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Inflammation-Associated Gene Regulation In Primary Astrocytes, Glial Tumors And Cellular Differentiation, Katarzyna Marta Wilczynska

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation elucidates several independent molecular mechanisms that function in astrocytes and glial tumor cells, and suggest that developmental and inflammatory signals may contribute to the development of brain tumors. First, we analyzed the mechanism of TIMP-1 activation in astrocytes and glioblastoma cells. TIMP-1 expression is activated by IL-1, which is the major neuroinflammatory cytokine, via simultaneous activation of IKK/NF-kB and MEK3/6/p38/ATF-2 pathways in primary human astrocytes. In contrast to astrocytes, TIMP-1 is expressed at lower levels in glioblastomas, and is not regulated by IL-1 due to either dysfunctional IKK/NF-kB or MEK3/6/p38/ATF-2 activation. Thus, we propose a novel mechanism of …

Regulation Of Platelet-Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase By Oxidized Phospholipids And Proinflammatory Cytokines, Muralikrishna Mukkamala

Theses and Dissertations

Platelet-Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase (PAFAH) is a monocyte-derived phospholipase A2 that catalyzes the hydrolysis of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and has been implicated in atherosclerosis. Although PAF and other proinflammatory stimuli are postulated to induce the enzyme, mechanisms controlling PAFAH expression are largely unknown at present. We have shown that PAFAH induction in monocytes is increased in response to oxidized phospholipids. The PAFAH 5' flanking region has at least 10 putative Stat elements, and IL-6 has been shown to be downstream from the prostaglandin receptor, EP2, which has been shown to bind oxidized phospholipids, prompting the hypothesis that Stat proteins might regulate …

A Capillary-Based Microfluidic System For Immunoaffinity Separations In Biological Matrices, Michael Peoples

Theses and Dissertations

The analysis of biological samples in clinical or research settings often requires measurement of analytes from complex and limited matrices. Immunoaffinity separations in miniaturized formats offer selective isolation of target analytes with minimal reagent consumption and reduced analysis times. A prototype capillary-based microfluidic system has been developed for immunoaffinity separations in biological matrices with laser-induced fluorescence detection of labeled antigens or antibodies. The laboratory-constructed device was assembled from two micro syringe pumps, a microchip mixer, a micro-injector, a diode laser with fused-silica capillary flow cell, and a separation capillary column. The columns were prepared from polymer tubing and packed under …

An Scir Model Of Meningococcal Meningitis, Kalimah Vereen

Theses and Dissertations

A model for meningitis is developed by adding a class of carriers to the basic SIR model. This model is used to analyze the impact a vaccination program can have on the health of the population of epidemic prone countries. Analysis of the model shows the local stability of the disease free equilibrium, the existence of an endemic equilibrium and computation of the reproduction number, ℜ0 . Using a MATLAB program we simulate a time course of the model using parameters gathered from the World Health Organization. The numerical solution demonstrates that our reproduction number was correct. We thenconcluded that …

Enzymology And Molecular Biology Of Bile Acid 7alpha- And 7beta- Dehydroxylation By The Intestinal Bacteria Clostridium Scindens And Clostridium Hylemonae, Jason Michael Ridlon

Theses and Dissertations

The collective microbial genomes within our gut(microbiome) represent a powerful metabolic force, leading many authors to call our GI flora an "organ within an organ", and the metagenomic sequencing of our microbiome, "the second human genome project". Bile acids, endogenously produced by the host liver, represent both a strong selective pressure for potential colonizers, aswell as substrates for microbial metabolism. Indeed, microbes have evolved enzymes to deconjugate bile salts, epimerize bile acid hydroxyl groups, and 7alpha-dehydroxylateprimary bile acids. The products of microbial 7alpha-dehydroxylation, secondary bile acids, are suggested by numerous lines of evidence to be involved in promoting colon carcinogenesis. …

Fluoride Varnish Use Among Dentists In Virginia, Amanda Bowen Kuhn

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to asses fluoride varnish use by dental practitioners in Virginia. Methods: Using a cross sectional survey design, all dentists in Virginia who are members of the Virginia Dental Association (VDA) were sent an online survey about usage and knowledge of fluoride varnish. Results: The majority of the respondents were general dentists (79%) followed by pediatric dentists (12%). Fluoride varnish use increased with year of graduation from dental school. Dentists who thought fluoride varnish was more effective and less time consuming use it more than other topical fluorides. Dentists who thought their patients prefer …

Self-Appraisals, Perfectionism, And Academics In College Undergraduates, David Edward Canter

Theses and Dissertations

The influences on perfectionism and procrastination of race, gender, cognitive-affective and academic self-appraisals, and academic performance expectations were studied. The sample consisted of 155 Introductory Psychology students (57 African Americans, 41 Asian Americans, and 57 European Americans; 51.6% women) with a mean age of 19.4 years (SD = 3.6). Data were collected during the final week of the Fall 2007 semester. Consistent with previous research indicating that men are more likely to procrastinate than women, men were over-represented in this sample. Self-esteem, measured with the Rosenberg (1965) Self-Esteem Scale, was conceptualized as having two components: self-liking and self-competence (Tafarodi & …

Exploring The Experience Of Benefit Finding In Parents Of Children With Cancer: A Grounded Theory Study, Carol E. Zogran

Theses and Dissertations

The diagnosis of cancer in a child is one of the most significant stressors a parent can experience, and research in the area of stress-related effects of illness on parents has emerged in many areas. The majority of studies have focused on the potential or actual negative impact on parents during and after treatment of their child's illness. However, studies that initially set out to explore the difficulties associated with coping with childhood cancer found that parents often reported positive aspects about the experience. There is now increasing interest and support for the study of "positive-health" factors that contribute to …

A Science & Mathematics Magnet School At Maymont, Sarah Shamus Nakfoor

Theses and Dissertations

I am interested in the idea that schools should be designed to offer individualized learning."A Science & Mathematics Magnet School at Maymont" explores a type of school that is becoming more familiar and accessible. By allowing students who have an interest in excelling in school and preparing for their future careers to come together and meet one another and experience aneducation that might not otherwise be available can be beneficial in many ways. In most cases, because of the funding required for such specialized schools, class sizes are reduced to meet budgets and the schools are opened to the community …

Surging Seepage: A Triple Bond Accretion System, Jacqueline Brown

Theses and Dissertations

My current work revels in a state of flux. I strive for the work to be electrically charged, conveying a feverish sense of immediacy and vitality that implies motion and frenetic energy. The work is an accretion of brightly colored biomorphic forms that extend out from the wall and onto the floor. Viscous parts ooze and drip while others are globular and bulbous. The hyper-organic forms suggest a paradoxical state of both ripening and rotting, becoming and unbecoming. The work is an attempt to traverse between seemingly divergent constructs, some of which include: growth and decay, the artificial and the …

Mechanical Abrasion And Electroporation In The Transformation Of Intact Pleurotus Ostreatus Hyphæ And Nutrient-Dependant Resistance To Hygromycin B, Alexander Cordesman

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT 1: Abrasive treatment and subsequent electroporation of the basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus in a hypertonic buffer was investigated as a potential method of transforming of intact hyphæ. Mycelia, which are not capable of being transformed via electroporation due to interference by the cell wall, were abraded in an attempt to mechanically degrade the cell wall prior to electroporation. An electroporation field strength of 12,500 V/cm for 500 μs to 1.25 ms was found to be optimal based upon mortality effects. A 32 μm carborundum abrasive was initially evaluated but was quickly found to be inappropriately large so a corundum abrasive …

Role Of Vegf-C In Proliferation And Migration In A Cancer Model, Emily Marie Benke

Theses and Dissertations

Head and neck cancer ranks high among the most common cancers world wide. In addition, there is a high recurrence rate, as well as a high prevalence of loco-regional tumor spread. Among many factors contributing to metastasis is vascular endothelial cell growth factor C. VEGF-C is primarily an inducer of new lymph vessel formation, typically during embryogenesis; however, some advanced cancers show a significant increase in VEGF-C expression, suggesting a role in metastasis. In the current study, the effects of VEGF-C expression were tested in HN12 cells, which are highly metastatic and known to express high levels of the chemokine …

Augmentation Of T Cell Expansion For Adoptive Immunotherapy By Alternate Gamma Chain Cytokines And By Gemcitabine Mediated Inhibition Of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells, Hanh Le

Theses and Dissertations

Successful treatment of cancer with adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) is dependent on the ability to produce large numbers of tumor-specific, functional T cells. The purpose of this thesis is to explore ways in which T cell expansion could be augmented. We have focused on exploring alternate gamma chain cytokines as stimulators of T cell proliferation and differentiation in addition to investigating the potential usefulness of gemcitabine (GEM) in abrogating the immunosuppressive effects of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). B16 melanoma sensitized draining lymph node cells that have been activated in vitro with bryostatin-1 and ionomycin (B/I) were expanded in either IL-7/15 …

The Effects Of Atomoxetine On Cognitive Performace And Neuroplasticity After Traumatic Brain Injury, Wendy Reid

Theses and Dissertations

Catecholaminergic neurotransmission is regionally altered following injury, and drugs aimed at these systems offer promising avenues for post-TBI pharmacotherapies. Atomoxetine is a selective norepinephrine transporter (NET) inhibitor currently indicated for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The studies in this dissertation were designed to test the efficacy of atomoxetine for treating cognitive deficits following experimental TBI and the potential mechanism for any beneficial effect. The first part of the study focused on behavioral recovery following atomoxetine treatment. Several important questions of dose, therapeutic window, and duration of treatment were addressed in these studies. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to lateral fluid-percussion …

Camk-Ii Promotes Beta-Catenin-Dependent Transcription By Binding Flightless-I, Jamie Mcleod

Theses and Dissertations

Transient intracellular elevations of Ca2+ are common signaling mechanisms used to allosterically regulate proteins. One potential target of Ca2+ is Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase type II (CaMK-II). CaMK-II is a multi-functional protein kinase known to influence cellular pathways such as cell motility and cell cycle progression. Within the cell cycle, CaMK-II promotes the expression of the regulator protein cyclin D1, which is necessary for cell cycle progression. To further understand CaMK-II’s role in cyclin D1 expression, the binding partners of cytosolic CaMK-II were studied using mass spectrometry. Several proteins were identified including β actin, β tubulins, tropomodulin- 3 and Flightless-I. …

Fibronectin-Dependent Activation Of Camk-Ii Promotes Focal Adhesion Turnover By Inducing Tyrosine Dephosphorylation Of Fak And Paxillin, Charles Easley Iv

Theses and Dissertations

Transient elevations in Ca²⁺ have previously been shown to promote focal adhesion disassembly and cell motility. Yet the targets of these Ca²⁺ transients have not been fully examined. In this study, we demonstrate that CaMK-II, a Ca²⁺/calmodulin dependent protein kinase, is activated in response to β1 integrin engagement with fibronectin to influence fibroblast adhesion and motility. We also show that CaMK-II is dynamically localized to the cell surface using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy (TIRFm) and that inhibition of CaMK-II with two mechanistically distinct, membrane permeant inhibitors accelerates spreading on fibronectin, enlarges paxillin-containing focal adhesions and …

The Role Of Secreted Phosphoprotein-24 In Osteoblast Differentiation And Matrix Mineralization, Samuel Ramage

Theses and Dissertations

Secreted Phosphoprotein-24 (Spp24) was initially isolated and characterized as a component of bovine cortical bone matrix. Subsequent characterization has shown it is multiply phosphorylated and homologous to cystatin and TGF-β receptor type II. Spp24 is a minor component of the serum fetuin mineral complex that binds calcium-phosphate minerals and prevents their deposition. The TGF-β receptor homology domain binds BMP-2 weakly in vitro and enhances BMP-2’s osteogenic effects in vivo. The ability of Spp24 to affect BMP activity suggests an important role for Spp24 as a native, bioactive componentof bone that regulates bone development.

Spp24 was highly up-regulated in rat cortical …

Commonwealth Times 2007-11-19

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2007-11-15

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2007-11-05

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2007-10-29

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2007-10-22

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

The Vine (2007-10)

The Vine, 1994-2008

The Vine was a successor to Reflections in Ink, published from 1994 to 2008. It transitioned from a mostly African American student perspective to a multi-cultural one.

Commonwealth Times 2007-09-27

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2007-09-17

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2007-09-13

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Shafer Court Connections (2007-09)

Shafer Court Connections, 1994-2010

For alumni of the Academic Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Commonwealth Times 2007-08-30

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2007-07-05

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

The Vine (2007-05)

The Vine, 1994-2008

The Vine was a successor to Reflections in Ink, published from 1994 to 2008. It transitioned from a mostly African American student perspective to a multi-cultural one.