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Articles 1621 - 1650 of 2525

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Myosin Ii In Hippocampal Synapses: Regulation Of Synaptic Plasticity, Strength And Actin Dynamics By Two Distinct Isoforms, Maria Dolores Rubio Jan 2011

Myosin Ii In Hippocampal Synapses: Regulation Of Synaptic Plasticity, Strength And Actin Dynamics By Two Distinct Isoforms, Maria Dolores Rubio

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Cytoskeletal actin filaments underlie dendritic spine plasticity, critical for several forms of learning and memory. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that regulate actin dynamics is essential to elucidate memory formation pathways. Myosins, a superfamily of actin binding proteins, have emerged as candidates for regulation of actin dynamics in the brain. Several myosin class II isoforms have been identified in brain, but their individual contribution to synaptic activity is still unknown. Based on the finding that myosin IIB regulates actin polymerization in the growth cone of developing neurons and that it is necessary for maintenance of dendritic spine structure, I hypothesized that …

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The Natural History Of Sivcpz Infection In Wild Living Chimpanzees, Rebecca Steele Rudicell Jan 2011

The Natural History Of Sivcpz Infection In Wild Living Chimpanzees, Rebecca Steele Rudicell

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Simian immunodeficiency virus of chimpanzees (SIVcpz) is the immediate precursor to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), but even the most basic aspects of SIVcpz infection in its natural host are unknown. Here, we present the first comprehensive analysis of the natural history of SIVcpz infection in wild living chimpanzees. Using non-invasive (feces and urine based) methods, we studied two unique chimpanzee populations in Tanzania: the famous chimpanzees of Gombe National Park and the savanna chimpanzees of Ugalla, located about 135 km southeast of Gombe. Gombe chimpanzees are endemically infected with SIVcpz, and the park's established research infrastructure provides a …

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Increased Cutting Efficacy Of Diamond Burs With Biochemical Solution Spraying, Ramtin Sadid Zadeh Jan 2011

Increased Cutting Efficacy Of Diamond Burs With Biochemical Solution Spraying, Ramtin Sadid Zadeh

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CAD/CAM units are becoming increasingly popular for milling all ceramic restorations from ceramic blocks. The solution used to spray the diamond cutting instrument also improves cutting effectiveness and also lubricates the diamond, which may not only prolong the cutting life of the diamond instrument but also provide smoother cuts on the ceramic block. The purpose of this study is to evaluate cutting efficacy of diamond burs with three solutions and to compare roughness produced by each solution on the glass-ceramic block. Material and methods: 15 Empress CAD blocks, 30 fine diamond burs, two solutions and distilled water were used. Each …

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Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 2b1b: Structure, Function And Expression In Human Brain, Emily D. Salman Jan 2011

Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 2b1b: Structure, Function And Expression In Human Brain, Emily D. Salman

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The human cytosolic sulfotransferases are a family of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes that conjugate a sulfonate moiety from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to a hydroxyl moeity on a substrate. SULT2B1b catalyzes the sulfation of hydroxysteroids as well as many xenobiotics; and is expressed extra-hepatically. SULT2B1b is a unique SULT because it has amino (N)- and carboxy (C)-terminal peptide extensions, undergoes post-translational modification, and is localized in both the cytosol and nucleus. Analysis of SULT2B1b revealed that the N- and C-terminal extensions of SULT2B1b are predicted to be intrinsically unstructured peptides. Size exclusion chromatography has revealed that SULT2B1b is enzymatically active as …

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Thesis- Clinical Evaluation Of Non-Carious Cervical Lesion- A Longitudinal Study., Shreya D. Shah Jan 2011

Thesis- Clinical Evaluation Of Non-Carious Cervical Lesion- A Longitudinal Study., Shreya D. Shah

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Non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL) are non-bacterial in origin and defined as the loss of tooth substance at the cemento-enamel junction (Mair, 1992). There is growing evidence that NCCLs may be associated with occlusal and lateral. OBJECTIVE: To develop a non invasive, highly reproducible technique to measure the occlusal forces (biting pressure) and to correlate it with lesion progression. MATERIALS & METHODS: Twenty-six subjects and 60 teeth were measured for biting force. Digital images and elastomeric impressions were made ateach of three visits (baseline restoration, one and two years). Casts were prepared and a fixture which aligned each patients cast in …

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Effect Of Different Percentages Of Silica Nanofibers Filler Loads On Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Flowable Composite Resins, Shashikant Singhal Jan 2011

Effect Of Different Percentages Of Silica Nanofibers Filler Loads On Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Flowable Composite Resins, Shashikant Singhal

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Dental composites are important in the spectra of restorative materials. Ability to match the color of natural dentition is an appealing characteristic of composite restorations. Additionally, they can be bonded physically to the tooth, which limits the amount of tooth preparation required and thereby conserves healthy tooth structure. In relation to other restorations like amalgams, non-metallic compositions of dental composites have exhibited good biocompatibility. The dental composites are composed of a resin matrix containing a blend of bis-GMA (bis-phenol A-glycidyldimethacrylate) or urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) along with TEGDMA (tetraethylglycidylmethacrylate). Novel techniques for the reinforcement of these resin-based composites continue in a …

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Social Support, Social Stigma, Health, Coping, And Quality Of Life In Older Gay Men With Hiv, Larry Zuendel Slater Jan 2011

Social Support, Social Stigma, Health, Coping, And Quality Of Life In Older Gay Men With Hiv, Larry Zuendel Slater

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With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, people with HIV/AIDS are living longer and managing their HIV infection as would an individual with any other chronic disease. As life expectancy increases, quality of life has progressed as an emerging issue for older adults with HIV/AIDS. A majority of people living with HIV in the U.S. are still gay men, who thus comprise a large portion of those who are growing older with the disease. The aims of the descriptive, correlational study were to: (1) explore the relationships among age, race, socioeconomic status, health, social support, social stigma, coping, perceived health, and …

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Calciotropic Hormonal Influence On Energy Homeostasis, Lynae J. Hanks Jan 2011

Calciotropic Hormonal Influence On Energy Homeostasis, Lynae J. Hanks

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Energy balance exists when intake is equivalent to expenditure. It has become evident that beyond quantitative aspects of intake, dietary components also have directive impact. On the expenditure side, an underappreciated yet key contributor is resting energy expenditure (REE). As the largest constituent of overall energy output, REE encompasses physiologic, dietary and genetic influence on body composition. While cellular and overall systemic contribution cannot be ignored, the relative proportion of adipose, bone and lean body tissue (i.e., body composition) represents the primary determinant underlying REE. It is possible that the mineral calcium is a common denominator encompassing energy balance influenced …

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In Vivo Analysis Of The Natural Diversity Of The Igr Ires Family And Characterization Of The Role Of Ribosomal Protein S25 In Ires-Mediated Translation, Marla Ilene Hertz Jan 2011

In Vivo Analysis Of The Natural Diversity Of The Igr Ires Family And Characterization Of The Role Of Ribosomal Protein S25 In Ires-Mediated Translation, Marla Ilene Hertz

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Translation of the majority of eukaryotic mRNAs is initiated upon recognition of its 5' cap structure by translation initiation factors in so-called cap-dependent translation. Cap-dependent translation is repressed during cell stress and translation initiation by internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) predominates. IRESs, located in the 5' untranslated region of specific mRNAs, recruit the ribosome independent of the 5' cap and are essential regulatory elements in many RNA viruses and cellular messages. The dysregulation of cellular IRESs has been linked to cancer because they regulate the expression of genes involved in growth, development and stress response. In comparison to cap-dependent translation, …

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Risk Associations Between Perceived Stress, Allostatic Load, And Insulin Resistance Among Nondiabetic African American Women Of The Jackson Heart Study, Alethea N. Hill Jan 2011

Risk Associations Between Perceived Stress, Allostatic Load, And Insulin Resistance Among Nondiabetic African American Women Of The Jackson Heart Study, Alethea N. Hill

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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between perceived stress, allostatic load, and insulin resistance measured by HOMAIR among nondiabetic African American women of the Jackson Heart Study. Methods: The investigative team examined the cross-sectional associations (2000-2004) of perceived stress, summary indices of allostatic load, and insulin resistance in 2,245 nondiabetic African American women, stratified by glycemic profile, participating in the Jackson Heart Study. Measurements include physiological markers, anthropometric measures, and (3) stress instruments: Weekly Stress Inventory (WSI), Global Stress (STS), and JHS Discrimination Questionnaire (DIS). t-tests, ÷2 test, bivariate correlations, and forward hierarchical linear regression …

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Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds Jan 2011

Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds

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Heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type&ndash1 (HIV&ndash1) accounts for the majority of infections worldwide, with women representing the larger percentage of infected individuals. The events leading to the transmission of HIV&ndash1 at mucosal surfaces are not well defined. Based on the observations that transmitted viruses nearly exclusively utilize the CCR5 coreceptor, and that in 80% of heterosexual transmissions a single virus variant establishes infection, there appears to be a selection mechanism that allows only a subset of viruses to be transmitted. This genetic bottleneck suggests that transmitted viruses may possess specific phenotypic and/or genotypic properties that allow for their …

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Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Caenorhabditis Elegans Sperm Migration, Johnathan Wesley Edmonds Jan 2011

Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Caenorhabditis Elegans Sperm Migration, Johnathan Wesley Edmonds

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Fertilization is the process by which male and female gametes join to give rise to a new organism. Union of sperm and ova requires that sperm be able to successfully locate and migrate towards oocytes in the female reproductive tract. By analyzing the in vitro migration of sperm from diverse species and mapping the complex architecture of their female reproductive tracts, we can infer that sperm must respond to directional cues to seek out the mature oocyte. However, the internal fertilization schemes of most complex animals complicate the analysis of in vivo sperm migration. The transparent epidermis of the nematode …

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The Role Of Tgf-Ss Receptors In The Induction Of Mucosal Tolerance, Rebekah Sims Gilbert Jan 2011

The Role Of Tgf-Ss Receptors In The Induction Of Mucosal Tolerance, Rebekah Sims Gilbert

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Oral tolerance, defined as the immunologic state of systemic and mucosal unresponsiveness to an antigen, is an essential function of the mucosal immune system. Although antigen presentation has been found to play an important role in oral tolerance, T cells are known to be the effector immune cells that perpetrate this state. Recent studies found that antigen-specific T regulatory (Treg) cells are important in the induction and maintenance of oral tolerance. The extrathymic development of these Tregs depends on the presence of TGF-ß1 during the differentiation process. However, it has also been shown that oral tolerance could be induced in …

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The Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Cotransporter In Glioma Biology, Brian R. Haas Jan 2011

The Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Cotransporter In Glioma Biology, Brian R. Haas

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The most common malignant primary brain tumor, gliomas usually derive from glial cells including oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. These tumors are characterized by high rates of proliferation and aberrant migration which make them notoriously difficult to treat using standard treatment paradigms such as chemotherapy and radiation. In order for glioma cells to migrate into the surrounding brain tissue, they must undergo rapid and dynamic volume changes. Previous work published by the Sontheimer laboratory and others indicates glioma utilize the flux of ions across the cell membrane to aid in volume changes associate with cell migration. In this dissertation, I show the …

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Qualitative Analysis Of Hiv-1-Specific Cd8 T Cell Responses, Olusimidele Tolulope Akinsiku Jan 2011

Qualitative Analysis Of Hiv-1-Specific Cd8 T Cell Responses, Olusimidele Tolulope Akinsiku

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In the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the majority of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) will develop AIDS. HIV-1-infected controllers are exceptions to the rule; without the use of ART, these individuals spontaneously control virus replication. A better understanding of the immune mechanisms that mediate delayed disease progression, as seen in controllers, will provide valuable insight to the design and development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine. CD8 T cells are important mediators of the antiviral immune response. However, it is unclear which components of the response are critical for long-lasting protection during HIV-1 infection. We first review methods …

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The Role Of Protease-Activated Receptor-1 In Synaptic Plasticity And Memory, Antoine Gabriel Almonte Jan 2011

The Role Of Protease-Activated Receptor-1 In Synaptic Plasticity And Memory, Antoine Gabriel Almonte

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Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) is an unusual G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that is activated through proteolytic cleavage by extracellular serine proteases. While previous work has shown that inhibiting PAR1 activation is neuroprotective in models of ischemia, traumatic injury, and neurotoxicity, surprisingly little is known about PAR1's contribution to normal brain function. In the central nervous system (CNS), PAR1 is expressed in glial cells in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory formation. I am particularly interested in PAR1 because its activation enhances the function of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), which are required for some forms of behavioral learning and synaptic plasticity. …

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Structural Analyses Of Streptococcus Agalactiae Sortases, Baldeep Khare Jan 2011

Structural Analyses Of Streptococcus Agalactiae Sortases, Baldeep Khare

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Multi-drug resistance in Gram-positive bacteria is a growing and unwavering challenge for twenty-first century medicine. The enzyme sortase, identified just around the turn of the century, has since become a promising target for development of anti-infective drugs. Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococcus (GBS), encodes multiple sortases, which participate in various processes and whose functions are only beginning to be understood in detail. Sortases are cysteine proteases that are crucial for Gram-positive pili biogenesis. Two classes of sortases, class C and class A, participate in the assembly of structural components (pilins) to form the pili and subsequent anchoring of the …

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A Cluster Analysis Based On The Health Belief Model Of Alacare Patients At High Risk For Osteoporosis, Elizabeth M. Kitchin Jan 2011

A Cluster Analysis Based On The Health Belief Model Of Alacare Patients At High Risk For Osteoporosis, Elizabeth M. Kitchin

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The prevalence of osteoporosis and subsequent fragility fractures will continue to rise as the American population ages. The high personal and medical costs of fragility fractures have been well documented. Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements are important strategies for lowering the risk of sustaining a fragility fracture and for improving the efficacy of prescription osteoporosis medications. The purpose of this study was to determine if patients in a home health setting in Alabama (Alacare) who are defined as high risk for a fragility fracture could be segmented via cluster analysis based on the constructs of the Osteoporosis Health Belief …

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Broad And Potent Neutralizing Antibody Responses Elicited In Natural Hiv-2 Infection, Rui Kong Jan 2011

Broad And Potent Neutralizing Antibody Responses Elicited In Natural Hiv-2 Infection, Rui Kong

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Little is known about the potency, breadth and epitope specificities of neutralizing antibody (Nab) responses elicited in natural HIV-2 infection. Analysis of plasma specimens from 64 HIV-2 chronically-infected subjects in a single round infectivity assay (JC53bl-13/TZM-bl) revealed median reciprocal IC50 Nab titers of 1.7x105, 2.8x104 and 3.3x104 against three primary virus strains, HIV-27312A, HIV-2ST and HIV-2UC1, respectively. A subset of 5 plasma samples was tested on 17 additional HIV-2 strains, and similarly high Nab titers were observed against all but four viruses. These Nab titers were higher, by orders of magnitude, than HIV-1 Nab titers in plasma from chronically infected …

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Structural And Functional Studies On Group A Streptococcal Bacteriophage Hyaluronidase, Joo Hyoung Lee Jan 2011

Structural And Functional Studies On Group A Streptococcal Bacteriophage Hyaluronidase, Joo Hyoung Lee

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Aberrant hyaluronan production is frequently associated with tumors where the elevated levels of tumoral hyaluronan are often associated with higher expression levels of cellular hyaluronidases that produce saturated hyaluronan fragments with divergent pro-tumoral activities. In this thesis, we provide evidence that different hyaluronan metabolism of bacteriophage hyaluronidase (HylP) elicits distinct alteration in breast cancer cell behavior. We demonstrate through comparative analysis with bovine testicular hyaluronidase (BTH) that higher enzyme activity, specificity for hyaluronan and production of unsaturated oligosaccharides render HylP to have profound effects on growth, migration and invasion activities of breast carcinoma cells, whereas BTH and its saturated metabolites …

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The Predictability Of C-Reactive Protein, Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2, And Depression On Later Health Outcomes In Patients Experiencing A First-Time Stroke, Mary King Brethour Jan 2011

The Predictability Of C-Reactive Protein, Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2, And Depression On Later Health Outcomes In Patients Experiencing A First-Time Stroke, Mary King Brethour

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Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the most common cause of neurologic disability for adults in developed nations. Strokes trigger an acute inflammatory response prompted by brain tissue injury at the infarct site and the surrounding ischemic penumbra raising plasma levels of inflammatory markers. C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase inflammatory marker, has been significantly correlated with infarct size and post-stroke complications. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) may also predict long-term cardiovascular risk in the stroke population. In addition to physiologic changes, up to 60% of all stroke survivors are known to experience depression, which may contribute to decreased …

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Role Of Ras Proteins In Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors, Nicole Marie Brossier Jan 2011

Role Of Ras Proteins In Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors, Nicole Marie Brossier

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Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) arising in patients with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) are null for the tumor suppressor neurofibromin, a negative regulator of signaling from both classic Ras (H-Ras, N-Ras and K-Ras) and R-Ras (R-Ras, R-Ras2/TC21, M-Ras/R-Ras3) subfamily members. Treatment of these tumors with Ras-targeted agents such as farnesyltransferase inhibitors has proven unsuccessful, likely due to the inability of these agents to successfully target all of the Ras isoforms regulated by neurofibromin. Thus, determining which Ras isoforms are critical for MPNST pathogenesis would be of therapeutic value. In this dissertation, we first review the clinical manifestations of NF1 …

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Altered Dna Methylation Of Repetitive Elements May Explain The Modified Risk Of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (Cin) Associated With Genetic Polymorphisms Of The Folate Metabolic Pathway In The Us Post Folic Acid Fortification Era, Suguna Badiga Jan 2011

Altered Dna Methylation Of Repetitive Elements May Explain The Modified Risk Of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (Cin) Associated With Genetic Polymorphisms Of The Folate Metabolic Pathway In The Us Post Folic Acid Fortification Era, Suguna Badiga

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Despite the controversy regarding the adverse effects of exposure to higher folate concentrations on health outcomes particularly cancer, there has been paucity of research to understand the biological mechanisms affected by such exposures in relation to the risk of developing pre-cancer or cancer. We have recently addressed this concern by demonstrating that higher plasma folate concentrations were not associated with greater risk of being diagnosed with higher grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+) especially in women with sufficient plasma vitamin B12 concentrations. Higher plasma folate was also associated with a pre-cancer protective level of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) …

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Fracture Strength Of All-Ceramic Restorations After Fatigue Loading, Balasudha Baladhandayutham Jan 2011

Fracture Strength Of All-Ceramic Restorations After Fatigue Loading, Balasudha Baladhandayutham

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Fracture strength of monolithic and bilayered LAVA and e. max lower molar crowns after load cycling was measured and compared. The study included three groups (n = 8) from LAVA zirconia and three groups from e. max lithium disilicate to compare influences of different layers, thicknesses and manufacturing techniques. Prefabricated anatomically designed crowns were cemented to dies made from Z 100 composite resin using Rely X Luting Plus resin modified glass ionomer cement. Cemented crowns were stored at 37° C for 24 hours then cyclic loaded to test fatigue properties. The crowns were loaded to 200,000 cycles at 25N at …

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Antimicrobial Effectiveness Of Silver-Releasing Elastomeric Ligature Ties, Matthew Christopher O'Dell Jan 2011

Antimicrobial Effectiveness Of Silver-Releasing Elastomeric Ligature Ties, Matthew Christopher O'Dell

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Introduction: Fixed appliances make satisfactory oral hygiene a greater challenge for the orthodontic patient. Improper oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment can cause enamel demineralization resulting in unesthetic white spot lesions. A new approach to providing protection against demineralization during treatment has been to incorporate antimicrobial agents into elastomeric ligature ties. A recent elastomeric ligature tie uses the antimicrobial characteristic of silver to help prevent formation of white spot lesions. The purpose of this in vitro study is to determine the antimicrobial effectiveness of a silver-releasing elastomeric ligature tie (OrthoShield Safe-T-Tie) against Streptococcus mutans and compare its results with a selenium-containing …

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Role Of The Cystine/Glutamate Exchanger In Glioma Cell Biology, Toyin Adeyemi Ogunrinu Jan 2011

Role Of The Cystine/Glutamate Exchanger In Glioma Cell Biology, Toyin Adeyemi Ogunrinu

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Changes in the glioma microenvironment including oxygen (O2) levels, supply of amino acid such as L-glutamate and L-cystine and glutathione (GSH) concentrations play a critical role in glioma biology. Previous data from our laboratory and others have implicated the L-cystine/L-glutamate exchanger, system xc- in the invasion and proliferation of cancers including glioma. The central aim of this dissertation was to characterize the contribution of L-cystine uptake, GSH synthesis and L-glutamate release to migration and proliferation of glioma cells. In my first study, I examined the role of system xc- mediated L-glutamate release on glioma migration. I show that activation of …

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Fenofibrate And Insulin Resistance, Corrie E. Paeglow Jan 2011

Fenofibrate And Insulin Resistance, Corrie E. Paeglow

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Both animal and human models suggest that fenofibrate, a medication widely prescribed to decrease triglycerides, also decreases insulin resistance. In the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN) cohort, which included 780 individual who took 160 mg of micronized fenofibrate daily for three weeks, fenofibrate was found to decrease HOMA-IR by -0.24 units, (95% CI: -0.32, -0.14), insulin by -0.65 uU/mL (95% CI: -0.97, -0.34) and glucose by 2.46 mg/dL (95% CI: -2.51, -2.42). In a meta-analysis of 19 studies that included 1,297 individuals without diabetes and 196 individuals with diabetes treated with fenofibrate for three weeks or …

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Impact Of Site Development Techniques In The Soft Tissue Height On Single Implant Supported Prosthesis In The Anterior Maxilla, Juan Francisco Pardo Jan 2011

Impact Of Site Development Techniques In The Soft Tissue Height On Single Implant Supported Prosthesis In The Anterior Maxilla, Juan Francisco Pardo

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Background: Implant placement should be based on a restoration-oriented treatment plan with correct three-dimensional positioning to allow optimal support and stability of surrounding hard and soft tissues. After tooth extraction the alveolus remodels producing changes in the soft tissues contours. This may translate into the inability to place the implant or in a non-esthetic restoration. In contemporary esthetic implant dentistry, the main objective is to maintain the socket dimensions and soft tissue contours to allow ideal implant placement and to provide a harmonious restoration. Objective: To evaluate if socket grafting with FDBA with or without PRP or rhPDGF in site …

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Associations Among Measures Of Engagement With Kp.Org And Clinical Outcomes, Heather J. Sobko Jan 2011

Associations Among Measures Of Engagement With Kp.Org And Clinical Outcomes, Heather J. Sobko

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USING MEASURES OF ENGAGEMENT WITH KP.ORG TO DETERMINE ASSOCIATIONS WITH SELECTED CLINICAL OUTCOMES HEATHER J. SOBKO SCHOOL OF NURSING ABSTRACT Introduction The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to examine patterns of use of an electronic personal health record among adults diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia. Intermediate behavioral measures (medication possession ratios) and physiological measures of metabolic control for diabetes (hemoglobinA1c), hypertension (blood pressure) and hyperlipidemia (low density lipoprotein) were examined. Methods Administrative data from Kaiser Permanente Georgia were analyzed. Adult members of with selected chronic diseases of diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidemia who used the Kaiser Permanente electronic …

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Molecular Piracy In The Mobilization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenicity Island 1, Michael Spilman Jan 2011

Molecular Piracy In The Mobilization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenicity Island 1, Michael Spilman

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Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage 80α is a temperate, double-stranded DNA phage that serves as a "helper" phage for the mobilization of several S. aureus pathogenicity islands (SaPIs), including SaPI1. When mobilized by 80α, SaPI1 genomes are packaged into smaller phage-like transducing particles composed of 80α capsid (gp47), scaffolding (gp46) and portal (gp42) proteins. In this dissertation, I utilize electron microscopy and biochemistry to tease apart the structural and genetic controls and consequences of SaPI1 as a molecular pirate. More specifically, I show that two SaPI1 proteins shift assembly from 63-nm, T = 7 icosahedral capsids to 47-nm, T = 4 capsids, …

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