Digital Commons Network^™

Cancers Associated With Brca1 And Brca2 Mutations Other Than Breast And Ovarian, Jacqueline Mersch

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 cause tumor development in Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome (HBOC) through accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage. Extensive research of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations has led to well-defined breast and ovarian cancer risks in individuals with HBOC. Previous studies have reported additional cancers associated with BRCA mutations; however, the type of cancer, magnitude of risk, and differences between sexes remains to be clarified. Ultimately, a consensus of additional cancer risks can aid in better recommendations for genetic testing and more effective screening and prevention guidelines.

A retrospective chart review of MD Anderson Cancer Center patients …

The Regulation Of Microrna Biogenesis By Ribosome-Interacting Proteins, Brian Pickering

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

MicroRNA (miRNA) are small, non-coding RNAs that affect gene expression through degradation of complementary mRNA targets or inhibition of translation. As they affect approximately 50% of all cellular processes, miRNA are tightly regulated by the cell through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Transcribed miRNA are capped and polyadenylated (referred to as pri-miRNA) which are cleaved by Drosha and DGCR8 to generate 60-90 nucleotide precursor miRNA. The precursors are cleaved again by Dicer and loaded into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) of which Argonaute 2 is the functional component. Many of the proteins involved in miRNA biogenesis share a common role in …

Proteasome Inhibition Enhances The Effect Of Bikdd Gene Therapy, Ye Sun

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

BikDD is a phosphorylation mimic mutant form of pro-apoptotic protein Bik, and possesses a stronger apoptosis induction capability. By constructing into a highly amplified “VISA” (VP16-GAL4-WPRE integrated systemic amplifier) system under the control of a cancer specific promoter, previous studies have verified the specific killing effect of BikDD in cancer cells both in in vitro and in vivo models. C-VISA-BikDD delivered by liposome has been approved by FDA for clinical trial in advanced pancreatic cancer. In this study, we proposed proteasome inhibition as a combinational therapy strategy with BikDD gene therapy to enhance the clinical benefits. Proteasome inhibition stabilized exogenously …

No-Independent Modulation Of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase (Sgc) Activity And Function, George L. Britton Jr

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) plays a key role in the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway, where it functions as an NO receptor and generator of a secondary intracellular messenger, cGMP. In addition to NO, investigators have identified a number of proteins that interact with sGC and modulate its function. For example, the interaction of sGC with ADP-ribosylation factor GTPase activating protein 1 (AGAP1) governs sGC’s intracellular distribution and therefore mediates localized production of cGMP. Interactions of sGC with heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) or HSP70 promote the extent of sGC activation upon NO stimulation, while interaction of sGC with the η …

Latinas And The Traditional Genetic Counseling Model: A Qualitative Study, Stephanie Thompson

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The traditional genetic counseling model reflects an individualized counseling session that includes the presentation of information about genes, chromosomes, personalized risk assessment, and genetic testing and screening options. Counselors are challenged to balance providing educational information with discussion of implications of this information in an allotted amount of time. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of pregnant Latinas on the benefits and limitations of the traditional prenatal genetic counseling model and to determine the specific preferences for receiving prenatal genetic counseling. Data were collected through focus groups and one-on-one, semi-structured interviews of twenty-five Spanish speaking Latinas …

P53 Maintains Hepatic Cell Identity During Liver Regeneration, Zeynep Hande Coban Akdemir

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

p53 MAINTAINS HEPATIC CELL IDENTITY DURING LIVER REGENERATION

Zeynep Hande Coban Akdemir, B.S.,M.A.

Advisory Professor: Michelle Craig Barton, Ph.D.

p53 is a tumor suppressor that has been well studied in tumor-derived, cultured cells. However, its functions in normal proliferating cells and tissues are generally overlooked. We propose that p53 functions during the G1-S transition can be studied in normal, differentiated cells during surgery-induced liver regeneration. Two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) of mouse liver offers a unique model to compare p53 functions in regenerating versus sham (control) cells. My hypothesis is that intersection of global expression analyses (microarray and RNA sequencing) and …

The Epigenetics Of Small Cell Prostate Cancer, Brittany N. Kleb

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Small cell prostate cancer (SCPC) is an androgen receptor (AR) negative variant that can develop during the progression of castration-resistant AR-positive (AR⁺) prostate adenocarcinomas. While rare at initial diagnosis, SCPC is present in 10-20% of patients resulting in an aggressive clinical course with poor response to hormonal therapies and a short median survival. Our studies in patient-tumor derived xenografts revealed that the AR-negative small cell prostate carcinomas (AR^-SCPC) express genes involved in neural development instead of the prostate luminal epithelial gene expression that characterizes AR-positive castration-resistant adenocarcinomas (AR⁺ADENO). We hypothesized that the differences in …

Regulation Of Mammary Gland Development And Tumorigenesis By 14-3-3 Zeta, Sumaiyah Rehman

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Signaling pathways that play critical roles in organ development are often aberrantly regulated during cancer initiation and progression. 14-3-3z is overexpressed in more than 40% of breast cancers and is associated with poor patient prognosis. Therefore, the function of 14-3-3z in cancer and normal mammary gland development was investigated utilizing multiple in vivo and in vitro approaches. 14-3-3z is a chaperone protein that interacts with a multitude of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, thereby functioning as a critical node in multiple oncogenic signaling networks. Mammary gland-specific 14-3-3z transgenic mouse models showed that 14-3-3z overexpression was sufficient to induce mammary tumorigenesis. …

Contribution Of Interleukin 6 Trans Signaling In Pulmonary Fibrosis, Thuy T. Le

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal lung disease with progressive fibrosis and death within 2-3 years of diagnosis. IPF incidence and prevalence rates are increasing annually, and because the pathogenesis is unknown, there are no effective treatments available. Inhibition of interleukin 6 (IL-6) results in the attenuation of pulmonary fibrosis in mice. It is unclear whether this is due to blockade of classical signaling, mediated by membrane-bound IL-6 receptor alpha (mIL-6Rα), or trans signaling, mediated by soluble IL-6Rα (sIL-6Rα). Our study assessed the role of sL-6Rα in IPF. We demonstrated elevations of sIL-6Rα in IPF patients and in mice …

Regulation Of The Candida Albicans Arginine Biosynthetic Pathway, Claudia Jimenez Lopez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Candida albicans is the most importan thuman-associatedfungus.It is a commensal microorganism but also an opportunistic pathogen able to cause superficial infections aswellaslife-threateninginfectionswhich are associated with a highmortalityrateof 50%. The interactions between C. albicans and the cells of the mammalian innate immune system, which confer the most important protecting mechanisms against disseminated infections, are very dynamic and determine the success of C. albicans as a pathogen. Transcriptional profiling has shown that phagocytosis of C. albicans by macrophages results primarily in the activation of alternative carbon metabolism pathways suggesting that the pathogen is exposed to a glucose poor environment. Changes in …

Gsbs News, Spring 2014, Graduate School Of Biomedical Sciences, University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston/M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

GSBS News

Cover image by artist Syd Moen; Benefactor News: Smithville fundraiser supports GSBS fellow; New endowment to support MD/PhD Program; Coming full circle: developing and promoting a Core Curriculum; Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: GSBS Alumni All-Stars shine at Super Panel and 2013 Reunion; Faculty Membership Report; Faculty News: Dr. Vicki Knutson retires; GSBS Outreach Council hosts community Science Night; Student News; 2013-2014 Student Awards; Alumni News; Message to Alumni

The 1,000th Vad, The Great Rivalry, And The Grand Experiment Of The Texas Medical Center, Todd K Rosengart

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

No abstract provided.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging For The Investigation Of Cardiovascular Disorders Part 2: Emerging Applications, Ajit H Goenka, Hui Wang, Scott D Flamm

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has emerged as a robust noninvasive technique for the investigation of cardiovascular disorders. The coming-of-age of cardiac magnetic resonance—and especially its widening span of applications—has generated both excitement and uncertainty in regard to its potential clinical use and its role vis-à-vis conventional imaging techniques. The purpose of this evidence-based review is to discuss some of these issues by highlighting the current (Part 1, previously published) and emerging (Part 2) applications of cardiac magnetic resonance. Familiarity with the versatile uses of cardiac magnetic resonance will facilitate its wider clinical acceptance for improving the management of patients with …

Emergent Surgical Pulmonary Embolectomy In A Pregnant Woman: Case Report And Literature Review, Giovanni Saeed, Michael Möller, Jörg Neuzner, Rainer Gradaus, Werner Stein, Uwe Langebrake, Thomas Dimpfl, Meradjoddin Matin, Ali Peivandi

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Acute pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of death during pregnancy and delivery in the United States. We describe the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented in cardiogenic shock in week 38 of her first pregnancy. After the emergent cesarean delivery of a healthy male neonate, the mother underwent immediate surgical pulmonary embolectomy. We confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism intraoperatively by means of transesophageal echocardiography and removed large clots from the patient's pulmonary arteries. Mother and child were doing well, 27 months later. In addition to presenting our patient's case, we discuss the other relevant reports and the …

The Odyssey Of Tavr From Concept To Clinical Reality, Alain G Cribier

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

No abstract provided.

Serum Levels Of Soluble Icam-1 In Children With Pulmonary Artery Hypertension, Melahat Melek Oguz, Ayse Deniz Oguz, Cihat Sanli, Ayhan Cevik

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

This prospective cross-sectional study attempted to determine both the usefulness of the serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as a biomarker for pulmonary artery hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease and the nature of this marker's association with catheter angiographic findings.

Our study included a total of 70 male and female children, comprising 30 patients with both pulmonary artery hypertension and congenital heart disease, 20 patients with congenital heart disease alone, and 20 healthy control subjects. Levels of ICAM-1 in plasma samples from all groups were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Cardiac catheterization was also performed in all patients. …

Systemic Effects Of Intracoronary Nitroglycerin During Coronary Angiography In Children After Heart Transplantation, Diego A Lara, Mary K Olive, James F George, Robert N Brown, Waldemar F Carlo, Edward V Colvin, Brad L Steenwyck, F Bennett Pearce

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Coronary spasm during coronary angiography for vasculopathy in children can be prevented by the intracoronary administration of nitroglycerin. We reviewed the anesthesia and catheterization reports and charts for pediatric transplant recipients who underwent angiography from 2005 through 2010. Correlation analysis was used to study the relation of post-injection systolic blood pressure (SBP) to nitroglycerin dose. Forty-one angiographic evaluations were performed on 25 patients (13 male and 12 female). Mean age was 9.9 ± 3.2 years (range, 3.3–16.1 yr). The mean total dose of nitroglycerin was 2.93 ± 1.60 µg/kg (range, 1–8 µg/kg).

There was a significant drop between the baseline …

Papillary Muscle Repositioning As A Subvalvular Apparatus Preservation Technique In Mitral Stenosis Patients With Normal Left Ventricular Systolic Function, Gokhan Lafci, Kerim Cagli, Omer Faruk Cicek, Kemal Korkmaz, Osman Turak, Alper Uzun, Adnan Yalcinkaya, Adem Diken, Eren Gunertem, Kumral Cagli

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Subvalvular apparatus preservation is an important concept in mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery that is performed to remedy mitral regurgitation. In this study, we sought to determine the effects of papillary muscle repositioning (PMR) on clinical outcomes and echocardiographic left ventricular function in rheumatic mitral stenosis patients who had normal left ventricular systolic function.

We prospectively assigned 115 patients who were scheduled for MVR surgery with mechanical prosthesis to either PMR or MVR-only groups. Functional class and echocardiographic variables were evaluated at baseline and at early and late postoperative follow-up examinations. All values were compared between the 2 groups.

The …

Repair Of Bicuspid Aortic Valve In The Presence Of Endocarditis And Leaflet Perforation, William D T Kent, Hadi D Toeg, Jehangir J Appoo

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Aortic valve repair can be a good option in younger patients who have severe aortic regurgitation. A systematic, disease-directed approach can simplify repair. This case report describes how a simplified approach can be successfully applied to complex pathologic conditions of the aortic valve.

A 49-year-old man with a bicuspid aortic valve and a history of endocarditis presented with severe aortic regurgitation and evidence of recurrent infection. Intraoperatively, we found congenital and degenerative aortic anatomy with endocarditis and perforation. We performed aortic valve repair to enable leaflet coaptation and to adjust the coaptation height. After 24 months, the patient remained well, …

Papillary Muscle Repositioning As A Subvalvular Apparatus Preservation Technique In Mitral Stenosis Patients With Normal Left Ventricular Systolic Function, Imthiaz Manoly, Dimos Karangelis, Nicola Viola, Marcus Haw

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Surgically repairing Bland-White-Garland syndrome (anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery) is a challenge if there are variations in the origin of the anomalous artery. We report the successful repair of this congenital abnormality in a 19-year-old woman who presented with an acute anterior myocardial infarction. The anomalous artery originated from the anterior-facing sinus of the pulmonary artery, which precluded typical repair by direct reimplantation or fashioning an intrapulmonary tunnel. We created an extrapulmonary tunnel, using a strip of pulmonary artery anteriorly and an aortic flap posteriorly. Three years postoperatively, the anastomosis was patent and the …

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging For The Investigation Of Cardiovascular Disorders Part 1: Current Applications, Ajit H Goenka, Scott D Flamm

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a robust noninvasive technique for investigating cardiovascular disorders. The evolution of cardiac magnetic resonance and its widening span of diagnostic and prognostic applications have generated excitement as well as uncertainty regarding its potential clinical use and its role vis-à-vis conventional imaging techniques. The purpose of this evidence-based review is to discuss some of these issues by highlighting the current (Part 1) and emerging (Part 2) applications of cardiac magnetic resonance. Familiarity with the versatility and usefulness of cardiac magnetic resonance will facilitate its wider clinical acceptance for improving the management of cardiovascular disorders.

Caring Minds, University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston School Of Nursing

Caring Minds

No abstract provided.

Ms225: 2014 Faculty Meeting Minutes, Thomas R. Cole

Thomas R. Cole, PhD Papers

Original Filename: Faculty Meeting Minutes 011514.docx. Format Details: fmt/412; Microsoft Word for Windows; 2007 onwards. See more at Thomas R. Cole, PhD Papers and its finding aid.

Annual Report 2013-2014, Houston Academy Of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library

Annual Reports: 1943 - Present

This file contains the Annual Report for the library from 2013-2014.

Accelerated Aging Effects On Color And Translucency Of Flowable Composites, Yonca Korkmaz Ceyhan, Joe C Ontiveros, John M Powers, Rade D Paravina

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of accelerated aging on color and translucency parameter of composites.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Filtek Supreme Ultra Flowable, shades A1, A3, White, Tetric EvoFlow, shades A1, A3, Bleach, and Filtek Z250 shades A1, A3, B1 were evaluated. Color and translucency were recorded using a spectrophotometer after 24-hour storage (baseline) and after accelerated aging. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance.

RESULTS: Fisher's PLSD intervals for comparisons among products and shades were 0.4, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4 for ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*, and ΔE*, respectively. The data showed significant ΔE* and ΔL* main effects for composite product …

Evolving Family Technology, Alvin Sallee, Angelo P. Giardino, Robert D. Sanborn

Journal of Family Strengths

Alvin Sallee, Angelo Giardino, and Robert Sanborn discuss the latest issue of Journal of Family Strengths.

Ms 179 Guide To Irvin A. Kraft Papers (1939-2010), Irvin A. Kraft (1921-2010)

Manuscript Finding Aids

Printed paper is the predominant format in the collection though there are numerous black and white and color photographic prints, some objects and other ephemera and an 8mm sound film. A large portion of the collection is comprised of various scrapbooks. See more at MS 179.

Using Strengths-Based Leadership To Improve The Child Welfare System, Kimberly M. Giardina

Journal of Family Strengths

The child welfare system has primarily focused on the safety of children even though the goals of the system are to improve safety, well-being, and permanency. Through an innovative use of strengths-based leadership and the restructuring of service delivery, the Neighborhoods for Kids program has demonstrated how to effectively achieve all three goals for children in the child welfare system. The unique infusion of strengths-based leadership into the child welfare system allowed staff to creatively meet the outcomes without any additional funding needed. The goal was to strengthen the leadership in East Region and increase staff engagement, which would in …

Commentary On "Using Strengths-Based Leadership To Improve The Child Welfare System", June C. Lloyd

Journal of Family Strengths

This commentary reviews the design features and methods by which the Strengths Based Leadership model of the East Region of a county child welfare agency provides antidotes to the dilemmas typically faced by public agency street-level staff. Identifying worker strengths, increasing worker engagement in agency design, and clearly articulating goals and expectations—all features of productive relationships with client families, when employed by agency leadership—provide both the atmosphere and key supports for direct service staff to obtain positive outcomes for the children and families served.

Commentary On "Moving Beyond Lip Service: The Clinical Reasoning Behind Practicing Strengths", Joel A. Levine

Journal of Family Strengths

Invited Commentary on "Moving Beyond Lip Service: The Clinical Reasoning Behind Practicing Strengths"