Of Covid-19 In Association With Age, Gender, Obesity, And Pre-Existing Smoking: A Meta-Analysis, Soulandi Djorwé, Amale Bousfiha, Néhémie Nzoyikorera, Joseph Nyandwi, Bellamine Kawthar, Abderrahim Malki

BioMedicine

Background: COVID-19 patients usually present multiple comorbidities and complications associated with severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aimed to assess the risk factors and prevalence of comorbidities and complications contributing to the severity of COVID-19.

Methods: This meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched various databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus (between 2020 and 2023), for eligible studies for this meta-analysis.

Results: Thirty-three studies were eligible, including 85812 patients, of which 36% (30634/85812) had severe disease, whereas 64% (55178/85812) had non-severe disease. Severe cases were potentially correlated with the following factors: gender (male) (odd ratio (OR) …

Biomedicines In Longevity And Aging The Quest To Resist Biological Decline, Raymond D D Raymond

BioMedicine

Aging is considered part of the natural process of life, however in recent years medical literature has started to show that specific facets of aging are beginning to be understood and those specific factors may even be considered preventable with various measures as this paper will demonstrate. Aging is also considered the number one cause of poor quality of life, disease, disability, and death, so the importance of understanding the aging process and how to control certain aspects of it cannot be underestimated when age related suffering is factored in. The causes of aging are now becoming well understood, and …

A Brief Literature Review Of Low-Level Laser Therapy For Treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis And Confirmation Of Its Effectiveness, Sergey Vladimirovich Moskvin

BioMedicine

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with a steadily progressive course due to the death of central and peripheral motor neurons responsible for voluntary movements. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a treatment method unique in its universality and efficacy, particularly for neurodegenerative diseases.

Methods: In this review, we discuss the effect and application of LLLT in the treatment of ALS. A literature search for English and Russian publications for the keywords "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis", "Low-Level Laser Therapy" was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) databases.

Results: The article …

Dissecting The Impact Of Medicinal Plants On Systemic Diseases, Karen Ayetiwa

Annual Research Symposium

For this literature review, a range of databases were used such as Google Search, PubMed, and Web of Science (mentioned all the ones you used). The search strategy used was a combination of terms such as "medicinal plant compounds," "plant polysaccharides on metabolic diseases," "effects of berberine on diabetes mellitus," " and "effects of medicinal plants on Alzheimer's." Articles chosen for review were published between 2020 and 2022, and only studies in the English language were considered. The majority of the selected studies were devised to observe and analyze the effects of medicinal plant compounds on various systemic diseases. Medicinal …

Evaluation Of Novel Therapeutic Agents For The Treatment Of Chronic Dry Eyes, Lilian Huynh, Evonie Villarete, Surajit Dey

Annual Research Symposium

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular condition, where disrupted tear film stability and ocular surface inflammation affected between 5% to 34% of the worldwide population in 2015 and posed a challenge to conventional ophthalmic treatments. Recent advances have led to potential novel therapeutics aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve patient outcomes.

Exploring The Developmental Effects Of Antidepressants In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Alexandra Van Stone

Annual Research Symposium

It is so important to explore the potential side effects of antidepressants especially if these side effects could lead to a future detriment to an individual’s financial and social well-being. A better understanding of these side effects in regards to human developmental issues is imperative considering issues related to mental health and depression affect a large percentage of the population. In this study, we tested if Caenorhabditis (C.) elegans could be a potential model organism to predict possible side effects associated with select antidepressants. Their developmental problems potentially encountered upon drug treatment may be encountered in humans.

Long Non-Coding Rna As A Potential Diagnostic Tool In Coronary Artery Diseases - A Systematic Review, Arthi Sri A.S, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan

Annual Research Symposium

POSTER - SYSTEMATIC REVIEW - LONG NON CODING RNAS AS DIAGNOSTIC MARKER FOR CAD

Correlation Between Salivary Levels And Tissue Expression Status Of Her2 In Breast Cancer Patients - A Cross-Sectional Study, Arthi Sri A.S, Massillamani F, Vinothkumar Thilla Sekar

Annual Research Symposium

The study aims to investigate if soluble salivary human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) would play a role in the diagnosis of breast cancer patients and also to find out the influence of demographic and hormonal factors on the salivary HER2 levels in breast cancer.

Investigating Optimal Laboratory Growth Conditions Of Gracilibacillus Halotolerans In Media Supplemented With Salt, Isaac Young

Annual Research Symposium

As interest continues to grow in the field of persister cells and their morphology, there arises an ever-evolving desire to further understand specific strains of bacteria that exemplify the qualities of seemingly anomalous survival regardless of anti-bacterial treatment. In the case of the Gracilibacillus halotolerans, a halotolerant extremophile extracted from the Great Salt Lake with known persistent characteristics, uncovering its optimal growth conditions was essential for future investigations. Identifying the optimal salinity for the growth of G. halotolerans will allow us to standardize our growth methods, uncover several mechanisms of saline tolerance, and add to future investigations of persistence with …

Investigating The Genetic Makeup Of The Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) In The United Arab Emirates Population Through Next-Generation Sequencing, Nour A. D. Marzouka, Halima Alnaqbi, Amira Al-Aamri, Guan Tay, Habiba Alsafar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules are central to immune response and have associations with the phenotypes of various diseases and induced drug toxicity. Further, the role of HLA molecules in presenting antigens significantly affects the transplantation outcome. The objective of this study was to examine the extent of the diversity of HLA alleles in the population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using Next-Generation Sequencing methodologies and encompassing a larger cohort of individuals. A cohort of 570 unrelated healthy citizens of the UAE volunteered to provide samples for Whole Genome Sequencing and Whole Exome Sequencing. The definition of the …

Microbial Interactions Among Gardnerella, Prevotella And Fannyhessea Prior To Incident Bacterial Vaginosis: Protocol For A Prospective, Observational Study, Christina A. Muzny, Jacob H. Elnaggar, Lúcia G.V. Sousa, Ângela Lima, Kristal J. Aaron, Isaac C. Eastlund, Keonte J. Graves, Chaoling Dong, Olivia T. Van Gerwen, Meng Luo, Ashutosh Tamhane, Dustin Long, Nuno Cerca, Christopher M. Taylor

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Introduction The aetiology of bacterial vaginosis (BV), a biofilm-associated vaginal infection, remains unknown. Epidemiologic data suggest that it is sexually transmitted. BV is characterised by loss of lactic acid-producing lactobacilli and an increase in facultative and strict anaerobic bacteria. Gardnerella spp are present in 95%–100% of cases; Gardnerella vaginalis has been found to be more virulent than other BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) in vitro. However, G. vaginalis is found in women with normal vaginal microbiota and colonisation is not sufficient for BV development. We hypothesise that Gardnerella spp initiate BV biofilm formation, but incident BV (iBV) requires incorporation of other key …

Effects Of Extraction Methods On The Structural Characteristics And Functional Properties Of Dietary Fiber Extracted From Papaya Peel And Seed, Xiaoyu Feng, Kashif Ameer, Guihun Jiang, Karna Ramachandraiah

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

This study aimed to characterize dietary fibers (DF) produced from papaya peel (PP) and seed (PS) using three different extraction methods (acidic: AC, enzymatic: EN and alkaline: AL). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal and rheological properties, X-ray diffraction (XRD), monosaccharide composition were adopted for characterizing DF samples. All the DF samples showed representative infrared spectral features and crystalline structure, whereas DF derived from PP and PS extracted by AC had looser and more complicated structures. DF derived from PP and PS extracted by EN displayed greater thermal stability among DFs. DF extracted by PP-AC …

Ksp1 Is An Autophagic Receptor Protein For The Snx4-Assisted Autophagy Of Ssn2/Med13, Sara E Hanley, Stephen D Willis, Steven J Doyle, Randy Strich, Katrina F Cooper

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Scholarship

Ksp1 is a casein II-like kinase whose activity prevents aberrant macroautophagy/autophagy induction in nutrient-rich conditions in yeast. Here, we describe a kinase-independent role of Ksp1 as a novel autophagic receptor protein for Ssn2/Med13, a known cargo of Snx4-assisted autophagy of transcription factors. In this pathway, a subset of conserved transcriptional regulators, Ssn2/Med13, Rim15, and Msn2, are selectively targeted for vacuolar proteolysis following nitrogen starvation, assisted by the sorting nexin heterodimer Snx4-Atg20. Here we show that phagophores also engulf Ksp1 alongside its cargo for vacuolar proteolysis. Ksp1 directly associates with Atg8 following nitrogen starvation at the interface of an Atg8-family interacting …

Methamphetamine-Induced Dna Double-Stranded Breaks: The Impact Of The Dopamine Transporter And Insights Into The Mechanisms Of Dna Damage In Mouse Neuro 2a Cells, Lizette Couto

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse remains a global health concern, with emerging evidence highlighting its genotoxic potential. In the central nervous system METH enters dopaminergic cells primarily through the dopamine transporter (DAT), which controls the dynamics of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission by driving the reuptake of extracellular DA into the presynaptic neuronal cell. Additional effects of METH on the storage of DA in synaptic vesicles lead to the dysregulated cytosolic accumulation of DA. Previous studies have shown that after METH disrupts intracellular vesicular stores of DA, the excess DA in the cytosol is rapidly oxidized. This generates an abundance of reactive oxygen species …

Autophagy And Cell Wall Integrity Pathways Coordinately Regulate The Development And Pathogenicity Through Moatg4 Phosphorylation In Magnaporthe Oryzae, Pusheng Guo, Yurong Wang, Jiayun Xu, Zhixiang Yang, Ziqi Zhang, Jinyi Qian, Jiexiong Hu, Ziyi Yin, Leiyun Yang, Muxing Liu, Xinyu Liu, Gang Li, Haifeng Zhang, Ryan Rumsey, Ping Wang, Zhengguang Zhang

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Autophagy and Cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling are critical stress-responsive processes during fungal infection of host plants. In the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, autophagy-related (ATG) proteins phosphorylate CWI kinases to regulate virulence; however, how autophagy interplays with CWI signaling to coordinate such regulation remains unknown. Here, we have identified the phosphorylation of ATG protein MoAtg4 as an important process in the coordination between autophagy and CWI in M. oryzae. The ATG kinase MoAtg1 phosphorylates MoAtg4 to inhibit the deconjugation and recycling of the key ATG protein MoAtg8. At the same time, MoMkk1, a core kinase of CWI, also phosphorylates …

Formulation Of Preservation Solutions For Model Generation With In Vivo Tissue Morphology, Holly Pickett

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Targeted Repression Of Topa By Crispri Reveals A Critical Function For Balanced Dna Topoisomerase I Activity In The Chlamydia Trachomatis Developmental Cycle, Li Shen, Leiqiong Gao, Abigail R. Swoboda, Scot P. Ouellette

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that is responsible for the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection. Changes in DNA topology in this pathogen have been linked to its pathogenicity-associated developmental cycle. Here, evidence is provided that the balanced activity of DNA topoisomerases contributes to controlling Chlamydia developmental processes. Utilizing catalytically inactivated Cas12 (dCas12)-based clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference (CRISPRi) technology, we demonstrate targeted knockdown of chromosomal topA transcription in C. trachomatis without detected toxicity of dCas12. Repression of topA impaired the developmental cycle of C. trachomatis mostly through disruption of its differentiation from a replicative form …

The Effect Of Various Polyphenols On Associative Memory Loss And Dementia In A Drosophila Melanogaster Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Anagha Gowda

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), a prominent neurodegenerative disease (NDD), is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States; however, little is known about prevention. As a result, polyphenols (plant-based compounds) and other natural substances have been studied for their therapeutic potential in improving cognition and memory in AD cases. While the impacts of each polyphenol (phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans) contain fundamental similarities, each varies slightly in its impacts on the brain.The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of polyphenol subgroups on associative memory in AD, tested by building an olfactory association, through the use …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.