Digital Commons Network^™

Cathelin-Related Antimicrobial Peptide (Cramp) Regulates B Cell Igg1 Production, Yao Chen

All ETDs from UAB

Mammalian antimicrobial peptides, including cathelicidins and defensins, play an important role in host defense via direct antimicrobial activity as well as immune regula-tion. The cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (mCRAMP) is the only identified mouse cathelicidin and the orthologue of human LL-37. We show that all mouse B cell subsets, including follicular, marginal zone, B1a, and B1b cells, as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells produce mCRAMP directly ex vivo. In addition, mCRAMP-deficient B cells produced less IgG1 antibody in vitro in response to CD40L or LPS plus IL-4 when compared to WT B cells. The addition of recombinant mCRAMP at …

Diversity, Commonality, And Stability Of Mutans Streptococci In High Caries Risk Children, Kyounga Cheon

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Mutans streptococci (MS), Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are associated with the initiation of dental caries in humans. Initially, a single S. mutans genotype has been shown to colonize primary molars soon after eruption. More genotypes can be acquired with age and further dental development. Current methods used to genotype isolates from an individual have not systematically determined the minimum number required to demonstrate an individual's genetic diversity. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum number of oral isolates of MS (i.e., from plaque samples) to genotype in order to demonstrate diversity. This study also initiated a …

Examining The Association Between Body Mass Index And Weight Related Quality Of Life In Black And White Women, Tiffany Lashaun Cox

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Obesity not only increases risk for morbidity/mortality, but also impacts the quality of life of obese individuals. In the United States, black women have the highest prevalence of obesity of any other group with approximately 80% of black women over age 20 having a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2. We aimed to examine the association between weight and quality of life in this high risk population and compare it to weight-related quality of life in white women using the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL)-Lite questionnaire. Data for 343 women were analyzed (172 black, 171 white). …

The Effects Of Weight Reduction On Obesity-Related Cancer Biomarkers And In Vitro Cancer Cell Growth, Maria Azrad

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Obesity increases the risk for breast and endometrial cancers while weight loss reduces the risk for these cancers. One aim of this dissertation was to determine the effects of weight loss from an overweight state [body mass index (BMI) 27-30] to a normal weight state on several obesity-related cancer biomarkers in African-American (AA) and European-American (EA) premenopausal women. We also sought to determine whether the method of weight loss, caloric restriction alone (CR) or combined with exercise resulted in similar changes in cancer biomarkers. The biomarkers of interest were urinary estrogen metabolites, and serum adiponectin, leptin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, …

Evaluations Of Clinical Signs Currently And Not Currently Used In Syndromic Case Management (Scm) Of Reproductive Tract Infections (Rtis) Among Pregnant Women In Jamaica, Gelen Receno Del Rosario

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Reproductive tract infections include sexually transmitted infections, endogenous infections caused by overgrowth of organisms that can be present in the genital tract of a healthy woman, and iatrogenic infections. In Jamaica, women in the reproductive age group of 15-44 years old accounts for 95% of all RTIs. RTIs among Jamaican women of reproductive age can seriously impact the health of the women and their children. The advent of HIV/AIDS has had a significant impact on increasing awareness of the effect of STIs. Health care organizations have reacted with great commit-ment to STI prevention and treatment as a significant factor in …

Parental Well-Being And Child Outcomes Among School-Aged, Prematurely-Born Children., Desiree Maria De Jong

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Children born prematurely are at a significantly higher risk than their full-term peers for developing cognitive, behavioral, attention, and executive functioning difficulties by the time they reach school-age. Parents of children born prematurely are also at greater risk for developing symptoms of depression and stress compared to parents of full-term children. However, the literature is conflicting with respect to whether or not parental well-being remains compromised by the time the preterm child reaches school-age. Additionally, much of the research examining this relationship is conducted prior to school-age, with little research beyond these years. A primary purpose of the current study …

Sense Of Community Among Adolescents Participating In The Mobile Youth Survey: A Measurement Study, Randolph Stacer Devereaux

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A measurement study was conducted to evaluate 11 items representing the latent variable labeled "sense of community" (SOC) employed by investigators of the Mobile Youth Survey (MYS). In previous research the 11 items representing the concept of SOC have been combined to form a composite variable, assuming that the concept was best represented by a single factor (e.g., Bolland, Bryant, Lian, McCallum, Vazsonyi & Barth, 2007). However, no systematic analysis has been conducted to determine the psychometric properties of the 11-item composite variable. The objects of the present study are a) to determine the component structure of the items used …

Regulation Of Redox Signaling By Lipid Electrophiles In Breast Cancer, Anne R. Diers

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A number of steps in breast cancer progression and metastasis are regulated by redox signaling pathways. Electrophilic lipids such as 15-deoxy-delta12,14-Prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) are mediators of redox signaling pathways because of their ability to modify critical cysteine residues (thiols) in redox-sensitive proteins. In this thesis, we examine the effect of lipid electrophiles such as 15d-PGJ2 and others on redox signaling pathways in breast cancer. Furthermore, we develop new strategies to regulate cancer cell behavior in response to lipid electrophiles using three strategies: 1) through organelle-specific targeting of electrophiles 2) by exploiting the concentration-dependence of effects of electrophiles, and 3) utilizing …

The Role Of Post-Translational Modifications And Valosin-Containing Protein In The Turnover And Stability Of The Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau, Philip James Dolan

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Alzheimer Disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by the appearance of senile plaques composed of ß-amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles composed of the microtubule-associated protein tau. During the development of AD pathology, tau is hyperphosphorylated and aberrantly cleaved, both of which potentially contribute to its pathogenic and fibrillogenic nature. The accumulative nature of these post-translational products, and their contribution to tau pathology, has led to a great deal of study regarding mechanisms for both the maintenance of tau stability and degradation. The first part of this study reviews the developments regarding the contribution of phosphorylated tau to different physiological and pathological processes. …

Characterization Of The Oligosaccharides Of B. Anthracis Exosporium, Shengli Dong

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Fatal systemic anthrax is caused by exposure to spores of Bacillus anthracis. The outermost layer of the B. anthracis spore is called the exosporium. It consists of a paracrystalline basal layer and an external hair-like nap. The filaments of the hair-like nap are primarily composed of the glycoprotein BclA. Our previous studies showed that a 715-Da tetrasaccharide and a 324-Da disaccharide are attached to BclA through GalNAc. We named the novel nonreducing terminal sugar of the 715-Da tetrasaccharide anthrose. We subsequently proposed a plausible anthrose biosynthetic pathway and identified a gene cluster of four continuous genes that appeared to encode …

Familial Clustering Of Cancer In Two Tertiary Care Hospitals In Nairobi, Kenya, G. W. Kiarie, N. O. Abinya, M. D. Joshi, G. N. Lule, G. Z. Mutuma

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Objective: To describe the occurrence of cancers in families of individuals diagnosed cancer.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Setting: Outpatient cancer clinics at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Radiotherapy Clinic at Nairobi Hospital.

Subjects: Patients with a tissue histological or cytological diagnosis of cancer.

Main outcome measures: A reported family history of cancer.

Results: A total number of 485 cancer patients were recruited, 382, from KNH and 103 from Nairobi Hospital. These index cases had 45 different types of cancer, with the most common being breast and uterine-cervical malignancies. Prevalence of family history of cancer was found to be 18.8% and …

Self-Blood Pressure Monitoring, Stage Of Change, Medication Adherence, Self-Efficacy And Blood Pressure Control In Hypertensive Workers, Tonya Lynn Breaux-Shropshire

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ABSTRACT According to the World Health Organization, hypertension is the leading cause of death in the world and it is one of the primary reasons patients seek health care. Prior to 2010, uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) rates were approximately 18%, despite the fact that prescribed medical treatment is available to adequately control patients' BP. It has been established that medication adherence is a major factor in controlling BP, and self-BP monitoring is highly recommended by the national guideline to improve blood pressure control. However, information related to assessing hypertensive patients' readiness to engage in health care treatment and self-monitoring is …

Lens Cataract: Biochemical Analysis Of The Alpha Crystallins, David Ray Stella

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The cataract is a common ailment affecting the aged population. It appears over time and affects the quality of one’s life by the eventual loss of vision. Currently, there is no effective strategy to prevent or treatment to reverse the development of a cataract. As well, there is no consensus on one particular mechanism or sequence of events that contributes to its formation. In order to better understand the possible etiology of the cataract, it is necessary to define the biochemical changes that occur to lens proteins as one ages, as these are the key players in the prevention of …

Methods For Estimating Mediation Effect In Survival Analysis: Does Weight Loss Mediate The Undernutrition-Mortality Relationship In The Older Adults?, Yanhui Sun

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The influence of undernutrition on mortality and other adverse outcomes through the mechanism of unintentional weight loss in older adults is often assumed, but the analytic methods to test these mediation mechanisms are not well-developed, and the need for methodological advances in this area motivated this program of research. We first examined the test-retest reliability and predictive validity of self-reported caloric intake as a measure of undernutrition. Acceptable reliability was observed, consistent with previous reports, but the evidence for predictive validity was inconsistent and self-reported caloric intake deficiency was not found to be related to observed weight loss. We then …

Exosomal Curcumin: Its Bioavailability And Potential Anti-Inflammation Activity, Dongmei Sun

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Curcumin, a pleiotropic polyphenol derived from turmeric plants Curcuma Longa with rhizome, exhibits strong evidence as an anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer reagent both in vitro and in vivo. Due to its low stability and systemic bioavailability, a large amount of curcumin has to be administrated to achieve therapeutic effects both in animal and in human. The major effort to overcome this barrier is making by encapsulation of curcumin into nanoparticles such as polymers and liposomes; some promising data have demonstrated the effectiveness of such method. Exosomes are vesicle-like nanoparticles secreted by living cells. Exosomes contain both cell surface molecules and …

Structural And Functional Study Of P58(Ipk), Jiahui Tao

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P58(IPK) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein which is upregulated during unfolded protein response (UPR). In stressed cells, P58(IPK) functions to restore protein folding equilibrium in ER by suppressing protein aggregation and promoting protein folding. P58(IPK) associates with the unfolded protein via its N-terminal TPR domain and presents it to BiP (binding immunoglobulin protein) for subsequent folding. P58(IPK) belongs to the Hsp40 family. Collectively, P58(IPK) is a stress-inducible ER-resident molecular chaperone. In this dissertation, we report the crystal structure of P58(IPK) TPR domain to 2.5 Å resolution. In the crystal structure, the 43-kDa TPR domain consists of nine tandemly linked …

Roles Of Adiponectin And Its Receptors In Foam Cell Transformation, Ling Tian

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Macrophages play a critical role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis by producing pro-inflammatory mediators and transforming into lipid-laden foam cells. The prevention of lipid accumulation and inflammation in macrophage foam cells, therefore, represents a promising target for effective therapy for atherosclerosis. Adiponectin is a circulating cytokine primarily expressed and secreted by adipocytes, and is downregulated in obesity-linked diseases including type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension. In oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced human THP-1 macrophage foam cells, adiponectin suppresses lipid accumulation through decreasing lipid uptake and increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-mediated lipid efflux. The potential mechanisms that adiponectin utilizes …

Red Blood Cell And Hemoglobin Dependent Modulation Of Reactive Species Metabolism: Implications For Vascular Homeostasis, Dario A. Vitturi

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The recent discovery that red blood cells might mediate hypoxic blood flow together with accumulating evidence that suggests a role for the modulation of vascular inflammation has reshaped the way we think about the function of these cells. In this thesis we investigate the mechanisms that regulate these newly appreciated functions and focus on i) the ability of red cells to couple oxygen sensing with nitrite reduction and nitric oxide formation and ii) the role of the beta93cys, a conserved residue amongst mammalian hemoglobins and whose function remains unclear. Data will be presented that demonstrate that nitrite reduction to nitric …

Pre-Disaster Planning For Transportation Infrastructure Recovery, Stephanie Victoria Watson

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The US is dependent upon a functioning transportation network for many aspects of daily life, and those aspects that become largely important during times of disaster. For example, emergency medical response is a crucial activity that relies upon a functioning transportation network during regular daily operations as well as during times of emergency. The US has experienced several natural and manmade devastating events within the past decade including the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita, and record flooding in Tennessee. When disasters occur, the potential of disrupting various infrastructures either individually or simultaneously exists. During a …

Functional Determinants Of The Porin Mspa And Its Role In Permeabilizing Mycobacterial Outer Membranes, Jason Huff

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infects one third of the global population and causes approximately 2,000,000 Tuberculosis-related deaths annually. Mycobacteria are Gram positive organisms but contain a unique outer membrane (OM) which is functionally similar but structurally different from those of Gram negative bacteria. The mycobacterial OM presents an efficient permeability barrier towards hydrophilic solutes. Slow permeation kinetics of hydrophilic molecules through membranes and several discoveries of cell wall channel-forming proteins indicate that mycobacterial OMs are functionalized by proteins. MspA is the primary porin of M. smegmatis and mediates diffusion of small, hydrophilic nutrients and antibiotics across the OM. Unlike porins of …

Role Of The Human Cytomegalovirus Tegument Protein Pp150 In The Trafficking And Assembly Of Infectious Virions, Sabarish Vellatheri Indran

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Human cytomegalovirus, a ubiquitous human pathogen, establishes a persistent infection in the infected host. HCMV assembly takes place in the nucleus and cytoplasm of infected cells by a complex and incompletely defined process. The viral DNA is enclosed by the capsid, which is surrounded by a proteinaceous tegument, which is covered by a cell-derived envelope studded with viral glycoproteins. The assembly pathway and protein interactions required for formation of the tegument layer and the function of most of the proteins in the tegument remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the functions of an essential abundant tegument protein, pp150, …

An Exploratory Study Of Servant Leadership In An Urban School District, Heather Claibon Jackson

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AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP AMONG SCHOOL LEADERS IN AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT HEATHER CLAIBON JACKSON EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ABSTRACT The purpose of this quasi-experimental mixed-methods study was to determine if servant leadership was present in the research setting, the relationship between the scored Servant Leadership Profile Revised (SLPR) and selected demographic and professional variables, and the perceptions and professional practices of servant leadership among school leaders. The participants (n = 74) consisted of school leaders in an academically and financially challenged urban school district in a southern state. As measured by the SLPR instrument (Page & Wong, 2003), approximately …

The Role Of Fc Receptor-Like 2 In B Cell Signaling, Tanisha Anne Jackson

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Fc receptor-like 2 (FCRL2) is a transmembrane protein with immunomodulatory potential that is preferentially expressed by memory B cells in humans. It has two consensus immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM) in addition to a putative immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) sequence in its cytoplasmic domain. We have confirmed the cellular distribution of FCRL2 and ana-lyzed its functional potential to show that coligation with the B cell receptor (BCR) leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of its ITIM motifs and subsequent SHP-1 recruitment to facilitate inhibition of BCR signaling. Mutational analysis indicates that the tyrosine residues in both inhibitory motifs of FCRL2 are …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Hepatic Insulin Resistance Following Injury, Shaoning Jiang

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Insulin resistance commonly occurs following injuries or critical illness independent of previous diabetic status. The development of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the acute insulin resistance following injuries remain poorly understood. With an animal model of trauma and hemorrhage, we have previously demonstrated the rapid development of insulin resistance in liver, and a critical role of TNFα in hemorrhage-induced defects in insulin signaling following resuscitation. However, hepat-ic insulin signaling is impaired prior to a significant increase in plasma TNFα, suggesting the initial development of hemorrhage-induced …

In Vitro Elucidation Of The Role And Mechanism Of Rankl In Tnf-And Il-1-Mediated Osteoclast Formation And Function, Joel Jules

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The receptor activator of NF-қB (RANK) ligand (RANKL) and its receptor RANK play a critical role in osteoclast biology. RANK has three tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor (TRAF)-binding motifs [PFQEP369-373 (Motif 1), PVQEET559-564 (Motif 2), and PVQEQG604-609 (Motif 3)] that regulate osteoclast formation and function. RANK also contains a TRAF-independent motif (IVVY535-538) that commits bone marrow macrophages (BMMs), which are osteoclast precursors, to the osteoclast lineage for osteoclastogenesis. Notably, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and interlukin-1 (IL-1) utilize TRAFs to initiate most of the signaling pathways known to be activated by RANKL but fail to form osteoclasts unless attended by …

The Role Of The Intracellular Signaling Pathway In Ehrlichia Canis Infection In Vitro, Chang-Hyun Kim

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Ehrlichia canis is a pleomorphic obligatory intracellular gram-negative bacterium that causes tick-borne canine ehrlichiosis. A systematic investigation on the pathogenesis of the disease has been hindered largely by lack of a reliable quantitative assay. Using quantitative real time PCR (qPCR), a quantitative assay for E. canis was developed and validated. Using the qPCR, the intracellular proliferation kinetics of E. canis in the canine 030F cell-line was studied for the first time. Many intracellular bacterial pathogens have been shown to use Ca2+ signaling in the host cells to induce their own internalization and proliferation. However, it is not clear how Ca2+ …

Identification And Characterization Of Downstream Target Genes Of The Bmp Signaling Pathway, Nam Chul Kim

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During nervous system development, neurons proliferate, differentiate, project their axons to their targets and make synapses with them. At the neuromuscular junction of Drosophila, these functional synapses enlarge as the body grows to maintain physiologically effective synaptic transmission with the muscles. Drosophila Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) type II receptor, Wishful thinking (Wit), is important in this proper synaptic growth and function. To identify transcriptional targets of Wit signaling, we performed microarray experiments comparing normal controls to wit mutants. Through this study, we found that some of the verified target genes showed isoform-specific regulation in wit mutants, and that several neuropeptide …

Spin Echo Ss-Parse: A Parse Mri Method To Estimate R2, R2' And Frequency In A Single Shot, Ningzhi Li

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Rapid and accurate mapping of relaxation rates applies to a number of neuroimaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. Previously developed relaxation rate mapping methods are based mostly on non-linear fitting of intensity images. For the first time, this study developed an ultrafast and direct transverse relaxation rate mapping technique, Spin Echo Single-Shot Parameter Assessment by Retrieval from Single Encoding (SE-SS-PARSE). Four useful imaging parameters, local transverse magnetization magnitude (Mxy0), frequency (f), reversible and irreversible transverse re-laxation rate (R2' and R2), can be estimated using an iterative searching algorithm simul-taneously and quantitatively. In addition, the SE-SS-PARSE technique is free …

Reading Achievement In An Urban School District, Kathleen W. Lindsey

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READING ACHIEVEMENT IN AN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICT KATHLEEN W. LINDSEY EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in elementary reading comprehension achievement existed as a result of statewide implementation of the Alabama Reading Initiative post No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Research supports the premise that targeted instruction in reading comprehension yields increases in reading achievement for students. In an effort to increase students' reading comprehension, the Alabama State Department of Education embarked upon a bold initiative targeting all areas of reading. The Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) was designed to address K-12 reading efforts in …

Role Of 14-3-3&Tau In Autophagy And Role Of Edd In P53 Regulation, Shiyun Ling

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Unrestricted cell proliferation and suppression of cell death are two essential events for tumor development. My dissertation research involves two proteins, 14-3-3 &tau and EDD which are involved in diverse pathways related to these two fields in recent studies. Previous study demonstrates that 14-3-3ô regulates p21 degradation. Up-regulation of 14-3-3ô is seen in breast cancer and is correlated with the down-regulation of p21 in breast cancer. Amplification or overexpression of EDD was observed in breast cancer and ovarian cancers. Illustrating the new roles of these two proteins in proliferation and cell death will advance our knowledge in tumorigenesis and help …