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

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

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

Inflammatory Interactions And Secretion In Cardiac Remodeling, Fanmuyi Yang

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

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

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

Synthesis And Flame Retardant Testing Of New Boronated And Phosphonated Aromatic Compounds, Vladimir Benin, Sravanthi Durganala, Alexander Morgan

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The present report describes the preparation and use of some dimethyl terephthalate derivatives in transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions to produce new reactive flame retardants. Dimethyl iodoterephthalate and dimethyl 2,5-diiodoterephthalate were successfully employed in the preparation of phosphonic and boronic esters and acids. The latter were tested for heat release with a microcombustion calorimeter (ASTM D7309) to determine the potential for heat release reduction of these flame retardant molecules. The results showed that the addition of boronic or phosphonic acids greatly lowered the heat release, due to a condensed phase (char formation) mechanism. Adding ester groups to the boronic acids or …

Iodine Deficiency In Pregnancy And In Women Of Reproductive Age In Erzurum, Turkey, Kadi̇r Çeti̇nkaya, Meti̇n İngeç, Semra Çeti̇nkaya, İbrahi̇m Kaplan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: Iodine deficiency (ID) is an important public health problem and the most common cause of preventable mental retardation. The aims of this study were to determine the urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of pregnant women living in Erzurum, to assess the ID rate, and to find out whether iodine supplementation is necessary in pregnancy. Materials and methods: Spot urine was obtained from pregnant and nonpregnant women with no functional or organic thyroid disease. The UIC was studied using the Sandell-Kolthoff method. Results: The median UIC values of pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters and of the nonpregnant …

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

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

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

Effects Of Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist Treatment On Daily Energy Balance And Body Composition In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Abdurrahman Genç, Kağan Üçok, Ersi̇n Günay, Yücel Gönül, Hati̇ce Karabacak, Ümi̇t Şener, Serkan Nural, Mehmet Ünlü

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-acting beta-2 agonist (formoterol) treatment on the resting metabolic rate (RMR), daily physical activity, body composition and anthropometry, nutritional status, and quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Materials and methods: A total of 30 male patients who were diagnosed with COPD participated in the study. The RMR was determined using an indirect calorimeter, daily physical activity was measured with an accelerometer, and body composition was established by bioelectric impedance analysis. Body circumference and skinfold thickness measurements were carried out. Pulmonary function tests were performed …

The Emerging Role Of Acyl-Coa Thioesterases And Acyltransferases In Regulating Peroxisomal Lipid Metabolism, Mary Hunt, Marina Siponen, Stefan Alexson

Articles

The importance of peroxisomes in lipid metabolism is now well established and peroxisomes contain approximately 60 enzymes involved in these lipid metabolic pathways. Several acyl-CoA thioesterase enzymes (ACOTs) have been identified in peroxisomes that catalyze the hydrolysis of acyl-CoAs (short-, medium-, long- and very long-chain), bile acid-CoAs, and methyl branched-CoAs, to the free fatty acid and coenzyme A. A number of acyltransferase enzymes, which are structurally and functionally related to ACOTs, have also been identified in peroxisomes, which conjugate (or amidate) bile acid-CoAs and acyl-CoAs to amino acids, resulting in the production of amidated bile acids and fatty acids. The …

Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy And Effects On Neonatal Anthropometry: A Prospective Study, Fati̇h Bolat, Özge Eren, Güher Bolat, Emrah Can, Serdar Cömert, Hasan Si̇nan Uslu, Asi̇ye Nuhoğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To identify risk factors associated with cigarette smoking during pregnancy and to evaluate the effect of smoking on anthropometric measurements. Materials and methods: This study was carried out prospectively in selected women who gave birth to a healthy, term infant at Şişli Etfal Education and Research Hospital from January 2009 to January 2010. Smoking status during pregnancy was categorized into 3 groups: nonsmoker; smoker; passive smoker. Regression analysis was performed to compare risk factors with cigarette smoking. Results: A total of 1175 mothers were enrolled. Active and passive smoking rates were 14.9% and 32.3%, respectively. In univariate analysis, maternal active …

Relation Of Total Homocysteine Level With Metabolic And Anthropometric Variables In Obese Children And Adolescents, Ayhan Abaci, Ahmet Zülfi̇kar Akelma, Osman Özdemi̇r, Şami̇l Hizli, Cem Hasan Razi, Kadi̇r Okhan Akin

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To evaluate the total homocysteine (tHcy) level, a risk factor for atherosclerosis, atherothrombosis, and insulin resistance, for sex and pubertal state differences in obese children. Its relationship with metabolic and anthropometric parameters was also investigated. Materials and methods: The study involved obese children with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile who presented with the complaint of excessive weight gain, and healthy children with a BMI below the 85th percentile. Results: The study included 100 obese (mean age: 10.2 ± 2.7 years) and 71 healthy nonobese (mean age: 10.9 ± 2.6) children. A comparison of the data from …

What Is The Best Cut-Off Point For Screening Gestational Diabetes In Turkish Women?, Aydin Köşüş, Nermi̇n Köşüş, Ni̇lgün Turhan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To find an optimal threshold level with higher sensitivity and specificity for screening of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Turkish pregnant women. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study. Screening for GDM was performed in all pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation using the 1 h 50 g glucose challenge test (GCT) with a subsequent 3 h 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for confirmation if screened positive. The glucose values obtained were analyzed by both the Carpenter and Coustan (C&C criteria) and National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria. Results: There were 808 women meeting …

Complementary And Integrative Oncology In The Cross-Cultural Region Of The Middle East And South Asia., Eran Ben-Arye, Barrie Cassileth, Peter Heusser, Fatma Afifi, Bashar Saad, Senthamil R Selvan

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Stress On Growth Hormone Receptor Signaling, Ryan Marshall Corrick

All ETDs from UAB

Growth hormone (GH) regulates body composition via stimulation of protein synthesis and catabolism of adipose tissue, generally promoting maintenance of lean body mass. Following severe injury, GH resistance contributes to muscle protein wasting, adversely impacting morbidity and mortality. In this dissertation research, we sought to determine the mechanisms of GH resistance following injury. To accomplish this, we evaluated GH signaling in a mouse model of severe injury. In the first section of this thesis, we demonstrate severe impairments in hepatic GH signaling occurring in association with an apparent, hemorrhage-dependent cleavage of the GH receptor (GHR). In the second section, we …

Siderophore-Mediated Iron Acquisition In Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Ryan Wells

All ETDs from UAB

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a dangerous human pathogen that has the capacity to adapt to and survive within the harsh phagosomal environment of macrophages. One obstacle that must be overcome by pathogens is to acquire iron, an essential component and cofactor of proteins required for vital cellular processes. M. tuberculosis meets its iron demands in the face of an array of sequestration strategies of the host by synthesizing and secreting two siderophores called mycobactin and carboxymycobactin. Siderophores are low molecular weight high affinity iron binding compounds that steal iron away from host stores and have been shown to be important for …

Retinoids And Abnormal Alveolar Development, Masheika L. James

All ETDs from UAB

Extremely preterm infants are at high risk for a form of chronic lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is characterized by impaired alveolar development. Exposure to hyperoxia and deficiency of vitamin A (VA) contribute to the development of BPD in preterm infants. Randomized controlled trials indicate VA supplementation decreases BPD and/or death. However, 25% of preterm infants continue to remain VA deficient despite supplementation, probably due to impairment in VA transport, VA is stored in the liver as retinyl esters which are transported to the lung and irreversibly metabolized into all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), the active metabolite. A combination of …

The Role Of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response In Glioma Cell Death, Guyla G. Johnson

All ETDs from UAB

Malignant gliomas, including glioblastomas, are the main primary adult brain tumor. Even with current therapies, the median survival time for patients diagnosed with glioblastomas is only about 12 months. Therefore, it is imperative to identify pathways that can induce glioma cell death. This dissertation provides evidence defining how Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response (ERSR) induction promotes cell death selectively in malignant glioma cells (MGCs). I present data showing a correlation between ER Ca2+ storage abnormalities, ER ribosome-translocon expression and activity, ERSR intensity and cell death in MGCs. These data show ERSR induction with thapsigargin (THAP) results in a larger loss of …

Mechanism Of Nfi-C Functionin During Tooth Root Formation, Ejvis Lamani

All ETDs from UAB

Currently, very little is known regarding tissue-specific gene regulation during the later stages of tooth development, especially those associated with root formation. Re-cent studies have identified nuclear factor I-C (NFI-C) as a critical factor for root for-mation in mammals. NFI-C functions as a cellular transcription factor and adenovirus DNA replication factor. Its role in root formation first became evident when Nfi-c null mice were shown to lack molar roots. A similar phenotype of incomplete or absent root formation is observed in patients with the autosomal dominant disease Radicular Dentin Dysplasia (RDD; MIM125400) also known as Rootless Teeth or Dentin Dysplasia …

Resveratrol + Ethanol Preconditioning And Neuroprotection, Nastaran Khodaie

Master's Theses

Our lab established that moderate ethanol preconditioning (MEP) for 6 days blocked the Aâ25-35 toxicity in cerebellar mixed cell cultures and It has been shown that MEP cause the up regulation of the pre-survival enzymes such as proxiredoxin2 (PRX2), which suggests MEP can activate the cell survival pathways against upcoming toxins.

This study was performed to verify the possible combinatory effect of ethanol and resveratrol against Aâ25-35 toxicity. Both ethanol and resveratrol sub-protective concentrations were detected against Aâ25-35 in cerebellar mixed cell cultures. The combination of sub-protective levels of ethanol and resveratrol showed the significantly reduction in number of Aâ25-35 …

Sedation Safety Using Clinical Practice Guidelines, Bonnie Wasilowsky Bspa-Hca, Rn, Cnrn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Faculty Publications 2011, Lsu Health Sciences Center New Orleans

Historical Faculty Publications

This Faculty bibliography contains 812 publications.

Keratinocyte-Targeted Expression Of Human Laminin Γ2 Rescues Skin Blistering And Early Lethality Of Laminin Γ2 Deficient Mice., Tracy L Adair-Kirk, Gail L Griffin, Michelle J Meyer, Diane G Kelley, Jeffrey H Miner, Douglas R Keene, M Peter Marinkovich, J Michael Ruppert, Jouni Uitto, Robert M Senior

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Laminin-332 is a heterotrimeric basement membrane component comprised of the α3, ß3, and γ2 laminin chains. Laminin-332 modulates epithelial cell processes, such as adhesion, migration, and differentiation and is prominent in many embryonic and adult tissues. In skin, laminin-332 is secreted by keratinocytes and is a key component of hemidesmosomes connecting the keratinocytes to the underlying dermis. In mice, lack of expression of any of the three Laminin-332 chains result in impaired anchorage and detachment of the epidermis, similar to that seen in human junctional epidermolysis bullosa, and death occurs within a few days after birth. To bypass the early …

Rice Consumption Contributes To Arsenic Exposure In Us Women, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Kathryn L. Cottingham, Joann F. Gruber, Tracy Punshon, Vicki Sayarath, A. Jay Gandolfi, Emily R. Baker, Brian P. Jackson, Carol L. Folt, Margaret R. Karagas

Dartmouth Scholarship

Emerging data indicate that rice consumption may lead to potentially harmful arsenic exposure. However, few human data are available, and virtually none exist for vulnerable periods such as pregnancy. Here we document a positive association between rice consumption and urinary arsenic excretion, a biomarker of recent arsenic exposure, in 229 pregnant women. At a 6-mo prenatal visit, we collected a urine sample and 3-d dietary record for water, fish/seafood, and rice. We also tested women's home tap water for arsenic, which we combined with tap water consumption to estimate arsenic exposure through water. Women who reported rice intake (n …

Map Kinases Couple Hindbrain-Derived Catecholamine Signals To Hypothalamic Adrenocortical Control Mechanisms During Glycemia-Related Challenges, Arshad Khan, Kimberly Kaminski, Graciela Sanchez-Watts, Todd Ponzio, J. Kuzmiski, Jaideep Bains, Alan Watts

Selected Works Temporary Series

No abstract provided.

Map Kinases Couple Hindbrain-Derived Catecholamine Signals To Hypothalamic Adrenocortical Control Mechanisms During Glycemia-Related Challenges, Khan, Kimberly Kaminski, Graciela Sanchez-Watts, Todd Ponzio, J. Kuzmiski, Jaideep Bains, Alan Watts

Departmental Papers (Biology)

No abstract provided.

Disparate Degrees Of Hypervariable Loop Flexibility Control T Cell Receptor Cross-Reactivity, Specificity, And Binding Mechanism, Daniel R. Scott, Oleg Y. Borbulevych, Kurt H. Piepenbrink, Steven A. Corcelli, Brian M. Baker

Food for Health: Publications

αβ T cell receptors recognize multiple antigenic peptides bound and presented by major histocompatibility complex molecules. TCR cross-reactivity has been attributed in part to flexibility of the complementarity-determining region loops, yet there have been limited direct studies of loop dynamics to determine the extent of its role. Here we studied the flexibility of the binding loops of the αβ TCR A6 utilizing crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational methods. A significant role for flexibility in binding and cross-reactivity was indicated only for the CDR3α and CDR3β hypervariable loops. Examination of the energy landscapes of these two loops indicated that CDR3β possesses a …

The Tetrafluoroborate Salt Of 4-Methoxybenzyl N-2-(Dimethylamino)Ethyl-N-Nitrosocarbamate: Synthesis, Crystal Structure And Dft Calculations, Helene Hedian, Vladimir Benin

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The tetrafluoroborate salt of 4-methoxybenzyl N-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl-N-nitrosocarbamate was prepared in two steps, via the corresponding carbamate. Its crystal structure is monoclinic, space group P21/c. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 19.499(8) Å, b = 5.877(3) Å, c = 15.757(7) Å, α = 90°, β = 110.019(7)°, γ = 90°, V = 1696.5(12) Å3, Z = 4. The structure exhibits an unexpected, pseudo-gauche conformation with respect to the C2–C3 bond, due to a stabilizing hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen (O1) and the hydrogen atom at the trialkylammonium center (H3n), with a distance between them of …

Role Of Vima In Cell Surface Biogenesis In Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Devon Osbourne Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important etiological agent of periodontal disease - a disease that affects an estimated 49,000,000 people in the United States of America. Periodontal disease includes gingivitis – inflammation of the gums, and periodontitis – destruction of the teeth and their supporting tissues. Porphyromonas gingivalis is associated with the chronic form of periodontal disease in addition to several systemic diseases.

The vimA gene of P. gingivalis has been previously shown to play a significant role in the biogenesis of gingipains (trypsin-like cysteine proteases). The vimA has also been demonstrated to play a role in hemolysis, hemagglutination, autoaggregation, posttranslational …

The Role Of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Axl In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma And Its Regulation By Hematopoietic Progenitor Kinase 1, Xianzhou Song

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most aggressive malignancies with less than 5% of five year survival rate. New molecular markers and new therapeutic targets are urgently needed for patients with PDA. Oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase Axl has been reported to be overexpressed in many types of human malignancies, including diffuse glioma, melanoma, osteosarcoma, and carcinomas of lung, colon, prostate, breast, ovary, esophagus, stomach, and kidney. However, the expression and functions of Axl in PDA are unclear. We hypothesized that Axl contributes to the development and progression of PDA. We examined Axl expression in 54 human PDA samples …

Arsenic Represses Myogenesis And Neurogenesis Through Epigenetic Mechanisms, Repressed Transcription Factors, And Altered Wnt Signaling Pathway, Gia-Ming Hong

All Dissertations

Arsenic is a toxicant commonly found in water systems around the world. Evidence from epidemiological studies indicates that chronic arsenic exposure can result in cancer, central nervous system and sensory deficits, effects on development, and neuromuscular deficits. However, the molecular mechanism of arsenic's toxicity remains largely unclear. In this study, both C2C12 mouse myoblast cells and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were used as models of arsenic mediated developmental toxicity in humans to investigate the effects of sodium arsenite on cellular differentiation.
Results from our first and second studies indicate that exposure of 20nM sodium arsenite to C2C12 mouse myocyte …

Stimulation Of The Hypothalamic Ventromedial Nuclei By Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Induces Hypophagia And Thermogenesis, Jon M. Resch, Joanne P. Boisvert, Allison E. Hourigan, Christopher R. Mueller, Sun Shin Yi, Sujean Choi

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the hypothalamic ventromedial nuclei (VMN) regulate energy homeostasis by integrating and utilizing behavioral and metabolic mechanisms. The VMN heavily express pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide(PACAP) type I receptors (PAC1R). Despite the receptor distribution, most PACAP experiments investigating affects on feeding have focused on intracerebroventricular (icv) administration or global knockout mice. To identify the specific contribution of PACAP signaling in the VMN, we injected PACAP directly into the VMN and measured feeding behavior and indices of energy expenditure. Following an acute injection of PACAP, nocturnal food intake was significantly reduced for six hours after injections without evidence …

Using Lectinmicroarrays To Identify Regulatory Mechanisms For Mammalian Glycosylation, John F. Rakus

Chemistry Faculty Research

Glycosylation involves the post-translational addition of carbohydrates to protein molecules and is an intricate and indispensable biochemical process. Study of this complicated network of interactions is hindered by the lack of a coding template analogous to the genetic code, and by the vast structural complexity inherent to carbohydrate polymers. We use lectins (non-enzymatic carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immunological origin) as microarray probes to identify carbohydrate features expressed on cellular surfaces. Specifically, we utilized lectin microarray technology to investigate the differences in carbohydrates expressed by the cell lines of the Nation Cancer Institute’s NCI-60 panel. Our investigation identified tissue-specific expression differences in …