Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Estrogen On Hippocampal Function In Young Adult And Aged Female Rats, Lindsey Celeste Vedder

All ETDs from UAB

In rodents, the ovarian estrogen 17b-estradiol (E2) is a potent modulator of hippocampal function and the hippocampus is critical for many types of learning and memory. Specifically, E2 increase the magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) at CA3-CA1 synapses, the density of dendritic spines in CA1 pyramidal cells and current mediated by NR2B-containing NMDA receptors. The E2-induced increase in LTP further requires NR2B-containing NMDARs. While considered a cellular correlate of learning and memory, enhanced LTP does not always predict enhanced learning. The first goal of this dissertation was to investigate the relationship between E2-enhanced LTP and learning and memory in young …

Strategies For Combined Screening And Imaging Of Breast Cancer, Jason Morgan Warram

All ETDs from UAB

Successful treatment of breast cancer directly correlates with tumor stage and grade at diagnosis. Early diagnosis leads to a five-year relative survival rate of 96.8% as opposed to only a 22.5% five-year survival rate when diagnosed at late stage. Cancer-specific mechanisms need to be extended to enable cancer detection in an individual patient, in particular, the metastatic burden that currently cannot be assessed by conventional imaging. This approach for cancer detection would remove the biases of patient characteristics, permit immediate diagnostic feedback, improve sensitivity for early detection of small metastatic lesions, and be cost effective. Toward this goal, the cancer-specific …

The Requisite Role Of Dectin-1 And Il-17 In Innate Host Defense Against Aspergillus Fumigatus, Jessica L. Werner

All ETDs from UAB

Immune suppression increases the incidence of invasive fungal infections, particularly those caused by the opportunistic mold Aspergillus fumigatus. We show that non-immunosuppressed mice lacking the beta-glucan receptor Dectin-1 (Dectin-1-/-) are more susceptible to intratracheal challenge with A. fumigatus than control mice, exhibiting >80% mortality within 5 days; ultimately attributed to a compromise in respiratory mechanics. In response to A. fumigatus challenge, Dectin-1-/- mice demonstrated impaired inflammatory response as seen through defective cytokine and chemokine production, which resulted in insufficient lung neutrophil recruitment and uncontrolled A. fumigatus lung growth. Alveolar macrophages from Dectin-1-/- mice failed to produce proinflammatory mediators in response …

Ecology And Transmission Of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus In The Southeastern United States, Gregory Scott White

All ETDs from UAB

The virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a highly pathogenic arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) present in the US. The virus is listed as a reportable illness to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is also listed as a select agent by Human Health and Services (HHS). Studies on EEEV starting back in the 1930's have determined many important facets of the ecology, transmission and evolution of the virus. It is understood that in many endemic foci, the mosquito Culiseta melanura is the primary enzootic vector of the virus. EEEV is thus maintained in an enzootic cycle between …

The Effect Of Sulfasalazine On Functional Recovery And Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury, Kelly Dunham Atkins

All ETDs from UAB

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition resulting in loss of motor function as well as sensory abnormalities. Insight into the pathophysiology of SCI progression has been gained through use of pre-clinical animal models, however these have not been successful in yielding pharmacological interventions for clinical management of SCI. One proposed reason for this discrepancy may be the use of SCI models which are not fully clinically relevant and do not assess the contribution of gray matter pathology to SCI functional outcomes. Post-SCI inflammation is well-documented and may lead to downstream loss of motor function. Additionally, inflammation is thought …

Nanocarriers For Biomedical Applications, Shuyi Li, Lynsa Nguyen, Hairong Xion, Meiyao Wang, Tom C.-C. Hu, Jin-Xiong She, Steven M. Serkiz, George G. Wicks, William S. Dynan

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Removal And Sequestration Of Iodide From Alkaline Solutions Using Silver-Doped Carbon Nanotubes, Adrian L. Pishko, Steven M. Serkiz, Apparao M. Rao

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Sirna-Mediated Inhibition Of The Hiv-1 Transactivator Of Transcription, Alexander Jureka, Pricilla Simon, William Jackson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Gold Nanospheres As Inhibitors Of Amyloid- Β Protein Aggregation Involved In Alzheimer’S Disease, Mihyun Lim, Deborah Soto-Ortega, Rahina Mahtab, Melissa Moss

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

P16 Ink4a Immunocytochemistry On Cell Blocks As An Adjunct To Cervical Cytology: Potential Reflex Testing On Specially Prepared Cell Blocks From Residual Liquid-Based Cytology Specimens, Vinod B. Shidham, Ravi Mehrotra, George Varsegi, Krista L. D'Amore, Bryan Hunt, Raj Narayan

Department of Pathology

Background: p16 INK4a (p16) is a well-recognized surrogate molecular marker for human papilloma virus (HPV) related squamous dysplasia. Our hypothesis is that the invasive interventions and related morbidities could be avoided by objective stratification of positive cytologic interpretations by p16 immunostaining of cell block sections of cytology specimens.

Materials and Methods: Nuclear immunoreactivity for p16 was evaluated in cell block sections in 133 adequate cases [20 negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy, 28 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 50 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 21 atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), and 14 atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance …

Tdp-43 Potentiates Alpha-Synuclein Toxicity To Dopaminergic Neurons In Transgenic Mice., Tian Tian, Cao Huang, Jianbin Tong, Ming Yang, Hongxia Zhou, Xugang Xia

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

TDP-43 and α-synuclein are two disease proteins involved in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. While TDP-43 proteinopathy is considered a pathologic hallmark of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobe degeneration, α-synuclein is a major component of Lewy body characteristic of Parkinson's disease. Intriguingly, TDP-43 proteinopathy also coexists with Lewy body and with synucleinopathy in certain disease conditions. Here we reported the effects of TDP-43 on α-synuclein neurotoxicity in transgenic mice. Overexpression of mutant TDP-43 (M337V substitution) in mice caused early death in transgenic founders, but overexpression of normal TDP-43 only induced a moderate loss of cortical neurons in …

An Investigation Of The Subtype Diversity Of Clinical Isolates Of Irish Clostridium Difficile Ribotypes 027 And 078 By Repetitive-Extragenic Palindromic Pcr, Denise Drudy, K. Solomon, S. Murray, L. Scott, S. Mcdermott,, A. Martin, C. O’Donoghue, M. Skally, K. Burns, L. Fenelon, F. Fitzpatrick,, L. Kyne, S. Fanning

Articles

A repetitive-extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) subtyping method (DiversiLab) in conjunction with ribotyping, toxinotyping and antimicrobial-susceptibility testing was used to detect subtypes within Clostridium difficile ribotypes 027 and 078. Clinical isolates of ribotypes 027 (toxinotype III) (n530) and 078 (toxinotype V) (n523) were provided by health-care facilities across the Republic of Ireland over 2 months in 2006 and 1 month in 2009. Ribotype 027 isolates were significantly more related to each other (9 different subtype profiles) when compared to ribotype 078 isolates (14 different profiles) (P50.001; cut-off .90 % similarity). Almost half of ribotype 078 isolates (45.5 %) showed no relationship …

Detection And Genotyping Of Cryptosporidium Spp. In Diarrheic Stools By Pcr/Rflp Analyses, Selma Usluca, Ümi̇t Aksoy

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To compare microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as methods for diagnosing Cryptosporidium spp. and identifying the genotype of the parasite in diarrheic stool. Materials and methods: Stool samples from diarrheic patients admitted to Dokuz Eylül University Medical Faculty were collected on a specific day of the week. Stool samples sent to our laboratory from patients affected by a diarrhea epidemic in İzmir were also included in the study. A total of 162 stool samples were examined by microscopic and molecular methods, and the validity of the molecular method was investigated. Results: Using Kinyoun acid-fast dye, Cryptosporidium spp. was found …

Immunohistochemical Evaluation Of The Effects Of Nebivolol On Intimal Hyperplasia Following Endothelial Injury, İlker Akar, Ali̇ Rahman, M. Cengi̇z Çolak, Bi̇lal Üstündağ, İbrahi̇m Hani̇fi̇ Özercan, Ayhan Uysal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Intimal hyperplasia is a vascular remodeling process. It is a clinical problem that forms in the vascular wall as a result of smooth muscle cell migration, proliferation, and extracellular matrix accumulation. In this study we examined the immunohistochemical evaluation of the effects of nebivolol on intimal hyperplasia in damaged endothelial tissue. Materials and methods: The study was conducted using 21 rabbits equally divided into 3 groups: control, solvent, and nebivolol. The rabbits in the control group only underwent balloon injury of the abdominal aorta. The rabbits in the solvent group and nebivolol group underwent balloon injury and were treated with …

Effects Of Plasma Lipids And Smoking On Cognitive Function, Oğuz Teki̇n, Adem Özkara, Burcu Yanik, M. Ramazan Yi̇ği̇toğlu, Ati̇lla İlhan, Erkan Kibrisli, İrfan Şencan, Meti̇n Canbal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To research the relations between plasma lipids and smoking as they affect cognitive functions. Some studies have suggested a relationship between plasma cholesterol concentration, smoking, and the frequency of cognitive disturbances. Our hypothesis was that plasma lipids and smoking are related to cognitive impairment. Materials and methods: The plasma lipid profiles and cognitive functions of the subjects were measured and the relations among plasma lipid levels, smoking, and cognitive functions were observed. The study was performed on subjects with no history of chronic disease. Mental status was evaluated by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) in patients over 40 years of …

Anthropometric Measurements And Body Composition Analysis Of Obese Adolescents With And Without Metabolic Syndrome, Deni̇z Nazi̇re Çağdaş Ayvaz, Fatma Ni̇şanci Kilinç, Feyza Ayşenur Paç, Erman Çakal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Obesity and risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) are rapidly increasing in children. Therefore, criteria for MS were aimed to be evaluated in obese children (OC). Materials and methods: Anthropometric indices and body composition (bioimpedance) analysis (BIA) were compared in 32 obese and 32 normal-weight children. Biochemical parameters were evaluated in OC. Results of OC with/without MS were compared. Results: Subscapular skinfold thickness (SST) was more sensitive and specific than triceps skinfold thickness in the diagnosis of obesity. According to BIA basal metabolism rate, fat mass (FM), FM%, and FM index were higher, while impedance, FFM%, fat-free-mass (FFM) index, and total-body-water% …

Development And Validation Of The Turkish Version Of The Mnread Visual Acuity Charts, Şefay Aysun İdi̇l, Deni̇z Çalişkan, Namik Bariş İdi̇l

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To design and validate a Turkish version of the MNREAD acuity charts. Materials and methods: A vocabulary was created using high-frequency words that appear in Turkish schoolbooks used by 8-year-old children in the third grade. In total, 125 sentences were generated. The sentences were read by 2 groups (20 adults and 20 primary school students), and reading time and verbal mistakes were recorded. Thereafter, persistent verbal mistakes and sentences with extreme high and low mean reading speeds were excluded. Finally, the validity of the participants' reading speed as measured with the MNREAD Turkish version was determined by comparing it to …

Can Obstructive Apnea And Hypopnea During Sleep Be Differentiated By Using Electroencephalographic Frequency Bands? Statistical Analysis Of Receiver-Operator Curve Characteristics, Erdem Uçar, Necdet Süt, Tevfi̇k Gülyaşar, İlhan Umut, Levent Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate whether electroencephalographic (EEG) frequency bands are applicable in distinguishing abnormal respiratory events such as obstructive apnea and hypopnea in patients with sleep apnea. Materials and methods: The polysomnographic recordings of 20 patients were examined retrospectively. EEG record segments were taken from C4-A1 and C3-A2 channels and were analyzed with software that uses digital signal processing methods, developed by the study team. Percentage values of delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands were evaluated through discriminant and receiver-operator curve (ROC) analysis to distinguish between apneas and hypopneas. Results: For the C4-A1 channel, delta (%) provided the highest discriminative value …

First Trimester Maternal Serum Papp-A Levels And Macrosomia In Nondiabetic Mothers, Ebru Tarim, Servet Özden Haciveli̇oğlu, Tayfun Çok, Hali̇l Tayfun Bağiş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To determine whether or not there is a relationship between first-trimester maternal serum pregnancy-associated placental protein (PAPP-A) levels and fetal macrosomia in nondiabetic mothers. Materials and methods: In this study, 63 consecutive term macrosomic neonates (Group 1) (birth weight >= 4000 g) and 100 consecutive appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) term neonates (Group 2) were included. Transabdominal ultrasound examinations were performed to diagnose any major fetal defects and to measure crown-rump length (CRL) and fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness. Blood samples were drawn from each woman in order to obtain fasting blood glucose, PAPP-A, and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) levels. Ultrasound measurements …

Unusual Case Of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (Ttp) In Capnocytophaga Canimorsus Bacteremia, Nicole W. Tong Do

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Serum Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 In Pancreatic Cancer., Jennifer Sullivan, Qiaoke Gong, Terry Hyslop, Harish Lavu, Galina Chipitsyna, Charles Yeo, Hwyda A Arafat

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Background/Aims. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has etiological association with chronic inflammation. Elevated circulating levels of inflammatory mediators, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), are found in obese individuals. We hypothesized that serum MCP-1 levels are elevated in obese PDA patients. Methods. ELISA was used to analyze MCP-1 serum levels in PDA (n = 62) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) (n = 27). Recursive partitioning statistical analysis investigated the relationship between log MCP-1 and clinicopathological parameters. Results. Log MCP-1 values were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in patients with BMI ≥ 37.5. In patients with BMI < 37.5, average log MCP-1 values were significantly elevated in PDA patients when compared to IPMN patients. Within the IPMN group, higher log MCP-1 levels correlated with increased age. Recursive partitioning analysis of IPMN versus PDA revealed a strategy of predicting characteristics of patients who are more likely to have cancer. This strategy utilizes log MCP-1 as the primary factor and also utilizes smoking status, gender, and age. Conclusion. MCP-1 is a promising biomarker in pancreatic cancer. The potential of using MCP-1 to distinguish PDA from IPMN patients must be studied in larger populations to validate and demonstrate its eventual clinical utility.

Role Of Leptin And Its Receptors In The Pathogenesis Of Thyroid Cancer, Shahabuddin, Azhar Hussain, Abdul K Siraj, Omar S Khan, Prashant P Bavi, Khawla S Al-Kuraya

Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Research

Leptin is a multifunctional adipose-derived cytokines that play a critical role in bodyweight homeostasis and energy balance. Recently, leptin and leptin receptor dysreulation have been reported in variety of malignant cells including thyroid. Leptin modulates growth and proliferation of cancer cells via activation of various growth and survival signaling pathways including JAK/STAT, PI3-kinase/AKT and/or Map kinases. In this review, current understanding of leptin's role in the pathogenesis of thyroid cancer has been described.

The Zambia Children's Ks-Hhv8 Study: Rationale, Study Design, And Study Methods, Veenu Minhas, Kay L. Crabtree, Ann Chao, Janet M. Wojcicki, Adrian M. Sifuniso, Catherine Nkonde, Chipepo Kankasa, Charles D. Mitchell, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus in Zambia has led to a dramatic rise in the incidence of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8)–associated Kaposi's sarcoma in both adults and children. However, there is a paucity of knowledge about the routes of HHV-8 transmission to young children. The Zambia Children's KS-HHV8 Study, a large, prospective cohort study in Lusaka, Zambia, was launched in 2004 to investigate the role of household members as a source of HHV-8 infection in young children and social behaviors that may modify the risk of HHV-8 acquisition. This cohort is distinct from other epidemiologic studies designed to investigate HHV-8 …

Detection Of Autoreactive Cd4 T Cells Using Major Histocompatibility Complex Class Ii Dextramers, Chandirasegaran Massilimany, Bijaya Upadhyaya, Arunakumar Gangaplara, Charles Kuszynski, Jay Reddy

Jay Reddy Publications

Background: Tetramers are useful tools to enumerate the frequencies of antigen-specific T cells. However, unlike CD8 T cells, CD4 T cells - especially self-reactive cells - are challenging to detect with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II tetramers because of low frequencies and low affinities of their T cell receptors to MHCpeptide complexes. Here, we report the use of fluorescent multimers, designated MHC dextramers that contain a large number of peptide-MHC complexes per reagent.

Results: The utility of MHC dextramers was evaluated in three autoimmune disease models: 1) proteolipid protein (PLP) 139-151-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in SJL/J (H-2^s) …

The Utilization Of A Respiratory Care Journal Club To Facilitate State Continuing Division Of Educational Credits, Kenneth Miller Med, Rrt-Nps, Linda Cornman Bs, Rrt-Nps, Steven Pyne Rrt, Angela Lutz Bs, Rrt-Nps

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Cardiac Output Is Not Related To The Slowed O2 Uptake Kinetics In Type 2 Diabetes, Oscar Mac Ananey, J Malone, S Warmington, D O'Shea, S Green, M Egana

Articles

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This study aimed to investigate whether cardiac output (CO) responses were related to VO2 kinetics during cycling in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS:

A total of 9 middle-aged women with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes, 9 nondiabetic overweight women, and 11 nondiabetic lean women were recruited. Initially, the ventilatory threshold (VT) and peak VO2 were determined during a maximal graded test. Then, on two separate days, subjects completed three 7-min bouts of constant-load cycling at each of three intensities: 50% VT, 80% VT, and midpoint between VT and peak VO2 (50% Δ). CO (inert gas rebreathing) was recorded at 30 …

Atypical Lymphocytic Lobular Panniculitis: A Distinct Eentity In The Spectrum Of Cutaneous Lymphoid Dyscrasia, Lusia S. Yi Do, Ms, Nicole Bright Do, Stephen Purcell Do

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Call-Fleming Syndrome: More Than A Crazy Migraine, Erin M. Conahan Rn, Cnrn, Claranne Mathiesen Rn, Msn, Cnrn

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

En Coup De Sabre, Marie S. Lewars Do, Gwyn Frambach Do, Charles Grooper Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.