Systems and Integrative Physiology Commons^™

Prolonged Qt Interval In Hiv-1 Infected Humanized Mice Treated Chronically With Dolutegravir/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine, Ali Namvaran, Julian V. Garcia, Mahendran Ramasamy, Kayla Nguyen, Farzaneh Tavakkoli Ghazani, Bryan T. Hackfort, Prasanta Dash, Reagan E. Fisher, Benson J. Edagwa, Santhi Gorantla, Keshoer R. Bidasee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

The REPRIEVE Trial recently reported high rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD) middle-aged people living with HIV-1 infection (PWH) using the WHO/NIH-recommended two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)/one integrase strand inhibitor (INSTI) regimen to manage HIV-1 viremia. To date, clinically relevant animal models to delineate underlying causes for this remain limited. Here, we assessed if HIV-1-infected NOD.Cg-Prkdc^scidIl2rg^tm1Wjl/SzJ humanized mice (Hu-mice) treated with the WHO/NIH-recommended antiretroviral regimen, dolutegravir (DTG, INSTI)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, NRTIs)/emtricitabine (FTC, NRTIs), can recapitulate abnormalities in the ECG and subclinical structural heart disease that serve as harbingers of SCD in middle-aged PWH. …

The Science Of Sound: Studying The Cognitive, Emotional, And Physiological Effects Of Frequency, Genre, And Music, Jett Yarborough

Senior Honors Theses

Music influences emotion, physiology, and cognition, yet little is known about how the frequency it is tuned to affects these influences. Prior research has shown that music tuned to 432 Hz can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. My colleagues and I conducted two studies to investigate this. Our research found that music tuned to 432 Hz promotes a significant increase in memory retention and induces a state of focus and relaxation. These results suggest that shifting from the standard tuning frequency of 440 Hz to 432 Hz could have a profoundly positive impact on our daily lives. …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

Pulmonopoly: A Game-Based Approach To Teach And Reinforce Basic Concepts Of Pulmonary Medicine To Medical Students, Michael Dong, James Uricheck, Urvashi Vaid

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonopoly is an innovative active-learning medical board game addressses core pulmonary concepts in an engaging, competitive style. The strength of Pulmonopoly lies in its ability to combine ease of setup and play with comprehensive content coverage that comprises a significant proportion of national board examinations, offering a gamification experience that can be readily applied in different settings and modified for learner levels.

METHODS: We created an instructional game, Pulmonopoly, based on pulmonary content delivered to preclinical medical students and required for national board examinations. We invited first-year medical students to participate in 60-minute small-group sessions. Content addressed pulmonary subject …

Editorial: Frontiers In The Midlands Society Of Physiological Sciences (2023-2024), Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Hong Zheng, Surabhi Chandra, Harold D. Schultz, William C.W. Chen

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

No abstract provided.

Diastolic Dysfunction With Vascular Deficits In Hiv-1-Infected Female Humanized Mice Treated With Antiretroviral Drugs, Fadhel A. Alomar, Prasanta K. Dash, Mahendran Ramasamy, Zachary L. Venn, Sean R. Bidasee, Chen Zhang, Bryan T. Hackfort, Santhi Gorantla, Keshore R. Bidasee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Early-onset heart failure is a major treat to healthy aging individuals with HIV-1 infection. Women with HIV-1 infection (WLWH) are especially vulnerable and develop heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), of which left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, vascular deficits, myocardial infarction, and fibrosis are major components. HIV-infected rodent models that exhibit these pathophysiological features remain under-reported, and this has left a void in our understanding of their molecular causes and therapeutic strategies to blunt its development. Here, we show that female NOD.Cg-Prkdc^scidIl2rgt^m1Wjl/SzJ humanized mice (Hu-mice) infected with HIV-1_ADA and treated for 13 weeks with dolutegravir …

Use Of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators In High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion, Soumya Malhotra, Khavir Sharieff

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Title: Use of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators in High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion Authors: Soumya Malhotra, BA., MS1 & Khavir Sharieff, DO, MBA2 1Class of 2027, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL 2Assistant Professor of Surgery, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tampa Bay, FLNova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the advantages of EBGSs following high-risk spinal fusions. Background: Pseudarthrosis is a condition where bones fail to fuse after an injury or surgery. It causes significant …

Preventive Effects Of Quercetin On The Leaky Gut By Suppression Of Il-1beta-Induced Transcription Factors Involved In An Inflammatory Pathway In Colonic Epithelial Cells, Wannaporn Chayalak, Sumpun Thammacharoen, Chatsri Deachapunya, Sutthasinee Poonyachoti

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Flavonol quercetin (Q), found in vegetables and fruits, demonstrates the most potent anti-inflammatory effect. The preventive effect and cellular mechanisms of Q (Q1, Q10, and Q100 µM) on IL-1β induced leaky gut via the signaling molecules of inflammatory pathway, NF-κB p65-iκB/or p38/ERK1/2/MLCK/phospho(p)-MLC were investigated in Caco-2 cells. The cytotoxic effect of Q was initially determined by MTT assay. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and apical-to-basolateral fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (FD-4) flux were used to determine paracellular permeability. The protein expression of signaling molecules was examined by Western blot analysis, and their target MLCK mRNA expression was determined using real-time PCR. All Q …

Innate And Adaptive Immune System Consequences Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Tatlock H. Lauten, Tamara Natour, Adam J. Case

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

In the field of psychiatry, biological markers are rarely, if ever, used in the diagnosis of mental health disorders. Clinicians rely primarily on patient histories and behavioral symptoms to identify specific psychopathologies, which makes diagnosis highly subjective. Moreover, therapies for mental health disorders are aimed specifically at attenuating behavioral manifestations, which overlooks the pathophysiological indices of the disease. This is highly evident in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) where inflammation and immune system perturbations are becoming increasingly described. Further, patients with PTSD possess significantly elevated risks of developing comorbid inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, which are likely linked …

Activation Of Renal Epithelial Na+ Channels (Enac) In Infants With Congenital Heart Disease, Laura Ortmann, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Yulong Li, Hong Zheng, Kaushik K. Patel

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to measure the concentration and activity of urinary proteases that activate renal epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) mediated Na

METHODS: Urine samples from infants undergoing cardiac surgery were collected at three time points: T1) pre-operatively, T2) 6-8 h after surgery, and T3) 24 h after diuretics. Urine was collected from five heathy infant controls. The urine was tested for four proteases and whole-cell patch-clamp testing was conducted in renal collecting duct M-1 cells to test whether patient urine increased Na

RESULTS: Heavy chain of plasminogen, furin, and prostasin were significantly higher in cardiac patients prior to …

Chemoreflex Sensitization Occurs In Both Male And Female Rats During Recovery From Acute Lung Injury, Kajal Kamra, Irving H. Zucker, Harold D. Schultz, Han-Jun Wang

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Introduction: Sex-specific patterns in respiratory conditions, such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, obstructive sleep apnea, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, have been previously documented. Animal models of acute lung injury (ALI) have offered insights into sex differences, with male mice exhibiting distinct lung edema and vascular leakage compared to female mice. Our lab has provided evidence that the chemoreflex is sensitized in male rats during the recovery from bleomycin-induced ALI, but whether sex-based chemoreflex changes occur post-ALI is not known. To bridge this gap, the current study employed the bleomycin-induced ALI animal model to investigate sex-based differences in chemoreflex activation during …

Repeated Social Defeat Stress Leads To Immunometabolic Shifts In Innate Immune Cells Of The Spleen, Mandakh Bekhbat, John Drake, Emily C. Reed, Tatlock H. Lauten, Tamara Natour, Vladimir I. Vladimirov, Adam J. Case

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Psychosocial stress has been shown to prime peripheral innate immune cells, which take on hyper-inflammatory phenotypes and are implicated in depressive-like behavior in mouse models. However, the impact of stress on cellular metabolic states that are thought to fuel inflammatory phenotypes in immune cells are unknown. Using single cell RNA-sequencing, we investigated mRNA enrichment of immunometabolic pathways in innate immune cells of the spleen in mice subjected to repeated social defeat stress (RSDS) or no stress (NS). RSDS mice displayed a significant increase in the number of splenic macrophages and granulocytes (p < 0.05) compared to NS littermates. RSDS-upregulated genes in macrophages, monocytes, and granulocytes significantly enriched immunometabolic pathways thought to play a role in myeloid-driven inflammation (glycolysis, HIF-1 signaling, MTORC1 signaling) as well as pathways related to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and oxidative stress (p < 0.05 and FDR<0.1). These results suggest that the metabolic enhancement reflected by upregulation of glycolytic and OXPHOS pathways may be important for cellular proliferation of splenic macrophages and granulocytes following repeated stress exposure. A better understanding of these intracellular metabolic mechanisms may ultimately help develop novel strategies to reverse the impact of stress and associated peripheral immune changes on the brain and behavior.

Defining The Nuanced Nature Of Redox Biology In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Emily C. Reed, Adam J. Case

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that arises after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Despite affecting around 7% of the population, there are currently no definitive biological signatures or biomarkers used in the diagnosis of PTSD. Thus, the search for clinically relevant and reproducible biomarkers has been a major focus of the field. With significant advances of large-scale multi-omic studies that include genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data, promising findings have been made, but the field still has fallen short. Amongst the possible biomarkers examined, one area is often overlooked, understudied, or inappropriately investigated: the field of …

Potential Of Synthetic And Natural Compounds As Novel Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors For The Treatment Of Hematological Malignancies, Dilipkumar Pal, Khushboo Raj, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Surajit Sinha, Abhishek Mishra, Arijit Mondal, Ricardo Lagoa, Jack T. Burcher, Anupam Bishayee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are enzymes that remove or add acetyl groups to lysine residues of histones, respectively. Histone deacetylation causes DNA to more snugly encircle histones and decreases gene expression, whereas acetylation has the opposite effect. Through these small alterations in chemical structure, HATs and HDACs regulate DNA expression. Recent research indicates histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) may be used to treat malignancies, including leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, virus-associated tumors, and multiple myeloma. These data suggest that HDACis may boost the production of immune-related molecules, resulting in the growth of CD8-positive T-cells and the recognition of nonreactive tumor …

Repeated Social Defeat Stress Induces An Inflammatory Gut Milieu By Altering The Mucosal Barrier Integrity And Gut Microbiota Homeostasis, Santosh K. Yadav, Rizwan Ahmad, Cassandra M. Moshfegh, Jagadesan Sankarasubramanian, Vineet A. Joshi, Safwan K. Elkhatib, Yashpal S. Chhonker, Goeffrey A. Talmon, Chittibabu Guda, Adam Case, Amar B. Singh

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by exposure to traumatic events in an individual’s life. Patients with PTSD are also at a higher risk for comorbidities. However, it is not well understood how PTSD affects human health and/or promotes the risk for comorbidities. Nevertheless, patients with PTSD harbor a proinflammatory milieu and dysbiotic gut microbiota. Gut barrier integrity helps to maintain normal gut homeostasis and its dysregulation promotes gut dysbiosis and inflammation.

Methods

We used a mouse model of repeated social defeat stress (RSDS), a preclinical model of PTSD. Behavioral studies, metagenomics analysis of the …

Enhanced Central Sympathetic Tone Induces Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (Hfpef) In Rats, Shyam S. Nandi, Kenichi Katsurada, Michael J. Moulton, Hong Zheng, Kaushik K. Patel

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a heterogenous clinical syndrome characterized by diastolic dysfunction, concentric cardiac left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, and myocardial fibrosis with preserved systolic function. However, the underlying mechanisms of HFpEF are not clear. We hypothesize that an enhanced central sympathetic drive is sufficient to induce LV dysfunction and HFpEF in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to central infusion of either saline controls (saline) or angiotensin II (Ang II, 20 ng/min, i.c.v) via osmotic mini-pumps for 14 days to elicit enhanced sympathetic drive. Echocardiography and invasive cardiac catheterization were used to measure systolic and diastolic …

A Critical Role For Staphylococcal Nitric Oxide Synthase In Controlling Flavohemoglobin Toxicity, Ryan M. Singh, Sujata S. Chaudhari, Sasmita Panda, Elizabeth H. Hutfless, Cortney E. Heim, Dhananjay Shinde, Abdulelah A. Alqarzaee, Margaret F. Sladek, Vineet Kumar, Matthew C. Zimmerman, Paul D. Fey, Tammy Kielian, Vinai Chittezham Thomas

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Most coagulase-negative staphylococcal species, including the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis, struggle to maintain redox homeostasis and grow under nitrosative stress. Under these conditions, growth can only resume once nitric oxide (NO) is detoxified by the flavohemoglobin Hmp. Paradoxically, S. epidermidis produces endogenous NO through its genetically encoded nitric oxide synthase (seNOS) and heavily relies on its activity for growth. In this study, we investigate the basis of the growth advantage attributed to seNOS activity. Our findings reveal that seNOS supports growth by countering Hmp toxicity. S. epidermidis relies on Hmp activity for its survival in the host under NO stress. …

Elevated Crp And Tnf-Α Levels Are Associated With Blunted Neural Oscillations Serving Fluid Intelligence, Sarah M. Dietz, Mikki Schantell, Rachel K. Spooner, Megan E. Sandal, Amirsalar Mansouri, Yasra Arif, Hannah J. Okelberry, Jason A. John, Ryan Glesinger, Pamela E. May, Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham, Adam J. Case, Matthew C. Zimmerman, Tony W. Wilson

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory processes help protect the body from potential threats such as bacterial or viral invasions. However, when such inflammatory processes become chronically engaged, synaptic impairments and neuronal cell death may occur. In particular, persistently high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been linked to deficits in cognition and several psychiatric disorders. Higher-order cognitive processes such as fluid intelligence (Gf) are thought to be particularly vulnerable to persistent inflammation. Herein, we investigated the relationship between elevated CRP and TNF-α and the neural oscillatory dynamics serving Gf.

METHODS: Seventy adults between the ages of 20-66 years …

Restoration Of Normal Blood Flow In Atherosclerotic Arteries Promotes Plaque Stabilization, Morgan A. Schake, Ian S. Mccue, Evan T. Curtis, Thomas J. Ripperda, Samuel Harvey, Bryan T. Hackfort, Anna Fitzwater, Yiannis S. Chatzizisis, Forrest M. Kievit, Ryan M. Pedrigi

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Blood flow is a key regulator of atherosclerosis. Disturbed blood flow promotes atherosclerotic plaque development, whereas normal blood flow protects against plaque development. We hypothesized that normal blood flow is also therapeutic, if it were able to be restored within atherosclerotic arteries. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^−/−) mice were initially instrumented with a blood flow-modifying cuff to induce plaque development and then five weeks later the cuff was removed to allow restoration of normal blood flow. Plaques in decuffed mice exhibited compositional changes that indicated increased stability compared to plaques in mice with the cuff maintained. The therapeutic benefit of …

Commonalities And Differences In Carotid Body Dysfunction In Hypertension And Heart Failure, Igor S. A. Felippe, Rodrigo Del Río, Harold D. Schultz, Benedito H. Machado, Julian F R Paton

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Carotid body pathophysiology is associated with many cardiovascular-respiratory-metabolic diseases. This pathophysiology reflects both hyper-sensitivity and hyper-tonicity. From both animal models and human patients, evidence indicates that amelioration of this pathophysiological signalling improves disease states such as a lowering of blood pressure in hypertension, a reduction of breathing disturbances with improved cardiac function in heart failure (HF) and a re-balancing of autonomic activity with lowered sympathetic discharge. Given this, we have reviewed the mechanisms of carotid body hyper-sensitivity and hyper-tonicity across disease models asking whether there is uniqueness related to specific disease states. Our analysis indicates some commonalities and some potential …

Comparative Genomics, Evolutionary Epidemiology, And Rbd-Hace2 Receptor Binding Pattern In B.1.1.7 (Alpha) And B.1.617.2 (Delta) Related To Their Pandemic Response In Uk And India, Chiranjib Chakraborty, Ashish Ranjan Sharma, Manojit Bhattacharya, Bidyut Mallik, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Sang-Soo Lee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

BACKGROUND: The massive increase in COVID-19 infection had generated a second wave in India during May-June 2021 with a critical pandemic situation. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was a significant factor during the second wave. Conversely, the UK had passed through the crucial phase of the pandemic from November to December 2020 due to B.1.1.7. The study tried to comprehend the pandemic response in the UK and India to the spread of the B.1.1.7 (Alpha, UK) variant and B.1.617.2 (Delta, India) variant.

METHODS: This study was performed in three directions to understand the pandemic response of the two emerging variants. First, …

T-Lymphocyte Tyrosine Hydroxylase Regulates T H 17 T-Lymphocytes During Repeated Social Defeat Stress, Safwan K. Elkhatib, Cassandra M. Moshfegh, Gabrielle F. Watson, Adam J. Case

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder which results in deleterious changes to psychological and physical health. Patients with PTSD are especially susceptible to life-threatening co-morbid inflammation-driven pathologies, such as autoimmunity, while also demonstrating increased T-helper 17 (T_H17) lymphocyte-driven inflammation. While the exact mechanism of this increased inflammation is unknown, overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system is a hallmark of PTSD. Neurotransmitters of the sympathetic nervous system (i.e., catecholamines) can alter T-lymphocyte function, which we have previously demonstrated to be partially mitochondrial redox-mediated. Furthermore, we have previously elucidated that T-lymphocytes generate their own catecholamines, and strong …

Time-Dependent Alteration In The Chemoreflex Post-Acute Lung Injury, Kajal Kamra, Nikolay Karpuk, Ryan Adam, Irving H. Zucker, Harold D. Schultz, Han-Jun Wang

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Acute lung injury (ALI) induces inflammation that disrupts the normal alveolar-capillary endothelial barrier which impairs gas exchange to induce hypoxemia that reflexively increases respiration. The neural mechanisms underlying the respiratory dysfunction during ALI are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the chemoreflex in mediating abnormal ventilation during acute (early) and recovery (late) stages of ALI. We hypothesized that the increase in respiratory rate (fR) during post-ALI is mediated by a sensitized chemoreflex. ALI was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats using a single intra-tracheal injection of bleomycin (Bleo: low-dose = 1.25 mg/Kg or …

Mechanisms Of Synthetic Cannabinoids On Cardiovascular Health, Madeleine A. Nelson

Honors Thesis

Cannabinoids encompass natural cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids. While the synthetic cannabinoids interact with the same endogenous system as cannabis, their effects are quite different and poorly understood. In addition to psychological effects that trigger their use, these substances are linked to cardiovascular morbidity. To assess the cardiovascular effect of synthetic cannabinoids, we first tested the hypothesis that intravenous administration of a synthetic cannabinoid would increase blood pressure in conscious rats. Second, we tested the hypothesis that the sympathetic nervous system is involved by injecting a ganglion blocker to see if the cardiovascular response from synthetic cannabinoids would be blocked. Third, …

Neurogenic Hypertension Mediated Mitochondrial Abnormality Leads To Cardiomyopathy: Contribution Of Upr Mt And Norepinephrine-Mir- 18a-5p-Hif-1Α Axis, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Kenichi Katsurada, Sushil K. Mahata, Kaushik K. Patel

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Aims: Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease. Hallmark features of hypertensive heart disease is sympathoexcitation and cardiac mitochondrial abnormality. However, the molecular mechanisms for specifically neurally mediated mitochondrial abnormality and subsequent cardiac dysfunction are unclear. We hypothesized that enhanced sympatho-excitation to the heart elicits cardiac miR-18a-5p/HIF-1α and mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt) signaling that lead to mitochondrial abnormalities and consequent pathological cardiac remodeling. Methods and Results: Using a model of neurogenic hypertension (NG-HTN), induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of Ang II (NG-HTN; 20 ng/min, 14 days, 0.5 μl/h, or Saline; Control, 0.9%) through osmotic mini-pumps in Sprague-Dawley …

Open Neuroscience Initiative, Austin Lim

College of Science and Health Full Text Publications

The Open Neuroscience Initiative is a free-to-use textbook

This project began as a means to overcoming the financial burden that face undergraduate neuroscience students when buying textbooks. By compiling and writing a completely free-to-access textbook that covers the foundations of a typical college introduction to neuroscience course, students would have one less obstacle to overcome in their educational career, allowing them to focus their valuable time and attention on learning rather than finances. To make this project a reality, I began with a humble tweet in May 2019 that managed to gain a tiny bit of traction among the neuroscience …

Efficacy Of Pulmonary Ultrasound Compared To N-Terminal Prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide As A Diagnostic Tool For Congestive Heart Failure In Patients Presenting With Acute Dyspnea In The Emergency Setting, Leah Krohn, Michael Burns

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To determine the efficacy of using pulmonary ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in acute dyspnea of undetermined cause compared to the use of serum N-Terminal prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) in the diagnosis of heart failure.

Design: Systematic literature review

Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed and Scopus using the terms pulmonary ultrasound and congestive heart failure and studies within the last 10 years. Studies that used pulmonary ultrasound compared to BNP as a marker for the diagnosis of heart failure were included.

Results: All three studies found that the use of pulmonary ultrasound was a more specific …

Neutrophil Signaling During Myocardial Infarction Wound Repair, Michael J. Daseke, Upendra Chalise, Mediha Becirovic-Agic, Jeffrey D. Salomon, Leah M. Cook, Adam J. Case, Merry L. Lindsey

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Neutrophils are key effector cells of the innate immune system, serving as a first line of defense in the response to injury and playing essential roles in the wound healing process. Following myocardial infarction (MI), neutrophils infiltrate into the infarct region to propagate inflammation and begin the initial phase of cardiac wound repair. Pro-inflammatory neutrophils release proteases to degrade extracellular matrix (ECM), a necessary step for the removal of necrotic myocytes as a prelude for scar formation. Neutrophils transition their phenotype over time to regulate MI inflammation resolution and stabilize scar formation. Neutrophils contribute to the evolution from inflammation to …

The Role Of Central Ace2 And Nrf2 In Sympatho-Excitation: Responses To Central Angiotensin Ii, Anyun Ma

Theses & Dissertations

Sympatho-excitation is a key characteristic in cardiovascular diseases such as chronic heart failure (CHF) and primary Hypertension (HTN). Evidence suggests that increased sympathetic tone is closely related to activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system (RAAS) in the central nervous system. An underlying mechanism for sympatho-excitation is thought to be oxidative stress resulting from Angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor (AT1R) activation. Over the past several decades, pharmacological targeting of components of the RAAS have been used as standard therapy in CHF and HTN. However, additional therapeutic strategies are necessary to control these diseases. Oxidative stress is regulated, in part, by the …

Nanoformulation Of The Superoxide Dismutase Mimic, Mntnbuoe-2-Pyp5+, Prevents Its Acute Hypotensive Response, Sarah L. Schlichte, Svetlana Romanova, Kenichi Katsurada, Elizabeth A. Kosmacek, Tatiana K. Bronich, Kaushik K. Patel, Rebecca E. Oberley-Deegan, Matthew C. Zimmerman

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Scavenging superoxide (O₂^•-) via overexpression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or administration of SOD mimics improves outcomes in multiple experimental models of human disease including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer. While few SOD mimics have transitioned to clinical trials, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP⁵⁺ (BuOE), a manganese porphyrin SOD mimic, is currently in clinical trials as a radioprotector for cancer patients; thus, providing hope for the use of SOD mimics in the clinical setting. However, BuOE transiently alters cardiovascular function including a significant and precipitous decrease in blood pressure. To limit BuOE's acute hypotensive action, we developed a mesoporous silica nanoparticle …