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Articles 1 - 30 of 136
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Light Transmitting Fiber Posts - An In Vitro Evaluation., Antigoni Stylianou
Light Transmitting Fiber Posts - An In Vitro Evaluation., Antigoni Stylianou
All ETDs from UAB
Objectives: The primary purpose of this study is to measure and compare the light transmission, radiopacity and microscopic structure of a new fiber optic post compared to a clinically successful fiber post. Materials and Methods: A. The radiopacity of seven posts was evaluated in terms of average intensity values calculated in histograms produced by computer-based software. B. The two types of fiber posts were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and evaluated by computer-assisted image analysis. C. Two experimental groups with sample size n=12 included the D.T. Light posts and iLumi Fiber Optic posts. Two aluminum assemblies forming two cylindrical …
G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium (Girk) Chanels Mediate Entrainment Of Circadian Rhythms, Lauren Marie Hablitz
G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium (Girk) Chanels Mediate Entrainment Of Circadian Rhythms, Lauren Marie Hablitz
All ETDs from UAB
Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles in biological and behavioral processes. These cycles enable an organism to predict changes in its environment, like changes in food availability and seasonality. Although endogenously driven, these rhythms can entrain or synchronize to daily changes in the environment, allowing the animal to adapt. One way entrainment occurs is shifts in circadian phase following the presentation of nonphotic, or non-light, stimuli, such as exercise, arousal, or stress at certain times of day. The molecular mechanisms underlying nonphotic entrainment are poorly understood - specifically, how nonphotic cues alter excitability within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, …
The Investigation Of Quality Of Life, Perceived Disease Severity, And Adherence In Patients With The G551d Mutation Receiving Ivacaftor Therapy, Heather Young Hathorne
The Investigation Of Quality Of Life, Perceived Disease Severity, And Adherence In Patients With The G551d Mutation Receiving Ivacaftor Therapy, Heather Young Hathorne
All ETDs from UAB
Cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder, is a chronic life threatening illness that affects 30,000 adults and children in the United States and 70,000 worldwide. Treatment for CF is complex and consuming, consisting of multiple time intensive regimens. The therapy regimen has been descried as extraordinary when compared even to therapy regimens for other chronic illnesses. Oral and nebulized medication therapy, airway clearance therapy, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and vitamin /nutritional supplements are all required for the multiorgan treatment regimen for CF. Daily prescribed therapy can include as many as 40-50 pills, breathing treatments lasting up to tow hours a …
Zebrafish Wnt9b Patterns The First Pharyngeal Arch Into D-I-V Domains And Promotes Anterior-Medial Outgrowth, Henry Jackson
Zebrafish Wnt9b Patterns The First Pharyngeal Arch Into D-I-V Domains And Promotes Anterior-Medial Outgrowth, Henry Jackson
All ETDs from UAB
The secondary mouth and its associated face and jaws were an important evolutionary adaptation in the vertebrate lineage. The secondary mouth is formed from facial prominences including the fronto-nasal prominence and the 1st pharyngeal-arch derived maxillary and mandibular prominence. Cranial neural crest cells within these prominences give rise to the connective tissues of face and jaws, and strict spatio-temporal regulation of cranial neural crest cell fate patterning and subsequent prominence outgrowth is vital to normal facial development. Oral-facial clefting (OFC) is a common morbid human birth disorder characterized by disrupted oral and craniofacial morphogenesis. Our previous studies demonstrate that a …
Robust Production Of Mature Ribosomal Rna Is Directly Influenced By Multiple Steps Within The Transcription Cycle, Krysta Engel
Robust Production Of Mature Ribosomal Rna Is Directly Influenced By Multiple Steps Within The Transcription Cycle, Krysta Engel
All ETDs from UAB
Cellular growth depends on the capacity for protein synthesis, and likewise ribosome biogenesis. Therefore, robust rRNA synthesis by RNA Polymerase I (Pol I) is a critical component of cell growth. The work reported in this dissertation highlights the contribution of polymerase domains and trans-acting proteins during rRNA synthesis and ribosome biogenesis. Eukaryotes utilize three homologous nuclear RNA polymerases (RNAPs) to express their genomes. The trigger loop (TL) is a well conserved region within the active site of multi-subunit RNAPs that plays a direct role during the nucleotide addition cycle. Analysis of Pol II TL mutants has suggested that catalysis is …
Defining The Role Of Trps1 In Phosphate Mediated Mineralization, Maria Kuzynski
Defining The Role Of Trps1 In Phosphate Mediated Mineralization, Maria Kuzynski
All ETDs from UAB
Mineralization is a tightly controlled bi-phasic process that occurs when crystals of calcium and phosphate (Pi) are laid down within the extracellular matrix. However, the molecular networks regulating the initiation and progression of this process have not been well characterized. Pi, as one of the components of mineral crystals and a signaling molecule that regulates expression of mineralization-related genes, is essential to the mineralization process. In our studies, we discovered a novel function for Pi in this process: Pi is sufficient to induce secretion of matrix vesicles, which support the initiation of mineralization. Furthermore, we determined that this induction is …
Characterization Of The Gtpase Rac1 As An Electrophilic-Sensitive Protein In Vascular Cells, Stephanie Brook Wall
Characterization Of The Gtpase Rac1 As An Electrophilic-Sensitive Protein In Vascular Cells, Stephanie Brook Wall
All ETDs from UAB
The GTPase Rac1 is a protein which has been shown to be dysregulated in the context of a number of inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis. Rac1 responds to extracellular signals and is involved in cellular cytoskeletal rearrangement, reactive oxygen species generation and cell cycle progression. When activated Rac1 interacts with effector proteins on the plasma membrane. This activation has recently been shown to be modulated by redox signaling via an active site cysteine. However, it is not known whether other redox signaling compounds can modulate Rac1 activity. An important redox signaling mediator is the electrophilic lipid, 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15dPGJ2). This lipid …
The Role Of Ribosome Biogenesis In Exercise-Induced Skeletal Muscle Anabolism In Aging, Michael Stec
The Role Of Ribosome Biogenesis In Exercise-Induced Skeletal Muscle Anabolism In Aging, Michael Stec
All ETDs from UAB
Numerous chronic medical conditions, as well as normal aging result in a significant loss of skeletal muscle mass. This has profound effects on quality of life and can increase the risk of all-cause mortality. Currently, the most potent treatment for reversing the loss of muscle mass is resistance exercise training (RT); however, the human muscle fiber growth (hypertrophy) response to this treatment is quite variable, and older adults do not respond as favorably to this treatment as younger adults. The focus of this dissertation is to elucidate the role that ribosome biogenesis plays in regulating the RT-induced hypertrophic response. We …
Association Between Physical Activity And Learning, Pain Coping Strategies, Perceived Stress, And Depression Among Adults With Diabetes And Chronic Pain, Susan J. Andreae
Association Between Physical Activity And Learning, Pain Coping Strategies, Perceived Stress, And Depression Among Adults With Diabetes And Chronic Pain, Susan J. Andreae
All ETDs from UAB
In addition to the role of physical activity (PA) in the prevention of chronic disease and premature death, PA may have psychosocial benefits. We examined the association between four different domains of PA and three outcomes that may contribute to the emotional and mental well being of individuals. This is a secondary analysis of community dwelling adults with diabetes and chronic pain in which we examined the association between four domains of PA and learning (measured using diabetes knowledge, self efficacy in diabetes and pain management), pain coping strategies, perceived stress, and depression. Regression models were used to model changes …
In- Vitro Wear Of Four Cad-Cam Materials In The Uab Wear Simulating Device, Ritika Bansal
In- Vitro Wear Of Four Cad-Cam Materials In The Uab Wear Simulating Device, Ritika Bansal
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In- vitro Wear of Four CAD- CAM Materials in the UAB Wear Simulating Device RITIKA BANSAL MS IN CLINICAL DENTISTRY ABSTRACT Hybrid ceramic/polymer blocks represent a new category of CAD/CAM materials that do not require heat treatment following milled fabrication and limited clinically relevant mechanical properties of these materials are available. Purpose: This study measures the hardness, flexural strength, modulus, and wear of 3 ceramic/polymer hybrid materials (LAVA Ultimate, Enamic, and Cerasmart), 2 reference glass ceramics (IPS e.max and Celtra Duo), and 1 reference composite material (Paradigm MZ100). Methods: Flexural strength specimens (n=10) (2.5 Ã 2.5 Ã 16 mm) were …
Towards An Understanding Of Patient Satisfaction In The Military Health System, Alan Alexander Jones
Towards An Understanding Of Patient Satisfaction In The Military Health System, Alan Alexander Jones
All ETDs from UAB
The Military Health System (MHS) is the most expansive health care system in the world. The MHS provides health care services to 9.7 million eligible beneficiaries spread across six continents. The MHS budget exceeded $52 billion in 2013 or 10 percent of the total 2013 Defense budget. The cost of health care in the MHS is of great concern to the Department of Defense and the US Congress. The MHS needs a strong framework to measure the value of the health care it provides. The purpose of this study was to develop a framework to better understand Patient Satisfaction in …
Characterizing The Nuclear Import And Functions Of Cystin, The Ciliary Protein Disrupted In The Cpk Mouse Model Of Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, Jacob Asher Watts
Characterizing The Nuclear Import And Functions Of Cystin, The Ciliary Protein Disrupted In The Cpk Mouse Model Of Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, Jacob Asher Watts
All ETDs from UAB
Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD; MIM 263200) is a ma-jor cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. Typically, orthologous animal models are the mainstay for pathogenic studies of human diseases. However, gene-targeting of Pkhd1, the mouse ortholog of the ARPKD gene, results in mutants with little or no kidney disease. In contrast, disruption of the non-orthologous gene, Cys1, in the cpk mouse model closely phenocopies human ARPKD. We speculate that this phenotypic similarity suggests that the Pkhd1 and Cys1 genes encode proteins (FPC and cystin, respectively) that share, at least in part, common molecular pathways. Our laboratory, as well as …
Geographic Access To Interventional Cardiology Services In Maine, James P. Rhudy Jr
Geographic Access To Interventional Cardiology Services In Maine, James P. Rhudy Jr
All ETDs from UAB
Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome is the most common cause of death in the U.S. and the world; ST segment elevated myocardial infarction is the most acute form. The preferred reperfusion therapy is immediate primary percutaneous coronary intervention at an interventional cardiology center. It is intuitive, but not known, whether delay in receipt of reperfusion therapy because of geographic distance is associated with increased coronary mortality. Even so, clinical practice guidelines recommend organizing coronary care in each community in regional systems. Hub-and-spoke has been proposed as a regionalized coronary care model. Article synthesis: The first article in this dissertation, titled Effectiveness …
An Analysis Of Selecting Personal Protective Equipment Clothing Used In Foundries, Quachel Bazile
An Analysis Of Selecting Personal Protective Equipment Clothing Used In Foundries, Quachel Bazile
All ETDs from UAB
A foundry is a type of factory that deals with producing metal casting. The metals are casted in to shape by being melted into liquid and is then poured into the mold. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn to protect the worker from the hazard that engineering control cannot protect the worker from. A Private company wanted to evaluate their current PPE clothing to understand how well they protect a worker against molten metal splash PPE clothing was tested using the American Standard for Testing Material (ASTM) standard F955-07 entitled "Evaluating Heat Transfer through Materials for Protective Clothing upon Contact …
Modulation Of The Unfolded Protein Response To Delay Apoptosis In An Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Animal Model, Yogesh Bhootada
Modulation Of The Unfolded Protein Response To Delay Apoptosis In An Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Animal Model, Yogesh Bhootada
All ETDs from UAB
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of retinal degenerative diseases characterized by the loss of rod photoreceptor cells that can be followed by cone degeneration eventually culminating in total photoreceptor cell loss. This disease affects approximately 1.5 million people worldwide and can be transmitted in an autosomal dominant (ADRP) manner accounting for nearly 30% of all RP cases. Dominant rhodopsin mutations have been divided into class I and class II based on the folding of rhodopsin protein, thermal stability, and chromophore regeneration. A threonine-17-methionine (T17M) mutation in rhodopsin is a class II mutation, characterized by a thermal instability/folding defect and …
Three-Dimensional Soft Tissue Analysis Of Facial Morphology Of A Colombian Population Compared To Adult Caucasians, Sonia Bravo-Hammett
Three-Dimensional Soft Tissue Analysis Of Facial Morphology Of A Colombian Population Compared To Adult Caucasians, Sonia Bravo-Hammett
All ETDs from UAB
Aim: The purpose of this study is to describe the facial morphology of a Colombian population with three-dimensional imaging; and comparing their facial morphology with the Caucasian to create a database for this ethnicity. Materials and Methods: The study included 170 subjects selected from the Valle University in Cali-Colombia; and 1346 Caucasian subjects selected from the Face-Base Data funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. All images were taken on Natural Head Position and captured using a stereo-photogrammetric camera system (3dMDfaceTM); to obtain a three dimensional image of each patient. The subjects were between 19 to 31 …
The Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor Acarbose As A Calorie Restriction Mimetic To Modify Metabolic Outcomes In Mice, Rachel Ann Brewer
The Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor Acarbose As A Calorie Restriction Mimetic To Modify Metabolic Outcomes In Mice, Rachel Ann Brewer
All ETDs from UAB
Age-related diseases continue to be a leading cause of death. One of the only replicable methods proven to decrease age-related morbidity and mortality in multiple species is calorie restriction (CR). CR is difficult for human populations to implement, and has a number of associated risks and side effects. A CR mimetic could provide the healthspan- and lifespan-extending benefits of CR without the limitations. Acarbose (ACA), an α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitor approved to treat type 2 diabetes in humans, was recently identified as able to extend lifespan in healthy mice. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of …
Protumorigenic Role Of Cathelicidin-Related Antimicrobial Peptide In Chemotaxis And Differentiation Of Myeloid Lineage During Prostate Cancer Progression, Ha-Ram Cha
All ETDs from UAB
A growing body of evidence indicates a positive correlation between the expression of human antimicrobial peptide leucine leucine 37 (LL-37) and the progression of epithelial cancers, including carcinomas of the breast, lung, ovary, and prostate. Although the molecular mechanisms for this correlation have not yet been clearly elucidated, the primary function of LL-37 as a chemotactic molecule for innate immune effector cells suggests its possible association in coordinating protumorigenic mechanisms mediated by tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Using a mouse model of epithelial prostate cancer (PCa), the present study identified a unique role for cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP), a murine orthologue of …
The Effect Of Joining A Health System On Financial Performance, Kenneth Joseph Cochran
The Effect Of Joining A Health System On Financial Performance, Kenneth Joseph Cochran
All ETDs from UAB
The rate of hospitals merging has increased significantly over the last few years. The number of hospital mergers between 2003 and 2009 averaged 55 per year, while mergers for 2010 and 2011 were 72 and 90, respectfully. This research moved beyond anecdotal reports and by using publicly reported data to not only evaluate the financial success of mergers, but also to look at other factors such as size, ownership, geography, environment (urban vs. rural), and market competitiveness to assess impacts on financial outcomes of mergers. This study examined the effect of joining a hospital system based on financial performance. Further, …
Nadph Oxidase-Derived Superoxide: A Potentiator Of Autoimmune Responses In Type 1 Diabetes, Lindsey E. Padgett
Nadph Oxidase-Derived Superoxide: A Potentiator Of Autoimmune Responses In Type 1 Diabetes, Lindsey E. Padgett
All ETDs from UAB
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease culminating in pancreatic β-cell destruction, inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and islet-infiltrating leukocutes. Macrophages, one of the first islet-infiltrating cells in T1D, secrete ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which lyse pancreatic β-cells and activate diabetogenic T cells to further propagate β-cell destruction, while autoreactive CD4 T cells recruit islet-infiltrating, pro-inflammatory, M1 macrophages, and enhance CD8 T cell cytotoxicity. We previously demonstrated the importance of NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived ROS synthesis in T1D, as Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice lacking NOX-derived superoxide (NOD.Ncf1m1J) exhibited a delay in spontaneous and adoptive transfer of T1D. In …
Role Of Vapb/Als8 Signaling Through Lar Receptor, Jessica Lindsey Winek Schultz
Role Of Vapb/Als8 Signaling Through Lar Receptor, Jessica Lindsey Winek Schultz
All ETDs from UAB
In humans, a P56S point mutation in the VAPB/ALS8 MSP domain is associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and late-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The N-terminal MSP domain is cleaved from the C-terminus, and secreted through an unknown, nonconventional manner. The P56S mutation inhibits secretion of the MSP domain. We use Caenorhabditis elegans to study live secretion of VPR-1, as well as to understand vMSP receptor signaling in muscle and gonad. To study the secretion mechanism of VPR-1 we created a transgenic line of C. elegans with a fluorescently tagged VPR-1. Using this model, we were able to visualize live …
An Examination Of Farm-To-Consumer Retail Outlet Usage Among Participants Of The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) In Birmingham, Al, Chelsea Renee Singleton
An Examination Of Farm-To-Consumer Retail Outlet Usage Among Participants Of The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) In Birmingham, Al, Chelsea Renee Singleton
All ETDs from UAB
Disparities in the neighborhood retail food environment have been hypothesized to be associated with poor diet quality and adverse health outcomes such as obesity. Studies have found that lower income communities often have reduced access to affordable healthy foods. In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed direct farm-to-consumer (FTC) retail outlets (i.e. farmers markets, farm/roadside stands, community gardens and community supported agriculture programs) as a potential strategy to alleviate retail food environment disparities in communities with limited resources. Information on the behavioral and health implications of FTC outlet usage by lower income individuals is limited. This research …
Hepatocyte Clock And Alcohol-Dependent Disruption In Glycogen Metabolism, Uduak Sunday Udoh
Hepatocyte Clock And Alcohol-Dependent Disruption In Glycogen Metabolism, Uduak Sunday Udoh
All ETDs from UAB
Chronic alcohol consumption has been shown to significantly decrease hepatic glycogen, an important storage form of energy for the body and liver. Emerging studies indicate a link between metabolism and the molecular circadian clock. Previously, we have shown that chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the liver molecular clock mechanism. However, it is not known how this alteration impacts hepatic energy (e.g., glycogen) metabolism and contributes to alcohol hepatotoxicity. This dissertation investigates the impact chronic alcohol consumption has on time-of-day-dependent oscillations of various aspects of liver glycogen metabolism, and the importance of the liver circadian clock in these metabolic alterations. Chapter 1: …
Difference In Recommended-To-Actual Nurse Staffing And Patient Falls, Shawn Ulreich
Difference In Recommended-To-Actual Nurse Staffing And Patient Falls, Shawn Ulreich
All ETDs from UAB
Patient falls are a serious safety concern in hospitals. Injuries from falls can be devastating to patients and are now subject to reimbursement penalties from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Patient falls have been identified by the American Nurses Association as a nursing sensitive indictor suggesting that improvements in the quality or quantity of nurses may impact this outcome. Moreover, the literature suggests that nurse staffing levels have an impact on various patient outcomes such as patient falls. Therefore, identifying appropriate nurse staffing levels to minimize patient falls is critically important to hospitals. A variety of staffing metrics …
Individual, Family, And Social Factors Associated With Adolescent Obesity: A Policy Relevant Focus, Janice Marguerite Utley
Individual, Family, And Social Factors Associated With Adolescent Obesity: A Policy Relevant Focus, Janice Marguerite Utley
All ETDs from UAB
INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND SOCIAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADOLESCENT OBESITY: A POLICY RELEVANT FOCUS JANICE M. UTLEY PUBLIC HEALTH ABSTRACT This dissertation is comprised of three papers that examined individual, family, and social factors associated with adolescent overweight and obesity with the aim of generating data that could inform the design of policy interventions to prevent or reverse rising prevalence. The first investigation was a type of literature review called a scoping study that examined the extent, range, and type of research activity on adolescent obesity that used a multilevel or hierarchical design to look at two or more contextual areas …
Mechanisms Of Heme Oxygenase-1-Mediated Protection Against Tissue Injury, Travis David Hull
Mechanisms Of Heme Oxygenase-1-Mediated Protection Against Tissue Injury, Travis David Hull
All ETDs from UAB
Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the catabolism of heme, which is released by necrotic cells in injured tissue. HO-1 expression is protective in cardiac and renal injury because it coordinates the degradation of pro-oxidant heme with the generation of equimolar quantities of iron (Fe2+) and the cytoprotective mole-cules carbon monoxide and biliverdin. While many studies have demonstrated that HO-1 expression is protective in numerous disease states, relatively few have examined the specific cellular compartment(s) through which HO-1 expression confers its protective effects. Our objective was to define the cellular compartments in which HO-1 expression is critical to …
Exploring Body Image And The Association Between Body Image Dissatisfaction And Waist Circumference Among Overweight And Obese Rural African American Women Participating In A Weight Loss Program, Erica Rayshelle Johnson
Exploring Body Image And The Association Between Body Image Dissatisfaction And Waist Circumference Among Overweight And Obese Rural African American Women Participating In A Weight Loss Program, Erica Rayshelle Johnson
All ETDs from UAB
African American (AA) women are disproportionately burdened by obesity, an epidemic with implications that reach beyond physiological consequences. Given that perceptions of body image may impact health-promoting behaviors and weight management efforts, we sought to evaluate the presence and magnitude of body image dissatisfaction (BID) and explore its relationship with waist circumference (WC), independent of weight among overweight and obese treatment-seeking rural AA women. Participants referred to images from the Pulvers Figure Rating Scale that included nine body silhouettes to answer: “How I think I look now” (i.e., current body image) and “How I would like to look” (i.e., desired …
Statistical Methodology To Improve The Understanding Of Dna Methylation Data, Lindsay Leigh Waite Jones
Statistical Methodology To Improve The Understanding Of Dna Methylation Data, Lindsay Leigh Waite Jones
All ETDs from UAB
The study of epigenetics involves the investigation of genomic elements that do not directly affect DNA sequence but are stable and preserved during cell division. One of the most commonly studied epigenetic elements is DNA methylation, which occurs when a methyl group is added to a cytosine residue in the DNA sequence. The advancement of technology to quantify DNA methylation, including bisulfite sequencing and bisulfite microarrays, has led to a large amount of available data. However, many questions still remain as to how to statistically analyze this data. This dissertation addresses some statistical concerns related to the analysis of DNA …
Some Contributions To Bayesian Regularization Methods With Applications To Genetics And Clinical Trials, Himel Mallick
Some Contributions To Bayesian Regularization Methods With Applications To Genetics And Clinical Trials, Himel Mallick
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Variable selection refers to the class of problems where one tries to find an optimal subset of relevant variables, which can be used to accurately predict the outcome of a certain response variable. Typically, a large number of variables are often collected; however, all but a few important variables are relevant for the prediction of the outcome, so the underlying representation is sparse. To this end, variable selection is fundamental in high-dimensional data analysis, playing a crucial role in important scientific discovery and decision-making, and has received enormous attention in the literature. Regularization method is one attractive approach that has …
C-Reactive Protein, Autoimmunity, And Inflammation In The Central Nervous System, Tyler T. Wright
C-Reactive Protein, Autoimmunity, And Inflammation In The Central Nervous System, Tyler T. Wright
All ETDs from UAB
C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant whose blood concentration rises in response all types of inflammation. And while CRP is widely used as a clinical marker of inflammation, it has several biological functions, e.g. activation of the classical complement cascade and binding Fcγ receptors in order to mediate multiple immune processes. The full extent of CRP’s physiological activities has not yet been fully elucidated, but there is significant evidence to establish that CRP plays an important role in the onset and progression of autoimmune disease. Seminal work from our lab showed that human CRP, hepatically expressed in transgenic …