Digital Commons Network^™

Disinfection Of Dentin By Intracanal Laser Irradiation: An In Vitro Model, Silvia Cristina Mafra Cecchini

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A possible cause for root canal failure is the persistence of bacteria that have colonized dentinal tubules. To reduce this risk and, if possible, to also shorten the time consuming endodontic therapy, new equipment and materials are constantly being introduced. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of disinfection of dentinal tubules by intracanal laser irradiation using an in vitro model. The groups irradiated by various lasers were compared with calcium hydroxide, a material frequently used as intracanal medication between appointments. Freshly extracted, intact bovine incisors were used. The root cementum was removed and the teeth …

Com Outlook November 2000, College Of Osteopathic Medicine

COM Outlook

No abstract provided.

Vital Signs, Fall 2000, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Vital Signs

A twenty four page newsletter created by the Boonshoft School of Medicine to document the current affairs of the school. This issue includes a variety of feature articles, alumni profiles, class notes, and more.

Induction Of Apoptosis In Human Prostate Cancer Cells By Resveratrol, Gary Zulfikar Morris

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Recently attention has been brought to trans-resveratrol's {TR) anticancer activity, as determined through a number of cultured cancer cell models. This activity was attributed to TR behaving as an estrogen, and the orientation of TR' s hydroxyl groups. Based on this work it was of interest to determine whether TR would also be toxic in prostate cancer cells; if toxic, did TR induce necrosis or apoptosis in the cells; was it toxic through hormone mediated pathways; and were TR's hydroxyl groups responsible for its biological activity. To this end, cellular viability was assessed in two different prostate cancer cell …

Combination Anti-Leukimic Therapy By Utilizing Suramin And Biologic Response Modifiers, Michael A. Doukas

Internal Medicine Faculty Patents

A method of treating leukemia which includes administering an effective amount of composition comprising suramin and a biological response modifier, wherein the suramin and the biological response modifier show synergistic or additive anti-leukemic activity. A pharmaceutical composition is also disclosed.

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Fall 2000), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Fall 2000 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Opening Remarks
• PCOM Salutes Dr. Finkelstein
• PCOM Updates
• Commencement 2000
• Rethinking Alzheimer's Disease
• A DO Saves Lives - Half a World Away
• Follies Leaves PCOM in Stitches
• Alumni Weekend Brings Grads Together
• Class Notes
• In Memoriam
• My Turn: New Essay Section
• Save the Date: Winter CME Week
• Coming Events

Connexin-32 Contributes To Radiation Resistance In Thyroid Follicles, Da-Thao Dinh Tran

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The objective of this study was to examine the role of gap junctions in the radiation resistance of thyroid follicles. The question of whether gap junctional intercellular communication plays an important role in the “contact effect”, wherein cells in direct apposition are more resistant to the damaging effects of radiation, has been debated for years. We used the Fischer rat thyroid cell line (FRTL-5) to carry out our experiments. This thesis is divided into two parts: 1) characterization of gap junctional properties in FRTL-5 cells and, 2) exposure of these cells to radiation.

We found that, unlike primary thyroid cells, …

Interactions Of Igf-Ii And Cathepsin D In Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Jesika S. Faridi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A primary role of the IGF-II/M6P receptor is to target lysosomal enzymes from the golgi to the lysosomes. This receptor has distinct binding sites for IGF-II and M6P, however, reciprocal interactions between these ligands have been observed (Kiess et al. 1989, 1990). Since IGF-II modulates the routing of cathepsin D in MCF-7 cells by blocking the intracellular binding of cathepsin D to the IGF-II/M6P receptor (De León et al. 1996), we hypothesized that expressing a mutant form of IGF-II that does not bind the IGF-II/M6P receptor will not interfere with lysosomal enzyme trafficking.

In our present study, we report the …

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Summer 2000), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Summer 2000 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Opening Remarks
• PCOM Updates
• Clinical Education
• Board Profile
• Alumni Board Profile
• Convention Highlights
• Class Notes
• In Memoriam
• Coming Events

Angiotensin Ii Promotes Atherosclerotic Lesions And Aneurysms In Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice, Alan Daugherty, Michael W. Manning, Lisa A. Cassis

Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Faculty Publications

Increased plasma concentrations of angiotension II (Ang II) have been implicated in atherogenesis. To examine this relationship directly, we infused Ang II or vehicle for 1 month via osmotic minipumps into mature apoE^–/– mice. These doses of Ang II did not alter arterial blood pressure, body weight, serum cholesterol concentrations, or distribution of lipoprotein cholesterol. However, Ang II infusions promoted an increased severity of aortic atherosclerotic lesions. These Ang II–induced lesions were predominantly lipid-laden macrophages and lymphocytes; moreover, Ang II promoted a marked increase in the number of macrophages present in the adventitial tissue underlying lesions. Unexpectedly, pronounced abdominal …

Effect Of Receptor-Selective Retinoids On Growth And Differentiation Pathways In Mouse Melanoma Cells, Sejal H. Desai, Goran Boskovic, Linda L. Eastham, Marcia Dawson, Richard M. Niles

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) results in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of differentiation. Accompanying these events is an induction of retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) expression, an increase in protein kinase Cα (PKCα) expression, and enhanced activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional activity. These cells express nuclear RARα and RARγ and nuclear retinoid X receptors (RXR) α and β constitutively. We tested the ability of receptor-selective retinoids to induce the biochemical changes found in ATRA-treated melanoma cells and also tested their effectiveness in decreasing anchorage-dependent and -independent growth. The RXR-selective ligand (2E,4E)-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatrienoic acid (SR11246) was …

The Relationship Between Health Attitudes, Beliefs, Health Locus Of Control And Use Of Breast Cancer Screening Modalities In Elderly Hispanic Women, Debra Kay Gillett, Rosamaria Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

A non-experimental design was used to examine the relationship between health attitudes, beliefs, locus of control and the use of breast cancer screening modalities in elderly Hispanic women in this pilot study. Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality and the Health Belief Model were the supporting theoretical frameworks. Research was conducted at the Amigos del Valle senior centers in Hidalgo County and included 52 English-speaking elderly Hispanic volunteer participants. Instruments used for data collection were the Health Care Attitudes and Beliefs Scale and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Results of this study revealed that there appears …

Dietary Fish Oil Sensitizes A549 Lung Xenografts To Doxorubicin Chemotherapy, W. Elaine Hardman, Mary Pat Moyer, Ivan L. Cameron

Biochemistry and Microbiology

A549 xenografts were allowed to grow in nude mice to about 5 mm in diameter, then diets were changed to modified AIN-76 diets containing 19% wt/wt. fish oil (FO) or 20% wt./wt. com oil (CO). Ten days later dietary ferric citrate (0.3% wt./dry wt.) was added and doxoribicin (DOX) treatment (3.6 mg/kg i.v. each of the 5 days for 18 days) commenced. Treatment with DOX halted the growth of tumors in the CO fed mice. However, in those mice, which consumed FO or FO with ferric citrate, treatment with DOX caused significant tumor regression.

The Pediatric Breathing Survey, Linda J. Galloway

Health Services Research Dissertations

To ensure culturally-sensitive assessments, the researcher designed a Pediatric Breathing Survey (PBS) to measure quality of life for African-American children. The purpose of this study was to test whether the PBS is a reliable and valid instrument. Comparisons of group differences on race, income and parent's level of education based on parent responses to the questionnaires were conducted. More specifically, differences in Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) between Caucasian and African-American children were examined. The researcher-designed instrument was compared to Juniper's Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. The sample consisted of parents of 84 school-aged children diagnosed with asthma. …

Characterization Of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus 1 Reverse Transcriptase, Pinky Gundayao Agbuya

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1) is a type C human retrovirus which has been the causative agent of Adult T-cell leukemia. Replication of the retrovirus; requires a reverse transcriptase which converts the retroviral RNA into DNA which is later incorporated into the host's genome. Very little is known about the reverse transcriptase of HTLV-1. Researchers have attempted to purify HTLV-1 RT by isolating the enzyme from human cell lines. Because large amounts of protein could not be produced by this isolation method, the reverse transcriptase cannot be fully characterized. In this research, a recombinant protein expressed in E. coli …

Ubinuclein, A Novel Nuclear Protein Interacting With Cellular And Viral Transcription Factors., S Aho, M Buisson, T Pajunen, Y W Ryoo, J F Giot, H Gruffat, A Sergeant, Jouni Uitto

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

The major target tissues for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection are B lymphocytes and epithelial cells of the oropharyngeal zone. The product of the EBV BZLF1 early gene, EB1, a member of the basic leucine-zipper family of transcription factors, interacts with both viral and cellular promoters and transcription factors, modulating the reactivation of latent EBV infection. Here, we characterize a novel cellular protein interacting with the basic domains of EB1 and c-Jun, and competing of their binding to the AP1 consensus site. The transcript is present in a wide variety of human adult, fetal, and tumor tissues, and the protein is …

The Pl(A2) Polymorphism Of Integrin Beta(3) Enhances Outside-In Signaling And Adhesive Functions., K Vinod Vijayan, Pascal J. Goldschmidt-Clermont, Christine Roos, Paul F. Bray

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Genetic factors are believed to influence the development of arterial thromboses. Because integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) plays a crucial role in thrombus formation, we analyzed receptor adhesive properties using Chinese hamster ovary and human kidney embryonal 293 cells overexpressing the Pl(A1) or Pl(A2) polymorphic forms of alpha(IIb)beta(3). Soluble fibrinogen binding was no different between Pl(A1) and Pl(A2) cells, either in a resting state or when alpha(IIb)beta(3) was activated with anti-LIBS6. Pl(A1) and Pl(A2) cells bound equivalently to immobilized fibronectin. In contrast, significantly more Pl(A2) cells bound to immobilized fibrinogen in an alpha(IIb)beta(3)-dependent manner than did Pl(A1) cells. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton …

Impact Of Bovine Oocyte Maturation Media On Oocyte Transcript Levels, Blastocyst Development, Cell Number, And Apoptosis., A J Watson, P De Sousa, A Caveney, L C Barcroft, D Natale, J Urquhart, M E Westhusin

Obstetrics & Gynaecology Publications

The objectives were 1) to investigate the effects of oocyte maturation in serum-free and amino acid-supplemented defined media on oocyte transcript levels, blastocyst cell number, and apoptosis; 2) to investigate the influence of oocyte maturation culture atmosphere on blastocyst development, total cell number, and apoptosis; and 3) to examine the influence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) during oocyte maturation on blastocyst cell number and apoptosis. The results demonstrate that blastocysts derived from in vitro maturation, fertilization, and embryo culture protocols undergo apoptosis but that apoptotic levels are not greatly influenced by the oocyte maturation environment. Amino acid supplementation of oocyte …

Critical Analysis Of Interventions Against Fgc In Egypt, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Sahar Hegazi

Reproductive Health

Community-based programs designed to discourage the practice of female genital cutting (FGC) in Egypt started as early as the 1920s, however, NGOs seldom document the implementation, strengths, and weaknesses of each approach; or difficulties faced in implementation or ways of overcoming those difficulties. The present meta-assessment was designed by the Population Council to address these issues. Recommendations proposed to increase the effectiveness of anti-FGC interventions in Egypt include: conducting formative research to assess the needs of individuals/communities; using more participatory learning techniques in awareness-raising seminars and training workshops; focusing messages not only on the health hazards of FGC, but also …

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Winter 2000), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Winter 2000 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Opening Remarks
• Leonard H. Finkelstein, DO, ’59
• Founders Day 2000
• Student Activity Center Opens
• Special Supplement: PCOM Centennial
• College Board Profile
• Alumni Board Profile
• PCOM Updates
• Convention Highlights
• Class Notes
• In Memoriam
• Coming Events

Vital Signs, Winter 2000, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Vital Signs

A twenty four page newsletter created by the Boonshoft School of Medicine to document the current affairs of the school. This issue includes a variety of feature articles, alumni profiles, class notes, and more.

Telomerase Activity In Human Preimplantation Embryos, Diane Lynne Wright

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein, has been described as an essential component of highly proliferative cells, which stabilizes the telomeres and avoids cellular senescence. Telomerase has been identified in various embryonic cell stages, hematopoietic cells, and in >85% of tumor tissue biopsies analyzed. The ability to measure the potential to proliferate successfully could provide an objective measure of an embryo's quality. The objectives of this study were to modify the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay system for increased sensitivity to allow detection of telomerase activity in the single cell of an oocyte and embryo, obtain telomerase activity levels for the oocyte …

Detection And Modeling Of Radiation Induced Effects In Tissues By Dielectric Spectroscopy, Dorin A. Todor

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The work presented here is applied physics research in the field of radiation treatment. We address the development of a new and innovative method, in vivo and possibly non-invasive, for tumor and healthy tissues control during and after the radiation treatment. The radiation treatment is delivered in an almost standardized manner for particular classes of tumors. The large variance in the individual radio sensitivity of healthy tissues and tumors often leads to local recurrence of neoplastic growth and/or distant metastatic disease which often remains untreated. The method is based on the measurement and analysis of electrical impedance data in …

Attitudes, Practices And Knowledge Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening Among Greek Women In The Area Of Perth, Panagiota Karnaki

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this thesis is to study the attitudes, practices and knowledge of Greek women in Perth, Western Australia, regarding cervical cancer screening. This is important because no study has yet examined the cervical screening pattern of this group, despite their low participation rate in screening programs. Qualitative semi-structured interviews among 15 Greek women in Perth were used for data collection. Interviews were conducted both in English and Greek. Eight out of the 15 women interviewed did not participate in frequent screening and many had had only one Pap test in their life. Culture and religion influenced negative attitudes …

Ethnic Variability In The Treatment Of Pain, Rafael A. Ortega, Benjamin A. Youdelman, Richard C. Havel

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Ethnicity has been shown to be an important determinant of behavior during illness, particularly when a painful condition is present. Studies have shown that pain may be undertreated among different ethnic groups of patients. Whereas individual variations in the reaction to pain occur, available data do not support racial and/or ethnic differences in the perception of pain, leaving no justification for this discrepancy in treatment. Regardless of ethnicity, inadequate treatment of pain has been known for some time and has been referred to in recent literature as "oligoanalgesia." Lack of understanding of different ethnic and cultural groups can lead to …

Increased Matrix Synthesis Following Adenoviral Transfer Of A Transforming Growth Factor Beta1 Gene Into Articular Chondrocytes, Franklin D. Shuler Md, Phd, Helga I. Georgescu, Christopher Niyibizi, Rebecca K. Studer, Zhibao Mi, Brian Johnstone, Paul D. Robbins, Christopher H. Evans

Orthopaedics

Monolayer cultures of lapine articular chondrocytes were transduced with first-generation adenoviral vectors carrying lacZ or transforming growth factor β₁ genes under the transcriptional control of the human cytomegalovirus early promoter. High concentrations of transforming growth factor β₁ were produced by chondrocytes following transfer of the transforming growth factor β₁ gene but not the lacZ gene. Transduced chondrocytes responded to the elevated endogenous production of transforming growth factor β₁ by increasing their synthesis of proteoglycan, collagen, and noncollagenous proteins in a dose-dependent fashion. The increases in collagen synthesis were not accompanied by alterations in the collagen phenotype; …

Vital Signs, Fall 1999, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Vital Signs

A twenty four page newsletter created by the Boonshoft School of Medicine to document the current affairs of the school. This issue includes a variety of feature articles, alumni profiles, class notes, and more.

A Study On The Effects Of The N-Terminal Amino Acid Sequence On The Activation Of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Protease, Hidayah Muhammad Kendall

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTL V-1) is dependent upon the enzymatic activity of its protease for maturation. Maturation of the protease is facilitated by cleavage of specific amino acid residues, followed by dimerization. The effects of the amino acid sequence located N-terminally to the cleavage site on the ability of the protease to become active were the focus of the current study. These amino acid sequences were contributed by the plasmid vector into which the protease gene was inserted.

Surface probability analyses (SPAs) of the vectors, as well as for native sequences which produce the mature protease and …

Differential Transcription Of The Tcpph Operon Confers Biotype-Specific Control Of The Vibrio Cholerae Toxr Virulence Regulon, Yvette M. Murley, Patricia A. Carroll, Karen Skorupski, Ronald K. Taylor, Stephen B. Calderwood

Dartmouth Scholarship

Epidemic strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 are divided into two biotypes, classical and El Tor. In both biotypes, regulation of virulence gene expression depends on a cascade in which ToxR activates expression of ToxT, and ToxT activates expression of cholera toxin and other virulence genes. In the classical biotype, maximal expression of this ToxR regulon in vitro occurs at 30 degrees C at pH 6.5 (ToxR-inducing conditions), whereas in the El Tor biotype, production of these virulence genes only occurs under very limited conditions and not in response to temperature and pH; this difference between biotypes is mediated at the …

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Fall 1999), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Fall 1999 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Opening Remarks
• PCOM Salutes Dr. Finkelstein
• PCOM Updates
• Commencement 2000
• Rethinking Alzheimer's Disease
• A DO Saves Lives Half a World Away
• Follies Leaves PCOM in Stitches
• Alumni Weekend Brings Grads Together
• Class Notes
• In Memoriam
• “My Turn” Essay
• Save the Date! Winter CME
• Coming Events