Digital Commons Network^™

Glypican-3 Targeting Of Liver Cancer Cells Using Multifunctional Nanoparticles, James O. Park, Zachary Stephen, Conory Sun, Omid Veiseh, Forrest M. Kievit, Chen Fang, Matthew Leung, Hyejung Mok, Miqin Zhang

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Imaging is essential in accurately detecting, staging, and treating primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies. We developed a novel multifunctional nanoparticle (NP) specifically targeting glypican-3 (GPC3), a proteoglycan implicated in promotion of cell growth that is overexpressed in most HCCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm the differential GPC3 expression in two human HCC cells, Hep G2 (high) and HLF (negligible). These cells were treated with biotin-conjugated GPC3 monoclonal antibody (aGPC3) and subsequently targeted using superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs conjugated to streptavidin and Alexa Fluor 647. Flow cytometry demonstrated …

Dur3 Is The Major Urea Transporter In Candida Albicans And Is Co-Regulated With The Urea Amidolyase Dur1,2, Dhammika H. M. L. P Navarathna, Aditi Das, Joachim Morschhauser, Kenneth W. Nickerson, David D. Roberts

Kenneth Nickerson Papers

Hemiascomycetes, including the pathogen Candida albicans, acquire nitrogen from urea using the urea amidolyase Dur1,2, whereas all other higher fungi use primarily the nickel-containing urease. Urea metabolism via Dur1,2 is important for resistance to innate host immunity in C. albicans infections. To further characterize urea metabolism in C. albicans we examined the function of seven putative urea transporters. Gene disruption established that Dur3, encoded by orf 19.781, is the predominant transporter. [¹⁴C]Urea uptake was energy-dependent and decreased approximately sevenfold in a dur3D mutant. DUR1,2 and DUR3 expression was strongly induced by urea, whereas the other putative transporter genes …

Monophyly Of Clade Iii Nematodes Is Not Supported By Phylogenetic Analysis Of Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequences, Joong-Ki Park, Tahera Sultana, Sang-Hwa Lee, Seokha Kang, Hyong Kyu Kim, Gi-Sik Min, Keeseon S. Eom, Steven A. Nadler

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Abstract Background: The orders Ascaridida, Oxyurida, and Spirurida represent major components of zooparasitic nematode diversity, including many species of veterinary and medical importance. Phylum-wide nematode phylogenetic hypotheses have mainly been based on nuclear rDNA sequences, but more recently complete mitochondrial (mtDNA) gene sequences have provided another source of molecular information to evaluate relationships. Although there is much agreement between nuclear rDNA and mtDNA phylogenies, relationships among certain major clades are different. In this study we report that mtDNA sequences do not support the monophyly of Ascaridida, Oxyurida and Spirurida (clade III) in contrast to results for nuclear rDNA. Results from …

Effects Of Solution Chemistry And Aging Time On Prion Protein Adsorption And Replication Of Soil-Bound Prions, Samuel E. Saunders, Qi Yuan, Jason C. Bartz, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Prion interactions with soil may play an important role in the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) and scrapie. Prions are known to bind to a wide range of soil surfaces, but the effects of adsorption solution chemistry and long-term soil binding on prion fate and transmission risk are unknown. We investigated HY TME prion protein (PrP^Sc) adsorption to soil minerals in aqueous solutions of phosphate buffered saline (PBS), sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and deionized water using western blotting. The replication efficiency of bound prions following adsorption in these solutions was also evaluated by protein misfolding cyclic amplification …

An Inexpensive High-Throughput Nmr Tube Cleaning Apparatus, Bo Zhang, James Hodgson, Walter Hancock, Robert Powers

Robert Powers Publications

Large scale Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) tube cleaning is currently a bottleneck in high throughput NMR ligand affinity screens. Expensive alternatives include discarding the NMR tubes after a single use (~$2 to $8/tube), using commercial NMR tube cleaners (~$15K) or abandoning NMR tubes for flow probe technology (~$75K). Instead, we describe a relatively inexpensive (~ $400) and easily constructed apparatus that can clean 180 NMR tubes an hour while using a modest amount of solvent. The application of this apparatus significantly shortens the time to recycle NMR tubes while avoiding cross contaminations and tube damage.

A Correlation Between Protein Function And Ligand Binding Profiles, Matthew D. Shortridge, Michael Bokemper, Jennifer C. Copeland, Jaime L. Stark, Robert Powers

Robert Powers Publications

We report that proteins with the same function bind the same set of small molecules from a standardized chemical library. This observation led to a quantifiable and rapidly adaptable method for protein functional analysis using experimentally-derived ligand binding profiles. Ligand binding is measured using a high-throughput NMR ligand affinity screen with a structurally diverse chemical library. The method was demonstrated using a set of 19 proteins with a range of functions. A statistically significant similarity in ligand binding profiles was only observed between the two functionally identical albumins and between the five functionally similar amylases. This new approach is independent …

Nmr Analysis Of A Stress Response Metabolic Signaling Network, Bo Zhang, Steven M. Halouska, Charles E. Schiaffo, Marat R. Sadykov, Greg A. Somerville, Robert Powers

Robert Powers Publications

We previously hypothesized that Staphylococcus epidermidis senses a diverse set of environmental and nutritional factors associated with biofilm formation through a modulation in the activity of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Herein, we report our further investigation of the impact of additional environmental stress factors on TCA cycle activity and provide a detailed description of our NMR methodology. S. epidermidis wild-type strain 1457 was treated with stressors that are associated with biofilm formation, a sub-lethal dose of tetracycline, 5% NaCl, 2% glucose and autoinducer-2 (AI-2). As controls and to integrate our current data with our previous study, 4% ethanol stress …

Evaluation And Comparison Of The Species-Specificity Of 3 Antiparvalbumin Igg Antibodies, Poi-Wah Lee, Julie A. Nordlee, Stef J. Koppelman, Joseph L. Baumert, Steve L. Taylor

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Parvalbumin is a pan-allergen in fish and frogs that triggers IgE-mediated reactions in fish-allergic individuals. Previous studies demonstrated that antibodies raised against fish and frog parvalbumins displayed varying specificity for different fish species, and thus, the applicability of these antibodies for potential use in immunoassays to detect fish residues were limited. We aimed to determine the specificity of 3 IgG antibodies for various fish species. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IgG-immunoblotting were used to compare the reactivity of the polyclonal anticod parvalbumin antibody and the commercially available, monoclonal antifrog and monoclonal anticarp parvalbumin antibodies against raw muscle extracts of …

Online Sources Of Health Statistics In Saudi Arabia., Abdulmohsen H. Al-Zalabani

Saudi Medical Journal

Researchers looking for health statistics on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) may face difficulty. This is partly due to the lack of awareness of potential sources where such statistics can be found. The purpose of this paper is to review various online sources of health statistics on KSA, and to highlight their content, coverage, and presentation of health statistics. Five bibliographic databases where local research can be found are described. National registries available are summarized. Governmental agencies, as well as societies and centers where the bulk of health statistics is produced are also described. Finally, some potential international sources …

Desogestrel+Ethinylestradiol Versus Levonorgestrel+Ethinylestradiol. Which One Has Better Affect On Acne, Hirsutism, And Weight Change., Moradan Sanam, Omidvar Ziba

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To compare complications of third and second generation oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). METHODS: In a randomized clinical trial from October 2007 to October 2008, 100 healthy women of reproductive age referred to Amir Hospital Family Planning Clinic and some heath centers in Semnan, Iran were randomized in 2 equal groups. They received either a third generation OCP (150 microgram desogestrel [DSG] + 30 microgram ethinylestradiol [EE]) or a second generation type (150 microgram levonorgestrel [LNG] + 30 microgram EE). Six months later, changes of weight, acne, and hirsutism severity, as well as serum titers of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) …

Benchmarking Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia Guidelines With The National Institute For Health And Clinical Excellence., Ali S. Al-Qahtani, Farouk M. Messahel

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To improve standards of patients9 care and safety, we benchmarked our practice guidelines of prevention of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia with those of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of the United Kingdom. METHODS: The study started in November 2008 and lasted for 18 months and was conducted at the Armed Forces Hospital, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The NICE clinical guidelines (CG65) published in April 2008 were downloaded from its website. Each practiced item in our guidelines was compared with its equivalent of NICE guidelines, absent equivalent NICE guidelines on our list were immediately added …

Computed Tomography Scan Of Rhinosinusitis, Current Practice, And Requirements For Endoscopic Surgery Of Paranasal Sinuses., Qais M. Aljfout, Khaled A. Tubeishi, Salman M. Al-Assaf, Sufian T. Alnawaiseh

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the current practice in requesting and performing paranasal sinuses CT scan for patients scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery, and to describe the current hospitals practice in performing these scans. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in the King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan between April and May 2010. Three forms were designed to collect data from our study groups, which included: Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons, radiologists, and the radiology sections in 3 hospitals. The first was designed for ENT surgeons and aimed at investigating, whether or not they perform endoscopic sinus surgery, and if …

Trend In Cesarean Section Rate., Walaa M. Bondok, Saleh H. El-Shehry, Samira M. Fadllallah

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To investigate factors influencing the increase in cesarean section CS rates, and to implement control measures. METHODS: This retrospective analysis reviewed the birth registry of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We compared the frequency of different indications for CS between January 2007 and December 2008. The numbers of CS studied were 1105 in 2007, while they were 1226 in the year 2008. Thus, the sample size studied was 2331 cesarean deliveries. Approval of the ethical committee for publication was obtained. RESULTS: The CS rate exceeded the acceptable 15% rate suggested …

Pleural Effusion In Dengue. Karachi Perspective., Kiran Ejaz, Munawar Khursheed, Ambreen Raza

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To study the presentation of pleural effusion among dengue patients in Pakistan and to explore limitations in the diagnosis of these patients by the physicians of a developing country. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on patients admitted to Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from January 2005 to September 2008. Records of 663 dengue patients were reviewed. Demographic data, respiratory complaints, radiographic studies, and final outcome were studied. Presentation and radiological modality confirming the diagnosis of pleural effusion were noted. Descriptive statistics followed by Chi-Square test were applied, testing against an alpha of 0.05 and 95% confidence interval …

Control Of Intravenous Medication Wastage At A Teaching Hospital In Saudi Arabia., Abdulatif A. Al-Dhawailie

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the intravenous (IV) medication wastage within the inpatient pharmacy services at a teaching hospital, and to highlight the main causes for such waste and propose a policy to minimize wastage based on the study findings. METHODS: For a one month period starting from September until October 2009, the returned and unused IV medications to the inpatient pharmacy in a teaching hospital at King Khalid University Hospital of King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were observed daily. Data were collected and evaluated. The causes of this problem were analyzed. RESULTS: Approximately 265 items of IV medication …

Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Of Iranian Adolescent Girls Towards 3-4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine., Zahra Rahnavard, Sana Eybpoosh, Shahin Akhondzadeh

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To investigate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of Iranian adolescent girls towards 3-4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA [Ecstasy]). METHODS: A cross-sectional design study was conducted on female adolescents in Tehran high schools. The study took place in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in October to December 2008. A randomized cluster sample of adolescent girls from 14-18 years old, and enrolled in 57 public high schools of Tehran were selected. A written informed consent was obtained from all study participants. In order to assess the participants9 demographic characteristics, and KAP towards Ecstasy, a 61-item, researcher-made, valid, and reliable questionnaire was completed …

Impact Of Health Education On Lifestyles In Central Saudi Arabia., Farid M. Midhet, Fawzy K. Sharaf

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of health education on diet, smoking, and physical activity among patients visiting the primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Al-Qassim province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: We conducted an uncontrolled experimental study from January to October 2009 to evaluate the impact of health education on smoking, diet, and physical activity among attendees of PHCCs in Al-Qassim province, KSA. We trained the PHCC staff in health education skills and introduced health education seminars organized by the medical students. Baseline (n=1,254) and follow-up (n=1,011) sample surveys were conducted to measure the prevalence of risk factors in …

External Quality Assessment Of Clinical Biochemical Assays In A Medium Non-Academic, Non-Research Hospital Laboratory., Subhash C. Arya, Nirmala Agarwal, Shekhar Agarwal, Beena Michael

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Hypoglycemic Effect Of An Extract From Date Seeds On Diabetic Rats., Mahmood D. Al-Mendalawi

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Efficacy And Safety Of Artemether-Lumefantrine In The Treatment Of Acute, Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria: A Pooled Analysis, M. Makanga, Q. Bassat, C.O. Falade, Zul Premji, S. Krudsood, P. Hunt, V. Walter, H.-P. Beck, A.-C. Marrast, M. Cousin, P.J. Rosenthal

Pathology, East Africa

Randomized trials have confirmed the efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Data from seven studies supported by Novartis (1996-2007), including 647 adults (> 16 years of age, 83.3% completed the study) and 1,332 children (≤ 16 years of age, 89.3% completed the study) with microscopically confirmed uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria and treated with the recommended regimen of AL, were pooled. The 28-day polymerase chain reaction-corrected parasitologic cure rate (primary efficacy endpoint) was 97.1% (495 of 510) in adults and 97.3% (792 of 814) in children (evaluable population). Gametocytemia prevalence after day was 4.2% …

The Legal Framework For Space Projects In Europe: Aspects Of Applicable Law And Dispute Resolution, Frans G. Von Der Dunk

Space, Cyber, and Telecommunications Law Program: Faculty Publications

Space projects in Europe take place in a complicated environment involving many public, private and intergovernmental actors, where the participation of the private sector, as independent space operators or as sub-contractors to others, is usually subsumed under the label of 'the space industry,' producing hardware, software and services to be used in outer space, in support of space activities, or using products, data or information generated with the help of space activities.

Such private, semi-private and quasi-private actors use contracts as the main mechanism to protect their interests, the freedom to contract within the rule oflaw being the paramount overarching …

The Lived Experience Of Late-Stage Doctoral Student Attrition In Counselor Education, Brad Willis, Karla D. Carmichael

The Qualitative Report

Doctoral student attrition occurs across academic disciplines and presents problems for noncompleting students and the programs from which they withdraw. The following research question guided the present study, "What is the experience of doctoral attrition in counselor education?" Six late-stage doctoral noncompleters from counselor education programs participated in research interviews that were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results showed two distinct types of attrition. Five participants reported a negative experience of encountering barriers that acted against the internal desire of the participants to obtain the doctorate. One participant reported a positive experience of an internal change that altered the …

Communicating Qualitative Analytical Results Following Grice's Conversational Maxims, Jan S. Chenail, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

Conducting qualitative research can be seen as a developing communication act through which researchers engage in a variety of conversations. Articulating the results of qualitative data analysis results can be an especially challenging part of this scholarly discussion for qualitative researchers. To help guide investigators through this difficult communicative process, the authors suggest Grice's (1989) Conversational Maxims of Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner as general guidelines to follow when formulating and presenting findings in qualitative research products as well as basic assumptions to guide readers when judging the quality of result representations.

Overexpression Of Galnac-Transferase Galnac-T3 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth, Keisuke Taniuchi, Ronald Cerny, Aki Tanouchi, Kimitoshi Kohno, Norihiro Kotani, Koichi Honke, Toshiji Saibara, Michael A. Hollingsworth

Ronald Cerny Publications

O-linked glycans of secreted and membrane bound proteins play an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer by modulating immune responses, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. A critical aspect of O-glycosylation, the position at which proteins are glycosylated with N-acetyl-galactosamine on serine and threonine residues, is regulated by the substrate specificity of UDP-GalNAc: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferases (GalNAc-Ts). Thus, GalNAc-Ts regulate the first committed step in O-glycosylated protein biosynthesis, determine sites of O-glycosylation on proteins, and are important for understanding normal and carcinoma-associated O-glycosylation. We have found that one of these enzymes, GalNAc-T3, is overexpressed in …

Identification And Characterization Of The Anti-Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Wap-8294a2 Biosynthetic Gene Cluster From Lysobacter Enzymogenes Oh11, Wei Zhang, Yaoyao Li, Guoliang Qian, Yan Wang, Haotong Chen, Yue-Zhong Li, Fengquan Liu, Yuemao Shen, Liangcheng Du

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Lysobactor enzymogenes strain OH11 is an emerging biological control agent of fungal and bacterial diseases. We recently completed its genome sequence and found it contains a large number of gene clusters putatively responsible for the biosynthesis of nonribosomal peptides and polyketides, including the previously identified antifungal dihydromaltophilin (HSAF). One of the gene clusters contains two huge open reading frames, together encoding 12 modules of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS). Gene disruption of one of the NRPS led to the disappearance of a metabolite produced in the wild type and the elimination of its antibacterial activity. The metabolite and antibacterial activity were …

Energy And Climate Implications For Agricultural Nutrient Use Efficiency, Adam J. Liska, Richard K. Perrin

Adam Liska Papers

Energy and climate change are beginning to dominate the global political agenda and will drive policy formation that will shape the future of agriculture. Energy issues threaten national security and economic stability, as well as access to low-cost nutrient inputs for agriculture. Climate change has the potential to cause serious disruption to agricultural productivity. Paradoxically, nutrient use in agriculture to increase crop yields has the potential to negatively impact climate. This chapter will discuss recent and future energy and climate trends, the relationships between agricultural nutrient use efficiency and biofuels, and how global land limitations will shape agriculture in the …

Chromatographic Analysis Of Drug Interactions In The Serum Proteome, David S. Hage, Jeanethe A. Anguizola, Abby J. Jackson, Ryan Matsuda, Efthimia Papastavros, Erika Pfaunmiller, Zenghan Tong, John Vargas-Badilla, Michelle J. Yoo, Xiwei Zheng

David Hage Publications

The binding of drugs with serum proteins and binding agents such as human serum albumin, a1-acid glycoprotein, and lipoproteins is an important process in determining the activity and fate of many pharmaceuticals in the body. A variety of techniques have been used to study drug interactions with serum proteins, but there is still a need for faster or better methods for such work. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is one tool that has been utilized in many formats for these types of measurements. Advantages of using HPLC for this application include its speed and precision, its ability to be automated, its …

3-Alkoxy-1,2-Dioxolanes: Synthesis And Evaluation As Potential Antimalarial Agents, Charles E. Schiaffo, Matthias Rottman, Sergio Wittlin, Patrick Dussault

Patrick Dussault Publications

A number of 3-alkoxy-1,2-dioxolanes exhibit promising levels of antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. A new route to the 1,2-dioxolane core is reported based on tandem peroxidation/cyclization of enones.

Characterization Of A Dipartite Iron Uptake System From Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Strain, Doreen Koch, Anson C. K. Chan, Michael E.P. Murphy, Hauke Lilie, Gregor Grass, Dietrich H. Nies

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

In the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain F11, in silico genome analysis revealed the dicistronic iron uptake operon fetMP, which is under iron-regulated control mediated by the Fur regulator. The expression of fetMP in a mutant strain lacking known iron uptake systems improved growth under iron depletion and increased cellular iron accumulation. FetM is a member of the iron/lead transporter superfamily and is essential for iron uptake by the Fet system. FetP is a periplasmic protein that enhanced iron uptake by FetM. Recombinant FetP bound Cu(II) and the iron analog Mn(II) at distinct sites. The crystal structure of the …

Fus Transgenic Rats Develop The Phenotypes Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis And Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, Cao Huang, Hongxia Zhou, Jianbin Tong, Han Chen, Yong-Jian Liu, Dian Wang, Xiaotao Wei, Xugang Xia

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) proteinopathy is a feature of frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD), and mutation of the fus gene segregates with FTLD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To study the consequences of mutation in the fus gene, we created transgenic rats expressing the human fus gene with or without mutation. Overexpression of a mutant (R521C substitution), but not normal, human FUS induced progressive paralysis resembling ALS. Mutant FUS transgenic rats developed progressive paralysis secondary to degeneration of motor axons and displayed a substantial loss of neurons in the cortex and hippocampus. This neuronal loss was accompanied by ubiquitin aggregation and …