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2011

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Pick It Up, Put It Down: A Grounded Theory Study Of How Low Income African American Patients In The Deep South Start Smoking And Quit Smoking, Jessica Hillman Williams Jan 2011

Pick It Up, Put It Down: A Grounded Theory Study Of How Low Income African American Patients In The Deep South Start Smoking And Quit Smoking, Jessica Hillman Williams

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this qualitative was to use data extracted from the narrative stories of African American patients to generate a grounded theory to explain the process and act of initiating and of quitting smoking among low income African American patients in the Deep South. This is important since African Americans are more likely to suffer from smoking-related illnesses, which are the leading cause of death among African Americans. Data were analyzed from interviews conducted in 2005 as part of the Stories Project and supplementary interviews conducted in 2011. Convenience sampling strategies guided participant recruitment for primary interviews and theoretical …


Tear Component Interference In Bead-Based Biomarker Assays Using Magnetic Beads, Larezia Denise Williams Jan 2011

Tear Component Interference In Bead-Based Biomarker Assays Using Magnetic Beads, Larezia Denise Williams

All ETDs from UAB

Cytokines in tears can be biomarkers for ocular inflammation in dry eye subjects. Multiplex bead-based assays measure the concentration of multiple cytokines in a single tear sample. Bio-Rad® polystyrene bead-based assay kits have provided acceptable results for tear samples in this lab. Recently, Bio-Rad decided to replace polystyrene beads with magnetic beads. In earlier experiments in this laboratory, magnetic bead-based as-says did not produce results equivalent to polystyrene bead-based assays. The purpose of this investigation was to modify the magnetic bead-based tear cytokine assay to produce equivalent results to those obtained with the polystyrene bead-based assay. The modifications included running …


Enamel Demineralization Around Bonded Orthdontic Appliances Using Resin Coatings, Michael Brett Wood Jan 2011

Enamel Demineralization Around Bonded Orthdontic Appliances Using Resin Coatings, Michael Brett Wood

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Orthodontists work to achieve a favorable esthetic and functional result, only to have the outcome tainted by the presence of demineralization upon appliance removal. The presence of WSL's is a disappointment to both orthodontists and patients. Several products have been developed to prevent this unfortunate damage to tooth structure, including "Opalseal" and "Ortho-coat". Opalseal is a 38% filled primer that releases and recharges fluoride. Ortho-coat is a fluoride releasing, light cure, hydrophilic resin that coats both the bracket and tooth surface preventing decalcification. The aim of this study was to investigate the barrier effect of Opalseal and Ortho-coat compared …


Examination Of Ideal Physical Parameter Choices For Efficacious Hyperthermic Treatment Of Cancer, Lauren Rast Jan 2011

Examination Of Ideal Physical Parameter Choices For Efficacious Hyperthermic Treatment Of Cancer, Lauren Rast

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation presents results on the computational modeling of electromagnetic and thermal effects during the hyperthermic treatment of cancer using magnetic nanoparticles. Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia can be used for direct targeting and destruction of tumors through heat treatment or as a complement to chemotherapy. This method of treatment would be much less invasive than many current treatment options. Additionally, since these are nanoscale devices, the hyperthermic treatment of the cancer cells would be extremely localized. This would cause very minimal damage to surrounding tissue, making these systems superior to traditional hyperthermic treatment. The use of ferrofluids for cancer treatment requires …


The Natural History Of Sivcpz Infection In Wild Living Chimpanzees, Rebecca Steele Rudicell Jan 2011

The Natural History Of Sivcpz Infection In Wild Living Chimpanzees, Rebecca Steele Rudicell

All ETDs from UAB

Simian immunodeficiency virus of chimpanzees (SIVcpz) is the immediate precursor to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), but even the most basic aspects of SIVcpz infection in its natural host are unknown. Here, we present the first comprehensive analysis of the natural history of SIVcpz infection in wild living chimpanzees. Using non-invasive (feces and urine based) methods, we studied two unique chimpanzee populations in Tanzania: the famous chimpanzees of Gombe National Park and the savanna chimpanzees of Ugalla, located about 135 km southeast of Gombe. Gombe chimpanzees are endemically infected with SIVcpz, and the park's established research infrastructure provides a …


Increased Cutting Efficacy Of Diamond Burs With Biochemical Solution Spraying, Ramtin Sadid Zadeh Jan 2011

Increased Cutting Efficacy Of Diamond Burs With Biochemical Solution Spraying, Ramtin Sadid Zadeh

All ETDs from UAB

CAD/CAM units are becoming increasingly popular for milling all ceramic restorations from ceramic blocks. The solution used to spray the diamond cutting instrument also improves cutting effectiveness and also lubricates the diamond, which may not only prolong the cutting life of the diamond instrument but also provide smoother cuts on the ceramic block. The purpose of this study is to evaluate cutting efficacy of diamond burs with three solutions and to compare roughness produced by each solution on the glass-ceramic block. Material and methods: 15 Empress CAD blocks, 30 fine diamond burs, two solutions and distilled water were used. Each …


Optimization And Characterization Of Multifunctional Polymeric-Nanodiamond Electrospun Scaffolds, Amanee Salaam Jan 2011

Optimization And Characterization Of Multifunctional Polymeric-Nanodiamond Electrospun Scaffolds, Amanee Salaam

All ETDs from UAB

Due to the lack of treatment options available for patients suffering from bone abnormalities, current research focuses on developing novel biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. Since a tissue scaffold is implanted in vivo, it could also serve as a substrate for localized, systemic delivery of therapeutics. Particularly in primary bone cancer after removal of a cancerous lesion, there is a need for a system that can support the generation of new tissue while delivering localized chemotherapy. However, a complex molecule is needed to serve as a vehicle for delivering the drug and targeting only cancerous cells. Detonation nanodiamond (DND) is …


Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 2b1b: Structure, Function And Expression In Human Brain, Emily D. Salman Jan 2011

Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 2b1b: Structure, Function And Expression In Human Brain, Emily D. Salman

All ETDs from UAB

The human cytosolic sulfotransferases are a family of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes that conjugate a sulfonate moiety from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to a hydroxyl moeity on a substrate. SULT2B1b catalyzes the sulfation of hydroxysteroids as well as many xenobiotics; and is expressed extra-hepatically. SULT2B1b is a unique SULT because it has amino (N)- and carboxy (C)-terminal peptide extensions, undergoes post-translational modification, and is localized in both the cytosol and nucleus. Analysis of SULT2B1b revealed that the N- and C-terminal extensions of SULT2B1b are predicted to be intrinsically unstructured peptides. Size exclusion chromatography has revealed that SULT2B1b is enzymatically active as …


The Impact Of Endopytic Algae On Growth And Survival Of Antarctic Macroalgae (Rhodophyta), Kathryn M. Schoenrock Jan 2011

The Impact Of Endopytic Algae On Growth And Survival Of Antarctic Macroalgae (Rhodophyta), Kathryn M. Schoenrock

All ETDs from UAB

Filamentous algal endophytes are common in many species of chemically defended macroalgae along the western Antarctic Peninsula. Effects of filamentous algal endophytes in macroalgal hosts are unknown, but may be detrimental to host due to competition for light and nutrients or pathogenic effects. Growth of three species of red Antarctic macroalgae were examined in situunder varying loads of endophyte infection. The experiment occurred at the end of the Austral summer and lasted approximately six to nine weeks until population senescence was imminent. Growth was measured through change in mass, change in surface area, growth rate, relative growth rate and surface …


Thesis- Clinical Evaluation Of Non-Carious Cervical Lesion- A Longitudinal Study., Shreya D. Shah Jan 2011

Thesis- Clinical Evaluation Of Non-Carious Cervical Lesion- A Longitudinal Study., Shreya D. Shah

All ETDs from UAB

Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL) are non-bacterial in origin and defined as the loss of tooth substance at the cemento-enamel junction (Mair, 1992). There is growing evidence that NCCLs may be associated with occlusal and lateral. OBJECTIVE: To develop a non invasive, highly reproducible technique to measure the occlusal forces (biting pressure) and to correlate it with lesion progression. MATERIALS & METHODS: Twenty-six subjects and 60 teeth were measured for biting force. Digital images and elastomeric impressions were made ateach of three visits (baseline restoration, one and two years). Casts were prepared and a fixture which aligned each patients cast in …


Effect Of Different Percentages Of Silica Nanofibers Filler Loads On Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Flowable Composite Resins, Shashikant Singhal Jan 2011

Effect Of Different Percentages Of Silica Nanofibers Filler Loads On Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Flowable Composite Resins, Shashikant Singhal

All ETDs from UAB

Dental composites are important in the spectra of restorative materials. Ability to match the color of natural dentition is an appealing characteristic of composite restorations. Additionally, they can be bonded physically to the tooth, which limits the amount of tooth preparation required and thereby conserves healthy tooth structure. In relation to other restorations like amalgams, non-metallic compositions of dental composites have exhibited good biocompatibility. The dental composites are composed of a resin matrix containing a blend of bis-GMA (bis-phenol A-glycidyldimethacrylate) or urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) along with TEGDMA (tetraethylglycidylmethacrylate). Novel techniques for the reinforcement of these resin-based composites continue in a …


Social Support, Social Stigma, Health, Coping, And Quality Of Life In Older Gay Men With Hiv, Larry Zuendel Slater Jan 2011

Social Support, Social Stigma, Health, Coping, And Quality Of Life In Older Gay Men With Hiv, Larry Zuendel Slater

All ETDs from UAB

With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, people with HIV/AIDS are living longer and managing their HIV infection as would an individual with any other chronic disease. As life expectancy increases, quality of life has progressed as an emerging issue for older adults with HIV/AIDS. A majority of people living with HIV in the U.S. are still gay men, who thus comprise a large portion of those who are growing older with the disease. The aims of the descriptive, correlational study were to: (1) explore the relationships among age, race, socioeconomic status, health, social support, social stigma, coping, perceived health, and …


Calciotropic Hormonal Influence On Energy Homeostasis, Lynae J. Hanks Jan 2011

Calciotropic Hormonal Influence On Energy Homeostasis, Lynae J. Hanks

All ETDs from UAB

Energy balance exists when intake is equivalent to expenditure. It has become evident that beyond quantitative aspects of intake, dietary components also have directive impact. On the expenditure side, an underappreciated yet key contributor is resting energy expenditure (REE). As the largest constituent of overall energy output, REE encompasses physiologic, dietary and genetic influence on body composition. While cellular and overall systemic contribution cannot be ignored, the relative proportion of adipose, bone and lean body tissue (i.e., body composition) represents the primary determinant underlying REE. It is possible that the mineral calcium is a common denominator encompassing energy balance influenced …


In Vivo Analysis Of The Natural Diversity Of The Igr Ires Family And Characterization Of The Role Of Ribosomal Protein S25 In Ires-Mediated Translation, Marla Ilene Hertz Jan 2011

In Vivo Analysis Of The Natural Diversity Of The Igr Ires Family And Characterization Of The Role Of Ribosomal Protein S25 In Ires-Mediated Translation, Marla Ilene Hertz

All ETDs from UAB

Translation of the majority of eukaryotic mRNAs is initiated upon recognition of its 5' cap structure by translation initiation factors in so-called cap-dependent translation. Cap-dependent translation is repressed during cell stress and translation initiation by internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) predominates. IRESs, located in the 5' untranslated region of specific mRNAs, recruit the ribosome independent of the 5' cap and are essential regulatory elements in many RNA viruses and cellular messages. The dysregulation of cellular IRESs has been linked to cancer because they regulate the expression of genes involved in growth, development and stress response. In comparison to cap-dependent translation, …


Risk Associations Between Perceived Stress, Allostatic Load, And Insulin Resistance Among Nondiabetic African American Women Of The Jackson Heart Study, Alethea N. Hill Jan 2011

Risk Associations Between Perceived Stress, Allostatic Load, And Insulin Resistance Among Nondiabetic African American Women Of The Jackson Heart Study, Alethea N. Hill

All ETDs from UAB

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between perceived stress, allostatic load, and insulin resistance measured by HOMAIR among nondiabetic African American women of the Jackson Heart Study. Methods: The investigative team examined the cross-sectional associations (2000-2004) of perceived stress, summary indices of allostatic load, and insulin resistance in 2,245 nondiabetic African American women, stratified by glycemic profile, participating in the Jackson Heart Study. Measurements include physiological markers, anthropometric measures, and (3) stress instruments: Weekly Stress Inventory (WSI), Global Stress (STS), and JHS Discrimination Questionnaire (DIS). t-tests, ÷2 test, bivariate correlations, and forward hierarchical linear regression …


The Effects Of Supplemental Dietary Vitamins On Weight Gain And Organ Production In The Variegated Sea Urchin, Lytechinus Variegatus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea), Warren T. Jones Jan 2011

The Effects Of Supplemental Dietary Vitamins On Weight Gain And Organ Production In The Variegated Sea Urchin, Lytechinus Variegatus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea), Warren T. Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Due to the global decline in sea urchin fisheries, there has been an increased need to produce nutritionally-complete sea urchin diets for the emerging sea urchin aquaculture industry. Previous studies have established various macronutrient requirements; however, micronutrient requirements have not been well-researched in sea urchins. Vitamins are important micronutrients in both vertebrates and invertebrates, but their importance has not been established in any sea urchin species. To establish the essentiality and nutritional requirements of vitamins in sea urchins, a suite of important vitamins were tested in nutritional trials in the sea urchin, Lytechinus variegatus. Sea urchins fed moderate levels of …


Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds Jan 2011

Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds

All ETDs from UAB

Heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type&ndash1 (HIV&ndash1) accounts for the majority of infections worldwide, with women representing the larger percentage of infected individuals. The events leading to the transmission of HIV&ndash1 at mucosal surfaces are not well defined. Based on the observations that transmitted viruses nearly exclusively utilize the CCR5 coreceptor, and that in 80% of heterosexual transmissions a single virus variant establishes infection, there appears to be a selection mechanism that allows only a subset of viruses to be transmitted. This genetic bottleneck suggests that transmitted viruses may possess specific phenotypic and/or genotypic properties that allow for their …


Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Caenorhabditis Elegans Sperm Migration, Johnathan Wesley Edmonds Jan 2011

Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Caenorhabditis Elegans Sperm Migration, Johnathan Wesley Edmonds

All ETDs from UAB

Fertilization is the process by which male and female gametes join to give rise to a new organism. Union of sperm and ova requires that sperm be able to successfully locate and migrate towards oocytes in the female reproductive tract. By analyzing the in vitro migration of sperm from diverse species and mapping the complex architecture of their female reproductive tracts, we can infer that sperm must respond to directional cues to seek out the mature oocyte. However, the internal fertilization schemes of most complex animals complicate the analysis of in vivo sperm migration. The transparent epidermis of the nematode …


Efectos Benéficos Del Aloe En La Salud, Mariel Calderón Oliver, Maria Alejandra Quinones Peña, José Pedraza Chaverri Jan 2011

Efectos Benéficos Del Aloe En La Salud, Mariel Calderón Oliver, Maria Alejandra Quinones Peña, José Pedraza Chaverri

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

El Aloe es una planta originaria de regiones áridas que se ha empleado como remedio medicinal desde la antigüedad. Su uso en diferentes patologías depende de cuestiones biológicas, de la variedad de la planta e incluso de cuestiones culturales. Se conocen más de 360 especies de Aloe y se conocen estudios científicos sólo de algunas de las especies con propiedades medicinales, siendo el Aloe vera la especie más estudiada y comercializada en la actualidad. Ciertos compuestos del Aloe presentan propiedades benéficas en la salud, tal es el caso de algunos polifenoles y antracenos como el aloe-emodina, losacemananos, etc. Muchos de …


The Role Of Tgf-Ss Receptors In The Induction Of Mucosal Tolerance, Rebekah Sims Gilbert Jan 2011

The Role Of Tgf-Ss Receptors In The Induction Of Mucosal Tolerance, Rebekah Sims Gilbert

All ETDs from UAB

Oral tolerance, defined as the immunologic state of systemic and mucosal unresponsiveness to an antigen, is an essential function of the mucosal immune system. Although antigen presentation has been found to play an important role in oral tolerance, T cells are known to be the effector immune cells that perpetrate this state. Recent studies found that antigen-specific T regulatory (Treg) cells are important in the induction and maintenance of oral tolerance. The extrathymic development of these Tregs depends on the presence of TGF-ß1 during the differentiation process. However, it has also been shown that oral tolerance could be induced in …


The Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Cotransporter In Glioma Biology, Brian R. Haas Jan 2011

The Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Cotransporter In Glioma Biology, Brian R. Haas

All ETDs from UAB

The most common malignant primary brain tumor, gliomas usually derive from glial cells including oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. These tumors are characterized by high rates of proliferation and aberrant migration which make them notoriously difficult to treat using standard treatment paradigms such as chemotherapy and radiation. In order for glioma cells to migrate into the surrounding brain tissue, they must undergo rapid and dynamic volume changes. Previous work published by the Sontheimer laboratory and others indicates glioma utilize the flux of ions across the cell membrane to aid in volume changes associate with cell migration. In this dissertation, I show the …


Improvement Of A Surrogate Assay For Protective Antibodies To Pneumococcal Surface Protein A, Eun Lim Kim Jan 2011

Improvement Of A Surrogate Assay For Protective Antibodies To Pneumococcal Surface Protein A, Eun Lim Kim

All ETDs from UAB

Despite the availability of vaccines for pneumococcal infections, their protective efficacy is not ideal. This problem is due to the replacement of the strains that are not covered by the current vaccines. One potential resolution of this problem is to develop a pneumococcal vaccine that is not limited to serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae . On the surface of pneumococci, there are several virulence factors in addition to capsule. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is a major virulence factor that presents on the surface of virtually all pneumococcal strains. PspA is also known to elicit protective immune responses and as a …


Structural And Functional Studies On Group A Streptococcal Bacteriophage Hyaluronidase, Joo Hyoung Lee Jan 2011

Structural And Functional Studies On Group A Streptococcal Bacteriophage Hyaluronidase, Joo Hyoung Lee

All ETDs from UAB

Aberrant hyaluronan production is frequently associated with tumors where the elevated levels of tumoral hyaluronan are often associated with higher expression levels of cellular hyaluronidases that produce saturated hyaluronan fragments with divergent pro-tumoral activities. In this thesis, we provide evidence that different hyaluronan metabolism of bacteriophage hyaluronidase (HylP) elicits distinct alteration in breast cancer cell behavior. We demonstrate through comparative analysis with bovine testicular hyaluronidase (BTH) that higher enzyme activity, specificity for hyaluronan and production of unsaturated oligosaccharides render HylP to have profound effects on growth, migration and invasion activities of breast carcinoma cells, whereas BTH and its saturated metabolites …


Estrogen Increases Stress Resilience And Hippocampal Synaptic Physiology In The Learned Helplessness Model Of Depression In Female Rats, Teruko Michelle Bredemann Jan 2011

Estrogen Increases Stress Resilience And Hippocampal Synaptic Physiology In The Learned Helplessness Model Of Depression In Female Rats, Teruko Michelle Bredemann

All ETDs from UAB

A recent focus of psychiatric research is estrogen related mood disorders such as postpartum depression and major depressive disorder in women. It is now clear that women are more susceptible to depression in response to stress during reproductive events when ovarian hormones are low or fluctuating. Depressive episodes are characterized by feelings of helplessness and despair as well as learning and memory impairments that have been linked to the hippocampus. Thus, decreased functioning of hippocampal circuits likely contributes to the cognitive symptoms associated with depression. Preclinical research shows that stress, which triggers depressive episodes, decreases the ability of excitatory synapses …


The Predictability Of C-Reactive Protein, Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2, And Depression On Later Health Outcomes In Patients Experiencing A First-Time Stroke, Mary King Brethour Jan 2011

The Predictability Of C-Reactive Protein, Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2, And Depression On Later Health Outcomes In Patients Experiencing A First-Time Stroke, Mary King Brethour

All ETDs from UAB

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the most common cause of neurologic disability for adults in developed nations. Strokes trigger an acute inflammatory response prompted by brain tissue injury at the infarct site and the surrounding ischemic penumbra raising plasma levels of inflammatory markers. C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase inflammatory marker, has been significantly correlated with infarct size and post-stroke complications. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) may also predict long-term cardiovascular risk in the stroke population. In addition to physiologic changes, up to 60% of all stroke survivors are known to experience depression, which may contribute to decreased …


Understanding Streaming In Dictyostelium Discoideum: Theory Versus Experiments, J. C. Dallon, Brittany Dalton, Chelsea Malani Jan 2011

Understanding Streaming In Dictyostelium Discoideum: Theory Versus Experiments, J. C. Dallon, Brittany Dalton, Chelsea Malani

Faculty Publications

Recent experimental work involving Dictyostelium discoideum seems to contradict several theoretical models. Experiments suggest that localization of the release of the chemoattractant cyclic adenosine monophosphate to the uropod of the cell is important for stream formation during aggregation. Yet several mathematical models are able to reproduce streaming as the cells aggregate without taking into account localization of the chemoattractant. A careful analysis of the experiments and the theory suggests the two major features of the system which are important to stream formation are random cell motion and chemotaxis to regions of higher cell density. Random cell motion acts to reduce …


Role Of Ras Proteins In Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors, Nicole Marie Brossier Jan 2011

Role Of Ras Proteins In Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors, Nicole Marie Brossier

All ETDs from UAB

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) arising in patients with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) are null for the tumor suppressor neurofibromin, a negative regulator of signaling from both classic Ras (H-Ras, N-Ras and K-Ras) and R-Ras (R-Ras, R-Ras2/TC21, M-Ras/R-Ras3) subfamily members. Treatment of these tumors with Ras-targeted agents such as farnesyltransferase inhibitors has proven unsuccessful, likely due to the inability of these agents to successfully target all of the Ras isoforms regulated by neurofibromin. Thus, determining which Ras isoforms are critical for MPNST pathogenesis would be of therapeutic value. In this dissertation, we first review the clinical manifestations of NF1 …


Responses Of Two Heterokonts (Classes Phaeophyceae And Bacillariophyceae) To Environmental Variables Throughout Their Microenvironments, Anthony Philip Bucolo Jan 2011

Responses Of Two Heterokonts (Classes Phaeophyceae And Bacillariophyceae) To Environmental Variables Throughout Their Microenvironments, Anthony Philip Bucolo

All ETDs from UAB

Behavioral responses to variations in the microenvironments of motile spores of the Antarctic epiphyte E. antarctica and the motile epiphytic diatom, Navicula sp. were investigated. Most macroalgal species along the Western Antarctic Peninsula are chemically defended against predation and are also mostly devoid of free living filamentous algal epiphytes. However, one endo/epiphyte, Elachista antarctica, is found growing exclusively out of the palatable rhodophyte Palmaria decipiens. Choice and no choice feeding assays with tissues of epiphyte and host were conducted in three different trials with four amphipods commonly found on P. decipiens to test whether meso-grazers prefer the host over the …


Altered Dna Methylation Of Repetitive Elements May Explain The Modified Risk Of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (Cin) Associated With Genetic Polymorphisms Of The Folate Metabolic Pathway In The Us Post Folic Acid Fortification Era, Suguna Badiga Jan 2011

Altered Dna Methylation Of Repetitive Elements May Explain The Modified Risk Of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (Cin) Associated With Genetic Polymorphisms Of The Folate Metabolic Pathway In The Us Post Folic Acid Fortification Era, Suguna Badiga

All ETDs from UAB

Despite the controversy regarding the adverse effects of exposure to higher folate concentrations on health outcomes particularly cancer, there has been paucity of research to understand the biological mechanisms affected by such exposures in relation to the risk of developing pre-cancer or cancer. We have recently addressed this concern by demonstrating that higher plasma folate concentrations were not associated with greater risk of being diagnosed with higher grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+) especially in women with sufficient plasma vitamin B12 concentrations. Higher plasma folate was also associated with a pre-cancer protective level of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) …


Role Of The Cystine/Glutamate Exchanger In Glioma Cell Biology, Toyin Adeyemi Ogunrinu Jan 2011

Role Of The Cystine/Glutamate Exchanger In Glioma Cell Biology, Toyin Adeyemi Ogunrinu

All ETDs from UAB

Changes in the glioma microenvironment including oxygen (O2) levels, supply of amino acid such as L-glutamate and L-cystine and glutathione (GSH) concentrations play a critical role in glioma biology. Previous data from our laboratory and others have implicated the L-cystine/L-glutamate exchanger, system xc- in the invasion and proliferation of cancers including glioma. The central aim of this dissertation was to characterize the contribution of L-cystine uptake, GSH synthesis and L-glutamate release to migration and proliferation of glioma cells. In my first study, I examined the role of system xc- mediated L-glutamate release on glioma migration. I show that activation of …