Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons^™

Reduced Cardioprotective Action Of Adiponectin In High-Fat Diet-Induced Type Ii Diabetic Mice And Its Underlying Mechanisms., Wei Yi, Yang Sun, Erhe Gao, Xufeng Wei, Wayne Bond Lau, Qijun Zheng, Yajing Wang, Yuexing Yuan, Xiaoliang Wang, Ling Tao, Rong Li, Walter Koch, Xin-Liang Ma

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Diabetes exacerbates ischemic heart disease morbidity and mortality via incompletely understood mechanisms. Although adiponectin (APN) reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury in nondiabetic animals, whether APN's cardioprotective actions are altered in diabetes, a pathologic condition with endogenously reduced APN, has never been investigated. High-fat diet (HD)-induced diabetic mice and normal diet (ND) controls were subjected to MI via coronary artery ligation, and given vehicle or APN globular domain (gAPN, 2 μg/g) 10 min before reperfusion. Compared to ND mice (where gAPN exerted pronounced cardioprotection), HD mice manifested greater MI/R injury, and a tripled gAPN dose was requisite to achieve cardioprotective extent …

Systemic Adiponectin Malfunction As A Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease., Wayne Bond Lau, Ling Tao, Yajing Wang, Rong Li, Xin L Ma

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Adiponectin (Ad) is an abundant protein hormone regulatory of numerous metabolic processes. The 30 kDa protein originates from adipose tissue, with full-length and globular domain circulatory forms. A collagenous domain within Ad leads to spontaneous self-assemblage into various oligomeric isoforms, including trimers, hexamers, and high-molecular-weight multimers. Two membrane-spanning receptors for Ad have been identified, with differing concentration distribution in various body tissues. The major intracellular pathway activated by Ad includes phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, which is responsible for many of Ad's metabolic regulatory, anti-inflammatory, vascular protective, and anti-ischemic properties. Additionally, several AMP-activated protein kinase-independent mechanisms responsible for Ad's anti-inflammatory …

Advanced Glycation End Products Accelerate Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through Receptor Of Advanced End Product/Nitrative Thioredoxin Inactivation In Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells., Yi Liu, Yanzhuo Ma, Rutao Wang, Chenhai Xia, Rongqing Zhang, Kun Lian, Ronghua Luan, Lu Sun, Lu Yang, Wayne B Lau, Haichang Wang, Ling Tao

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

The advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are associated with increased cardiac endothelial injury. However, no causative link has been established between increased AGEs and enhanced endothelial injury after ischemia/reperfusion. More importantly, the molecular mechanisms by which AGEs may increase endothelial injury remain unknown. Adult rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) were isolated and incubated with AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) or BSA. After AGE-BSA or BSA preculture, CMECs were subjected to simulated ischemia (SI)/reperfusion (R). AGE-BSA increased SI/R injury as evidenced by enhanced lactate dehydrogenase release and caspase-3 activity. Moreover, AGE-BSA significantly increased SI/R-induced oxidative/nitrative stress in CMECs (as measured …

Doulas Going Dutch: The Role Of Professional Labor Support In The Netherlands, Monica He

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study uses a mixed method approach and medicalization theory to explore the new role of professional doulas in the Netherlands through the perspectives of women who have had doula-attended births. Survey data from the Dutch doula association is first analyzed in order to quantify women’s experiences with doula care and characterize their demographic information and birth outcomes. Simulatenously, nine in-depth interviews are conducted with Dutch and non- Dutch mothers who have recently had doula-attended births. The interviews focus on experiences with doula care in the context of the Dutch maternity care system. Quantitative analysis finds women who had doulas …

Religious Experiences Shrink Part Of The Brain, Andrew Newberg, M.D.

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

A study links life-changing religious experiences, like being born again, with atrophy in the hippocampus.

The article, “Religious factors and hippocampal atrophy in late life,” by Amy Owen and colleagues at Duke University represents an important advance in our growing understanding of the relationship between the brain and religion. The study showed greater atrophy in the hippocampus in individuals who identify with specific religious groups as well as those with no religious affiliation. It is a surprising result, given that many prior studies have shown religion to have potentially beneficial effects on brain function, anxiety, and depression.

Chelation Therapy As A Treatment For Autism, Cassandra Baty, Rachel Terharr

Festival of Communities: UG Symposium (Posters)

As medical advances continue to be made, there has yet to be an effectively consistent cure to the commonly known condition, Autism. Some researchers and physicians state that by using chelation therapy, it could help cure mercury poisoning in autistic individuals who were affected by vaccines or other sources. Because of the lack of research and knowledge of chelation therapy, there has been some controversy as to the ethics of providing chelation therapy to autistic children. The families that are put through these trials are faced with high costs, and no guarantee that their child could be cured. But to …

Apotransferrin Protects Cortical Neurons From Hemoglobin Toxicity, Jing Chen-Roetling, Lifen Chen, Raymond F. Regan

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

The protective effect of iron chelators in experimental models of intracerebral hemorrhage suggests that nonheme iron may contribute to injury to perihematomal cells. Therapy with high affinity iron chelators is limited by their toxicity, which may be due in part to sequestration of metals in an inaccessible complex. Transferrin is unique in chelating iron with very high affinity while delivering it to cells as needed via receptor-mediated endocytosis. However, its efficacy against iron-mediated neuronal injury has never been described, and was therefore evaluated in this study using an established cell culture model of hemoglobin neurotoxicity. At concentrations similar to that …

Holistic Comfort And Bereavement Of Families Receiving Prenatal Hospice Support During The Loss Of An Unborn Child With Lethal Anomalies, Sally S. Smith

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the grieving process and coping mechanism of families that was faced with the impeding loss of their unborn child. Grief is a very lonely process.

The aim of this research is to examine how parents cope with the lost of an unborn child with the aid of perinatal hospices. Giving families a broader range of options in regards to continuing their pregnancy. Each family has a right to choice what option is right for them. Choices should be in the hands of the family in regards to continuing with their pregnancy …