Digital Commons Network^™

Cardiac Gene Therapy With Relaxin Receptor 1 Overexpression Protects Against Acute Myocardial Infarction, Teja Devarakonda, Adolfo G. Mauro, Chad Cain, Anindita Das, Fadi N. Salloum

Internal Medicine Publications

Relaxin is a pleiotropic hormone shown to confer cardioprotection in several preclinical models of cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury. In the present study, the effects of up-regulating relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1) via adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vectors were investigated in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. AAV9-RXFP1 vectors were generated and injected in adult male CD1 mice. Up-regulation of Rxfp1 was confirmed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and overexpressing animals showed increased sensitivity to relaxin-induced ventricular inotropic response. Overexpressing animals also demonstrated reduced infarct size and preserved cardiac function 24 hours after ischemia-reperfusion. Up-regulation of RXFP1 via AAV9 vectors …

Association Of Cag Repeats With Long-Term Progression In Huntington Disease, Jefin Jose

VCU's Medical Journal Club: The Work of Future Health Professionals

The relationship between CAG repeat length and clinical/morphometric decline in Huntington's disease patients beyond the age of onset has not been well characterized. Some studies argue that CAG repeat length does influence clinical decline after the age of onset, while others do not. Langbehn et al. found that clinical condition correlated quadratically with age for every subject with a pathogenic number of CAG repeats in the TRACK-HD and TRACK-ON datasets. Interestingly, those with a higher CAG repeat length experienced a greater rate of clinical decline at each timepoint. Performing a similar analysis using morphometric data, Langbehn et al. found a …

Virginia Commonwealth University Courses [2022], Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Bulletins

Listing of courses for the 2022-2023 year.

Neurod1 Aav-Based Gene Therapy For Functional Brain Repair After Ischemic Injury Through In Vivo Astrocyte-To-Neuron Conversion, Marlena Ramlatchan

VCU's Medical Journal Club: The Work of Future Health Professionals

This study uses AAV based gene therapy to create an astrocyte- neuron conversion to regain functional abilities damaged by ischemic injuries. NeuroD1 treatment has shown promising results in the treatment of ischemic injuries in rodents and is heading towards clinical trials. Cognitive and motor improvements were shown. The basis of this therapy is to use functional glial cells to promote neurocellular growth, which would restore some function lost as a result of injury.

Repeated Exposure To Chlorpyrifos Is Associated With A Dose-Dependent Chronic Neurobehavioral Deficit In Adult Rats, Ana C. R. Ribeiro, Elisa Hawkins, Fay M. Jahr, Joseph L. Mcclay, Laxmikant Deshpande

Neurology Publications

Organophosphate (OP) chemicals include commonly used pesticides and chemical warfare agents, and mechanistically they are potent inhibitors of the cholinesterase (ChE) enzyme. Epidemiological studies report long-term neuropsychiatric issues, including depression and cognitive impairments in OP-exposed individuals. Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most widely used pesticides worldwide. Multiple laboratory studies have reported on either the long-term behavioral effect of an acute high-dose CPF (30-250 mg/kg) or studied sub-chronic behavioral effects, particularly the motor and cognitive effects of repeated low-dose CPF. However, studies are lacking on chronic mood and depression-related morbidities following repeated CPF doses that would mimic occupationally relevant OP …

Olympia, Wilderness, And Consumption In Laird Barron’S Old Leech Cycle, John Glover

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

This book chapter considers the cosmic horror fiction of Laird Barron through a blended ecocritical/postcolonial lens, focusing on its representation of the Pacific Northwest and Olympia, Washington. Wilderness and consumption are both strongly represented concepts in Barron’s Old Leech Cycle of stories, aligning with colonial perceptions of the American West as a largely unpeopled space ripe for exploitation. The eldritch horrors of these tales align with well-established traditions in weird fiction, and they are also perfectly suited to locations historically identified with resource extraction.

Fish Sound Production: The Swim Bladder, Michael L. Fine, Eric Parmentier

Biology Publications

Analogous to the syrinx in birds and larynx in mammals, the swim bladder is a major sound-producing organ in fishes. It also functions in hearing and is responsible for most returns from sonar. Historically, the swim bladder has been modeled as an underwater resonant bubble, whereas we provide evidence for a forced-response model in which viscous damping of the bladder wall inhibits resonance of the internal bubble. Further experimental work on the shape, wall structure, and mechanical behavior of the swim bladder is required.

Comparative Analysis Of Zoning Of Food Retail And Urban Agriculture For Richmond, Virginia, Hannah Quigley Mph, Meghan Dinofrio, Sarah Shaughnessy Mph, Aicp, John C. Jones Mpa, Phd

Environmental Studies Publications

This research partnership between local public health practitioners and urban food systems scholars suggests improvements to City of Richmond, Virginia’s zoning code related to food retail and urban agriculture by drawing inspiration from other American central cities. The authors created an empirical process to identify potential sister cities to Richmond as a source for high quality comparative examples. Next, the authors then engaged in a non-empirical, purposive process of identifying potential zoning code improvements from both identified sister cities, as well as other communities. Time and capacity constraints dictated the non-empirical nature of this search. Recommendations for improvement to Richmond’s …

Perspectives On Primary Blast Injury Of The Brain: Translational Insights Into Non-Inertial Low-Intensity Blast Injury, Heather R. Siedhoff, Shanyan Chen, Hailong Song, Jiankun Cui, Ibolja Cernak, David X. Cifu, Ralph G. Depalma, Zezong Gu

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Publications

Most traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) during military deployment or training are clinically “mild” and frequently caused by non-impact blast exposures. Experimental models were developed to reproduce the biological consequences of high-intensity blasts causing moderate to severe brain injuries. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of low-intensity blast (LIB)-induced neurological deficits have been understudied. This review provides perspectives on primary blast-induced mild TBI models and discusses translational aspects of LIB exposures as defined by standardized physical parameters including overpressure, impulse, and shock wave velocity. Our mouse LIB-exposure model, which reproduces deployment-related scenarios of open-field blast (OFB), caused neurobehavioral changes, including reduced exploratory activities, …

An Exploration Of The Use Of Science Specialists And Elementary Students’ Science Achievement, Wesley Roach, Jillian L. Wendt

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to examine the effect of using science specialists in elementary schools on science achievement scores. The sample population consisted of 282 fifth grade students enrolled in Georgia public schools. The data for this study was collected from four public elementary schools’ end-of-year state assessments and analyzed as archival data. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine if there was a difference between science achievement scores in elementary schools that use science specialists compared to those that do not. Results indicate that no statistically significant difference exists between the science achievement scores …

Objectified: Forced Marriages And Bitter Reality Of Violence Against Women In India, Anurag Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence against women is an ongoing problem in India. With cases rising ever higher, the time has come to talk openly about the uncomfortable truths behind arranged marriages, which foster injustice and often lead to violence against women. The wedding dress is a symbol of purity in traditional Indian weddings, but in the case of marriages that turn abusive, it can become a symbol of oppression and patriarchy. During the research phase of this investigation, women once stuck in abusive marriages—treated as objects—talked about the objects that made them feel trapped and explained how these everyday objects became silent …

Viral Overexpression Of Rprd2 In Mouse Nucleus Accumbens Induces Anxiety-Like Behavior And Regulates Genes Associated With Microtubule Transport, Claire Nuhad Atiyeh

Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in the United States with many individuals underdiagnosed and undertreated (Anxiety & Depression Association of America, 2021; Bandelow et al., 2017). While stress is a known risk factor for developing anxiety disorders, there is emerging evidence that biological variability in the expression of key proteins in the brain may contribute to regulating an organism’s stress-related behaviors. Earlier work from our laboratory identified a protein, called Regulation of Nuclear Pre-mRNA Domain Containing 2 (RPRD2), that was differentially expressed in the brain of mice stratified in terms of their phenotypic response to chronic stress …

She: Performing Biography As A Dramatic Narrative, Ashley J. Love

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

SHE: PERFORMING BIOGRAPHY AS DRAMATIC NARRATIVE

By Ashley Love, Master of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University

Partial Fulfillment Statement:

Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Pedagogy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Director: Dr. Aaron Anderson

Interim Director of Graduate Studies, Theatre Department

Amid the current wave of feminism, women continue to strive for equal ground within societal constructs. Progress is being made in the workplace, the arts, and media presence, but why does it seem that women’s stories of the past continue to be overlooked as if insignificant? This …

The Role Of Irf-1 In Spontaneous Mouse Glioma, Aakash B. Vaidya

Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastoma Multiforme has been shown to be one of the deadliest primary brain cancers. One of the reasons why GBM is so deadly, is a unique immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that promotes GBM growth and progression. Both astrocyte and microglia have been implicated in immunosuppression. In this study, we explored the role of Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 (IRF-1) in astrocytes and glioma cells on the growth of spontaneous glioma tumors. IRF-1 is regulated by the JAK/STAT pathway and induces expression of Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). PD-L1 downregulates immune responses to glioma. We found that IRF-1 had no effect on spontaneous …

Outcome Of Endodontic Microsurgery: Success And Survival Rates At Virginia Commonwealth University, Abdullah Alawadhi

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Endodontic microsurgery treatment is an option for teeth with apical periodontitis and may be indicated for teeth with previous endodontic treatment that have not healed, teeth with canal obstructions which would impede a non-surgical approach, and where a biopsy is needed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate healing after endodontic microsurgery in 2-dimensional PA radiographs and 3 dimensional CBCT imaging. Methods: Patient records were pooled from graduate resident cases completed at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Graduate Endodontic Clinic between the years 2010 to 2020. Cases were identified using the CDT codes and a key word search …

The Effect Of Er:Yag, Nd:Yag And Co2 Laser Combined With Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Hypochlorite, Chlorohexidine Or Fluoride On Reducing Oral Bacterial Count Implicated In Root Caries, Nitya Reddy

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Lasers have been used for treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity and for various bacterial reduction indications in periodontology. Their effectiveness in killing oral bacteria is not well known. The compounding effect of the combination of a laser treatment and adjunct antimicrobial agent use on bacterial viability is still evolving. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of three lasers commonly used in dentistry in conjunction with chlorhexidine (CHX), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), or sodium fluoride (NaF) on viability of oral bacteria associated with root caries.

Methods: Three …

Characteristics Of Posterior Permanent Teeth With A Periradicular Diagnosis Of Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Retrospective Study, Christina A. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

The diagnosis of apical periodontitis is based on radiographic manifestations and the results of the various clinical tests that can be performed as part of a routine dental examination. Apical periodontitis producing clinical symptoms involving a painful response to biting and/or percussion or palpation is given the diagnosis of symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP). This study aimed to determine associations of SAP with gender, age, radiographic findings, diagnostic testing, pulpal diagnosis, and location of the tooth in the arch. Data for this study were obtained from patients of record treated at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in the Department of …

Progress Towards Next Generation Modulators Of Ctbp's Oncogenic Effects, Jacqueline L. West

Theses and Dissertations

Human C-terminal binding proteins (CtBP1 and CtBP2) are transcriptional coregulators of multiple genes in the human genome, including tumor suppressor genes (e.g., Bik, PTEN, BRCA1, and E-cadherin) as well as oncogenes (e.g. MDR1 and Tiam1). Both homologues of CtBP are overexpressed in many types of cancer, including breast cancer (92%), ovarian cancer (83%), colorectal cancer (64%), hepatocellular carcinoma (60%), gastric cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Further, expression levels of CtBP correlate with worse prognostic outcomes and more aggressive tumor features because it promotes proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cell self-renewal activity.

Our laboratory has identified a lead inhibitor …

Again Black Again, Muthi Reed

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

AGAIN BLACK AGAIN

by muthi reed, M.F.A

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Program Director: Stephen Vitiello

Committee: Semi Ryu, Orla McHardy, MK Abadoo, Cara Benedetto

AGAIN BLACK AGAIN. ABA-BBABB is documentation of a reparations practice and articulations for a reparations manifesto devised by the artist. Reparations begins with the self. Singing truth to the self. Talking with the self. The thesis organizes around the problems of surveillance and myth making about Black people and the subsequent source of self-regard, conjure and social dreaming …

Viral Injection Of Rna Polymerase Ii-Interacting Protein Rprd2 In The Nucleus Accumbens Induces Anxiety-Like Behavior In Mice, Hannah E. Woolard

Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety and its related disorders have become increasingly prevalent as more awareness and acceptance of mental illnesses have come to fruition, especially in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety can affect anyone regardless of their age, sex, or social status and is currently the most commonly diagnosed mental illness worldwide (Bandelow & Michaelis, 2015). While there are several effective treatments available, the underlying brain mechanisms that cause anxiety are still largely unknown and further research continues to piece together the complex pathophysiology behind this disease. The use of laboratory animal models, such as mice, to induce and observe …

Innovative Techniques Of Neuromodulation And Neuromodeling Based On Focal Non-Invasive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation For Neurological Disorders, Ivan C. Carmona-Tortolero

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to develop alternative technology that improves the current range of application of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), on a scale that would permit defining specific non-invasive treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. This is accomplished through three specific objectives. 1) The design of a neurostimulation system that increases the focality in TMS to regions of narrow target areas and variable depths in the brain cortex. 2) The assessment of the feasibility of novel high-frequency neuromodulation techniques that would allow increasing the focality in deeper areas beyond the cortical surface. 3) The development of a computational model …

Targeting Bcl-2 Family Proteins In Therapy Induced Senescent Cancer Cell Models, Wade Cook

Theses and Dissertations

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) originates from numerous different cell types in the lungs and is among the deadliest of cancers. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) are derived from the mucosal membranes of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Both NSCLC and HNSCC are predominately caused by tobacco smoke inhalation and as such mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 are common. Since similarities exist in the root cause of NSCLC and HNSCC, they may also share similarities in treatment methods. Cisplatin is a platinum-based DNA damaging agent that has been used as a cancer chemotherapy for decades. …

Evaluating Population Genetic Structure And Potential Genomic Signals Of Natural Selection In A Migratory Songbird (Protonotaria Citrea), Tyler A. Hohenstein

Theses and Dissertations

In this study I attempted to further resolve the population genetic structure in the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), and conducted an outlier SNP analysis and exploratory gene ontology analysis to investigate potential ongoing natural selection in the species. This analysis of population structure confirms previous work by DeSaix et al. (2019), where weak population structure was observed between eastern sites along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and western sites in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, possibly due to a genetic discontinuity across the Appalachian Mountains. I conducted two forms of outlier SNP analyses, a principal component analysis (PCA)-based approach to identify SNPs …

Loss Of Smad4 Is Associated With Poor Tumor Immunogenicity And Reduced Pd-L1 Expression In Pancreatic Cancer, Daniel R. Principe, Patrick W. Underwood, Sandeep Kumar, Kaytlin E. Timbers, Regina M. Koch, Jose G. Trevino, Hidayatullah G. Munshi, Ajay Rana

Surgery Publications

Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) is a key mediator of immune evasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and the addition of TGFβ inhibitors in select immunotherapy regimens shows early promise. Though the TGFβ target SMAD4 is deleted in approximately 55% of PDAC tumors, the effects of SMAD4 loss on tumor immunity have yet to be fully explored. Using a combination of genomic databases and PDAC specimens, we found that tumors with loss of SMAD4 have a comparatively poor T-cell infiltrate. SMAD4 loss was also associated with a reduction in several chemokines with known roles in T-cell recruitment, which was recapitulated …

Pwatem: An Anthology Of Literature And Art (2022)

Pwatem (Poictesme), 2006-

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

Emanata Presents: Dream (2022)

Emanata, 2014-

Started by illustrator and comics artist Chris Kindred in 2014 with Weird, Vol. 1, Emanata is VCU’s first-ever comics anthology.

The Compass, Summer 2022

The Compass, 2018-

The Compass is an annual orientation guide for VCU students produced by the Student Media Collective in the VCU Student Media Centered. The guide is distributed physically during summer orientation sessions for new and transfer students. The publication includes short articles, illustrations, letters of welcome from students and administrators, comics, and advertisements from VCU and Richmond organizations.

Varied Levels Of Fructose Consumption Induce Physiological, Cognitive, And Mitochondrial Alterations In Aged Female Rats, Emilie L. Bjerring

Theses and Dissertations

Since the 1970s, fructose consumption has dramatically increased within the United States, as well as the world. While adolescents tend to be the largest consumer of fructose, mostly seen in the form of sugary beverages, the consequences of a high fructose diet started in adulthood can also have severe implications on physiological parameters as well as cognition. Several studies have linked fructose consumption to metabolic syndrome, a clustering of symptoms related to overall health, with particular emphasis placed on obesity, type II diabetes, and the relationship with Alzheimer’s Disease. These findings largely stem from the outcomes of studies on cognition, …

Investigating The Effects Of Psilocybin On Models Of Anxiety, Recognition Memory, And Depression-Like Behavior And The Role Of The 5-Ht2a Receptor In Mediating Psilocybin’S Impact On Behavioral Despair, Nikita Thakur

Theses and Dissertations

Psychedelics are a class of hallucinogenic substances that exert their effects through serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonism, particularly at the 5-HT₂ receptor, which is further characterized into the 2A, 2B, and 2C subtypes. While some research studies indicate that psychedelics mediate their effects via 5-HT_2A receptor agonism, others show that it is not necessary to induce these effects. Recently, there has been a growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy as a promising alternative for treatment of anxiety and depression, two of the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide associated with significant morbidity. Although antidepressants and pharmacological interventions for anxiety have revolutionized …

Playful Rebellion: The Anarchic Clown And Pushing The Boundaries Of Contemporary Theatre, William Browning

Theses and Dissertations

In the many decades since live theatre began certain rules, conventions, and norms took hold. These conventions would change over the years but as these customs were formed there were always those who pushed back against the hegemony. There were always figures, people, and organizations that rebelled against the status quo and wished to push the boundaries of the theatre. This is where the anarchic clown enters the fray. Those who wish to push the boundaries of theatre have existed since its creation, but the anarchic clown is a specific form of rebel. The anarchic clown wishes to break the …