Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of Cholera Vaccines Formulated With Toxin-Coregulated Pilin Peptide Plus Polymer Adjuvant In Mice, Jia-Yan Wu, William F. Wade, Ronald K. Taylor

Dartmouth Scholarship

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that is caused by the gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The low efficacy of currently available killed-whole-cell vaccines and the reactinogenicity coupled with potential reversion of live vaccines have thus far precluded widespread vaccination for the control of cholera. Recent studies on the molecular nature of the virulence components that contribute to V. cholerae pathogenesis have provided insights into possible approaches for the development of a defined subunit cholera vaccine. Genetic analysis has demonstrated that the toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) is the major factor that contributes to colonization of the human intestine by V. cholerae. In …

Effect Of Monounsaturated Fat Rich Almonds On Hemostatic And Inflammatory Factors In Healthy Adults, Kristianne M. Connell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: The frequent consumption of nuts is inversely associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Nuts are known to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing serum total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Markers of inflammation including C-reactive protein, E-selectin and interleukin-6 have been proposed to be newer risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the influence of nuts such as almonds on markers of inflammation and hemostasis that influence cardiovascular disease risk is not currently known.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of almond consumption on markers of inflammation and hemostatic factors in healthy …

Effects Of A Serine 364 To Proline Mutation Of The Connexin43 Protein In Transgenic Mice, Chia-Ling Nhan-Chang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[Abstract Not Included]

Dextran-Methylprednisolone Succinate As A Prodrug Of Methylprednisolone: Plasma And Tissue Disposition, Xiaoping Zhang, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Plasma and tissue disposition of a macromolecular prodrug of methylprednisolone (MP), dextran (70 kDa)–methylprednisolone succinate (DMP), was studied in rats. Single 5‐mg/kg doses of DMP or unconjugated MP were administered into the tail veins of different groups of rats (n  = 4/group/time point). Blood (cardiac puncture) and tissues (liver, spleen, kidney, heart, lung, thymus, and brain) were collected at various times after DMP (0–96 h) or MP (0–2 h) injections. Concentrations of DMP and MP in samples were analyzed by size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. Conjugation of MP with 70‐kDa dextran resulted in 22‐, …

Il-1 Induces Collagenase-3 (Mmp-13) Promoter Activity In Stably Transfected Chondrocytic Cells: Requirement For Runx-2 And Activation By P38 Mapk And Jnk Pathways, John A. Mengshol, Matthew P. Vincenti, Constance E. Brinckerhoff

Dartmouth Scholarship

Osteoarthritic chondrocytes secrete matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1), causing digestion of type II collagen in cartilage. Using chondrocytic cells, we previously determined that IL-1 induced a strong MMP-13 transcriptional response that requires p38 MAPK, JNK and the transcription factor NF-κB. Now, we have studied the tissue-specific transcriptional regulation of MMP-13. Constitutive expression of the transcription factor Runx-2 correlated with the ability of a cell type to express MMP-13 and was required for IL-1 induction; moreover, Runx-2 enhanced IL-1 induction of MMP-13 transcription by synergizing with the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Transiently transfected MMP-13 promoters were not IL-1 …

Positive Regulation Of Pka On Human Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (Hgnrh) Gene Expression In Human Placental Jeg-3 Cells, Zhaoyang Wen

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Using the human placental choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cell line as an in vitro human placental model, we studied the mechanisms of the PKA positive regulation of the hGnRH gene expression in the human placenta. Studies in JEG3 cells showed that through the PKA catalytic subunit a, human GnRH upstream promoter activity was stimulated by PKA signaling pathway in a cAMP dependent mechanism. The sequence between —202 (Afl II) and —554 (BamH I) base pair in the human GnRH upstream promoter region appeared to be responsible for the PKA positive regulation of the gene expression. Furthermore, Western blot analysis demonstrated the involvement …

Morphine Enhances The Permeability Across Vascular Endothelial Cell Barriers, Jenine Anday

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Using three types of in vitro endothelial cell barrier models, we investigated the direct effects and mechanisms of morphine on vascular permeability. Our current studies illustrate LPS induces permeability across these VEC barriers, and is significantly enhanced when co-treated with morphine, displayed using the [ 14 CJ-inulin paracellular marker. Incubation with morphine alone induces permeability in a concentration­ depeodent manner, and is not blocked by the addition of naloxone. Morphine enhances the detrimental effects of LPS on cell viability and alone also decreases endothelial cell viability, concentration-dependently, which is also not affected by naloxone, as demonstrated by the trypan blue …

Treatment Of Diabetes, John H.L. Playfair, Khalid M. Elased, Joseph B. De Souza

Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Publications

The present invention provides methods for using a killed malaria parasite or an extract thereof in the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Drugged: Research And Policymakers Confronting Illicit And Illegal Drugs, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article explores the application of research on policies towards illicit and illegal drugs.

Vasorelaxant Effects Of Ethyl Cinnamate Isolated From Kaempferia Galanga On Smooth Muscles Of The Rat Aorta, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Rozana Othman, Halijah Ibrahim, Mustafa Ali Mohd, Khalijah Awang, Anwar-Ul Hassan Gilani

Mohd Rais Mustafa

From the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga, ethyl cinnamate (EC) was isolated and its vasorelaxant effect was examined on the rat aorta. EC inhibited the tonic contractions induced by high K+ and phenylephrine (PE) in a concentration-dependent manner, with respective IC50 values of 0.30 ± 0.05 mM and 0.38 ± 0.04 mM. The relaxant effect against PE-induced contractions was greater in the presence of endothelium. Pre-treatment of the aorta with methylene blue and indomethacin significantly reduced the relaxant effect. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of EC may involve inhibition of Ca2+ influx into vascular cells and release of nitric …

Abnormal Expression Of P27kip1 Protein In Levator Ani Muscle Of Aging Women With Pelvic Floor Disorders – A Relationship To The Cellular Differentiation And Degeneration, Antonin Bukovsky, Pleas Copas, Michael R. Caudle, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Tamara Dassanayake, Bridgett Asbury, Stuart E. Van Meter, Robert F. Elder, Jeffrey B. Brown, Stephanie B. Cross

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

Background Pelvic floor disorders affect almost 50% of aging women. An important role in the pelvic floor support belongs to the levator ani muscle. The p27/kip1 (p27) protein, multifunctional cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, shows changing expression in differentiating skeletal muscle cells during development, and relatively high levels of p27 RNA were detected in the normal human skeletal muscles.

Methods Biopsy samples of levator ani muscle were obtained from 22 symptomatic patients with stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and overlaps (age range 38–74), and nine asymptomatic women (age 31–49). Cryostat sections were investigated for p27 protein expression and type I (slow …

Methods Development For The Identification Of Unknown Proteins, Laura Brumfield Neal

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The chemistry of transport, storage, energy production, and reproduction in physiological systems is controlled by the actions and interactions of proteins. A species full complement of these amazing machines is often referred to as its proteome. The new science of proteomics utilizes a set of powerful and evolving tools to characterize the nature of the proteome, and further to fully elucidate the functional attributes of the proteins and their associations.

A methodology was developed by combining several proteomic techniques, such as electrophoresis, RP-HPLC, and mass spectrometry, to correctly identity proteins. Three known proteins (myoglobin, albumin, and actin) were employed for …

Receptor Number And Caveolar Co-Localization Determine Receptor Coupling Efficiency To Adenylyl Cyclase, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Caroline Gregorian, Ryan M. Drenan, Yang Xiang, John W. Regan, Paul A. Insel

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Recent evidence suggests that many signaling molecules localize in microdomains of the plasma membrane, particularly caveolae. In this study, overexpression of adenylyl cyclase was used as a functional probe of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) compartmentation. We found that three endogenous receptors in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes couple with different levels of efficiency to the activation of adenylyl cyclase type 6 (AC6), which localizes to caveolin-rich membrane fractions. Overexpression of AC6 enhanced the maximal cAMP response to β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR)-selective activation 3.7-fold, to β2AR-selective activation only 1.6-fold and to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) not at all. Therefore, the rank order of efficacy in …

Antioxidation Activity Of Dhea And Its Mechanisms, Sun Yang, Han Rui

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the anti-oxidative activity of a new chemopreventive agent--dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and the mechanisms of action by which DHEA protect the thymocytes and DNA from oxidative damage. Methods: Agarose gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry, single cel! gel electrophoresis, chemiluminescence assay, triazolyl blue tetrazolumbromide (MTT) colorimetry, and three dimensional collagen gel assay were used. Results: In agarose gel electrophoresis, 10 nmol/L DHEA blocked the typical DNA degradation (DNA Ladder) induced by H₂O₂. DHEA 2. 5 nmol/L and 10 nmol/L both significantly decreased the percentage of characteristic apoptotic DNA …