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Postprandial Effects Of Pecans Ingestion On Plasma Level Of Nutrients, Polyphenolic Compounds And Biomarkers Of Antioxidant Status In Human Volunteers, Chatrapa Hudthagosol

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Pecans (Carya illinoinensis) are rich sources of polyphenolic compounds and nutrients, which have antioxidant capacity results in favorable reductions in plasma lipids and lipoproteins. However, the health benefits of pecans may not be limited to blood lipid changes. There has been very little investigation into the contribution of bioactive components found in nuts to antioxidant protection. The purposes of the study were 1) to determine the impact of pecan consumption on concentration of total plasma polyphenols and their peak concentration over time. 2) to measure the effect of a pecan diet on postprandial levels of plasma lipid peroxidation …

Prion Protein Glycosylation Is Not Required For Strain-Specific Neurotropism, Justin R. Piro, Brent T. Harris, Koren Nishina, Claudio Soto, Rodrigo Morales, Judy R. Rees, Surachai Supattapone

Dartmouth Scholarship

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the glycosylation of the pathogenic isoform of the prion protein (PrP^Sc) might encode the selective neurotropism of prion strains. We prepared unglycosylated cellular prion protein (PrP^C) substrate molecules from normal mouse brain by treatment with PNGase F and used reconstituted serial protein cyclic misfolding amplification reactions to produce RML and 301C mouse prions containing unglycosylated PrP^Sc molecules. Both RML- and 301C-derived prions containing unglycosylated PrP^Sc molecules were infectious to wild-type mice, and neuropathological analysis showed that mice inoculated with these samples maintained strain-specific patterns of PrP …

Revisiting Histidine-Dependent Acid Phosphatases: A Distinct Group Of Tyrosine Phosphatases., Suresh Veeramani, Ming-Shyue Lee, Ming-Fong Lin

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Although classical protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily members are cysteine-dependent, emerging evidence shows that many acid phosphatases (AcPs) function as histidine-dependent PTPs in vivo. These AcPs dephosphorylate phospho-tyrosine substrates intracellularly and could have roles in development and disease. In contrast to cysteine-dependent PTPs, they utilize histidine, rather than cysteine, for substrate dephosphorylation. Structural analyses reveal that active site histidine, but not cysteine, faces towards the substrate and functions as the phosphate acceptor. Nonetheless, during dephosphorylation, both histidine-dependent and cysteine-dependent PTPs use their active site arginine and aspartate for substrate binding and proton donation, respectively. Thus, we propose that they should …

Intravenous Inoculation Of A Bat-Associated Rabies Virus Causes Lethal Encephalopathy In Mice Through Invasion Of The Brain Via Neurosecretory Hypothalamic Fibers., Mirjam A R Preuss, Marie-Luise Faber, Gene S Tan, Michael Bette, Bernhard Dietzschold, Eberhard Weihe, Matthias J Schnell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

The majority of rabies virus (RV) infections are caused by bites or scratches from rabid carnivores or bats. Usually, RV utilizes the retrograde transport within the neuronal network to spread from the infection site to the central nervous system (CNS) where it replicates in neuronal somata and infects other neurons via trans-synaptic spread. We speculate that in addition to the neuronal transport of the virus, hematogenous spread from the site of infection directly to the brain after accidental spill over into the vascular system might represent an alternative way for RV to invade the CNS. So far, it is unknown …

Interaction With Lc8 Is Required For Pak1 Nuclear Import And Is Indispensable For Zebrafish Development., Christine M Lightcap, Gabor Kari, Luis E Arias-Romero, Jonathan Chernoff, Ulrich Rodeck, John C Williams

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Pak1 (p21 activated kinase 1) is a serine/threonine kinase implicated in regulation of cell motility and survival and in malignant transformation of mammary epithelial cells. In addition, the dynein light chain, LC8, has been described to cooperate with Pak1 in malignant transformation of breast cancer cells. Pak1 itself may aid breast cancer development by phosphorylating nuclear proteins, including estrogen receptor alpha. Recently, we showed that the LC8 binding site on Pak1 is adjacent to the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) required for Pak1 nuclear import. Here, we demonstrate that the LC8-Pak1 interaction is necessary for epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced nuclear import …

Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Activation Induces A Microglial Anti-Inflammatory Phenotype And Reduces Migration Via Mkp Induction And Erk Dephosphorylation, Edgar A. Romero-Sandoval, Ryan Horvath, Russell P. Landry, Joyce A. Deleo

Dartmouth Scholarship

Cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CBR2) inhibits microglial reactivity through a molecular mechanism yet to be elucidated. We hypothesized that CBR2 activation induces an anti-inflammatory phenotype in microglia by inhibiting extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, via mitogen-activated protein kinase-phosphatase (MKP) induction. MKPs regulate mitogen activated protein kinases, but their role in the modulation of microglial phenotype is not fully understood.

Decorin Is A Novel Antagonistic Ligand Of The Met Receptor., Silvia Goldoni, Ashley Humphries, Alexander Nyström, Sampurna Sattar, Rick T Owens, David J Mcquillan, Keith Ireton, Renato V Iozzo

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Decorin, a member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan gene family, impedes tumor cell growth by down-regulating the epidermal growth factor receptor. Decorin has a complex binding repertoire, thus, we predicted that decorin would modulate the bioactivity of other tyrosine kinase receptors. We discovered that decorin binds directly and with high affinity (K(d) = approximately 1.5 nM) to Met, the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Binding of decorin to Met is efficiently displaced by HGF and less efficiently by internalin B, a bacterial Met ligand. Interaction of decorin with Met induces transient receptor activation, recruitment of the E3 ubiquitin ligase …

Effects Of Estrogen On Muscle Damage In Response To An Acute Resistance Exercise Protocol, Megan R. Wolf

Honors Scholar Theses

Creatine Kinase (CK) is used as a measure of exercise-induced muscle membrane damage. During acute eccentric (muscle lengthening) exercise, muscle sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and Z-lines are damaged, thus causing muscle proteins and enzymes to leak into the interstitial fluid.

Strenuous eccentric exercise produces an elevation of oxygen free radicals, which further increases muscle damage. Muscle soreness and fatigue can be attributed to this membrane damage. Estradiol, however, may preserve membrane stability post-exercise (Brancaccio, Maffulli, & Limongelli, 2007; Carter, Dobridge, & Hackney, 2001; Tiidus, 2001). Because estradiol has a similar structure to Vitamin E, which is known to have antioxidant properties, …

Distinct Dna Damage Signaling In The Brain Distinguishes Atld, Nbs, And Atr-Seckel Syndrome, Erin Renee Phillips Shull

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

DNA double strand breaks create a situation of extreme stress under which a cell must either be capable of repairing the lesions in order to continue replication or succumb to death. Not surprisingly, deficiencies in DNA repair genes often lead to human diseases frequently associated with genomic instability, cancer proneness, and neuropathology. Neurological consequences of aberrant DNA repair mechanisms vary depending upon the affected gene and the pathway in which it operates. Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is the prototypical disease associated with DNA double strand break (DSB) repair deficiency and is characterized by severe neural pathology. A-T results from homozygous mutations that …

Altered Dendritic Cell Phenotype In Response To Leishmania Amazonensis Amastigote Infection Is Mediated By Map Kinase, Erk, Paola Mercedes Boggiatto, Fei Jie, Mousumi Ghosh, Katherine N. Gibson-Corley, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Douglas E. Jones, Christine A. Petersen

Amanda Ramer-Tait Publications

Initiation of productive immune responses against Leishmania depends on the successful transition of dendritic cells (DC) from an immature to a mature phenotype. This process is characterized by high CD₄₀ surface expression as well as interleukin-12 production, which are frequently seen in response to L. major infection. In vivo footpad infection of C₃HeB/FeJ mice for 7 days with L. amazonensis promoted an immature CD11c[1] DC phenotype characterized by both significantly low CD₄₀ surface expression and significantly decreased interleukin-12p40 production compared with L. major infection of these same mice. In vitro infection of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells …

An Evaluation Of Plastic Toys For Lead Contamination In Day Care Centers In The Las Vegas Valley, Joseph Alan Greenway

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The harmful effect of childhood exposure to environmental lead continues to be a major health concern. This study examined lead contamination within the plastic of children's toys. It was also hypothesized that the use of lead as a stabilizer would result in higher incidents of elevated lead (> 600 ppm) in polyvinyl chloride plastics (PVC) than non-PVC plastics. It was also hypothesized that, due to the use lead chromate, yellow toys would have higher incidents of elevated lead (> 600 ppm) than toys of other colors. Toy samples were limited to those found in day care centers in Las Vegas, …

Basement Membrane Proteoglycans: Modulators Par Excellence Of Cancer Growth And Angiogenesis., Renato V. Iozzo, Jason J. Zoeller, Alexander Nyström

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Proteoglycans located in basement membranes, the nanostructures underling epithelial and endothelial layers, are unique in several respects. They are usually large, elongated molecules with a collage of domains that share structural and functional homology with numerous extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and surface receptors. They mainly carry heparan sulfate side chains and these contribute not only to storing and preserving the biological activity of various heparan sulfate-binding cytokines and growth factors, but also in presenting them in a more "active configuration" to their cognate receptors. Abnormal expression or deregulated function of these proteoglycans affect cancer and angiogenesis, and are critical …

Generation And Characterization Of A Knock-In Allele Of Eklf: Probing The In Vivo Role Of The Chromatin Remodeling Domain In Definitive Hematopoietic Cells, Valerie Malyvanh Jansen

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The zinc finger-encoding transacting factor EKLF, or erythroid Krüppel-like factor, binds key regulatory elements of many erythroid-specific genes, and is essential for definitive erythropoiesis. Mice lacking this factor die of anemia by E15.5 of gestation, failing to activate β-globin gene transcription, and demonstrating a block in the erythroid differentiation program at the primitive erythroblast stage. In contrast, megakaryocytic progenitors are amplified in EKLF-null embryos, with increased Fli-1 gene expression, a marker of early megakaryocytic differentiation. These observations are consistent with the idea that EKLF modulates the megakaryocytic-erythroid (M-E) differentiation switch.

Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that an amino terminal sequence …

Studying The Specificity Of Hpxr Antagonists Using A Panel Of Cell-Based Assays, Fang Lei

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The pregnane X receptor (PXR or SXR; NR1I2) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. It activates the transcription of a large network of genes including cytochrome P450 (CYP) and Mdr1 which play critical roles in chemicals metabolism and transportation. Induction of CYPs contributes to adverse drug-drug interactions. Non-toxic, PXR-specific antagonists will be valuable in attenuating the adverse drug-drug interaction which is the cause of many treatment failures in clinic. However, few hPXR antagonists were reported particularly the specific ones. In this thesis a reporter gene assay was used to study the specificity of hPXR antagonists from a panel …

Multiscale Genomic Analysis Of The Corticolimbic System: Uncovering The Molecular And Anatomic Substrates Of Anxiety-Related Behavior, Khyobeni Mozhui

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Genetic diversity generates variation at multiple phenotypic levels, ranging from the most basic molecular to higher-order cognitive and behavioral traits. The far-reaching impact that genes have on higher traits is apparent in several neuropsychiatric conditions such as stress and anxiety disorders. Like most, if not all, neural phenotypes, stress, anxiety, and other emotion-related traits are extremely complex and are defined by the interplay of multiple genetic, environmental, experiential, and epigenetic factors.

The work presented in this dissertation is a multi-scalar, integrative analysis of the molecular and neuroanatomic substrates that underlie emotion-related behavior. The amygdala is a principle component of the …

Pax5 Haploinsufficiency Cooperates With Bcr-Abl1 To Induce Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Christopher B. Miller

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the commonest pediatric malignancy and comprises several distinct subtypes each with its own unique pathogenesis, clinical behavior, and response to therapy. Chromosomal aberrations are a hallmark of ALL but alone fail to induce leukemia. Pediatric ALLs can be divided into several categories based on the expression of several genetically conserved chromosomal translocations including the t(9,22)[BCR-ABL1], t(1,19)[TCF3-PBX1], t(12,21)[ETV6-RUNX1], MLLrearranged leukemia’s, hyperdiploid and hypodiploid karyotypes, and T-lineage leukemia. Each translocation confers a characteristic transforming phenotype within the cell in which it originates but is alone insufficient to induce overt leukemia. …

Regulation Of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 By Thyroid Hormone / Role Of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator-1 Alpha And Ccaat Enhancer Binding Protein, Ramy Naguib Attia

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) regulates pyruvate oxidation through the phosphorylation and inhibition of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). The PDC catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA and it is an important control point in glucose and pyruvate metabolism. Previous studies had reported that PDK4 gene expression is induced by thyroid hormone (T3). These studies did not investigate the mechanisms by which T3 regulated PDK4 gene expression. I have examined the role of the thyroid hormone receptor (TR), transcriptional coactivators especially the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1α) and other transcription factors that act as accessory factors in …

Spatial Resolution Analysis Of A Variable Resolution X-Ray Cone-Beam Computed Tomography System, Bahram Dahi

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

A new cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system is designed and implemented that can adaptively provide high resolution CT images for objects of different sizes. The new system, called Variable Resolution X-ray Cone-beam CT (VRX-CBCT) uses a CsI-based amorphous silicon flat panel detector (FPD) that can tilt about its horizontal (u) axis and vertical (v) axis independently. The detector angulation improves the spatial resolution of the CT images by changing the effective size of each detector cell. Two components of spatial resolution of the system, namely the transverse and axial modulation transfer functions (MTF), are analyzed in …

The Combined Effect Of In-Situ Tumor And Irradiation On Peritumoral Brain Vasculature, Janice Ann Zawaski

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

In the USA, 200,000 brain tumors are diagnosed each year with glioma representing 8.4% of the 200,000. The standard treatment for glioma consists of surgical resection, when possible, followed by radiation therapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is one of the most effective treatments of brain tumors; however, the therapeutic ratio of RT is limited by damage to the normal tissue. We hypothesize that tumor growth has an adverse effect on the peritumoral tissue through the angiogenic/inflammatory environment it creates rendering it susceptible to further damage by RT which may be prevented by using anti-angiogenic/anti-inflammatory agents. We have developed a …

Genome Based Cell Population Heterogeneity Promotes Tumorigenicity: The Evolutionary Mechanism Of Cancer., Christine J. Ye, Joshua B. Stevens, Guo Liu, Steven W. Bremer, Aruna S. Jaiswal, Karen J. Ye, Ming-Fong Lin, Lesley Lawrenson, Wayne D. Lancaster, Markku Kurkinen, Joshua D. Liao, C. Gary Gairola, Malathy P. V. Shekhar, Satya Narayan, Fred R. Miller, Henry H. Q. Heng

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Cancer progression represents an evolutionary process where overall genome level changes reflect system instability and serve as a driving force for evolving new systems. To illustrate this principle it must be demonstrated that karyotypic heterogeneity (population diversity) directly contributes to tumorigenicity. Five well characterized in vitro tumor progression models representing various types of cancers were selected for such an analysis. The tumorigenicity of each model has been linked to different molecular pathways, and there is no common molecular mechanism shared among them. According to our hypothesis that genome level heterogeneity is a key to cancer evolution, we expect to reveal …

Obesity, Adiposity, And Satiety In Mouse Models Of Smith-Magenis Syndrome And Dup(17)(P11.2) Syndrome, Brooke Burns

Theses and Dissertations

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a complex disorder caused by haploinsufficiency of RAI1 and characterized by sleep disturbances, behavioral abnormalities, mental retardation, and obesity in teens and adults. Rai1+/- mice are obese after 20 weeks. Dup(17)(p11.2) syndrome is a complex disorder associated with overexpression of RAI1. A transgenic mouse model of dup(17)(p11.2) syndrome overexpresses Rai1 and results in a mouse that is growth delayed. In order to characterize the obese phenotypes of mouse models of SMS and the role of RAI1 in obesity, daily food intake and serum levels of insulin, glucose, PPY, and leptin were measured; adiposity was studied by …

Upregulation Of Pip3-Dependent Rac Exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) Promotes Prostate Cancer Metastasis., Jianbing Qin, Yan Xie, Bo Wang, Mikio Hoshino, Dennis W. Wolff, Jing Zhao, Margaret A. Scofield, Frank J. Dowd, Ming-Fong Lin, Yaping Tu

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Excessive activation of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways has been linked to prostate cancer metastasis. Rac activation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) plays an important role in directional cell migration, a critical step of tumor metastasis cascades. We found that the upregulation of P-Rex1, a Rac-selective GEF synergistically activated by Gbetagamma freed during GPCR signaling, and PIP3, generated during either RTK or GPCR signaling, strongly correlates with metastatic phenotypes in both prostate cancer cell lines and human prostate cancer specimens. Silencing endogenous P-Rex1 in metastatic prostate cancer PC-3 cells selectively inhibited Rac activity and reduced …

Metallic Nickel Nano- And Fine Particles Induce Jb6 Cell Apoptosis Through A Caspase-8/Aif Mediated Cytochrome C-Independent Pathway, Jinshun Zhao, Linda Bowman, Xingdong Zhang, Xianglin Shi, Binghua Jiang, Vincent Castranova, Min Ding

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Carcinogenicity of nickel compounds has been well documented. However, the carcinogenic effect of metallic nickel is still unclear. The present study investigates metallic nickel nano- and fine particle-induced apoptosis and the signal pathways involved in this process in JB6 cells. The data obtained from this study will be of benefit for elucidating the pathological and carcinogenic potential of metallic nickel particles.

RESULTS: Using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we found that metallic nickel nanoparticles exhibited higher cytotoxicity than fine particles. Both metallic nickel nano- and fine particles induced JB6 cell apoptosis. Metallic nickel nanoparticles produced higher apoptotic induction than fine …

Immunomodulatory Effects Of Novel Therapies For Stroke, Aaron A. Hall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Each year, approximately 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke. About 610,000 of these are first attacks, and 185,000 are recurrent attacks (Carandang et al. 2006). Currently the only FDA approved treatment for ischemic stroke is recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (Alteplase) (Marler and Goldstein 2003). Unfortunately its use is restricted to a short, 4.5 hour, time window. Two promising therapies in the treatment of stroke at delayed timepoints are human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBC) and the sigma receptor agonist DTG

The first series of experiments were conducted to characterize the effects of sigma receptors on various aspects of …

Lineage-Specific T-Cell Responses To Cancer Mucosa Antigen Oppose Systemic Metastases Without Mucosal Inflammatory Disease., Adam E. Snook, Peng Li, Benjamin J Stafford, Elizabeth J Faul, Lan Huang, Ruth C Birbe, Alessandro Bombonati, Stephanie Schulz, Matthias J. Schnell, Laurence C. Eisenlohr, Scott A. Waldman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

Cancer mucosa antigens are emerging as a new category of self-antigens expressed normally in immunologically privileged mucosal compartments and universally by their derivative tumors. These antigens leverage the established immunologic partitioning of systemic and mucosal compartments, limiting tolerance opposing systemic antitumor efficacy. An unresolved issue surrounding self-antigens as immunotherapeutic targets is autoimmunity following systemic immunization. In the context of cancer mucosa antigens, immune effectors to self-antigens risk amplifying mucosal inflammatory disease promoting carcinogenesis. Here, we examined the relationship between immunotherapy for systemic colon cancer metastases targeting the intestinal cancer mucosa antigen guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) and its effect on inflammatory …

Characterization Of Conserved Properties Of Hemagglutinin Of H5n1 And Human Influenza Viruses: Possible Consequences For Therapy And Infection Control, Veljko Veljkovic, Nevena Veljkovic, Claude P. Muller, Sybille Müller, Sanja Glisic, Vladimir Perovic, Heinz Köhler

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Epidemics caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) are a continuing threat to human health and to the world's economy. The development of approaches, which help to understand the significance of structural changes resulting from the alarming mutational propensity for human-to-human transmission of HPAIV, is of particularly interest. Here we compare informational and structural properties of the hemagglutinin (HA) of H5N1 virus and human influenza virus subtypes, which are important for the receptor/virus interaction.

RESULTS: Presented results revealed that HA proteins encode highly conserved information that differ between influenza virus subtypes H5N1, H1N1, H3N2, H7N7 and defined an …

Lean And Obese Zucker Rats Exhibit Different Patterns Of P70s6 Kinase Regulation In The Tibialis Anterior Muscle In Response To High-Force Muscle Contraction, Anjaiah Katta, Sunil K. Karkala, Miaozong Wu, Sarath Meduru, Devashish H. Desai, Kevin M. Rice, Eric R. Blough

MIIR Faculty Research

Increased phosphorylation of the 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6k) signaling is strongly correlated with the degree of muscle adaptation following exercise. Herein we compare the phosphorylation of p70S6k, Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of lean and obese Zucker rats following a bout of eccentric exercise. Exercise increased p70S6k (Thr389) phosphorylation immediately after (33.3 ± 7.2%) and during [1 h (24.0 ± 14.9%) and 3 h (24.6 ± 11.3%)] recovery in the lean TA and at 3 h (33.5 ± 8.0%) in the obese TA Zucker rats. mTOR (Ser2448) phosphorylation was elevated in …

An Experience In The Challenges Of Research: Prevention Of Age–Related Macular Degeneration, Hilary Snyder

Inquiry Journal 2009

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Micrornas In Silico And In Vivo: Diagnostic And Therapeutic Applications In Cancer., Scott A Waldman, Andre Terzic

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

There is emerging evidence of the production in human tumors of abnormal levels of microRNAs (miRNAs), which have been assigned oncogenic and/or tumor-suppressor functions. While some miRNAs commonly exhibit altered amounts across tumors, more often, different tumor types produce unique patterns of miRNAs, related to their tissue of origin. The role of miRNAs in tumorigenesis underscores their value as mechanism-based therapeutic targets in cancer. Similarly, unique patterns of altered levels of miRNA production provide fingerprints that may serve as molecular biomarkers for tumor diagnosis, classification, prognosis of disease-specific outcomes and prediction of therapeutic responses.

Defining Family: Naming, Orientation, And Redemption In The Case Of Terri Schiavo, M. Chad Mcbride, Karen L. Taas, Paige W. Toller

Communication Faculty Publications

This paper undertakes a detailed analysis of the Terri Schiavo case as it was covered in popular media. Drawing on Burkean theory, we argue a critical issue in the case was a struggle between Terri's parents and husband to be seen as the more legitimate family in order to determine the duration and extent of Terri 's medical care. We discuss how the private debate over Terri's health and the decision to remove her feeding tube entered into the public scenes of legal and political action. This shift to the public scene represented problems for the parties directly involved in …