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The Effect Of Anterior Nasal Packing With Airway Tubes On Pulmonary Function Following Septoplasty*, Hani̇fi̇ Kurtaran, Nebi̇l Ark, Fati̇h Sadikoğlu, K. Şeri̇fe Uğur, Türker Yilmaz, Zeki̇ Yildirim, Davut Aktaş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: To investigate the effects of nasal packing with airway tubes on pulmonary function following septoplasty. Materials and methods: Fifty patients who were operated for nasal septal deviation between 2006 and 2008 were included in our study. Nasal packs with airway tubes were used for all patients following septoplasty. Pulmonary function tests and PO2 measurements with pulse oximetry were performed preoperatively and in the second postoperative day just before removal of the nasal pack. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV_1), FEV_1/FVC (FEV_1%), Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF_{25-75}%), and PO2 values were compared. Results: The mean age …

Body Fat, Dyslipidemia, Blood Pressure And The Effects Of Smoking In Germans And Turks, Günay Can, Peter Schwandt, Altan Onat, Gülay Hergenç, Gerda-Maria Haas

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: Determining the difference regarding obesity in German and Turkish adults. Materials and Methods: This study examined a cross-section of adults aged 30-79 years old. Age-adjustment was uniformly provided for comparisons. Results: Among 3055 Germans and 2925 Turks, Turkish women had significantly higher markers of (abdominal) obesity than German women, while waist circumference (WC) was similar among males. Blood pressure (BP), concentrations of total, LDL-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B were significantly higher among Germans, whereas Turks had markedly higher fasting triglycerides and lower HDL-cholesterol. Unlike Germans, the current trend of smoking among Turks correlates with lower WC and lower systolic BP …

Increased P Wave Dispersion In Hypothyroidism: A Sign Of Risk Of Atrial Fibrillation, Ramazan Akdemi̇r, Nesli̇han Ebru Eryaşar, Kudret Çeli̇k, Aşkin Güngüneş, Hakan Ci̇nemre, Cemi̇l Bi̇li̇r, Nermi̇n Akdemi̇r, Harun Kiliç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: As in hyperthyroidism, cardiac arrhythmias can be seen in hypothyroidism. In this study, we measured P wave dispersion among hypothyroid patients to evaluate atrial fibrillation risk. Methods: 75 patients who received first time diagnosis of hypothyroidism and 40 normal control patients were included in this study. Each patient had echocardiographic and electrocardiographic studies were carried out. Groups were compared for statistically significant difference in P wave dispersion, minimum P wave duration and maximum P wave duration. Results: The groups were similar in echocardiographic and electrocardiograpic features. P wave dispersion was significantly higher in the hypothyroid group compared to normal …

The Effect Of Experimentally Induced Carbon Dioxide Pneumoperitoneum On Intra-Abdominal And Intra-Esophageal Ph, Tutku Soyer, Tolga Reşat Aydos, Zuhal Aktuna, Oğuzhan Korkut, Gökhan Osmanoğlu, Öymen Hançerli̇oğullari, Murat Çakmak

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: An experimental study was performed to evaluate the effect of CO_2 pneumoperitoneum on intra-abdominal (IA) and intra-esophageal (IE) pH. Material and methods: The study included 18 Wistar rats. In the control group (n = 6) a pH catheter was inserted into the peritoneal cavity via a left upper quadrant incision and another catheter was inserted into the lower esophagus via the oral route. Pre- and post-insufflation IA and IE pH were recorded every 5 min for 1 h. In the experimental groups, in addition to pH catheters, a 16-G catheter was inserted into the abdomen above the umbilicus. In …

Etofenamate And Anastomoses Of The Colon In Rats, Aydin İnan, Önder Sürgi̇t, Meral Şen, Ayhan Akpinar, Mi̇kdat Bozer

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been used for many years due to their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. They have also been used for postoperative analgesia. We aimed to study the effects of etofenamate, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on the healing of colonic anastomoses in rats. Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Resection and anastomosis were performed on the distal colon. The etofenamate group received 30 mg/kg etofenamate and the control group received 0.1 mL of 0.9% NaCl intramuscularly daily. Bursting pressures of anastomoses and hydroxyproline levels of perianastomotic tissues were determined on days 3 and 7. …

Epidemiological Risk Factors For Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Patients, Ayten Kadanali, Serpi̇l Erol, Zülal Özkurt, Kemaletti̇n Özden

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological risk factors for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) patients admitted to our hospitals between January 2004- December 2006. Materials and methods: This was a study of 63 CCHF patients whose definitive diagnosis was based on the detection of CCHF virus-specific IgM by ELISA and/or of genomic segments of the CCHF virus by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 50 healthy controls. Related data were collected prospectively. Results: Twenty-two (50.8%) of the patients were female, and 31 of them (49.2%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 46 …

Evaluation Of Ribavirin Genotoxicity With Sister Chromatid Exchange And Micronuclei Assays In Humans, Abdulgani̇ Tatar, Zülal Özkurt, Ahmet Hacimüftüoğlu, Ahmet Yeşi̇lyurt, Serhat Vançeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: The main objective of this study was to assess the genotoxicity of ribavirin in 15 patients who were suffering from Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and treated with the therapy dose of the antiviral agent. Materials and Methods: Genotoxicity was evaluated using the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (MN) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assays in lymphocyte cultures that were prepared from blood samples collected from the 15 patients. The blood samples were taken on day 9 of a 10-day therapeutic regimen of ribavirin and 1 month after the cessation of therapy. Results: In all patients, the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and the …

Coxiella Burnetii Seroprevalence In The Rural Part Of Bolu, Turkey*, Oğuz Karabay, Esra Koçoğlu, Gökhan Baysoy, Selami̇ Konyalioğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: This study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in the rural part of Bolu, a city located in the western part of the Black Sea region of Turkey. Materials and Methods: The study population was chosen by cluster sampling to represent the rural population of the city. Serum samples were collected from the 9 rural districts of Bolu. Blood samples were taken to the laboratory while stored at 4 °C in ice-cooled boxes. The sera were then stored at -20 °C until testing. The presence of IgG antibodies against C. burnetii phase-II antigens in the sera …

Treatment Options For Neuropathic Pain, Sara Akre

Honors Program Theses

Neuropathic pain is caused by injury to or disease of the nervous system. It affects many people around the world and is a symptom of several diseases. In the United States, it is estimated that up to 3% of Americans have neuropathic pain, which costs the healthcare system $40 billion annually (Gilron et al. 2006). It is, unfortunately, difficult to ameliorate or eliminate due to the complexity of the nervous system and its plasticity and is, therefore, a chronic condition. Health care professionals continually struggle to treat patients' pain and, since tolerance to painkillers is easily built up, this often …

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry For The Determination Of Methylprednisolone In Rat Plasma And Liver After Intravenous Administration Of Its Liver-Targeted Dextran Prodrug, Shuang-Qing Zhang, Helen R. Thorsheim, Suman Penugonda, Venkateswaran C. Pillai, Quentin R. Smith, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A specific and sensitive liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometric method for quantitative determination of methylprednisolone (MP) in rat plasma and liver was developed and validated using triamcinolone acetonide as an internal standard. Liquid-liquid extraction using tert-butyl methyl ether was used to extract the drug and the internal standard from plasma and liver. The separation of MP was performed on a C(18) column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile:0.5% formic acid aqueous solution (85:15, v/v) over 4 min. The assay was based on the selected reaction monitoring transitions at m/z 375 -> 161 for MP in plasma, 375 -> 357 for …

Localization Of Deformed Wing Virus (Dwv) In The Brains Of Apis Mellifera (European Honey Bees), Karan Samir Shah

Honors Theses

The purpose of the current research project is to design a successful in-situ hybridization to identify regions within the brains of honeybees where DWV replicates. The localization of the virus in the brains of the bees can draw a connection between CCDand DWV.In conclusion, these results demonstrate that in bees infected with DWV the virus replicates actively in very important regions of the brain, including neuropils that are responsible for vision and olfaction. This means that the virus could adversely affect the vision and olfaction of the honeybees making it difficult for bees to behave normally.

Examination Of The Capacity Of The Cathelicidins To Control Bacillus Anthracis Pathogenesis, Mark W. Lisanby

All ETDs from UAB

cillus anthracis is a gram-positive, spore forming bacterium that causes infection through three routes: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and pulmonary. Historically, anthrax pathogenesis was thought to be initiated via the uptake of spores by resident macrophages, which then transited to the regional lymph nodes. While en-route, the spores germinated and developed into bacilli within the phagolysosome, escaped into the cytoplasm, killed the cell and eventually the host. Following the recent use of B. anthracis as a biological weapon, researchers began to reevaluate anthrax pathogenesis in order to develop novel treatments. One aspect of anthrax pathogenesis that saw renewed interest was the intracellular …

Klf4 And Retinoid Receptor Signaling In Cancer, Wen Jiang

All ETDs from UAB

The fight against cancer has generated wide interest in understanding the genetic mechanisms behind the disease. One group of oncogenes – transcription factors – offers many opportunities for treatment or prevention. Among these transcription factors is KLF4, which functions in post-mitotic epithelial cells to promote differentiation. KLF4 has tumorigenic activity in both in vitro and in vivo models. In analyzing transcripts that were induced by KLF4, we noted the induction of multiple nuclear receptors, including retinoid receptors. Retinoids are well-established as chemopreventive agents, but the mechanisms by which they act to prevent cancer remain unclear. Previous studies have shown that …

Pathological Modification Of Tau Induce Toxicity And Facilitate Cell Death, Tori A. Matthews

All ETDs from UAB

eimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by two major pathophysiological hallmarks, beta-amyloid (A��) plaques and tau tangles. In AD and other tau associated neurodegenerative disorders, termed tauopathies, a critical role in promoting neuronal degeneration has been demonstrated for hyperphosphorylated forms of tau. Recent findings suggest that cleavage of tau in the carboxyl-terminal region (Asp421) may also promote deleterious effects of tau on neuronal health. In the first half of my study, the relationship between Asp421 cleaved tau and a common AD associated stressor (endoplasmic reticulum [ER] stress) was investigated using an inducible cortical neuronal model. Cells expressing …

Mechanisms And Countermeasures Of Microgravity Induced Bone Loss: In Vitro And In Vivo Model Systems, Ritu Saxena

All ETDs from UAB

Rapid bone loss occurs during prolonged periods of weightlessness experienced by astronauts during spaceflights which leads to osteopenia and increased fracture risk upon return to earth. Spaceflight studies have shown that the bone loss occurs as a result of both a decrease in bone formation and an increase in bone resorption, however, the molecular mechanisms still need to be elucidated. Previous studies from our laboratory and other groups have indicated that modeled microgravity leads to inhibition of osteoblastogenesis and a stimulation of adipogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells in osteogenic medium which is most likely mediated by a decrease in …

Immunotherapy Of Cancer Employing Γδ-T Cells: A Study Examining Their Utility And Feasibility, Benjamin Hester Beck

All ETDs from UAB

Unlike antigen-specific alpha beta-T cells, gamma delta-T cells can recognize and lyse cancerous cells rapidly upon encounter in a manner that does not require the recognition of tumor-specific antigens. Given the well-documented capacity of gamma delta-T cells to innately kill malignant cells, efforts are now underway to exploit the antitumor properties of gamma delta-T cells for clinical purposes. Here, we present for the first time preclinical in vivo mouse models of gamma delta-T cell-based immunotherapy directed against breast cancer. These studies were explicitly designed to approximate clinical situations in which adoptively-transferred gamma delta-T cells would be employed therapeutically against breast …

Identification Of New Strategies For The Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme Utilizing A Pharmacogenomic Approach: Genetic Profiles Associated With Patient Prognosis And Outcome To Capecitabine Treatment, Jessica Marie Grunda

All ETDs from UAB

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal form of primary brain neoplasm with average patient survival between 9 and 15 months even with the most aggressive treatment modalities. Unfortunately, this poor outcome has not appreciably changed in the past 50 years emphasizing the lack of traditional `trial and error' methods in identifying an efficacious treatment for GBM. Pharmacogenomics is greatly impacting cancer research through the development of personalized medicine and rationally designed treatment paradigms for the development of more efficacious and less toxic treatment modalities. The main objective of this research was to utilize a pharmacogenomic approach to identify new …

The Role Of The Ss2-Integrin Family On T Cell Subsets, Jillian E. Wohler

All ETDs from UAB

Members of the ß2-integrin family of adhesion molecules, CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c, have all been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). CD11d had yet to be studied in demyelinating disease and its functions remained unclear. We report here that CD11d is the only member of the ß2-integrin family of adhesion molecules that fails to protect against the development of EAE. Surprisingly, the EAE studies suggested that CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c were all contributing to T cell activity during disease development by mechanisms beyond the migration of these cells into the CNS. However, the …

The Potential For Nutrigenomics In Prevention Of Metabolic Syndrome, J. David Gangemi, Dana King

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Synthesis Of Fatty Acid Binding Protein Inhibitors: A New Approach For Diabetes Treatment, Shekelia Baccus, M. Perry Davis Jr, David R. Magnin

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Metabolomic Investigation Of A New Rat Model Of Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, Hayley White

Theses : Honours

Metabolomics is complementary to genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics; however, it has the capacity to reflect the activities of the organism at a functional level. Metabolomics can therefore be used as a diagnostic tool by identifying the up- or down-regulation of metabolites in the cell, tissue, plasma, serum or urine. Specifically, these are, but are not limited to, identifying biomarkers of disease, monitoring drug treatments, and monitoring surgical procedures such as organ transplant. Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) makes up 5-8% of patients requiring kidney dialysis and/or transplantation and of these, an estimated 50% of patients progress to end-stage renal …

Role Of Oxidative Stress And T Cell Homing In The Development Of Murine Syngeneic Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Jacqueline Perez-Rodriguez

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Syngeneic graft-versus-host disease (SGVHD) is induced by reconstituting lethally irradiated mice with syngeneic BM cells followed by a 21 day treatment with the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine A (CsA). Clinical symptoms of the disease appear 2-3 weeks following cessation of CsA therapy and disease-associated inflammation occurs primarily in the colon and liver.

The development of SGVHD is a complex process resulting from the cooperative interaction of multiple effector cell populations including NK cells, T cells and macrophages. T_H1 cytokines (IL-12, TNF-α, IFN- γ), produced by these effector cells, serve as inflammatory mediators contributing to the pathogenesis of SGVHD. The …

Targeting The Cgmp Pathway To Treat Colorectal Cancer, Giovanni Mario Pitari

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

This presentation was given in 2009 for the Seminar Series of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, PA, USA). It illustrates the role of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) as critical downstream mediators of the anticancer GCC pathway in intestine.

Questa presentazione e’ stata effettuata per il Seminar Series del Dipartimento di Fisiologia Molecolare e Biofisica dell’Universita’ del Thomas Jefferson (Filadelfia, USA). La presentazione illustra l’importante ruolo del CaR ed MMP-9 come mediatori della soppressione del processo tumorale dell’intestino da parte del recettore GCC.

Combined Effects Of Hyperglycemic Conditions And Hiv-1 Nef: A Potential Model For Induced Hiv Neuropathogenesis., Edward A Acheampong, Cassandra Roschel, Muhammad Mukhtar, Alagarsamy Srinivasan, Mohammad Rafi, Roger J Pomerantz, Zahida Parveen

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Hyperglycemic conditions associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) or with the use of antiretroviral therapy may increase the risk of central nervous system (CNS) disorders in HIV-1 infected patients. In support of this hypothesis, we investigated the combined effects of hyperglycemic conditions and HIV-1 accessory protein Nef on the CNS using both in vitro and in vivo models. Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell type required for normal synaptic transmission and other functions were selected for our in vitro study. The results show that in vitro hyperglycemic conditions enhance the expression of proinflammatory cytokines including caspase-3, complement factor 3 (C3), and …

Revealing Genes Associated With Vitellogenesis In The Liver Of The Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) By Transcriptome Profiling., Liraz Levi, Irena Pekarski, Ellen Gutman, Paolo Fortina, Terry Hyslop, Jakob Biran, Berta Levavi-Sivan, Esther Lubzens

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: In oviparous vertebrates, including fish, vitellogenesis consists of highly regulated pathways involving 17beta-estradiol (E2). Previous studies focused on a relatively small number of hepatic expressed genes during vitellogenesis. This study aims to identify hepatic genes involved in vitellogenesis and regulated by E2, by using zebrafish microarray gene expression profiling, and to provide information on functional distinctive genes expressed in the liver of a vitellogenic female, using zebrafish as a model fish. RESULTS: Genes associated with vitellogenesis were revealed by the following paired t-tests (SAM) comparisons: a) two-month old vitellogenic (Vit2) females were compared with non-vitellogenic (NV) females, showing 825 …

Developing Tta Transgenic Rats For Inducible And Reversible Gene Expression., Hongxia Zhou, Cao Huang, Min Yang, Carlisle P Landel, Pedro Yuxing Xia, Yong-Jian Liu, Xu Gang Xia

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

To develop transgenic lines for conditional expression of desired genes in rats, we generated several lines of the transgenic rats carrying the tetracycline-controlled transactivator (tTA) gene. Using a vigorous, ubiquitous promoter to drive the tTA transgene, we obtained widespread expression of tTA in various tissues. Expression of tTA was sufficient to strongly activate its reporter gene, but was below the toxicity threshold. We examined the dynamics of Doxycycline (Dox)-regulated gene expression in transgenic rats. In the two transmittable lines, tTA-mediated activation of the reporter gene was fully subject to regulation by Dox. Dox dose-dependently suppressed tTA-activated gene expression. The washout …

Micrornas: Key Modulators Of Posttranscriptional Gene Expression., Steven P. O'Hara, Justin L. Mott, Patrick L. Splinter, Gregory J. Gores, Nicholas F. Larusso

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

No abstract provided.

Elevated Expression Of L-Selectin Ligand In Lymph Node-Derived Human Prostate Cancer Cells Correlates With Increased Tumorigenicity., Prakash Radhakrishnan, Ming-Fong Lin, Pi-Wan Cheng

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Human prostate cancer LNCaP cells including C-33 and C-81 cells were originally derived from the lymph nodes of a patient with metastatic prostate cancer. These two cells were employed for characterization of L-selectin ligand and in vitro tumorigenicity, because they mimic the clinical conditions of early and late-stage human prostate cancer. C-81 cells exhibit higher in vitro migratory and invasive properties as compared with C-33 cells. We find that the L-selectin ligand and mucin glycan-associated MECA-79 epitope were elevated in C-81 cells. An increase of these glycotopes positively correlates with elevated tumorigenicity and expression of key glycosyl- and sulfotransferase genes. …

Mitochondrial Fragmentation Is Involved In Methamphetamine-Induced Cell Death In Rat Hippocampal Neural Progenitor Cells., Changhai Tian, L. Charles Murrin, Jialin C. Zheng

Journal Articles: Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience

Methamphetamine (METH) induces neurodegeneration through damage and apoptosis of dopaminergic nerve terminals and striatal cells, presumably via cross-talk between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria-dependent death cascades. However, the effects of METH on neural progenitor cells (NPC), an important reservoir for replacing neurons and glia during development and injury, remain elusive. Using a rat hippocampal NPC (rhNPC) culture, we characterized the METH-induced mitochondrial fragmentation, apoptosis, and its related signaling mechanism through immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. We observed that METH induced rhNPC mitochondrial fragmentation, apoptosis, and inhibited cell proliferation. The mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and reactive oxygen …

Role Of Cyclophilin D In Secondary Spinal Cord And Brain Injury, Jordan Mills Clark

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

In the hours and days following acute CNS injury, a secondary wave of events is initiated that exacerbate spinal tissue damage and neuronal cell death. A potential mechanism driving these secondary events is opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and subsequent release of several cell death proteins. Previous studies have shown that inhibition of cyclophilin D(CypD), the key regulating component in mPTP opening, was protective against insults that induce necrotic cell death. We therefore hypothesized that CypD-null mice would show improved functional and pathological outcomes following spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Moderate and severe …