Digital Commons Network^™

Effectiveness Of Weight Control Through Weight Watch Programs, V. A. Black, P. Boumtje

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Linear probability estimation and survey data are employed to quantify the influence of the lifestyles of individuals on the change in their body mass index (BMI). The analysis also explores the effects of demographic characteristics (age, gender, and ethnicity) in weight management. Results suggest evidence of association between changes in lifestyle and changes in the BMI of individuals.

Effects Of Different Extenders, Cryoprotectants, Equilibration And Vapour Exposure On Freezability Of African Catfish(Clarias Gariepinus) Sperm., Noor Azlina Kamaruding

Student Works (2010-2019)

The aim of this study was to develop an optimal freezing protocol for African catfish(Clarias gariepinus) sperm with special reference to type of extender and cryoprotectant, molarity, equilibration duration, vapour temperature and vapour exposure duration. Using Tris-Citric Acid Yolk Extender (TCAYE), a 3x3x3x3 factorial experiment was carried out consisting of 3 molarities of glycerol (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 M), 3 equilibration durations (120,140 and 160 minutes), 3 vapour temperatures (-80, -90 and -100oC) and 3 vapour exposure durations (5, 10 and 15 minutes). In addition, using Fish-Ringer Extender (FRE), a 3x3x3 factorial experiment was also conducted involving 3 equilibration durations …

Spatial Learning And Stress Response Of Male Rats Prenatally Exposed To Dexamethasone, Joseph John Donohoe

Master’s Theses

Dexamethasone is routinely administered to women at risk for a preterm birth in order to enhance fetal lung development and reduce uterine contractions. Research has demonstrated possible behavioral abnormalities in adulthood as a result of dexamethasone treatment. Using nonlinear mixed effects modeling, this study found thatprenatal dexamethasone treatment impaired spatial learning and memory of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Prenatal dexamethasone treatment also led to more anxiety related behaviors on Elevated Plus Maze testing 1.5 hours after a stress challenge. Because theassumptions underlying the independent samples t-test were violated, the randomization test was used to compare groups on the Elevated Plus …

Effects Of Prenatal Dexamethasone On Hipopcampal Serotonin 1a Receptors In Adult Male Rats, Rahul Vijay

Master’s Theses

The main activation route for the stress response is the hypothalamo-pituitaryadrenal axis (HPA) and the sympatho-adrenomedullary system. The HPA axis is a neuroendocrine feedback loop mediated by an array of tissue specific hormones, receptors and neurotransmitters that regulate glucocorticoid (GC) release. GCs are steroidal hormones produced by the adrenal glands and are key players in a negativefeedback loop controlling HPA activity. They influence the HPA axis through glucocorticoid receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary and through both glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralcorticoid receptors (MR) that are co-localized in the hippocampus. Repeated or chronic stress exerts a negative influence on these HPA …

The Interictal State In Epilepsy And Behavior, Daniel Tice Barkmeier

Wayne State University Dissertations

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, affecting up to 1% of the world population. Epilepsy remains poorly understood and there are currently no medications to cure it. Patients with epilepsy have both seizures as well as another type of abnormal activity between seizures, known as interictal spikes. Interictal spikes have thus far been poorly researched, yet growing evidence supports an important role for them in epilepsy. In this project, we first show the high variability between reviewers in marking interictal spikes on intracranial EEG, and then develop and test an automated detection method to solve this problem. …

Activation Of Tumor Cell Death Program By Targeting The Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway: Significance In Cancer Treatment And Prevention, Michael Joseph Frezza

Wayne State University Dissertations

ACTIVATION OF TUMOR CELL DEATH PROGRAM BY TARGETING THE UBIQUITIN-PROTEASOME PATHWAY: SIGNIFICANCE IN CANCER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

by

MICHAEL FREZZA

August 2010

Advisor: Dr. Q. Ping Dou

Major: Cancer Biology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway serves as a quality control mechanism to regulate the degradation of intracellular proteins involved in a wide array of cellular processes including tumorigeneis. Thus targeting key features of protein turnover responsible for the growth and proliferation of cancer have emerged as a favorable approach in cancer therapy. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental and clinical results have demonstrated the potential use of …

Immunomodulatory Effect Of Host And Fungal Eicosanoids During Host-Pathogen Interactions With Candida Albicans, Gitanjali Kundu

Wayne State University Dissertations

Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, poses a significant clinical threat to immunocompromised patients. Diseases associated with this fungus ranges from superficial mucosal infection to life-threatening systemic candidiasis. The mechanisms by which Candida persists at mucosal surfaces in the face of an adaptive response are unclear. Candida produces immunomodulatory oxylipins that cross-react functionally with host eicosanoids, which are considered to play important role in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. Our objective was to characterize the role of prostaglandins produced by the host and this fungus during host pathogen interactions, both in vitro with dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, and …

Defensins In Ocular Immunity, Minhao Wu

Wayne State University Dissertations

Corneal infection with P. aeruginosa results in corneal perforation in susceptible

B6, but not resistant BALB/c mice. This study explored their role mBD 1-4 in corneal

infection, and their potential synergy. Immunostaining and real-time RT-PCR data

demonstrated that their expression was either constitutive (mBD1 and mBD2) or

inducible (mBD3 and mBD4) in normal BALB/c and B6 corneas, and disparately

regulated in BALB/c vs B6 corneas after infection. Knock down studies using siRNA

treatment indicated that mBD2 and mBD3, but neither mBD1 nor mBD4, is required in

ocular defense. Moreover, in vivo studies demonstrated individual and combined effects

of mBD2 and …

Sustained Expression Of Tdp-43 And Fus In Motor Neurons In Rodent's Lifetime., Cao Huang, Pedro Yuxing Xia, Hongxia Zhou

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) are two highly conserved ribonucleoproteins. Pathogenic mutations of the TDP-43 or the FUS gene are all linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that is characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons. To better understand the correlation of ALS disease genes with the selectivity of chronic motor neuron degeneration, we examined the longitudinal expression of the TDP-43 and the FUS genes in C57BL6 mice and in Sprague-Dawley rats. TDP-43 and FUS were robustly and ubiquitously expressed in the postnatal mice and rats, but were markedly decreased in the adult rodents. In adulthood, …

Recent Advances On Skin-Resident Stem/Progenitor Cell Functions In Skin Regeneration, Aging And Cancers And Novel Anti-Aging And Cancer Therapies., Murielle Mimeault, Surinder K. Batra

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Recent advances in skin-resident adult stem/progenitor cell research have revealed that these immature and regenerative cells with a high longevity provide critical functions in maintaining skin homeostasis and repair after severe injuries along the lifespan of individuals. The establishment of the functional properties of distinct adult stem/progenitor cells found in skin epidermis and hair follicles and extrinsic signals from their niches, which are deregulated during their aging and malignant transformation, has significantly improved our understanding on the etiopathogenesis of diverse human skin disorders and cancers. Particularly, enhanced ultraviolet radiation exposure, inflammation and oxidative stress and telomere attrition during chronological aging …

Characterization And Optimization Of Microelectrode Arrays For Glutamate Measurements In The Rat Hippocampus, Pooja Mahendra Talauliker

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

An overarching goal of the Gerhardt laboratory is the development of an implantable neural device that allows for long-term glutamate recordings in the hippocampus. Proper L-glutamate regulation is essential for hippocampal function, while glutamate dysregulation is implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. Direct evidence for subregional glutamate regulation is lacking in previous in vivo studies because of limitations in the spatio-temporal resolution of conventional experimental techniques. We used novel enzyme-coated microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for rapid measurements (2Hz) of extracellular glutamate in urethane-anesthetized rats. Potassium-evoked glutamate release was highest in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) subregion and lowest in the cornu ammonis …

Interaction Of The Mu-Opioid Receptor With Gpr177 (Wntless) Inhibits Wnt Secretion: Potential Implications For Opioid Dependence., Jay Jin, Saranya Kittanakom, Victoria Wong, Beverly A S Reyes, Elisabeth J Van Bockstaele, Igor Stagljar, Wade Berrettini, Robert Levenson

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Opioid agonist drugs produce analgesia. However, long-term exposure to opioid agonists may lead to opioid dependence. The analgesic and addictive properties of opioid agonist drugs are mediated primarily via the mu-opioid receptor (MOR). Opioid agonists appear to alter neuronal morphology in key brain regions implicated in the development of opioid dependence. However, the precise role of the MOR in the development of these neuronal alterations remains elusive. We hypothesize that identifying and characterizing novel MOR interacting proteins (MORIPs) may help to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of opioid dependence. RESULTS: GPR177, the mammalian ortholog of Drosophila …

Neuroaids In Africa, Kevin Robertson, Jeff Liner, James Hakim, Jean-Louis Sankalé, Igor Grant, Scott Letendre, David Clifford, Amadou Gallo Diop, Assan Jaye, Georgette Kanmogne, Alfred Njamnshi, T. Dianne Langford, Tufa Gemechu Weyessa, Charles Wood, Mwanza Banda, Mina Hosseinipour, Ned Sacktor, Noeline Nakasuja, Paul Bangirana, Robert Paul, John Joska, Joseph Wong, Michael Boivin, Penny Holding, Betsy Kammerer, Annelies Van Rie, Prudence Ive, Avindra Nath, Kathy Lawler, Clement Adebamowo, Walter Royal Iii, Jeymohan Joseph

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

In July 2009, the Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS at the National Institute of Mental Health organized and supported the meeting “NeuroAIDS in Africa.” This meeting was held in Cape Town, South Africa, and was affiliated with the 5th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. Presentations began with an overview of the epidemiology of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, the molecular epidemiology of HIV, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs), and HAND treatment. These introductory talks were followed by presentations on HAND research and clinical care in Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, …

Towards An Understanding Of The Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Latency-Reactivation Cycle, Guey-Chuen Perng, Clinton Jones

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Infection by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can cause clinical symptoms in the peripheral and central nervous system. Recurrent ocular shedding can lead to corneal scarring and vision loss making HSV-1 a leading cause of corneal blindness due to an infectious agent. The primary site of HSV-1 latency is sensory neurons within trigeminal ganglia. Periodically, reactivation from latency occurs resulting in virus transmission and recurrent disease. During latency, the latency-associated transcript (LAT) is abundantly expressed. LAT expression is important for the latency-reactivation cycle in animal models, in part, because it inhibits apoptosis, viral gene expression, and productive infection. A …

Method For Identification Of Virulence Determinants, Raul G. Barletta, Beth Harris

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Disclosed are methods for the determination of virulence determinants in bacteria and in particular bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for stimulating an immune response in an animal using bacteria and virulence determinants identified by the methods of the present invention.

Robust Dynamic Balance Of Ap-1 Transcription Factors In A Neuronal Gene Regulatory Network., Gregory M Miller, Babatunde A Ogunnaike, James S Schwaber, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The octapeptide Angiotensin II is a key hormone that acts via its receptor AT1R in the brainstem to modulate the blood pressure control circuits and thus plays a central role in the cardiac and respiratory homeostasis. This modulation occurs via activation of a complex network of signaling proteins and transcription factors, leading to changes in levels of key genes and proteins. AT1R initiated activity in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), which regulates blood pressure, has been the subject of extensive molecular analysis. But the adaptive network interactions in the NTS response to AT1R, plausibly related to the development of …

The Effects Of Adding Methylprednisolone To Low-Potassium Dextran Solution On Preserved Ischemic Lungs, Ali̇ Yegi̇nsu, Makbule Ergi̇n, Hüseyi̇n Özyurt, Çi̇ğdem Elmas, Güleser Çağlar Göktaş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the effects of adding methylprednisolone to low-potassium dextran solution on cold-preserved ischemic lungs. Materials and methods: The study included 42 rat lung blocks that were divided into 7 groups (n = 6). Lung blocks were preserved in 40 mL of cold Perfadex solution, to which 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 mg kg-1 (approximately 40, 120, 240, 480, and 960 mg L-1) of methylprednisolone were added. After a 24-h preservation period, the lungs were removed from the solution and examined. Results: As compared to the Perfadex only group, cell death and degeneration were significantly higher in the Perfadex …

Prevalence Of Helicobacter Pylori Infection In Healthcare Workers, Maliheh Metanat, Batool Sharifi-Mood, Shahrokh Izadi

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major factor in inflammatory and malignant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The epidemiologic pattern of this infection varies among developed and developing countries, and is related to the general standards of living in each region. In view of the importance of this infection and its different prevalence in different regions of Iran, as well as its long-term complications, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its contributing factors in Zahedan. Materials and methods: Ninety-seven healthcare workers without digestive symptoms or a history of H. pylori eradication were randomly …

Cgmp Pde As A Novel Molecular Target For The Prevention And Treatment Of Breast Cancer, Heather Nicole Tinsley

All ETDs from UAB

Breast cancer remains a major health concern, despite efforts to develop improved therapeutics. Chemoprevention is a promising strategy for reducing breast cancer-related morbidity and mortality. However, with the exception of the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), which have limited efficacy and severe toxicities, no drugs have been approved for breast cancer chemoprevention. Studies demonstrate that certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) display promising chemopreventive efficacy. Unfortunately, the depletion of physiologically important prostaglandins due to inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes results in potentially fatal toxicities, which exclude the use of NSAIDs and COX-2 selective inhibitors for chemoprevention. Ample data, however, suggest …

Usp14: A Link Between The Proteasome And Synaptic Function, Brandon John Walters

All ETDs from UAB

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is a coordinated process by which the cell can control protein distribution and abundance. Proteins are marked for turnover by the construction of a polyubiquitin chain on the protein substrate. Once engaged by the proteasome, the ubiquitin side-chain is disassembled by proteasomal deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), preventing entry of ubiquitin into the proteasome and recycling it for use in future reactions. One of the DUBs that resides on the proteasome is Ubiquitin Specific Protease 14 (Usp14), which is mutated in the ataxia (axJ) mice. This mutation results in pronounced physical deficits and, unexpectedly, a deficit in …

Small Molecule Inhibitors Of Acid Sensing Ion Channel-1, Yawar J. Qadri

All ETDs from UAB

Acid Sensing Ion Channel 1 is one of the many proteins in the Epithelial Sodium Channel/Degenerin family. The proteins in this family interact to form cation channels with unique biophysical properties and can all be inhibited by the small molecule amiloride. Their expression in many different cell types underlies their involvement in a large variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. ASIC-1 containing channels, specifically, are an important therapeutic target for ischemic stroke, nociception, the invasiveness of glioblastoma cells, and many other processes including anxiety and memory formation. Of the members of the ENaC/Deg family, chicken ASIC-1 is the only protein …

A Dual Protease Inhibitor/Receptor Antagonist With Therapeutic Implications For Chronic Inflammatory Lung Diseases, Matthew Thomas Hardison

All ETDs from UAB

protein (CRP) and smoking, controlling for waist circumference (WC) and race, we find

Investigation Of Residues Of The Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Nucleocapsid Protein That Affect Transcription And Rna Replication, Djamila Harouaka

All ETDs from UAB

The template for transcription and RNA replication for vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and other negative-strand RNA viruses is a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex consisting of the viral RNA genome and associated nucleocapsid (N) protein. The structure of the RNP-like complex of VSV showed that the RNA is sequestered between two lobes of the N protein, and adjacent N monomers are linked by an extensive network of interactions. Long-range interactions mediated by the N-terminal arm and C-terminal loop of the N protein stabilize the side-to-side contacts between adjacent N monomers, and are required for RNA encapsidation. It is unclear how the polymerase …

O-Glcnac Transferase Modulates Jnk1 And Foxo4 Transcription Factor To Resist Acute Oxidative Stress, Shiuh-Rong Ho

All ETDs from UAB

O-GlcNAcylation is an abundant and dynamic post-translational modification on serine and threonine residues of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. O-GlcNAc Transferase (OGT) and Nuclear Cytoplasmic O-GlcNAcase and Acetyltransferase (NCOAT) are the only two enzymes and major regulators in this process. In the past two decades, many studies have demonstrated its important modulation roles in nutrient sensing, protein turnover, cell cycle progression, transcription, translation as well as stress resistance. Among these biological functions, the understanding of O-GlcNAcylation dependent oxidative stress is relatively unknown. This study aims to examine the effects of O-GlcNAcylation on JNK1 and FOXO4 transcription factors under acute oxidative stress …

Role Of Epithelial Sodium Channel And Acid Sensing Ion Channel In Glioblastoma Multiforme, Niren Kapoor

All ETDs from UAB

Glioblastoma Multifrome is the most common and aggressive of the primary brain tumors. These tumors express multiple members of the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC)/Degenerin (Deg) family, associated with a basally active amiloride sensitive cation current. We hypothesize that this glioma current is mediated by a hybrid channel composed of a mixture of Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) and Acid Sensing Ion Channel (ASIC) subunits. To test this hypothesis we made dominant negative cDNAs for ASIC1, αENaC, and γENaC. D54-MG glioma cells transfected with the dominant negative constructs for ASIC1, αENaC, or γENaC showed reduced protein expression for each of the specific …

Mechanisms Of Major Outer Membrane Protein (Momp)-Vaccine Induced Protective Immunity Against Chlamydia Muridarum Genital Infection, Christina M. Farris

All ETDs from UAB

Urogenital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmit-ted disease with an estimated 90 million new infections occurring each year worldwide. In women infection with C. trachomatis can result in serious complications including ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal factor infertility. Despite very effective antimicrobial chemotherapy, control of the infection will likely require an effective vaccine. We have assessed the protective effect of an outer membrane based vaccine using a murine model of chlamydial genital tract infection. Female mice were vaccinated with C. muridarum major outer membrane protein (MOMP) plus the immunostimulatory adjuvants CpG-1826 and Montanide …

Transcriptional Regulation Of The Human Heme Oxygenase-1 Via Chromatin Looping In Renal Cells, Junghyun Kim

All ETDs from UAB

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a critical enzyme catalyzing the degradation of heme and generating carbon monoxide, iron, and biliverdin. In addition to heme degradation, HO-1 expression is known to protect against various cellular insults and disease states including acute kidney injury, atherosclerosis, vascular restenosis, and others. Human HO-1 gene expression is tightly regulated at the level of transcription. The main goal of this study is to explore the transcriptional regulation of the human HO-1 gene in renal epithelial cells. Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C) demonstrates that multiple regulatory regions within the HO-1 promoter and enhancer regions are physically interacting with each …

The Role Of Gli1 In Eralpha-Negative Breast Cancer: Promoting Survival, Migration, Invasion, And Metastasis, Yeon-Jin Kwon

All ETDs from UAB

Glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1) is a well-known oncogene and a transcription factor that mediates several signaling pathways important for tumor progression, such as hedgehog, TGFß, Ras, and EGFR. Although Gli1 is known to play an important role in cancers of brain, skin, prostate, and the pancreas, the role of Gli1 in breast cancer was not previously well-defined. Therefore, this dissertation focuses on defining the role of Gli1 and the mechanism underlying Gli1-mediated transcription in breast cancer. Interestingly, the major findings of the dissertation clearly indicate that Gli1 promotes cell survival and is predictive of a poor outcome in Estrogen …

Role Of Heme Oxygenase-1 In Acute Kidney Injury, Subhashini Bolisetty

All ETDs from UAB

Acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as the rapid loss of kidney function, is often seen in the setting of multiple organ failure in critically ill patients. Lack of established therapeutic approaches to overcome AKI has lead to unacceptably high incidence of morbidity and mortality in these patients. The molecular mechanisms that lead to AKI often have oxidative stress as a common pathogenic event. The kidney responds by prompt induction of its own anti-oxidant machinery including the highly inducible, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic gene-heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). This microsomal enzyme degrades pro-oxidant heme, which is released from heme proteins. The cytoprotective properties of …

Evolution Of Pneumococcal Serogroup 6, Preston Eugene Bratcher

All ETDs from UAB

Serogroup 6 of Streptococcus pneumoniae has been known to contain three serotypes, named 6A, 6B and 6C, with highly homologous capsule gene loci. The 6A and 6B capsule gene loci consistently differ from each other by only one nucleotide in the wciP gene. The 6A capsule gene locus has a galactosyltransferase (wciNα), which has been replaced with a glucosyltransferase (wciNß) in the 6C capsule gene locus. We considered that a new serotype, 6D, would be possible if the glucosyltransferase found in 6C strains was combined with the wciP gene from a 6B strain. We demonstrate that this gene combination yields …