Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Modulation Of Aub-Tdrd Interactions Elucidates Pirna Amplification And Germplasm Formation., Nicholas Vrettos, Manolis Maragkakis, Panagiotis Alexiou, Paraskevi Sgourdou, Fadia Ibrahim, Daniel Palmieri, Yohei Kirino, Phd, Zissimos Mourelatos

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

Aub guided by piRNAs ensures genome integrity by cleaving retrotransposons, and genome propagation by trapping mRNAs to form the germplasm that instructs germ cell formation. Arginines at the N-terminus of Aub (Aub-NTRs) interact with Tudor and other Tudor domain-containing proteins (TDRDs). Aub-TDRD interactions suppress active retrotransposons via piRNA amplification and form germplasm via generation of Aub-Tudor ribonucleoproteins. Here, we show that Aub-NTRs are dispensable for primary piRNA biogenesis but essential for piRNA amplification and that their symmetric dimethylation is required for germplasm formation and germ cell specification but largely redundant for piRNA amplification.

Purification And Use Of Trna For Enzymatic Post-Translational Addition Of Amino Acids To Proteins., Irem Avcilar-Kucukgoze, Howard Gamper, Ya-Ming Hou, Anna Kashina

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Post-translational addition of amino acids to proteins by enzymes using aminoacyl-tRNA is an emerging regulatory mechanism. Examples include Arg transfer in eukaryotes, Leu/Phe transfer in bacteria, and tRNA-synthetase-mediated addition of amino acids to Lys side chains. Here, we present a method of purification and use of tRNA for such reactions, focusing on tRNA^Arg and its use for arginylation. This method can also be used for other tRNA-mediated reactions. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Avcilar-Kucukgoze et al. (2020).

Immune Phenotype Of Patients With Stage Iv Metastatic Inflammatory Breast Cancer., Sandra V Fernandez, Alexander W Macfarlane, Mowafaq Jillab, Maria F Arisi, Jennifer Yearley, Lakshmanan Annamalai, Yulan Gong, Kathy Q Cai, R Katherine Alpaugh, Massimo Cristofanilli, Kerry S Campbell

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but aggressive carcinoma characterized by severe erythema and edema of the breast, with many patients presenting in advanced metastatic disease. The "inflammatory" nature is not due to classic immune-mediated inflammation, but instead results from tumor-mediated blockage of dermal lymphatic ducts. Previous work has shown that expression of PD-L1 on tumor cells can suppress T cell activation in triple-negative (TN) non-IBC breast cancer. In the present work, we investigated immune parameters in peripheral blood of metastatic IBC patients to determine whether cellular components of the immune system are altered, thereby contributing to pathogenesis …

Medicine And Surgery Residents' Perspectives On The Impact Of Covid-19 On Graduate Medical Education., Tanvi Rana, Christopher Hackett, Timothy Quezada, Abhishek Chaturvedi, Veli Bakalov, Jody Leonardo, Sandeep Rana

COVID-19 Papers, Posters, and Presentations

The COVID-19 crisis has had an unprecedented impact on resident education and well-being: social distancing guidelines have limited patient volumes and forced virtual learning, while personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, school/daycare closures, and visa restrictions have served as additional stressors. Our study aimed to analyze the effects of COVID-19 crisis-related stressors on residents' professional and personal lives. In April 2020, we administered a survey to residents at a large academic hospital system in order to assess the impact of the pandemic on residency training after >6 weeks of a modified schedule. The primary outcome was to determine which factors or …

Sleep Induction By Mechanosensory Stimulation In Drosophila., Arzu Öztürk-Çolak, Sho Inami, Joseph R. Buchler, Patrick D. Mcclanahan, Andri Cruz, Christopher Fang-Yen, Kyunghee Koh

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

People tend to fall asleep when gently rocked or vibrated. Experimental studies have shown that rocking promotes sleep in humans and mice. However, the mechanisms underlying the phenomenon are not well understood. A habituation model proposes that habituation, a form of non-associative learning, mediates sleep induction by monotonous stimulation. Here, we show that gentle vibration promotes sleep in Drosophila in part through habituation. Vibration-induced sleep (VIS) leads to increased homeostatic sleep credit and reduced arousability, and can be suppressed by heightened arousal or reduced GABA signaling. Multiple mechanosensory organs mediate VIS, and the magnitude of VIS depends on vibration frequency …

Hitting The Bullseye: Are Extracellular Vesicles On Target?, Nicole Noren Hooten, María Yáñez-Mó, Rachel M. Derita, Ashley Russell, Peter Quesenberry, Bharat Ramratnam, Paul D Robbins, Dolores Di Vizio, Sicheng Wen, Kenneth W Witwer, Lucia R Languino

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Increasing Out Of Bed The Day Of Surgery Documentation For Post-Op Total Hip & Knee Replacements, Alexis Wyeth, Megan Lofink

Abington Jefferson Health Nurse Residency Posters

No abstract provided.

Falls Prevention On An Observation Unit, Robert Rubino, Niveka Cason

Abington Jefferson Health Nurse Residency Posters

No abstract provided.

Sepsis Education On 5 Beurger, Kevin Galm, Christina Layton, Nicole Camut, Joseph Seo

Abington Jefferson Health Nurse Residency Posters

No abstract provided.

Nurse Education And Enteral Feedings In Mechanically Ventilated Patients, Georgina Campbell, John Durison, Daniel Russo

Abington Jefferson Health Nurse Residency Posters

No abstract provided.

Computational Modeling Analysis Of Generation Of Reactive Oxygen Species By Mitochondrial Assembled And Disintegrated Complex Ii., Nikolay I. Markevich, Lubov N. Markevich, Jan B. Hoek

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as critical mediators in a broad range of cellular signaling processes. The mitochondrial electron transport chain is one of the major contributors to ROS formation in most cells. Increasing evidence indicates that the respiratory Complex II (CII) can be the predominant ROS generator under certain conditions. A computational, mechanistic model of electron transfer and ROS formation in CII was developed in the present study to facilitate quantitative analysis of mitochondrial ROS production. The model was calibrated by fitting the computer simulated results to experimental data obtained on submitochondrial particles (SMP) prepared from bovine and rat …

On The Expanding Roles Of Trna Fragments In Modulating Cell Behavior, Rogan Magee, Isidore Rigoutsos

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

The fragments that derive from transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are an emerging category of regulatory RNAs. Known as tRFs, these fragments were reported for the first time only a decade ago, making them a relatively recent addition to the ever-expanding pantheon of non-coding RNAs. tRFs are short, 16-35 nucleotides (nts) in length, and produced through cleavage of mature and precursor tRNAs at various positions. Both cleavage positions and relative tRF abundance depend strongly on context, including the tissue type, tissue state, and disease, as well as the sex, population of origin, and race/ethnicity of an individual. These dependencies increase the urgency …

Facial Grimace Testing As An Assay Of Neuropathic Pain-Related Behavior In A Mouse Model Of Cervical Spinal Cord Injury., Nicolette M Heinsinger, Gabrielle Spagnuolo, R Vivian Allahyari, Simon Galer, Tyler Fox, David A Jaffe, Samantha J Thomas, Lorraine Iacovitti, Angelo C Lepore

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

A major portion of individuals affected by traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) experience one or more types of chronic neuropathic pain (NP), which is often intractable to currently available treatments. The availability of reliable behavioral assays in pre-clinical models of SCI-induced NP is therefore critical to assess the efficacy of new potential therapies. Commonly used assays to evaluate NP-related behavior in rodents, such as Hargreaves thermal and von Frey mechanical testing, rely on the withdrawal response to an evoked stimulus. However, other assays that test spontaneous/non-evoked NP-related behavior or supraspinal aspects of NP would be highly useful for a more …

The Membrane-Associated Form Of Cyclin D1 Enhances Cellular Invasion, Ke Chen, Xuanmao Jiao, Anthony Ashton, Agnese Di Rocco, Timothy G Pestell, Yunguang Sun, Jun Zhao, Mathew C Casimiro, Zhiping Li, Michael P Lisanti, Peter Mccue, Duanwen Shen, Samuel Achilefu, Hallgeir Rui, Richard G Pestell

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

The essential G1-cyclin, CCND1, is a collaborative nuclear oncogene that is frequently overexpressed in cancer. D-type cyclins bind and activate CDK4 and CDK6 thereby contributing to G1-S cell-cycle progression. In addition to the nucleus, herein cyclin D1 was also located in the cytoplasmic membrane. In contrast with the nuclear-localized form of cyclin D1 (cyclin D1NL), the cytoplasmic membrane-localized form of cyclin D1 (cyclin D1MEM) induced transwell migration and the velocity of cellular migration. The cyclin D1MEM was sufficient to induce G1-S cell-cycle progression, cellular proliferation, and colony formation. The cyclin D1MEM was sufficient to induce phosphorylation of the serine threonine …

Educational Case: A Case Of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis: Diagnostic Perspectives Across The Clinical Laboratory., Kaitlyn Dykes, Alexis R. Peedin

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The following fictional case is intended as a learning tool within the Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME), a set of national standards for teaching pathology. These are divided into three basic competencies: Disease Mechanisms and Processes, Organ System Pathology, and Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology.

Endogenous Cyclin D1 Promotes The Rate Of Onset And Magnitude Of Mitogenic Signaling Via Akt1 Ser473 Phosphorylation., Ke Chen, Xuanmao Jiao, Agnese Di Rocco, Duanwen Shen, Shaohua Xu, Adam Ertel, Zuoren Yu, Gabriele Di Sante, Min Wang, Zhiping Li, Timothy G Pestell, Mathew C Casimiro, Emmanuel Skordalakes, Samuel Achilefu, Richard G Pestell

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Cyclin D1 encodes the regulatory subunit of a holoenzyme that phosphorylates RB and functions as a collaborative nuclear oncogene. The serine threonine kinase Akt plays a pivotal role in the control of cellular metabolism, survival, and mitogenic signaling. Herein, Akt1-mediated phosphorylation of downstream substrates in the mammary gland is reduced by cyclin D1 genetic deletion and is induced by mammary-gland-targeted cyclin D1 overexpression. Cyclin D1 is associated with Akt1 and augments the rate of onset and maximal cellular Akt1 activity induced by mitogens. Cyclin D1 is identified in a cytoplasmic-membrane-associated pool, and cytoplasmic-membrane-localized cyclin D1-but not nuclear-localized cyclin D1-recapitulates Akt1 …

Covid-19-Associated Cns Demyelinating Diseases, Dhanashri Miskin, Md

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection are increasingly being recognized. The most common neurologic symptoms include headache, anosmia, and dysgeusia, but patients may also develop other central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

Which Sample Type Is Better For Xpert Mtb/Rif To Diagnose Adult And Pediatric Pulmonary Tuberculosis?, Mengyuan Lyu, Jian Zhou, Yuhui Cheng, Weelic Chong, Kang Wu, Teng Fang, Tianbo Fu, Binwu Ying

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to identify proper respiratory-related sample types for adult and pediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), respectively, by comparing performance of Xpert MTB/RIF when using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), induced sputum (IS), expectorated sputum (ES), nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs), and gastric aspiration (GA) as sample.

METHODS: Articles were searched in Web of Science, PubMed, and Ovid from inception up to 29 June 2020. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated, each with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Quality assessment and heterogeneity evaluation across included studies were performed.

RESULTS: A total of 50 articles were included. The respective sensitivity and specificity were 87% …

Complete Chemical Structures Of Human Mitochondrial Trnas, Takeo Suzuki, Yuka Yashiro, Ittoku Kikuchi, Yuma Ishigami, Hironori Saito, Ikuya Matsuzawa, Shunpei Okada, Mari Mito, Shintaro Iwasaki, Ding Ma, Xuewei Zhao, Kana Asano, Huan Lin, Yohei Kirino, Yuriko Sakaguchi, Tsutomu Suzuki

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

Mitochondria generate most cellular energy via oxidative phosphorylation. Twenty-two species of mitochondrial (mt-)tRNAs encoded in mtDNA translate essential subunits of the respiratory chain complexes. mt-tRNAs contain post-transcriptional modifications introduced by nuclear-encoded tRNA-modifying enzymes. They are required for deciphering genetic code accurately, as well as stabilizing tRNA. Loss of tRNA modifications frequently results in severe pathological consequences. Here, we perform a comprehensive analysis of post-transcriptional modifications of all human mt-tRNAs, including 14 previously-uncharacterized species. In total, we find 18 kinds of RNA modifications at 137 positions (8.7% in 1575 nucleobases) in 22 species of human mt-tRNAs. An up-to-date list of 34 …

Combination Of A Gellan Gum-Based Hydrogel With Cell Therapy For The Treatment Of Cervical Spinal Cord Injury, Eduardo D Gomes, Biswarup Ghosh, Rui Lima, Miguel Goulão, Tiago Moreira-Gomes, Joana Martins-Macedo, Mark W Urban, Megan C Wright, Jeffrey M Gimble, Nuno Sousa, Nuno A Silva, Angelo C Lepore, António J Salgado

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Cervical spinal cord trauma represents more than half of the spinal cord injury (SCI) cases worldwide. Respiratory compromise, as well as severe limb motor deficits, are among the main consequences of cervical lesions. In the present work, a Gellan Gum (GG)-based hydrogel modified with GRGDS peptide, together with adipose tissue-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) and olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), was used as a therapeutic strategy after a C2 hemisection SCI in rats. Hydrogel or cells alone, and a group without treatment, were also tested. Four weeks after injury, compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were performed to assess functional phrenic motor neuron …

Dysregulation Of Ryr Calcium Channel Causes The Onset Of Mitochondrial Retrograde Signaling, Anindya Roy Chowdhury, Satish Srinivasan, György Csordás, György Hajnóczky, Narayan G Avadhani

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

This study shows that multiple modes of mitochondrial stress generated by partial mtDNA depletion or cytochrome c oxidase disruption cause ryanodine receptor channel (RyR) dysregulation, which instigates the release of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm of C2C12 myoblasts and HCT116 carcinoma cells. We also observed a reciprocal downregulation of IP3R channel activity and reduced mitochondrial uptake of Ca2+. Ryanodine, an RyR antagonist, abrogated the mitochondrial stress-mediated increase in [Ca2+]c and the entire downstream signaling cascades of mitochondrial retrograde signaling. Interestingly, ryanodine also inhibited mitochondrial stress-induced invasive behavior in mtDNA-depleted C2C12 cells and HCT116 carcinoma cells. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation shows reduced FKBP12 …

Covid-19 And Possible Links With Parkinson's Disease And Parkinsonism: From Bench To Bedside, David Sulzer, Angelo Antonini, Valentina Leta, Anna Nordvig, Richard Jay Smeyne, James E Goldman, Osama Al-Dalahmah, Luigi Zecca, Alessandro Sette, Luigi Bubacco, Olimpia Meucci, Elena Moro, Ashley S Harms, Yaqian Xu, Stanley Fahn, K Ray Chaudhuri

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

This Viewpoint discusses insights from basic science and clinical perspectives on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)/severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the brain, with a particular focus on Parkinson's disease. Major points include that neuropathology studies have not answered the central issue of whether the virus enters central nervous system neurons, astrocytes or microglia, and the brain vascular cell types that express virus have not yet been identified. Currently, there is no clear evidence for human neuronal or astrocyte expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the major receptor for viral entry, but ACE2 expression may be activated by inflammation, and …

Phosphorylation Of Cyclophilin D At Serine 191 Regulates Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Opening And Cell Death After Ischemia-Reperfusion, Stephen Hurst, Fabrice Gonnot, Maya Dia, Claire Crola Da Silva, Ludovic Gomez, Shey-Shing Sheu

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia/reperfusion injury. Although the pore structure is still unresolved, the mechanism through which cyclophilin D (CypD) regulates mPTP opening is the subject of intensive studies. While post-translational modifications of CypD have been shown to modulate pore opening, specific phosphorylation sites of CypD have not yet been identified. We hypothesized here that phosphorylation of CypD on a serine residue controls mPTP opening and subsequent cell death at reperfusion. We combined in silico analysis with in vitro and genetic manipulations to determine potential CypD phosphorylation …

Genomic Characterization Of Malignant Progression In Neoplastic Pancreatic Cysts, Michaël Noë, Noushin Niknafs, Catherine G Fischer, Wenzel M Hackeng, Violeta Beleva Guthrie, Waki Hosoda, Marija Debeljak, Eniko Papp, Vilmos Adleff, James R White, Claudio Luchini, Antonio Pea, Aldo Scarpa, Giovanni Butturini, Giuseppe Zamboni, Paola Castelli, Seung-Mo Hong, Shinichi Yachida, Nobuyoshi Hiraoka, Anthony J Gill, Jaswinder S Samra, G Johan A Offerhaus, Anne Hoorens, Joanne Verheij, Casper Jansen, N Volkan Adsay, Wei Jiang, Jordan Winter, Jorge Albores-Saavedra, Benoit Terris, Elizabeth D Thompson, Nicholas J Roberts, Ralph H Hruban, Rachel Karchin, Robert B Scharpf, Lodewijk A A Brosens, Victor E Velculescu, Laura D Wood

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) are non-invasive neoplasms that are often observed in association with invasive pancreatic cancers, but their origins and evolutionary relationships are poorly understood. In this study, we analyze 148 samples from IPMNs, MCNs, and small associated invasive carcinomas from 18 patients using whole exome or targeted sequencing. Using evolutionary analyses, we establish that both IPMNs and MCNs are direct precursors to pancreatic cancer. Mutations in SMAD4 and TGFBR2 are frequently restricted to invasive carcinoma, while RNF43 alterations are largely in non-invasive lesions. Genomic analyses suggest an average window of over three …

Fatal Case Of Newborn Lassa Fever Virus Infection Mimicking Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis: A Case Report From Northern Nigeria, Taofik Oluwaseun Ogunkunle, Surajudeen Oyeleke Bello, Chinwe Immaculata Anderson, Rashida Musa, Rasaq Olaosebikan, Abdulazeez Imam

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Lassa fever is a zoonotic viral infection endemic to the West Africa countries. It is highly fatal during pregnancy and as such reports of neonatal onset Lassa fever infections are rare in scientific literature. We report a fatal case of Lassa fever in a 26-day-old neonate mimicking the diagnosis of late-onset neonatal sepsis.

CASE PRESENTATION: The patient is a 26-day-old neonate who was admitted with a day history of fever, poor feeding, pre-auricular lymphadenopathy and sudden parental death. He was initially evaluated for late onset neonatal sepsis. He later developed abnormal bleeding and multiple convulsions while on admission, prompting …

Mg2+-Dependent Methyl Transfer By A Knotted Protein: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation And Quantum Mechanics Study, Agata P Perlinska, Marcin Kalek, Thomas Christian, Ya-Ming Hou, Joanna I Sulkowska

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Mg2+ is required for the catalytic activity of TrmD, a bacteria-specific methyltransferase that is made up of a protein topological knot-fold, to synthesize methylated m1G37-tRNA to support life. However, neither the location of Mg2+ in the structure of TrmD nor its role in the catalytic mechanism is known. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we identify a plausible Mg2+ binding pocket within the active site of the enzyme, wherein the ion is coordinated by two aspartates and a glutamate. In this position, Mg2+ additionally interacts with the carboxylate of a methyl donor cofactor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). The computational results are validated by …

A Grief All Its Own, Mary Blumenfeld

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

No abstract provided.

Deacetylation Of Hsd17b10 By Sirt3 Regulates Cell Growth And Cell Resistance Under Oxidative And Starvation Stresses., Lu Liu, Shuaiyi Chen, Miao Yu, Chenxu Ge, Mengmeng Ren, Boya Liu, Xin Yang, Thomas W Christian, Ya-Ming Hou, Junhua Zou, Wei-Guo Zhu, Jianyuan Luo

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 10 (HSD17B10) plays an important role in mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism and is also involved in mitochondrial tRNA maturation. HSD17B10 missense mutations cause HSD10 mitochondrial disease (HSD10MD). HSD17B10 with mutations identified from cases of HSD10MD show loss of function in dehydrogenase activity and mitochondrial tRNA maturation, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction. It has also been implicated to play roles in the development of Alzheimer disease (AD) and tumorigenesis. Here, we found that HSD17B10 is a new substrate of NAD-dependent deacetylase Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3). HSD17B10 is acetylated at lysine residues K79, K99 and K105 by the acetyltransferase CBP, and the …

Lyssavirus Vaccine With A Chimeric Glycoprotein Protects Across Phylogroups, Christine R Fisher, David E Lowe, Todd G Smith, Yong Yang, Christina L Hutson, Christoph Wirblich, Gino Cingolani, Matthias J. Schnell

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Rabies is nearly 100% lethal in the absence of treatment, killing an estimated 59,000 people annually. Vaccines and biologics are highly efficacious when administered properly. Sixteen rabies-related viruses (lyssaviruses) are similarly lethal, but some are divergent enough to evade protection from current vaccines and biologics, which are based only on the classical rabies virus (RABV). Here we present the development and characterization of LyssaVax, a vaccine featuring a structurally designed, functional chimeric glycoprotein (G) containing immunologically important domains from both RABV G and the highly divergent Mokola virus (MOKV) G. LyssaVax elicits high titers of antibodies specific to both RABV …

Physiochemical Characteristics Of Hot And Cold Brew Coffee Chemistry: The Effects Of Roast Level And Brewing Temperature On Compound Extraction., Niny Z. Rao, Megan Fuller, Meghan D Grim

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

The role of roasting in cold brew coffee chemistry is poorly understood. The brewing temperature influences extraction processes and may have varying effects across the roast spectrum. To understand the relationship between brew temperature and roast temperature, hot and cold brew coffees were prepared from Arabica Columbian coffee beans roasted to light, medium, and dark levels. Chemical and physical parameters were measured to investigate the relationships among degree of roast, water temperature, and key characteristics of resulting coffees. Cold brew coffees showed differential extraction marked by decreased acidity, lower concentration of browned compounds, and fewer TDS indicating that cold water …