Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Nuclear Expression Of Klf6 Tumor Suppressor Factor Is Highly Associated With Overexpression Of Erbb2 Oncoprotein In Ductal Breast Carcinomas, Ricardo C. Gehrau, Diego S. D'Astolfo, Catherine I. Dumur, Jose L. Bocco, Nicolas P. Koritschoner

Pathology Publications

Background

Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) is an evolutionarily conserved and ubiquitously expressed protein that belongs to the mammalian Sp1/KLF family of transcriptional regulators. Though KLF6 is a transcription factor and harbors a nuclear localization signal it is not systematically located in the nucleus but it was detected in the cytoplasm of several tissues and cell lines. Hence, it is still not fully settled whether the tumor suppressor function of KLF6 is directly associated with its ability to regulate target genes.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study we analyzed KLF6 expression and sub-cellular distribution by immunohistochemistry in several normal and tumor tissues …

On Becoming Invisible, Edward F. Ansello

Director's Editorials from Age in Action

Age or impairment tends to render us less likely to be noticed. We can readjust how we see those becoming invisible.

Filling The Gap, Edward F. Ansello

Director's Editorials from Age in Action

There is need for multiple initiatives focusing on the pipeline from professional undergraduate education through the continuing education of current practitioners, in order to make some dent in the looming shortfall of geriatric health care providers. It is particularly gratifying to announce that Virginia has been awarded federal funding of a Geriatric Education Center (VGEC). The overall goal of the VGEC is to improve the training of health professionals in geriatrics.

The Blank Tablet Of Aging, Edward F. Ansello

Director's Editorials from Age in Action

The 16th annual conference of the Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (VCPEA) will include the basics of geriatric crisis assessment, depression and suicide among older adults; alcohol and medication misuse; older prisoners; training faith and community-based leaders to respond to domestic violence in later life; and brain injury in later life as a precipitant or a consequence of mistreatment. The Area Planning and Services Committee (APSC) conference will recognize the values, opportunities, and challenges associated with growing older with lifelong disabilities. These two conferences symbolize how we as a people can celebrate the good and confront the …

Aging As An Option, Edward F. Ansello

Director's Editorials from Age in Action

Sometimes people treat aging as if it were an option or a discretionary exercise. Aging is neither a fad nor an option but a bedrock reality that should be constantly under consideration, especially by those charged with protecting the common good. We need to remember that we should not treat aging and aging-related research, training, and services as an option.

Aging And The Behavioral Problems Of Brain Injury, Paul F. Aravich, Marylin Copeland

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. List the various classes of brain injury.

2. Identify cognitive and emotional problems as among the most common and disabling complications of brain injury.

3. Assess challenges to successful aging with a brain injury.

4. Examine the consequences of inadequate systems of care for the challenging behaviors produced by brain injury.

Senior Meal Programs: Feeding A Crowd With Local Foods, Gordon Walker, Elyse Thierry

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. Examine reasons for an institutional meal program to consider incorporating local food.

2. Identify potential community partners who might assist in moving such a program forward and the mutual benefits.

3. Describe the possible changes that an institution’s local food program can foster in the community at large.

Cpr And Dnr Decision Making, Viki Kind

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. Examine the complexities of end-of-life care and obstacles to good DNR decision making.

2. Discuss CPR and its perceived vs. actual chances for success.

3. Demonstrate best practices for communicating about CPR.

4. Consider how the signing of the DNR is just one component of endof- life care.

Reverse Mortgages, Bruce Desimone

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. Describe mobility rates among older adults.

2. Define a reverse mortgage and Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), and their origins in Virginia.

3. Explain key HECM loan and counseling features.

4. Illustrate how these features may improve the lives of older Virginians.

Racial Differences In Genetic And Environmental Risk To Preterm Birth, Timothy P. York, Jerome F. Strauss Iii, Michael C. Neale, Lindon J. Eaves

Human and Molecular Genetics Publications

Preterm birth is more prevalent in African Americans than European Americans and contributes to 3.4 times more African American infant deaths. Models of social inequity do not appreciably account for this marked disparity and molecular genetic studies have yet to characterize whether allelic differences that exist between races contribute to this gap. In this study, biometrical genetic models are applied to a large mixed-race sample consisting of 733,339 births to measure the extent that heritable factors and environmental exposures predict the timing of birth and explain differences between racial groups. Although we expected significant differences in mean gestational age between …

Development Of A Syngeneic Mouse Model Of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Bridget A. Quinn, Fang Xiao, Laura Bickel, Lainie Martin, Xiang Hua, Andres Klein-Szanto, Denise C. Connolly

Human and Molecular Genetics Publications

Background

Most cases of ovarian cancer are epithelial in origin and diagnosed at advanced stage when the cancer is widely disseminated in the peritoneal cavity. The objective of this study was to establish an immunocompetent syngeneic mouse model of disseminated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) to facilitate laboratory-based studies of ovarian tumor biology and preclinical therapeutic strategies.

Methods

Individual lines of TgMISIIR-TAg transgenic mice were phenotypically characterized and backcrossed to inbred C57BL/6 mice. In addition to a previously described line of EOC-prone mice, two lines (TgMISIIR-TAg-Low) were isolated that express the oncogenic transgene, but have little or no …

Does Chinese Culture Influence Psychosocial Factors For Heroin Use Among Young Adolescents In China? A Cross-Sectional Study, Hongjie Liu, Jian Li, Zhouping Lu, Wei Liu, Zhiyong Zhang

Family Medicine and Population Health Publications

Background

Little empirical research has examined how cultural factors influence psychosocial factors for heroin drug use. The objectives of the study were to investigate the levels of individualism and collectivism among young adolescents and how cultural differences were associated with the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior and other psychosocial factors for heroin drug use.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among young adolescents in an HIV and heroin-stricken area in China. The Individualism-Collectivism Interpersonal Assessment Inventory (ICIAI) was used to measure cultural norms and values in the context of three social groups: family members, close friends, and classmates. …

The Development Of A Web- And A Print-Based Decision Aid For Prostate Cancer Screening, Caroline S. Dorfman, Randi M. Williams, Elisabeth C. Kassan, Sara N. Red, David L. Dawson, William Tuong, Elizabeth R. Parker, Janet Ohene-Frempong, Kimberly M. Davis, Alexander H. Krist, Steven H. Woolf, Marc D. Schwartz, Mary B. Fishman, Carmella Cole, Kathryn L. Taylor

Family Medicine and Population Health Publications

Background Whether early detection and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) will reduce disease-related mortality remains uncertain. As a result, tools are needed to facilitate informed decision making. While there have been several decision aids (DAs) developed and tested, very few have included an exercise to help men clarify their values and preferences about PCa screening. Further, only one DA has utilized an interactive web-based format, which allows for an expansion and customization of the material. We describe the development of two DAs, a booklet and an interactive website, each with a values clarification component and designed for use in diverse …

Leaders Or Managers: Who Will Define A New Vision For Dental Education?, Fred Certosimo

General Practice Publications

Leaders and managers are vital to any organization; however, each possesses intrinsic characteristics ideally suited to produce entirely different outcomes. Modern dental education finds itself in a predicament as it assesses new ways to meet the ever-changing demands of its profession and the superimposed mega-issues and global concerns of the new millennium—all competing in an organization and curriculum imprisoned in the first two-thirds of the twentieth century. The purpose of this article is to highlight the role of leadership in dentistry and more specifically dental education. It compares and contrasts characteristics commonly found in leaders who seek long-term, outward-looking organizational …

Reversible Conformational Change In Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein B With Fusion-From-Without Activity Is Triggered By Mildly Acidic Ph, Carlos R. Siekavizza-Robles, Stephen J. Dollery, Anthony V. Nicola

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Background

The pre-fusion form of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) fusion protein gB undergoes pH-triggered conformational change in vitro and during viral entry (Dollery et al., J. Virol. 84:3759-3766, 2010). The antigenic structure of gB from the fusion-from-without (FFWO) strain of HSV-1, ANG path, resembles wild type gB that has undergone pH-triggered changes. Together, changes in the antigenic and oligomeric conformation of gB correlate with fusion activity. We tested whether the pre-fusion form of FFWO gB undergoes altered conformational change in response to low pH.

Results

A pH of 5.5 - 6.0 altered the conformation of Domains I and V …

Antibodies Against Multiple Merozoite Surface Antigens Of The Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum Inhibit Parasite Maturation And Red Blood Cell Invasion, Ute Woehlbier, Christian Epp, Fiona Hackett, Michael J. Blackman, Hermann Bujard

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Background

Plasmodium falciparum merozoites expose at their surface a large protein complex, which is composed of fragments of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1; called MSP-1₈₃, MSP-1₃₀, MSP-1₃₈, and MSP-1₄₂) plus associated processing products of MSP-6 and MSP-7. During erythrocyte invasion this complex, as well as an integral membrane protein called apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1), is shed from the parasite surface following specific proteolysis. Components of the MSP-1/6/7 complex and AMA-1 are presently under development as malaria vaccines.

Methods

The specificities and effects of antibodies directed against MSP-1, MSP-6, MSP-7 on the growth …

Phenotype, Functions And Fate Of Adoptively Transferred Tumor Draining Lymphocytes Activated Ex Vivo In Mice With An Aggressive Weakly Immunogenic Mammary Carcinoma, Catriona H.T. Miller, Laura Graham, Harry D. Bear

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Background

Regression of established tumors can be induced by adoptive immunotherapy with tumor draining lymph node lymphocytes activated with bryostatin and ionomycin. We hypothesized that tumor regression is mediated by a subset of the transferred T lymphocytes, which selectively infiltrate the tumor draining lymph nodes and proliferate in vivo.

Results

Adoptive transfer of B/I activated tumor draining lymphocytes induces regression of advanced 4T1 tumors, and depletion of CD8, but not CD4 T cells, abrogated tumor regression in mice. The predominant mediators of tumor regression are CD8+ and derived from CD62L^- T cells. Transferred lymphocytes reached their peak concentration …

Dual-Doped Thermographic Phosphor Particles As Surrogates For Green Fluorescent Protein-Labeled Cells In Tests Of Cytometric Neurocatheters, S. W. Allison, G. T. Gillies

Neurosurgery Publications

We investigated the laser-induced fluorescence of particles of a compound thermographic phosphorLa2O2S:Eu(1%) and Gd2O2S:Eu(1%) to see if they can serve as a surrogate for cells transfected with the green fluorescent protein, in tests of neurocatheters used for intraparenchymal celldelivery. At an excitation wavelength of 337 nm and a concentration of ≈2×106 particles ml−1, the resulting slurries produced fluorescence intensities at 625 nm that were within a factor of 2 of those produced by similar number densities of relevant cells, thus suggesting the utility of this approach.

Dynamic Dependence On Atr And Atm For Double-Strand Break Repair In Human Embryonic Stem Cells And Neural Descendants, Bret R. Adams, Sarah E. Golding, Raj R. Rao, Kristoffer Valerie

Radiation Oncology Publications

The DNA double-strand break (DSB) is the most toxic form of DNA damage. Studies aimed at characterizing DNA repair during development suggest that homologous recombination repair (HRR) is more critical in pluripotent cells compared to differentiated somatic cells in which nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is dominant. We have characterized the DNA damage response (DDR) and quality of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and in vitro-derived neural cells. Resolution of ionizing radiation-induced foci (IRIF) was used as a surrogate for DSB repair. The resolution of γ-H2AX foci occurred at a slower rate in hESCs …

Strengthening Family Practices For Latino Families, Karen G. Chartier, Lirio K. Negroni, Michie N. Hesselbrock

Social Work Publications

The study examined the effectiveness of a culturally-adapted Strengthening Families Program (SFP) for Latinos to reduce risks for alcohol and drug use in children. Latino families, predominantly Puerto Rican, with a 9–12 year old child and a parent(s) with a substance abuse problem participated in the study. Pre- and post-tests were conducted with each family. Parental stress, parent-child dysfunctional relations, and child behavior problems were reduced in the families receiving the intervention; family hardiness and family attachment were improved. Findings contribute to the validation of the SFP with Latinos, and can be used to inform social work practice with Puerto …

Alcohol Problems In Young Adults Transitioning From Adolescence To Adulthood: The Association With Race And Gender, Karen G. Chartier, Michie N. Hesselbrock, Victor M. Hesselbrock

Social Work Publications

Race and gender may be important considerations for recognizing alcohol related problems in Black and White young adults. This study examined the prevalence and age of onset of individual alcohol problems and alcohol problem severity across race and gender subgroups from a longitudinal study of a community sample of adolescents followed into young adulthood (N = 166; 23–29 yrs. old who were drinkers). All alcohol problems examined first occurred when subjects were in their late teens and early 20s. Drinking in hazardous situations, blackouts, and tolerance were the most common reported alcohol problems. In race and gender comparisons, more …

Multiple Independent Loci At Chromosome 15q25.1 Affect Smoking Quantity: A Meta-Analysis And Comparison With Lung Cancer And Copd, Nancy L. Saccone, Robert C. Culverhouse, Tae-Hwi Schwantes-An, Dale S. Cannon, Xiangning Chen, Sven Cichon, Ina Giegling, Shizhong Han, Younghun Han, Kaisu Keskitalo-Vuokko, Xiangyang Kong, Maria T. Landi, Jennie Z. Ma, Susan E. Short, Sarah H. Stephens, Victoria L. Stevens, Lingwei Sun, Yufei Wang, Angela S. Wenzlaff, Steven H. Aggen, Naomi Breslau, Peter Broderick, Nilanjan Chatterjee, Jingchun Chen, Andrew C. Heath, Marku Heliovaara, Nicole R. Hoft, David J. Hunter, Majken K. Jensen, Nicholas G. Martin, Grant W. Montgomery, Tianhua Niu, Thomas J. Payne, Leena Peltonen, Michele L. Pergadia, John P. Rice, Richard Sherva, Margaret R. Spitz, Juzhong Sun, Jen C. Wang, Robert B. Weiss, William Wheeler, Stephanie H. Witt, Bao-Zhu Yang, Neil E. Caporaso, Marissa A. Ehringer, Tim Eisen, Susan M. Gapstur, Joel Gelemter, Richard Houlston, Jaakko Kaprio, Kenneth S. Kendler, Peter Kraft, Mark F. Leppert, Ming D. Li, Pamela A. F. Madden, Markus M. Nothen, Sreekumar Pillai, Marcella Rietschel, Dan Rujescu, Ann Schwartz, Christopher I. Amos, Laura J. Bierut

Psychiatry Publications

Recently, genetic association findings for nicotine dependence, smoking behavior, and smoking-related diseases converged to implicate the chromosome 15q25.1 region, which includes the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 cholinergic nicotinic receptor subunit genes. In particular, association with the nonsynonymous CHRNA5 SNP rs16969968 and correlates has been replicated in several independent studies. Extensive genotyping of this region has suggested additional statistically distinct signals for nicotine dependence, tagged by rs578776 and rs588765. One goal of the Consortium for the Genetic Analysis of Smoking Phenotypes (CGASP) is to elucidate the associations among these markers and dichotomous smoking quantity (heavy versus light smoking), lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary …

Berberine Inhibits Hiv Protease Inhibitor-Induced Inflammatory Response By Modulating Er Stress Signaling Pathways In Murine Macrophages, Weibin Zha, Guang Liang, Jian Xiao, Elaine Studer, Phillip B. Hylemon, William M. Pandak Jr., Guangji Wang, Xiaokun Li, Huiping Zhou

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Background

HIV protease inhibitor (PI)-induced inflammatory response plays an important role in HIV PI-associated dyslipidemia and cardiovascular complications. This study examined the effect of berberine, a traditional herb medicine, on HIV PI-induced inflammatory response and further investigated the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms in macrophages.

Methodology and Principal Findings

Cultured mouse J774A.1 macrophages and primary mouse macrophages were used in this study. The expression of TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. Activations of ER stress and ERK signaling pathways were determined by Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescent staining was used to determine the intracellular localization of RNA binding protein …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 87, No. 3, 2010)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 87, No. 2, 2010)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

The Chinese Government's Response To Drug Use And Hiv/Aids: A Review Of Policies And Programs, Jianhu Li, Toan H. Ha, Cunmin Zhang, Hongjie Liu

Family Medicine and Population Health Publications

Illicit drug use has become popular in China. Acknowledging the challenge of illicit drug use, China has adopted several new policies on the management of illicit drug use in recent years. This study reviews the current policies on drug use and assesses the harm reduction interventions among drug users in China. The review documents that the new policies on drug use provide a variety of choices of detoxification treatment for drug users. The methadone maintenance treatment and needle exchange programs have been adopted as harm reduction models in China. Most of the reviewed harm reduction programs have been successfully implemented …

Putative Cis-Regulatory Elements Associated With Heat Shock Genes Activated During Excystation Of Cryptosporidium Parvum, Benjamin Cohn, Patricio A. Manque, Ana M. Lara, Myrna G. Serrano, Nihar U. Sheth, Gregory A. Buck

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Abstract

Background

Cryptosporidiosis is a ubiquitous infectious disease, caused by the protozoan parasitesCryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum, leading to acute, persistent and chronic diarrhea worldwide. Although the complications of this disease can be serious, even fatal, in immunocompromised patients of any age, they have also been found to lead to long term effects, including growth inhibition and impaired cognitive development, in infected immunocompetent children. The Cryptosporidium life cycle alternates between a dormant stage, the oocyst, and a highly replicative phase that includes both asexual vegetative stages as well as sexual stages, implying fine genetic regulatory mechanisms. The …

Development And Vulnerability Factors In Adolescent Alcohol Use, Karen G. Chartier, Michie N. Hesselbrock, Victor M. Hesselbrock

Social Work Publications

This article provides an overview of the characteristics of adolescent alcohol use, normative and subgroup variations in drinking behavior, and important factors associated with an increased risk for developing alcohol problems in later adolescence and young adulthood. A parental/family history of alcoholism, temperament traits, conduct problems, cognitive functioning, alcohol expectancies, and peer and other social relations are identified as influencing an adolescent’s susceptibility for initiating a variety of alcohol use behaviors. The Deviance Prone Model, proposed by Sher (1991), is presented as an important tool for testing possible relationships among the various risk factors and their sequencing that leads to …

Making Informed Choices About Microarray Data Analysis, Mark A. Reimers

Biostatistics Publications

This article describes the typical stages in the analysis of microarray data for non-specialist researchers in systems biology and medicine. Particular attention is paid to significant data analysis issues that are commonly encountered among practitioners, some of which need wider airing. The issues addressed include experimental design, quality assessment, normalization, and summarization of multiple-probe data. This article is based on the ISMB 2008 tutorial on microarray data analysis. An expanded version of the material in this article and the slides from the tutorial can be found at http://www.people.vcu.edu/~mreimers/OGMDA/index.html.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 87, No. 4, 2010)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.