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Us Patent #8,326,389 - A System For In Vivo Biosensing Based On The Optical Response, Arthur Epstein, Louis R. Nemzer Dec 2012

Us Patent #8,326,389 - A System For In Vivo Biosensing Based On The Optical Response, Arthur Epstein, Louis R. Nemzer

Louis R Nemzer

A system for continuous in vivo biosensing of specific analyte molecule concentrations based on the dynamic optical properties of electronic polymers is disclosed. The biosensor system includes at least one implant member subcutaneously exposed to the interstitial fluid of the subject, and a reader member at least temporarily positioned over the implant member to probe it with light of specific wavelengths through the skin. The system has many potential applications, including the real-time monitoring of blood glucose levels in diabetics as a method to supplement or replace conventional capillary blood testing.


Effect Of Paired Apertures In A Periodic Hole Array On Higher Order Plasmon Modes, Fang-Tzu Chuang Nov 2012

Effect Of Paired Apertures In A Periodic Hole Array On Higher Order Plasmon Modes, Fang-Tzu Chuang

Fang-Tzu Chuang

We demonstrate that the transmission of higherorder surface plasmon modes in the mid-infrared range can be enhanced through rectangular hole array on the basis of paired apertures. Experiments prove that enhanced high-order transmission can be generated by either identical shapes or combinations of different hole shapes in pairs. The structure factor is adopted to explain the observed intensity of enhanced transmission. Numerical simulations of the enhanced secondorder mode verify a significant field enhancement in a unit cell of pairs. It is clarified that the separation between the paired apertures and the paired resonance is the key to determine certain higher-order …


Microrna Signature In Alcoholic Liver Disease, Shashi Bala, Gyongyi Szabo Oct 2012

Microrna Signature In Alcoholic Liver Disease, Shashi Bala, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major global health problem. Chronic alcohol use results in inflammation and fatty liver, and in some cases, it leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Increased proinflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF alpha, play a central role in the pathogenesis of ALD. TNF alpha is tightly regulated at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to modulate gene functions. The role of miRNAs in ALD is getting attention, and recent studies suggest that alcohol modulates miRNAs. Recently, we showed that alcohol induces miR-155 expression both in vitro (RAW 264.7 macrophage) and in …


Advanced Molecular Biologic Techniques In Toxicologic Disease, Jeanine Ward, Gyongyi Szabo, David Mcmanus, Edward Boyer Oct 2012

Advanced Molecular Biologic Techniques In Toxicologic Disease, Jeanine Ward, Gyongyi Szabo, David Mcmanus, Edward Boyer

Gyongyi Szabo

The advancement of molecular biologic techniques and their capabilities to answer questions pertaining to mechanisms of pathophysiologic events have greatly expanded over the past few years. In particular, these opportunities have provided researchers and clinicians alike the framework from with which to answer clinical questions not amenable for elucidation using previous, more antiquated methods. Utilizing extremely small molecules, namely microRNA, DNA, protein, and nanoparticles, we discuss the background and utility of these approaches to the progressive, practicing physician. Finally, we consider the application of these tools employed as future bedside point of care tests, aiding in the ultimate goal of …


Circulating Micrornas In Exosomes Indicate Hepatocyte Injury And Inflammation In Alcoholic, Drug-Induced, And Inflammatory Liver Diseases, Shashi Bala, Jan Petrasek, Shiv Mundkur, Donna Catalano, Ivan Levin, Jeanine Ward, Hawau Alao, Karen Kodys, Gyongyi Szabo Oct 2012

Circulating Micrornas In Exosomes Indicate Hepatocyte Injury And Inflammation In Alcoholic, Drug-Induced, And Inflammatory Liver Diseases, Shashi Bala, Jan Petrasek, Shiv Mundkur, Donna Catalano, Ivan Levin, Jeanine Ward, Hawau Alao, Karen Kodys, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

MicroRNAs are fine tuners of diverse biological responses and are expressed in various cell types of the liver. Here we hypothesized that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) may serve as biomarkers of liver damage and inflammation. We studied miRNA-122, which is abundant in hepatocytes, and miR-155, -146a, and -125b, which regulate inflammation in immune cells in mouse models of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), drug (acetaminophen, APAP)-induced liver injury (DILI), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9+4 ligand-induced inflammatory cell-mediated liver damage. We found that serum/plasma miR-122 correlated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increases in the liver damage caused by alcohol, APAP, and TLR9 (CpG)+4 (LPS) …


Effects Of Canola And Corn Oil Mimetic On Jurkat Cells, Gabriela Ion, Kayla Fazio, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman Oct 2012

Effects Of Canola And Corn Oil Mimetic On Jurkat Cells, Gabriela Ion, Kayla Fazio, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman

Gabriela Ion

BACKGROUND: The Western diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids and low in omega-3 fatty acids. Canola oil contains a healthier omega 3 to omega 6 ratio than corn oil. Jurkat T leukemia cells were treated with free fatty acids mixtures in ratios mimicking that found in commercially available canola oil (7% α-linolenic, 30% linoleic, 54% oleic) or corn oil (59% linoleic, 24% oleic) to determine the cell survival or cell death and changes in expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and receptors following oil treatment. METHODS: Fatty acid uptake was assessed by gas chromatography. Cell survival and cell death were …


Maternal Consumption Of Canola Oil Suppressed Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis In C3(1) Tag Mice Offspring, Gabriela Ion, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman Oct 2012

Maternal Consumption Of Canola Oil Suppressed Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis In C3(1) Tag Mice Offspring, Gabriela Ion, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman

Gabriela Ion

Background: Maternal consumption of a diet high in omega 6 polyunsaturated fats (n-6 PUFA) has been shown to increase risk whereas a diet high in omega 3 polyunsaturated fats (n-3 PUFA) from fish oil has been shown to decrease risk for mammary gland cancer in female offspring of rats. The aim of this study was to determine whether increasing n-3 PUFA and reducing n-6 PUFA by using canola oil instead of corn oil in the maternal diet might reduce the risk for breast cancer in female offspring. Methods: Female SV 129 mice were divided into two groups and placed on …


Consumption Of High Ω-3 Fatty Acid Diet Suppressed Prostate Tumorigenesis In C3(1) Tag Mice, Juliana Akinsete, Gabriela Ion, Theodore Witte, W. Hardman Oct 2012

Consumption Of High Ω-3 Fatty Acid Diet Suppressed Prostate Tumorigenesis In C3(1) Tag Mice, Juliana Akinsete, Gabriela Ion, Theodore Witte, W. Hardman

Gabriela Ion

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality are high in the Western world and high ω-6/ω-3 PUFA in the Western diet may be a contributing factor. We investigated whether changing from a diet that approximates ω-6 fat content of the Western diet to a high ω-3 fat diet at adulthood might reduce prostate cancer risk. Female SV 129 mice that had consumed a high ω-6 diet containing corn oil for 2 weeks were bred with homozygous C3(1)Tag transgenic male mice. All male offspring were weaned to the corn oil diet (CO) until postpuberty when half of the male offspring were transferred to …


Comparison Of Phenolic Compounds And Antioxidant Capacities Of Traditional Sorghum Beers With Other Alcoholic Beverages, Fatouma Abdoul-Latif, Romaric G. Bayili, Louis C. Obame, Mamoudou H. Dicko Prof. Oct 2012

Comparison Of Phenolic Compounds And Antioxidant Capacities Of Traditional Sorghum Beers With Other Alcoholic Beverages, Fatouma Abdoul-Latif, Romaric G. Bayili, Louis C. Obame, Mamoudou H. Dicko Prof.

Pr. Mamoudou H. DICKO, PhD

Thirty samples of sorghum beers “dolo” were selected from traditionally fermented household manufacturers from Burkina Faso. Dolo samples were screened for their total phenolic content, proanthocyanidins and putative antioxidant capacities, and were compared with industrial beers and wines. Total phenols were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Proanthocyanidins content were determined by the method of HCl-butanol hydrolysis. Antioxidant activities were evaluated both with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and by the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) using 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical) (ABTS•+). The average contents of total phenols and proanthocyanidins were 506 μg GAE/ml of dolo and 45 μg APE/ml of dolo, respectively. An …


Two Infrared Emission Modes With Different Wavelengths And Orthogonal Polarization In A Waveguide Thermal Emitter, Fang-Tzu Chuang Oct 2012

Two Infrared Emission Modes With Different Wavelengths And Orthogonal Polarization In A Waveguide Thermal Emitter, Fang-Tzu Chuang

Fang-Tzu Chuang

This study investigates a Au/SiO2/Au waveguide thermal emitter incorporating a metallic grating embedded in the SiO2 layer. The metal grating acts as a beam splitter, dividing the device into two waveguide structures determined by the polarization of the waveguide modes. The thermal radiation spectrum exhibits two peaks with orthogonal polarization. The emitted wavelengths of the two waveguide modes can be adjusted by controlling the thickness of the SiO2 layers on both sides of the metallic grating during the fabrication process. The emission peaks have ratios of the full width at half maximum to the peak wavelength of 0.057 and 0.05 …


Libraries At The University Of Massachusetts Amherst: Seeking An International Perspective, Maxine G. Schmidt Oct 2012

Libraries At The University Of Massachusetts Amherst: Seeking An International Perspective, Maxine G. Schmidt

Maxine G Schmidt

Presentation delivered to librarians in China, Japan and South Korea as part of my sabbatical research on the use of libraries by Asian students in their home countries.


First-In-Class Small Molecule Inhibitors Of The Single-Strand Dna Cytosine Deaminase Apobec3g, Ming Li, Shivender Shandilya, Michael Carpenter, Anurag Rathore, William Brown, Angela Perkins, Daniel Harki, Jonathan Solberg, Derek Hook, Krishan Pandey, Michael Parniak, Jeffrey Johnson, Nevan Krogan, Mohan Somasundaran, Akbar Ali, Celia Schiffer, Reuben Harris Sep 2012

First-In-Class Small Molecule Inhibitors Of The Single-Strand Dna Cytosine Deaminase Apobec3g, Ming Li, Shivender Shandilya, Michael Carpenter, Anurag Rathore, William Brown, Angela Perkins, Daniel Harki, Jonathan Solberg, Derek Hook, Krishan Pandey, Michael Parniak, Jeffrey Johnson, Nevan Krogan, Mohan Somasundaran, Akbar Ali, Celia Schiffer, Reuben Harris

Celia A. Schiffer

APOBEC3G is a single-stranded DNA cytosine deaminase that comprises part of the innate immune response to viruses and transposons. Although APOBEC3G is the prototype for understanding the larger mammalian polynucleotide deaminase family, no specific chemical inhibitors exist to modulate its activity. High-throughput screening identified 34 compounds that inhibit APOBEC3G catalytic activity. Twenty of 34 small molecules contained catechol moieties, which are known to be sulfhydryl reactive following oxidation to the orthoquinone. Located proximal to the active site, C321 was identified as the binding site for the inhibitors by a combination of mutational screening, structural analysis, and mass spectrometry. Bulkier substitutions …


Morphology And Fracture Of Enamel, Sangwon Myoung, James Lee, Paul Constantino, Peter Lucas, Herzl Chai, Brian Law Sep 2012

Morphology And Fracture Of Enamel, Sangwon Myoung, James Lee, Paul Constantino, Peter Lucas, Herzl Chai, Brian Law

Paul J. Constantino

This study examines the inter-relation between enamel morphology and crack resistance by sectioning extracted human molars after loading to fracture. Cracks appear to initiate from tufts, hypocalcified defects at the enamel–dentin junction, and grow longitudinally around the enamel coat to produce failure. Microindentation corner cracks placed next to the tufts in the sections deflect along the tuft interfaces and occasionally penetrate into the adjacent enamel. Although they constitute weak interfaces, the tufts are nevertheless filled with organic matter, and appear to be stabilized against easy extension by self-healing, as well as by mutual stress-shielding and decussation, accounting at least in …


Serotyping Group B Streptococci In A Small Community Hospital: An Analysis Of Distribution And Site Of Isolation, Jennifer M. Smith, Jason A. Rexroth, David G. Chaffin, Susan H. Jackman Sep 2012

Serotyping Group B Streptococci In A Small Community Hospital: An Analysis Of Distribution And Site Of Isolation, Jennifer M. Smith, Jason A. Rexroth, David G. Chaffin, Susan H. Jackman

Susan H. Jackman

Objective: To determine the prevalence and site of isolation of different serotypes of group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization or infection at a small community hospital. Methods: GBS isolates were obtained from a small community hospital and were then serotyped as la, Ib, II, III, IV, V or non-typeable. Hospital records were reviewed for patient sex, age and pregnancy status as well as the site of GBS isolation. Results: GBS serotypes Ia, III and V were most common and accounted for over 60% of the total number of isolates. Serotype Ia was most prevalent in reproductive-age females, while serotypes V and …


Murine Epidermal Cell Antigen (Skn)-Directed Autoimmunity Induced By Transfer Of Cd4+ T Cells, Susan H. Jackman, Shivaleela Keerthy, Giselle Perry Sep 2012

Murine Epidermal Cell Antigen (Skn)-Directed Autoimmunity Induced By Transfer Of Cd4+ T Cells, Susan H. Jackman, Shivaleela Keerthy, Giselle Perry

Susan H. Jackman

While pathogenic T cells have been identified for several diseases with epithelial cell damage, an autoimmune T cell-mediated response targeted against a known keratinocyte antigen has not been reported. Previously we described an autoimmune response directed to the mouse epidermal cell antigens, Skn. For our murine model, primed Skn-immune lymphocytes are adoptively transferred to recipients, which develop lesions at the site of mild skin trauma. In this study we investigated the nature of the autoimmune component of the Skn response. A time-course study demonstrated a relationship between the number of primed Sknimmune cells injected and the severity of skin lesions …


Non-Helicobacter Pylori Related Duodenal Ulcer Disease In Children, Yoram Elitsur, Zandra Lawrence Sep 2012

Non-Helicobacter Pylori Related Duodenal Ulcer Disease In Children, Yoram Elitsur, Zandra Lawrence

Yoram Elitsur

Background. In spite of the worldwide distribution of Helicobacter pylori infection, recent data have reported an increased rate of non-H. pylori, non-NSAIDs-duodenal ulcer disease in adults. The estimated rate of these ulcers in children is unknown. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of non-H. pylori, non-NSAIDs-peptic ulcer disease in our pediatric patients who undergo upper endoscopic procedures. Methods. A retrospective analysis of 622 upper endoscopic reports was performed. Reports that documented mucosal ulcerations were included in our study. The demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and histological data were retrieved. The H. pylori-negative, duodenal/gastric ulcer-positive patients were compared with H. pylori-positive, duodenal/gastric ulcer-positive …


Is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Associated With Helicobacter Pylori Infection In Children?, Yoram Elitsur, William Btriest, Zia Sabet, Cheryl Neace, Chuancang Jiang, Eapen Thomas Sep 2012

Is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Associated With Helicobacter Pylori Infection In Children?, Yoram Elitsur, William Btriest, Zia Sabet, Cheryl Neace, Chuancang Jiang, Eapen Thomas

Yoram Elitsur

Helicobacter pylori infection has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). We investigated this association. Twenty-five pairs of gastric and tracheal tissue specimens obtained from autopsies of 25 children with previous diagnoses of SIDS were available for this study. The presence of H. pylori organisms was evaluated by three different methods: histology (hematoxylin-eosin or Giemsa staining), immunohistochemistry, and nested polymerase chain reaction technique. We were unable to confirm the presence of H. pylori organisms by the first two methods. H. pylori DNA was identified by nested polymerase chain reaction in six different tissue specimens (stomach, …


Serotyping Group B Streptococci In A Small Community Hospital: An Analysis Of Distribution And Site Of Isolation, Jennifer M. Smith, Jason A. Rexroth, David G. Chaffin, Susan H. Jackman Sep 2012

Serotyping Group B Streptococci In A Small Community Hospital: An Analysis Of Distribution And Site Of Isolation, Jennifer M. Smith, Jason A. Rexroth, David G. Chaffin, Susan H. Jackman

David G. Chaffin

Objective: To determine the prevalence and site of isolation of different serotypes of group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization or infection at a small community hospital. Methods: GBS isolates were obtained from a small community hospital and were then serotyped as la, Ib, II, III, IV, V or non-typeable. Hospital records were reviewed for patient sex, age and pregnancy status as well as the site of GBS isolation. Results: GBS serotypes Ia, III and V were most common and accounted for over 60% of the total number of isolates. Serotype Ia was most prevalent in reproductive-age females, while serotypes V and …


Global Analysis Of Gene Expression Changes During Retinoic Acid-Induced Growth Arrest And Differentiation Of Melanoma: Comparison To Differentially Expressed Genes In Melanocytes Vs Melanoma, Mary Estler, Goran Boskovic, James Denvir, Sarah Miles, Donald Primerano, Richard Niles Sep 2012

Global Analysis Of Gene Expression Changes During Retinoic Acid-Induced Growth Arrest And Differentiation Of Melanoma: Comparison To Differentially Expressed Genes In Melanocytes Vs Melanoma, Mary Estler, Goran Boskovic, James Denvir, Sarah Miles, Donald Primerano, Richard Niles

James Denvir

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant melanoma has significantly increased over the last decade. Some of these malignancies are susceptible to the growth inhibitory and pro-differentiating effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). The molecular changes responsible for the biological activity of RA in melanoma are not well understood. RESULTS: In an analysis of sequential global gene expression changes during a 4-48 h RA treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells, we found that RA increased the expression of 757 genes and decreased the expression of 737 genes. We also compared the gene expression profile (no RA treatment) between non-malignant melan-a mouse melanocytes and …


Maternal Consumption Of Canola Oil Suppressed Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis In C3(1) Tag Mice Offspring, Gabriela Ion, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman Aug 2012

Maternal Consumption Of Canola Oil Suppressed Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis In C3(1) Tag Mice Offspring, Gabriela Ion, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman

Elaine Hardman Ph.D.

Background: Maternal consumption of a diet high in omega 6 polyunsaturated fats (n-6 PUFA) has been shown to increase risk whereas a diet high in omega 3 polyunsaturated fats (n-3 PUFA) from fish oil has been shown to decrease risk for mammary gland cancer in female offspring of rats. The aim of this study was to determine whether increasing n-3 PUFA and reducing n-6 PUFA by using canola oil instead of corn oil in the maternal diet might reduce the risk for breast cancer in female offspring. Methods: Female SV 129 mice were divided into two groups and placed on …


Effects Of Canola And Corn Oil Mimetic On Jurkat Cells, Gabriela Ion, Kayla Fazio, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman Aug 2012

Effects Of Canola And Corn Oil Mimetic On Jurkat Cells, Gabriela Ion, Kayla Fazio, Juliana A. Akinsete, W. Elaine Hardman

Elaine Hardman Ph.D.

BACKGROUND: The Western diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids and low in omega-3 fatty acids. Canola oil contains a healthier omega 3 to omega 6 ratio than corn oil. Jurkat T leukemia cells were treated with free fatty acids mixtures in ratios mimicking that found in commercially available canola oil (7% α-linolenic, 30% linoleic, 54% oleic) or corn oil (59% linoleic, 24% oleic) to determine the cell survival or cell death and changes in expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and receptors following oil treatment. METHODS: Fatty acid uptake was assessed by gas chromatography. Cell survival and cell death were …


Consumption Of High Ω-3 Fatty Acid Diet Suppressed Prostate Tumorigenesis In C3(1) Tag Mice, Juliana A. Akinsete, Gabriela Ion, Theodore R. Witte, W. Elaine Hardman Aug 2012

Consumption Of High Ω-3 Fatty Acid Diet Suppressed Prostate Tumorigenesis In C3(1) Tag Mice, Juliana A. Akinsete, Gabriela Ion, Theodore R. Witte, W. Elaine Hardman

Elaine Hardman Ph.D.

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality are high in the Western world and high ω-6/ω-3 PUFA in the Western diet may be a contributing factor. We investigated whether changing from a diet that approximates ω-6 fat content of the Western diet to a high ω-3 fat diet at adulthood might reduce prostate cancer risk. Female SV 129 mice that had consumed a high ω-6 diet containing corn oil for 2 weeks were bred with homozygous C3(1)Tag transgenic male mice. All male offspring were weaned to the corn oil diet (CO) until postpuberty when half of the male offspring were transferred to …


Analysis Of Expansion Of Myeloid Progenitors In Mice To Identify Leukemic Susceptibility Genes, Vincent Sollars, Ed Pequignot, Jay Rothstein, Arthur Buchberg Aug 2012

Analysis Of Expansion Of Myeloid Progenitors In Mice To Identify Leukemic Susceptibility Genes, Vincent Sollars, Ed Pequignot, Jay Rothstein, Arthur Buchberg

Vincent E Sollars

The myeloid progenitor cell compartment (MPC) exhibits pronounced expansion in human myeloid leukemias. It is becoming more apparent that progression of myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative diseases to acute myelogenous leukemia is the result of defects in progenitor cell maturation. The MPC of bone marrow was analyzed in mice using a cell culture assay for measuring the relative frequency of proliferative myeloid progenitors. Response to the cytokines SCF, IL-3, and GMCSF was determined by this assay for the leukemic mouse strain BXH-2 and ten other inbred mouse strains. Significant differences were found to exist among ten inbred mouse strains in the …


Global Analysis Of Gene Expression Changes During Retinoic Acid-Induced Growth Arrest And Differentiation Of Melanoma: Comparison To Differentially Expressed Genes In Melanocytes Vs Melanoma, Mary H. Estler, Goran Boskovic, James Denvir, Sarah Miles, Donald A. Primerano, Richard M. Niles Aug 2012

Global Analysis Of Gene Expression Changes During Retinoic Acid-Induced Growth Arrest And Differentiation Of Melanoma: Comparison To Differentially Expressed Genes In Melanocytes Vs Melanoma, Mary H. Estler, Goran Boskovic, James Denvir, Sarah Miles, Donald A. Primerano, Richard M. Niles

Donald A. Primerano

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant melanoma has significantly increased over the last decade. Some of these malignancies are susceptible to the growth inhibitory and pro-differentiating effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). The molecular changes responsible for the biological activity of RA in melanoma are not well understood. RESULTS: In an analysis of sequential global gene expression changes during a 4-48 h RA treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells, we found that RA increased the expression of 757 genes and decreased the expression of 737 genes. We also compared the gene expression profile (no RA treatment) between non-malignant melan-a mouse melanocytes and …


Global Analysis Of Gene Expression Changes During Retinoic Acid-Induced Growth Arrest And Differentiation Of Melanoma: Comparison To Differentially Expressed Genes In Melanocytes Vs Melanoma, Mary H. Estler, Goran Boskovic, James Denvir, Sarah Miles, Donald A. Primerano, Richard M. Niles Aug 2012

Global Analysis Of Gene Expression Changes During Retinoic Acid-Induced Growth Arrest And Differentiation Of Melanoma: Comparison To Differentially Expressed Genes In Melanocytes Vs Melanoma, Mary H. Estler, Goran Boskovic, James Denvir, Sarah Miles, Donald A. Primerano, Richard M. Niles

Richard M. Niles

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant melanoma has significantly increased over the last decade. Some of these malignancies are susceptible to the growth inhibitory and pro-differentiating effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). The molecular changes responsible for the biological activity of RA in melanoma are not well understood. RESULTS: In an analysis of sequential global gene expression changes during a 4-48 h RA treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells, we found that RA increased the expression of 757 genes and decreased the expression of 737 genes. We also compared the gene expression profile (no RA treatment) between non-malignant melan-a mouse melanocytes and …


Expression And Function Of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 Alpha In Human Melanoma Under Non-Hypoxic Conditions, Caroline N. Mills, Sandeep S. Joshi, Richard M. Niles Aug 2012

Expression And Function Of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 Alpha In Human Melanoma Under Non-Hypoxic Conditions, Caroline N. Mills, Sandeep S. Joshi, Richard M. Niles

Richard M. Niles

Background Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) protein is rapidly degraded under normoxic conditions. When oxygen tensions fall HIF-1α protein stabilizes and transactivates genes involved in adaptation to hypoxic conditions. We have examined the normoxic expression of HIF-1α RNA and protein in normal human melanocytes and a series of human melanoma cell lines isolated from radial growth phase (RGP), vertical growth phase (VGP) and metastatic (MET) melanomas. Results HIF-1α mRNA and protein was increased in RGP vs melanocytes, VGP vs RGP and MET vs VGP melanoma cell lines. We also detected expression of a HIF-1α mRNA splice variant that lacks part …


Retinoic Acid Decreases Atf-2 Phosphorylation And Sensitizes Melanoma Cells To Taxol-Mediated Growth Inhibition, Ying Huang, Jennifer Minigh, Sarah Miles, Richard N. Niles Aug 2012

Retinoic Acid Decreases Atf-2 Phosphorylation And Sensitizes Melanoma Cells To Taxol-Mediated Growth Inhibition, Ying Huang, Jennifer Minigh, Sarah Miles, Richard N. Niles

Richard M. Niles

Cutaneous melanoma is often resistant to chemo- and radiotherapy. This resistance has recently been demonstrated to be due, at least in part, to high activating transcription factor 2 (ATF-2) activity in these tumors. In concordance with these reports, we found that B16 mouse melanoma cells had higher levels of ATF-2 than immortalized, but non-malignant mouse melanocytes. In addition, the melanoma cells had a much higher amount of phosphorylated (active) ATF-2 than the immortalized melanocytes. In the course of determining how retinoic acid (RA) stimulates activating protein-1 (AP-1) activity in B16 melanoma, we discovered that this retinoid decreased the phosphorylation of …


Toxicity Assessment And Analgesic Activity Investigation Of Aqueous Acetone Extracts Of Sida Acuta Burn F. And Sida Cordifolia L. (Malvaceae), Medicinal Plants Of Burkina Faso, Kiessoum Konate, Adama Hilou, Raïssa Rr Aworet-Samseny, Alain Souza, Nicolas Barro, Mamoudou H. Dicko Prof., Jacques Datté, Bertrand M’Batchi Aug 2012

Toxicity Assessment And Analgesic Activity Investigation Of Aqueous Acetone Extracts Of Sida Acuta Burn F. And Sida Cordifolia L. (Malvaceae), Medicinal Plants Of Burkina Faso, Kiessoum Konate, Adama Hilou, Raïssa Rr Aworet-Samseny, Alain Souza, Nicolas Barro, Mamoudou H. Dicko Prof., Jacques Datté, Bertrand M’Batchi

Pr. Mamoudou H. DICKO, PhD

Background Sida acuta Burn f. and Sida cordifolia L. (Malvaceae) are traditionally used in Burkina Faso to treat several ailments, mainly pains, including abdominal infections and associated diseases. Despite the extensive use of these plants in traditional health care, literature provides little information regarding their toxicity and the pharmacology. This work was therefore designed to investigate the toxicological effects of aqueous acetone extracts of Sida acuta Burn f. and Sida cordifolia L. Furthermore, their analgesic capacity was assessed, in order to assess the efficiency of the traditional use of these two medicinal plants from Burkina Faso. Method For acute toxicity …


Mid-Gestation Angiogenic Biomarker Levels Are Increased In Women At High Risk For Preeclampsia, Tiffany A. Moore Simas, Sybil L. Crawford, Susie Bathgate, Jing Yang, Laura Robidoux, Melissa J. Moore, Sharon E. Maynard Jul 2012

Mid-Gestation Angiogenic Biomarker Levels Are Increased In Women At High Risk For Preeclampsia, Tiffany A. Moore Simas, Sybil L. Crawford, Susie Bathgate, Jing Yang, Laura Robidoux, Melissa J. Moore, Sharon E. Maynard

Sybil L. Crawford

Background: Pre-pregnancy hypertension and diabetes mellitus, multiple gestations, prior preeclampsia, are significant risk factors for preeclampsia. Whether altered maternal levels of angiogenic factors contribute to increased preeclampsia risk in these conditions is unknown. Our objective was to compare maternal serum angiogenic biomarker levels in women with major risk factors for preeclampsia and healthy controls. Methods: Women presenting for prenatal care were enrolled if they had one of the following preeclampsia risk factors: pre-pregnancy hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus, nulliparity with pre-pregnancy BMI>30, multiple gestations, or prior preeclampsia. Healthy control pregnancies without these risk factors were enrolled for comparison. Maternal serum …


Nanoprojection Lithography Using Self-Assembled Interference Modules For Manufacturing Plasmonic Gratings, Fang-Tzu Chuang Jun 2012

Nanoprojection Lithography Using Self-Assembled Interference Modules For Manufacturing Plasmonic Gratings, Fang-Tzu Chuang

Fang-Tzu Chuang

Abstract—A new nanoprojection lithography (NPL) is proposed to manufacture plasmonic nanogratings. Here, low-cost self-assembly elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane wavy structures are used as the interference modules, with their periods and amplitudes largely controlled by the applied mechanical strain in the synthesis process. Well defined plasmonic grating couplers with desired feature sizes and wavelengths of operation were obtained. This NPL may enable large-area and flash manufacturing of plasmonic nanogratings with tunable array periods.