Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Genetic Lesion That Arrests Plasma Cell Homing To The Bone Marrow, Loren D. Erickson, Ling-Li Lin, Biyan Duan, Laurence Morel, Randolph J. Noelle

Dartmouth Scholarship

The coordinated regulation of chemokine responsiveness plays a critical role in the development of humoral immunity. After antigen challenge and B cell activation, the emerging plasma cells (PCs) undergo CXCL12-induced chemotaxis to the bone marrow, where they produce Ab and persist. Here we show that PCs, but not B cells or T cells from lupus-prone NZM mice, are deficient in CXCL12-induced migration. PC unresponsiveness to CXCL12 results in a marked accumulation of PCs in the spleen of mice, and a concordant decrease in bone marrow PCs. Unlike normal mice, in NZM mice, a majority of the splenic PCs are long-lived. …

A Single Case Study: Occupational Therapy Home Program For A Child With Congenital Cataracts, Melissa R. Edwards

Occupational Therapy Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Partial Body Weight Support For Gait In Patients With Neurological Dysfunction: A Case Study Approach, Sarah Hammers, Alecia Herring, Amanda Olson, Mandy Runyan

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Cerebrovascular accident (CV A) is the primary cause of disability in the United States. l It is estimated that 75% of those who have a CVA survive and function with multiple degrees of impairments. These impairments impact their activities of daily living in a variety of ways. One of the goals of rehabilitation is to minimize the negative effects a CVA has on the functioning of an individual and allow each person to reach his or her maximum potential. Limited research has been conducted exploring the positive outcomes of partial body weight support treadmill training (PBWSTT) in those who have …

An Electromyographic Analysis Of The Abdominal Musculature In The Production Of Vocalization Intensity During Singing, Chris Huravitch, Nyle Relay, Kristine Schulte

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between electromyographical (EMG) activity in the abdominal muscles and the intensity of sound production. Currently, no consensus existsin the music profession regarding the appropriate use of the abdominal muscles during singing, even though it is known that the abdominal muscles playa significant role in sound production. As musicians strive to improve performance and therapists work to rehabilitate musicians and others who suffer from vocal deficits, understanding the basic muscular requirements of this activity/profession is essential to affect positive outcomes.

Eleven subjects with choral experience were recruited from the …

University Of North Dakota Physical Therapy Alumni Preferences For A Transitional Doctorate Of Physical Therapy Degree, Nolan Lubarski, Jessica Mcdougall, Steven Panos, Heidi Sites

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The purposes of this study are to assess whether University of North Dakota Physical Therapy (UND-PT) graduates desire a transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy (t-DPT) degree and to determine their preferences regarding this proposed educational program.

The survey was sent to 1136 alumni of the UND-PT program spanning from its first graduating class in 1970 to the class of 2002. It consisted of 8 demographic questions and 12 questions regarding areas such as curriculum content, program implementation, and personal views about the Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. Frequencies for all responses were determined. The respondent data were also analyzed for …

Electromyographic And Motion Analysis Of The Trunk And Lower Extremity Muscle Recruitment Comparing A Maximal Voluntary Contraction To The Plyo Press And Agaton Max Series Leg Press, Lee Nagle, Thayne Bosh, Tonya Kunze, Kelly Jorschumb

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Numerous studies have been done on the Plyo Press, with focus on the concentric phase of the exercise. However, for athletes eccentric training has always been a topic of interest. Most leg press machines have a concentric and an eccentric phase involved with the exercise. However, during the eccentric phase of the leg press the muscles are underloaded because of the force-velocity relationship of the human skeletal muscle and the fact that eccentric contractions require fewer motor units for the same force and workload. This means that the leg press exercise is limited by the concentric phase. A new machine …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 80, No. 4, 2003)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Signaling And Regulation Of G Protein-Coupled Receptors In Airway Smooth Muscle., Charlotte K Billington, Raymond B Penn

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Signaling through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediates numerous airway smooth muscle (ASM) functions including contraction, growth, and "synthetic" functions that orchestrate airway inflammation and promote remodeling of airway architecture. In this review we provide a comprehensive overview of the GPCRs that have been identified in ASM cells, and discuss the extent to which signaling via these GPCRs has been characterized and linked to distinct ASM functions. In addition, we examine the role of GPCR signaling and its regulation in asthma and asthma treatment, and suggest an integrative model whereby an imbalance of GPCR-derived signals in ASM cells contributes to the …

The Influence Of Slow Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels On Epileptiform Activity In A Neuronal Model Of Pyramidal Cells, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Piotr J. Franaszczuk, Gregory K. Bergey

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

An imbalance between excitation and inhibition can play an important role in the generation of epileptiform activity. Experimental evidence indicates that alterations of either synaptic activity or intrinsic membrane properties may contribute to this imbalance. The slow Ca2+ - activated K+ currents (sIAHP) limit neuronal firing rate and excitability and are therefore of great interest for their potential role in epileptogenesis. The sIAHP is found in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons, and its effect on these neurons can influence the network behavior. Simulations show that the increased excitability caused by reduction of inhibition by the sIAHP for inhibitory interneuron generates …

Morphological And Functional Characteristics Of Skeletal Muscle Fibers From Hormone-Replaced And Nonreplaced Postmenopausal Women, Todd Shoepe

Health and Human Sciences Faculty Works

We tested the hypothesis that cross-bridge mechanisms of contraction differed in early postmenopausal women who did or did not receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Vastus lateralis biopsies were obtained from 17 postmenopausal women (49-57 years old), 8 of whom were on HRT for the previous 24 ± 5 months and 9 of whom were never on HRT. Electrophoresis and enzyme histochemistry revealed that fiber myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform distribution, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of slow and fast fibers, and the relative CSA occupied by each, were similar for HRT and non-HRT groups. Single permeabilized fibers containing type IIa MHC …

Increased Receptor-Mediated Gene Delivery To The Liver By Protamine-Enhanced-Asialofetuin-Lipoplexes, M. A. Arangoa, Nejat Düzgüneş, C. Tros De Ilarduya

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

A novel lipidic vector composed of DOTAP/Chol liposomes, asialofetuin (AF), protamine sulfate and DNA has been developed. The resulting protamine-AF-lipoplexes improved significantly the levels of gene expression in cultured cells and in the liver upon i.v. administration. Lipoplexes containing the optimal amount of AF (1 μg/μg DNA) showed a 16-fold higher transfection activity in HepG2 cells than non-targeted (plain) complexes. The uptake by cells having asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPr) on their plasma membrane was decreased by the addition of free AF, indicating that AF-lipoplexes were taken up specifically by cells via ASGPr-mediated endocytosis. Results from transfections performed in cells defective in …

A Comparison Of Human Energy Fields Among Children, Youth, Adults, & Dahn Masters, Geoffrey K. Leigh, Karen A. Polonko, Catherine D. Leigh

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

While concepts and investigations of human energy fields have been developed for centuries, there has been little systematic work comparing the fields of children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, general fields have had little comparison between average adults and those participating in an intense practice that may affect the field. Using the GDV machine, this research compared small groups of children, adolescents, average adults, and Dahn Hak Masters on measures of 20 basic aspects of the human energy fields, including the seven chakras. Differences were found in seven of the 13 field parameters as well as all seven measures of …

The Effect Of Endodontic Solutions On Resorcinol-Formalin Paste In Teeth, Madelyn Gay Gambrel

Theses and Dissertations

This study determined if any of six endodontic solutions would have a softening effect on resorcinol-formalin paste in extracted teeth, and if there were any differences in the solvent action between these solutions. Forty-nine single-rooted extracted teeth were decoronated two mm coronal to the CEJ, and the roots sectioned apically to a standard length of 15 mm. Canals were prepared to a 12mm WL and a uniform size with a #7 Parapost drill. Teeth were then mounted in a cylinder ring with acrylic. The resorcinol-formalin mixture was placed into the canals and was allowed to set for 60 days in …

Development And Validation Of A Professional Behavior Assessment., Kristie Koenig, Caryn Johnson, Cathleen K Morano, Joseph P Ducette

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Allied health students must quickly socialize into a professional role as they transition from classroom to clinic. In addition to skill development, students must exhibit a host of professional behaviors that facilitate successful interaction with patients, families, and colleagues. There is a need for a valid, reliable assessment of professional behaviors that contribute to clinical competence. This study reports on the development and validation of a professional behavior assessment for occupational therapy students on a part-time clinical rotation (Level I). The Philadelphia Region Fieldwork Consortium (PRFC) Level I Student Evaluation was developed from an initial survey (n = 75) to …

Use Of Intravenous Anti-D In Patients With Refractory And Relapsed Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, R. Sajid, Salman Adil, Z. Fadoo, S. Sabir, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To determine the response to IV anti-D and its comparison with splenectomy as second line therapy in refractory and relapsed cases of ITP, in the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Methods: A total of 23 patients with chronic ITP were treated with either anti-D or splenectomy as second line treatment. The patients were assessed for time to achieve a response to second line treatment, duration ofresponse and adverse events.
Results: There were 12 patients in the anti-D group and 11 in the splenectomy group. The mean platelet count at presentation was 9,000/cumm. The mean age was 8.9 …

Fludarabine Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia In A Patient With Cd5 Positive B Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, M. Usman, Salman Adil, R. Sajid, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Fludarabine is a purine nucleoside analogue, which inhibits DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA polymerase and ribonucleoside reductase.1 It affects both dividing and non- dividing cells.2 Fludarabine possesses proven efficacy in the treatment of a variety of indolent B cell lymphoproliferative disorders including chronic lymphocytic leukemia3, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma4 and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.5 It is also a part of conditioning regimes in non-myeloablative bone marrow transplantation.6 The common side effects include myelosuppression, immunosuppression, and neurologic toxicity.7 The rare side effects are immune mediated hemolytic anemia8 and thrombocytopenia.9 Here we describe a case of a middle-aged lady who was diagnosed as B cell …

Cyclosporin Induced Fatal Rhabdomyolysis In A Young Patient With Acquired Aplastic Anemia: A Case Report, M. Usman, S. N. Adil, G. N. Kakepoto, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Cyclosporin is used as an immunosuppressive agent in the management of a variety of autoimmune disorders1 and in patients of organ transplant to suppress host immunity and prevent rejection.2 It is now well established that acquired aplastic anemia is secondary to immune mediated destruction of stem cells in the bone marrow3 and hence Cyclosporin is used as a first line immunosuppressive drug alone or in combination with anti lymphocyte globulin in the management of aplastic anemia.1 Rhabdomyolysis is a rare side effect of Cyclosporin.4 Here we describe a case of fatal rhabdomyolysis in a young patient who received cyclosporin for …

Chromosomal Abnormalities As A Cause Of Recurrent Abortions: A Hospital Experience, M. Azim, A.H. Khan, Z.L. Khilji, J.A. Pal, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To analyze the chromosomal abnormalities in couples with history of recurrent abortions.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Cytogenetic section, Department of Pathology at the Aga Khan University Hospital. Karachi, Pakistan. Patients: Three hundred couples with history of recurrent abortions. Main outcome measure: Structural chromosomal abnormalities in carrier couples.
Results: G-banded chromosomes were analyzed from both partners of 300 couples who had had two or more spontaneous abortions. Sixteen (5.3%) couples showed a chromosomal aberration in one of the partners. Seven translocations, 5 inversions, 2 deletions and 2 sex chromosomal abnormalities were identified. There was an increase in …

Physician Assistant Programs In The U.S., Stephan M. Cohen

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

The Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP) released the 18th Annual Report on Physician Assistant Educational Programs for the years 2001-2002 in the Winter of 2002. The annual report is the most comprehensive view of physician assistant educational programs produced today and gives great insight into the Physician Assistant system of education. The Association of Physician Assistant Programs serves as the national organization representing physician assistant educational programs in the United States. This article will review the highlights of this study.

Characteristics And Follow-Up Of Adult Female Victims Of Recent Sexual Assault, Anita Boykins

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Occupational Therapists' Worldview On Clinical Reasoning And Action: A Qualitative Study, Matthew P. Mekkes

Masters Theses

This qualitative study examines the influence of occupational therapists’ worldview on clinical reasoning and action. Recent clinical reasoning research has determined that this complex and multi-faceted process is more than applied theory. Some scholars in occupational therapy have identified intrapersonal factors as influencing clinical reasoning. However, the nature and role of the intrapersonal factors in clinical reasoning remains unclear. To increase understanding of this phenomenon, semi-structured interviews were conducted with expert therapists. Results suggest that a therapist’s worldview, specifically related to beliefs about human nature does affect the way they envision and enact the occupational therapy process. This influence is …

Animal Anti-Apoptotic Genes Ameliorate The Loss Of Turgor In Water-Stressed Transgenic Tobacco, Tala Awada, D. D. Dunigan, M. B. Dickman

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Nicotiana tabacum L. ‘Glurk’ plants were transformed with antiapoptotic animal genes [chicken Bcl-xl; nematode CED-9; chicken Bcl-xl(GA) a mutant of Bcl-xl; and a 3’ non-coding region of human Bcl-2, referred to as 161-1]. Our objectives were to determine whether plant transformation with anti-apoptotic genes ameliorates drought tolerance in tobacco plants by subjecting the plants to a dry-down period. The non-transformed Glurk and the transgenic Glurk harboring G115, which expresses β-glucuronidase, served as controls. Transformation of tobacco plants with animal anti-apoptotic genes significantly impacted the rates of photosynthesis (A) and stomatal conductance (g_s), but not to the same extent …

Identification Of Novel Domains Within Sox-2 And Sox-11 Involved In Autoinhibition Of Dna Binding And Partnership Specificity, Matthew S. Wiebe, Tamara K. Nowling, Angie Rizzino

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Sox transcription factors play key regulatory roles throughout development, binding DNA through a consensus (A/T)(A/T)CAA(A/T)G sequence. Although many different Sox proteins bind to this se-quence, it has been observed that gene regulatory elements are commonly responsive to only a small subset of the entire family, implying that regulatory mechanisms exist to permit selective DNA bind-ing and/or transactivation by Sox family members. To identify and explore the mechanisms modu-lating gene activation by Sox proteins further, we compared the function of Sox-2 and Sox-11. This led to the discovery that Sox proteins are regulated differentially at multiple levels, including trans-activation, protein partnerships …

Osmosensitive Taurine Release: Does Taurine Share The Same Efflux Pathway With Chloride And Other Amino Acid Osmolytes?, Rodrigo Franco

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Swelling subsequent to hyposmotic conditions activates a process of volume regulation present in most cell types. This volume adjustment is accomplished by osmolyte translocation toward the extracellular space to reach a new osmotic equilibrium. Molecules involved in this homeostatic mechanism have been broadly classified into two categories: organic and inorganic osmolytes. Inorganic osmolytes comprise mainly the intracellular ions K⁺ and Cl^–. Cell swelling–induced activation of separate K⁺ and Cl^– channels has been described in most preparations. Organic osmolytes are grouped in three categories: amino acids, polyalcohols, and methylamines. These osmolytes, particularly taurine, are present in …

Role Of Activator Protein-1 In The Down-Regulation Of The Human Cyp2j2 Gene In Hypoxia, Nicole Y. Marden, Eva Fiala-Beer, Shi-Hua Xiang, Michael Murray

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2J2 arachidonic acid epoxygenase gene was down-regulated at a pre-translational level in human hepatoma-derived HepG2 cells incubated in a hypoxic environment; under these conditions, the expression of c-Jun and c-Fos mRNA and protein was increased. The 5′-upstream region of the CYP2J2 gene was isolated by amplification of a 2341 bp fragment and putative regulatory elements that resembled activator protein-1 (AP-1)-like sequences were identified. From transient transfection analysis, c-Jun was found to strongly activate a CYP2J2–luciferase reporter construct, but co-transfection with plasmids encoding c-Fos or c-Fos-related antigens, Fra-1 and -2, abrogated reporter activity. Using a series …

Mucosal Priming Of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Responses In Rhesus Macaques By The Salmonella Type Iii Secretion Antigen Delivery System, David T. Evans, Li-Mei Chen, Jacqueline Gillis, Kuei-Chin Lin, Brian Harty, Gail P. Mazzara, Ruben O. Donis, Keith G. Mansfield, Jeffrey D. Lifson, Ronald C. Desrosiers, Jorge E. Galán, R. Paul Johnson

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Nearly all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are acquired mucosally, and the gut-associated lymphoid tissues are important sites for early virus replication. Thus, vaccine strategies designed to prime virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses that home to mucosal compartments may be particularly effective at preventing or containing HIV infection. The Salmonella type III secretion system has been shown to be an effective approach for stimulating mucosal CTL responses in mice. We therefore tested ∆phoP-phoQ attenuated strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and S. enterica serovar Typhi expressing fragments of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag protein fused to the …

Method To Detect The Presence Of A Microorganism Or Agent In An Animal, David R. Smith, Laura L. Hungerford, Rodney A. Moxley, Susanne Hinkley, Terry Klopfenstein, Jeff Gray

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The present invention provides a method to detect the presence of a microorganism or agent in an animal. The method encompasses placement of devices at various locations where the animal resides so as to induce the animal to initiate contact with the device. As a result of this contact, the animal deposits various microorganisms and agents on the device. The device is then tested for the presence of the particular microorganism or agent of interest.

Roles Of Mycobacterium Smegmatis D-Alanine:D-Alanine Ligase And D-Alanine Racemase In The Mechanisms Of Action Of And Resistance To The Peptidoglycan Inhibitor D-Cycloserine, Zhengyu Feng, Raul G. Barletta

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

D-Cycloserine (DCS) targets the peptidoglycan biosynthetic enzymes D-alanine racemase (Alr) and Dalanine: D-alanine ligase (Ddl). Previously, we demonstrated that the overproduction of Alr in Mycobacterium smegmatis determines a DCS resistance phenotype. In this study, we investigated the roles of both Alr and Ddl in the mechanisms of action of and resistance to DCS in M. smegmatis. We found that the overexpression of either the M. smegmatis or the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ddl gene in M. smegmatis confers resistance to DCS, but at lower levels than the overexpression of the alr gene. Furthermore, a strain overexpressing both the alr and ddl …

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 And Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Latency, Clinton J. Jones

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

A high percentage of the world’s population are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and infection can cause a variety of disorders (35, 187). Recurrent ocular HSV-1 is the leading cause of infectious corneal blindness in industrialized nations (190). In a murine model, ocular infection induces autoimmune disorders, leading to corneal antigen destruction and stromal keratitis (275). HSV-1 infections also cause gastrointestinal disorders, esophageal disorders, and approximately 25% of the genital herpes infections (67, 158). HSV-1 infections can cause sporadic encephalitis, but this is relatively rare compared to other diseases resulting from infection. Further evidence for its involvement …

Web-Based Research: Methodological Variables' Effects On Dropout And Sample Characteristicsweb-Based Research: Methodological Variables' Effects On Dropout And Sample Characteristics, Kevin M. O'Neil, Steven D. Penrod, Brian H. Bornstein

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Previous research has made a beginning in addressing the importance of methodological differences in Web-based research. The present paper presents four studies investigating whether sample type, financial incentives, time when personal information is requested, table design, and method of obtaining informed consent influence dropout and sample characteristics (both demographics and measured attitudes). Undergraduates were less likely to drop out than nonstudents, and nonstudents offered a financial incentive were less likely to drop out than those offered no incentive. Complex tables, tables that were too wide, requests for personal information on the first page, and the imposing of additional informed consent …