Life Sciences Commons^™

Molecular Screening Of Azoreductase Gene And Its Activity In Human Intestinal Bacteria, Syndia S. Todd

McCabe Thesis Collection

The intestinal microflora are capable of performing a wide variety of metabolic transformations. "The intestinal bacteria can enhance the function of the entire gastrointestinal tract, protect against pathogenic, maintain the vital chemical balance of the gastrointestinal system, and produce needed vitamins and hormones" (http;//www.upwardquest.com/crit2.html). Some of the products of this metabolism have been associated with carcinogenic processes, such as cancer, tumor formation, gastrointestinal disease, and infections. The ability of human intestinal microbes to interact with metabolites directly or after recirculation may contribute toward different toxicological disorders and disease.

The purpose of this study is to characterize and isolate the azoreductase …

An In Vitro Model Of Ovarian Cancer: Studying The Effects Of Talc And Pycnogenol®, Amber Renée Buz'zard

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer and accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. The American Cancer Society has suggested that poor diet, talc and industrial pollutants may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Talc is ubiquitous and concern is raised about its safety, role as a possible carcinogen and known ability to cause irritation and inflammation. Due to the silent nature of ovarian cancer, chemoprevention is a high priority. The most useful chemopreventive compounds will inhibit, delay or reverse carcinogenesis, and can be taken for long periods of time with …

Identificación Parasitaria De Monos Tití Cabeciblanco Saguinus Oedipus Del Proyecto Tití, Santa Catalina, Bolívar, Diana Marcela Barrera Pinillos

Medicina Veterinaria

Los parásitos de los Saguinus oedipus como los de los primates del nuevo mundo en general, han sido estudiados en primates en cautiverio, pero en vida silvestre son muy poco conocidos, particularmente los que son endémicos de primates en peligro; se presentan algunas limitaciones a la hora de tomar y preservar las muestras las cuales finalmente definen la calidad y confiabilidad de los resultados. Entre estas encontramos, los pequeños volúmenes de las deposiciones en muchas especies, la dificultad de colección dentro del bosque debido a los hábitos arbóreos de los micos, las variaciones de humedad y temperatura en el trópico, …

Characterization Of Β-Lactam Resistant Pandemic Serotypes Of Vibrio Cholerae Isolated From Ships' Ballast Tanks And Coastal Waters, Amanda Lynn Goodrich

OES Theses and Dissertations

Vibrio cholerae serotypes 01 and 0139 are responsible for world-wide epidemics of cholera. These pandemic causing strains must possess genes that encode for the cholera toxin (CTX) and toxin co-regulated pili (TCP) in order to infect their hosts. In this study, 284 isolates of Vibrio cholerae from ballast and coastal waters were serotyped, with 11 % testing positive for serotype 01 and 21 % testing positive for serotype 0139. PCR assays were used to detect the presence of ctxA and tcpA genes in all positive isolates, none of which contained ctxA while 2% of the isolates contained tcpA. The 01 …

In Vitro Antimicrobial Efficacy Of Calcium Hydroxides In Root Dentin, Josef W. Lubisich

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Enterococcus faecalis is the most commonly isolated bacteria in failed root canal treatment. Endodontic intracanal medicaments are commonly tested using standardized bovine cylinders infected with bacteria. The literature is not clear on whether calcium hydroxides are able to remove E. faecalis from the dentinal tubules. One reason for this is that there are several varying forms of calcium hydroxide commonly used. The purpose of the present experiment was to determine whether four commonly used calcium hydroxide products were able to reduce E. faecalis from four incremental samples of dentin and to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between …

Gene Expression In The Mouse Placenta: Developmental And Stress Responses, Ciprian P. Gheorghe

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Successful placental development is crucial for optimal growth, maturation, and survival of the embryo/fetus. Placental failure and placental pathology contributes to both morbidity and mortality of the fetus. We sought to understand normal placental development and also placental responses to stress using oligonucleotide microarray technology. To examine genetic aspects of normal placental development, we investigated gene expression patterns in the murine placenta at embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5), E12.5, E15.5, and E17.5. Hypoxia has been identified as a major stressor in placental and fetal development. In order to comprehend more completely hypoxic stress responses we sought to measure gene expression changes …

The Acute Effects Of Nut Ingestion On Plasma Levels Of Polyphenol Compounds, Biomarkers Of Antioxidant Status, And Lipid Peroxidation, Setareh Torabian Esfahani

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Nuts are rich sources of polyphenolic compounds and nutrients, which have antioxidant capacity. To assess the acute effect of treatment diet (75% of energy from nuts (walnut or almond) and control diet (habitual diet with no nut consumption) in healthy subjects on plasma total phenol content, antioxidant capacity and plasma lipid peroxidation. Thirteen subjects participated in the crossover design study. After an overnight fast, walnut, almond and a control diet, in form of smoothies, were consumed by the study subjects. Each subject participated on three occasions one week apart, consuming one of the smoothies each time. Blood samples were obtained …

The Effect Of Calcium Hydroxide Pastes On Root Dentin Fracture Resistance, Kurt W. Sturz

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Calcium hydroxide is a common intracanal medicament used in the treatment of immature teeth that have been subjected to trauma or decay prior to root canal therapy. The effect of calcium hydroxide on immature root dentin is important. One area of concern is the effect that calcium hydroxide has on the fracture resistance of an immature tooth. It is the aim of this study to compare the effect of four different commercially available calcium hydroxide pastes on the fracture resistance of bovine teeth. Seventy-five freshly extracted, intact bovine incisors were prepared according to a modified Haapasalo and Orstavik technique. Each …

The Relationship Between High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, Metabolic Syndrome And Exercise, Micheline A. Vargas

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: It is well known that regular physical activity is associated with lower risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Physical activity is also considered an important determinant of metabolic syndrome. All levels of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are thought to involve inflammation. Physical activity may reduce risk, at least in part, by modifying the inflammatory process. Recent studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between inflammatory markers, such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and physical activity. Elevated hs-CRP appears to be an independent predictor of both CVD and diabetes. Recent evidence also suggests that …

Effects Of Diabetes Mellitus On The Healing Of The Dental Pulp, Stuart Evan Garber

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has been implicated as a factor affecting healing. The purpose of this study was to use the healing of experimentally exposed pulps subsequent to pulp capping as a model to determine the effect of DM on healing.

Twenty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups of eleven animals each. In one group, DM was induced by injection of 70 mg/KG of streptozotocin. In the other group, the animals were injected with sterile saline. Under anesthesia with Ketamine and Xylazine, the pulps of the maxillary first molars of all rats were exposed using a 1/16 round bur under …

Factors That Influence The Blood Flow Response Of Skin To Electrical Stimulation, Abdul-Majeed Raja Al-Malty

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Female reproductive hormones, aging, global heating and local heating are factors affecting skin blood flow (SBF), but their effect on electrical stimulation (ES) has never been examined until the present investigation. To investigate female reproductive hormones, nine women (age= 25.6±3.5 years) with a normal menstrual cycle (MC) underwent ES in thermoneutral (25°±0.5°C) and warm environments (35°±0.5°C). To investigate aging, ES was applied on active young (n=15, age=32.1±8.3 years) and old (n=8, 64.5±6.2 years) groups in thermoneutral and warm environments. To investigate the effect of global and local heating, groups of 15 and 18 subjects (age= 18-40 years) experienced ES under …

Effects Of Advancing Age On Er Calcium Regulation In Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia, Conwin Kodel Vanterpool

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]i) release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores plays an important role in cell signaling. These stores are rapidly refilled via voltage-gated calcium channels or spontaneously via store-operated calcium channels and subsequent pumping by ER Ca²⁺-ATPases. Calcium release is triggered by the activation of the ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels and their function is in part dependent on their expression. We analyzed the [Ca²⁺]i transients in fura 2-loaded superior cervical ganglion (SCG) cells from 6, 12, 20, and 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats for their ability to rapidly and spontaneously refill. For rapid refilling, the …

Electroporation Of Pediococcus Pentosaceus And The Curing Rate Of Plasmids, Heidi E. Shields

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Genetic engineering is a relatively new process and is a major focus of research in various fields, such as medicine, plant genetics, and food science. The potential applications of genetic engineering include designer drug production, mass protein production, and enhanced food processing. Finding an appropriate host organism to be used in genetic engineering is an important preliminary step. Pediococcus pentosaceus has been suggested as a bacterial species with such potential. Since plasmids are often the vector of choice in genetic recombination, this research tests the ability of P. pentosaceus to take up and incorporate plasmids into its genome. Two plasmids …

Regulation Of Cardiac Fibroblast Metalloprotease Secretion, Glen De Guzman

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes secreted by cardiac fibroblasts. Altered expression of MMPs plays an important role in congestive heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases^1,2. Emerging evidence has led us to consider the role of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PtdIns 4-kinase) in regulating MMP secretion in cardiac fibroblast cells^3-7. PtdIns 4-kinase is a lipid kinase involved in various cellular processes including protein secretion. This project was designed to test the hypothesis that PtdIns 4-kinase controls MMP secretion. Techniques such as cardiac cell culture, transfection, and in-gel zymography were used for this experiment. Results demonstrated that PtdIns 4-kinase …

Influence Of Human Papillomavirus 16 E6 On Trail-Mediated Apoptosis, Theodore O. Garnett

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Viruses have developed sophisticated strategies to evade host defenses and facilitate the production and spread of progeny. HPV 16, whose immune evasion activities can contribute to cervical cancer, is a prime example of such a virus. In this study, we examined the influence of HPV 16 E6 on TRAIL-induced FADD-dependent and -independent pathways in two cellular models: HCT116 colon carcinoma cells and U2OS osteosarcoma cells. We show that transfection of the HPV 16 E6 oncogene into HCT116 cells provides protection from TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, we demonstrate that the protection provided by E6 is dose-dependent because higher levels of E6 provide …

The Total And Specific Dimensions Of Self Concept Related To Female Participation In Collegiate Athletics, Dane Bradford Beary

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed between female collegiate sport participation and non-participation, as well as female collegiate individual and team sport participation on the total, the specific dimensions of self-concept and supplementary scores as rendered by the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale Second Edition TSCS:2 (Fitts & Warren, 1996). A subject pool of N=190 participants were used. All subjects included in data analysis were female undergraduate students. A multivariate analysis of variance (M ANOVA) was utilized to evaluate effects of sports participation versus non-participation and individual versus team sports participation on self-concept. On sports participation versus …

The Study Of Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression, Function, And Regulation In The Renal Vasculature During Postnatal Renal Development, Brian Blake Ratliff

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The newborn kidney is vulnerable to vasomotor acute renal failure (ARF) from adverse perinatal events or complications of prematurity. Nitric oxide (NO) vasodilation is vitally protective in this type of ARF, but its relationship with other vasoactive factors, such as angiotensin II (AII) has not been examined. In the immature kidney, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms, specifically eNOS and nNOS, are developmentally regulated, but their specific role and regulation are unknown.

The enhanced vasodilatory role of NO in the immature kidney was hypothesized to be attributed to regulatory, expressional, and functional differences in eNOS and nNOS isoforms from the adult. …

Mineralized Bone Allograft In Maxillary Sinuses Histology And Histomorphometry, Sammy Stefan Noumbissi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts (DFDBA) and deproteinized bovine bone xenografts (DMBBX) have been used for sinus augmentation for many years with varying results, but very little has been reported on the clinical efficacy or the histological analysis of mineralized solvent dehydrated bone allografts (MSDBA) as sinus graft materials. This study histologically and histomorphometrically evaluated an MSDBA material called PUROS to augment atrophic human maxillary sinuses.

Materials & Methods: Seven partially and completely edentulous patients requiring unilateral (n=4) or bilateral (n=3) sinus grafts prior to implant placement were selected for this study. Test grafts consisted of MSDBA, and control …

The Zucker Rat As A Model Of Obesity-Hypertension, Ryan Morrison

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Hypertension is a serious health problem that affects approximately 1 in 4 American adults. Most cases are diagnosed as essential hypertension, meaning that the exact cause is unknown. In most patients, however, excess weight is a major contributory factor to the development of essential hypertension. The role of obesity in promoting hypertension is now well documented and has become the foundation for an entire field of research known alternately as obesity-hypertension, obesity-induced hypertension, or obesity-associated hypertension. In this field, rapid advances are being made in our understanding of how obesity and hypertension are linked. A plethora of related risk factors, …

Antibiotic Resistant And Coliform Bacteria In The Ohio River; 2002 To 2004, Lisa Marie Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

During 2002 and 2003 samples, collected every five miles along the Ohio River, were analyzed for total cultivable bacteria, ciprofloxacin resistant bacteria, erythromycin resistant bacteria, tetracycline resistant bacteria, and fecal coliforms. During 2004 samples were analyzed for total cultivable bacteria, ciprofloxacin resistant bacteria, sulfamethizole resistant bacteria, tetracycline resistant bacteria, Virginiamycin resistant bacteria, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli. The objectives of this study were to systematically collect data on fecal coliforms, E. coli, and antibiotic resistant bacteria in the Ohio River and its major tributaries; to determine if antibiotic resistance populations are correlated to each other or to coliforms; and …

Characterization Of The Dna-Binding Properties Of Silent Information Regulator 3 Protein, Cotteka Nichisha Johnson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The eukaryotic genome is organized into distinct domains with discrete regulatory potential, influenced by the variation in local chromatin structure. An example of chromatin-mediated consequences on gene expression is mating type determination of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which depends on silencing of specific gene cassettes. Silencing in yeast involves key proteins, amongst which the Silent Information Regulator (Sir) proteins are essential. Sir1p, Sir2p, and Sir4p are recruited to nucleate silencing events, while Sir3p serves as the pivotal factor in spreading the silent state. This investigation characterizes the DNA binding properties of Sir3p using DNA fragments with varying degrees of inherent flexibility, …

Gender Differences In Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Carey Ann Balderrama

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to examine the existing literature on ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries as it pertains to gender. The study identifies current strategies for prevention of such injuries and outlines existing thinking on injury prevention programs.

Mitoxantrone Represses Markers Of Microglial Activation And Inflammation, Cameron A. Tull

Honors Theses

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by an autoimmune attack against myelin sheaths in the central nervous system (CNS). Resulting debilitations vary from sensory, motor, and coordination abnormalities to visual difficulties as well as bowel, bladder, sexual, and cognitive dysfunction (Fox, 2006). Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) is an FDAapproved drug used to treat the secondary-progressive form ofMS due to its demonstrated immunosuppressive properties. While the mechanism of action of mitoxantrone is not yet well understood, and is limited in its use due to cardiotoxicity, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of mitoxantrone on microglial and astrocyte …

The Analysis And Characterisation Of Rotavirus And Norovirus Circulating In The South Of Ireland, Norma Reidy

Theses

On average more than 3,000 cases of rotavirus diarrhea are detected annually amongst Irish children less than 3 years of age. Rotavirus disease occurs mainly during the winter months, with peak infections detected from February to April. The symptoms of disease are diarrhea and dehydration, with 80% of patients requiring hospitalisation, The mean duration of hospitalisation is 3-4 days, with an average cost per day of €409. Eighteen percent of infections were detected in infants less than 6 months of age, suggesting inadequate maternal derived protection from existing strains, or the existence of novel strains in Ireland with little or …

Molecular Epidemiology Of Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella Enterica Strains From Different Animal And Human Sources In Ireland, David George Lee

Theses

In this study, 176 isolates of Salmonella were collected from different laboratories in Ireland. All isolates were confirmed to be of the genus Salmonella by performing bacteriological and biochemical tests. Briefly, all isolates were cultured onto XLD agar after which pure cultures were verified and stocked at this institute. Definitive identification was carried out using the API 20-E system and a separate urease test was also performed on all isolates. After confirmation of the genus, all isolates were prepared for antibiotic susceptibility testing and r-types were determined using sixteen antibiotics. Depending on the antibiotic resistance profiles, isolates were selected for …

Effect Of The Use Of Amaranth Leaf Flour In The Development Of A Diet For Guinea Pigs, Verónica Del Rocío Guerrero Carrera

Theses and Dissertations

This study was carried out in the San Clemente community. The objective was to analyze the effect of using amaranth leaf flour in the creation of a diet for guinea pigs. The field work was done over a period of 12 months and was done in two phases: Development of the diet: this was done by growing the amaranth, cutting it, and dehydrating it until flour was obtained. Then, it was mixed into the diet in accordance with the pre-determined formula along with the other respective materials. Handling of guinea pigs: This was done in the shed of the San …

The Use Of Proteomic Technologies To Identify Serum Glycoproteins For The Early Detection Of Liver And Prostate Cancers, Elizabeth Ellen Schwegler

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The application of proteomic technologies to identify serum glycoproteins is an emerging technique to identify new biomarkers indicative of disease severity. Many of these newly evolving protein-profiling methodologies have evolved from previous global protein expression profiling studies such as those involving SELDI-TOF-MS technologies. Though the SELDI approach could distinguish disease from normal by utilizing protein patterns as shown herein with the HCC study of chapter II, it was unable to offer sequence information on the selected peaks, and did not have the ability to analyze the entire dynamic range of the serum/plasma proteome. To address these deficiencies, new strategies that …