Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Western Diet And Caloric Substitution With Apple Pomace On Fatty Acid Composition And Gene Expression In The Hypothalamus Of Growing Female Sprague-Dawley Rats, Ayad Abdulhamid Alawadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The hypothalamus plays a major role in regulating food-intake and energy-expenditure. Hypothalamic dysfunction implicated in neurodegenerative diseases is characterized by diet-induced neuroinflammation and energy dysregulation. Apple pomace, a waste byproduct of processing, is rich in polyphenols and soluble fibers, has the potential to ameliorate diet-inducing inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Western diet and caloric substitution of Western diet with 10% apple pomace on brain fatty acid composition and gene expression related to hypothalamic function and health in growing female rats. Growing female Sprague-Dawley rats (age 22-29 days) were randomly assigned (n=8 rats/group) to …

Fracture Resistance Of Simulated External Cervical Resorption In Anterior Teeth Restored With And Without A Fiber Post., Michelle M. Romeo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Introduction: External cervical resorption (ECR) is a destructive type of external resorption that can be difficult to treat. ECR usually begins subgingival at the cementoenamel junction of teeth and continues apically and circumferentially. This substantial loss of tooth structure may make these teeth more prone to fracture and should be addressed when treatment planning teeth with ECR. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of treated and non-treated teeth with simulated ECR using two different treatment modalities.

Materials and Methods: Forty-eight extracted human permanent mandibular central incisors were selected. Teeth were randomly divided into …

The Pattern Of Odontogenic Referred Pain, James J. Poulos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Background: Referred odontogenic pain (RP) is a phenomenon that is seen regularly in dentistry and it is not extensively understood. It can make formulating a proper diagnosis difficult and its presence can lead to inappropriate treatment.

Methods: 250 patients experiencing odontogenic pain within the dental clinics of West Virginia University were surveyed. The survey inquired about the patient’s biographical information, medical history, characteristics of the pain, the presence and location of RP, and the psychosocial effects of the pain. Additionally, the endodontic diagnosis of the offending tooth was determined by a member of the endodontic department. The collected …

The Interplay Of Progestins, Matrix Metalloproteinases, And The Aging Brain, Keyana Nicole Porter

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Progestins are synthetic hormones that are designed to mimic the biological actions of progesterone. They, however, possess other pharmacological actions and properties, in addition to their progestational activities. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MPA) is a progestin used globally in the hormonal contraceptive, Depo Provera®, by women in their reproductive prime and is a major compound found in hormone therapy (HT) formulations used by menopausal women. MPA is used by approximately 1 in 5 adolescents and adult women in the United States who are sexually active. Globally, nearly 48 million women utilize injectable contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, with most users utilizing MPA as …

Obese Zucker Rats As A Reverse Translational Model Of Human Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, Mackenzie Shelby Newman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Heart failure is a lifelong disability that for over half of those affected leads to mortality within five years after initial diagnosis. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of the most reliable independent predictors of heart failure. Pathological LVH is irreversible, but early diagnosis is often missed due to its asymptomatic nature. Obese Zucker rats (OZR), which develop obesity due to dysfunctional leptin signaling, naturally exhibit a LVH that mimics the obese human condition. Animal models are necessary because human donor tissue is scarce. The central hypothesis is that genes and proteins that are differentially expressed during development of LVH, …