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Commonwealth Times 2008-01-24

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2008-01-14

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Morphine Exacerbates Hiv-1 Tat-Induced Cytokine Production In Astrocytes Through Convergent Effects On [Ca2+]I, Nf-Κb Trafficking And Transcription, Nazira El-Hage, Annadora J. Bruce-Keller, Tatiana Yakovleva, Igor Bazov, Georgy Bakalkin, Pamela E. Knapp, Kurt F. Hauser

Pharmacology and Toxicology Publications

Astroglia are key cellular sites where opiate drug signals converge with the proinflammatory effects of HIV-1 Tat signals to exacerbate HIV encephalitis. Despite this understanding, the molecular sites of convergence driving opiate-accelerated neuropathogenesis have not been deciphered. We therefore explored potential points of interaction between the signaling pathways initiated by HIV-1 Tat and opioids in striatal astrocytes. Profiling studies screening 152 transcription factors indicated that the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) subunit, c-Rel, was a likely candidate for Tat or Tat plus opiate-induced increases in cytokine and chemokine production by astrocytes. Pretreatment with the NF-κB inhibitor parthenolide provided evidence that Tat±morphine-induced …

Long Lasting Synchronization Of Calcium Oscillations By Cholinergic Stimulation In Isolated Pancreatic Islets, Min Zhang, Bernard Fendler, Bradford Peercy, Pranay Goel, Richard Bertram, Arthur Sherman, Leslie Satin

Pharmacology and Toxicology Publications

Abstract

Individual mouse pancreatic islets exhibit oscillations in [Ca²⁺]_i and insulin secretion in response to glucose in vitro, but how the oscillations of a million islets are coordinated within the human pancreas in vivo is unclear. Islet to islet synchronization is necessary, however, for the pancreas to produce regular pulses of insulin. To determine whether neurohormone release within the pancreas might play a role in coordinating islet activity, [Ca²⁺]_i changes in 4–6 isolated mouse islets were simultaneously monitored before and after a transient pulse of a putative synchronizing agent. The degree of synchronicity was …

Nadph Oxidase As A Therapeutic Target In Alzheimer's Disease, Michelle L. Block

Anatomy and Neurobiology Publications

At present, available treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are largely unable to halt disease progression. Microglia, the resident macrophages in the brain, are strongly implicated in the pathology and progressively degenerative nature of AD. Specifically, microglia are activated in response to both β amyloid (Aβ) and neuronal damage, and can become a chronic source of neurotoxic cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). NADPH oxidase is a multi-subunit enzyme complex responsible for the production of both extracellular and intracellular ROS by microglia. Importantly, NADPH oxidase expression is upregulated in AD and is an essential component of microglia-mediated Aβ neurotoxicity. Activation of …

A Synaptic Nidogen: Developmental Regulation And Role Of Nidogen-2 At The Neuromuscular Junction, Michael A. Fox, Matthew Sp Ho, Neil Smyth, Joshua R. Sanes

Anatomy and Neurobiology Publications

Background

The skeletal neuromuscular junction is a useful model for elucidating mechanisms that regulate synaptogenesis. Developmentally important intercellular interactions at the neuromuscular junction are mediated by the synaptic portion of a basal lamina that completely ensheaths each muscle fiber. Basal laminas in general are composed of four main types of glycosylated proteins: laminins, collagens IV, heparan sulfate proteoglycans and nidogens (entactins). The portion of the muscle fiber basal lamina that passes between the motor nerve terminal and postsynaptic membrane has been shown to bear distinct isoforms of the first three of these. For laminins and collagens IV, the proteins are …

Menorah Review (No. 69, Summer/Fall, 2008)

Menorah Review

Peter Bergson's Mission Impossible -- Rabbinical Dynamics in the Babylonian Talmud -- The Aesthetic Grit of a Yiddish Prose Master Finds Translation -- The Ancient Grudge: The Merchant of Venice and Shylock's Christian Problem -- Two Poems

Accelerated Exchange Of Exon Segments In Viperid Three-Finger Toxin Genes (Sistrurus Catenatus Edwardsii; Desert Massasauga), Robin Doley, Susanta Pahari, Stephen P. Mackessy, R. Manjunatha Kini

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Publications

Background Snake venoms consist primarily of proteins and peptides showing a myriad of potent biological activities which have been shaped by both adaptive and neutral selective forces. Venom proteins are encoded by multigene families that have evolved through a process of gene duplication followed by accelerated evolution in the protein coding region.

Results Here we report five gene structures of three-finger toxins from a viperid snake, Sistrurus catenatus edwardsii. These toxin genes are structured similarly to elapid and hydrophiid three-finger toxin genes, with two introns and three exons. Both introns and exons show distinct patterns of segmentation, and the insertion/deletion …

Primary Cultured Fibroblasts Derived From Patients With Chronic Wounds: A Methodology To Produce Human Cell Lines And Test Putative Growth Factor Therapy Such As Gmcsf, Harold Brem, Michael S. Golinko, Olivera Stojadinovic, Arber Kodra, Robert F. Diegelmann, Sasa Vukelic, Hyacinth Entero, Donald L. Coppock, Marjana Tomic-Canic

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Publications

Background Multiple physiologic impairments are responsible for chronic wounds. A cell line grown which retains its phenotype from patient wounds would provide means of testing new therapies. Clinical information on patients from whom cells were grown can provide insights into mechanisms of specific disease such as diabetes or biological processes such as aging.

The objective of this study was 1) To culture human cells derived from patients with chronic wounds and to test the effects of putative therapies, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) on these cells. 2) To describe a methodology to create fibroblast cell lines from patients with chronic …

Genetically Engineered Live-Attenuated Cytomegalovirus (Cmv) Vaccines Improve Pregnancy Outcome In The Guinea-Pig Model Of Congenital Cmv Infection, Mark R. Schleiss, Alistair Mcgregor, Yeon Choi, Jodi Anderson, Mike Levinton, Xiaohong Cui, Michael Mcvoy

Pediatrics Publications

No abstract provided.

Metformin For The Treatment Of The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, John E. Nestler

Internal Medicine Publications

This Journal feature begins with a case vignette that includes a therapeutic recommendation. A discussion of the clinical problem and the mechanism of benefit of this form of therapy follows. Major clinical studies, the clinical use of this therapy, and potential adverse effects are reviewed. Relevant formal guidelines, if they exist, are presented. The article ends with the author’s clinical recommendations.

A 23-year-old woman with known polycystic ovary syndrome visits her family physician. She has taken oral contraceptive pills in the past but did not tolerate them and is not currently receiving any treatment. She has three or four menstrual …

Dengue Virus Pathogenesis In Mouse Central Nervous System: Studies On Host Response To Dengue Virus Infection, Juliano Bordignon, Christian Probst, Ana Luiza P. Mosimann, Vanessa Stella, Daniela Pavoni, Gregory A. Buck, Paul Fawcett, Silvio M. Zanata, Lucia Noronha, Marco Krieger, Claudia Nunes Duarte Dos Santos

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Dengue virus (DENV) causes a self-limiting fever (DF) or severe hemorrhagic fever/shock-syndrome (DHF/DSS). Recently, clinical profile of DENV infection is changing, and neurological manifestations are becoming frequent. We previously demonstrated that mutations on E and NS3 proteins may account for DENV neurovirulence for mice. To validate the involvement of the observed mutations in the appearance of neurovirulent viral phenotypes, we constructed cDNA infectious clones encompassing the observed mutations. Aiming to determine host response to infection with neurovirulent and parental strains of DENV-1, we used a Mus musculus biochip (Virginia Commonwealth University) encompassing whole mouse genome. Newborn Swiss mice were infected …

Impaired Clearance Of Methotrexate In Organic Anion Transporter 3 (Slc22a8) Knockout Mice: A Gender Specific Impact Of Reduced Folates, Adam L. Vanwert, Douglas H. Sweet

Pharmaceutics Publications

Purpose

To elucidate the role of the renal basolateral transporter, Oat3, in the disposition of methotrexate.

Materials and Methods

Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing mouse Oat3 were used to determine kinetics and specificity of inhibition of methotrexate transport. Methotrexate clearance was then examined in vivo in wildtype and Oat3 knockout mice.

Results

NSAIDs, ß-lactams, and uremic toxins inhibited mOat3-mediated methotrexate uptake by 70–100%, while folate, leucovorin, and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate inhibited transport by 25–50%. A Km of 60.6±9.3 μM for methotrexate transport was determined. Oat3 knockout mice exhibited reduced methotrexate-to-inulin clearance ratios versus wildtype. Male wildtype mice, but not knockouts or …

Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate Bulletin Courses [2008], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Listing of undergraduate courses for 2008-2009.

The Ecology Of Fear: Colonization And Oviposition In Aquatic Systems [Poster], Leeanna Pletcher, Johanna Kraus, James R. Vonesh

Biology Presentations

Introduction

Amphibians and aquatic invertebrates have complex life histories that link aquatic and terrestrial food webs. It has been suggested that amphibian reproduction is an important source of carbon to some aquatic systems. Movement of organisms across the aquatic-terrestrial habitat boundary can represent important subsidies to the receiving habitat. Subsidies are organisms, nutrients, or detritus that cross habitat boundaries and are consumed, and these allochthonous inputs can affect food web structure. Predators can alter subsidies by consuming organisms that would otherwise move across habitat boundaries. Predator induced shifts in habitat selection are a well known non-lethal effect in aquatic systems. …

Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate And Professional Programs Bulletin Courses [2008], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Listing of professional and graduate courses for 2008-2009

Analysis Of The Nucleotide Sequence Of The Guinea Pig Cytomegalovirus (Gpcmv) Genome, Mark R. Schleiss, Alistair Mcgregor, K Yeon Choi, Shailesh V. Date, Xiaohong Cui, Michael Mcvoy

Pediatrics Publications

In this report we describe the genomic sequence of guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) assembled from a tissue culture-derived bacterial artificial chromosome clone, plasmid clones of viral restriction fragments, and direct PCR sequencing of viral DNA. The GPCMV genome is 232,678 bp, excluding the terminal repeats, and has a GC content of 55%. A total of 105 open reading frames (ORFs) of > 100 amino acids with sequence and/or positional homology to other CMV ORFs were annotated. Positional and sequence homologs of human cytomegalovirus open reading frames UL23 through UL122 were identified. Homology with other cytomegaloviruses was most prominent in the central …

Comparative Analysis Of Cpg Islands In Four Fish Genomes, Leng Han, Zhongming Zhao

Psychiatry Publications

There has been much interest in CpG islands (CGIs), clusters of CpG dinucleotides in GC-rich regions, because they are considered gene markers and involved in gene regulation. To date, there has been no genome-wide analysis of CGIs in the fish genome. We first evaluated the performance of three popular CGI identification algorithms in four fish genomes (tetraodon, stickleback, medaka, and zebrafish). Our results suggest that Takai and Jones' (2002) algorithm is most suitable for comparative analysis of CGIs in the fish genome. Then, we performed a systematic analysis of CGIs in the four fish genomes using Takai and Jones' algorithm, …

Optimal Vasopressor Drug Therapy During Resuscitation, Joseph P. Ornato

Biostatistics Publications

Optimal vasopressor support during resuscitation should theoretically enhance aortic diastolic and coronary perfusion pressure as well as coronary and cerebral blood flow/oxygen delivery without increasing cellular oxygen demand. Intravenous vasopressor support, using 1 mg doses of epinephrine every 5 minutes in adults or vasopressin 40 IU, is recommended by American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support Guidelines to maximize oxygen delivery to the heart and brain and increase cellular high energy phosphate levels. Vasopressin offers theoretical advantages over epinephrine in that it does not increase myocardial oxygen demand significantly and its receptors are relatively unaffected by acidosis. However, unlike epinephrine, …

Use Of Multiple Methods: An Examination Of Constraints Effecting Ethnic Minority Visitor Use Of National Parks And Management Implications, Nina S. Roberts, Donald A. Rodriguez

Ethnic Studies Review

Understanding outdoor recreation participation and national park visitation by members of ethnic minority groups has been a particular focus of outdoor recreation researchers for the past twenty years. Attracting ethnic minorities, and understanding their recreation needs and interests, demands a multi-faceted approach and sustained commitment not only by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) but by other resource management agencies as well.

Virginia Earth Science Collaborative Astronomy Course For Teachers, E. M. Murphy, H. Geller, M. Bentley

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

We describe the development and implementation of a professional development course for teachers of grades 4-12 designed to increase their content knowledge in astronomy, space science, and the nature of science using interactive presentations, and hands-on and inquiry-based lessons. The course, Space Science for Teachers, encompasses the astronomy and nature of science components of the Virginia Standards of Learning for grades 4-12 [1]. In addition to increasing their content knowledge, teachers gain experience using innovative teaching technologies, such as an inflatable planetarium, planetarium computer software, and computer controlled telescopes. The courses included evening laboratory sessions where teachers learned the constellations, …

Poictesme: A Student Anthology Of Literature And Art (2008)

Pwatem (Poictesme), 2006-

Poictesme (now Pwatem) is an anthology of literature and art from undergraduate students at Virginia Commonwealth University. It publishes poetry, prose and art of all kinds from talented undergraduate students of all majors.

On Zeitgeist, James Sham

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration into the possibilities and repercussions of articulating zeitgeist, that is, the spirit of our current age. The parameters and ramifications of such a project are, in this writing, analyzed in reference to the notion of historicity, and the narrative gaze that it perpetuates. The mechanism of canonization, and a discourse's capacity to be viral are examined.

Flow-Acting: Modern Sports Science And The Preparation Of Actors, Barrett Slade Billew

Theses and Dissertations

Theatre artists and acting teachers throughout history have sought to find and create presence. By combining modern sports science with an understanding of systems of actor training I have suggested an approach that makes presence a trainable skill. My coach Dr. Scott Sonnon, developer of the Circular Strength Training System, has refined modern sports science to emphasize the development and maintenance of flow-state. This state allows the athlete to respond openly and freely within a constantly changing situation.By combining my life long study of acting with my eight years of work with Coach Sonnon I am developing a system to …

Argent Sound Recordings: Multimodal Storytelling, Matthew L. Klimas

Theses and Dissertations

ARGENT SOUND RECORDINGS explores the integration of visual, written and sonic elements to tell a story. "The Silver Bell," a fairy tale, is delivered through the internet – providing users an opportunity to experience and interpret a constructed narrative under the guise of an independent record label website.

Lucky Strike Branch Library, Vanessa Yvonne Vinsant

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project is an examination of how design can reinvigorate interest in reading through the creation of a branch library. The primary focus of this study is to generate a space that successfully binds intellectual interests, social and economic groups to re-establish community.

Civic Habits: A Predictive Model Of Volunteer Behavior, Susan G. White

Theses and Dissertations

The findings of this research indicate that volunteering is influenced by a number of factors, one of which is gender. The data used in this study reveal a different profile of the volunteer than is presented in much of the research on volunteering, which tends to profile the "most likely" volunteer as female, employed by the public sector, possessing a higher education and having children. The questions addressed in this research are: 1) What are the contextual effects of volunteering and 2) Is there a relationship of one or more of these effects to gender? The findings indicate men in …

Bounded Surface, Emilie Sayward Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between surface, perception, and structure has occupied my graduate studies. Locating, transforming, and transcending the surface requires play with perceptive abilities not only of vision, but of touch, hearing, and the other senses as well. How do the interactions of sense with the qualities of a surface determine our perception of the world? What role does the extension of the senses play in one's ability to perceive surface and structure? Using sense information gleaned from surfaces, the tectonics of our world are made visible. Might this relationship be played backwards as well? Composed structures produce surfaces upon which …

The Effect Of Cell Type On The Efficacy Of Cmv Antiviral Drugs, Benjamin Meza

Theses and Dissertations

Until recently, all in vitro drug susceptibility assays of cytomegalovirus (CMV) were performed in clinically irrelevant fibroblast cells. This study sought to test if drug susceptibility was affected by cell type. MRC-5 embryonic lung fibroblasts and ARPE-19 retinal pigmented epithelial cells were infected with BADrUL131-Y4 epithelial/fibroblast tropic virus under serial concentrations of ganciclovir (GCV) or maribavir (MBV). Virus was quantified using plaque reduction, GFP fluorescence, and yield reduction. Both drugs performed less efficiently in ARPE-19 cells. A cell type effect was observed for both plaque reduction and yield reduction assays with implications for the treatment of CMV retinitis as well …

Effects Of Smoking And Gender On Tetrahydroisoquinolines And Beta-Carbolines In A Healthy Population And During Alcohol Detoxification, Satjit Singh Brar

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of smoking and gender on 1) tetrahydroisoquinolines (TIQs) and beta-carbolines (BCs) in a population of healthy subjects and 2) TIQs in an alcohol-dependent population undergoing in-patient detoxification. Comparison in plasma TIQs between the populations was additionally conducted. To support the clinical investigations, a HPLC-FD method was developed and validated to assess plasma concentrations of BCs, harman and norharman, while a HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was validated to quantify the TIQs, R/S-salsolinol along with dopamine. Forty-one young volunteers were recruited including 19 nonsmokers (NS), 11 light smokers (LS) and 11 heavy smokers (HS), …