Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (Fgfr1) Modulation Regulates Repair Capacity Of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells Following Chronic Demyelination, Yong-Xing Zhou, Ravinder Pannu, Tuan Q. Le, Regina C. Armstrong

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

The adult mammalian brain contains multiple populations of endogenous progenitor cell types. However, following CNS trauma or disease, the regenerative capacity of progenitor populations is typically insufficient and may actually be limited by non-permissive or inhibitory signals in the damaged parenchyma. Remyelination is the most effective and simplest regenerative process in the adult CNS yet is still insufficient following repeated or chronic demyelination. Our previous in vitro studies demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) signaling inhibited oligodendrocyte progenitor (OP) differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes. Therefore, we questioned whether FGFR1 signaling may inhibit the capacity of OP cells to generate …

Valproic Acid Inhibits Neurosphere Formation By Adult Subventricular Cells By A Lithium-Sensitive Mechanism, Q. Zhou, C. L. Dalgard, C. Wynder, M. L. Doughty

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

The mood stabilizer valproic acid (VPA) decreases neural progenitor proliferation and promotes neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus. However, the effects of VPA on progenitor cells in the adult subventricular zone (SVZ) are not as well characterized. Here we report VPA blocks neurosphere formation and inhibits DNA synthesis in cultured NSCs from the SVZ of adult mice. Inhibition of DNA synthesis is associated with the up-regulation of the differentiation transcription factors Egr1 and Neurod1 and down-regulation of transcription factors associated with “stemness”. Co-treatment of VPA with the mood stabilizer lithium antagonizes the anti-proliferative effects of VPA on adult NSCs and abolishes …

Regulation Of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Expression, Donald F. Sellitti, Nancy Koles, Maria C. Mendonça

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a member of the small family of natriuretic peptides that also includes atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain, or B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Unlike them, it performs its major functions in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Those functions, mediated through binding to the membrane guanylyl cyclase natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B), or by signaling through the non-enzyme natriuretic peptide receptor C (NPR-C), include the regulation of endochondral ossification, reproduction, nervous system development, and the maintenance of cardiovascular health. To date, the regulation of CNP gene expression has not received the attention that has been paid …

Anxiety Phenotype In Mice That Overexpress Protein Kinase A, Margaret F. Keil, George Briassoulis, Nirmal Gokarn, Maria Nesterova, T. John Wu, Constantine A. Stratakis

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

The role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signaling in the molecular pathways involved in fear and memory is well established. Prior studies in our lab reported that transgenic mice with an inactivating mutation in Prkar1a gene (codes for the 1-alpha regulatory subunit (R1α) of PKA) exhibited behavioral abnormalities including anxiety and depression. In the present study, we examined the role of altered PKA signaling on anxiety-like behaviors in Prkar1a^+/- mice compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. The elevated plus maze (EPM) and marble bury (MB) tests were used to assess anxiety-like behavior. The hotplate test was performed to …

Positive Emotional Style And Subjective, Cardiovascular And Cortisol Responses To Acute Laboratory Stress, Sophie Bostock, Mark Hamer, Andrew J. Wawrzyniak, Ellen S. Mitchell, Andrew Steptoe

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

The relationships between positive emotional style and acute salivary cortisol and cardiovascular responses to laboratory stress tasks were examined in 40 young women (mean age = 28.8 years). Positive emotional style (PES) was measured by aggregating daily positive mood rating scales over one week. Negative affect was assessed with the short form Profile of Mood States. Salivary cortisol was measured in response to two behavioural tasks, a 5 min speech task and a 5 min mirror tracing task. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate responses were monitored using a Finometer during baseline, tasks and recovery. Higher PES was associated with …

The 4th International Comparison On Epr Dosimetry With Tooth Enamel Part 1: Report On The Results, P. Fattibene, A. Wieser, E. Adolfsson, L. A. Benevides, M. Brai, F. Callens, V. Chumak, B. Ciesielski, S. Della Monaca, K. Emerich, H. Gustafsson, Y. Hirai, M. Hoshi, A. Israelsson, A. Ivannikov, D. Ivanov, J. Kaminska, Wu Ke, E. Lund, M. Marrale, L. Martens, C. Miyazawa, N. Nakamura, W. Panzer, S. Pivovarov, R. A. Reyes, M. Rodzi, A. A. Romanyukha, A. Rukhin, S. Sholom, V. Skvortsov, V. Sepanenko, M. A. Tarpan, H. Thierens, S. Toyoda, F. Trompier, E. Verdi, K. Zhumadilov

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

This paper presents the results of the 4th International Comparison of in vitro electron paramagnetic resonance dosimetry with tooth enamel, where the performance parameters of tooth enamel dosimetry methods were compared among sixteen laboratories from all over the world. The participating laboratories were asked to determine a calibration curve with a set of tooth enamel powder samples provided by the organizers. Nine molar teeth extracted following medical indication from German donors and collected between 1997 and 2007 were prepared and irradiated at the Helmholtz Zentrum München. Five out of six samples were irradiated at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 …

Epr Measurements Of Fingernails In Q-Band, Alex Romanyukha, François Trompier, Ricardo A. Reyes, Mark A. Melanson

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Results of a feasibility study for the use of the Q-band EPR measurements of fingernails are presented. Details of the first protocol developed for Q-band (34 GHz) EPR dose measurements in fingernails and preliminary results of a dosimetry study in comparison with the commonly-used X-band (9 GHz) are reported. It was found that 1-5 mg sample mass was sufficient for EPR measurements in fingernails in the Q-band, which is significantly less than the 15-30 mg needed for the X-band. This finding makes it possible to obtain sufficient fingernail sample for dose measurements, practically from every finger of any person. Another …

Endovascular Balloon Occlusion Of The Aorta Is Superior To Resuscitative Thoracotomy With Aortic Clamping In A Porcine Model Of Hemorrhagic Shock, Joseph M. White, Jeremy W. Cannon, Adam Stannard, Nickolay P. Markov, Jerry R. Spencer, Todd E. Rasmussen

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Background. Noncompressible torso hemorrhage is the leading cause of potentially preventable death on the modern battlefield. The objective of this study is to characterize resuscitative aortic balloon occlusion (BO) compared to thoracotomy with aortic clamping in a model of hemorrhagic shock.

Methods. A total of 18 swine (3 groups; 6 animals/group) were used in this study. Swine in class IV shock underwent no aortic occlusion (NO), thoracotomy and clamp occlusion (CO), or endovascular BO. Animals in the NO group underwent direct placement of a temporary vascular shunt (TVS) at the injury site, whereas animals in the CO and BO groups …

In Vitro Profiling Of Epigenetic Modifications Underlying Heavy Metal Toxicity Of Tungsten-Alloy And Its Components, Ranjana Verma, Xiufen Xu, Manoj K. Jaiswal, Cara Olsen, David Mears, Giuseppina Caretti, Zygmunt Galdzicki

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tungsten-alloy has carcinogenic potential as demonstrated by cancer development in rats with intramuscular implanted tungsten-alloy pellets. This suggests a potential involvement of epigenetic events previously implicated as environmental triggers of cancer. Here, we tested metal induced cytotoxicity and epigenetic modifications including H3 acetylation, H3-Ser10 phosphorylation and H3-K4 trimethylation. We exposed human embryonic kidney (HEK293), human neuroepithelioma(SKNMC), and mousemyoblast (C2C12) cultures for 1-day and hippocampal primary neuronal cultures for 1-week to 50–200 μg/ml of tungsten-alloy (91% tungsten/6% nickel/3% cobalt), tungsten, nickel, and cobalt. We also examined the potential role of intracellular calcium in metal mediated histone modifications by addition of calciumchannel …

Nicotine Induced Cpg Methylation Of Pax6 Binding Motif In Star Promoter Reduces The Gene Expression And Cortisol Production, Tingting Wang, Man Chen, Lian Liu, Huaiyan Cheng, You-E Yan, Ying-Hong Feng, Hui Wang

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) mediates the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of steroid hormones, essential to fetal development. We have reported that the StAR expression in fetal adrenal is inhibited in a rat model of nicotine-induced intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Here using primary human fetal adrenal cortex (pHFAC) cells and a human fetal adrenal cell line NCI-H295A, we show that nicotine inhibits StAR expression and cortisol production in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and prolongs the inhibitory effect on cells proliferating over 5 passages after termination of nicotine treatment. Methylation detection within the StAR promoter region uncovers a single …

Development Of Dengue Dna Vaccines, Janine R. Danko, Charmagne G. Beckett, Kevin R. Porter

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Vaccination with plasmid DNA against infectious pathogens including dengue is an active area of investigation. By design, DNA vaccines are able to elicit both antibody responses and cellular immune responses capable of mediating long-term protection. Great technical improvements have been made in dengue DNA vaccine constructs and trials are underway to study these in the clinic. The scope of this review is to highlight the rich history of this vaccine platform and the work in dengue DNA vaccines accomplished by scientists at the Naval Medical Research Center. This work resulted in the only dengue DNA vaccine tested in a clinical …

A Recombinant Hendra Virus G Glycoprotein-Based Subunit Vaccine Protects Ferrets From Lethal Hendra Virus Challenge, Jackie Pallister, Deborah Middleton, Lin-Fa Wang, Reuben Klein, Jessica Haining, Rachel Robinson, Manabu Yamada, John White, Jean Payne, Yan-Ru Feng, Yee-Peng Chan, Christopher C. Broder

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

The henipaviruses, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), are two deadly zoonotic viruses for which no vaccines or therapeutics have yet been approved for human or livestock use. In 14 outbreaks since 1994 HeV has been responsible for multiple fatalities in horses and humans, with all known human infections resulting from close contact with infected horses. A vaccine that prevents virus shedding in infected horses could interrupt the chain of transmission to humans and therefore prevent HeV disease in both. Here we characterise HeV infection in a ferret model and show that it closely mirrors the disease seen in …

Safety And Immunogenicity Of An Intranasal Shigella Flexneri 2a Invaplex 50 Vaccine, Mark S. Riddle, Robert W. Kaminski, Carlos Williams, Chad Porter, Shahida Baqar, Alexis Kordis, Theron Gilliland, Joyce Lapa, Melissa Coughlin, Chris Soltis, Erica Jones, Jackie Saunders, Paul B. Keiser, Ryan T. Ranallo, Robert Gormley, Michael Nelson, K. Ross Turbyfill, David Tribble, Edwin V. Oaks

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Background: Shigella flexneri 2a lipopolysaccharide 50 is a nasally delivered subunit vaccine consisting of a macromolecular complex composed of LPS, IpaB, IpaC and IpaD. The current study examined vaccine safety and immunogenicity across a dose range and the clinical performance of a new intranasal delivery device.

Methods: Volunteers (N = 36) were randomized to receive vaccine via the Dolphin^TM (Valois of America, Congers, New York) intranasal spray device at one of three doses (240, 480, and 690 μg) on days 0, 14, and 28. Another group (N = 8) received the 240 μg dose via pipette. Vaccine safety was …

Correlation Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Intakes With Acculturation And Socioeconomic Status In Midwestern Latinas, Karina R. Lora, Nancy M. Lewis, Kent M. Eskridge, Kaye Stanek-Krogstrand, Daryl A. Travnicek

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Low socioeconomic status (SES) and acculturation of Latino immigrants in the U.S. are linked to a decrease in diet quality. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 162 first-generation Latinas to examine the association of SES and acculturation with intake of omega-3 (n − 3) fatty acids. Each participant provided dietary intake by use of a validated n − 3 food frequency questionnaire administered twice, 4 weeks apart, three 24-h recalls, sociodemographic information and completed the 5-item Short Acculturation Scale. Results: Mean intakes of Total n − 3, α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (g/d) were …

Sleep Estimates In Children: Parental Versus Actigraphic Assessments, Ehab A. Dayyat, Karen Spruyt, Dennis L. Molfese, David Gozal

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

Background: In the context of increasing awareness about the need for assessment of sleep duration in community and clinical settings, the use of questionnaire-based tools may be fraught with reporter bias. Conversely, actigraphy provides objective assessments of sleep patterns. In this study, we aimed to determine the potential discrepancies between parentally-based sleep logs and concurrent actigraphic recordings in children over a one-week period.

Methods: We studied 327 children aged 3–10 years, and included otherwise healthy, nonsnoring children from the community who were reported by their parents to be nonsnorers and had normal polysomnography, habitually-snoring children from the community …

Minimal Information For Neural Electromagnetic Ontologies (Minemo): A Standards-Compliant Method For Analysis And Integration Of Event-Related Potentials (Erp) Data, Gwen Frishkoff, Jason Sydes, Kurt Mueller, Tim Curran, John F. Connolly, Kerry Kilborn, Dennis L. Molfese, Charles Perfetti, Allen D. Malony

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty and Staff Publications

We present MINEMO (Minimal Information for Neural ElectroMagnetic Ontologies), a checklist for the description of event-related potentials (ERP) studies. MINEMO extends MINI (Minimal Information for Neuroscience Investigations)to the ERP domain. Checklist terms are explicated in NEMO, a formal ontology that is designed to support ERP data sharing and integration. MINEMO is also linked to an ERP database and web application (the NEMO portal). Users upload their data and enter MINEMO information through the portal. The database then stores these entries in RDF (Resource Description Framework), along with summary metrics, i.e., spatial and temporal metadata. Together these spatial, temporal, and functional …

The Recovery Of Cognitive And Social Cognitive Functioning In Response To Social Cognition Interaction Training Administered In Community Settings: A Longitudinal Study, Lena Reddy

Department of Psychology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Psychosocial rehabilitation for persons with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) encompasses recovery of functioning in a broad array of domains, including neurocognitive, social cognitive, interpersonal, occupational, and self-care abilities. There is extensive evidence that improvements in these domains are possible as a result of targeted interventions, and that these improvements may generalize to other areas of daily functioning. The current study explored rehabilitative change over time among adults with SMI that were attending outpatient day centers. Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT), a cognitive-behavioral skills-training modality, was implemented during the time period in which the data was collected. Forty adults participated …

Adapting An Evidence-Based Intervention To Improve Social And Behavioral Competence In Head Start Children: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Teacher-Child Interaction Training, Christopher Campbell

Department of Psychology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Empirical studies indicate that as many as 35% of Head Start children meet the diagnostic criteria for oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder (Webster-Stratton & Hammond, 1998). Without early intervention, these problematic behaviors may become stable across childhood and adolescence (Campbell, 1995), increasing the likelihood of academic problems, school drop-out, substance abuse, delinquency, and violence (Snyder, 2001). Head Start children are also more likely to enter school with significant deficits in social-emotional readiness, with a many as 40% demonstrating delays in social competencies and communication abilities (Kaiser et al., 2000). Longitudinal research indicates that early gaps in social competence for …

Feasibility Of Group Voice Therapy For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, Jeff Searl, Kristel Wilson, Karen Haring, Angela M. Dietsch, Kelly E. Lyons, Rajesh Pahwa

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose: The primary purpose was to demonstrate the feasibility of executing treatment tasks focused on increasing loudness in a group format for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). A second purpose was to report preliminary pre-to-post treatment outcomes for individuals with PD immediately after they complete the group program. Methods: The group intervention is described. Fifteen adults with PD who participated in the group and three clinicians leading the group provided feedback about the execution of the intervention. The participants also provided voice samples and self-ratings of voice handicap once before completing the 8-week voice group and once immediately after completing …

Orbitofrontal Cortex Provides Cross-Modal Valuation Of Self-Generated Stimuli, William A. Cunningham, Ingrid J. Haas, Ashley S. Waggoner

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

Prior research has shown that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays an important role in the representation of the evaluation of stimuli, regardless of stimulus modality. Based on these findings, researchers have proposed that the OFC serves a common currency function, allowing for the direct comparison of different types of perceptual stimuli (e.g. food, drink, money). The present study was designed to extend this research and investigate whether these same regions of OFC that have been identified in previous research are involved in evaluating imagined stimuli. Specifically, we asked participants to draw on prior attitudinal knowledge to generate internal representations of …

Where Have All The Plant Foods Gone? The Search For Refined Dietary Reconstruction From Chinchorro Mummies, Karl J. Reinhard, Sara Le-Roy-Toren, Bernardo Arriaza

Karl Reinhard Publications

The Chinchorro cemeteries of northern Chile are the first graveyards of the Andes (Arriaza 1995, Schiappacasse & Niemeyer 1984). The excavation and analysis of Chinchorro mummies reveals the 'true character of the people'. The burials themselves are optimal for preservation of corpses, burial furniture, and aspects of ceremonies associated with the dead. The analysis of corporeal remains gradually clarifies the details of daily activities and status. Therefore, we feel that a holistic approach to mummy studies provides enormously fruitful paths to understanding the character of the ancient Chinchorro society.

Paleoepidemiology Of Intestinal Parasites And Lice In Pre-Columbian South America, Adauto Araujo, Karl Reinhard, Daniela Leles, Luciana Sianto, Alena M. Iñiguez, Martin Fugassa, Bernardo Arriaza, Nancy Orellana, Luis Fernando Ferreira

Karl Reinhard Publications

Some human parasites originated in prehominid ancestors in Africa. Nematode species, such as Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm), hookworms and Trichuris trichiura are shared by humans and other close phylogenetic primates (Pan and Gorilla), showing that they infected a common ancestor to this group. When humans migrated from Africa to other continents they carried these parasites wherever climate conditions allowed parasite transmission from host to host. Other parasites, however, were acquired throughout human biological and social evolutive history when new territories were occupied. Paleoparasitology data is a valuable source to recover emergence and disappearance of parasite infections through analysis of …

Mechanisms Of Decreased Cholesterol Absorption Mediated By Phytosterols In The Intestinal Lumen, Andrew W. Brown

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Phytosterols and their fatty acyl esters have been known for decades to lower LDL cholesterol, making them powerful nutraceuticals in lowering cardiovascular disease risk. The mechanisms by which phytosterols lower cholesterol, though, have been incompletely characterized. Three studies were executed to examine three aspects of cholesterol and phytosterol interactions in the intestinal lumen. In the first study, the ability of pancreatic cholesterol esterase to hydrolyze phytosterol esters was examined. Pancreatic cholesterol esterase hydrolyzed phytosterol esters, but the rate of hydrolysis proved sensitive to the structures of both the sterol and ester components. In the second study, cholesterol micellarization was challenged …