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Biological Response To Prosthetic Debris., Diana Bitar, Javad Parvizi

Rothman Institute Papers

Joint arthroplasty had revolutionized the outcome of orthopaedic surgery. Extensive and collaborative work of many innovator surgeons had led to the development of durable bearing surfaces, yet no single material is considered absolutely perfect. Generation of wear debris from any part of the prosthesis is unavoidable. Implant loosening secondary to osteolysis is the most common mode of failure of arthroplasty. Osteolysis is the resultant of complex contribution of the generated wear debris and the mechanical instability of the prosthetic components. Roughly speaking, all orthopedic biomaterials may induce a universal biologic host response to generated wear débris with little specific characteristics …

Differences In Referral And Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Between Pediatric Providers And Patients, Brooke N. Jenkins, Nicole Vincent, Michelle Fortier

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives

The goal of this study was to compare pediatric complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and pediatric health care provider CAM referral as well as identify predictors of use and referral.

Design

Surveys were administered to 283 parents/caregivers of pediatric patients and 200 pediatric health care providers (HCP).

Setting

This study took place at the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's) in Orange, CA.

Main outcome measures

Caregivers and HCP were provided a list of 32 CAM interventions and asked to indicate which treatments their child had ever used or which they would consider using for their child …

Posterior Surgical Approach Procedures For Cervical Myelopathy, Pedro H.I. Pohl, Marcel Jun Tamaoki, Luciano M. Rodrigues, Kristen Radcliff, Takashi Yurube, James D. Kang, João Carlos Belloti

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: The main objective of this review is to assess the effects of laminectomy and fusion versus laminoplasty for multilevel cervical stenosis with myelopathy, on treatment outcomes such as pain, quality of life, functional and neurological improvement, and complication rates. © 2015 The Cochrane Collaboration.

Relationship Between Antibody Susceptibility And Lipopolysaccharide O-Antigen Characteristics Of Invasive And Gastrointestinal Nontyphoidal Salmonellae Isolates From Kenya, Robert S. Onsare, Francesca Micoli, Luisa Lanzilao, Renzo Alfini, Chinyere K. Okoro, Anne W. Muigai, Gunturu Revathi, Allan Saul, Samuel Kariuki, Calman A. Maclennan, Simona Rondini

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Nontyphoidal Salmonellae (NTS) cause a large burden of invasive and gastrointestinal disease among young children in sub-Saharan Africa. No vaccine is currently available. Previous reports indicate the importance of the O-antigen of Salmonella lipopolysaccharide for virulence and resistance to antibody-mediated killing. We hypothesised that isolates with more O-antigen have increased resistance to antibody-mediated killing and are more likely to be invasive than gastrointestinal.

Methodology/Principal findings: We studied 192 NTS isolates (114 Typhimurium, 78 Enteritidis) from blood and stools, mostly from paediatric admissions in Kenya 2000-2011. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to antibody-mediated killing, using whole adult serum. O-antigen structural …

Metabolic Reprogramming Of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts By Idh3Α Downregulation, Daoxiang Zhang, Yongbin Wang, Zhimin Shi, Jingyi Liu, Pan Sun, Xiaodan Hou, Jian Zhang, Shimin Zhao, Binhua P. Zhou, Jun Mi

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) provide critical metabolites for tumor growth and undergo metabolic reprogramming to support glycolysis. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for this change remain unclear. Here, we report that TGF-β1- or PDGF-induced CAFs switch from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. We identify downregulation of isocitrate dehydrogenase 3α (IDH3α) as a marker for this switch. Furthermore, miR-424 downregulates IDH3α during CAF formation. Downregulation of IDH3α decreases the effective level of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) by reducing the ratio of α-KG to fumarate and succinate, resulting in PHD2 inhibition and HIF-1α protein stabilization. The accumulation of HIF-1α, in turn, promotes glycolysis by increasing …

A Practical Algorithm For Managing Alzheimer's Disease: What, When, And Why?, Jeffrey L. Cummings, Richard S. Isaacson, Frederick A. Schmitt, Drew M. Velting

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and its prevalence is increasing. Recent developments in AD management provide improved ways of supporting patients and their caregivers throughout the disease continuum. Managing cardiovascular risk factors, maintaining an active lifestyle (with regular physical, mental and social activity) and following a Mediterranean diet appear to reduce AD risk and may slow cognitive decline. Pharmacologic therapy for AD should be initiated upon diagnosis. All of the currently available cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs; donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine) are indicated for mild-to-moderate AD. Donepezil (10 and 23 mg/day) and rivastigmine transdermal patch (13.3 mg/24 …

Mitochondria-Associated Micrornas In Rat Hippocampus Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Wang-Xia Wang, Nishant P. Visavadiya, Jignesh D. Pandya, Peter T. Nelson, Patrick G. Sullivan, Joe E. Springer

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability. However, the molecular events contributing to the pathogenesis are not well understood. Mitochondria serve as the powerhouse of cells, respond to cellular demands and stressors, and play an essential role in cell signaling, differentiation, and survival. There is clear evidence of compromised mitochondrial function following TBI; however, the underlying mechanisms and consequences are not clear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, and function as important mediators of neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and neurodegeneration. Several miRNAs show altered expression following TBI; however, the …

Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia, Lisa Nieder

Nurse Anesthesia MSNA Student Capstones

Opioids are a fundamental part in the treatment of pain especially within the perioperative setting. While opioids are routinely administered by nurse anesthetists for the treatment of pain, they can be associated with several undesirable side effects including opioid- induced hyperalgesia (OIH). OIH is a complex phenomenon that has a significant impact on the successful treatment of pain in a surgical setting. While there have been many advances in recent years into the topic of OIH, the mechanisms are complex and remain incompletely understood. OIH is believed to occur from changes in both the peripheral and central nervous systems that …

Emerging Drugs For Sickle Cell Anemia., Priya C Singh, Samir K. Ballas

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

INTRODUCTION: The search for effective therapeutic interventions for sickle cell disease (SCD) has been an ongoing endeavor for over 50 years. During this period, only hydroxyurea (HU), which received US FDA approval in February 1998, was identified as an effective therapeutic agent in preventing or ameliorating the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises, acute chest syndrome and the need for blood transfusion. Approximately 25% of patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), however, do not respond to HU and some patients experiencing serious side effects of this chemotherapeutic agent. Nevertheless, the success of HU opened the sluice gates to identify other effective drug …

Uchunguzi (Journal Watchmontre De Journal) March 2015, Benjamin Wachira

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Uchunguzi means investigation in Swahili and provides a summary of some of the most recent international literature as presented in other leading journals, but with an emphasis on what is relevant to our continent.

Are Bp Readings Taken After A Patient-Physician Encounter In A Real-World Clinic Scenario The Lowest Of All The Readings In A Clinic Visit., Hunaina Shahab, Hamza Sohail Kan2 Khan, Aysha Almas, Sohail Abrar Khan, Aamir Hameed Khan

Department of Medicine

Objective: To determine the difference in Blood Pressure (BP) readings taken before, during and after the clinic encounter.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place and Duration of Study: Cardiology Clinic, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January to August 2013.

Methodology: Hypertensive and normotensive participants aged ≥ 18 years were recruited. Pre-clinic BP was measured by a nurse and in-clinic BP by a physician. After 15 minutes, two post-clinic BP readings were taken at 1 minute interval. All readings were taken using Omron HEM7221-E.

Results: Out of 180 participants, males were 57% and 130 (71%) were hypertensive. Mean SBP (Systolic …

The Association Of Cognitive Endophenotypes And Risky Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Of Alzheimer's Disease Within The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (Adni) Database, Kyle Joseph Jennette

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) previously associated with Alzheimer's disease on specific domains of cognition, when controlling for Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), in a sample of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: The data were drawn from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database, a comprehensive, longitudinal database of controls, persons with mild cognitive impairment, and persons with mild Alzheimer's disease. Each subject has a full neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging, genetic sequencing, and physical evaluation. For the purposes of this study, individuals were selected based on the presence of the three …

Inhibition Of Inos As A Novel Effective Targeted Therapy Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Sergio Granados-Principal, Yi Liu, Maria L. Guevara, Elvin Blanco, Dong Soon Choi, Wei Qian, Tejal Patel, Angel A. Rodriguez, Joseph Cusimano, Heidi L. Weiss, Hong Zhao, Melissa D. Landis, Bhuvanesh Dave, Steven S. Gross, Jenny C. Chang

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer with no effective targeted therapy. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is associated with poor survival in patients with breast cancer by increasing tumor aggressiveness. This work aimed to investigate the potential of iNOS inhibitors as a targeted therapy for TNBC. We hypothesized that inhibition of endogenous iNOS would decrease TNBC aggressiveness by reducing tumor initiation and metastasis through modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-inducing factors.

METHODS: iNOS protein levels were determined in 83 human TNBC tissues and correlated with clinical outcome. Proliferation, mammosphere-forming efficiency, migration, and EMT transcription factors …

Mdr1 Sirna Loaded Hyaluronic Acid-Based Cd44 Targeted Nanoparticle Systems Circumvent Paclitaxel Resistance In Ovarian Cancer, Xiaoqian Yang, Arun K. Iyer, Amit Singh, Edwin Choy, Francis J. Hornicek, Mansoor M. Amiji, Zhenfeng Duan

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Development of multidrug resistance (MDR) is an almost universal phenomenon in patients with ovarian cancer, and this severely limits the ultimate success of chemotherapy in the clinic. Overexpression of the MDR1 gene and corresponding P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is one of the best known MDR mechanisms. MDR1 siRNA based strategies were proposed to circumvent MDR, however, systemic, safe, and effective targeted delivery is still a major challenge. Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) targeted hyaluronic acid (HA) based nanoparticle has been shown to successfully deliver chemotherapy agents or siRNAs into tumor cells. The goal of this study is to evaluate the ability of …

Novel Actions Of Next-Generation Taxanes Benefit Advanced Stages Of Prostate Cancer., Renée De Leeuw, Lisa D. Berman-Booty, Matthew J. Schiewer, Stephen J Ciment, Robert Den, Adam P. Dicker, William Kelly, Edouard J. Trabulsi, Costas D. Lallas, Leonard G. Gomella, Karen E. Knudsen

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To improve the outcomes of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), there is an urgent need for more effective therapies and approaches that individualize specific treatments for patients with CRPC. These studies compared the novel taxane cabazitaxel with the previous generation docetaxel, and aimed to determine which tumors are most likely to respond.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Cabazitaxel and docetaxel were compared via in vitro modeling to determine the molecular mechanism, biochemical and cell biologic impact, and cell proliferation, which was further assessed ex vivo in human tumor explants. Isogenic pairs of RB knockdown and control cells were interrogated in vitro …

The Regulatory Function Of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Signaling Axis On Regulatory T Cells In Colorectal Cancer, Andrew V. Nguyen, Yuan-Yuan Wu, Elaine Y. Lin

Publications and Research

In tumors associated with inflammation such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC), high numbers of regulatory T cells (Tregs) are associated with both favorable and poor prognoses. The functions of Tregs in CRC remain elusive and have yet to be clearly defined. With new evidence supporting many subsets of Tregs, the research on the development and functions of these cells has begun to come to fruition. The sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) pathway was recently reported to regulate the development and function of regulatory T cells. This pathway may shine new light into the pleiotropic nature of these …

Tsc2/Mtorc1 Signaling Controls Paneth And Goblet Cell Differentiation In The Intestinal Epithelium, Y. Zhou, Piotr G. Rychahou, Q. Wang, Heidi L. Weiss, B. Mark Evers

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The intestinal mucosa undergoes a continual process of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, which is regulated by multiple signaling pathways. Notch signaling is critical for the control of intestinal stem cell maintenance and differentiation. However, the precise mechanisms involved in the regulation of differentiation are not fully understood. Previously, we have shown that tuberous sclerosis 2 (TSC2) positively regulates the expression of the goblet cell differentiation marker, MUC2, in intestinal cells. Using transgenic mice constitutively expressing a dominant negative TSC2 allele, we observed that TSC2 inactivation increased mTORC1 and Notch activities, and altered differentiation throughout the intestinal epithelium, with a marked …

The Role Of Il-27 In Susceptibility To Post-Influenza Staphylococcus Aureus Pneumonia, Keven M. Robinson, Benjamin Lee, Erich V Scheller, Sivanarayana Mandalapu, Richard I. Enelow

Dartmouth Scholarship

Influenza is a common respiratory virus and Staphylococcus aureus frequently causes secondary pneumonia during influenza infection, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Influenza has been found to attenuate subsequent Type 17 immunity, enhancing susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections. IL-27 is known to inhibit Type 17 immunity, suggesting a potential critical role for IL-27 in viral and bacterial co-infection.

Vivien Thomas: Master Craftsman, Gifted Teacher, And Unsung Hero., Alisha Joyner, B.S., Charles J. Yeo, Md, Pinckney J. Maxwell, Iv, Md

Department of Surgery Gibbon Society Historical Profiles

The field of pediatric cardiovascular surgery gained international recognition in 1944 with the first successful correction of a tetralogy of Fallot congenital anomaly in a 15-month-old patient. Dr. Helen Taussig (1898 to 1986), a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Hospital, recognized the need for the procedure. Dr. Alfred Blalock (1899 to 1964), Chief of Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, is credited with performing the surgery. However, there is an unsung hero who for many years did not receive a single mention in the medical literature. Vivien Thomas (1910 to 1985) was Dr. Blalock’s research assistant who is said to have stood …

Search Strategies Used By Older Adults In A Virtual Reality Place Learning Task, Rebecca L. Davis, Catherine Weisbeck

Peer Reviewed Articles

Purpose of the study: Older adults often have problems finding their way in novel environments such as senior living residences and hospitals. The purpose of this study was to examine the types of self-reported search strategies and cues that older adults use to find their way in a virtual maze

Design and Methods: Healthy, independently living older adults (n = 129) aged 55–96 were tested in a virtual maze task over a period of 3 days in which they had to repeatedly find their way to a specified goal. They were interviewed about their strategies on days 1 and 3. …

Tcr Alpha Lcr And Non-Lcr Cis-Elements Contributing To Tissue Specific Expression Of The Tcr Alpha Gene In Thymic And Peripheral T Cells, Martina Kucerova-Levisohn

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Orchestrated expression of multiple genes residing in the complex TCRα/δ/Dad1 locus requires tight control from multiple cis-acting elements. The TCRα locus control region (LCR), is positioned between TCRα and Dad1 gene, and has been implicated in the differential expression of both genes. In this study, we focus our work on the hypersensitive site (HS)1 prime (HS1'), located 3' of the classical Eα enhancer, within the TCRα LCR. We investigated its non- redundant role in TCRα expression in thymic and peripheral T cells as assayed by in vivo and in vitro studies. Furthermore, formation of HS1' in both lymphoid and …

Pulmonary Blastomycosis In Vilas County, Wisconsin: Weather, Exposures And Symptoms, Dennis J. Baumgardner, Kiley A. Bernhard, Gina Egan

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose

Blastomycosis is a serious fungal infection contracted by inhalation of Blastomyces spores from the environment. Case occurrence in dogs in Vilas County, Wisconsin, has been associated with antecedent weather. We aimed to explore the effects of weather on the occurrence of human pulmonary blastomycosis in this area, and update exposure factors and symptoms since last published reports.

Methods

Mandatory case reports were reviewed. Chi-square test was used for categorical data of exposures, comparing 1979–1996 (n=101) versus 1997–June 2013 (n=95). Linear regression was used to model local weather data (available 1990–2013; n=126); Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), North Atlantic Oscillation Index …

Ketones Prevent Oxidative Impairment Of Hippocampal Synaptic Integrity Through KAtp Channels, Do Young Kim, Mohammed G. Abdelwahab, Soo Han Lee, Derek O'Neill, Roger J. Thompson, Henry J. Duff, Patrick G. Sullivan, Jong M. Rho

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Dietary and metabolic therapies are increasingly being considered for a variety of neurological disorders, based in part on growing evidence for the neuroprotective properties of the ketogenic diet (KD) and ketones. Earlier, we demonstrated that ketones afford hippocampal synaptic protection against exogenous oxidative stress, but the mechanisms underlying these actions remain unclear. Recent studies have shown that ketones may modulate neuronal firing through interactions with ATP-sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channels. Here, we used a combination of electrophysiological, pharmacological, and biochemical assays to determine whether hippocampal synaptic protection by ketones is a consequence of K_ATP channel activation. Ketones dose-dependently …

Targeting Cell Cycle Proteins In Breast Cancer Cells With Sirna By Using Lipid-Substituted Polyethylenimines, Manoj Parmar, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi, Parvin Mahdipoor, Cezary Kucharski, Robert Maranchuk, Judith C. Hugh, Hasan Uludag

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The cell cycle proteins are key regulators of cell cycle progression whose de-regulation is one of the causes of breast cancer. RNA interference (RNAi) is an endogenous mechanism to regulate gene expression and it could serve as the basis of regulating aberrant proteins including cell cycle proteins. Since the delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a main barrier for implementation of RNAi therapy, we explored the potential of a non-viral delivery system, 2.0 kDa polyethylenimines substituted with linoleic acid and caprylic acid, for this purpose. Using a library of siRNAs against cell cycle proteins, we identified cell division cycle …

Dysregulation Of Kv3.4 Channels In Dorsal Root Ganglia Following Spinal Cord Injury., David Ritter, Benjamin M Zemel, Tamara J Hala, Michael E O'Leary, Angelo C Lepore, Manuel Covarrubias

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Spinal cord injury (SCI) patients develop chronic pain involving poorly understood central and peripheral mechanisms. Because dysregulation of the voltage-gated Kv3.4 channel has been implicated in the hyperexcitable state of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons following direct injury of sensory nerves, we asked whether such a dysregulation also plays a role in SCI. Kv3.4 channels are expressed in DRG neurons, where they help regulate action potential (AP) repolarization in a manner that depends on the modulation of inactivation by protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent phosphorylation of the channel's inactivation domain. Here, we report that, 2 weeks after cervical hemicontusion SCI, injured …

The Tmao-Generating Enzyme Flavin Monooxygenase 3 Is A Central Regulator Of Cholesterol Balance, Manya Warrier, Diana M. Shih, Amy C. Burrows, Daniel Ferguson, Anthony D. Gromovsky, Amanda L. Brown, Stephanie Marshall, Allison Mcdaniel, Rebecca C. Schugar, Zeneng Wang, Jessica Sacks, Xin Rong, Thomas De Aguiar Vallim, Jeff Chou, Pavlina T. Ivanova, David S. Myers, H. Alex Brown, Richard G. Lee, Rosanne M. Crooke, Mark J. Graham, Xiuli Liu, Paolo Parini, Peter Tontonoz, Aldon J. Lusis, Stanley L. Hazen, Ryan E. Temel, J. Mark Brown

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Circulating levels of the gut microbe-derived metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) have recently been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Here, we performed transcriptional profiling in mouse models of altered reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and serendipitously identified the TMAO-generating enzyme flavin monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) as a powerful modifier of cholesterol metabolism and RCT. Knockdown of FMO3 in cholesterol-fed mice alters biliary lipid secretion, blunts intestinal cholesterol absorption, and limits the production of hepatic oxysterols and cholesteryl esters. Furthermore, FMO3 knockdown stimulates basal and liver X receptor (LXR)-stimulated macrophage RCT, thereby improving cholesterol balance. Conversely, FMO3 knockdown exacerbates hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress …

Complex Care Curriculum: Autonomic Dysreflexia, Jimmy Beck, Rebekah Conroy

E-Learning Modules

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are increasingly prevalent in US hospitals. The pediatric hospitalist is often the primary provider of inpatient care for these patients. However, exposure to this patient population during training varies from provider to provider. No published educational curricula are specific to the inpatient care of this population. The purpose of this project is to build a multi-modal educational curriculum for providers with the overall goal of improving inpatient care for this at-risk population.

This curriculum is primarily composed of a series of topic-specific learning modules. Asynchronous learning modules, utilized appropriately, can augment learning by …

Effects Of (R)-(-)-5-Methyl-1-Nicotinoyl-2-Pyrazoline On Glutamate Transporter 1 And Cysteine/Glutamate Exchanger As Well As Ethanol Drinking Behavior In Male, Alcohol-Preferring Rats, Munaf Aal-Aaboda, Hasan Alhaddad, Francis Osowik, Surya M. Nauli, Youssef Sari

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Alcohol consumption is largely associated with alterations in the extracellular glutamate concentrations in several brain reward regions. We recently showed that glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) is downregulated following chronic exposure to ethanol for 5 weeks in alcohol-preferring (P) rats and that upregulation of the GLT-1 levels in nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex results, in part, in attenuating ethanol consumption. Cystine glutamate antiporter (xCT) is also downregulated after chronic ethanol exposure in P rats, and its upregulation could be valuable in attenuating ethanol drinking. This study examines the effect of a synthetic compound, (R)-(−)-5-methyl-1-nicotinoyl-2-pyrazoline (MS-153), on ethanol drinking and expressions of …

Neurosurgery Concepts: Key Perspectives On Dendritic Cell Vaccines, Metastatic Tumor Treatment, And Radiosurgery, Gordon Li, Jonathan H. Sherman, Jin Mo Cho, Michael Lim, Alexander A. Khalessi, Chaim B. Colen, Chae Yong Kim, Viincent Yat Wang, Gabriel Zada, Zachary A. Smith, Isaac Yang

Neurological Surgery Faculty Publications

Background: This is a laboratory study to investigate the effect of adding brain-derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in a poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-g-poly (ethylene glycol) scaffold and its effect on spinal cord injury in a rat model.

Methods: This is a laboratory investigation of a spinal cord injury in a rat model. A dorsolateral funiculotomy was used to disrupt the dorsolateral funiculus and rubrospinal tract. Animals were then injected with either the scaffold polymer or scaffold polymer with BDNF. Postoperatively, motor functions were assessed with single pellet reach to grasp task, stair case reaching task and cylinder task. Histological study …

Biological Reasons For The Neurotoxic Effects Of Mdma (‘Ecstasy’) On The Developing Fetus, Leah Schneeweiss

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is an illicit, recreational drug known by many individuals as ‘Ecstasy.’ MDMA has gained popularity over the past decade and has become a drug of choice at dance parties and clubs because of the stimulating and hallucinogenic effects that it has on the central nervous system. Scientists have determined that MDMA causes neurotoxic damage to adults by harming the serotonergic system in the adult brain. Researchers discovered that embryos exposed to MDMA while in utero also suffer neurotoxic deficits, although not due to impairments in the embryos’ serotonergic systems. These deficits arise because of the cortisol increase …