Digital Commons Network^™

Oligonucleotide Delivery Systems For Camptothecins, Thomas Burke, Ayhan S. Demir, Ashok J. Chavan, Danzhou Yang

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Patents

Camptothecin drugs are stabilized in their antitumor active lactone form by complexation with an oligonucleotide including RNA or catalytic RNA. The oligonucleotide-camptothecin drug complex may be incorporated within a macromolecular assembly including both viral and non-viral oligonucleotide vectors. The invention allows combination gene and camptothecin drug therapy.

Association Between Archaeal Prolyl- And Leucyl-Trna Synthetases Enhances TrnaPro Aminoacylation, Mette Praetorius-Ibba, Theresa E. Rogers, Rachel Samson, Zvi Kelman, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-containing complexes have been identified in different eukaryotes, and their existence has also been suggested in some Archaea. To investigate interactions involving aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in Archaea, we undertook a yeast two-hybrid screen for interactions between Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus proteins using prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS) as the bait. Interacting proteins identified included components of methanogenesis, protein-modifying factors, and leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS). The association of ProRS with LeuRS was confirmed in vitro by native gel electrophoresis and size exclusion chromatography. Determination of the steady-state kinetics of tRNA^Pro charging showed that the catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m) of ProRS increased 5-fold …

Self-Efficacy And Sexual Transmitted Disease Prevention Among College Women, Dominique M. Ly

Master's Projects

According to the Center of Disease Control (2002), sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise, especially among women. By far, women bear the greatest burden of STDs because they suffer more frequently and develop more serious complications than men. This study explored the relationship between self-efficacy and safe sex behaviors among college women. The data was collected by using questionnaires from the General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (GPSE) and the Condom Use Self-Efficacy Scale(CUSES). The sample was composed of 38 unmarried female college students between the ages of 18 and 25 years-of-age who had been sexually active within the last …

Female Breast Cancer Incidence And Survival In Utah According To Religious Preference, 1985-1999, Ray M. Merrill, Jeffrey A. Folsom

Faculty Publications

Female breast cancer incidence rates in Utah are among the lowest in the U.S. The influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (LDS or Mormon) religion on these rates, as well as on disease-specific survival, will be explored for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer in Utah from 1985 through 1999. Methods: Population-based records for incident female breast cancer patients were linked with membership records from the LDS Church to determine religious affiliation and, for LDS Church members, level of religiosity. Incidence rates were age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using the direct method. Cox proportional hazards …

A Survey Of California Nurse Practitioners' Health Practices And Counseling Habits, Jessica Malone

Master's Projects

Morbidity and mortality due to obesity continues to rise in the United States despite well known Healthy People 2010 and American College of Sports Medicine guidelines on physical activity. In the U.S. today, more than 60 percent of Americans aged 20 years and older are overweight (Hedley et al., 2004). This study investigated the exercise practices of California nurse practitioners (NPs }, how their practices compare to recommended guidelines, and to what extent California NPs prescribe aerobic exercise and strength training to their clients. The California Nurse Practitioners Physical Activity Questionnaire was self-administered at the annual2005 California Association for Nurse …

Prognosis Of Stage Ii Colon Cancer By Non-Neoplastic Mucosa Gene Expresssion Profiling, Alain Barrier, Sandrine Dudoit, Et Al.

U.C. Berkeley Division of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Aims. This study assessed the possibility to build a prognosis predictor, based on non-neoplastic mucosa microarray gene expression measures, in stage II colon cancer patients. Materials and Methods. Non-neoplastic colonic mucosa mRNA samples from 24 patients (10 with a metachronous metastasis, 14 with no recurrence) were profiled using the Affymetrix HGU133A GeneChip. The k-nearest neighbor method was used for prognosis prediction using microarray gene expression measures. Leave-one-out cross-validation was used to select the number of neighbors and number of informative genes to include in the predictor. Based on this information, a prognosis predictor was proposed and its accuracy estimated by …

Investigating The Causes Of Low Birth Weight In Contrasting Ovine Paradigms., J M Wallace, Timothy Regnault, S W Limesand, W W Hay, R V Anthony

Paediatrics Publications

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) still accounts for a large incidence of infant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Many of the circulatory and transport properties of the sheep placenta are similar to those of the human placenta and as such, the pregnant sheep offers an excellent model in which to study the development of IUGR. Two natural models of ovine IUGR are those of hyperthermic exposure during pregnancy, and adolescent overfeeding, also during pregnancy. Both models yield significantly reduced placental weights and an asymmetrically growth-restricted fetus, and display altered maternal hormone concentrations, indicative of an impaired trophoblast capacity. Additionally, impaired placental angiogenesis …

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - 2005 - 129th Commencement, Office Of The Registrar, Lsu Health Sciences Center-No

Graduation & Commencement Programs

The program for the 129th Commencement of LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans held May 14, 2005.

Synthases, Joseph Chappell, Kathleen R. Manna, Joseph P. Noel, Courtney M. Starks

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Patents

Novel synthases and the corresponding nucleic acids encoding such synthases are disclosed herein. Such synthases possess an active site pocket that includes key amino acid residues that are modified to generate desired terpenoid reaction intermediates and products. Synthase modifications are designed based on, e.g., the three-dimensional coordinates of tobacco 5-epi-aristolochene synthase. with or without a substrate bound in the active site.

Évaluation De L'Exposition Humaine Aux Organophosphorés Et Des Risques Associés À L'Aide De Biomarqueurs Urinaires, Gaétan Carrier, Robert C. Brunet, Michèle Bouchard, Nathalie H. Gosselin, Marie-Josée Dumoulin, Yvette Bonvalot

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les travaux exécutés dans le cadre de cet ouvrage proposent aux intervenants de la santé des outils pour aider à prévenir les risques des humains exposés à trois insecticides de la famille des organophosphorés, le parathion, le malathion et le chlorpyrifos et un phytocide, le triclopyr largement utilisé comme herbicide. Il s’agit du développement de biomarqueurs pouvant servir des tests de dépistage pour estimer l’exposition individuelle et le risque associé à ces substances toxiques.

Les tests proposés possèdent toutes les qualités recherchées dans un test de dépistage, ils sont facilement applicables, ont un haut degré de …

A Virtual Model Of The Human Cervical Spine For Physics-Based Simulation And Applications, Hyung Soo Ahn

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Utilizing recent advances in computer technology, Our Biomechanics Laboratory have made an effort to integrate computer animation and engineering analysis software into biomedical research, specifically towards simulation and animation of in vitro experimentation of the human cervical spine in the virtual world. The objectives of this study were to develop a virtual model of the human cervical spine for physics-based simulation and to apply the virtual model to studies of different surgical procedures and instrumentation.

A process for creating an accurate virtual model of the human cervical spine was developed. The model consisted of seven vertebrae (C2-T1) connected with soft …

Stim1, An Essential And Conserved Component Of Store-Operated Ca2+ Channel Function, Jack Roos, Paul J. Digregorio, Andriy V. Yeromin, Kari Ohlsen, Maria I. Lioudyno, Shenyuan L. Zhang, Olga Safrina, J. Ashot Kozak, Steven L. Wagner, Michael D. Cahalan, Gönül Veliçelebi, Kenneth A. Stauderman

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Store-operated Ca²⁺ (SOC) channels regulate many cellular processes, but the underlying molecular components are not well defined. Using an RNA interference (RNAi)-based screen to identify genes that alter thapsigargin (TG)-dependent Ca²⁺ entry, we discovered a required and conserved role of Stim in SOC influx. RNAi-mediated knockdown of Stim in Drosophila S2 cells significantly reduced TG-dependent Ca²⁺ entry. Patch-clamp recording revealed nearly complete suppression of the Drosophila Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺(CRAC) current that has biophysical characteristics similar to CRAC current in human T cells. Similarly, knockdown of the human homologue STIM1 significantly reduced CRAC channel activity …

Concurrent Validity Of The Clinical Assessment Of Depression With The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition, Shelley Hicks

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Depression is a disorder that can affect every aspect of one's life, ranging from physical health issues to interpersonal relationship difficulties. Therefore, it is imperative that the depressive symptoms of college students be identified, evaluated, and treated. Self-report measures are a common technique to identify depressive symptomatology in individuals and assist in diagnosis and treatment. Existing measures are often used as a criterion by which to validate the psychometric properties and effectiveness of newly designed, self-report measures. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the concurrent validity of a newly published self-report measure of depression, the Clinical Assessment of …

Exposure Assessment Of Mercury In Fish From Kentucky Surface Waters, Najla Gubari

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Consumption of fish contaminated with mercury is the primary exposure pathway by which humans are exposed to mercury. Mercury is known to be a neurological toxin that can cause attention and language deficits, impaired memory, and impaired visual and motor function, especially in children under the age of six. In addition, mercury exposure can lead to other health problems in adults, such as damage to the kidney and increased risk of coronary heart disease. This study assesses the exposure to mercury through consumption of fish from Kentucky surface waters. The exposure assessment is based on data collected by the Kentucky …

Comparison Of The Faces And Numeric Pain Scales For Use In Long-Term Ventilator Patients With Chronic Pain, Diana Miller-Harvey

Graduate Research Projects

Chronic pain is a major cause of illness, disability, and is poorly understood and undertreated by health care professionals. Numerous misconceptions regarding chronic pain in older individuals has led certain health care agencies to require the use of pain scales for pain evaluation in all health care patients. yet, there is research lacking as to which pain scales are appropriate for use with chronic pain, ventilator-dependent, older individuals. The Wong-Baker Faces Scale and Numeric Pain Scale was administered to a convenience sample of male/female patients in a Southeastern, 44-bed, long-term care ventilator hospital. The purpose of this study was to …

Effects Of A Small Mammalian Herbivore On A Grassland Undergoing Restoration, Margaret Murphy

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis examines the effects of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster, on a grassland undergoing restoration. The study addresses these effects with respect to treatment plots (vole-enhanced enclosures and vole-excluded exclosures) and control plots, which have not had the small mammal community manipulated. This study has also been accepted as a manuscript for publication in the "Proceedings of the 18th North American Prairie Conference."1 Two ancillary studies were also conducted. The first, reported in Appendix I, examines the composition and effects on plant community structure by the unmanipulated, small mammal community from the control plots within the area undergoing restoration …

Relationships Between Environmental Factors And Fungi On Occupants' Perceptions Of Indoor Air Quality, Monica Rodriguez

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In recent decades, concerns about potential health effects resulting from exposure to contaminants that cause indoor air pollution have dramatically increased. The purpose of this study was to assess the indoor air quality of three buildings at Western Kentucky University and to examine and characterize indoor levels of basic comfort parameters, carbon dioxide, and fungi as well as occupants' perceptions of poor indoor air quality and the role of fungi on reported health symptoms. The three buildings included in the study were: Tate Page Hall (TPH), Jones Jagger Hall (JJH) and Science and Technology Hall (STH). Fifty-three questionnaires were completed …

Neonatal Brain: Regional Variability Of In Vivo Mr Imaging Relaxation Rates At 3.0 T-Initial Experience, L. A. Williams, N. Gelman, P. A. Picot, D. S. Lee, J. R. Ewing, V. K. Han, R. T. Thompson

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

PURPOSE: To retrospectively investigate regional in vivo magnetic resonance,(MR). imaging transverse and longitudinal relaxation rates at 3.0 T in neonatal brain, the p relationship between these rates, and their potential use for gray matter (G),versus-M white matter (WM) tissue discrimination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: I Informed parental consent for performance of imaging procedures was obtained in each infant. Informed consent for retrospective image analysis was not required; ethics approval was obtained from institutional review board. At 3.0 T, R1 and R2 were measured in brain regions (frontal WM, posterior WM, periventricular WM, frontal GM, posterior GM, basal ganglia, and thalamus) in …

The Adverse Health Effects Of Trans Fatty Acids, And Implications For Public Policy, Jonathan D. Atkin

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Subject: Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are produced either by the process of bacterial hydrogenation in the stomachs of ruminant animals, or the commercial method called industrial hydrogenation. The latter began early in the 20^th century based on purported health benefits and lowered costs. Alarming results from scientific studies in the early 1990's began to raise questions about whether TFAs should be regulated in our food supply.

Findings/Statistics: Scientific research initially discovered that TFAs raise the LDL/HDL ratio, thereby increasing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent large, prospective, population-based studies have indicated a 25% increased risk of ischemic …

The Macrobiotic Diet May Have Benefits In Cancer Prevention, Brittany Lewis

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Macrobiotics is one of the most popular alternative or complementary approaches to fighting cancer. The diet is primarily plant-based, is centered on the idea of an all encompassing "yin-yang" concept in life, mind, environment and food. The dietary components of the macrobiotic diet, along with the many lifestyle implications are shown to have beneficial effects in cancer prevention and therapy. The diet has many anti-carcinogenic compounds, as well as a decrease in foods thought to promote cancer. A cause for concern is the vitamin deficiencies that may ensue in following a strict macrobiotic diet, which typically results from an all …

The Composition And Comparison Of Essential Oils And Their Nutritional Benefits To Enhance And Decrease Risk For Chronic Disease, Heather Wollschleger

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper reviews the current status of our knowledge of essential oils and their nutritional contribution to our diet. The effects of dietary fats on our health differ markedly from the type and form of the fat. Special emphasis is placed on omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and their dietary involvement. Specific oils increase our levels of vital vitamin E and the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fats humans need for mental and physical health. Chronic diseases remain a major cause of death and disability, and risk factors include diets high in saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids. This risk …

A Developmental Switch In The Response Of Drg Neurons To Ets Transcription Factor Signaling, Simon Hippenmeyer, Eline Vrieseling, Markus Sigrist, Thomas Portmann, Celia Laengle, David R. Ladle, Silvia Arber

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Two ETS transcription factors of the Pea3 subfamily are induced in subpopulations of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory and spinal motor neurons by target-derived factors. Their expression controls late aspects of neuronal differentiation such as target invasion and branching. Here, we show that the late onset of ETS gene expression is an essential requirement for normal sensory neuron differentiation. We provide genetic evidence in the mouse that precocious ETS expression in DRG sensory neurons perturbs axonal projections, the acquisition of terminal differentiation markers, and their dependence on neurotrophic support. Together, our findings indicate that DRG sensory neurons exhibit a temporal …

The Thesis Guidelines: Procedures For Completion And Presentation, Jefferson College Of Graduate Studies

JCGS Administrative Documents & Policies

The purpose of this Thesis Manual is to provide academic procedural guidelines for Master of Science students in the basic sciences at Thomas Jefferson University. Procedures for preparation and approval of the research proposal, committee meetings, writing of the thesis and the oral presentation of the Master's thesis are described.

Osler And The Infected Letter, Charles T. Ambrose

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

The spread of infectious agents through the mail has concerned public health officials for 5 centuries. The dissemination of anthrax spores in the US mail in 2001 was a recent example. In 1901, two medical journals reported outbreaks of smallpox presumably introduced by letters contaminated with variola viruses. The stability and infectivity of the smallpox virus are reviewed from both a historical (anecdotal) perspective and modern virologic studies. Bubonic plague was the contagious disease that led to quarantines as early as the 14th century in port cities in southern Europe. Later, smallpox, cholera, typhus, and yellow fever were recognized as …

Oncolog, Volume 50, Number 05, May 2005, Dawn Chalaire, Jonathan M. Kurie Md

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Filling the Void
• House Call: Understanding Your Blood Counts
• DiaLog: Celebrex Trials Resume, by Jonathan M. Kurie, MD, Professor, Department of Thoracic/Head & Neck Medical Oncology

An Investigation Of Vocal Abuse In School Teachers, Jodi L. Franczak

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of vocal abuse in school teachers and teacher's aides pre and post one academic term. Vocal abuse was defined as any of several behaviors, including long periods of talking, yelling, smoking, consuming alcohol, etc. that can result in damage to the laryngeal mechanism. Initially, the participants of the study included fifteen elementary school teachers and five elementary teacher's aides from two schools: the Red Lake Madsen Public School, and Golden Learning Center. Six participants were excluded from the study for various reasons. Participants were randomly assigned to either Group 1 …

Navigating The Change Of Life: The Menopausal Transition Of Thai Immigrant Women, Bulaporn Natipagon-Shah Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Given that women continue to live more than three decades after menopause and their health and well-being in later life are determined by quality of health during the menopausal transition, menopause has become an important issue in the healthcare arena. The growing number of immigrant women in the United States signifies a need for healthcare providers to develop cultural knowledge and sensitivity toward each immigrant group regarding the issue of menopause. The purpose of this qualitative study was to build a substantive grounded theory of the experiences of menopausal transition among Thai immigrant women in the United States. Data collection …

A Review Of Temporomandibular Disorder And An Analysis Of Mandibular Motion, Shawn Patrick Lehman-Grimes

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This study quantified mandibular motion of asymptomatic subjects upon jaw opening and closing. Five males, mean age of 28 years, agreed to participate; they showed no sign or symptom of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) on clinical examination or by anamnestic history. Mandibular motion for each subject was measured with a tracking system and software utilizing the Screw Displacement Axis (SDA), which is a mathematical approach to analyzing and quantifying the movement of an object in three dimensions. Rotation and translation were calculated, as well as two- and three-dimensional charting of condylar path and sagittal condylar intercepts. Furthermore, analyses examined error propagation, …

Developing A Valid Screening Tool For Assessing Nutritional Adequacy And Osteoporosis Risk Among Vegans In The United States, Patricia Adelle Dyett

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The vegetarian lifestyle in the United States has increased significantly over recent decades. With this growth trend, it has become necessary to assess the pros and cons of vegetarian diet patterns, particularly with respect to nutrition adequacy and chronic disease concerns.

The vegan diet engenders more concern than other common vegetarian lifestyles because it seeks to replace all nutrient-rich animal food products with only plant foods. Consequently, there are concerns of compromised protein, calcium. vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂, n-3 fatty acid, zinc, and iron status. Moreover, because of typical vegan diet phenomena such as low BMI, low protein …

Effects Of Sickle Cell Disease On Growth Of The Craniofacial Complexes, Timothy Charles Bandeen

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder affecting over 100,000 African Americans. While once lethal, medical treatment now allows those with SCD to lead comparatively normal lives, and these children are more frequently seeking orthodontic treatment. We report here on a cephalometric study of a contemporary cohort of 62 children with SCD (27 SC and 35 SS genotypes). This was a cross-sectional study of children from the MidSouth between 3 and 16 years of age, and results were co mpared to standards in Richardson’s Atlas of growth of American Black children in Nashville, TN. Raw values were converted to …