Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Microrna-21 Dysregulates The Expression Of Mef2c In Neurons In Monkey And Human Siv/Hiv Neurological Disease., Sowmya V. Yelamanchili, A Datta Chaudhuri, L N. Chen, Huangui Xiong, Howard S. Fox

Journal Articles: Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating a plethora of physiological and pathophysiogical processes including neurodegeneration. In both HIV associated dementia in humans and its monkey model SIV encephalitis we find miR-21, a miRNA largely known for its link to oncogenesis, to be significantly upregulated in the brain. In situ hybridization of the diseased brain sections revealed induction of miR-21 in neurons. MiR-21 can be induced in neurons by prolonged N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor stimulation, an excitotoxic process active in HIV and other neurodegenerative diseases. Introduction of miR-21 into human neurons leads to pathological functional defects. Furthermore, we show that miR-21 …

Development Of A Macromolecular Prodrug For The Treatment Of Inflammatory Arthritis: Mechanisms Involved In Arthrotropism And Sustained Therapeutic Efficacy., Ling-Dong Quan, P. Edward Purdue, Xin-Ming Liu, Michael D. Boska, Subodh M. Lele, Geoffrey M. Thiele, Ted R. Mikuls, Huanyu Dou, Steven R. Goldring, Dong Wang

Journal Articles: Radiology

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present manuscript is to test the hypothesis that arthrotropic localization and synovial cell internalization account for the unique capacity of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-dexamethasone conjugate (P-Dex, a macromolecular prodrug of dexamethasone) to induce sustained amelioration of joint inflammation and inhibition of tissue damage in an animal model of inflammatory arthritis.

METHODS: Rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) were treated with P-Dex, free dexamethasone, saline or HPMA homopolymer. To define the biodistribution of P-Dex, conjugates with different imaging labels were given to AA rats and analyzed. Isolated joint tissues were evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and immunohistochemical …

Maintenance Of Activity And Eating Change After A Clinical Trial Of Tailored Newsletters With Older Rural Women., Susan Noble Walker, Carol H. Pullen, Patricia A. Hageman, Linda S. Boeckner, Melody A. Hertzog, Maureen K. Oberdorfer, Matthew J. Rutledge

Journal Articles: College of Nursing

BACKGROUND: In the Wellness for Women Project, a randomized-by-site 1-year controlled clinical trial, the efficacy of generic newsletters and newsletters tailored on Health Promotion Model behavior-specific cognitions, eating behavior, and activity behavior were compared among 225 women aged 50 to 69 years.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the maintenance of change in healthy eating and physical activity over the 12 months following the tailored versus generic mailed newsletter intervention.

METHODS: Outcomes at 18 and 24 months included behavioral markers and biomarkers of physical activity and eating. Data were analyzed using the multivariate approach to repeated measures …

Growth, Immune And Viral Responses In Hiv Infected African Children Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: A Prospective Cohort Study., Philippa M. Musoke, Peter Mudiope, Linda N. Barlow-Mosha, Patrick Ajuna, Danstan Bagenda, Michael M. Mubiru, Thorkild Tylleskar, Mary G. Fowler

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Scale up of paediatric antiretroviral therapy in resource limited settings continues despite limited access to routine laboratory monitoring. We documented the weight and height responses in HIV infected Ugandan children on highly active antiretroviral therapy and determined clinical factors associated with successful treatment outcomes.

METHODS: A prospective cohort of HIV infected children were initiated on HAART and followed for 48 weeks. Body mass index for age z scores(BAZ), weight and height-for-age z scores (WAZ & HAZ) were calculated: CD4 cell % and HIV-1 RNA were measured at baseline and every 12 weeks. Treatment outcomes were classified according to; both …

A Smac Mimetic Reduces Tnf Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (Trail)-Induced Invasion And Metastasis Of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells., Christian D. Fingas, Boris R.A. Blechacz, Rory L. Smoot, Maria E. Guicciardi, Justin L. Mott, Steve F. Bronk, Nathan W. Werneburg, Alphonse E. Sirica, Gregory J. Gores

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

UNLABELLED: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells paradoxically express tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a death ligand that, failing to kill CCA cells, instead promotes their tumorigenicity and especially the metastatic behaviors of cell migration and invasion. Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (smac) mimetics are promising cancer therapeutic agents that enhance proapoptotic death receptor signaling by causing cellular degradation of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins. Our aim was to examine the in vitro and in vivo effects of the smac mimetic JP1584 in CCA. Despite JP1584-mediated loss of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis-1 (cIAP-1) and cIAP-2, TRAIL failed to induce apoptosis in KMCH-1, …

An Investigation Of Depression And Fatigue Post West Nile Virus Infection., Patti J Berg, Stacy Smallfield, Lana Svien

Journal Articles: Occupational Therapy

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine depression and fatigue in individuals with a seropositive confirmed history of West Nile virus (WNV) infection.

METHODS: The South Dakota State Epidemiologist sent 218 letters inviting residents with a diagnosis of WNV to participate in the study. Forty-five subjects were tested. An occupational therapist and a physical therapist met with each participant to assess performance parameters, including depression and fatigue levels. Subjects (n=42) completed the Revised Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) during the assessment. The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) was sent to participants as a follow-up questionnaire, and …

P66shc--A Longevity Redox Protein In Human Prostate Cancer Progression And Metastasis : P66shc In Cancer Progression And Metastasis., Mythilypriya Rajendran, Paul Thomes, Li Zhang, Suresh Veeramani, Ming-Fong Lin

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

p66Shc, a 66 kDa proto-oncogene Src homologous-collagen homologue (Shc) adaptor protein, is classically known in mediating receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and recently identified as a sensor to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and as a longevity protein in mammals. The expression of p66Shc is decreased in mice and increased in human fibroblasts upon aging and in aging-related diseases, including prostate cancer. p66Shc protein level correlates with the proliferation of several carcinoma cells and can be regulated by steroid hormones. Recent advances point that p66Shc protein plays a role in mediating cross-talk between steroid hormones and redox signals by serving as a common …

Anion-Sensitive Regions Of L-Type Cav1.2 Calcium Channels Expressed In Hek293 Cells., Norbert Babai, Nataly Kanevsky, Nathan Dascal, George J. Rozanski, Dhirendra P. Singh, Nigar Fatma, Wallace B. Thoreson

Journal Articles: Ophthalmology

L-type calcium currents (I(Ca)) are influenced by changes in extracellular chloride, but sites of anion effects have not been identified. Our experiments showed that CaV1.2 currents expressed in HEK293 cells are strongly inhibited by replacing extracellular chloride with gluconate or perchlorate. Variance-mean analysis of I(Ca) and cell-attached patch single channel recordings indicate that gluconate-induced inhibition is due to intracellular anion effects on Ca(2+) channel open probability, not conductance. Inhibition of CaV1.2 currents produced by replacing chloride with gluconate was reduced from approximately 75%-80% to approximately 50% by omitting beta subunits but unaffected by omitting alpha(2)delta subunits. Similarly, gluconate inhibition was …

Recent Advances On Skin-Resident Stem/Progenitor Cell Functions In Skin Regeneration, Aging And Cancers And Novel Anti-Aging And Cancer Therapies., Murielle Mimeault, Surinder K. Batra

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Recent advances in skin-resident adult stem/progenitor cell research have revealed that these immature and regenerative cells with a high longevity provide critical functions in maintaining skin homeostasis and repair after severe injuries along the lifespan of individuals. The establishment of the functional properties of distinct adult stem/progenitor cells found in skin epidermis and hair follicles and extrinsic signals from their niches, which are deregulated during their aging and malignant transformation, has significantly improved our understanding on the etiopathogenesis of diverse human skin disorders and cancers. Particularly, enhanced ultraviolet radiation exposure, inflammation and oxidative stress and telomere attrition during chronological aging …

The Relationship Between Mosquito Abundance And Rice Field Density In The Republic Of Korea, Erin E. Richards, Penny Masuoka, David Brett-Major, Matthew Smith, Terry A. Klein, Heung Chul Kim, Assaf Anyamba, John Grieco

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), the causative agent of Japanese encephalitis (JE), is endemic to the Republic of Korea (ROK) where unvaccinated United States (U.S.) military Service members, civilians and family members are stationed. The primary vector of the JEV in the ROK is Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The ecological relationship between Culex spp. and rice fields has been studied extensively; rice fields have been shown to increase the prevalence of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. This research was conducted to determine if the quantification of rice field land cover surrounding U.S. military installations in the ROK should be used as a parameter in a …

Recent Diarrhea Is Associated With Elevated Salivary Igg Responses To Cryptosporidium In Residents Of An Eastern Massachusetts Community, A. I. Egorov, L. M. Montuori Trimble, L. Ascolillo, H. D. Ward, Deborah A. Levy, R. D. Morris, E. N. Naumova, J. K. Griffiths

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Serological data suggest that Cryptosporidium infections are common but underreported. The invasiveness of blood sampling limits the application of serology in epidemiological surveillance. We pilot-tested a non-invasive salivary anti-Cryptosporidium antibody assay in a community survey involving children and adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Families with children were recruited in a Massachusetts community in July; symptoms data were collected at 3 monthly follow-up mail surveys. One saliva sample per person (n = 349) was collected via mail, with the last survey in October. Samples were analyzed for IgG and IgA responses to a recombinant C. hominis gp15 sporozoite protein using a …