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Limb Remote Ischemic Postconditioning Is Effective But Also Time-Course-Limited In Protecting The Brain From I/R Injury, Ce Xu, Chengju Yi, Haidong Guo, Qiangqiang Liu, Li Wang, Hongxia Li

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To determine the effect of limb remote ischemic postconditioning (LIPoC) against cerebral ischemia reperfusion in rats and the relationship between cycle number or remote postconditioning episode duration and the protective function of LIPoC. Materials and methods: Transient focal ischemia/reperfusion was induced by 90 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with nylon monofilament and 22 h of reperfusion in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals underwent LIPoC consisting of 1, 2, or 3 cycles, with each occlusion or release lasting for 5 min (5/5), 10 min (10/10), or 15 min (15/15) of bilateral femoral artery occlusion/release. Neurological score, infarct volume, water …

Tularemia As A Result Of Outdoor Activities For Children In The Countryside, Şaban Gürcan, Gamze Varol Saraçoğlu, Aynur Karadeni̇zli̇, Emi̇ne Neşe Özkayin, Şemsi̇ Zafer Öztürk, Cemal Çi̇çek, Bi̇nay Vatansever

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the features of a new tularemia outbreak that occurred in the Thrace region. Materials and methods: The research team visited the village after the identification of the index case. Serum and throat samples were taken from 41 villagers who were examined, and environmental samples were taken in order to identify the source of the outbreak. Culture, serology, and molecular methods were used to search for Francisella tularensis in these samples. Results: A total of 8 children were diagnosed with tularemia. The adults and all of the other children were seronegative for tularemia. All of the patients had a …

Histopathological Effects Of The Food Contaminant Furan On Some Endocrine Glands Of Prepubertal Male Rats, Eli̇f Karacaoğlu, Güldeni̇z Selmanoğlu, Aysun Kiliç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To evaluate the toxicity of furan on the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, and pancreas of prepubertal male rats. Materials and methods: Furan was administered orally to 3-4-week-old male rats at doses of 2, 4, and 8 mg kg^{-1} day^{-1} by dissolving in corn oil for 90 days. The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at the end of the experiment. Their endocrine glands including the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, and pancreas were removed and weighed. Tissues were examined morphologically and histopathologically under a light microscope. Results: Organ and relative organ weights of rats did not change with furan administration. Histopathological …

Genotyping Of Giardia Intestinalis Isolated From People Living In Sivas, Turkey, Serpi̇l Değerli̇, Naci̇ Değerli̇, Ali̇ Çeli̇ksöz, Semra Özçeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The technique of polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) genotyping was used to characterise morphologically identical isolates of Giardia intestinalis from human stool samples. Materials and methods: In this study a total of 17 trophozoite samples, obtained either directly from stool samples or after excystation, or by duodenal aspiration, were used. A set of primers was chosen to amplify the different regions of triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and a segment of the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes. A single-stranded conformational polymorphism technique was also used in an attempt to discriminate among some subgroups. Results: Only primers of the 683-bp segment …

Characterization Of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Strains Obtained From Urology Outpatient Clinic Of Ege Medical Faculty In İzmir, Betül Gi̇ray, Füsun Bahri̇ye Uçar, Sabi̇re Şöhret Aydemi̇r

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To identify the papG gene and its allelic variation in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains isolated from patients with acute pyelonephritis and cystitis. Materials and methods: Seventy-five E. coli strains isolated from patients admitted to the University of Ege Medical Faculty urology outpatient clinic were isolated and identified phenotypically. All of these strains were examined for the papG gene and allelic distribution of this gene with the multiplex polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: papG genes were found in 24 of 75 E. coli strains. Of these 24 strains, 7 (29%) had papG class II only, 8 (33%) had class III …

Minimum Inhibitory And Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations Of Boron Compounds Against Several Bacterial Strains, Murat Tolga Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Boron compounds are essential micronutrients for many organisms. However, they negatively affect plant, soil, and water microflora if excessive amounts exist in irrigation water. Therefore, this study aimed to define the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of boric acid and borax by selecting the bacteria that can survive in all environments. Materials and methods: The antibacterial efficacy of boric acid and borax against several bacterial strains was evaluated 3 times with the macrodilution broth method. Results: The MICs and MBCs of boric acid were obtained as 3.80 mg/mL, 3.80 mg/mL, 7.60 mg/mL, and 7.60 mg/mL against …

Circulating Levels Of Igf-I And Igfbp-3 In Gastric Cancer, Konca Altinkaynak, Mehmet Bi̇li̇ci̇, Nuri̇ Bakan, Fati̇h Akçay

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To explore the causative mechanism of gastric carcinoma and to investigate the roles of circulating IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in gastric cancer. Materials and methods: Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were measured using a 2-site coated tube immunoradiometric assay. Results: Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 values in gastric cancer patients were significantly lower compared to those in the control group. The difference between serum IGF-I/IGFBP-3 in patients and the control group was not significant. Conclusion: The low serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels detected in patients with gastric cancer could be due to decreased synthesis or increased catabolism of IGF-I or both. It …

The Effect Of Intermittent Fasting And Water Restriction On Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Arrhythmia In Rats, Sali̇h Tunç Kaya, Ömer Bozdoğan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the effect of intermittent fasting and water restriction on ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. Materials and methods: Six minutes of ischemia followed by 6 min of reperfusion was produced by the ligation and then releasing of the left coronary artery. Intermittent fasting and water restriction were applied during 1 month for 12 h/day. The duration, type, and incidence of arrhythmias during reperfusion and the survival rate at the end of reperfusion were determined and compared. Results: The score of arrhythmia that was determined using the type and duration of arrhythmia did not show significant differences among groups. The arrhythmic period was …

Effects Of Combined Oral Contraceptives On The Skin Of Mice, Nibras Hatim Khamees, Insaf Jasim Mahmoud, Amal Al Khateeb

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To find the effects of a combination of 2 widely used contraceptives, ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone acetate (ECPA), on skin and sebaceous gland morphology and dermal vascularity of mice. Materials and methods: Female mice were divided into groups: treatment with ECPA for 1 month (T) and its control (C); and cessation of treatment for an additional month (recovery, R) and its control (CR). Body weight, skin histology and morphometry, and vaginal smears were performed and analyzed. Results: In the T and R groups, there was a significant increase in epidermal and dermal thickness and dermal vascularity. In group T, the …

Role Of The Immune System And Bioactive Lipids In Trafficking Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells In Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease, Ahmed Abdel-Latif

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) triggers the mobilization of stem/progenitor cells from bone marrow (BMSPCs) into peripheral blood (PB). The underlying mechanisms orchestrating this mobilization and subsequent homing of BMSPCs to the myocardium are poorly understood. While the role of traditional chemokines in the mobilization and homing of hematopoietic stem cell (HSCs) to BM niches is undisputed, their role in directing BMSPCs to the highly proteolytic environment of the ischemic myocardium is debatable and other redundant mechanism may exist. Based on our observation that bioactive lipids, such as sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P) and ceramide-1 phosphate (C1P), play an important role in regulating …

Disruptions In The Regulation Of Extracellular Glutamate In The Rat Central Nervous System After Diffuse Brain Injury, Jason Michael Hinzman

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Glutamate, the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is involved in almost all aspects of neurological function including cognition, motor function, memory, learning, decision making, and neuronal plasticity. For normal neurological function, glutamate signaling must be properly regulated. Disrupted glutamate regulation plays a pivotal role in the acute pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI), disrupting neuronal signaling, initiating secondary injury cascades, and producing excitotoxicity. Increases in extracellular glutamate have been correlated with unfavorable outcomes in TBI survivors, emphasizing the importance of glutamate regulation.

The aim of this thesis was to examine disruptions in the regulation of extracellular glutamate …

Regulation Of Hepatic Gene Expression During Liver Development And Disease, Hui Ren

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

My first project was to investigate the role of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1 (HNF1) and Nuclear Factor I (NFI) on alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter activity during liver development. AFP is highly expressed in the fetal liver, silenced at birth, and remains at very low levels in the adult liver. A GA substitution located at -119 of the human AFP promoter is associated with hereditary persistence of AFP (HPAFP) expression in the adult liver (Hum Molec Genet, 1993, 2:379). The -120 region harbors overlapping binding sites for HNF1 and NFI. While it has been shown that the GA substitution increases HNF1 binding, …

Blast-Induced Brain Injury: Influence Of Shockwave Components, Dexter V. Reneer

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) has been described as the defining injury of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Previously, most blast injury research has focused on the effects of blast on internal, gas filled organs due to their increased susceptibility. However, due to a change in enemy tactics combined with better armor and front-line medical care, bTBI has become one of the most common injuries due to blast. Though there has been a significant amount of research characterizing the brain injury produced by blast, a sound understanding of the contribution of each component of the shockwave to the …

Signaling Mechanisms Involved In The Generation Of Human Peripheral Itregs, Mary Catherine Reneer

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Maintaining balance in the human immune system is critical for the body’s ability to discriminate between foreign and self-antigens. This balance is achieved, in part, by a subpopulation of T cells known as induced regulatory T cells (iTregs). Dysregulation of this population may contribute to the onset and progression of cancer, chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, manipulation of iTreg development holds promising therapeutic potential; however, studying this vital population has proven difficult due to low numbers, heterogeneous cell populations, substantial phenotypic differences between mouse and human cells, and the high plasticity seen in iTregs. These current limitations have prevented …

Crosstalk Between Gastrointestinal Epithelial Cells And Resident Microbiota Promotes Immune Homeostasis, Eric William Rogier

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

The gastrointestinal tract houses one of the most dense and diverse communities of bacteria on the planet. The mutualistic relationship between the host and commensal microbe permits the microbe an ideal environment to grow and provides the host with increased caloric intake, maturation of the adaptive immune system, and resistance against invading pathogens. To maintain a system in which both parties benefit, the epithelium has evolved numerous strategies to ensure epithelial cells respond to microbes appropriately and that potentially hazardous commensals remain distanced from the soma proper. Breakdown of these propitiating mechanisms elicits unchecked inflammation and can lead to pathology …

Prion Characterization Using Cell Based Approaches, Vadim Khaychuk

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Prions are the causative agents of a group of lethal, neurodegenerative conditions that include sheep scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and human Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Prions are derived from the conversion of a normal, primarily alpha-helical, cellular prion protein (PrP^C), to an infectious, beta sheet-rich conformer (PrP^Sc). Many unresolved issues surround the process of PrP conversion, and we know very little about cellular responses to these unique pathogens. Our lack of knowledge relates, in part, to the difficulty of infecting cells in vitro with prions. While expression of PrP^C is an absolute requirement for prion …

A Diet Enriched In Stearic Acid Protects Against The Progression Of Type 2 Diabetes In Leptin Receptor Deficient Mice (Db/Db), Valerie Lynn Reeves

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Dietary saturated fat intake contributes to diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as shown in numerous animal and human studies. However, the hypothesis that stearic acid, a saturated fat, has beneficial effects on these conditions has not been adequately tested. Leptin receptor deficient mice (db/db) and wild-type mice were fed either chow or a high fat diet enriched in either stearic acid or oleic acid for ten weeks. The progression of diabetes was evaluated with blood glucose, insulin, and metabolic parameter measurements. At the conclusion of the study, pancreatic islet organization was examined, and blood, liver and feces were assayed for fatty …

Inflammatory Interactions And Secretion In Cardiac Remodeling, Fanmuyi Yang

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Heart failure contributes to nearly 60,000 deaths per year in the USA and is often caused by hypertension and preceded by the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). LVH is usually accompanied by intensive interstitial and perivascular fibrosis which may contribute to arrhythmogenic sudden cardiac death. Emerging evidence indicates that LV dysfunction in patients and animal models of cardiac hypertrophy is closely associated with perivascular inflammation.

To investigate the role of perivascular inflammation in coronary artery remodeling and cardiac fibrosis during hypertrophic ventricular remodeling, we used a well-established mouse model of pressure-overload-induced LVH: transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Early perivascular inflammation …

Reconstruction Of Nigrostriatal Pathway In An Animal Model Of Parkinson's Disease, Chen Zhang

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Parkinson's disease is characterized by progressive degeneration of substantia nigra (SN) and subsequently loss of the nigrostriatal circuit. Many strategies have attempted to reconstruct this circuit but failed to satisfy clinical trials. The inhibitory environment of the adult CNS and the long distance between the SN and the striatum make true reconstruction difficult. To reconstruct this circuit, we used a transplant-pathway targeting model. Several putative pathway targeting molecules were examined for their ability to direct the growth of axons from a dopaminergic transplant. For a proof-of-principle study, adenoviral and lentiviral encoded glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), GDNF-receptor alpha1 (GFRa1 …

Effects Of Phenolic Acids On Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle Complications In Streptozotocine-Induced Diabetic Rats, Nurcan Bektaş, Yusuf Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To identify the effects of antioxidants on gastrointestinal smooth muscle complications in 6-week streptozotocine (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: The following steps were carried out: 1. Three weeks after STZ injection, saline and 10 mg/kg p-OH benzoic, protocatechic, and gallic acids were separately administered to the rat groups every day for 3 weeks. 2. The responses of the fundus and ileum to agonists were recorded using isolated organ bath experiments. Results: Diabetic smooth muscle complications developed in the diabetic rats. The responses of the ileum to acetylcholine increased whereas the responses of the fundus to serotonine decreased in the …

Effects Of Long-Term Passive Smoking On The Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor And Apoptosis Marker Expression In The Retina And Choroid: An Experimental Study, Sema Dündar, Fati̇h Özcura, İbrahi̇m Meteoğlu, Mehmet Erkut Kara

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the effects of smoking, reported as a risk factor for age related macular degeneration (ARMD), on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and apoptosis in the retina and choroid of rats. Materials and methods: This experimental study included 38 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups. Groups 1 (males) and 2 (females) were exposed to smoke beginning on day 21 after birth, whereas groups 3 (males) and 4 (females) were not exposed to smoke. At the end of the fourth month, the right eyes of all of the rats were enucleated. Immunohistochemical analysis was …

Effect Of Dietary Β-Sitosterol On Fecal Bacterial And Colonic Biotransformation Enzymes In 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine–Induced Colon Carcinogenesis, Albert Baskar Arul, Khalid Al Numair, Mohammed Al Saif, Ignacimuthu Savarimuthu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The present study was designed to investigate the modulatory effect of \beta-sitosterol administration on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced fecal bacterial and colonic biotransformation enzyme activities. Materials and methods: The chemopreventive potential of \beta-sitosterol in colon carcinogenesis was assessed by injecting DMH (20 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously into male Wistar rats and supplementing with \beta-sitosterol throughout the experimental period of 16 weeks at 3 different doses (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body weight). Results: Amplified activities of fecal bacterial (\beta-glucuronidase, \beta-glucosidase, \beta-galactosidase, nitroreductase, hyaluronate lyase, and sulfatase) and colonic biotransformation (\beta-glucuronidase, \beta-glucosidase, \beta-galactosidase, and nitroreductase) enzymes were considered hallmarks of colon carcinogenesis. DMH-induced …

Attenuation Of Corneal Myofibroblast Development Through Nanoparticle-Mediated Soluble Transforming Growth Factor-Β Type Ii Receptor (Stgfβrii) Gene Transfer, Ajay Sharma, Jason T. Rodier, Ashish Tandon, Alexander M. Klibanov, Rajiv R. Mohan

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose: To explore (i) the potential of polyethylenimine (PEI)-DNA nanoparticles as a vector for delivering genes into human corneal fibroblasts, and (ii) whether the nanoparticle-mediated soluble extracellular domain of the transforming growth factor–β type II receptor (sTGFβRII) gene therapy could be used to reduce myofibroblasts and fibrosis in the cornea using an in vitro model.

Methods: PEI-DNA nanoparticles were prepared at a nitrogen-to-phosphate ratio of 30 by mixing linear PEI and a plasmid encoding sTGFβRII conjugated to the fragment crystallizable (Fc) portion of human immunoglobulin. The PEI-DNA polyplex formation was confirmed through gel retardation assay. Human corneal fibroblasts (HCFs) were …

Development Of A Bi-Directional Electronics Platform For Advanced Neural Applications, Luca Abbati

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work presents a high-voltage, high-precision bi-directional multi-channel system capable of stimulating neural activity through bi-phasic pulses of amplitude up to ∓50 V while recording very low-voltage responses as low as tens of microvolts. Most of the systems reported from the scientific community possess at least one of the following common limitations: low stimulation voltages, low gain capabilities, or insufficient bandwidth to acquire a wide range of different neural activities.

While systems can be found that present remarkable capabilities in one or more specific areas, a versatile system that performs over all these aspects is missing. Moreover, as many novel …

Structural Investigations Of Retinoid X Receptor Transcriptional Activation By Anti-Cancer Rexinoids, Leeann J. Boerma

All ETDs from UAB

Nuclear receptor (NR) protein retinoid X receptor (RXR) is a ligand-inducible transcription factor that binds retinoids for regulation of target genes. Agonist binding induces a major structural rearrangement in the ligand binding domain (LBD) and formation of the coactivator binding interface. RXR-signaling pathways control proliferation, differentiation, and growth in epithelial tissues. To understand how RXR agonists enhance signaling at the molecular level requires an understanding of how agonists induce structural and dynamical changes in the LBD to recruit coactivators for activation of anti-cancer relevant transcription. While most studies of NR activation center on the position of Helix 12 (H12)/activation function-2 …

Myosin Ii Regulates Actin Dynamics Critical For Structural Plasticity And Fear Memory Formation, Cristin Gavin

All ETDs from UAB

Dynamic changes to the actin cytoskeleton are required for synaptic plasticity and long-term memory formation. However, the molecular mechanisms that mediate filamentous actin (F-actin) dynamics during both activity-dependent synaptic potentiation and long-term memory encoding are poorly understood. Myosin II motor proteins are highly expressed in actin-rich growth structures in neurons, including dendritic spines. Recent work demonstrates that these molecular machines mobilize F-actin in response to synaptic stimulation and are required for memory encoding in CA1 hippocampus of rodents. The aims of this project were two-fold. First, we sought to establish if myosin II regulates actin filament polymerization necessary for structural …

Circuit Development In The Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (Dlgn) Of The Mouse., Tania Seabrook

Theses and Dissertations

The visual system is one of the most widely used and best understood sensory systems and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the mouse has emerged as a model for investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development and activity-dependent refinement of sensory connections. Thalamic organization is highly conserved throughout species and the dLGN of the mouse possesses many features common to higher mammals, such as carnivores and primates. Two general classes of neuron are present within the dLGN, thalamocortical relay cells and interneurons, both of which receive direct retinal input. Axons of relay cells exit dLGN and …

Targeting The Endocannabinoid System To Reduce Inflammatory Pain, Sudeshna Ghosh

Theses and Dissertations

The endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) exert their effects predominantly through cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, but these actions are short-lived because of rapid hydrolysis by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), respectively. Selective inhibition of either enzyme elevates CNS levels of the appropriate endocannabinoid and produces analgesic effects with fewer psychomimetic side effects than Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active constituent of marijuana. While cannabinoid receptor agonists and FAAH inhibitors reliably produce anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic effects in the carrageenan test and other inflammatory pain models, much less is known about the consequences of inhibiting …

The Role Of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors On Anxiety-Like Behavior: A Study In Female Mice, Jessicka Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Tobacco dependence is high in women who suffer from anxiety disorders yet little is known about the contributions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on anxiety-like behavior. β2*nAChRs (*denotes assembly with other subunits) are the most abundantly expressed nAChRs in the brain yet little is known about the contributions of β2*nAChRs on anxiety-like behavior in female mice. In this study, antagonism and nicotine effects on anxiety-like behavior was investigated across the life span in 6, 12 and 24-month-old drug-naïve knockout (KO), heterozygous (HET) and a gain of function α6L9S mice and wild type (WT). HET mice showed increased sensitivity to di-hydrobeta-erythroidine …

Msh2 Acts In Medium-Spiny Striatal Neurons As An Enhancer Of Cag Instability And Mutant Huntingtin Phenotypes In Huntington's Disease Knock-In Mice., Marina Kovalenko, Ella Dragileva, Jason St Claire, Tammy Gillis, Jolene R Guide, Jaclyn New, Hualing Dong, Raju Kucherlapati, Melanie H Kucherlapati, Michelle E Ehrlich, Jong-Min Lee, Vanessa C Wheeler

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

The CAG trinucleotide repeat mutation in the Huntington's disease gene (HTT) exhibits age-dependent tissue-specific expansion that correlates with disease onset in patients, implicating somatic expansion as a disease modifier and potential therapeutic target. Somatic HTT CAG expansion is critically dependent on proteins in the mismatch repair (MMR) pathway. To gain further insight into mechanisms of somatic expansion and the relationship of somatic expansion to the disease process in selectively vulnerable MSNs we have crossed HTT CAG knock-in mice (HdhQ111) with mice carrying a conditional (floxed) Msh2 allele and D9-Cre transgenic mice, in which Cre recombinase is expressed specifically in MSNs …