Life Sciences Commons^™

Work Of Fracture In Ceramic Bracket Bonding Systems, Tye A. Roylance

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: Work of fracture (WOE) is a method of analysis of the toughness or resilience of a bracket bonding system. It is an indication of a bracket bonding systems ability to withstand forces in the mouth below the force at which failure occurs. Work of fracture gives an indication of how much abuse the bracket/bonding system can withstand and still maintain an adequate adhesion to the tooth surface. This analysis incorporates shear bond strength and displacement and is determined in part by the elasticity and resilience of the specimen being studied.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty bovine teeth …

Microct Study Of Critical-Sized Defects Restored With A New Rhbmp-2 Carrier, Joanne S. Kim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: Regenerating bone in critical-sized maxillofacial osseous defects remains a challenge. The utilization of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) to form new bone has been shown to be a promising alternative to autogenous bone grafts, and the development of a carrier matrix to effectively deliver the rhBMP-2 has been identified as the critical factor necessary for the successful clinical application of rhBMP-2. The objective of this study was to perform a microCT analysis to examine the density of reconstructed bone using different rhBMP-2 carriers in critical-sized defects.

Material and Methods: Critical-sized defects (approximately 2.5 cm) were created in the …

The Role Of Unrealistic Optimism In Explaining Preventive Behaviors In High Versus Low Endemic Malaria Settings In Belize, Daniel G. Handysides

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Of all the diseases an individual can encounter in the world, malaria is one of the most destructive. Simple measures like sleeping under a bednet would greatly reduce the burden (Abeku, 2007). When people estimate their risk relative to others, they are most often unrealistically optimistic, which may explain why those at risk often fail to perform behaviors, such as using a bednet that will reduce their risk. However, one study showed that people at high risk for malaria held pessimistic perceptions of their risk for the disease, but the reasons for this finding are unclear (Morrison, Ager, & …

Ricin B Chain-Insulin Fusion Protein Immunomodulation Of Type 1 Diabetes, James Edward Carter Iii

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a debilitating chronic inflammatory disease of the insulin-producing pancreatic islet β-cells that results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Attempts to suppress Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases such as T1D by mucosal delivery of autoantigens for immunotolerization have yielded only partial success. Attainment of satisfactory levels of sustained immunological tolerance remains to be accomplished. To restore self-tolerance requires delivery of sufficient amounts of autoantigen to stimulate regulatory T helper cells that function to survey the gut and induce tolerance to consumed antigens such as food. Oral delivery of autoantigens has previously been shown to …

Fetal Programming By Nicotine Increases Cardiac Susceptibility To Ischemic Injury, Jennifer Charlotte Alexie Lawrence

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Fetal programming is the area of study that focuses on the prenatal origins of adult onset disorders. Previous studies have associated an adverse prenatal environment with the onset of physiologic and metabolic diseases during adulthood. Fetal malnutrition, hypoxia, and exposure to drugs - such as cocaine and nicotine - have been associated with adult disease states. Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the developed world. Among the many dangerous chemicals found in tobacco products is nicotine, the compound responsible for the addictive nature of tobacco use. Nicotine use during pregnancy is a known cause of …

Regulation Of Pim1 Under Hypoxia In Prostate Cancer, Eva Sahakian

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A defining characteristic of solid tumors is the capacity to divide and spread under conditions of nutrient deprivation and limited oxygen availability. These microenvironmental stresses arise from structural abnormalities in tumor vessels that lead to aberrant microcirculation. Hypoxia acts as a physiological “selection pressure” in the progression of cancer by activating pathways and enhancing the expression of specific genes in tumor cells which eventually diminish their apoptotic potential. Ultimately, hypoxic microenvironment functions as a “stress factor”, selecting cells with the ability to survive and divide under anoxic conditions. The members of the PIM family of cytoplasmic serine threonine kinases are …

Hypoxia And Fetal Programming Of Cardiovascular Dysfunction, Qin Xue

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Human epidemiological studies have shown a clear association of adverse intrauterine environment and an increased risk of ischemic heart disease in later adult life. Of all the stresses to which the fetus is subjected, perhaps the most important and clinically relevant is that of hypoxia. The goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that chronic hypoxia during gestation adversely affects fetal cardiovascular development and impairs cardiac function in offspring. In the first part of project, we tested the hypothesis that chronic hypoxia adversely regulates contractility of fetal pulmonary arteries and veins in sheep residing at high altitude (3,801 …