Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Differential Expression And Tumorigenic Function Of Neurotensin Receptor 1 In Neuroendocrine Tumor Cells, Ji Tae Kim, Jing Li, Jun Song, Eun Y. Lee, Heidi L. Weiss, Courtney M. Townsend, B. Mark Evers

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Neurotensin (NTS), localized predominantly to the small bowel, stimulates the growth of a variety of cancers, including neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), mainly through its interaction with the high-affinity NTS receptor 1 (NTSR1). Here, we observed increased expression of NTSR1 in almost all tested clinical NET samples, but not in normal tissues. Through RT-PCR analysis, we found that the expression of NTSR1 and NTSR2 was either variable (NTSR1) or absent (NTSR2) in human NET cell lines. In contrast, NTSR3 and NTS were expressed in all NET cells. Treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, a demethylating agent, increased levels of NTSR1 and NTSR2 suggesting that DNA …

Lipin1 Regulates Skeletal Muscle Differentiation Through Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (Erk) Activation And Cyclin D Complex-Regulated Cell Cycle Withdrawal, Weihua Jiang, Jing Zhu, Xun Zhuang, Xiping Zhang, Tao Luo, Karyn Esser, Hongmei Ren

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Lipin1, an intracellular protein, plays critical roles in controlling lipid synthesis and energy metabolism through its enzymatic activity and nuclear transcriptional functions. Several mouse models of skeletal muscle wasting are associated with lipin1 mutation or altered expression. Recent human studies have suggested that children with homozygous null mutations in the LPIN1 gene suffer from rhabdomyolysis. However, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism is still poorly understood. In the present study we examined whether lipin1 contributes to regulating muscle regeneration. We characterized the time course of skeletal muscle regeneration in lipin1-deficient fld mice after injury. We found that fld mice exhibited smaller regenerated …

A Pilot Study Of Demographic And Dopaminergic Genetic Contributions To Weight Change In Kidney Transplant Recipients, Ansley Stanfill, Donna Hathaway, Ann Cashion, Ramin Homayouni, Patricia Cowan, Carol Thompson, Behrouz Madahian, Yvette Conley

Nursing Faculty Publications

Kidney transplant recipients often experience a significant amount of weight gain in the first year post-transplantation. While demographic factors such as age, race, and sex have been associated with weight gain in this population, these factors do not explain all of the variability seen. A number of studies have suggested that genetics also plays a critical role in weight changes. Recently, alterations in the activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine have been associated with weight change, and gene expression studies in kidney transplant recipients have supported this association. The purpose of this pilot study is to first examine the feasibility and …

Differential Gene Expression Profiles Reflecting Macrophage Polarization In Aging And Periodontitis Gingival Tissues, Octavio A. Gonzalez, Michael John Novak, Sreenatha S. Kirakodu, Arnold J. Stromberg, R. Nagarajan, Chifu B. Huang, K. C. Chen, Luis Orraca, J. Martinez-Gonzalez, Jeffrey L. Ebersole

Center for Oral Health Research Faculty Publications

Recent evidence has determined a phenotypic and functional heterogeneity for macrophage populations. This plasticity of macrophage function has been related to specific properties of subsets (M1 and M2) of these cells in inflammation, adaptive immune responses and resolution of tissue destructive processes. This investigation hypothesized that targeted alterations in the distribution of macrophage phenotypes in aged individuals, and with periodontitis would be skewed towards M1 inflammatory macrophages in gingival tissues. The study used a non-human primate model to evaluate gene expression profiles as footprints of macrophage variation in healthy and periodontitis gingival tissues from animals 3-23 years of age and …

Do Three Different Passive Assessments Of Quadriceps Spasticity Relate To The Functional Activity Of Walking For Children Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy?, Hank White, Tim L. Uhl, Sam Augsburger

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

A stiff-knee gait pattern is frequently associated with several impairments including quadriceps spasticity in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). The relationship of clinical measures of quadriceps spasticity and the stiff-knee gait pattern in children diagnosed with CP has not been well established. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the ability of clinical measures of quadriceps spasticity (modified Ashworth scale [MAS], Ely tests, and pendulum test) to categorize a stiff-knee gait pattern in children with CP. Children were categorized as having a stiff-knee gait pattern based on kinematic and EMG gait data. Results of a logistic regression …

Analgesic Effect Of Cathodal Transcranial Current Stimulation Over Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex In Subjects With Muscular Temporomandibular Disorders: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Rivail Almeida Brandão Filho, Abrahão Fontes Baptista, Renata De Assis Fonseca Santos Brandão, Francisco Monteiro Meneses, Jeffrey P. Okeson, Eduardo Pondé De Sena

Oral Health Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders are a group of orofacial pain conditions that are commonly identified in the general population. Like many other chronic pain conditions, they can be associated with anxiety/depression, which can be related to changes in the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Some studies have demonstrated clinical improvement in subjects with chronic pain who are given therapeutic neuromodulation. Transcranial direct current stimulation is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that allows the modulation of neuronal membranes. This therapy can enhance or inhibit action potential generation in cortical neurons. In some instances, medications acting in the central nervous system may …

Stilbene Analogs And Methods Of Treating Cancer, David Watt, Chunming Liu, Vitaliy M. Sviripa, Wen Zhang

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Patents

Stilbene analogs and pharmaceutical compositions that are useful for the treatment of various cancers, including without limitation, colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer are disclosed. The halogenated stilbene analogs include nitrogen heteroaryl groups and/or amino groups on the stilbene ring.

Catatonia In Older Adult Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Megan White, Edward Maxwell, Warren E. Milteer, Jose De Leon

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

Catatonia has been described in children with intellectual disabilities (IDs). These are the first three published cases of catatonia in adults older than 50 years of age with IDs. They were followed using the KANNER scale and, in one case, creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) monitoring. Case 1 is a 67-year-old Caucasian who probably had been having intermittent episodes of undiagnosed catatonia withdrawal for many years. His episodes of agitation and withdrawal behavior responded to lorazepam up to 8 mg/day. Case 2 is a 63-year-old Caucasian male who had probably had undiagnosed catatonic episodes since age 25. An agitation episode that rated …

Utilizing Performance Management To Harness The Power Of Quality Improvement In Public Health, Leslie M. Beitsch, Valerie A. Yeager, John W. Moran

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Widespread adoption of quality improvement activities in public health trails other U.S. sectors. Launching the national public health accreditation program of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) has propelled health department momentum around quality improvement uptake. Domain 9 of the PHAB standards focuses on evaluation and improvement of performance, and is acting as a strong driver for quality improvement and performance management implementation within health departments. Several performance management models have received broad acceptance, including among government and nonprofits, and have direct public health application. Turning Point is a model designed specifically for public health users. All models in current …

Public Health Surveillance Using Electronic Health Records: Rising Potential To Advance Public Health, Guthrie S. Birkhead, Michael Klompas, Md Mph, Nirav R. Shah

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: Public health surveillance has traditionally relied on manual processes including paper-based reporting by clinicians. The introduction of electronic laboratory reporting increased the efficiency and completeness of infectious disease surveillance but clinical and risk factor data are often still collected manually. The use of electronic health records (EHR) has significant promise to enrich surveillance by collecting these data automatically and by expanding surveillance to chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, obesity). However, the extent of the use of EHRs for public surveillance is not well studied.

Evidence Acquisition: The peer-reviewed medical literature was searched for descriptions of the use of EHRs …

Measuring Population Care Performance: Development Of The Population-Patient Satisfaction Survey For Use With Community Groups, Michele Issel, Christine Lurie, Betty Bekemeier

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: Assessing the satisfaction of the “population-patient” requires conceptualizing the dimensions of satisfaction differently from that of individual patients.

Purpose: The focus of this study was to develop and pilot test a short questionnaire that can reliably assess satisfaction with the care provided by public health nurses (PHNs) carrying out population-level activities in their communities.

Methods: An instrument-development approach was used. With input from five experts, items were developed to assess seven dimensions of population-patient satisfaction, and then refined before use in the community with a convenience sample of community participants recruited by PHNs in six counties across two states. …

Local Health Departments’ Costs Of Providing Environmental Health Services, Simone Singh, Nancy L. Winterbauer, Ashley Tucker, Lisa Macon Harrison

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: A detailed understanding of the costs that local health departments (LHDs) incur in the provision of public health services plays an important role in their efforts to provide services in an effective and efficient manner. However, surprisingly little evidence exists about the key cost components that LHDs incur in the provision of services.

Purpose: The purpose of this report was to provide empirical estimates of LHDs’ cost structure.

Methods: Using cost information for 2012 from 15 LHDs in North Carolina for two public health services—food and lodging and onsite water—this report first presents estimates of the total costs per …

Use Of Facebook By Local Health Departments: Usage, Public Health Themes, And Maintenance, Rakhi Trivedi, Gulzar H. Shah, Ankit Bangar

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: Recent research shows that social media offer unprecedented opportunities for communications with stakeholders in public health and other industries.

Purpose: This study examines the manner in which U.S. local health departments (LHDs) use Facebook. Public health program themes discussed on Facebook profiles of LHDs were analyzed and ranked by the frequency of mentions on Facebook.

Methods: LHDs included in the study were those indicating use of Facebook in the 2010 National Profile of Local Health Departments. Using the list from the profile study, the primary data from LHDs’ public Facebook profiles were collected over a period of 4 months. …

Trends In Health Care Delivery Systems: Implications For Cancer Prevention And Control, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

The Affordable Care Act and larger economic forces are leading both health care providers and public health agencies to renegotiate their roles and responsibilities within the U.S. health system. This session reviews major changes occurring in both health care and public health delivery systems, with a focus on the implications for cancer prevention and control. The information infrastructure created by cancer registries and other health information systems are increasingly important for enabling greater coordination, alignment and accountability within the nation's changing delivery systems.

Homo Naledi, A New Species Of The Genus Homo From The Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, Lee R. Berger, John Hawks, Darryl J. De Ruiter, Steven E. Churchill, Peter Schmid, Lucas K. Delezene, Tracy L. Kivell, Heather M. Garvin, Scott A. Williams, Jeremy M. Desilva, Matthew M. Skinner, Charles M. Musiba, Noel Cameron, Trenton W. Holliday, William Harcourt-Smith, Rebecca R. Ackermann, Markus Bastir, Barry Bogin, Debra Bolter, Juliet Brophy, Zachary D. Cofran, Kimberly A. Congdon, Andrew S. Deane, Mana Dembo, Michelle Drapeau, Marina C. Elliott, Elen M. Feuerriegel, Daniel Garcia-Martinez, David J. Green, Alia Gurtov, Joel D. Irish, Ashley Kruger, Myra F. Laird, Damiano Marchi, Marc R. Meyer, Shahed Nalla, Enquye W. Negash, Caley M. Orr, Davorka Radovcic, Lauren Schroeder, Jill E. Scott, Zachary Throckmorton, Matthew W. Tocheri, Caroline Vansickle, Christopher S. Walker, Pianpian Wei, Bernhard Zipfel

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Homo naledi is a previously-unknown species of extinct hominin discovered within the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. This species is characterized by body mass and stature similar to small-bodied human populations but a small endocranial volume similar to australopiths. Cranial morphology of H. naledi is unique, but most similar to early Homo species including Homo erectus, Homo habilis or Homo rudolfensis. While primitive, the dentition is generally small and simple in occlusal morphology. H. naledi has humanlike manipulatory adaptations of the hand and wrist. It also exhibits a humanlike foot …

The Dietary Habits And Nutrition Education Levels Of Parents Of Pre-School Children At A Community Head Start Program, Lisa Renee Keys

Kaleidoscope

The health of America’s youth is jeopardized as obesity, often beginning in childhood, becomes a major epidemic. Parents have exceptional influence on their children, especially nutritionally, which impacts how their children grow and develop. Parents with minimal nutrition education and who do not practice healthy eating habits may unintentionally influence their children in practices that could lead to nutrition-related disease and/or obesity. This research evaluated the dietary habits and nutrition knowledge of parents of preschoolers at a community Head Start program in Lexington, KY, which served a high percentage of Hispanic children. The parents were given a survey evaluating their …

Peak Flow Versus Symptom Monitoring To Manage Childhood Asthma, Ashleigh Ohlmann

Kaleidoscope

Asthma is the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease in children. If asthma is not well managed, it can result in significant morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this paper is to assess the effects of peak flow versus symptom monitoring on asthma health outcomes in children. A literature review was conducted for research articles related to peak flow and symptom monitoring as they relate to asthma outcomes in children. The MEDLINE, PubMed, and CINAHL databases were accessed. The search was narrowed to include articles from the years 2000-2006 using the search terms child, asthma, peak flow meter, and symptom monitoring. …

Differential Expression Of Mrna Encoding Cytokines And Chemokines In The Reproductive Tract After Infection Of Mice With Chlamydia Trachomatis, Katheryn L. Cerny, Maranda Van Fleet, Anatoly Slepenkin, Ellena M. Peterson, Phillip J. Bridges

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis targets epithelial cells within the genital tract which respond by secreting chemokines and cytokines. Persistent inflammation can lead to fibrosis, tubal infertility and/or ectopic pregnancy; many infections are asymptomatic. Most studies have investigated the inflammatory response in the initial stages of infection, less is known about the later stages of infection, especially with a low, potentially asymptomatic, bacterial load. Our objective was to determine the inflammatory mediators involved in clearance of low-grade infection and the potential involvement in chronic inflammation. Six to eight week old C3H/HeJ mice were pretreated with 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate on day …

Novel Approaches Reveal That Toxoplasma Gondii Bradyzoites Within Tissue Cysts Are Dynamic And Replicating Entities In Vivo, Elizabeth Watts, Yihua Zhao, Animesh Dhara, Becca Eller, Abhijit R. Patwardhan, Anthony P. Sinai

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Despite their critical role in chronic toxoplasmosis, the biology of Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites is poorly understood. In an attempt to address this gap, we optimized approaches to purify tissue cysts and analyzed the replicative potential of bradyzoites within these cysts. In order to quantify individual bradyzoites within tissue cysts, we have developed imaging software, BradyCount 1.0, that allows the rapid establishment of bradyzoite burdens within imaged optical sections of purified tissue cysts. While in general larger tissue cysts contain more bradyzoites, their relative "occupancy" was typically lower than that of smaller cysts, resulting in a lower packing density. The packing …

Domestic Violence In The Workplace, Amanda Fallin

Kaleidoscope

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive problem that follows victims from the home into the workplace. Many women who experience violence in their homes are also harassed at work and are abused in the workplace. For the current study, thirty women who reported a history of workplace violence were recruited from a homeless women’s shelter. Of the participants, thirteen experienced domestic violence in the workplace, and this paper focuses on the results obtained from those thirteen respondents. This paper also discusses the link between poverty and homelessness, intimate partner violence, and workplace violence.

Mir-29/Hsp47 In Ecm Network, Ren Xu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The National Health Security Preparedness Index: Proposed Updates For 2015-16, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated development of the National Health Security Preparedness Index in 2012 to create a platform for measuring the nation’s progress in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and other large-scale emergencies that pose risks to health and well-being in the United States. As a measurement tool, the Index is designed to summarize levels of preparedness achieved within individual states and for the nation as a whole. This session summarizes proposed updates to the Index for 2015-16 that are designed to improve the validity and reliability of Index measures and …

Digital Storytelling: A Tool For Health Promotion And Cancer Awareness In Rural Alaskan Communities, Melany Cueva, Regina Kuhnley, Laura Revels, Nancy E. Schoenberg, Mark Dignan

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to learn community members' perspectives about digital storytelling after viewing a digital story created by a Community Health Aide/Practitioner (CHA/P).

METHODS: Using a qualitative research design, we explored digital storytelling likeability as a health-messaging tool, health information viewers reported learning and, if viewing, cancer-related digital stories facilitated increased comfort in talking about cancer. In addition, we enquired if the digital stories affected how viewers felt about cancer, as well as if viewing the digital stories resulted in health behaviour change or intent to change health behaviour.

FINDINGS: A total of 15 adult community …

Phase Iii Study Of Pasireotide Long-Acting Release In Patients With Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors And Carcinoid Symptoms Refractory To Available Somatostatin Analogues, Edward M. Wolin, Barbara Jarzab, Barbro Eriksson, Thomas Walter, Christos Toumpanakis, Michael A. Morse, Paola Tomassetti, Matthias M. Weber, David R. Fogelman, John Ramage, Donald Poon, Brian Gadbaw, Jiang Li, Janice L. Pasieka, Abakar Mahamat, Fredrik Swahn, John Newell-Price, Wasat Mansoor, Kjell Öberg

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

In a randomized, double-blind, Phase III study, we compared pasireotide long-acting release (pasireotide LAR) with octreotide long-acting repeatable (octreotide LAR) in managing carcinoid symptoms refractory to first-generation somatostatin analogues. Adults with carcinoid tumors of the digestive tract were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive pasireotide LAR (60 mg) or octreotide LAR (40 mg) every 28 days. Primary outcome was symptom control based on frequency of bowel movements and flushing episodes. Objective tumor response was a secondary outcome. Progression-free survival (PFS) was calculated in a post hoc analysis. Adverse events were recorded. At the time of a planned interim analysis, the data …

Time-Dependent Effects Of Cx3cr1 In A Mouse Model Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Heidi Y. Febinger, Hannah E. Thomasy, Maria N. Pavlova, Kristyn M. Ringgold, Paulien R. Barf, Amrita M. George, Jenna N. Grillo, Adam D. Bachstetter, Jenny A. Garcia, Astrid E. Cardona, Mark R. Opp, Carmelina Gemma

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation is an important secondary mechanism that is a key mediator of the long-term consequences of neuronal injury that occur in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Microglia are highly plastic cells with dual roles in neuronal injury and recovery. Recent studies suggest that the chemokine fractalkine (CX3CL1, FKN) mediates neural/microglial interactions via its sole receptor CX3CR1. CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling modulates microglia activation, and depending upon the type and time of injury, either protects or exacerbates neurological diseases.

METHODS: In this study, mice deficient in CX3CR1 were subjected to mild controlled cortical impact injury (CCI), a model of TBI. We evaluated …

Behavioral And Morphological Parameters Of Neurons Predict The Inhibitory Potential Of Cspg Motifs: A Novel Technique, Edward Matin Kobraei

Kaleidoscope

Our lab aims to systematically identify the structural elements of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) that inhibit regeneration following spinal cord injury (SCI). CSPGs are extracellular matrix molecules produced by astrocytes of glial scar tissue following SCI. Central to this project is the use of CSPGs referred to as “Designer PGs,” which contain engineered modifications in the GAG chains and/ or the protein core of the neural CSPG aggrecan. Using established bioassays in vitro, we qualitatively and quantitatively measure growth cone behaviors and morphology as they interact with Designer PG molecules. These measurements are then translated into a composite inhibitory quotient …

Social Disruption And Physical Limitation Related To Quality Of Life Of Adolescents With Asthma, Jennifer L. Baumgardner

Kaleidoscope

During adolescence, teenagers experience many physical, emotional, and social changes. Teenagers with chronic conditions, however, may face challenges in normal adolescent development because their illness can impact body image, independence, and peer socialization. Little is known about the effect of asthma on adolescent quality of life (QOL). In this paper, I review the existing literature on social disruption and physical limitations related to asthma and the subsequent impact on adolescent asthma QOL. In addition, adolescent issues leading to poor control of asthma symptoms and interventions to improve asthma QOL for adolescents are addressed.

Role Of Cytoskeletal Dynamics In Platelet Arf6 Activation, Brett Taylor Begley

Kaleidoscope

Platelets undergo morphological changes upon activation, such as shape change and aggregation. These changes are known to be the result of actin remodeling, whereas the role of microtubule remodeling has been controversial. The objective of this study was to re-examine the role of actin and microtubule dynamics in platelet function. We used aggregometry to measure the effect of cytoskeletal inhibitors on platelet shape change, aggregation, and dense core release. Microtubule assembly was found to have no role in platelet function, because treatment with vinblastine or nocodazole had no effect on shape change, aggregation, or secretion. Microtubule disassembly was necessary for …

Nurturing University Students To Be Social Entrepreneurs: Relevance Of Service Leadership Education, Daniel T. L. Shek, Li Lin

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

When the concept of social entrepreneurship becomes more popular, many universities explicitly claim that they wish to nurture social entrepreneurs. In this paper, the concept of social entrepreneurship and the successful attributes of social entrepreneurs are outlined. With reference to the question of how university students can be nurtured to be social entrepreneurs, it is suggested that the service leadership model proposed by the Hong Kong Institute of Service Leadership and Management is a good framework to be considered. In the framework, it is asserted that there are three attributes of a successful service leader – leadership competence, moral character, …

Method And System For Diagnosis Of Lawsonia Intracellularis, Harold F. Stills Jr., David W. Horohov, Allen E. Page

Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics Faculty Patents

A method, system, and kit are provided for diagnosing L. intracellularis infection or exposure in a subject. The method includes purifying whole L. intracellularis from host cells and host debris produced in or on a suitable medium and adhering the purified whole L. intracellularis on a suitable material to form an antigen substrate for determining whether a subject produces L. intracellularis-specific antibodies against the antigen to thereby indicate L. intracellularis exposure or infection in the subject. The kit includes purified whole L. intracellularis produced from host cells and host debris adhered to a suitable material to form an antigen …