Life Sciences Commons^™

Reliability Of Assessment Of Postural Control In The Sitting Position In The Hemiplegic Subjects By Use Of A Functional Reach Task, Karen Dreher Carter

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

No single standardized and reliable method exists for measuring postural control in sitting in the stroke patient population. Postural control in sitting is often a portion of the total physical therapy assessment of the hemiplegic patient. The purpose of this research was to investigate the reliability of a functional reach test as a measure of postural control in sitting in the adult hemiplegic population. The measurement method was performed on 23 adult hemiplegic subjects, ages 62-88 years (mean= 73.6 + 7.9 years). Two physical therapists scored the subjects on the functional reach task. once the functional reach measure was obtained …

Food Handling Practices Among Independent-Living Elderly, Judith Dianne Mcdonough

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Food has long been recognized as a vehicle of disease transmission; there are more reported illness associated with the consumption of food than all other environmental factors combined. The handling and storage of food are potentially dangerous and demanding chores for those who may have the sensory losses associated with advancing age, fragile health, and limited resources.

Group-administered questionnaires on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food handling were given to 276 seniors, aged 55 to 90, from ten mobile home parks randomly selected from San Bernardino and Riverside counties. As an indicator of possible foodborne illness, the questionnaire asked …

The Role Of Gaba In Reproductive Neuroendocrine Systems, Robert Carter Mcree

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Local gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) neurons in the hypothalamus can modulate the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) pulse generating system.

Two animal models (intact and ovariectomized rats) were used to determine the nature of modulation of LHRH release by GABA. The experiment determined the release of LHRH, serotonin (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) during two hormonal states with each model. In the intact rat the proestrus and estrus states were examined, and in the ovariectomized rat in-vitro release was determined with (OVX₂) and without (OVX) estradiol treatment.

In-vivo experiments studied the effect of stimulation of GABA receptors …

Osteoinductivity Of Demineralized Bone: A Quantitative In Vitro Assessment, Yihong Zheng

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Acid demineralized bone (DMB) implanted in extraosseous sites induces bone formation. In vivo studies have shown that DMB stimulates the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into osteogenic cells. In this study an in vitro system was developed to demonstrate the osteoinductivity of DMB quantitatively. This in vitro working system was used to assess the osteoinductivity of variously processed DMB products as a means to evaluate their processing protocols. A human dermal fibroblastic (HDF) cell line was initiated from tissue explants as a working model, along with a human periosteal (HPO) cell line as a control. Ground DMB processed by LifeNet Transplant …

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Separation Of Different Types Of Collagen, Yongjoo Chung

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this research was to develop a method for the separation of different types of collagen using a large pore size (100 nm) reversed-phase C-8 column. Three different types of collagen (type I, III, and V) were sufficiently separated on the column using a mobile phase containing water-acetonitrile-trifluoroacetic acid. Collagens found in each HPLC peak were identified using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to assay the column effluents.

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was used as an ion pair reagent. This compound improved the chromatographic profile for these proteins on a reversed-phase column. It was observed that with …

Total Blood Cholesterol, Blood Triglyceride, And Blood Hdl Correlation, Rebecca Lynn Babler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between total blood cholesterol levels, blood triglyceride levels, and blood HDL levels in men and women 20 to 80 years of age. All subjects fasted for 12 hours prior to having their blood drawn.

The computer program SPSSX (SPSSX, Inc., 1988) was used along with subprograms CONDESCRIPTIVE, CORRELATION, and ANOVA. Pearson Product Moment Correlations were calculated for all subjects, for male subjects, and for female subjects.

The study revealed a low correlation coefficient between blood cholesterol levels and blood triglyceride levels for all subjects, female subjects and male subjects. There …

Histomorphometric Analysis Of Primate Periodontal Tissues Following Corticotomy In Orthodontics, Wuiteng Koh

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of specific cell types and structures at the active tooth movement site in corticotomized and non-corticotomized specimens obtained from a previous study, and to consider the hypothesis that corticotomy facilitated orthodontics is efficacious due to an inflammatory response rather than tooth-bone block movement. Specimens from 3 monkeys, each of which had a treatment and control quadrant in each arch, were sectioned, mounted on glass slides, and stained with Giemsa, haematoxylin, and Safranin stains. A histomorphometric analysis was performed with DataVoice™, a voice activated computer system which allowed for digitization of …

A Flow Cytometric Analysis Of Immunocyte Populations In Peripheral Blood And Pleural Effusions Of Patients With Cancer, Mandy L. Bohn

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Two-color flow cytometric analysis was performed on paired samples of peripheral blood (PB) and pleural effusions (PE) of patients with metastatic malignancies. The purpose of these analyses was to test the hypothesis that there are significant differences in the distribution of immunocyte populations in the PE compared to that of the PB.

The majority of the pleural fluid immunocytes were CD3+ cells. The ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ cells was higher in the PE compared to PB. Levels of CD8+, CD19+ and CD14+ cells were not significantly different in the PE compared to the levels in the PB. CD16+CD56+ cells …

The Role Of T Cells In The Pathogenesis Of Periapical Lesions, John B. Wallstrom

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The pulps of mandibular molars of 15 athymic and 15 conventional rats were surgically exposed and left open to their oral flora. Each group was divided into 3 subgroups of 5 animals each. The rats were sacrificed after their pulps were exposed for 2, 4, or 8 weeks. After fixing, decalcifying, and embedding, the specimens were sectioned and stained with H and E. They were then examined under a microscopic grid and quantified by percentages of surface areas of bone, connective tissue, bone marrow, intrabony spaces, periapical lesions, and numbers of osteoclasts. This was done using a DataVoice computerized data …

Effect Of Age On The Structure Of Meissner Corpuscles In Forepad Digital Pads Of Mice, Roger C. Mathewson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Meissner corpuscles in forepaw digital pads of albino mice were examined by light and electron microscopy to determine structural age-changes. After 1.5 months of age, no intraepidermal nerve fibers were seen extending from corpuscles. From young (1.5-6 months) to middle age (9-15 months), corpuscles became larger and more complex, gaining more horizontally arranged terminals, associated lamellae and connective tissue. At old age (18-26 months), corpuscles became small and lobulated, appearing disorganized. There was no loosening of the corpuscle-epidermal interface. An increase in collagenous connective tissue and basal lamina duplication occurred with advancing age. Ultrastructural age-changes consisted of disorganization of the …

Development And Characterization Of Monoclonal Antisperm Antibodies: Potential For Contraception, Dilrowshan H. Haque

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

There is an expressed need to develop a greater variety of safe contraceptive methods which would find acceptance worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Immunization against spermatozoa might be such a method as judged by the accumulated evidence from studies on human females and in a number of female animal species.

Two extraction techniques were used for sperm membrane antigen isolation. The first technique involved NP-40 detergent for antigen extraction from human motile sperm and the second technique employed homogenized human testis for antigen extraction. Using these immunogens, sperm membrane-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were developed. When these antisperm MAbs were subjected …

Molecular Mechanism Of The Stimulation Of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity In Human Bone Cells By 1,25(Oh)2 D3, Eru Kyeyune-Nyombi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

To facilitate this study an in vitro human model system was established that exhibited many aspects of normal osteoblasts. The human osteosarcoma cell line (TE85 cells) expressed a skeletal alkaline phosphatase activity (an accepted bone cell differentiation marker) which was stimulated by 1,25(OH)₂D₃ (a potent differentiating agent), under serum-free conditions in a dose-dependent, time-dependent, and cell density-dependent manner. Cytochemical analysis of the stimulation of ALP activity by 1,25(OH)₂D₃ showed that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ increased the number of TE85 cells that expressed detectable ALP activity, suggesting that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ promoted the process …

Catecholamines And The Regulation Of Uterine Contractions In The Pregnant Rhesus Macaque, Cahleen Mae Mcnutt

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that: 1) maternal and/or amniotic fluid catecholamines or prostaglandins display nocturnal activity rhythms similar to those of the myometrial contractility in the pregnant rhesus macaque and, 2) catecholamines stimulate prostaglandin production by fetal membranes. Paired maternal arterial blood and amniotic fluid samples were collected at 0900 h (AM) and 2100 h (PM) from chronically catheterized rhesus macaques until delivery and analyzed for prostaglandin metabolites (PGFM and PGEM-II) and catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine). Uterine activity data was continuously recorded. A rhythm in uterine contractility was observed, with peak activity between 1900 and …

Topographic Development Of The Corticocollicular Projection In The Neonatal Rat, F. Allen Richburg Ii

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The density and distribution of labeled cortical cells was examined following discrete deposits of retrograde tracers into the superior colliculus (SC) of neonatal and adult rats to study the topographic order of SC afferents from the cortex during the initial phase of axon ingrowth. Small deposits of red and green latex microspheres (0.02-0.05ul) were placed into the SC of rats ranging in age from birth to adulthood using glass micropipettes (tip diameter 25-35um). The animals, following a 48hr survival period, were deeply anesthetized and perfused with normal saline followed by a 10% formal-saline solution. The brains were sectioned coronally at …

Patterns Of Hydroxyproline Excretion In Ovariectomized And Estrogen Treated Rats, Gregg Horras

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

If nuclear binding sites for estrogens exist in bone cells, then the origin of estrogen-deficiency-induced osteopenia may be at the level of bone matrix protein synthesis. Since collagen is the most abundant protein in the bone matrix, and since hydroxyproline is an imino acid nearly exclusive to collagen, a monitoring of the metabolism of hydroxyproline in ovariectomized and estrogen treated rats may provide insight into the patterns of estrogen-deficiency-induced osteopenia. The purpose of our study was to test the hypothesis that ovariectomy will increase urinary hydroxyproline excretion in the rat and that this increase will be reversed by estrogen treatment …

The Market Medicinal Plants Of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Michael S. Nicholson

Masters Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to record the popular uses of various medicinal plants gathered in the vicinity of Monterrey, Mexico.

Two hundred medicinal plant specimens were collected from 11 hierberias of two mercados and two additional medicinal plant sources. Included is a total of 92 species in 86 genera of 50 plant families.

The plant vendors at the hierberias were interviewed to determine the folk uses of the plants. The reports were reviewed in the literature for comparison with previously published citations. Collections are retained in the Ethnobotanical Herbarium, Room 107, Klehm Hall, Eastern Illinois University along …

A Comparison Between Physiological And Perceived Exertion During Maximal And Submaximal Treadmill Exercise At Three Menstrual Cycle Phases, Kathleen M. Mccune

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in physiological and subjective perceived exertion levels at maximal and submaximal treadmill exercise between three phases of the menstrual cycle in eumennorheic women.

Nine females of varying fitness levels were subjects in the study. None of the subjects were using oral contraception or hormone altering medications at the time of the study.

The subjects performed three separate maximal graded exercise tests (GXT) using the Balke protocol. During each GXT, oxygen uptake (VO₂), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory quotient (RQ), rate of perceived exertion, and total time …