The Effects Of Aqueous Atorvastatin On Steroidogenesis Of Xenopus Laevis At Environmentally Relevant Concentrations, 2019 University of Southern Mississippi
The Effects Of Aqueous Atorvastatin On Steroidogenesis Of Xenopus Laevis At Environmentally Relevant Concentrations, Jeremy Johnson
Master's Theses
Statin drugs are a class of drug that work to reduce endogenous production of cholesterol by competitively inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (Hmgcr) thus inhibiting production of mevalonic acid in the mevalonate pathway. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is one of the most widely prescribed statin drugs and contamination of wastewater effluent is a growing environmental concern because of the potential to interfere with steroidogenesis in wildlife. Amphibians may be particularly susceptible to the effects of atorvastatin contamination because of their highly permeable integument. I used an amphibian model, Xenopus laevis to test the hypothesis that chronic exposure to low concentrations of atorvastatin …
The Role Of Secretory Phospholipase A2 Group Iia In Obesity And Metabolism, 2019 University of Tennessee Health Science Center
The Role Of Secretory Phospholipase A2 Group Iia In Obesity And Metabolism, Michael S. Kuefner
Theses and Dissertations (ETD)
Secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA (PLA2G2A) is a member of a family of secretory phospholipases previously implicated in inflammation, atherogenesis, and antibacterial actions. These enzymes hydrolyze glycerophospholipids at the sn-2 position releasing lysophospholipids and fatty acids. Though studies have shown PLA2G2A is pro-inflammatory and promotes atherosclerosis, no research has analyzed the role of this enzyme in obesity and metabolism. Studies in the past 5-10 years utilizing various knock- out or over-expression mouse models have analyzed the role of different secretory phospholipase A2s (sPLA2) in metabolic diseases. From these studies, it is known that at least seven of the 11 sPLA2 …
Pregestational Diabetes Induced Congenital Heart Defects And Coronary Artery Malformations; Mechanisms And Preventative Therapies, 2019 The University of Western Ontario
Pregestational Diabetes Induced Congenital Heart Defects And Coronary Artery Malformations; Mechanisms And Preventative Therapies, Anish Engineer
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) arise from perturbations in complex molecular and cellular processes underlying normal embryonic heart development. CHDs are the most common congenital malformation, occurring in 1 to 5% of live births, and are the leading cause of pediatric mortality. Adverse genetic and environmental factors can impede normal cardiogenesis and increase the likelihood of CHDs. Pregestational maternal diabetes increases the risk of CHDs in children by more than four-fold. As the prevalence of diabetes rapidly rises among women of childbearing age, there is a need to investigate the mechanisms and potential preventative strategies for these defects. The aim of …
Maternal Nicotine Exposure Induces Congenital Heart Defects In The Offspring Of Mice, 2019 The University of Western Ontario
Maternal Nicotine Exposure Induces Congenital Heart Defects In The Offspring Of Mice, Elizabeth Greco
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Congenital heart defects are the most prevalent birth defect, and maternal cigarette smoking is a known risk factor. Nicotine replacement therapies are recommended to pregnant women who smoke to aid in smoking cessation, as this alternative is thought to be much safer compared to cigarette smoking. However, these products contain nicotine, and the safety of nicotine on the developing heart is not well known. In this thesis, a mouse model was used to test the hypothesis that maternal nicotine exposure (MNE) during pregnancy leads to congenital heart defects and coronary artery defects in the offspring of mice. MNE resulted in …
Growing On A Scar: Genetic Variation Of Achillea Millefolium Near Meeker, Colorado, 2019 University of Northern Colorado
Growing On A Scar: Genetic Variation Of Achillea Millefolium Near Meeker, Colorado, Ace Spitzer
Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado
Mining operations deposit high concentrations of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and vanadium into the topsoil of an ecosystem. These toxic metals can affect plant health and behavior, causing local extinction and shifts in ecosystem dynamics. However, genetic analyses of some plants growing on toxic soil conditions indicate higher genetic diversity than would be expected in that environment. Determining the effects of soil pollution on plants is important to determine a species’ utility in conservation and restoration. This investigation compared the genetic diversity of western yarrow (Achillea millefolium, Asteraceae), growing near a mine with vanadium and …
The Health Implication And Application Of Silver And Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, 2019 University of South Carolina
The Health Implication And Application Of Silver And Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, Sahar Pourhoseini
Theses and Dissertations
Nanoscience and nanotechnology have successfully created different nanomaterials, which are defined as materials with at least one dimension between 1-100 nm. This small size gives nanomaterials unique and novel properties compared with bulk material, such as a high surface area, specific mechanical, optical and magnetic properties. These novel properties have stimulated the interest of using nanoparticles in a wide range of consumer products and applications including biomedical, pharmaceutical and drug delivery. Silver and iron oxide nanoparticles attracted more attention commercially due to their antibacterial and magnetic properties, respectively. So, the overall objective of this dissertation was: 1) to examine the …
Do Rope And Washer Pumps Provide Safe Water And Satisfied Users? A Case Study Piloting New Rural Water Supply Technology In Rumphi District, Malawi, 2019 Mzuzu University
Do Rope And Washer Pumps Provide Safe Water And Satisfied Users? A Case Study Piloting New Rural Water Supply Technology In Rumphi District, Malawi, Jacob C. Mkandawire, Mavuto Tembo, Muthi Nhlema, Joel Luhanga, Rochelle H. Holm
Faculty Scholarship
Innovation is needed to develop rural water supply to support sub-Saharan Africa communities that are hard to reach. The purpose of this study was to critically review rope and washer pumps that have been installed on manually drilled boreholes in 48 communities as part of a pilot project in Rumphi District, Malawi, and which serve as a sustainable source of drinking water from both technical (water quality and functionality) and social (user satisfaction) perspectives. At each water source, an infrastructure checklist was used (n = 48); 10 users were interviewed (n = 472); and, if the pump had water, water …
Hexavalent Chromium-Induced Cytotoxicity And Mutagenicity: A Study Of Protection By Ascorbic Acid And Epigallocatechin Gallate, 2019 Olivet Nazarene University
Hexavalent Chromium-Induced Cytotoxicity And Mutagenicity: A Study Of Protection By Ascorbic Acid And Epigallocatechin Gallate, Timothy P. Mayotte
Honors Program Projects
Hexavalent chromium, or Cr(VI), is a potent oxidizer and known carcinogen, that is found at varying levels in the water sources of more than 200 million Americans. However, the exact mechanism of carcinogenicity remains unknown, and though the government currently regulates total chromium levels, they have yet to determine a permissible exposure limit for Cr(VI). Moreover, there is currently no preventative treatment for Cr(VI). Because of Cr(VI)’s strong oxidative power, we hypothesized that it causes DNA mutation and cell death via oxidation and that antioxidants could prevent this from occurring. To test this, we first assessed the viability of human …
The Effects Of Climate Change On The Ecotoxicology Of Contaminants Of Emerging Concern: Flame Retardants, Contemporary Use Pesticides And Pharmaceuticals Personal Care Products On The Estuarine Grass Shrimp, Palaemontes Pugio, 2019 University of South Carolina
The Effects Of Climate Change On The Ecotoxicology Of Contaminants Of Emerging Concern: Flame Retardants, Contemporary Use Pesticides And Pharmaceuticals Personal Care Products On The Estuarine Grass Shrimp, Palaemontes Pugio, Rajaa Nouri Al-Yassein
Theses and Dissertations
Global Climate Change may adversely affect the environment, increasing water temperature and altered salinity which may affect the toxicity of both legacy pollutants and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). Acute, 96 hour toxicity tests with adult grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) assessed the effects of CECs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Esther (PBDE) – 47, ibuprofen, bifenthrin, triclosan, and bifenthrin/triclosan mixtures) under Standard Conditions (20°C, 20psu) and different Climate Change Conditions (30°C, and/or35psu) In addition, the grass shrimp microbiome (e.g. Vibrio bacteria) were assessed following acute triclosan exposures at the Maximum Exposure Concentration (MECs) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) under standard conditions. …
The Wet Bridge Transfer System: An Novel In Vitro Tool For Assessing Exogenous Surfactant As A Pulmonary Drug Delivery Vehicle, 2019 University of Western Ontario
The Wet Bridge Transfer System: An Novel In Vitro Tool For Assessing Exogenous Surfactant As A Pulmonary Drug Delivery Vehicle, Brandon J. Baer
Western Research Forum
Background:
Due to its complex branching structure, direct drug delivery to the remote areas of the lung is a major challenge. Consequently, most therapies, such as those treating pulmonary infection and inflammation, must utilize large systemic dosing, with the potential for adverse side effects. A novel alternative strategy is to use exogenous surfactant, a material capable of distributing throughout the lung, as a pulmonary drug delivery vehicle.
Objective:
Utilize an in vitro transferring system to assess exogenous surfactant (BLES) as a pulmonary delivery vehicle for different therapeutics.
Methods:
An in vitro technique was developed to simultaneously study surfactant delivery and …
To Compare Cyclosporine A Nanoformulations For Their Effectiveness In Reducing Nephrotoxicity, 2019 University of South Florida
To Compare Cyclosporine A Nanoformulations For Their Effectiveness In Reducing Nephrotoxicity, Ilkin Nasirli
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Cyclosporine (CsA) is one of the main immune-suppressant agents which has been used widely in organ transplantation against graft rejection. However, the low oral bioavailability and the associated adverse effects such as nephrotoxicity are the main drawbacks of current usage of this drug. Thus, purpose of this research is to formulate PLGA nanoparticles of CsA to improve its effectiveness and to reduce the nephrotoxicity induced by the plain drug. CsA-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method. Particle size and zeta potential of the formulation was determined and percent drug entrapment were also determined. Quantitative estimation was carried out …
Pazopanib Loaded Plga Nanoparticles For The Treatment Of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, 2019 University of South Florida
Pazopanib Loaded Plga Nanoparticles For The Treatment Of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Gulimirerouzi Fnu
USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a reason of severe vision loss worldwide. Pazopanib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug that can reduce neovascularization by mainly acting on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). An intraocular injection to posterior segment of eye of anti-VEGF agent at present represents the cornerstone of therapies for AMD. However, challenges in targeting and delivering drug to eye’s posterior segment well as difficulties arising from repetitive frequent intraocular injections, which requires novel drug delivery method. In this study, pazopanib loaded PLGA‐NPs were prepared and the studied formulation had particle size of 132.1 ± 1.4 nm …
Arts Of Living On A Damaged Planet: Ghosts And Monsters Of The Anthropocene By Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, Heather Anne Swanson, Elaine Gan, And Nils Bubandt, 2019 Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design
Arts Of Living On A Damaged Planet: Ghosts And Monsters Of The Anthropocene By Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, Heather Anne Swanson, Elaine Gan, And Nils Bubandt, Randy Lee Cutler
The Goose
Review of Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, Heather Anne Swanson, Elaine Gan, and Nils Bubandt's Arts of Living on a Damaged Planet: Ghosts and Monsters of the Anthropocene.
Predicting The Future: Parental Progeny Investment In Response To Environmental Stress Cues, 2019 Gettysburg College
Predicting The Future: Parental Progeny Investment In Response To Environmental Stress Cues, Leah Gulyas, Jennifer R. Powell
Biology Faculty Publications
Environmental stressors can severely limit the ability of an organism to reproduce as lifespan is decreased and resources are shifted away from reproduction to survival. Although this is often detrimental to the organism’s reproductive fitness, certain other reproductive stress responses may mitigate this effect by increasing the likelihood of progeny survival in the F1 and subsequent generations. Here we review three means by which these progeny may be conferred a competitive edge as a result of stress encountered in the parental generation: heritable epigenetic modifications to nucleotides and histones, simple maternal investments of cytosolic components, and the partially overlapping phenomenon …
Environmental Microcystin Targets The Microbiome And Increases The Risk Of Intestinal Inflammatory Pathology Via Nox2 In Underlying Murine Model Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, 2019 University of South Carolina
Environmental Microcystin Targets The Microbiome And Increases The Risk Of Intestinal Inflammatory Pathology Via Nox2 In Underlying Murine Model Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Sutapa Sarkar, Diana Kimono, Muayad Albadrani, Ratanesh K. Seth, Philip Busbee, Hasan Alghetaa, Dwayne E. Porter, Geoff I. Scott, Bryan Brooks, Mitzi Nagarkatti, Prakash Nagarkatti, Saurabh Chatterjee
Faculty Publications
With increased climate change pressures likely to influence harmful algal blooms, exposure to microcystin, a known hepatotoxin and a byproduct of cyanobacterial blooms can be a risk factor for NAFLD associated comorbidities. Using both in vivo and in vitro experiments we show that microcystin exposure in NAFLD mice cause rapid alteration of gut microbiome, rise in bacterial genus known for mediating gut inflammation and lactate production. Changes in the microbiome were strongly associated with inflammatory pathology in the intestine, gut leaching, tight junction protein alterations and increased oxidative tyrosyl radicals. Increased lactate producing bacteria from the altered microbiome was associated …
A Rapid Viability And Drug‑Susceptibility Assay Utilizing Mycobacteriophage As An Indicator Of Drug Susceptibilities Of Anti‑Tb Drugs Against Mycobacterium Smegmatis Mc2 155, 2019 Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, Ireland
A Rapid Viability And Drug‑Susceptibility Assay Utilizing Mycobacteriophage As An Indicator Of Drug Susceptibilities Of Anti‑Tb Drugs Against Mycobacterium Smegmatis Mc2 155, Gillian Catherine Crowley, Jim O'Mahony, Aidan Coffey, Riona G. Sayers, Paul D. Cotter
Department of Biological Sciences Publications
Background: A rapid in-house TM4 mycobacteriophage-based assay, to identify multidrug resistance against various anti-tuberculosis drugs, using the fast-growing Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2 155 in a microtiter plate format was evaluated, based on phage viability assays. Methods: A variety of parameters were optimized before the study including the minimum incubation time for the drugs, phage and M. smegmatis mc2 155 to be in contact. An increase in phage numbers over 2 h was indicative that M. smegmatis mc2 155 is resistant to the drugs under investigation, however when phage numbers remained static, M. smegmatis mc2 155 found to …
Development And Validation Of A Lc-Ms/Ms Method For Detection And Quantification Of 18 Antidepressants In Whole Blood, 2019 CUNY John Jay College
Development And Validation Of A Lc-Ms/Ms Method For Detection And Quantification Of 18 Antidepressants In Whole Blood, Linda Kim
Student Theses
Antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in America, with researchers reporting one in six Americans take some form of psychiatric drugs-mostly antidepressants (NBC News, 2016). Antidepressants are often present in combination with other drugs in suicides and drug-related deaths, so a sensitive and specific method to detect and quantify antidepressants is necessary. We developed a method for the detection and quantification of 18 different antidepressants in whole blood, with a range of 2.5-900 ng/mL and LOQ of 2.5 ng/mL. Three hundred uL of blood was used and the analytes were extracted using solid-phase extraction and analyzed by …
Method Development And Validation For The Determination Of Designer Benzodiazepines In Blood By Lc-Ms/Ms, 2019 CUNY John Jay College
Method Development And Validation For The Determination Of Designer Benzodiazepines In Blood By Lc-Ms/Ms, Victoria Mei
Student Theses
The misuse of designer benzodiazepines, as an alternative to prescription benzodiazepines and for drug-facilitated sexual assaults, has emerged as a growing threat, due in part to the ease of purchasing these drugs on the internet at low prices. Causing concern for safety, is the lack of dosage information resulting in users self-medicating, often leading to unintended overdoses, coma, or death at higher doses. With limited published data regarding quantification of designer benzodiazepines in forensic cases, a method was validated for the determination of thirteen and screening for two designer benzodiazepines in blood, in addition to a limited number of common …
Developmental Expression Of The Cytosolic Sulfotransferases In Human Liver., 2019 Children's Mercy Hospital
Developmental Expression Of The Cytosolic Sulfotransferases In Human Liver., Sarah Dubaisi, Joseph A. Caruso, R Gaedigk, Carrie A. Vyhlidal, Philip C. Smith, Ronald N. Hines, Thomas A. Kocarek, Melissa Runge-Morris
Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers
The liver is the predominant organ of metabolism for many endogenous and foreign chemicals. Cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs) catalyze the sulfonation of drugs and other xenobiotics, as well as hormones, neurotransmitters, and sterols, with consequences that include enhanced drug elimination, hormone inactivation, and procarcinogen bioactivation. SULTs are classified into six gene families, but only SULT1 and SULT2 enzymes are expressed in human liver. We characterized the developmental expression patterns of SULT1 and SULT2 mRNAs and proteins in human liver samples using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), RNA sequencing, and targeted quantitative proteomics. Using a set of prenatal, infant, and …
Health Disparities Among South Asians: Is Food Insecurity The Missing Link?, 2019 California State University, San Bernardino
Health Disparities Among South Asians: Is Food Insecurity The Missing Link?, Valentina Chawdhury
Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations
Objective: Food insecurity among South Asians in the US is a public health issue. Food insecure adults face a plethora of adverse outcomes and research shows that individuals with ancestral origins from South Asia have a higher susceptibility rate for cardiovascular disease after migrating to urban environments. As such, the goal of this study was to research possible barriers South Asians face when creating cultural dishes in the US.
Methods: This was a convergent parallel mixed-methods analysis to understand how South Asians feel about food insecurity. Pricing and availability of cultural food items were obtained from South Asian and Western …