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Increased Heme-Oxygenase 1 Expression In Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Adipocytes Decreases Differentiation And Lipid Accumulation Via Upregulation Of The Canonical Wnt Signaling Cascade, Luca Vanella, Komal Sodhi, Dong Hyun Kim, Nitin Puri, Mani Maheshwari, Terry D . Hinds, Lars Bellner, Dov Goldstein, Stephen J . Peterson, Joseph I. Shapiro M.D., Nader G. Abraham

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Introduction:

Heme oxygenase (HO), a major cytoprotective enzyme, attenuates oxidative stress and obesity. The canonical Wnt signaling cascade plays a pivotal role in the regulation of adipogenesis. The present study examined the interplay between HO-1and the Wnt canonical pathway in the modulation of adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived adipocytes.

Methods:

To verify the role of HO-1 in generating small healthy adipocytes, cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), inducer of HO-1, was used during adipocyte differentiation. Lipid accumulation was measured by Oil red O staining and lipid droplet size was measured by BODIPY staining.

Results:

During adipogenesis in vitro, differentiating pre-adipocytes display transient …

Reproductive Isolation In The Elegans-Group Of Caenorhabditis, Scott Everet Baird, Sara Rose Seibert

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Reproductive isolation is the basis of the Biological Species Definition and can be a driving force of speciation. Theoretical studies have provided models of how reproductive isolation can arise within individual species. Genetic tests of these models are limited to populations in which reproductive isolation is present but not complete. Here, reproductive isolation in the Elgans-Group of the nematode genus Caenorhabditis is reviewed. Pre-mating barriers, assortative fertilization and post-zygotic barriers all have been observed in this clade. In some combinations of species, fertile F1 hybrids can be obtained. Therefore, the Elegans-Group of Caenorhabditis is poised to become an important experimental …

Enhanced Phagocytic Activity Of Hiv-Specific Antibodies Correlates With Natural Production Of Immunoglobulins With Skewed Affinity For Fcγr2a And Fcγr2b, Margaret E. Ackerman, Anne-Sophie Dugast, Elizabeth G. Mcandrew, Stephen Tsoukas

Dartmouth Scholarship

While development of an HIV vaccine that can induce neutralizing antibodies remains a priority, decades of research have proven that this is a daunting task. However, accumulating evidence suggests that antibodies with the capacity to harness innate immunity may provide some protection. While significant research has focused on the cytolytic properties of antibodies in acquisition and control, less is known about the role of additional effector functions. In this study, we investigated antibody-dependent phagocytosis of HIV immune complexes, and we observed significant differences in the ability of antibodies from infected subjects to mediate this critical effector function. We observed both …

Hirsutella Sinensis Mycelium Suppresses Interleukin-1b And Interleukin-18 Secretion By Inhibiting Both Canonical And Non-Canonical Inflammasomes, Tsung-Teng Huang, Kowit-Yu Chong, David M. Ojcius, Yi-Hui Wu, Yun-Fei Ko, Cheng-Yeu Wu, Jan Martel, Chia-Chen Lu, Hsin-Chih Lai, John Ding-E. Young

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Cordyceps sinensis is a medicinal mushroom used for centuries in Asian countries as a health supplement and tonic. Hirsutella sinensis—the anamorphic, mycelial form of C. sinensis—possesses similar properties, and is increasingly used as a health supplement. Recently, C. sinensis extracts were shown to inhibit the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this process has remained unclear. In addition, whether H. sinensis mycelium (HSM) extracts also inhibit the production of IL-1β has not been investigated. In the present study, the HSM extract suppresses IL-1β and IL-18 secretion, and ATP-induced activation of caspase-1. Notably, …

Lateralized Difference In Tympanic Membrane Temperature: Emotion And Hemispheric Activity, Ruth E. Propper, Tad T. Brunyé

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

We review literature examining relationships between tympanic membrane temperature (TMT), affective/motivational orientation, and hemispheric activity. Lateralized differences in TMT might enable real-time monitoring of hemispheric activity in real-world conditions, and could serve as a corroborating marker of mental illnesses associated with specific affective dysregulation. We support the proposal that TMT holds potential for broadly indexing lateralized brain physiology during tasks demanding the processing and representation of emotional and/or motivational states, and for predicting trait-related affective/motivational orientations. The precise nature of the relationship between TMT and brain physiology, however, remains elusive. Indeed the limited extant research has sampled different participant populations …

Differential Effects Of Micrornas On Glioblastoma Growth And Migration, Duane Jeansonne, Marco Pacifici, Adam Lassak, Krzysztof Reiss, Giuseppe Russo, Jovanny Zabaleta, Francesca Peruzzi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Glioblastoma multiforme is characterized by rapid proliferation, aggressive metastatic potential, and resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. The matricellular protein CYR61 regulates cellular proliferation and migration and is highly expressed in Glioblastomas. MicroRNAs are 22-nucleotides long RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Here, we utilized the LN229 glioblastoma cell line and found that CYR61 is a target of miR-136, miR-155, and miR-634. Over-expression of miR-136 and miR-634 miRNAs negatively affected proliferation, but not migration, while expression of miR-155 reduced migration but did not affect the proliferation of LN229 cells. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms affected by expression of miR-634 revealed an …

Break Out: Urogenital Schistosomiasis And Schistosoma Haematobium Infection In The Post-Genomic Era, Paul J. Brindley, Peter J. Hotez

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: More Imaging, More Phenotyping...Better Care?, Damien Pike, Grace Parraga

Medical Biophysics Publications

No abstract provided.

First Steps Phase I Initiative: Improving Immunizations For Children And Adolescents, Kimberley S. Fox Mpa, Carolyn E. Gray Mph

Population Health & Health Policy

This evalution report, authored by research staff at the USM Muskie School, assesses the change in immunization rates in participating pediatric and family practices that serve a high volume of children insured by MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid system). The authors also summarize lessons learned in implementing changes in practices and challenges in using the immunization measures at the practice-level to inform quality improvement.

Role Of Garlic Usage In Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: An Evidence-Based Approach, Waris Qidwai, Tabinda Ashfaq

Department of Family Medicine

Introduction:.Rapidly growing prevalence of cardiovascular disease is a major threat for the developed as well as developing world warranting urgent need of intervention. Complementary and alternative medicines are gaining popularity among general population because of their safety profile and easy administration. Garlic, in particular, is considered to be one of the best disease-preventive foods because of its potent and widespread effects. This study was done to find out the role of garlic usage in cardiovascular disease prevention.

Methodology : .Major databases including Google, PubMed,MEDLINE, and Cochrane library view were used for the literature search. Clinical trials conducted on humans assessing …

The Political Economy Of Undernutrition National Report: Pakistan, Shehla Zaidi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Shandana Khan Mohmand, Andres Mejia Acosta

Community Health Sciences

No abstract provided.

Lps And Pan-Induced Podocyte Injury In An In Vitro Model Of Minimal Change Disease: Changes In Tlr Profile., Tarak Srivastava, Mukut Sharma, Kok-Hooi Yew, Ram Sharma, R Scott Duncan, Moin A. Saleem, Ellen T. Mccarthy, Alexander Kats, Patricia A. Cudmore, Uri S. Alon, Christopher J. Harrison

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Minimal change disease (MCD), the most common idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children, is characterized by proteinuria and loss of glomerular visceral epithelial cell (podocyte) ultrastructure. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) are used to study podocyte injury in models of MCD in vivo and in vitro. We hypothesized that LPS and PAN influence components of the innate immune system in podocytes such as the Toll-Like Receptor (TLRs), TLR adapter molecules, and associated cytokines. Our results show that cultured human podocytes constitutively express TLRs 1-6 and TLR-10, but not TLRs 7-9. LPS (25 μg/ml) or PAN (60 μg/ml) caused comparable derangement …

The Challenge Of Neuroscience Growing Pains: Optimizing Patient Flow, Holly Tavianini Rn, Bsn, Mshsa, Cnrn, Donald J. Butz Rn, Cnrn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Serotonergic Innervation And Serotonin Receptor Expression Of Npy-Producing Neurons In The Rat Lateral And Basolateral Amygdaloid Nuclei., M Bonn, A Schmitt, K-P Lesch, E J Van Bockstaele, E Asan

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Pharmacobehavioral studies in experimental animals, and imaging studies in humans, indicate that serotonergic transmission in the amygdala plays a key role in emotional processing, especially for anxiety-related stimuli. The lateral and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei receive a dense serotonergic innervation in all species studied to date. We investigated interrelations between serotonergic afferents and neuropeptide Y (NPY)-producing neurons, which are a subpopulation of inhibitory interneurons in the rat lateral and basolateral nuclei with particularly strong anxiolytic properties. Dual light microscopic immunolabeling showed numerous appositions of serotonergic afferents on NPY-immunoreactive somata. Using electron microscopy, direct membrane appositions and synaptic contacts between serotonin-containing axon …

Regulation Of Igfbp-5 And Osteoblast Functions By Nuclear Factor I, Laura A. Perez-Casellas

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) system is a major target of GC inhibition in bone. We found that GCs inhibit expression of IGF binding protein-5 (IGFBP5) which binds IGFs and stimulates osteoblast activity by IGF dependent and independent mechanisms. GC-induced inhibition of IGFPB5 promoter activity was mediated by a composite response element that has binding sites for transcription factor activator protein 2 (AP-2) and nuclear factor I (NFI). The work in this dissertation identifies the NFI gene family as an important regulator of IGFBP-5 transcription primarily in human, as well as murine osteoblasts. The mechanism of IGFBP5 gene regulation involves …

Icad Deficiency In Human Colon Cancer And Predisposition To Colon Tumorigenesis: Linkage To Apoptosis Resistance And Genomic Instability, Youssef Errami, Hassan Brim, Karine Oumouna-Benachour, Mustapha Oumouna, Amarjit S. Naura, Hogyoung Kim, Jihang Ju, Christian J. Davis, Jong G. Kim, Hassan Ashktorab, Kenneth Fallon, Ming Xu, Jianhua Zhang, Luis Del Valle, A Hamid Boulares

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

We previously showed that DNA fragmentation factor, which comprises a caspase-3-activated DNase (CAD) and its inhibitor (ICAD), may influence the rate of cell death by generating PARP-1-activating DNA breaks. Here we tested the hypothesis that ICAD-deficient colon epithelial cells exhibiting resistance to death stimuli may accumulate additional genetic modifications, leading to a tumorigenic phenotype. We show that ICAD deficiency may be associated with colon malignancy in humans. Indeed, an examination of ICAD expression using immunohistochemistry in an array of both colon cancer and normal tissues revealed that ICAD expression levels were severely compromised in the cancerous tissues. Upon DNA damage …

Diagnosis And Evaluation Of Peripheral Neuropathies, Jay D. Varrato Do

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Diagnosis And Treatment Options For Multiple Sclerosis, Gary Clauser Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Current Standards For Treatment Of Stroke: Management Of Acute Ischemic Stroke, John E. Castaldo Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Diagnosis, Evaluation And Treatments For Dementia, John W. Margraf Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Treatment Options For Seizures: Practical Points In Epilepsy Management, Soraya E. Jiménez Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Diagnosis, Assessment And Evaluation For Seizures, John W. Margraf Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Special Populations And Considerations In Migraine Therapy, Gary Clauser Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Migraine Diagnosis And Treatment, Vitaliy Koss Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Defining The Need For Specific Neurological Studies, John E. Castaldo Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

How To Think Like A Neurologist – Review Of Exam Process And Assessment Findings, Gary Clauser Md

Neurology Update for the Non-Neurologist

No abstract provided.

Phospholipid Scramblase-1-Induced Lipid Reorganization Regulates Compensatory Endocytosis In Neuroendocrine Cells, Stéphane Ory, Mara Ceridono, Fanny Momboisse, Sébastien Houy, Sylvette Chasserot-Golaz, Dimitri Heintz, Valérie Calco, Anna-Marie Haeberlé, Flor A. Espinoza, Peter J. Sims, Yannick Bailly, Marie-France Bader, Stéphane Gasman

Faculty Articles

Calcium-regulated exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells and neurons is accompanied by the redistribution of phosphatidylserine (PS) to the extracellular space, leading to a disruption of plasma membrane asymmetry. How and why outward translocation of PS occurs during secretion are currently unknown. Immunogold labeling on plasma membrane sheets coupled with hierarchical clustering analysis demonstrate that PS translocation occurs at the vicinity of the secretory granule fusion sites. We found that altering the function of the phospholipid scramblase-1 (PLSCR-1) by expressing a PLSCR-1 calcium-insensitive mutant or by using chromaffin cells from PLSCR-1^−/−mice prevents outward translocation of PS in cells stimulated for …

Training Verb Argument Structure Production In Agrammatic Aphasia: Behavioral And Neural Recovery Patterns, Cynthia K. Thompson, Ellyn A. Riley, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Aya Meltzer-Asscher, Sladjana Lukic

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Inhibition Of Cholinergic Signaling Causes Apoptosis In Human Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma, Jamie K. Lau, Kathleen C. Brown, Brent A. Thornhill, Clayton M. Crabtree, Aaron M. Dom, Theodore R. Witte, W. Elaine Hardman, Christopher A. Mcnees, Cody A. Stover, A. Betts Carpenter, Haitao Luo, Yi C. Chen, Brandon S. Shiflett, Piyali Dasgupta

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Recent case-controlled clinical studies show that bronchioalveolar carcinomas (BAC) are correlated with smoking. Nicotine, the addictive component of cigarettes, accelerates cell proliferation through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). In this study, we show that human BACs produce acetylcholine (ACh) and contain several cholinergic factors including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), choline transporter 1 (CHT1, SLC5A7), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT, SLC18A3), and nACh receptors (AChRs, CHRNAs). Nicotine increased the production of ACh in human BACs, and ACh acts as a growth factor for these cells. Nicotine-induced ACh production was mediated by α7-, α3β2-, and β3-nAChRs, ChAT and VAChT pathways. We observed that …

Deficiency In P38Β Mapk Fails To Inhibit Cytokine Production Or Protect Neurons Against Inflammatory Insult In In Vitro And In Vivo Mouse Models, Bin Xing, Adam D. Bachstetter, Linda J. Van Eldik

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

The p38 MAPK pathway plays a key role in regulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNFα and IL-1β, in peripheral inflammatory disorders. There are four major isoforms of p38 MAPK (p38α, β, δ, γ), with p38α and p38β the targets of most p38 MAPK inhibitor drugs. Our previous studies demonstrated that the p38α MAPK isoform is an important contributor to stressor-induced proinflammatory cytokine up-regulation and neurotoxicity in the brain. However, the potential role of the p38β MAPK isoform in CNS proinflammatory cytokine overproduction and neurotoxicity is poorly understood. In the current studies, we used primary microglia from wild …