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Fos Expression In Lateral Hypothalamus/Perifornical Area Is Correlated With Psychosocial Stress-Induced Cocaine-Seeking Behavior In A Sex-Specific Manner, Milena Sudarikov, Nicole M. Hinds, Ireneusz D. Wojtas, Desta M. Pulley, Daniel F. Manvich May 2024

Fos Expression In Lateral Hypothalamus/Perifornical Area Is Correlated With Psychosocial Stress-Induced Cocaine-Seeking Behavior In A Sex-Specific Manner, Milena Sudarikov, Nicole M. Hinds, Ireneusz D. Wojtas, Desta M. Pulley, Daniel F. Manvich

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cocaine Use Disorder persists as a significant public health concern in the United States. Recent epidemiological data indicate that rates of cocaine-involved overdose deaths are rising, and treatment of Cocaine Use Disorder is challenging due to a lack of FDA-approved medications to help patients achieve abstinence and avoid relapse. Stress can precipitate cocaine craving and trigger relapse episodes, however the underlying neural circuitry by which stressors drive cocaine seeking is not completely understood. Our laboratory has recently identified the potential involvement of the rostrolateral aspect of the periaqueductal gray (rlPAG) in psychosocial stress-induced cocaine-seeking behavior using a rodent model of …


The Neuroprotective Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating Blood Brain Barrier Integrity In Neuroinflammatory Disease Processes, Minjal Patel, Nimish Acharya May 2024

The Neuroprotective Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating Blood Brain Barrier Integrity In Neuroinflammatory Disease Processes, Minjal Patel, Nimish Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB), formed by the vascular endothelium, astrocytic foot processes, pericytes, is a highly selective barrier that is responsible for maintaining brain homeostasis and ultimately proper neuronal function. Disruption of the BBB, leading to increased BBB permeability, has been reported in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).1 Loss of BBB integrity leads to the proliferation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNFɑ, IL-1β, and IL-6.2 Moderate inflammation has a beneficial response in the system following an acute injury. However, prolonged inflammation has been known to perturb homeostasis and have …


Soluble Antimicrobial Peptide (Amp) Screening To Rationally Design Amp-Hydrogels That Selectively Prevent Biofilm Formation, Matthias Recktenwald, Muskanjot Kaur, Mohammed M. Benmassaoud, Aryanna Copling, Tulika Khanna, Michael Curry, Denise Cortes, Gilbert Fleischer, Valerie J. Carabetta, Sebastián L. Vega May 2024

Soluble Antimicrobial Peptide (Amp) Screening To Rationally Design Amp-Hydrogels That Selectively Prevent Biofilm Formation, Matthias Recktenwald, Muskanjot Kaur, Mohammed M. Benmassaoud, Aryanna Copling, Tulika Khanna, Michael Curry, Denise Cortes, Gilbert Fleischer, Valerie J. Carabetta, Sebastián L. Vega

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that lives on surfaces and skin and can cause serious infections once inside the body. While antibiotics effectively kill bacteria, there are a growing number of infections with antibiotic-resistant strains. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are part of the innate immune system and can eliminate pathogens including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and are a promising alternative to antibiotics. Although studies have reported that AMP-functionalized hydrogels can prevent bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, these materials generally consist of one AMP at an arbitrary concentration, and AMP dosing and the combined effects of multiple AMPs are not well …


The Role Of Med13 In Proteaphagy, John Sauer, Brittany Friedson, Katrina Cooper May 2024

The Role Of Med13 In Proteaphagy, John Sauer, Brittany Friedson, Katrina Cooper

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Regulation of proteasomes is important for adaptation to cellular stress. Previous studies have shown that following starvation stress, proteasomes are targeted for destruction by autophagy. However, how cells control proteasomes in response to nitrogen starvation remains unclear. This study delves into the intricate interplay between Med13, proteaphagy, and stress response regulation, aiming to elucidate their roles in cellular survival mechanisms. It focused on the highly conserved Cdk8 kinase module (CKM) of the Mediator complex a that plays a pivotal involvement in cellular signaling and gene regulation under stress conditions. During the investigation, we asked if the degradation of specific proteasome …


Interactions Between Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Methylphenidate Administration On Catecholamine Transporter Protein Levels Within The Rodent Prefrontal Cortex, Anna Abrimian, Eleni Papadopoulos, Christopher P. Knapp, J. Loweth, Barry Waterhouse, Rachel Navarra May 2024

Interactions Between Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Methylphenidate Administration On Catecholamine Transporter Protein Levels Within The Rodent Prefrontal Cortex, Anna Abrimian, Eleni Papadopoulos, Christopher P. Knapp, J. Loweth, Barry Waterhouse, Rachel Navarra

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

It is theorized that low concentrations of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) within in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to increased risky behavior. Our lab has shown that repeated mild TBI (rmTBI) sex-differentially increases risky behavior in a rodent model. Methylphenidate (MPH) is a psychostimulant drug used to treat symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), also driven by a hypo-catecholaminergic PFC. MPH elevates catecholamine levels by blocking DA and NE transporters, DAT and NET. While the potential of psychostimulants to treat post-TBI symptoms have been explored, the effects of sub-chronic MPH on transporter levels following …


Comparative Analyses Of Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Serotypes 1, 2 And 9 In The Sod Mouse Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Talia Hartman, Jeremy Francis, Paola Leone May 2024

Comparative Analyses Of Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Serotypes 1, 2 And 9 In The Sod Mouse Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Talia Hartman, Jeremy Francis, Paola Leone

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

6–7-week-old G93A SOD mice were given 1x1010 vector genomes of three different self-complimentary (sc) AAV capsid serotypes (AAV1, 2, and 9) all containing an identical CBh-driven GFP reporter expression cassette. Each serotype was delivered via either the intrathecal (IT) or intra cisterna magna (ICM) route of administration (ROA). Transduction by each serotype, via each of the two ROA was compared for the cortex and each of the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical regions of the spinal cord, with percent neuronal tropism calculated in each region. AAV2 was effective at transducing spinal cord neurons but disappointingly ineffective at transducing cortical neurons by …


An Integrative Review Of The Absorption Of Fda-Approved Chemical Sunscreen Filters Into The Blood, Srinidhi Banala, Samrat Gollapudi, Abhiram Gollapudi, Bhaumik Patel May 2024

An Integrative Review Of The Absorption Of Fda-Approved Chemical Sunscreen Filters Into The Blood, Srinidhi Banala, Samrat Gollapudi, Abhiram Gollapudi, Bhaumik Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: This integrative review examines the absorption of FDA-approved chemical sunscreen filters, specifically avobenzone and oxybenzone, into the bloodstream. The study aims to compare the levels of absorption and potential health effects of systemic exposure to these sunscreen ingredients in the United States.

Methods: The researchers conducted a literature search of 57 articles, of which 15 were used for the review. Inclusion criteria focused on studies discussing absorption levels of avobenzone and oxybenzone, as well as methods of absorption into the bloodstream. Exclusion criteria included sunscreen ingredients not approved in the United States, non-English studies, and studies on methods to …


Intra-Accumbens Microinfusion Of The Dopamine D3 Receptor Partial Agonist (±)Vk4-40 Does Not Affect Basal Locomotion In Mice, Yeonwoo Sim, Nicole M. Hinds, Amy Hauck Newman, Daniel F. Manvich May 2024

Intra-Accumbens Microinfusion Of The Dopamine D3 Receptor Partial Agonist (±)Vk4-40 Does Not Affect Basal Locomotion In Mice, Yeonwoo Sim, Nicole M. Hinds, Amy Hauck Newman, Daniel F. Manvich

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The opioid epidemic remains a pressing public health crisis, prompting the search for alternative pharmacotherapies for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). This study explores the potential of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) partial agonist, (±)VK4-40, as a novel treatment option. We investigated the impact of intra-nucleus accumbens (NAc) microinfusion of VK4-40 on basal locomotion in mice. Results indicate that VK4-40 did not significantly alter basal locomotion, suggesting that its therapeutic effects may not be mediated through disruptions in generalized motor function. Future research will focus on elucidating the neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying VK4-40's therapeutic actions and exploring its effects on psychostimulant-induced hyperlocomotion. …


What Is The Impact Of Marijuana Usage On Sexual Dysfunction Among Individual And How Do Factors Such As Frequency Of Use, Dosage, And Duration Of Marijuana Consumption Influence Sexual Function, Zachary A. Harris, Russell Levi, Saad Ahmed May 2024

What Is The Impact Of Marijuana Usage On Sexual Dysfunction Among Individual And How Do Factors Such As Frequency Of Use, Dosage, And Duration Of Marijuana Consumption Influence Sexual Function, Zachary A. Harris, Russell Levi, Saad Ahmed

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Sexual health is an integral piece of human vitality, encompassing a multitude of psychological & physiological factors. There has been an unprecedented amount of interest surrounding cannabis and its impact on sexual function in the past decade. The interplay between the acceptance of cannabis and its widespread use presents the need for research into the correlation between cannabis and sexual health outcomes. The primary components of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have attracted scrutiny for their potential effects on sexual function. Anecdotal accounts suggest heightened sexual desire and pleasure, however there are conflicting reports raising concerns regarding performance issues …


Advancing Risk Stratification In Hfpef: Unveiling The Potential Of Cardiac Fibrosis Markers For Early Diagnosis And Enhanced Patient Outcomes, Mariam Abdeen May 2024

Advancing Risk Stratification In Hfpef: Unveiling The Potential Of Cardiac Fibrosis Markers For Early Diagnosis And Enhanced Patient Outcomes, Mariam Abdeen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) challenges clinicians due to its diverse presentation and limitations in traditional diagnostic criteria. This study delves into the potential of cardiac fibrosis markers like galectin-3, NT-proBNP, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) to enhance diagnostic precision and patient outcomes in HFpEF. A systematic review of sixteen relevant studies revealed that these biomarkers offer promise for early detection and improved risk assessment. For instance, TMAO indicates systemic implications of HFpEF, while galectin-3 shows predictive value across heart failure types. Additionally, machine-learning models incorporating multiple biomarkers predict significant risk of adverse outcomes. Despite these advances, challenges like …


Pediatric Neurotropic Infection Alters Synaptic Development In The Developing Brain, Anuoluwapo Grace Fadare, Yashika S. Kamte, Manish N. Chandwani, Lauren A. O'Donnell May 2024

Pediatric Neurotropic Infection Alters Synaptic Development In The Developing Brain, Anuoluwapo Grace Fadare, Yashika S. Kamte, Manish N. Chandwani, Lauren A. O'Donnell

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Many neurotropic viruses cause more significant pathology in younger hosts as their brains are still developing. This experiment asked how central nervous system (CNS) viral-infections affect the development of synapses in the pediatric brain during infection and post-infection. Synaptogenesis is at its peak in pediatric mice (10 days old) and we hypothesized that a neurotropic infection could disrupt synaptic proteins. We used a transgenic mouse model where measles virus (MV) infects only mature neurons, leading us to question whether synapses were impacted. We examined synaptic markers in the cerebellum and hippocampus in MV-infected and uninfected mice 9 days and 90 …


The Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injury On Noradrenergic Innervation Of The Prefrontal Cortex, Jil P. Modi, Christopher P. Knapp, Rachel L. Navarra May 2024

The Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injury On Noradrenergic Innervation Of The Prefrontal Cortex, Jil P. Modi, Christopher P. Knapp, Rachel L. Navarra

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common cause of death and disability in the United States, and it can occur due to varied reasons including motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds, and falls. Following TBIs, patients are often left with lifelong disabilities and cognitive problems that can lead to increased risk-taking behaviors. The main goal of my research was to understand the neural mechanisms that drive increased risk-taking behaviors due to TBIs. The specific areas of the brain I was interested in looking at were the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and/or anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of the prefrontal …


Does Esketamine In Cesarean Delivery Increase Postoperative Adversities And Related Diseases?, Cheryce Daniel, Kylon Coombs May 2024

Does Esketamine In Cesarean Delivery Increase Postoperative Adversities And Related Diseases?, Cheryce Daniel, Kylon Coombs

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Esketamine has emerged as a promising treatment option, particularly noted for its effectiveness in reducing postpartum depression, alleviating pain, and promoting faster recovery. Despite its therapeutic benefits, recent research has raised concerns regarding potential adverse effects associated with high doses of esketamine in patients. Specifically, there is growing interest in understanding the potential risks linked to the administration of esketamine during cesarean delivery, given its increasing use in obstetric anesthesia.

This comprehensive review aims to investigate the potential associations between the use of esketamine during cesarean delivery and the subsequent risk of related diseases or physiological disorders. The goal is …


Gut Microbiome And Nutrition Interplay In Regulating And Improving Autism Spectrum Disorder Related Social Symptoms, Irenonsen Juliet Eigbe, Christian Moya Gamboa, Jana Gjini, Jaydeep Mukherjee, Susrut Dube May 2024

Gut Microbiome And Nutrition Interplay In Regulating And Improving Autism Spectrum Disorder Related Social Symptoms, Irenonsen Juliet Eigbe, Christian Moya Gamboa, Jana Gjini, Jaydeep Mukherjee, Susrut Dube

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The composition of the gut microbiome has been shown to play a role in the onset of neurological disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD). A small variety of recent research articles identify a possible link between onset and severity of ASD related behaviors and the composition of the gut microbiome. The purpose of this review is to identify gaps in the current understanding of the role that nutrition plays in changing the gut microbiome and subsequently altering the onset and severity of behavioral phenotypes in children with ASD. Inclusion criteria comprises peer-reviewed publications relating to children with autism. Exclusion criteria consists …


A Preliminary Report On The Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating The Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity In A Rodent Model Of Acute Inflammation With Impaired Cerebrovasculature, Minjal Patel, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, George G. Godsey, Mary C. Kosciuk, Ana Rodriguez, Bernd Spur, Kingsley Yin, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert G. Nagele, Nimish Acharya May 2024

A Preliminary Report On The Role Of Lipoxin A4 In Reinstating The Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity In A Rodent Model Of Acute Inflammation With Impaired Cerebrovasculature, Minjal Patel, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, George G. Godsey, Mary C. Kosciuk, Ana Rodriguez, Bernd Spur, Kingsley Yin, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert G. Nagele, Nimish Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is responsible for maintaining brain homeostasis and ultimately proper neuronal function. Disruption of the BBB, leading to increased BBB permeability, has been reported in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Lipoxins (LXs) are a class of arachidonate-derived eicosanoids, which are a class of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs). SPMs are known to inhibit immune response through inhibition of cellular infiltration, downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and upregulation of anti-inflammatory mediators. Hence, LXs are recognized as “breaking signals” in the inflammatory process. One form of LXs, Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) …


Is There A Role For Plant-Based “Meat” In Cardiovascular Disease Prevention?, Aziza Jadallah, Usmaan Al-Shehab, Adam Friedman May 2023

Is There A Role For Plant-Based “Meat” In Cardiovascular Disease Prevention?, Aziza Jadallah, Usmaan Al-Shehab, Adam Friedman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Diet is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends following a whole-food, minimally processed diet emphasizing fruit and vegetables to reduce cardiovascular mortality. Recently, processed plant-based meat substitutes, such as Beyond Meat® and Impossible™ foods have become easily accessible to consumers and are advertised as a healthful addition to a plant-based diet. However, these products are highly processed and contain high amounts of saturated fat and sodium. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of processed plant-based meat diets on adverse cardiovascular events compared to animal-based meat diets and minimally processed healthful …


Extravasated Brain-Reactive Autoantibodies Perturb Neuronal Surface Protein Expression In Alzheimer's Pathology, Wardah Bajwa, Mary Kosciuk, Randel L. Swanson, Anuradha Krishnan, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert Nagele, Nimish Acharya May 2023

Extravasated Brain-Reactive Autoantibodies Perturb Neuronal Surface Protein Expression In Alzheimer's Pathology, Wardah Bajwa, Mary Kosciuk, Randel L. Swanson, Anuradha Krishnan, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert Nagele, Nimish Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is reported in both the neuropathological and in vivo studies in both Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and age matched cognitively normal, no cognitive impairment (NCI), subjects. Impaired BBB allows various vascular components such as immunoglobulin G (IgG) to extravasate into the brain and specifically bind to various neuronal surface proteins (NSP), also known as brain reactive autoantibodies (BrABs). This interaction is predicted to further enhance deposition of amyloid plaques.

Hypothesis: Interaction between extravasated BrABs and its cognate NSPs lower the expression of that NSPs in AD patients.

Methods: We selected Western blotting technique to study …


The Correlation Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Level And Risk Of Future Cardiovascular Disease: A Neurodivergent Population Dilemma, Brandon Cunha, Andrea Iannuzzelli, Venkateswar Venkataraman May 2023

The Correlation Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Level And Risk Of Future Cardiovascular Disease: A Neurodivergent Population Dilemma, Brandon Cunha, Andrea Iannuzzelli, Venkateswar Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Extensive research on neurotypical (NT) populations has demonstrated that a chronically elevated level of serum C Reactive Protein (CRP) is a strong predictor of future cardiovascular disease (CVD). Interestingly, many neurodivergent (ND) populations experience chronically elevated CRP levels higher than NT controls. Current research is concerned with establishing the significance of this relationship to accurately predict CVD risk for potentially at risk ND patients. To contribute to this gap in knowledge, the Rowan-Virtua Regional Integrated Special Needs (RISN) Center patient population will be studied to identify trends in baseline serum CRP levels across a multitude of ND conditions. A clinical …


The Involvement Of Ubiquitin In Med13 Cyclin C Degradation Following Cellular Stress, Ayesha Gurnani, Brittany Friedson, Katrina Cooper May 2023

The Involvement Of Ubiquitin In Med13 Cyclin C Degradation Following Cellular Stress, Ayesha Gurnani, Brittany Friedson, Katrina Cooper

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The Cdk8 Kinase Module is a dissociable regulator of cellular stress response genes, with degradation of its components Med13 and cyclin C eventually determining cell fate decisions such as engaging cell survival or cell death mechanisms. We aimed to explore the roles of ubiquitin in degradation of the Cdk8 Kinase Module following nitrogen starvation, with respect to the potential involvement of deubiquitinating enzyme Doa4, lysine linkage at position K63, and E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzymes Ubc4 and Ubc5. We utilized Western blot analysis to observe nitrogen starvation-induced degradation of Med13-HA in wild-type, doa4 mutant, and K63R yeast strains; degradation of cyclin …


Human Airway Mucociliary Tissue Cultures Chronically Exposed To E-Cigarette Vapors Exhibit Altered Cell Populations And Increased Secretion Of Immunomodulatory Cytokines, Vanessa Pizutelli, Vincent Manna, Shannon Dwyer, Salvatore Caradonna May 2023

Human Airway Mucociliary Tissue Cultures Chronically Exposed To E-Cigarette Vapors Exhibit Altered Cell Populations And Increased Secretion Of Immunomodulatory Cytokines, Vanessa Pizutelli, Vincent Manna, Shannon Dwyer, Salvatore Caradonna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Vape-pens or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are handheld battery powered devices that use a vape-liquid to produce a vapor that is inhaled by the user. The active ingredients in commercial vape-liquids are commonly nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabidiol. A consequence of the rise in e-cigarette usage was the 2019 emergence of a vaping-induced respiratory disease denoted ‘e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury’ (EVALI). One of the suspected causes of EVALI is Vitamin E Acetate (VEA), which was found to be a diluent in certain illicit tetrahydrocannabinol vape-pens, whereas nicotine is commonly diluted in equal parts propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (PG:VG). The …


Brash Syndrome Case Report And Brief Review, Kelly Schuitema May 2023

Brash Syndrome Case Report And Brief Review, Kelly Schuitema

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

BRASH syndrome is an acronym that stands for bradycardia, renal failure, AV node blocker, shock and hyperkalemia. The syndrome is precipitated by synergism from AV nodal blocking agents and hyperkalemia. The combination of the AV nodal blockade and renal failure leads to a cycle of severe bradycardia and hyperkalemia. We will discuss a case of BRASH syndrome with a 68 year old female who presented with generalized weakness and was found to be hypotensive, bradycardia, in acute renal failure with hyperkalemia likely related to metoprolol and amlodipine use.


A 5-Year Clinical Course Of Phenocopy Syndrome Of Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia: Case Report And Literature Review, Joseph Melillo, Keyur Patel, Christian White May 2023

A 5-Year Clinical Course Of Phenocopy Syndrome Of Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia: Case Report And Literature Review, Joseph Melillo, Keyur Patel, Christian White

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Frontotemporal dementia is a neurocognitive disease which affects language, behavior, or executive functioning. This disease includes a spectrum of presentations which includes multiple variants. The phenocopy syndrome of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia is one which mimics the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia. Patients with this condition show a decline in personality, social conduct and cognitive ability but often display no signs of neurological imaging and exhibit slow progression. This case focuses on a now 70-year-old male who has shown signs of behavioral changes with a slowly progressive clinical course and minimal findings on PET scan, but moderate changes seen on …


Identifying Co-Factors That Drive Tra-1 Activator Function, Jibran Imtiaz, Youngquan Shen, Ronald Ellis May 2023

Identifying Co-Factors That Drive Tra-1 Activator Function, Jibran Imtiaz, Youngquan Shen, Ronald Ellis

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Gli proteins are involved in cell fate determination, proliferation, and patterning in many species and are major effectors of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. There are three Gli proteins in humans, and mutations or errors in their regulation lead to a variety of developmental disorders or cancer. However, the mechanisms by which they interact with co-factors are poorly understood. We are analyzing co-factors of Gli proteins using TRA-1 in Caenorhabditis nematodes. The TRA-1 zinc fingers are structurally like those of other Gli proteins, and TRA-1 can be cleaved like other Gli proteins to form a repressor. However, its function has changed during …


Orthologs Of The C. Elegans Heterochronic Genes Have Divergent Functions In C. Briggsae, Maria Ivanova, Eric G. Moss May 2023

Orthologs Of The C. Elegans Heterochronic Genes Have Divergent Functions In C. Briggsae, Maria Ivanova, Eric G. Moss

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The heterochronic genes of C. elegans comprise the best-studied pathway controlling the timing of tissue and organ formation in an animal. To begin to understand the evolution of this pathway, the significance of each factor, and the relationships among the components, we characterized 11 C. briggsae orthologs of C. elegans heterochronic genes. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we made a variety of alleles and found that several mutant phenotypes differ in significant ways from those of C. elegans. Although most orthologs displayed defects in developmental timing, those phenotypes could differ in which stages they controlled, the penetrance and expressivity of the phenotypes, or …


Perioperative Ketamine Use For Post Mastectomy Pain, Alessia Cooney, Jaylyn Thompson, Naomi Watkins-Granville May 2023

Perioperative Ketamine Use For Post Mastectomy Pain, Alessia Cooney, Jaylyn Thompson, Naomi Watkins-Granville

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

PMPS is defined as chronic neuropathic pain following breast cancer procedures in the ipsilateral arm, chest wall, axilla or shoulder.1-3 Approximately 20 to 50% of post mastectomy patients suffer from Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS).1 With more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors, due to advances in treatment, there is increased importance in findings ways to better manage the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.1,4 Ketamine induces analgesic effects through its non-competitive antagonism of NDMA receptors.5 Low doses of ketamine infusion (20–30 mg x h−1) have been shown to produce analgesia in neuropathic pain states with benefits lasting up …


Comparative Analysis Of The Effects Of Actual Versus Assumed Opioid Experience On The Regulation Of Ventral Striatal Opioid Receptor Gene Expression, Indu Mithra Madhuranthakam, Martin Job May 2023

Comparative Analysis Of The Effects Of Actual Versus Assumed Opioid Experience On The Regulation Of Ventral Striatal Opioid Receptor Gene Expression, Indu Mithra Madhuranthakam, Martin Job

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Rationale: We conducted experiments to assess the effect of prior opioid experience on gene expression changes. We compared the current experimenter-imposed short versus extended-access conditions of opioid self-administration and developed a new quantitative method to determine their effectiveness in identifying the role of opioid experience in regulating opioid receptor expression levels in the ventral striatum (VS) using an oxycodone self-administration/abstinence model.

Methods: In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=36) were trained for 20 days to self-administer oxycodone at 0.1 mg/kg/infusion under short access (n=15, or saline as controls n=3, for 3h/day) or extended access (n=15, or saline as controls n=3, …


Maldi-Tof Ms Based Proteomic Fingerprinting Of Total Serum Plasma For Somatic Pain Syndromes, Isaiah Pinkerton, Venkateswar Venkataraman May 2023

Maldi-Tof Ms Based Proteomic Fingerprinting Of Total Serum Plasma For Somatic Pain Syndromes, Isaiah Pinkerton, Venkateswar Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

There are racial and ethnic disparities regarding pain management within the United States, and that disproportionately affects women of color. There is also a fundamental lack of information regarding the biological mechanism by which pain sensitization and perception occurs, and how it could be affected by both neurologic and somatic pain syndromes.

Methods: Research was performed on principal electronic scientific databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Embase with search terms “MALDI-TOF”, “ESI-MS”, “Pain”, and “Biomarkers”, as well as other modifiers to narrow the literature search.

Results: Studies on comparison between MALDI-TOF and other traditional analysis platforms, including Electrospray Ionization (ESI-MS), …


The Role Of Food Accessibility In Weight Loss In A Rat Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Anjali Kikkisetti, Nicole Charles, Francois Gould May 2023

The Role Of Food Accessibility In Weight Loss In A Rat Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Anjali Kikkisetti, Nicole Charles, Francois Gould

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. The goal of this project was to understand whether the weight loss seen with Parkinson’s disease was due to the lack of being able to access the food because of the food placement or because of inability to chew the food due to degeneration of muscles required for chewing food. Both treatment groups, Adjusted Diet and Unadjusted Diet, lost weight after injections started, whereas control weights were stable throughout the experiment. There is no statistically significant difference in weight loss between adjusted and unadjusted …


Differential Degeneration Of Neurons In A Mouse Model Of Canavan Disease, Vibha Chauhan, Quy Nguyen, Jeremy Francis, Paola Leone May 2023

Differential Degeneration Of Neurons In A Mouse Model Of Canavan Disease, Vibha Chauhan, Quy Nguyen, Jeremy Francis, Paola Leone

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Canavan disease (CD) is an inherited leukodystrophy caused by inactivating mutations to the glial enzyme aspartoacylase (ASPA). ASPA catabolizes neuronal N-acetylaspartate (NAA) into free acetate and aspartate and loss of this function results in the chronic elevation of non-catabolized NAA and the failure of developmental myelination. Elevated NAA is thought to cause damage to myelin and myelin-producing cells (oligodendrocytes, but the viability of neurons in CD is relatively unexplored. We compare here the progressive degeneration of neurons in two regions of the CD mouse brain, the thalamus and the cortex, distinguished by differing degrees of vacuolation, and show that the …


Mcl-1 Inhibition Modulates Erk-Mediated Resistance In Multiple Myeloma, Omar Al-Odat, Krishne Gowda, Shantu Amin, Tulin Budak-Alpdogan, Subash Jonnalagadda, Manoj Pandey May 2023

Mcl-1 Inhibition Modulates Erk-Mediated Resistance In Multiple Myeloma, Omar Al-Odat, Krishne Gowda, Shantu Amin, Tulin Budak-Alpdogan, Subash Jonnalagadda, Manoj Pandey

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Novel multiple myeloma (MM) treatments have significantly improved over the previous several decades, primarily on account of targeting bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) pathways. However, drug resistance and patient relapse remain major clinical problems. The role of BMM in the upregulation of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 is well documented. The Mcl-1 protein plays a critical role in the progression and acquired drug resistance in MM. The regulation of Mcl-1, a protein characterized by a short half-life, from transcription to degradation is crucial for understanding its role in cell survival. The GSK3β and Erk play important role in the stability of Mcl-1. Also, …