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Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - August 16, 2009, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the August 16, 2009 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine - Watercooler.

Contents Include

• From Pigs to people: What You Need to Know About Swine Flu
• Dr. Dan Beals Returns to USA
• Advice For Moms-To-Be: Get Your Flu Shot Now
• New Pediatric Development - Behavioral Specialist
• Med School Cafe Lectures - Streaming Video

Uab Aids Research Center Earns $7.5 Million Grant Renewal, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Inflammation And Infection Do Not Promote Arterial Aging And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Lean Horticulturalists, Michael Gurven, Hillard Kaplan, Jeffrey Winking, Daniel Eid Rodriguez, Sarinnapha Vasunilashorn, Jung Ki Kim, Caleb Finch, Eileen M. Crimmins

ESI Publications

Background: Arterial aging is well characterized in industrial populations, but scantly described in populations with little access to modern medicine. Here we characterize health and aging among the Tsimane, Amazonian forager-horticulturalists with short life expectancy, high infectious loads and inflammation, but low adiposity and robust physical fitness. Inflammation has been implicated in all stages of arterial aging, atherogenesis and hypertension, and so we test whether greater inflammation associates with atherosclerosis and CVD risk. In contrast, moderate to vigorous daily activity, minimal obesity, and low fat intake predict minimal CVD risk among older Tsimane.

Methods and Findings: Peripheral arterial …

Modulations Of Cell Cycle Checkpoints During Hcv Associated Disease, Anwar Ali Siddiqui, Saira Sarfraz, Wasim Jafri, Saeed Hamid, Syed Ali

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background

Impaired proliferation of hepatocytes has been reported in chronic Hepatitis C virus infection. Considering the fundamental role played by cell cycle proteins in controlling cell proliferation, altered regulation of these proteins could significantly contribute to HCV disease progression and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to identify the alterations in cell cycle genes expression with respect to early and advanced disease of chronic HCV infection.

Methods

Using freshly frozen liver biopsies, mRNA levels of 84 cell cycle genes in pooled RNA samples from patients with early or advanced fibrosis of chronic HCV infection were studied. To associate mRNA …

Uncoupling Scavenger Receptor A-Mediated Phagocytosis Of Bacteria From Endotoxic Shock Resistance, Eyal Amiel, Julie L. Acker, Ryan M. Collins, Brent Berwin

Dartmouth Scholarship

Unresolved infection by gram-negative bacteria can result in the potentially lethal condition known as endotoxic shock, whereby uncontrolled inflammation can lead to multiple organ failure and death of the infected host. Previous results have demonstrated that animals deficient in class A scavenger receptor (SRA), a trafficking receptor for bacteria and bacterium-derived molecules, are more susceptible to endotoxic shock. This has been proposed to be a result of impaired SRA-dependent phagocytic clearance of bacteria resulting in stronger proinflammatory stimuli. In this report, we test the hypothesis that there is an obligate reciprocal relationship between SRA-mediated phagocytosis of bacteria and susceptibility to …

Bile-Induced Damage In Listeria Monocytogenes, Megan Elisa Merritt

Theses and Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is an enteric pathogen that can replicate within bile, yet this capability differs between strains. This project analyzed whether the pathogenic potential of the strain affects the ability to resist bile. We tested this hypothesis by examining the effect of bile on the morphology of a virulent strain (EGD-e) and an avirulent strain (HCC23) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Our data showed that exposure to bile greatly impacted the growth of HCC23. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses indicated that bile affects the cell envelope of EGD-e and HCC23 differently. Our results suggest that differences …

The Ecology Of Cactoblastis Cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) In Florida, Kristen Erica Sauby

Theses and Dissertations

I used a theoretical model to determine the conditions under which Cactoblastis cactorum populations would be expected to experience positive population growth. Results from simulations suggest that host species richness, host quality, and the C. cactorum death rate interact to determine the probability of C. cactorum positive population growth. I also studied the influence of host diversity empirically. Cactoblastis cactorum prevalence was significantly higher when O. stricta was present in the community. Also, higher species richness within host assemblages led to a higher prevalence of infestation than in single-species host assemblages. Finally, I explored cooccurrence patterns of native cactuseeding insects …

Development Of Psychometrically Equivalent Speech Audiometry Materials For Testing Children In Mongolian, Meghan Elizabeth Caldwell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and equate Mongolian monosyllabic and bisyllabic child-appropriate words which can be used in the measurement of word recognition scores and speech-reception threshold (SRT) in children who are native speakers of Mongolian. Based on data collected from a survey of Mongolian child language professionals, a subset of child-appropriate materials was adapted from a set of materials developed for Mongolian adults. Two lists of 50 monosyllabic words and four half-lists of 25 words each were developed for testing the word recognition abilities of Mongolian children. The developed lists and half-lists were …

Interleukin-21 Induces Apoptosis Of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphomas Via Activation Of The Stat3 - C-Myc Intracellular Signaling Pathway, Kristopher A. Sarosiek

Open Access Dissertations

Interleukin-21 (IL-21), a recently discovered member of the IL-2 cytokine family, has been shown to have diverse regulatory effects on B cells including the induction of antibody secretion, differentiation, or apoptosis depending on the cell milieu and activation status. However, the effects of IL-21 on B cell neoplasms such as diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are largely unknown. Our research uncovered the widespread expression of the IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) in B cell lymphomas including DLBCL and that IL-21 stimulation resulted in potent phosphorylation of STAT1 and 3 and weak activation of STAT5. However, our findings also showed that treatment …

A Novel Cre Recombinase Imaging System For Tracking Lymphotropic Virus Infection In Vivo, Bernadette M. Dutia, Stuart J. Reid, Derek D. Drummond, Yvonne Ligertwood, Ian Bennet, Willard Rietberg, Ondine Silvia, Michael A. Jarvis, Anthony A. Nash

School of Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Flagellum-Mediated Biofilm Defense Mechanisms Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Against Host-Derived Lactoferrin, Jeff G. Leid, Mathias Kerr, Candice Selgado, Chelsa Johnson, Gabriel Moreno, Alyssa Smith, Mark E. Shirtliff, Georg A. O'Toole, Emily K. Cope

Dartmouth Scholarship

Chronic infection with the gram-negative organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in human patients, despite high doses of antibiotics used to treat the various diseases this organism causes. These infections are chronic because P. aeruginosa readily forms biofilms, which are inherently resistant to antibiotics as well as the host's immune system. Our laboratory has been investigating specific mutations in P. aeruginosa that regulate biofilm bacterial susceptibility to the host. To continue our investigation of the role of genetics in bacterial biofilm host resistance, we examined P. aeruginosa biofilms that lack the flgK gene. This mutant …

A Sensitivity Matrix Methodology For Inverse Problem Formulation, Ariel Cintron-Arias, H. T. Banks, Alex Capaldi, Alun L. Lloyd

Mathematics and Computer Science Faculty Publications

We propose an algorithm to select parameter subset combinations that can be estimated using an ordinary least-squares (OLS) inverse problem formulation with a given data set. First, the algorithm selects the parameter combinations that correspond to sensitivity matrices with full rank. Second, the algorithm involves uncertainty quantification by using the inverse of the Fisher Information Matrix. Nominal values of parameters are used to construct synthetic data sets, and explore the effects of removing certain parameters from those to be estimated using OLS procedures. We quantify these effects in a score for a vector parameter defined using the norm of the …

Mole Street Journal, July 2009, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Dept. Of Chemistry And Biochemistry

Mole Street Journal

No abstract provided.

Weight-Related Effects On Disease Progression In The Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis Trial, Herbert L. Bonkovsky

UCHC Articles - Research

BACKGROUND & AIMS With the limited efficacy of current therapy for chronic hepatitis C, modifiable risk factors for liver disease progression are important to identify. Because obesity is associated with liver disease, we examined the effects of weight-related conditions on disease outcomes in the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) trial. METHODS Of 1050 patients, 985 could be evaluated for predefined progression of liver disease not related to hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical outcomes were determined over 3.5 years for all patients and progression to cirrhosis on protocol biopsy among patients who had bridging fibrosis (56.5% of cohort) at entry. …

Progress Notes, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Progress Notes

No abstract provided.

Use Of Revised International Health Regulations During Influenza A (H1n1) Epidemic, 2009, Rebecca L. Katz

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Strong international health agreements and good planning created a structure and common procedure for nations involved in detection and evaluation of the emergence of influenza A (H1N1). This report describes a timeline of events that led to the determination of the epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern, following the agreed-upon procedures of the International Health Regulations. These events illustrate the need for sound international health agreements and should be a call to action for all nations to implement these agreements to the best of their abilities.

Pharmacy & Therapeutics Update: Drug Information For Health Care Professionals, July/August 2009, Medical University Of South Carolina, Heather Kokko, Kelli Garrison, Jason Cooper, Chris Wisniewski, James New

Pharmacy & Therapeutics Update: Drug Information for Health Care Professionals

No abstract provided.

Identification Of A Simple Chemical Structure Associated With Protective Human Antibodies Against Multiple Pneumococcal Serogroups, Saeyoung Park, Archana R. Parameswar, Alexei V. Demchenko, Moon H. Nahm

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Works

Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major human pathogen, expresses at least 91 serologically distinct carbohydrate capsules. Since pneumococcal vaccines are designed to elicit antibodies against many different capsular polysaccharides (PSs), it is important to identify the epitopes involved in eliciting anti-capsular PS antibodies. We investigated the epitopes recognized by Dob1, which is a hybridoma-secreting human immunoglobulin G2 antibody to the PS of serotype 6B (Y. Sun et al., Infect. Immun. 67:1172-1179, 1999). We found that Dob1 bound synthetic capsular carbohydrates Gal(1→3)α-D- Glcp(1→3)α-L-Rhap(1→3)Rib-ol and α-D-Glcp (1→3)α-L-Rhap(1→3)Rib-ol but did not bind α-L- Rhap(1→3)Rib-ol. The critical epitope α-D-Glcp (1→3)α-L- Rhap is found in the capsular …

Role Of Cd4+Cd25+ Regulatory T Lymphocytes In Experimental Toxoplasmosis, Sanjay Varikuti

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Toxoplasmosis is an important cause of congenital disease, and it is one of the most common opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The need for a reliable experimental model of this infection is crucial not only for achieving a better understanding of the patho-physiology of the disease, but also for developing better methods for evaluating new therapeutic regimens. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory lymphocytes in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. T regulatory (Treg) cells have been shown to play an important role in our immune system in …

Pestilence, Persistence And Pathogenicity: Infection Strategies Of Bartonella, Michael F. Minnick, James M. Battisti

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

It has been nearly two decades since the discovery of Bartonella as an agent of bacillary angiomatosis in AIDS patients and persistent bacteremia and 'nonculturable' endocarditis in homeless people. Since that time, the number of Bartonella species identified has increased from one to 24, and 10 of these bacteria are associated with human disease. Although Bartonella is the only genus that infects human erythrocytes and triggers pathological angiogenesis in the vascular bed, the group remains understudied compared with most other bacterial pathogens. Numerous questions regarding Bartonella's molecular pathogenesis and epidemiology remain unanswered. Virtually every mammal harbors one or more Bartonella …

Tri-Trophic Linkages In Disease: Pathogen Transmission To Rainbow Trout Through Stonefly Prey, Sandra M. Adams, Aaron S. Adams, William E. Holben

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

ABSTRACT Relationships between macroinvertebrates and microorganisms in aquatic environments are only poorly understood despite the fact that many aquatic macroinvertebrates feed on microbial biofilms during some life stage. Better understanding of trophic interactions between microbial biofims, macroinvertebrates, and fish may also help control fish diseases and loss of natural resources. It has also been suggested that pollution, habitat fragmentation, and poor water quality may contribute to increased pathogenesis and mortality in fish. Increased disease incidence is difficult to assess, however, in part because of the complexity of pathogen transmission dynamics. Several environmental pathogens exist whose reservoir(s) and means of transmission …

Indiana Wildlife Disease News, Vol 4, Issue 3 -- August 2009, Joe N. Caudill, Dean Zimmerman

Indiana Wildlife Disease News

White-nose syndrome in bats
Indiana DNR Protocol for Dead Bats
ProMED-mail - the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases
14th International Congress on Infectious Diseases
Bird Banders are Invited to Participate in a Research Study
Meetings Planned to Discuss Bovine TB
Mark Reiter to Lead DNR Fish and Wildlife Division
Midwest Wildlife Disease Update: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Wide Spread In 2007; Rate of Chronic Wasting Disease Up in Wisconsin Deer; Anaplasmosis- A New Tick Disease Surfaces In WI; Susceptibilities of Nonhuman Primates to Chronic Wasting Disease;

Contributions Of The Ron Receptor Tyrosine Kinase To The Progression Of Breast Cancer, Kimberly Joy Feres

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

[to be added]

Synthetic Studies On Difluorovinyl-Taxoid Anticancer Agents And Benzimidazole-Based Antituberculosis Agents, Guan-Ting Chen

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

[to be added]

Mechanistic Studies Of Potential Drug Targets Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Hua Xu

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

[to be added]

Tuberculous And Cryptococcal Meningitis In A Setting With High Tb And Low Hiv Prevalence, Afrasyab Khan, Bushra Jamil, Rahmat Ali, Sana Sultan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in presentation and outcome of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and cryptococcal meningitis (CCM).

STUDY DESIGN: Case series.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from December 1995 to December 2005.

METHODOLOGY: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of TBM or CCM were included in this study. The signs and symptoms, laboratory findings and other variables of patients were entered and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software version 14.

RESULTS: We compared 16 patients of TBM with 11 of CCM. None of the patients with TBM were Human Immunodeficiency …

Mechanism Of Caspase-1 Activation In Macrophages And Its Role In Pathogenesis By Yersinia Pestis, Sarit Lilo

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

[to be added]

The Impact Of West Nile Virus On Ohio Birds, Laura C. Gooch

Ohio Cardinal

No abstract provided.

Checkup, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Checkup

No abstract provided.

Antimicrobial Activity Of Aegle Marmelos Against Pathogenic Organism Compared With Control Drug, D. Venkatesan, M. Karunakaran, S. Selva Kumar, P. T. Palaniswamy, G. Ramesh

Ethnobotanical Leaflets

The aqueous and ethanolic extracts from the leaves of Aegle marmelos traditionally used in Indian system of Medicines were screened against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis by using disc diffusion test technique. Bacillus subtilis exhibit about 22mm inhibition zone were considered resistant. The zone of inhibition of the extract was compared with the standard antibiotics such as Penicillin. The study suggests that the plant is promising development of phytomedicine for antimicrobial properties.