Life Sciences Commons^™

Comparing Communication Technology On Chinese, English, And Spanish Diabetes Web Sites, Yanko F Michea, Karen Pancheri, Yang Gong, Elmer Bernstam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Technological and cultural factors influence access to health information on the web in multifarious ways. We evaluated structural differences and availability of communication services on the web in three diverse language and cultural groups: Chinese, English, and Spanish. A total of 382 web sites were analyzed: 144 were English language sites (38%), 129 were Chinese language sites (34%), and 108 were Spanish language sites (28%). We did not find technical differences in the number of outgoing links per domain or the total availability of communication services between the three groups. There were differences in the distribution of available services between …

Critical Analysis Of Cerebrovascular Autoregulation During Repeated Head-Up Tilt., R L Hughson, M R Edwards, D D O'Leary, J K Shoemaker

Kinesiology Publications

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebrovascular autoregulation has been described with a phase lead of cerebral blood flow preceding changes in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), but there has been less focus on the effect of CPP on cerebral vascular resistance. We investigated these relations during spontaneous fluctuations (control) and repeated head-up tilt.

METHODS: Eight healthy adults were studied in supine rest and repeated tilt with 10-second supine, 10 seconds at 45 degrees head-up tilt for a total of 12 cycles. Cerebral blood flow was estimated from mean flow velocity (MFV) by transcranial Doppler ultrasound, CPP was estimated from corrected finger pressure (CPP(F)), …

The Toxoplasma Gondii Protein Rop2 Mediates Host Organelle Association With The Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane, Anthony P. Sinai, Keith A. Joiner

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Toxoplasma gondii replicates within a specialized vacuole surrounded by the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). The PVM forms intimate interactions with host mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in a process termed PVM–organelle association. In this study we identify a likely mediator of this process, the parasite protein ROP2. ROP2, which is localized to the PVM, is secreted from anterior organelles termed rhoptries during parasite invasion into host cells. The NH₂-terminal domain of ROP2 (ROP2hc) within the PVM is exposed to the host cell cytosol, and has characteristics of a mitochondrial targeting signal. In in vitro assays, ROP2hc is …

Comparison Of The Quantification Of Caffeine In Human Plasma By Gas Chromatography And Elisa, A. B. Carregaro, W. E. Woods, Thomas Tobin, A. Queiroz-Neto

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

In the present study we evaluated the precision of the ELISA method to quantify caffeine in human plasma and compared the results with those obtained by gas chromatography. A total of 58 samples were analyzed by gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector and routine techniques. For the ELISA test, the samples were diluted to obtain a concentration corresponding to 50% of the absorbance of the standard curve. To determine whether the proximity between the I₅₀ of the standard curve and that of the sample would bring about a more precise result, the samples were divided into three blocks according …

Accessory Cell Defect In Unresponsiveness Of Neonates And Aged To Polysaccharide Vaccines., Subbarao Bondada, H Wu, D A Robertson, R L Chelvarajan

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

T independent antigens elicit antibody responses in the absence of carrier specific T helper cells but require signals from accessory cells (macrophages and dendritic cells) or specific cytokines. They are further subdivided into TI-1 and TI-2 categories based on the ability of TI-1 but not TI-2 antigens to elicit immune responses from neonates. Most bacterial polysaccharides including the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines belong to the TI-2 class. It is hypothesized that defects in accessory cell function play a critical role in the failure of neonates to respond to such TI-2 antigens. Immune responses to these TI-2 stimuli are also reduced in …

The Toxicology Of Aluminum In The Brain: A Review, Robert A. Yokel

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Aluminum is environmentally ubiquitous, providing human exposure. Usual human exposure is primarily dietary. The potential for significant Al absorption from the nasal cavity and direct distribution into the brain should be further investigated. Decreased renal function increases human risk of Al-induced accumulation and toxicity. Brain Al entry from blood may involve transferrin-receptor mediated endocytosis and a more rapid process transporting small molecular weight Al species. There appears to be Al efflux from the brain, probably as Al citrate. There is prolonged retention of a fraction of Al that enters the brain, suggesting the potential for accumulation with repeated exposure. Al …

Mri Measures Of Middle Cerebral Artery Diameter In Conscious Humans During Simulated Orthostasis., J M Serrador, P A Picot, B K Rutt, J K Shoemaker, R L Bondar

Kinesiology Publications

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow velocity (CFV) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) is uncertain because of unknown vessel diameter response to physiological stimuli. The purpose of this study was to directly examine the effect of a simulated orthostatic stress (lower body negative pressure [LBNP]) as well as increased or decreased end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (P(ET)CO(2)) on MCA diameter and CFV.

METHODS: Twelve subjects participated in a CO(2) manipulation protocol and/or an LBNP protocol. In the CO(2) manipulation protocol, subjects breathed room air (normocapnia) or 6% inspired CO(2) (hypercapnia), or they hyperventilated to approximately …

Novel Function Of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase In T Cell Ca2+ Signaling. A Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-Trisphosphate-Mediated Ca2+ Entry Mechanism., A L Hsu, T T Ching, G Sen, D S Wang, Subbarao Bondada, K S Authi, C S Chen

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

This study presents evidence that phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase is involved in T cell Ca(2+) signaling via a phosphatidylinositol 3,4, 5-trisphosphate PI(3,4,5)P(3)-sensitive Ca(2+) entry pathway. First, exogenous PI(3,4,5)P(3) at concentrations close to its physiological levels induces Ca(2+) influx in T cells, whereas PI(3,4)P(2), PI(4, 5)P(2), and PI(3)P have no effect on [Ca(2+)](i). This Ca(2+) entry mechanism is cell type-specific as B cells and a number of cell lines examined do not respond to PI(3,4,5)P(3) stimulation. Second, inhibition of PI 3-kinase by wortmannin and by overexpression of the dominant negative inhibitor Deltap85 suppresses anti-CD3-induced Ca(2+) response, which could be reversed by subsequent …

A Pdz-Interacting Domain In Cftr Is An Apical Membrane Polarization Signal, Bryan D. Moyer, Jerod Denton, Katherine H. Karlson, Donna Reynolds, Shusheng Wang, John E. Mickle, Michael Milewski, Garry R. Cutting, William B. Guggino, Min Li, Bruce A. Stanton

Dartmouth Scholarship

Polarization of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-activated chloride channel, to the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells is critical for vectorial transport of chloride in a variety of epithelia, including the airway, pancreas, intestine, and kidney. However, the motifs that localize CFTR to the apical membrane are unknown. We report that the last 3 amino acids in the COOH-terminus of CFTR (T-R-L) comprise a PDZ-interacting domain that is required for the polarization of CFTR to the apical plasma membrane in human airway and kidney epithelial cells. In addition, the CFTR mutant, S1455X, which lacks the 26 …

Enhanced Apoptosis Mediates Inhibition Of Ebv-Transformed Lymphoblastoid Cell Line Proliferation By Curcumin., D Ranjan, T D Johnston, K S Reddy, G Wu, Subbarao Bondada, C Chen

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated B-cell lymphomas occur more frequently in immunodeficient states such as organ transplantation and HIV infection. We have previously reported that B cell immortalization with EBV was promoted by cyclosporin A (CyA) and that curcumin (Cur), a natural phenol with known antioxidant and antitumor properties, blocked EBV-induced B cell immortalization. In the following experiments we show that Cur inhibits the proliferation of EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) via enhanced apoptosis.

METHODS: LCL were generated by infecting freshly isolated human B cells with EBV (B95-8) for 12 h and coculturing with predetermined optimal concentrations of CyA (500 ng/ml) …

The Effects Of Free Fatty Acids On Gluconeogenesis And Glycogenolysis In Normal Subjects, X Chen, N Iqbal, G Boden

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

We have quantitatively determined gluconeogenesis (GNG) from all precursors, using a novel method employing 2H20 to address the question of whether changes in plasma free fatty acids (FFA) affect GNG in healthy, nonobese subjects. In the first study (n = 6), plasma FFA were lowered at 16 to 20 hours with nicotinic acid (NA) and were then allowed to rise at 20 to 24 hours (FFA rebound after administration of NA). FFA decreased from 387 microM at 16 hours to 43 microM at 20 hours, and then rebounded to 1,823 microM at 24 hours. GNG decreased from 58.1% at 16 …

Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor Gene Localizes To 17p11.2, A Frequently Deleted Band In Malignant Disorders, Michael W. Stacey, Jianxiang Wang, Rebecca L. Byrd, Johnson M. Liu, William G. Kearns

Bioelectrics Publications

The t(8;21) between the AML1 and ETO genes is a commonly seen genetic alteration in acute myeloid leukemia. Recently, we reported that the fusion partner ETO binds to the human nuclear receptor co-repressor (NCOR), a member of the NCOR/SIN3/histone deacetylase complex. This complex mediates transcriptional repression as a result of chromatin remodeling. Here, we used a combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization and hybrid panels to localize the human NCOR gene (NCOR) to chromosome band 17p11.2. The position of human NCOR on 17p11 raises the possibility of deranged transcriptional regulation in malignant disorders associated with deletions of 17p.

The Leukemic Protein Core Binding Factor Beta (Cbfbeta)-Smooth-Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain Sequesters Cbfalpha2 Into Cytoskeletal Filaments And Aggregates, Neeraj Adya, Terryl Stacy, Nancy A. Speck, Pu Paul Liu

Dartmouth Scholarship

The fusion gene CBFB-MYH11 is generated by the chromosome 16 inversion associated with acute myeloid leukemias. This gene encodes a chimeric protein involving the core binding factor β (CBFβ) and the smooth-muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC). Mouse model studies suggest that this chimeric protein CBFβ-SMMHC dominantly suppresses the function of CBF, a heterodimeric transcription factor composed of DNA binding subunits (CBFα1 to 3) and a non-DNA binding subunit (CBFβ). This dominant suppression results in the blockage of hematopoiesis in mice and presumably contributes to leukemogenesis. We used transient-transfection assays, in combination with immunofluorescence and green fluorescent protein-tagged proteins, to monitor …

Identification Of Putative Cytoskeletal Protein Homologues In The Protozoan Host Hartmannella Vermiformis As Substrates For Induced Tyrosine Phosphatase Activity Upon Attachment To The Legionnaires' Disease Bacterium, Legionella Pneumophila, Chandrasekar Venkataraman, Lian-Yang Gao, Subbarao Bondada, Yousef Abu Kwaik

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

The Legionnaires' disease bacterium, Legionella pneumophila, is a facultative intracellular pathogen that invades and replicates within two evolutionarily distant hosts, free living protozoa and mammalian cells. Invasion and intracellular replication within protozoa are thought to be major factors in the transmission of Legionnaires' disease. We have recently reported the identification of a galactose/N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (Gal/GalNAc) lectin in the protozoan host Hartmannella vermiformis as a receptor for attachment and invasion by L. pneumophila (Venkataraman, C., B.J. Haack, S. Bondada, and Y.A. Kwaik. 1997. J. Exp. Med. 186:537–547). In this report, we extended our studies to the …

Molecular Basis For Effects Of Carcinogenic Heavy Metals On Inducible Gene Expression, Joshua W. Hamilton, Ronald C. Kaltreider, Olga V. Bajenova, Michael A. Ihnat, Jennifer Mccaffrey, Bruce W. Turpie, Erin E. Rowell, Jannet Oh, Michael J. Nemeth, Carrie A. Pesce, Jean P. Lariviere

Dartmouth Scholarship

Certain forms of the heavy metals arsenic and chromium are considered human carcinogens, although they are believed to act through very different mechanisms. Chromium(VI) is believed to act as a classic and mutagenic agent, and DNA/chromatin appears to be the principal target for its effects. In contrast, arsenic(III) is considered nongenotoxic, but is able to target specific cellular proteins, principally through sulfhydryl interactions. We had previously shown that various genotoxic chemical carcinogens, including chromium (VI), preferentially altered expression of several inducible genes but had little or no effect on constitutive gene expression. We were therefore interested in whether these carcinogenic …

Phosphorylation Regulates The Assembly Of Numa In A Mammalian Mitotic Extract, Alejandro Saredi, Louisa Howard, Duane A. Compton

Dartmouth Scholarship

NuMA is a 236 kDa nuclear protein that is required for the organization of the mitotic spindle. To determine how NuMA redistributes in the cell during mitosis, we have examined the behavior of NuMA in a mammalian mitotic extract under conditions conducive to the reassembly of interphase nuclei. NuMA is a soluble protein in mitotic extracts prepared from synchronized cultured cells, but forms insoluble structures when the extract becomes non-mitotic (as judged by the inactivation of cdc2/cyclin B kinase and the disappearance of mpm-2-reactive antigens). These NuMA-containing structures are irregularly shaped particles of 1–2 microm in diameter and their assembly …

Ifn-Gamma, Igif, And Iddm., Nora Sarvetnick

Journal Articles: Regenerative Medicine

No abstract provided.

Cloning Of Human Acetyl-Coa Carboxylase-Beta And Its Unique Features., Joohun Ha, Jung-Kee Lee, Kyung-Sup Kim, Lee A. Witters, Ki-Han Kim

Dartmouth Scholarship

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase, which has a molecular mass of 265 kDa (ACC-alpha), catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of long-chain fatty acids. In this study we report the complete amino acid sequence and unique features of an isoform of ACC with a molecular mass of 275 kDa (ACC-beta), which is primarily expressed in heart and skeletal muscles. In these tissues, ACC-beta may be involved in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation, rather than fatty acid biosynthesis. ACC-beta contains an amino acid sequence at the N terminus which is about 200 amino acids long and may be uniquely related to the …

Pancreatic Expression Of Interleukin-4 Abrogates Insulitis And Autoimmune Diabetes In Nonobese Diabetic (Nod) Mice., Regula Mueller, Troy Krahl, Nora Sarvetnick

Journal Articles: Regenerative Medicine

Diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice is a T cell-dependent autoimmune disease. The destructive activities of autoreactive T cells have been shown to be tightly regulated by effector molecules. In particular, T helper (Th) 1 cytokines have been linked to diabetes pathogenesis, whereas Th2 cytokines and the cells that release them have been postulated to be protective from disease. To test this hypothesis, we generated transgenic NOD mice that express interleukin (IL) 4 in their pancreatic beta cells under the control of the human insulin promoter. We found that transgenic NOD-IL-4 mice, both females and males, were completely protected from …

A Novel Iron-Regulated Metal Transporter From Plants Identified By Functional Expression In Yeast., David Eide, Margaret Broderius, Jeanette Fett, Mary Lou Guerinot

Dartmouth Scholarship

Iron is an essential nutrient for virtually all organisms. The IRT1 (iron-regulated transporter) gene of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, encoding a probable Fe(II) transporter, was cloned by functional expression in a yeast strain defective for iron uptake. Yeast expressing IRT1 possess a novel Fe(II) uptake activity that is strongly inhibited by Cd. IRT1 is predicted to be an integral membrane protein with a metal-binding domain. Data base comparisons and Southern blot analysis indicated that IRT1 is a member of a gene family in Arabidopsis. Related sequences were also found in the genomes of rice, yeast, nematodes, and humans. In Arabidopsis, …

Faster Femoral Artery Blood Velocity Kinetics At The Onset Of Exercise Following Short-Term Training., J K Shoemaker, S M Phillips, H J Green, R L Hughson

Kinesiology Publications

OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis that the adaptation to endurance exercise training included a faster increase in blood flow at the onset of exercise was tested in 12 healthy young men who endurance-trained (ET) 2 h/day, for 10 days at 65% VO2 peak on a cycle ergometer, and in 11 non-training control (C) subjects.

METHODS: Blood flow was estimated from changes in femoral artery mean blood velocity (MBV) by pulsed Doppler. Beat-by-beat changes in cardiac output (CO) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were obtained by impedance cardiography and a Finapres finger cuff, respectively. MBV, MAP and CO were measured at rest and …

Myasthenia Gravis-Like Syndrome Induced By Expression Of Interferon Gamma In The Neuromuscular Junction., Danling Gu, Lise Wogensen, Nigel A. Calcutt, Chunyao Xia, Simin Zhu, John P. Merlie, Howard S. Fox, Jon Lindstrom, Henry C. Powell, Nora Sarvetnick

Journal Articles: Regenerative Medicine

Abnormal humoral responses toward motor end plate constituents in muscle induce myasthenia gravis (MG). To study the etiology of this disease, and whether it could be induced by host defense molecules, we examined the consequences of interferon (IFN) gamma production within the neuromuscular junction of transgenic mice. The transgenic mice exhibited gradually increasing muscular weakness, flaccid paralysis, and functional disruption of the neuromuscular junction that was reversed after administration of an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, features which are strikingly similar to human MG. Furthermore, histological examination revealed infiltration of mononuclear cells and autoantibody deposition at motor end plates. Immunoprecipitation analysis indicated …

Estimation Of The Incidence Of A Rare Genetic Disease Through A Two-Tier Mutation Survey, R Chakraborty, M R Srinivasan, S Raskin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recent attempts to detect mutations involving single base changes or small deletions that are specific to genetic diseases provide an opportunity to develop a two-tier mutation-screening program through which incidence of rare genetic disorders and gene carriers may be precisely estimated. A two-tier survey consists of mutation screening in a sample of patients with specific genetic disorders and in a second sample of newborns from the same population in which mutation frequency is evaluated. We provide the statistical basis for evaluating the incidence of affected and gene carriers in such two-tier mutation-screening surveys, from which the precision of the estimates …

Can An Anesthesia Machine Flush Valve Provide For Effective Jet Ventilation?, S D Gaughan, J L Benumof, G T Ozaki

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Transtracheal jet ventilation (TTJV) using a percutaneously inserted intravenous (IV) catheter for the patient who cannot be ventilated or tracheally intubated or, using a jet stylet for changing endotracheal tubes (ETT) in patients for whom subsequent ventilation and/or tracheal reintubation may be difficult, are extremely valuable therapeutic options. The jet ventilation system must have a sufficiently high pressure-oxygen source to drive oxygen through noncompliant tubing and through relatively small IV catheters and/or jet stylets in order to achieve adequate ventilation and oxygenation. There is no evidence that using the common gas outlet of an anesthesia machine by activating the flush …

Plasma Total Glutathione In Humans And Its Association With Demographic And Health-Related Factors, Elaine W. Flagg, Ralph J. Coates, J. William Eley, Raymond S. Greenberg, Dean P. P. Jones, Elaine W. Gunter, Bethany Jackson

Faculty Publications

The tripeptide glutathione is proposed to be protective against a number of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, there have been few studies of plasma glutathione levels in humans and in those studies the numbers of participants have been very small. In an exploratory analysis the determinants of plasma total glutathione (GSHt) were investigated in a group of 100 volunteers aged 18–61 years in Atlanta, Georgia, USA during June and July 1989. Data on demographic and health-related factors were collected by interview and plasma GSHt was measured using a recently modified laboratory method. The mean concentration of plasma …

Mp92-64 The Stable Fly: A Pest Of Humans And Domestic Animals, Gustave D. Thomas, Steven R. Skoda

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Many species of flies are pests. Many people, if you were to ask them about flies, would be at least vaguely aware of the potential to flies to transmit disease organisms. But yet, for the most part, a fly is a fly is a fly. Sayings like "It must be about to rain, the house flies are biting" are still common and show a general need for more, readily accessible information, particularly about some of the pest flies.

Stable flies, obligate blood-feeders, are very important pests to the cattle industry and, at times, are pests to other groups (they're most …

G92-1106 Controlling Rats, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Dallas R. Virchow

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Ways to recognize rat problems and control rats are covered here.

The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) (also known as the common brown rat) is a destructive pest. Found in and around towns and farms throughout Nebraska, these rodents eat and contaminate large amounts of feed, damage structures by their gnawing and burrowing, and spread diseases that affect livestock and humans.