Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Providing Daily Oral Infection Control To Persons Dependent On Others For Activities Of Daily Living: A Semi-Qualitative Descriptive Study, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

The purpose of this study is to evaluate caregiver assessment of the ease of use of a specially designed toothbrush for providing daily oral infection control (toothbrushing) to persons dependent upon others for activities of daily living.

Method

Eighty-eight caregivers accepted surveys and multi-surface toothbrushes to provide daily oral infection control to the person to whom they assisted. They were asked to evaluate the ease of use of the multi-surface toothbrush, and provide comments about it.

Results

There were 30 surveys returned (34.1% response rate). In terms of the ease of use, 90.0% of the caregivers agreed (63.3% strongly …

Adolescent Light Cigarette Smoking Patterns And Adult Cigarette Smoking, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Purpose. Light cigarette smoking has had limited research. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between light smoking in adolescence with smoking in adulthood. Methods. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data, Waves I and IV, were analyzed. Previous month adolescent smoking of 1–5 cigarettes/day (cpd) (light smoking); 6–16 cpd (average smoking); 17 or more cpd (heavy smoking); and nonsmoking were compared with the outcome of adult smoking. Results. At baseline, 15.9% of adolescents were light smokers, 6.8% were average smokers, and 3.6% were heavy smokers. The smoking patterns were significantly related to adult smoking. In logistic …

Association Of Blood Lead Levels In Children 0–72 Months With Living In Mid-Appalachia: A Semiecologic Study, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Introduction: Lead exposure in children remains a significant public health issue, although many advances have been made. The Mid-Appalachia area (Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia) is 89-91% rural with a population density of 16-21 people/km2 (41-54 people/mi2). Mid-Appalachia has significant health disparities including concerns for the consequences of greater lead exposure to children due to mining and industrial footprints, and existing older housing. The purpose of this study is to compare the reported blood lead levels of screened children, aged 0-72 months in Mid-Appalachia, to the children in the USA in general.
Methods: Data from the Centers …

Association Of Breastfeeding And The Federal Poverty Level: National Survey Of Family Growth, 2011–2013, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Breastfeeding is strongly endorsed in the Healthy People 2020 goals; however, there remain many disparities in breastfeeding prevalence. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between breastfeeding and the Federal Poverty Level in the United States. Data from 5,397 women in the National Survey of Family Growth 2011–2013 survey were included in this study. The data were analyzed for descriptive features and logistic regressions of the Federal Poverty Level on breastfeeding. There were 64.1% of women who reported breastfeeding. Over one-third (35.2%) of women reported having a household income of 0–99% of the Federal Poverty Level. There …

Relationship Of Routine Inadequate Sleep Duration And Periodontitis In A Nationally Representative Sample, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Purpose. Previous research has indicated the public health impact of inadequate sleep duration on health, potentially through an immune-inflammation mechanism. This mechanism also has a role in periodontitis. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is an association of routine inadequate sleep and periodontitis.Methods. Data from merged National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey years 2009-10 and 2011-12 were the data source for the study. The key outcome was periodontitis (yes, no), and the key variable of interest was usual sleep on weekday or workday nights. Chi square and logistic regression procedures were conducted. The study included 3,740 …

Association Of Alanine Aminotransferase And Periodontitis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis—Nhanes 2009–2012, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Objective. Alanine Aminotransferase is an enzyme associated with not only liver diseases, liver conditions, and metabolic syndrome, but also inflammation. Periodontitis is associated with increased cytokines and other markers of inflammation. The purpose of this study is to determine if an independent association between Alanine Aminotransferase and periodontitis exists. Methods. Data from the 2009-2010 and 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Surveys (NHANES) were combined. Data concerning periodontitis and Alanine Aminotransferase were extracted and analyzed with Rao Scott Chi-square and logistic regressions. Serum Alanine Aminotransferase was dichotomized at 40 units/liter, and periodontitis was dichotomized to the presence or absence of periodontitis. …

Enhancing Collegiate Women’S Soccer Psychosocial And Performance Outcomes By Promoting Intrinsic Sources Of Sport Enjoyment, Scott Barnicle, Damon Burton

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This study examined the effectiveness of an applied mental skills training (MST) intervention utilizing mental skills to enhance intrinsic sources of enjoyment (ISOEs) as a means of promoting self-confidence, motivational style, and athletic performance, while also decreasing trait anxiety. The interven-tion project was designed to increase intrinsic SOE using a systematic and individualized mental training protocol, and then examine its relationships to mental skills and soccer perfor-mance. A Division 1 collegiate women’s soccer team was ran-domly assigned to treatment (n = 8) and control (n = 11) groups, equally distributed by academic year, position, and pre-season coach-evaluated starters and non-starts. …

Smoking And Heberden Nodes: Analysis Of Data From The Osteoarthritis Initiative, R Constance Wiener

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Purpose. Dental hygienists, dentists, and other workforce providers who depend upon their hands for employment are acutely aware of the need to protect their hands to ensure a successful career. Recent research has suggested that smoking may be protective of hand osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between smoking and Heberden’s nodes. Methods. Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative were used in a cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of self-reported current smoking/never smoking and the presence/absence of Heberden’s nodes, the hard enlargements of the joints nearest the fingertips (distal interphalangeal joints). Analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square associations …

Quantitative Comparisons On Hand Motor Functional Areas Determined By Resting State And Task Bold Fmri And Anatomical Mri For Pre-Surgical Planning Of Patients With Brain Tumors, Bob L. Hou, Sanjay Bhatia, Jeffrey S. Carpenter

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

For pre-surgical planning we present quantitative comparison of the location of the hand motor functional area determined by right hand finger tapping BOLD fMRI, resting state BOLD fMRI, and anatomically using high resolution T1 weighted images. Data were obtained on 10 healthy subjects and 25 patients with left sided brain tumors. Our results show that there are important differences in the locations (i.e.,N20 mm) of the determined hand motor voxels by these three MR imaging methods. This can have significant effect on the pre-surgical planning of these patients depending on the modality used. In 13 of the 25 cases (i.e., …

Use Of Selective-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors And Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors Among Individuals With Co-Occurring Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease And Depression Or Anxiety, J. Douglas Thornton, Parul Agarwal, Usha Sambamoorthi

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Objective: Medications commonly used to treat heart disease, anxiety, and depression can interact resulting in an increased risk of bleeding, warranting a cautious approach in medical decision making. This retrospective, descriptive study examined the prevalence and the factors associated with the use of both selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor and platelet aggregation inhibitor among individuals with co-occurring atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and anxiety or depression.

Methods: Respondents aged 22 years and older, alive throughout the study period, and diagnosed with co-occurring atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and anxiety or depression (n=1507) in years 2007 through 2013 of the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey were included. The …

Non-Medical Use Of Cognitive Enhancing Prescription Medications Among Occupational Therapy And Speech Language Pathology Health Care Students: A Pilot Study, Randy P. Mccombie, Hannah Slanina

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Purpose: This research was designed to serve as a pilot study to generate baseline data on non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) for cognitive/academic enhancement purposes among students representing two healthcare professions, Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech Language Pathology (SLP) and to assess students’ opinions regarding whether use of these medications constitutes academic “cheating.” Introduction: NMUPD, such as Adderall ® or Ritalin ®, to reduce fatigue, improve memory, and increase concentration to ultimately improve grades has increased among college students in recent years, with estimated use put as high as 35% on some campuses. These drugs appear to be readily …

Association Of Blood Lead Levels In Children 0-72 Months With Living In Mid-Appalachia: A Semiecologic Study, R. Constance Wiener, R. J. Jurevic

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Introduction—Lead exposure in children remains a significant public health issue, although many advances have been made. The Mid-Appalachia area (Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia) is 89–91% rural with a population density of 16–21 people/km2 (41–54 people/mi2 ). Mid-Appalachia has significant health disparities including concerns for the consequences of greater lead exposure to children due to mining and industrial footprints, and existing older housing. The purpose of this study is to compare the reported blood lead levels of screened children, aged 0–72 months in Mid-Appalachia, to the children in the USA in general.

Methods—Data from the Centers for …

Assessing The Association Of Mitochondrial Genetic Variation With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Using Gene-Set Analyses, Anthony P. Khawaja, Jessica N. Cooke Bailey, Jae Hee Kang, R. Rand Allingham, Michael A. Hauser, Murray Brilliant, Donald L. Budenz, William G. Christen, John Fingert, Douglas Gaasterland, Terry Gaasterland, Peter Kraft, Richard K. Lee, Paul R. Lichter, Yutao Liu, Felipe Medeiros, Syoko E. Moroi, Julia E. Richards, Tony Realini, Robert Ritch, Joel S. Schuman, William K. Scott, Kuldev Singh, Arthur J. Sit, Douglas Vollrath, Gadi Wollstein, Donald J. Zack, Kang Zhang, Margaret Pericak-Vance, Robert N. Weinreb, Jonathan L. Haines, Louis R. Pasquale, Janey L. Wiggs

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

PURPOSE. Recent studies indicate that mitochondrial proteins may contribute to the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). In this study, we examined the association between POAG and common variations in gene-encoding mitochondrial proteins. METHODS. We examined genetic data from 3430 POAG cases and 3108 controls derived from the combination of the GLAUGEN and NEIGHBOR studies. We constructed biological-system coherent mitochondrial nuclear-encoded protein gene-sets by intersecting the MitoCarta database with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. We examined the mitochondrial gene-sets for association with POAG and with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and high-tension glaucoma (HTG) subsets using Pathway Analysis …

Dual-Seq Transcriptomics Reveals The Battle For Iron During Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Acute Murine Pneumonia, F Heath Damron, Amanda G. Oglesby-Sherrouse, Angela Wilks, Mariette Barbier

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Determining bacterial gene expression during infection is fundamental to understand pathogenesis. In this study, we used dual RNA-seq to simultaneously measure P. aeruginosa and the murine host’s gene expression and response to respiratory infection. Bacterial genes encoding products involved in metabolism and virulence were differentially expressed during infection and the type III and VI secretion systems were highly expressed in vivo. Strikingly, heme acquisition, ferric-enterobactin transport, and pyoverdine biosynthesis genes were found to be significantly up-regulated during infection. In the mouse, we profiled the acute immune response to P. aeruginosa and identified the pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in acute response …

Oral Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (Pfos) Lessens Tumor Development In The Apcmin Mouse Model Of Spontaneous Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Jeffrey Wimsatt, Meghan Villers, Laurel Thomas, Stacey Kamarec, Caitlin Montgomery, Leo W. Y. Yeung, Yanqing Hu, Kim Innes

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths for both men and women, and the third most common cause of cancer in the U.S. Toxicity of current chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancer, and emergence of drug resistance underscore the need to develop new, potentially less toxic alternatives. Our recent cross-sectional study in a large Appalachian population, showed a strong, inverse, dose–response association of serum perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels to prevalent colorectal cancer, suggesting PFOS may have therapeutic potential in the prevention and/or treatment of colorectal cancer. In these preliminary studies using a mouse model of familial colorectal …

Spatial And Temporal Variations Of Screening For Breast And Colorectal Cancer In The United States, 2008 To 2012, Xue Feng, Xi Tan, Ebtihag Alenzi, Pragya Rai, Jongwha Chang

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Cancer screening tests are important tools to combat cancer-related morbidity and mortality. There is limited up-to-date research on spatial and temporal variations of colorectal and breast cancer screening in the United States.

County-level data of cancer screening adherence rates were generated from 2008 to 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We performed the univariate local indicators for spatial analyses (LISA) for the geographic differences of screening adherence rate and the differential LISA for the change of screening adherence rate from 2008 to 2012.

In the univariate LISA, low-to-low clusters were consistently identified in counties of New Mexico, Wyoming, and Mississippi …

Oxidative Stress Induces Transient O‐Glcnac Elevation And Tau Dephosphorylation In Sh‐Sy5y Cells, Emese Katai, Jozsef Pal, Viktor Soma Poor, Rupeena Purewal, Attila Miseta, Tamas Nagy

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

O‐linked β‐N‐acetlyglucosamine or O‐GlcNAc modification is a dynamic post‐translational modification occurring on the Ser/Thr residues of many intracellular proteins. The chronic imbalance between phosphorylation and O‐GlcNAc on tau protein is considered as one of the main hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. In recent years, many studies also showed that O‐GlcNAc levels can elevate upon acute stress and suggested that this might facilitate cell survival. However, many consider chronic stress, including oxidative damage as a major risk factor in the development of the disease. In this study, using the neuronal cell line SH‐SY5Y we investigated the dynamic nature of O‐GlcNAc …

Return To Play After Cervical Spine Injuries: A Consensus Of Opinion, John C. France, Michael Karsy, James S. Harrop, Andrew T. Dailey

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Study Design: Survey. Objective: Sports-related spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a growing proportion of total SCIs but lacks evidence or guidelines to guide clinical decision-making on return to play (RTP). Our objective is to offer the treating physician a consensus analysis of expert opinion regarding RTP that can be incorporated with the unique factors of a case for clinical decision-making. Methods: Ten common clinical scenarios involving neurapraxia and stenosis, atlantoaxial injury, subaxial injury, and general cervical spine injury were presented to 25 spine surgeons from level 1 trauma centers for whom spine trauma is a significant component of their practice. …

Capacity Fade Analysis Of Sulfur Cathodes In Lithium–Sulfur Batteries, Jianhua Yan, Xingbo Liu, Bingyun Li

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Rechargeable lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are receiving ever-increasing attention due to their high theoretical energy density and inexpensive raw sulfur materials. However, their rapid capacity fade has been one of the key barriers for their further improvement. It is well accepted that the major degradation mechanisms of S-cathodes include low electrical conductivity of S and sulfides, precipitation of nonconductive Li2S2 and Li2S, and poly-shuttle effects. To determine these degradation factors, a comprehensive study of sulfur cathodes with different amounts of electrolytes is presented here. A survey of the fundamentals of Li–S chemistry with respect to capacity fade is first conducted; then, …

Machine-Learning Approach Identifies A Pattern Of Gene Expression In Peripheral Blood That Can Accurately Detect Ischaemic Stroke, Grant C. O'Connell, Ashley B. Petrone, Madison B. Treadway, Connie S. Tennant, Noelle Lucke-Wold, Paul D. Chantler, Taura L. Barr

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Early and accurate diagnosis of stroke improves the probability of positive outcome. The objective of this study was to identify a pattern of gene expression in peripheral blood that could potentially be optimised to expedite the diagnosis of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). A discovery cohort was recruited consisting of 39 AIS patients and 24 neurologically asymptomatic controls. Peripheral blood was sampled at emergency department admission, and genome-wide expression profiling was performed via microarray. A machine-learning technique known as genetic algorithm k-nearest neighbours (GA/kNN) was then used to identify a pattern of gene expression that could optimally discriminate between groups. This …

Concept Of An Upright Wearable Positron Emission Tomography Imager In Humans, Christopher E. Bauer, Julie Brefczynski-Lewis, Gary Marano, Mary-Beth Mandich, Alexander Stolin, Peter Martone, James W. Lewis, Gangadhar Jaliparthi, Raymond R. Raylman, Stan Majewski

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is traditionally used to image patients in restrictive positions, with few devices allowing for upright, brain-dedicated imaging. Our team has explored the concept of wearable PET imagers which could provide functional brain imaging of freely moving subjects. To test feasibility and determine future considerations for development, we built a rudimentary proof-of-concept prototype (Helmet_PET) and conducted tests in phantoms and four human volunteers. Methods: Twelve Silicon Photomultiplier-based detectors were assembled in a ring with exterior weight support and an interior mechanism that could be adjustably fitted to the head. We conducted brain phantom tests as well …

An Ovarian Bioreactor For In Vitro Culture Of The Whole Bovine Ovary: A Preliminary Report, Matthew R. Zanotelli, Joseph D. Henningsen, Patrick M. Hopkins, Aaron P. Dederich, Tessa Herman, Tracy J. Puccinelli, Sana M. Salih

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Improved cancer therapeutics and enhanced cancer survivorship have emphasized the severe long-term side effects of chemotherapy. Specifically, studies have linked many chemotherapy agents with primary ovarian insufficiency, although an exact insult model has not yet been determined. To investigate and ultimately solve this problem, a novel device for extended study of mammalian ovaries in vitro was developed.

Methods: A bioreactor was fabricated for bovine ovarian culture that provides intravascular delivery of media to the ovary through isolation and cannulation of a main ovarian artery branch. Whole ovaries were cultured in vitro using three methods: (1) continuously supplied fresh culture …

Differential Pulmonary Effects Of Coo And La2o3 Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Responses During Aerosolized Inhalation In Mice, Jennifer D. Sisler, Ruibin Li, Walter Mckinney, Robert R. Mercer, Zhaoxia Ji, Tian Xia, Xiang Wang, Justine Shaffer, Marlene Orandle, Amy L. Mihalchik, Lori Battelli, Bean T. Chen, Michael Wolfarth, Michael E. Andrew, Diane Schwegler-Berry, Dale W. Porter, Vincent Castranova, Andre Nel, Yong Qian

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Although classified as metal oxides, cobalt monoxide (CoO) and lanthanum oxide (La2O3) nanoparticles, as representative transition and rare earth oxides, exhibit distinct material properties that may result in different hazardous potential in the lung. The current study was undertaken to compare the pulmonary effects of aerosolized whole body inhalation of these nanoparticles in mice.

Results: Mice were exposed to filtered air (control) and 10 or 30 mg/m3 of each particle type for 4 days and then examined at 1 h, 1, 7 and 56 days post-exposure. The whole lung burden 1 h after the 4 day inhalation of CoO …

Socioecological Factors Influencing Women’S Hiv Risk In The United States: Qualitative Findings From The Women’S Hiv Seroincidence Study (Hptn 064), Paula M. Frew, Kimberly Parker, Linda Vo, Danielle Haley, Ann O'Leary, Dazon Dixon Diallo, Carol E. Golin, Irene Kuo, Lydia Soto-Torres, Jing Wang, Adaora A. Adimora, Laura A. Randall, Carlos Del Rio, Sally Hodder

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: We sought to understand the multilevel syndemic factors that are concurrently contributing to the HIV epidemic among women living in the US. We specifically examined community, network, dyadic, and individual factors to explain HIV vulnerability within a socioecological framework. Methods: We gathered qualitative data (120 interviews and 31 focus groups) from a subset of women ages 18–44 years (N = 2,099) enrolled in the HPTN 064 HIV seroincidence estimation study across 10 US communities. We analyzed data from 4 diverse locations: Atlanta, New York City (the Bronx), Raleigh, and Washington, DC. Data were thematically coded using grounded theory methodology. …

Effect Of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase On The Modulation Of Coronary Reactive Hyperemia: Role Of Oxylipins And Pparγ, Ahmad Hanif, Matthew L. Edin, Darryl C. Zeldin, Christophe Morisseau, Mohammed A. Nayeem

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Coronary reactive hyperemia (CRH) is a physiological response to ischemic insult that prevents the potential harm associated with an interruption of blood supply. The relationship between the pharmacologic inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and CRH response to a brief ischemia is not known. sEH is involved in the main catabolic pathway of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which are converted into dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs). EETs protect against ischemia/reperfusion injury and have numerous beneficial physiological effects. We hypothesized that inhibition of sEH by t-AUCB enhances CRH in isolated mouse hearts through changing the oxylipin profiles, including an increase in EETs/DHETs ratio. Compared …

Unique Footprint In The Scl1.3 Locus Affects Adhesion And Biofilm Formation Of The Invasive M3-Type Group A Streptococcus, Beth A. Bachert, Soo J. Choi, Paul R. Lasala, Tiffany I. Harper, Dudley H. Mcnitt, Dylan T. Boehm, Clayton C. Caswell, Pawel Ciborowski, Douglas R. Keene, Anthony R. Flores, James M. Musser, Flavia Squeglia, Daniela Marasco, Rita Berisio, Slawomir Lukomski

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The streptococcal collagen-like proteins 1 and 2 (Scl1 and Scl2) are major surface adhesins that are ubiquitous among group A Streptococcus (GAS). Invasive M3-type strains, however, have evolved two unique conserved features in the scl1 locus: (i) an IS1548 element insertion in the scl1 promoter region and (ii) a nonsense mutation within the scl1 coding sequence. The scl1 transcript is drastically reduced in M3-type GAS, contrasting with a high transcription level of scl1 allele in invasive M1-type GAS. This leads to a lack of Scl1 expression in M3 strains. In contrast, while scl2 transcription and Scl2 production are elevated in …

Organization Of The Zone Of Transition Between The Pretectum And The Thalamus, With Emphasis On The Pretectothalamic Lamina, Emmanuel Marquez-Legorreta, Jose De Anchieta C. Horta-Junior, Albert S. Berrebi, Enrique Saldana

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The zone of transition between the pretectum, derived from prosomere 1, and the thalamus, derived from prosomere 2, is structurally complex and its understanding has been hampered by cytoarchitectural and terminological confusion. Herein, using a battery of complementary morphological approaches, including cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture and the expression of molecular markers, we pinpoint the features or combination of features that best characterize each nucleus of the pretectothalamic transitional zone of the rat. Our results reveal useful morphological criteria to identify and delineate, with unprecedented precision, several [mostly auditory] nuclei of the posterior group of the thalamus, namely the pretectothalamic lamina (PTL; formerly …

A Common Variant In Mir182 Is Associated With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma In The Neighborhood Consortium, Yutao Liu, Jessica Cooke Bailey, Inas Helwa, W. Michael Dismuke, Jingwen Cai, Michelle Drewry, Murray H. Brilliant, Donald L. Budenz, William G. Christen, Daniel I. Chasman, John H. Fingert, Douglas Gaasterland, Terry Gaasterland, Mae O. Gordon, Robert P. Igo Jr., Jae H. Kang, Michael A. Kass, Peter Kraft, Richard K. Lee, Paul Lichter, Sayoko E. Moroi, Anthony Realini, Julia E. Richard, Robert Ritch, Joel S. Schuman, William K. Scott, Kuldev Singh, Arthur J. Sit, Yeunjoo E. Song, Douglas Vollrath, Robert Weinreb, Felipe Medeiros, Gadi Wollstein, Donald J. Zack, Kang Zhang, Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, Pedro Gonzalez, W. Daniel Stamer, John Kuchtey, Rachel W. Kuchtey, R. Rand Allingham, Michael A. Hauser, Louis R. Pasquale, Jonathan L. Haines, Janey L. Wiggs

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

PURPOSE. Noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. We aimed to identify common variants in miRNA coding genes (MIR) associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS. Using the NEIGHBORHOOD data set (3853 cases/33,480 controls with European ancestry), we first assessed the relation between 85 variants in 76 MIR genes and overall POAG. Subtype-specific analyses were performed in high-tension glaucoma (HTG) and normal-tension glaucoma subsets. Second, we examined the expression of miR-182, which was associated with POAG, in postmortem human ocular tissues (ciliary body, cornea, retina, and trabecular meshwork [TM]), using miRNA sequencing (miRNA-Seq) and droplet digital …

The Musashi 1 Controls The Splicing Of Photoreceptor-Specific Exons In The Vertebrate Retina, Daniel Murphy, Benjamin Cieply, Russ Carstens, Visvanathan Ramamurthy, Peter Stoilov

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Alternative pre-mRNA splicing expands the coding capacity of eukaryotic genomes, potentially enabling a limited number of genes to govern the development of complex anatomical structures. Alternative splicing is particularly prevalent in the vertebrate nervous system, where it is required for neuronal development and function. Here, we show that photoreceptor cells, a type of sensory neuron, express a characteristic splicing program that affects a broad set of transcripts and is initiated prior to the development of the light sensing outer segments. Surprisingly, photoreceptors lack prototypical neuronal splicing factors and their splicing profile is driven to a significant degree by the Musashi …

The Association Between Graduated Driver Licensing Laws And Travel Behaviors Among Adolescents: An Analysis Of Us National Household Travel Surveys, Motao Zhu, Peter Cummings, Songzhu Zhao, Thomas Rice

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Young novice drivers have crash rates higher than any other age group. To address this problem, graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws have been implemented in the United States to require an extended learner permit phase, and create night time driving or passenger restrictions for adolescent drivers. GDL allows adolescents to gain experience driving under low-risk conditions with the aim of reducing crashes. The restricted driving might increase riding with parents or on buses, which might be safer, or walking or biking, which might be more dangerous. We examined whether GDL increases non-driver travels, and whether it reduces total travels …