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Articles 16711 - 16740 of 21758

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

The Effect Of Twist On The Mechanical Properties Of The Intervertebral Disc, Maxine Harvey-Burgess Jan 2017

The Effect Of Twist On The Mechanical Properties Of The Intervertebral Disc, Maxine Harvey-Burgess

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is a common injury to the IVD and a frequent source of low back pain. IVD herniation occurs when the nucleus pulposus migrates through both the inter- and intralamellar matrices of the annulus fibrosus (AF). There are a number of mechanical risk factors associated with herniation, including repetitive flexion and twist. In vivo, twist combined with repetitive flexion has been associated with increased experience of low back pain and herniation. Additionally, in vitro, when repetitive flexion is combined with twist, IVD herniation occurs more easily than repetitive flexion alone. However, the mechanisms behind …


Human Tear Fluid Reduces Culturability Of Contact Lens-Associated Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms But Induces Expression Of The Virulence-Associated Type Iii Secretion System, Yvonne T. Wu, Connie Tam, Lucia S. Zhu, David J. Evans, Suzanne M. J. Fleiszig Jan 2017

Human Tear Fluid Reduces Culturability Of Contact Lens-Associated Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms But Induces Expression Of The Virulence-Associated Type Iii Secretion System, Yvonne T. Wu, Connie Tam, Lucia S. Zhu, David J. Evans, Suzanne M. J. Fleiszig

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Purpose

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a significant virulence determinant for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using a rodent model, we found that contact lens(CL)-related corneal infections were associated with lens surface biofilms. Here, we studied the impact of human tear fluid on CL-associated biofilm growth and T3SS expression.

Methods

P. aeruginosa biofilms were formed on contact lenses for up to 7 days with or without human tear fluid, then exposed to tear fluid for 5 or 24 h. Biofilms were imaged using confocal microscopy. Bacterial culturability was quantified by viable counts, and T3SS gene expression measured …


Anti-Inflammatory And Neuroprotective Role Of Natural Product Securinine In Activated Glial Cells: Implications For Parkinson’S Disease, Dmitri Leonoudakis, Anand Rane, Suzanne Angeli, Gordon J. Lithgow, Julie K. Andersen, Shankar J. Chinta Jan 2017

Anti-Inflammatory And Neuroprotective Role Of Natural Product Securinine In Activated Glial Cells: Implications For Parkinson’S Disease, Dmitri Leonoudakis, Anand Rane, Suzanne Angeli, Gordon J. Lithgow, Julie K. Andersen, Shankar J. Chinta

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Glial activation and subsequent release of neurotoxic proinflammatory factors are believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Inhibition of glial activation and inflammatory processes may represent a therapeutic target to alleviate neurodegeneration. Securinine, a major natural alkaloid product from the root of the plant Securinega suffruticosa, has been reported to have potent biological activity and is used in the treatment of neurological conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, poliomyelitis, and multiple sclerosis. In this study, we explored the underlying mechanisms of neuroprotection elicited by securinine, particularly its anti-inflammatory effects …


Mucosal Fluid Glycoprotein Dmbt1 Suppresses Twitching Motility And Virulence Of The Opportunistic Pathogen Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Jianfang Li, Matteo E. O. Metruccio, David J. Evans, Suzanne M. J. Fleiszig Jan 2017

Mucosal Fluid Glycoprotein Dmbt1 Suppresses Twitching Motility And Virulence Of The Opportunistic Pathogen Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Jianfang Li, Matteo E. O. Metruccio, David J. Evans, Suzanne M. J. Fleiszig

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

It is generally thought that mucosal fluids protect underlying epithelial surfaces against opportunistic infection via their antimicrobial activity. However, our published data show that human tear fluid can protect against the major opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa independently of bacteriostatic activity. Here, we explored the mechanisms for tear protection, focusing on impacts of tear fluid on bacterial virulence factor expression. Results showed that tear fluid suppressed twitching motility, a type of surface-associated movement conferred by pili. Previously, we showed that twitching is critical for P. aeruginosa traversal of corneal epithelia, exit from epithelial cells after internalization, and corneal virulence. Inhibition …


Steroid Hormone Receptors As Prognostic Markers In Breast Cancer, Maggie C. Louie, Mary B. Sevigny Jan 2017

Steroid Hormone Receptors As Prognostic Markers In Breast Cancer, Maggie C. Louie, Mary B. Sevigny

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Despite the existence of many promising anti-cancer therapies, not all breast cancers are equally treatable, due partly to the fact that focus has been primarily on a few select breast cancer biomarkers- notably ERα, PR and HER2. In cases like triple negative breast cancer (ERα-, PR-, and HER2-), there is a complete lack of available biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic purposes. The goal of this review is to determine if other steroid receptors, like ERβ and AR, could play a prognostic and/or therapeutic role. Data from various in vitro, in vivo, and clinical breast cancer studies were examined …


Single Low-Dose Lipopolysaccharide Preconditioning: Neuroprotective Against Axonal Injury And Modulates Glial Cells, Ryan C. Turner, Zachary J. Naser, Brandon P. Lucke-Wold, Aric F. Logsdon, Reyna L. Vangilder, Rae Reiko Matsumoto, Jason D. Huber Jan 2017

Single Low-Dose Lipopolysaccharide Preconditioning: Neuroprotective Against Axonal Injury And Modulates Glial Cells, Ryan C. Turner, Zachary J. Naser, Brandon P. Lucke-Wold, Aric F. Logsdon, Reyna L. Vangilder, Rae Reiko Matsumoto, Jason D. Huber

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

AIM: Over 7 million traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are reported each year in the United States. However, treatments and neuroprotection following TBI are limited because secondary injury cascades are poorly understood. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration before controlled cortical impact can contribute to neuroprotection. However, the underlying mechanisms and whether LPS preconditioning confers neuroprotection against closed-head injuries remains unclear.

METHODS: The authors hypothesized that preconditioning with a low dose of LPS (0.2 mg/kg) would regulate glial reactivity and protect against diffuse axonal injury induced by weight drop. LPS was administered 7 days prior to TBI. LPS administration reduced locomotion, which recovered completely …


Exosomes Serve As Novel Modes Of Tick-Borne Flavivirus Transmission From Arthropod To Human Cells And Facilitates Dissemination Of Viral Rna And Proteins To The Vertebrate Neuronal Cells, Wenshuo Zhou, Michael Woodson, Biswas Neupane, Fengwei Bai, Michael B. Sherman, Kyung H. Choi, Girish Neelakanta, Hameeda Sultana Jan 2017

Exosomes Serve As Novel Modes Of Tick-Borne Flavivirus Transmission From Arthropod To Human Cells And Facilitates Dissemination Of Viral Rna And Proteins To The Vertebrate Neuronal Cells, Wenshuo Zhou, Michael Woodson, Biswas Neupane, Fengwei Bai, Michael B. Sherman, Kyung H. Choi, Girish Neelakanta, Hameeda Sultana

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Molecular determinants and mechanisms of arthropod-borne flavivirus transmission to the vertebrate host are poorly understood. In this study, we show for the first time that a cell line from medically important arthropods, such as ticks, secretes extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes that mediate transmission of flavivirus RNA and proteins to the human cells. Our study shows that tick-borne Langat virus (LGTV), a model pathogen closely related to tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), profusely uses arthropod exosomes for transmission of viral RNA and proteins to the human- skin keratinocytes and blood endothelial cells. Cryo-electron microscopy showed the presence of purified arthropod/neuronal exosomes …


Plain Language Review Of Diabetes Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People, Kathy Ride Jan 2017

Plain Language Review Of Diabetes Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People, Kathy Ride

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This review provides an overview of key information on diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The review focuses mostly on type 2 diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people because type 2 diabetes is responsible for the majority of cases of diabetes in this population. However, the review also refers to type 1 diabetes and gestational diabetes where information is available. It provides a historical, social and cultural background to the development of diabetes, and the behavioural and medical factors that contribute to diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

It provides information on …


Caffeine Consumption With Relevance To Type 3 Diabetes And Accelerated Brain Aging, I. J. Martins Jan 2017

Caffeine Consumption With Relevance To Type 3 Diabetes And Accelerated Brain Aging, I. J. Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Major interests in caffeine consumption has increased with the alarming increase in the global NAFLD epidemic relevant to increased transport of caffeine to the brain with the induction of Type 3 diabetes. Specific nutritional diets are essential to maintain hepatic caffeine metabolism to facilitate rapid Aβ clearance in the periphery and to maintain the effects of drugs such as statins to reduce toxic Aβ formation not only in Type 3 diabetes but to various neurological diseases. Anti-aging gene Sirt 1 is responsible for brain Aβ and caffeine metabolism and inactivation of Sirt 1 by unhealthy diets is now relevant to …


Fructose And Its Contribution To Cardiovascular Disease And Metabolic Syndrome, Jessica Anderson Jan 2017

Fructose And Its Contribution To Cardiovascular Disease And Metabolic Syndrome, Jessica Anderson

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

The incidence of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and combination of symptoms classified as “metabolic syndrome” that eventually leads to type 2 diabetes have risen dramatically over the past few decades. The current dietary guidelines that advised patients to avoid dietary fats were originally developed in the 1960’s. This led the way for food manufacturers to remove fats in processed foods and replace them with sugars, particularly fructose. At the time there was no clinical trial data that definitively supported these guidelines.

The increased use of fructose as a food additive has dramatically increased the per-capita consumption of this sugar. More recent …


Orthogonal Decomposition Of Left Ventricular Remodeling In Myocardial Infarction, Xingyu Zhang, Pau Medrano-Gracia, Bharath Ambale-Venkatesh, David A. Bluemke, Brett R. Cowan, J. Paul Finn, Alan H. Kadish Jan 2017

Orthogonal Decomposition Of Left Ventricular Remodeling In Myocardial Infarction, Xingyu Zhang, Pau Medrano-Gracia, Bharath Ambale-Venkatesh, David A. Bluemke, Brett R. Cowan, J. Paul Finn, Alan H. Kadish

Office of the President Publications and Research

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular size and shape are important for quantifying cardiac remodeling in response to cardiovascular disease. Geometric remodeling indices have been shown to have prognostic value in predicting adverse events in the clinical literature, but these often describe interrelated shape changes. We developed a novel method for deriving orthogonal remodeling components directly from any (moderately independent) set of clinical remodeling indices.

RESULTS: Six clinical remodeling indices (end-diastolic volume index, sphericity, relative wall thickness, ejection fraction, apical conicity, and longitudinal shortening) were evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance images of 300 patients with myocardial infarction, and 1991 asymptomatic subjects, obtained from …


Comparison Of Inappropriate Shocks And Other Health Outcomes Between Single- And Dual-Chamber Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators For Primary Prevention Of Sudden Cardiac Death: Results From The Cardiovascular Research Network Longitudinal Study Of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators, Pamela N. Peterson, Robert T. Greenlee, Alan S. Go, David J. Magid, Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow, Romel Garcia-Montilla, Alan H. Kadish Jan 2017

Comparison Of Inappropriate Shocks And Other Health Outcomes Between Single- And Dual-Chamber Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators For Primary Prevention Of Sudden Cardiac Death: Results From The Cardiovascular Research Network Longitudinal Study Of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators, Pamela N. Peterson, Robert T. Greenlee, Alan S. Go, David J. Magid, Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow, Romel Garcia-Montilla, Alan H. Kadish

Office of the President Publications and Research

Background In US clinical practice, many patients who undergo placement of an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death receive dual‐chamber devices. The superiority of dual‐chamber over single‐chamber devices in reducing the risk of inappropriate ICD shocks in clinical practice has not been established. The objective of this study was to compare risk of adverse outcomes, including inappropriate shocks, between single‐ and dual‐chamber ICDs for primary prevention.

Methods and Results We identified patients receiving a single‐ or dual‐chamber ICD for primary prevention who did not have an indication for pacing from 15 hospitals within 7 integrated health …


Development Of Health Education Materials To Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections Among University Of Southern Maine Students, Lily Parenteau Jan 2017

Development Of Health Education Materials To Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections Among University Of Southern Maine Students, Lily Parenteau

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to develop health education materials that can be used to educate college students about the risks, symptoms, and prevention measures associated with chlamydia and gonorrhea infections, as well as provide information about current disease information in the state of Maine.


Ethnic Differences In Risk Factors For Obesity Among Adults In California, The United States, Liang Wang, Jodi L. Southerland, Kesheng Wang, Beth A. Bailey, Arsham Alamian, Marc A. Stevens, Youfa Want Jan 2017

Ethnic Differences In Risk Factors For Obesity Among Adults In California, The United States, Liang Wang, Jodi L. Southerland, Kesheng Wang, Beth A. Bailey, Arsham Alamian, Marc A. Stevens, Youfa Want

ETSU Faculty Works

Little attention has been given to differences in obesity risk factors by racial/ethnic groups. Using data from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey, we examined differences in risk factors for obesity among Whites, Latinos, Asians, and African Americans among 42,935 adults (24.8% obese). Estimates were weighted to ensure an unbiased representation of the Californian population. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the differences in risk factors for obesity. Large ethnic disparities were found in obesity prevalence: Whites (22.0%), Latinos (33.6%), African Americans (36.1%), and Asians (9.8%). Differences in risk factors for obesity were also observed: Whites …


Effects Of Instrument Handle Design On Dental Hygienists' Forearm Muscle Activity During Scaling, Jessica R. Suedbeck, Susan L. Tolle, Gayle Mccombs, Martha L. Walker, Daniel M. Russell Jan 2017

Effects Of Instrument Handle Design On Dental Hygienists' Forearm Muscle Activity During Scaling, Jessica R. Suedbeck, Susan L. Tolle, Gayle Mccombs, Martha L. Walker, Daniel M. Russell

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 4 different commercially available instrument handle designs (A. 16 grams and 12.7 mm diameter, B. 23 grams and 11.1 mm diameter, C. 21 grams and 7.9 mm diameter and D. 18 grams and 6.35 mm diameter) on the muscle activity of four forearm muscles during a simulated scaling experience.

Methods: A convenience sample of 27 (n=27) dental hygienists used a Columbia 13/14 curet with four different instrument handles to scale artificial calculus from typodont teeth. Each participant's muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG).

Results: Similar muscle …


Portulaca Oleracea Extract Can Inhibit Nodule Formation Of Colon Cancer Stem Cells By Regulating Gene Expression Of Notch Signal Transduction Pathway, Li Chen Jan 2017

Portulaca Oleracea Extract Can Inhibit Nodule Formation Of Colon Cancer Stem Cells By Regulating Gene Expression Of Notch Signal Transduction Pathway, Li Chen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Portulaca oleracea extract on tumor formation in colon cancer stem cells and chemotherapy sensitivity. In addition, this study analyzed the genetic changes within the Notch signal transduction pathway associated with the effects of the extracts. Serum-free cultures of colon cancer cells (HT-29) and HT-29 stem cells were treated with the chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU to assess sensitivity. Injections of the stem cells were also given to BALB/c mice to confirm tumor growth and characteristics. In addition, the effect of different concentrations of P. oleracea extract was tested on the …


The Impact Of Sglt2 Inhibitors, Compared With Insulin, On Diabetic Bone Disease In A Mouse Model Of Type 1 Diabetes, Kathryn M. Thrailkill, Jeffry S. Nyman, R. Clay Bunn, Sasidhar Uppuganti, Katherine L. Thompson, Charles K. Lumpkin, Evangelia Kalaitzoglou, John L. Fowlkes Jan 2017

The Impact Of Sglt2 Inhibitors, Compared With Insulin, On Diabetic Bone Disease In A Mouse Model Of Type 1 Diabetes, Kathryn M. Thrailkill, Jeffry S. Nyman, R. Clay Bunn, Sasidhar Uppuganti, Katherine L. Thompson, Charles K. Lumpkin, Evangelia Kalaitzoglou, John L. Fowlkes

Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center Faculty Publications

Skeletal co-morbidities in type 1 diabetes include an increased risk for fracture and delayed fracture healing, which are intertwined with disease duration and the presence of other diabetic complications. As such, chronic hyperglycemia is undoubtedly a major contributor to these outcomes, despite standard insulin-replacement therapy. Therefore, using the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model of hypoinsulinemic hyperglycemia in DBA/2J male mice, we compared the effects of two glucose lowering therapies on the fracture resistance of bone and markers of bone turnover. Twelve week-old diabetic (DM) mice were treated for 9 weeks with: 1) oral canagliflozin (CANA, dose range ~10-16 mg/kg/day), an inhibitor of …


Mc-Ppea As A New And More Potent Inhibitor Of Clp-Induced Sepsis And Pulmonary Inflammation Than Fk866., Peixin Huang, Mark W Lee, Keivan Sadrerafi, Daniel P. Heruth, Li Q. Zhang, Dev Maulik, Shui Qing Ye Jan 2017

Mc-Ppea As A New And More Potent Inhibitor Of Clp-Induced Sepsis And Pulmonary Inflammation Than Fk866., Peixin Huang, Mark W Lee, Keivan Sadrerafi, Daniel P. Heruth, Li Q. Zhang, Dev Maulik, Shui Qing Ye

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Our previous study indicated that overexpression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) aggravated acute lung injury, while knockdown of NAMPT expression attenuated ventilator-induced lung injury. Recently, we found that meta-carborane-butyl-3-(3-pyridinyl)-2E-propenamide (MC-PPEA, MC4), in which the benzoylpiperidine moiety of FK866 has been replaced by a carborane, displayed a 100-fold increase in NAMPT inhibition over FK866. Here, we determined the effects of MC4 and FK866 on cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery-induced sepsis in C57BL/6J mice. MC4 showed stronger inhibitory effects than FK866 on CLP-induced mortality, serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) levels, pulmonary myeloperoxidase activity, alveolar injury, and interleukin 6 and interleukin1β messenger …


Biomarkers Of Sepsis: A Retrospective Approach, Jose M. Roberts Jan 2017

Biomarkers Of Sepsis: A Retrospective Approach, Jose M. Roberts

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Background: Biomarkers are taking the spotlight in becoming the norm for early diagnoses. Sepsis is an inflammatory disease that increases metabolic rate in children. The first biomarker is hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is a frequent electrolyte imbalance in clinical practice, often observed in children with inflammatory disease and infection. Presence of hyponatremia is associated with electrical signaling imbalances, inflammation and renal dysfunction. The clinical value of hyponatremia in pediatric patients is unknown. The C-reactive protein is a second biomarker. Its presence signifies that necrotic cells and inflammation are present.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of biomarkers in children seen in the Emergency …


Metabolomic Profiling Of Chiari Malformation Type I: Comparison Of Bioinformatic Programs For Untargeted Analysis, Hunter W. Korsmo Jan 2017

Metabolomic Profiling Of Chiari Malformation Type I: Comparison Of Bioinformatic Programs For Untargeted Analysis, Hunter W. Korsmo

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Chiari Malformation Type I is a neurodegenerative trait that can result from disease or from acquiring. Metabolomic analysis was done on normal pressure hydrocephalous and Chiari CSF samples using LC-MS and multiple bioinformatic programs. After analysis from multiple programs, we were able to analyze the stringency in statistical algorithms done by each program and determined qualities that are shared between programs that offer multiple details. We identified dysregulation in glucuronated metabolites in CSF of Chiari versus NPH. Using LC-MS, we established the experimental MS/MS of glucuronic acid in attempt to identify similarities in mass-to-charge features primarily identified. We could not …


Type 2 Immune Responses In The Context Of Helminth Infection, Asthma, Dendritic Cells, And Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cell Function, Sheela Ruby Damle Jan 2017

Type 2 Immune Responses In The Context Of Helminth Infection, Asthma, Dendritic Cells, And Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cell Function, Sheela Ruby Damle

Theses and Dissertations

Type 2 (TH2) immune responses evolved to respond to helminth parasite infections by the production of TH2 cytokines, which stimulate anti-helminth immunity. Macrophage migration inhibitor factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine, which is produced by many cell types. We demonstrate that mice deficient in MIF have enhanced clearance of a helminth parasite. MIF deficiency in CD4+ T cells was found to be the most important for mediating parasite clearance. We mimicked MIF deficiency by administering an inhibitor of the MIF tautomerase activity, sulforaphane, and this also increased parasite clearance (Section I).

TH2 immune …


Contribution Of A Class Ii Ribonucleotide Reductase To The Manganese Dependence Of Streptococcus Sanguinis, John L. Smith Jan 2017

Contribution Of A Class Ii Ribonucleotide Reductase To The Manganese Dependence Of Streptococcus Sanguinis, John L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Manganese-deficient Streptococcus sanguinis mutants exhibit a dramatic decrease in virulence for infective endocarditis and in aerobic growth in manganese-limited media. Loss of activity of a manganese-dependent, oxygen-dependent ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) could explain the decrease in virulence. When the genes encoding this RNR are deleted, there is no growth of the mutant in aerobic broth culture or in an animal model. Testing the contribution of the aerobic RNR to the phenotype of a manganese transporter mutant, a heterologous class II RNR from Lactobacillus leichmannii called NrdJ that requires B12 rather than manganese as a cofactor was previously introduced into an …


Characterization Of Staphylococcal Nuclease And Tudor Domain Containing Protein 1 (Snd1) As A Molecular Target In Hepatocellular Carcinoma And Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Nidhi H. Jariwala Jan 2017

Characterization Of Staphylococcal Nuclease And Tudor Domain Containing Protein 1 (Snd1) As A Molecular Target In Hepatocellular Carcinoma And Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Nidhi H. Jariwala

Theses and Dissertations

CHARACTERIZATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL NUCLEASE AND TUDOR DOMAIN CONTAINING PROTEIN 1 (SND1) AS A MOLECULAR TARGET IN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA AND NON-ALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS

Nidhi Jariwala, PhD

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Life Sciences

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017

Devanand Sarkar, M.B.B.S., PhD.

Associate Professor, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia

SND1, a subunit of the miRNA regulatory complex RISC, has been implicated as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Oncoprotein SND1 regulates gene expression at a post-transcriptional level in multiple cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). …


Discovering A Novel Antifungal Target In Downstream Sterol Biosynthesis Using A Squalene Synthase Functional Motif, Kristin Brooke Linscott Jan 2017

Discovering A Novel Antifungal Target In Downstream Sterol Biosynthesis Using A Squalene Synthase Functional Motif, Kristin Brooke Linscott

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

The sterol biosynthetic pathway is essential for growth of all eukaryotic cells and the main target of antifungal agents. The emergence of resistance to these antifungals in an already ill patient population indicates a need to develop drugs that have a broad spectrum of activity among pathogenic fungi and have minimal patient toxicity. Squalene synthase is the first committed step in the sterol pathway and has been studied intensively for development of antifungal agents. While the overall architecture of this enzyme is identical throughout eukaryotes, it was shown that plant and animal genes cannot complement a squalene synthase knockout mutation …


Racial And Ethnic Differences In Receipt Of Immediate Breast Reconstruction Surgery: Do Hospital Characteristics Matter?, Jaya Shankar Khushalani Jan 2017

Racial And Ethnic Differences In Receipt Of Immediate Breast Reconstruction Surgery: Do Hospital Characteristics Matter?, Jaya Shankar Khushalani

Theses and Dissertations

Immediate Breast Reconstruction Surgery (IBRS) is associated with better quality of life among women who undergo a mastectomy. Despite insurance coverage for IBRS, utilization of IBRS remains low. Data from publicly available sources for 2010-2012 are used to examine the association between hospital characteristics receipt of IBRS by patients. Minority-serving status, low bed size, for-profit ownership, non-teaching status, high competition, low density of plastic surgeons in the market and non-metropolitan location are associated with lower likelihood of receipt of IBRS.

Racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to receive IBRS. A mixed effects logistic regression model with interactions between Black/Hispanic …


Epidemiological Investigation Of Candida Species Causing Bloodstream Infection In Pediatric Small Bowel Transplant Recipients, Mallory J. Suhr, João Carlos Gomes-Neto, Nabaraj Banjara, Diana F. Florescu, David F. Mercer, Peter C. Iwen, Heather E. Hallen-Adams Jan 2017

Epidemiological Investigation Of Candida Species Causing Bloodstream Infection In Pediatric Small Bowel Transplant Recipients, Mallory J. Suhr, João Carlos Gomes-Neto, Nabaraj Banjara, Diana F. Florescu, David F. Mercer, Peter C. Iwen, Heather E. Hallen-Adams

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Small bowel transplantation (SBT) can be a life-saving medical procedure. However, these recipients experience high risk of bloodstream infections caused by Candida. This research aims to characterize the SBT recipient gut microbiota over time following transplantation and investigate the epidemiology of candidemia in seven pediatric patients. Candida species from the recipients’ ileum and bloodstream were identified by internal transcribed spacer sequence and distinguished to strain by multilocus sequence typing and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA. Antifungal susceptibility of bloodstream isolates was determined against nine antifungals. Twenty-two ileostomy samples harbored at least one Candida species. Fungemia were caused by Candida parapsilosis …


Peanut Allergen Threshold Study (Pats): Novel Single-Dose Oral Food Challenge Study To Validate Eliciting Doses In Children With Peanut Allergy, Jonathan O'B. Hourihane, Katrina J. Allen, Wayne G. Shreffler, Gillian Dunngalvin, Julie A. Nordlee, Giovanni A. Zurzolo, Audrey Dunngalvin, Lyle C. Gurrin, Joseph L. Baumert, Steve L. Taylor Jan 2017

Peanut Allergen Threshold Study (Pats): Novel Single-Dose Oral Food Challenge Study To Validate Eliciting Doses In Children With Peanut Allergy, Jonathan O'B. Hourihane, Katrina J. Allen, Wayne G. Shreffler, Gillian Dunngalvin, Julie A. Nordlee, Giovanni A. Zurzolo, Audrey Dunngalvin, Lyle C. Gurrin, Joseph L. Baumert, Steve L. Taylor

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Background: Eliciting doses (EDs) of allergenic foods can be defined by the distribution of threshold doses for subjects within a specific population. The ED05 is the dose that elicits a reaction in 5% of allergic subjects. The predicted ED05 for peanut is 1.5 mg of peanut protein (6 mg of whole peanut).

Objective: We sought to validate the predicted peanut ED05 (1.5 mg) with a novel single-dose challenge.

Methods: Consecutive eligible children with peanut allergy in 3 centers were prospectively invited to participate, irrespective of previous reaction severity. Predetermined criteria for objective reactions were used …


Evaluation Of A Primary Care Based Diabetes Education Program, Claire Pfister Jan 2017

Evaluation Of A Primary Care Based Diabetes Education Program, Claire Pfister

DNP Projects

The improved management of diabetes is a critical clinical and economic challenge facing our healthcare system. Educating patients with diabetes to self-manage their disease is a vital component of diabetes care. The purpose of this DNP practice improvement project was to evaluate an innovative health care delivery method of individualized diabetes self-management education (DSME) in primary care. The approach combined individual DSME with a registered dietician and routine diabetes care with the primary care provider into one patient appointment. System data was reviewed to compare referral and attendance patterns of group and individual methods. Changes in clinical indicators of A1C, …


Quality Of Life And Depression Among Patients With Type I Diabetes: A Study Of Gender Differences, Eisha Gohil, Ruby Charak, Haroon Rashid, Priyanka Sharma Jan 2017

Quality Of Life And Depression Among Patients With Type I Diabetes: A Study Of Gender Differences, Eisha Gohil, Ruby Charak, Haroon Rashid, Priyanka Sharma

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Diabetes is a progressive chronic condition which places a significant burden of self management on the individual, such as daily monitoring and medications management, worry about the future and distress about the impact of diabetes on various aspects of life. It is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. The present study aimed to assess gender differences in quality of life and depression in patients suffering from type I diabetes. A sample of 70 participants (44 male and 26 female) in the age range of …


Understanding The Effect Of Bvdv On Innate Immune Response Of Neutrophils, Neelu Singh Thakur Jan 2017

Understanding The Effect Of Bvdv On Innate Immune Response Of Neutrophils, Neelu Singh Thakur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the highly prevalent and economically important diseases of cattle industry worldwide. The two major consequences of this disease are persistent infection and immunosuppression. Several studies have been done to determine the underline mechanisms of BVDV-induced immunosuppression targeting antigen presenting cells, adaptive immune system cells and cytokine gene expression. However, very little research has been done to determine the effect of BVDV on neutrophils. Neutrophils are one of the most abundant while blood cells (WBC) in the peripheral blood, which play a critical role in the innate as well as adaptive immune response. …