Life Sciences Commons^™

Alterations In Calcium Homeostasis And The Insulin-Like Growth Factor Signaling Pathway Induced By Carcinogenic Polycyclic And Halogenated Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Human Mammary Epithelial Cells, Stacey L. Tannheimer

Pharmaceutical Sciences ETDs

Breast cancer is a major health concern for women, with only a small percent of the risk factors currently identified. It has been estimated that environmental factors may contribute to up to 80% of breast cancer cases. Many environmental carcinogens, such as polycyclic and halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs and HAHs), are proven mammary carcinogens in animal models. Therefore, these studies were conducted to elucidate potential roles of PAHs and HAHs in alterations in known signaling pathways in human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC). Carcinogenic PAHs have previously been shown to produce sustained alterations in the calcium (Ca2') homeostasis of lymphocytes Therefore, …

Comparison Of Beta-Adrenoceptor Coupled Camp Production In Cultured Human Mononuclear Leukocytes And Myometrial Cells, Yu-Li Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

$\beta\sb2$-Adrenoceptor ($\beta\sb2$-AR) agonists, such as terbutaline, are used as tocolytic agents in the treatment of preterm labor. $\beta$-Adrenoceptor stimulation relaxes myometrium through specific receptors coupled through Gs to adenylyl cyclase (AC) that catalyzes the conversion of ATP to cAMP. The purpose of this study was to compare $\beta$-adrenoceptors and cAMP production in cultured human leukocytes and myometrial cells, and to determine the importance of $\beta$-adrenoceptors and cAMP production in isoproterenol-induced myometrial relaxation. $\sp{125}$I-iodopindolol was used to assess $\beta$-adrenoceptor affinity and number cAMP levels were analyzed before and after stimulation by isoproterenol, AlF$\sb4\sp-$, forskolin, and PGE$\sb1$. Isometric recording was used to …

A Cytochemical Evaluation Of Blood-Brain Barrier Sodium, Potassium- And Calcium-Adenosine Triphosphatase Polarity, Panya Steve Manoonkitiwongsa

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by cerebral vascular endothelial cells. Brain ion and fluid homeotasis essential for proper neural functioning is due to the BBB. Sodium-potassium and calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-ATPase) serve as one of the main mechanisms controlling brain Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ concentrations. The present accepted concept is that both of these enzymes are localized to the abluminal plasma membrane of endothelial cells although there have been contrary results from some studies. Because of these discrepancies, further work was needed. Various cytochemical procedures …

The Effect Of Systemic Doxycycline On Alveolar Bone Loss Following Periradicular Surgery, G. Reed Cummings

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Studies have shown an average of 0.5 mm to over 1.0 mm of bone loss following full thickness flap reflection. Recent investigations have revealed that the tetracycline family of antibiotics can prevent bone loss. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of systemic Doxycycline on crestal alveolar bone loss following periradicular surgery in Beagle dogs.

The experiment was divided into two phases. The first phase served as the control (Non-Doxycycline), the second phase as the experiment (Doxycycline). Full thickness flaps were reflected in the mandibular left or right quadrant (control side) of five Beagle dogs. Using a …

The Effect Of Root End Demineralization On Cementogenesis : A Long Term Investigation, Hamid R. Abedi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Craig and Harrison¹² examined the effect of demineralization of resected root ends on wound healing following periradicular surgery. Based on its microscopic evaluations from 4-45 days, it was proposed that demineralization of resected root ends enhances cementogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the longer term effects of demineralization on cementogenesis using Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) or amalgam as root end filling materials. After completion of root canal therapy and endodontic surgery on seventy-two roots of mandibular second, third and fourth premolars of six beagle dogs, 32/72 of the root ends at random were etched with 50% …

Interaction Of Acth And Estradiol In The Regulation Of Growth, Differentiation, And Steroidogenic Maturation Of The Baboon Fetal Adrenal Gland, Maria Gomez Leavitt

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The present study determined whether the growth of, as well as ACTH receptor and P-450 enzyme messenger ribonucleic acid and/or protein levels in the baboon fetal adrenal are dependent upon fetal pituitary ACTH during mid and late gestation and the mechanism by which placental estrogen modulates ACTH actions. Administration of betamethasone (3mg/day) to baboon mothers on days 60-99 of gestation and to the fetus (0.6 mg/, n = 4) or to the fetus (0.6mg) and mother (6 mg/ml; n = 4) every other day between days 150-164 of gestation (term = 184 days) decreased (P $53β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase (3β-HSD(+)ctochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase, …

The Cellular And Molecular Dynamics Of The Queuosine Modification In Transfer Rna: Definition, Modulation, Deficiencies And Effect Of The Queuosine Modification System, Rana C. Morris

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The presence of the queuosine modification in the wobble position of tRNA^asn, tRN^asp, tRNA^his, and tRNA^tyr is associated with a decrease in cellular growth rate, an increase in the ability to withstand environmental stress, and differentiation of pleuripotent cells into mature phenotypes. The loss of this normal modification is strongly correlated with neoplastic transformation and tumor progression of a wide variety of cancers.

The "normal" system for formation of the queuosine modification in tRNA was studied in human fibroblast cell cultures and in mouse, rat and human liver tissues. The queuosine modification system …

The Effect Of Growth Hormone Release On Plasma And Erythrocyte Selenium And Zinc Levels In Children, Maria Estela Legal De Reid

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Research studies have suggested that selenium may be important in the release of growth hormone, GH. A selenium-containing amino-acid residue, selenocysteine, has been identified as part of the active site of the three isoenzymes (Type I, II and III iodothyronine 5' -deiodinase) responsible for the synthesis of active thyroid hormone, T_3, which is reported to stimulate GH secretion. The importance of zinc in growth is well- documented because of its involvement in transcription and expression of GH and its intermediary, insulin growth factor I or IGF- I. Thus, selenium and zinc levels in plasma may be altered in response …

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase And Growth Factor Regulation Of Flow-Mediated Vascular Remodeling, David Anthony Tulis

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

This study was designed to characterize structural remodeling of male Wistar rat mesenteric arteries exposed to elevated blood flow in vivo for 1, 3, or 7 days. A series of arterial ligations induced blood flow increases in ileal and second-order branch arteries compared to same animal control vessels. Neither mean carotid nor local mesenteric arterial pressures changed significantly pre- to post-ligation. The primary flow-mediated force in both vessels was shear stress with possible involvement of acute stretch-induced wall stress in the ileal artery. Significant luminal expansion and medial wall hypertrophy occurred in the ileal and second-order arteries in a time-dependent …

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Analysis Of Human Embryos Derived From In Vitro And In Vivo Matured Oocytes, Constance Descisciolo

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Despite adequate hormonal stimulation, oocytes collected for the purpose of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer display several levels of nuclear maturity. Preovulatory or mature oocytes, technically those that are Metaphase I or II, are inseminated shortly after aspiration and assessed for fertilization the following day. Prophase I oocytes, also called germinal vesicle-bearing or immature oocytes, require a 24-36 hour period in culture before being exposed to spermatozoa. During this time, the majority of Prophase I oocytes complete nuclear maturation in vitro, progressing from germinal vesicle breakdown through first polar body extrusion. If inseminated, many in vitro matured oocytes fertilize …

Effect Of Cocaine On Rabbit Renin Angiotensin System: Cocaine Detection In Adult And Fetal Tissue And Adult Plasma Using Ion Mobility Spectrometry, Barbara Belinda Guinn

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) was used to detect cocaine and/or the metabolite ecgonine methyl ester (EME) in tissue and plasma samples from male, maternal, and fetal New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. EME was consistently detected in all adult plasma samples 5 minutes after the injection of cocaine hydrochloride (cocaine•HCI, 2 mg/kg). EME was also in the liver, kidneys, testicles, and ovaries. Five minutes after the injection of cocaine•HCI, the male arterial pressure (MAP) increased from a mean control value of 79 ± 3.2 mmHg to 88 ± 4.1 mmHg, and the pCO₂ increased from a control value of28 ± …

Oral Cancer Screening, Damon Omar Watson

Honors Theses

Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx have increased throughout the decades. Since oral cancer represents a small percentage of the total cancers in the United States, it is often overlooked. Though this is the case, the results of this cancer can be devastating. To address this issue, an Oral Cancer Screening was organized on August 14, 1996 at the West Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo. This was a joint collaboration between the author, the West Michigan Cancer Center, and the Kalamazoo Valley Dental Society. This event allowed research to take place concerning the data obtained. Confidential results and information …

Cellular Responses In Escherichia Coli To Lethal And Sublethal Doses Of Ozone, Indira Ruth Komanapalli

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Ozone is a major component of photochemical smog. High levels of this pollutant, sufficient to affect human health are found in many urban areas worldwide. Though limited studies in humans are supported by extensive findings from animal experiments, a difficulty in interpreting the results of these experiments has lead to an ambiguity on the biochemical mechanism of ozone toxicity. To elucidate the mechanism by which ozone causes cell damage and eventual cell death we conducted a comprehensive study using Escherichia coli K-12 as a model.

Studies on the comparative inactivation of bacteriophage lambda (λ), Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans …

Study Of The Hiv-1 Gene Regulatory Proteins Tat And Rev By The Two-Hybrid System In Yeast, David Allen Elkins

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Tat and Rev, small proteins encoded by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1), regulate its pattern of gene expression within infected cells. Tat increases transcription from the integrated pro virus by approximately a thousand-fold; Rev effects a shift in the pattern of splicing of the viral mRNA. Both are likely to interact with cellular proteins in executing their respective functions. Tat has additional activities (including neurotoxicity and inhibition of lymphocyte activation) which may be extraneous to its viral functions.

In order to identify cellular proteins interacting with Tat and Rev, the genes for both were cloned into plasmid vectors …

An Analysis Of The Calcium And Iron Intake Of Langston University's Track And Basketball Athletes, Dominique Patrice Moore

McCabe Thesis Collection

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA's ) reflect that the average healthy American aged 18-24 years should consume 1,200 mg of calcium daily and 10-12 mg and 15 mg of iron for men and women respectively. These RDA's have not been adjusted for those persons involved in endurance sports. Studies by Telford (1992) and Clarkson (1992) show that endurance athletes suffer from calcium and iron deficiencies. There is a general assumption that athletic coaches are more concerned with the "weigh in" of 4 athletes than overall nutrient requirements. Positive nutrition education should be part of the overall training of athletes. Also, studies …

Alterations In Human B Cell Calcium Homeostasis By Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Possible Associations With Cytochrome P450 Metabolism And Increased Tyrosine Phosphorylation, Barbara J. Mounho

Pharmaceutical Sciences ETDs

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are known immunotoxicants in animals, and are suspect toxins to the human immune system. The mechanism(s), however, by which PAHs exert immunosuppression have not been fully elucidated. Previous studies conducted in our laboratory have shown that PAHs, such as 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)- anthracene (DMB A) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) may exert their immunotoxic effects by altering intracellular calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis in lymphocytes. Intracellular Ca2+ is an important second messenger in the immune response, and the mobilization of Ca2+ is critical in the transduction of intracellular signals from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. The overall objective of this project …

An Immunomodulating Mycotoxin Interferes With The Development Of Autoimmune Diabetes In Diabetes-Prone Bb/Wor Rats, Honggang Liu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Various fungal products have immunomodulating activity and some have been studied regarding prevention of transplantation rejection. Prior to this investigation, the mycotoxin, gliotoxin (GT), has never been investigated as an immunotherapeutic drug for autoimmune disease. GT is a fungal secondary metabolite and a member of the epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) family which has been shown to inhibit phagocytosis, induction of cytolytic T cells and the proliferation of T cells following mitogen stimulation. GT also induces in vitro apoptosis in certain immune cell types. More importantly, GT exhibits selective activity towards cells of hemopoietic origin.

Autoimmune diseases are disorders caused by immune responses …

Relationship Of Resting And Submaximal Cardiovascular Measures To Vo[2]Max In Untrained Children, Thomas A. Cappaert

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Participation by children in organized sport continues to increase. A 1994 survey of 10,000 households by the National Sporting Goods Association (1994) found that approximately 40,000 children between the ages of 7-17 years participate in an organized sport or recreational activity annually. In the realm of organized sports, especially endurance activities, there continues to be interest in how cardiovascular fitness is attained and how it can be maximized. Measurement of cardiovascular fitness is an important piece to that puzzle.

The most common and most descriptive measure for children and adults, is the maximal oxygen uptake or max (Astrand & Rodahl, …

The Effect On Feeding And Wheel Running Behaviours Of Housing Rats In Pairs, Roison M. O'Connor

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The effects on feeding of moving animals from individual- to pair-housing were explored in the present three experiments. Wheel access is known to result in a temporary suppression of feeding. The move to pair-housing was compared with the effect of wheel access. In Experiment l, a group of rats was moved from individual to pair-housing (IP group) and compared to a group of individually-housed rats (IND group) and a group of chronically pair-housed rats (PAIR group). The animals in the IP group showed a temporary (three days) suppression in feeding (initially 23%). When half of the IND and PAIR group …

The Potential For Transmission Of Perkinsus Marinus By Fecal Matter From The Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, Christine H. Scanlon

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Fas And Fas Ligand In Apoptosis During Regression Of The Corpus Luteum, Sharon Roughton

Theses : Honours

Apoptosis, a form of physiological cell death, has been found to occur during regression of the corpus luteum (Juengel etal, 1993; Dharmarajan etal, 1994). The pathways involved in this process, however, have yet to be specified. One possible mediator of corpus luteum regression is the Fas (or AP0-1 or CD95) receptor, a transmembrane protein which induces apoptosis in the cell when ligated. In order to further confirm this hypolhesis, the present study establishes and quantitates the presence and regulation of Fas receptor and Fas ligand (Fasl) in the rat corpus luteum during pregnancy and post-partum. The animals used were sexually …

Determination Of The Presence Of Antibiotics And Bacterial Pathogens With Their Susceptibility In Fresh Milk From The San Nicolas Community And The Cities Of Penipe, Guano, And Chambo In The Chimborazo Province, Lupe Marín

Theses and Dissertations

This study is entitled, “determination of the presence of antibiotics and bacterial pathogens with their susceptibility in fresh milk from the San Nicolas community and the cities of Penipe, Guano, and Chambo in the Chimborazo province”. It was funded by the Benson Institute of Brigham Young University and Nestle. The objectives were: 1) to determine the presence of antibiotics in fresh milk from the San Nicolas community and the cities of Penipe, Guano, and Chambo, 2) to determine the presence of bacterial pathogens in milk from the places previously mentioned, and 3) to detect the susceptibility of the isolated bacteria …

Nutritional And Food Situation Of Five Communities Of Canaviri, Colina Blanca, Villa Arriendo, Puente Arriba And Pocohata, Department Of La Paz, Bolivia, Juana F. Moraima Gonzáles Tapia

Theses and Dissertations

The following work seeks to address the necessity that the inhabitants of the impoverished regions in Bolivia experience, as is the case of the highland region of Paceno, which is the understanding of their nutritional and alimentary situation. We studied the communities of Canavari, Pocohata, Colina Blanca, Puente Arriba, and Villa Arriendo de la Provincia Ingavi, in the province of la Paz.
The studied variable was the nutritional sta te, having as parameters: physical and economical availability of the food, food consumption, nutritional habits, biological usage of the food, basic sanitary conditions, and the educationallevel of the heads of family. …

Differential Endometrial Responses Of Primates Vs Rodents: Screening For Antiproliferative Effects Of Antiprogestins, David Williams Burleigh

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The antiprogestin, mifepristone, has previously been shown to noncompetitively inhibit estrogen-induced endometrial proliferation in nonhuman primates (van Uem et al., 1989; Wolf et al., 1989b; Neulen et al., 1990; Neulen et al., 1996). For both economical and ethical reasons, we are encouraged to identify comparative laboratory rodent models which can substitute the need to use primate models. In the following study, we compared capabilities of the rat uterine weight bioassay versus a primate uterine bioassay, to identify the noncompetitive antiestrogenic/antiproliferative effects of mifepristone.

Long-term ovariectomized monkeys were exposed to exogenous 17β-estradiol (E2) and mifepristone in doses and regimes already demonstrated …

Arterial Wall Hypertrophy And Pdgf-A Expression In One-Kidney, One-Clip Hypertension And Angiotensin Ii Infusion Are Mediated By Elevated Arterial Pressure, Sheri Blair Parker

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

These studies were designed to characterize the relative roles of angiotensin II (ANG II) and pressure in the structural alterations that occur in experimental hypertension. Two separate studies were performed in order to differentiate these two mechanisms. First, male Wistar rats were subjected to one-kidney, one-clip (1K1C) hypertension or sham operation. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, was administered chronically to half of each surgical group beginning one day before the operation and continued until the end of the study. In a second experiment, rats were implanted with osmopumps delivering either ANG II or saline. To maintain pressure in the normotensive …

Choline Acetyltransferase And Carnitine Acetyltransferase Activity In Human Spermatozoa During Capacitation, Lisa A. Eccles

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The regional distribution of ChAT activity in human spermatozoa is altered during in vitro capacitation and it correlates with the fertilizing potential of sperm.

Regional immunoreactivity in human spermatozoa as assessed by fluorescent immunocytochemistry was compared with ChAT and CaAT activity determined by enzymatic methodologies. Increasing proportions of sperm exhibited ChAT immunoreactivity along the equatorial region with a concomitant decrease in ChAT reactivity in the midpiece. Also, competitive studies with unlabeled ChAT blocked the equatorial region labeling; the unlabeled CaAT blocked staining along the midpiece region of the tail, suggesting some cross-reactivity of the ChAT antiserum with the CaAT enzyme. …