Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Do Antibiotics In Early Life Contribute To Obesity?, Shimon Kadosh

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

In recent years, science has made great strides in its understanding of the microbiome, discovering that it plays a role in regulating many body processes. One area of study is the microbiomes interaction and influence on host metabolic processes. Studies using both mice and humans have established a clear correlation between obesity and the composition of the microbiome, identifying a microbiome unique to obese individuals. Furthermore, experiments with germ-free mice have shown that the microbiome effects host metabolism, causing germ free mice to increase in mass when inoculated with normal microbiota. Inoculation with microbiota from obese mice yielded greater increases …

Repurposing Diabetes Drugs To Treat Insulin Resistance In Alzheimer’S Disease‌, Yael Lazarus

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition which results in a significant decline in cognitive status. Novel treatment approaches for Alzheimer’s are sorely needed, as current medications for the disease offer only marginal clinical benefit. Research has discovered a connection between the pathology of Alzheimer’s and Type 2 Diabetes, two serious and seemingly unrelated disorders. Clinical studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease is associated with brain insulin resistance similar to the pathology of Type 2 Diabetes. This observation has led to the notion that drugs developed for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes may be beneficial in modifying the cognitive function …

Micro-Spectroscopy Of Bio-Assemblies At The Single Cell Level, Jeslin Kera

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In this thesis, we investigate biological molecules on a micron scale in the ultraviolet spectral region through the non-destructive confocal absorption microscopy. The setup involves a combination of confocal microscope with a UV light excitation beam to measure the optical absorption spectra with spatial resolution of 1.4 μm in the lateral and 3.6 μm in the axial direction. Confocal absorption microscopy has the benefits of requiring no labels and only low light intensity for excitation while providing a strong signal from the contrast generated by the attenuation of propagating light due to absorption. This enables spatially resolved measurements of single …

E2f Transcription Factor 1 And Its Role In The Cell Cycle And Tumor Suppressor Proteins, Thea Hisuler, Yu Kuang

AANAPISI Poster Presentations

E2F Transcription Factor 1 (E2F1) E2F1 is a transcription factor, in which its expression is increased in human cancers. “Transcription factor E2F1 binds to and activates transcription,” in return leading to increased transcription at the G1 and S phase of the cell cycle (Slansky). The E2F transcription factor family “plays a crucial role in the control of cell cycle and action of tumor suppressor proteins and is also a target of the transforming proteins of small DNA tumor viruses” (NCBI).

Utilization Of Waist Circumference To Determine Type 2 Diabetes Risk Among Normal And Overweight Individuals, Mary Angela M. Terencio, Brian Schilling, Hayley Esdaile, Grace Mcdonald

AANAPISI Poster Presentations

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether noninvasive measurements such as waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) are effective for people who have a normal to overweight BMI in determining risk for type 2 diabetes. 29 million US adults have diabetes and 86 million have prediabetes. Numerous studies have indicated waist circumference as a strong predictor of type 2 diabetes in obese individuals. However there are few that research the effects of these anthropometric measurements with individuals who look lean but are potentially metabolically obese.

Halo- And Solvato-Fluorochromic Polymer Nanoassemblies For Cancer Theranostics, Derek Alexander Reichel

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Theranostics is an emerging treatment approach that combines diagnostics with therapy in order to personalize treatment regimens for individual patients and decrease cancer mortality. Previously, nanoparticles entrapping conventional fluorescent dyes were developed for cancer theranostics, but fluorescent nanoparticles did not allow clinicians to significantly improve cancer treatments.

The use of fluorescent dyes that are sensitive to solvent acidity (halo-fluorochromism) and polarity (solvato-fluorochromism) may overcome the limitations of fluorescent nanoparticles and improve cancer therapy by enabling researchers to detect chemical properties within the nanoparticle core environment. The model halo- and solvato-fluorochromic dye Nile blue was attached to the core of nanoscale …

Vocal Function Exercises For Normal Voice: With And Without Semi-Occlusion, Megan Suzanne Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

The primary purpose of this investigation was to explore the effects of varying degrees of vocal tract semi-occlusion in Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) on attainment of pre- established maximum phonation time (MPT) goals in individuals between the ages of 18 and 45 with normal voice. Individuals were randomized into three experimental groups: the traditional VFE with a semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT), modified /o/ with partial occlusion, and modified /a/ without significant occlusion. For six weeks, the participants completed the four exercises two times each, twice daily on corresponding vocal tract postures assigned by group. Results indicated significant change in percent …

Fluorescent Probe Development For Fructose Specific Transporters In Cancer, Joseph Fedie

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Carbohydrate transporters or GLUTs of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) are responsible for transporting sugars into the cell and have been of research interest for decades. Disruptions, mutations, and over-activations of GLUTs have been linked to a number of major diseases including cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Differentiating between transporters is incredibly difficult due to highly conserved structures, and so specific targeting between transporters has proven a complex challenge. GLUTs are highly flexible in their conformations however exactly what will and will not pass through the transporter is ambiguous at best, and many attempt to target these transporters have failed.

In …

Regulation Of Cancer Stem Cells: Lysine Methylation Of P53, William Holliday, Yu Kuang

AANAPISI Poster Presentations

The highly studied p53 protein regulates multiple transitions through the cell cycle effectively halting the growth of tumorlike masses.[1] This gene was primitively identified an oncogene; however, it was later derived that p53 functions as a tumor suppressor.[1] Named due to its mass in kDa, p53 is a phosphoprotein comprised of 393 amino acids.[1] Normal cells contain controlled, small quantities of p53 in order to facilitate the regulation of normal cell activities such as growth arrest, senescence,DNArepair, and apoptosis.[1,2] These features are pivotal the continuation of healthy cell production. Constructively, the functions of p53 work together to pause the cell …

Life-Saving Medicines And Equipment In Facilities In Bangladesh, Kanij Sultana, Amy Dempsey

Reproductive Health

This research brief is a part of a larger landscaping analysis by Population Council, with support from USAID and the MacArthur Foundation. In Bangladesh, in 12 upazilas in four districts, it assessed the capacity of primary health facilities to manage pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E). This brief shares findings from 134 facilities on required infrastructure for providing maternal and newborn health (MNH) services, human resources, facility readiness, and MNH commodities and supplies. Facility readiness is vital to providing quality services to antenatal care (ANC) patients, especially to women with PE/E. Without functioning equipment, ANC/PNC registers, essential medicines, electricity, and running water, …

An Assessment Of Nurses’ Experiences Of Work Related Stress Through Self-Reporting And Hair Cortisol Analysis, In A Metropolitan Hospital In Western Australia, Kim Oliver

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The aim of this study was to assess how years of experience and practice area influence work related stress amongst 1,200 nurses employed in a metropolitan hospital environment in Western Australia. A combination of self-administered questionnaires and hair cortisol, an objective stress biomarker, was utilised to measure stress levels and to relate these to practice area, age and experience. Questionnaire results indicated that there was a higher level of perceived stress for 40% of this cohort of nurses; the study methodology was able to unearth noteworthy factors within a local WA nursing population that impacted on their perceived stress. These …

Comparison Of Inappropriate Shocks And Other Health Outcomes Between Single- And Dual-Chamber Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators For Primary Prevention Of Sudden Cardiac Death: Results From The Cardiovascular Research Network Longitudinal Study Of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators, Pamela N. Peterson, Robert T. Greenlee, Alan S. Go, David J. Magid, Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow, Romel Garcia-Montilla, Alan H. Kadish

Office of the President Publications and Research

Background In US clinical practice, many patients who undergo placement of an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death receive dual‐chamber devices. The superiority of dual‐chamber over single‐chamber devices in reducing the risk of inappropriate ICD shocks in clinical practice has not been established. The objective of this study was to compare risk of adverse outcomes, including inappropriate shocks, between single‐ and dual‐chamber ICDs for primary prevention.

Methods and Results We identified patients receiving a single‐ or dual‐chamber ICD for primary prevention who did not have an indication for pacing from 15 hospitals within 7 integrated health …

Urine Cotinine In Children And Parental Behavior Modification: A Pilot Study, Teresa Lachance

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

“Urine Cotinine in Children and Parental Behavior Modification” was designed by Dr. Deirdre Burns, a pediatrician at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH). It was implemented as a pilot study to determine whether urine cotinine testing in children who are admitted to the hospital for respiratory illness and tracking parental smoking behaviors over time was feasible. Parents were given a brief survey to assess their current smoking behaviors and to understand their readiness to quit smoking. They received smoking cessation materials provided by the Breathe Easy Coalition of Maine. These materials outline information about second-hand and third-hand smoke, and encourage …

The Role Of Neighborhood Characteristics In Late Stage Melanoma Diagnosis Among Hispanic Men In California, Texas, And Florida, 1996-2012, Valerie M. Harvey, Clinton W. Enos, Jarvis T. Chen, Hadiza Galadima, Karl Eschbach

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background. Hispanics diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma are more likely to present at advanced stages but the reasons for this are unknown. We identify census tracts at high risk for late stage melanoma diagnosis (LSMD) and examine the contextual predictors of LSMD in California, Texas, and Florida. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study using geocoded state cancer registry data. Using hierarchical multilevel logistic regression models we estimated ORs and 95% confidence intervals for the impact of socioeconomic, Hispanic ethnic concentration, index of dissimilarity, and health resource availability measures on LSMD. Results. We identified 12,493 cases. In California, late …

The Aging Human Heart. Doppler Echocardiographic Assessment Of The Resting Adult Heart Across The Age Bands., Anthony Ryan

Masters

Objectives: To determine the influence of aging on measured left ventricular (LV) diastolic parameters using healthy subjects aged 40-79 years. To propose age-related reference values for LV filling pressure, LV isovolumic relaxation time (LV IVRT) and myocardial stiffness index for each decade using pulsed waved tissue Doppler.

Background: Pulsed wave tissue Doppler parameters have been used for over a decade in the clinical setting as an aid to the evaluation of diastolic function and filling pressures, however there is limited information on normal reference ranges especially in middle age and the older person.

Methods: Subjects with no …

Multiple Targets For Novel Therapy Of Fsgs Associated With Circulating Permeability Factor., Virginia J. Savin, Mukut Sharma, Jianping Zhou, David Genochi, Ram Sharma, Tarak Srivastava, Amna Ilahe, Pooja Budhiraja, Aditi Gupta, Ellen T. Mccarthy

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

A plasma component is responsible for altered glomerular permeability in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Evidence includes recurrence after renal transplantation, remission after plasmapheresis, proteinuria in infants of affected mothers, transfer of proteinuria to experimental animals, and impaired glomerular permeability after exposure to patient plasma. Therapy may include decreasing synthesis of the injurious agent, removing or blocking its interaction with cells, or blocking signaling or enhancing cell defenses to restore the permeability barrier and prevent progression. Agents that may prevent the synthesis of the permeability factor include cytotoxic agents or aggressive chemotherapy. Extracorporeal therapies include plasmapheresis, immunoadsorption with protein A …

Biomarkers Of Sepsis: A Retrospective Approach, Jose M. Roberts

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Background: Biomarkers are taking the spotlight in becoming the norm for early diagnoses. Sepsis is an inflammatory disease that increases metabolic rate in children. The first biomarker is hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is a frequent electrolyte imbalance in clinical practice, often observed in children with inflammatory disease and infection. Presence of hyponatremia is associated with electrical signaling imbalances, inflammation and renal dysfunction. The clinical value of hyponatremia in pediatric patients is unknown. The C-reactive protein is a second biomarker. Its presence signifies that necrotic cells and inflammation are present.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of biomarkers in children seen in the Emergency …

Assessment Protocol For Cognitive And Auditory Processing Skills For Clients Receiving Neurofeedback Treatment For Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion: Literature Review, Elexea N. Aurilio, Miranda Hendrus

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Neurofeedback has become increasingly popular in the medical world and will hopefully become more commonly used in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. Currently, there is a lack of a singular, baseline and progression diagnostic tool to measure a client’s cognitive and auditory processing skills once they are referred for neurofeedback treatment.

Racial And Ethnic Differences In Receipt Of Immediate Breast Reconstruction Surgery: Do Hospital Characteristics Matter?, Jaya Shankar Khushalani

Theses and Dissertations

Immediate Breast Reconstruction Surgery (IBRS) is associated with better quality of life among women who undergo a mastectomy. Despite insurance coverage for IBRS, utilization of IBRS remains low. Data from publicly available sources for 2010-2012 are used to examine the association between hospital characteristics receipt of IBRS by patients. Minority-serving status, low bed size, for-profit ownership, non-teaching status, high competition, low density of plastic surgeons in the market and non-metropolitan location are associated with lower likelihood of receipt of IBRS.

Racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to receive IBRS. A mixed effects logistic regression model with interactions between Black/Hispanic …

Theoretically Proposed Optimal Frequency For Ultrasound Induced Cartilage Restoration, April D. Miller, Anuradha Subramanian, Hendrik J. Viljoen

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Background: Matching the frequency of the driving force to that of the system’s natural frequency of vibration results in greater amplitude response. Thus we hypothesize that applying ultrasound at the chondrocyte’s resonant frequency will result in greater deformation than applying similar ultrasound power at a frequency outside of the resonant bandwidth. Based on this resonant hypothesis, our group previously confirmed theoretically and experimentally that ultrasound stimulation of suspended chondrocytes at resonance (5 MHz) maximized gene expression of load inducible genes. However, this study was based on suspended chondrocytes. The resonant frequency of a chondrocyte does not only depend on the …

Creation Of An Injectable In Situ Gelling Native Extracellular Matrix For Nucleus Pulposus Tissue Engineering, Rebecca A. Wachs, Ella N. Hoogenboezem, Hammad I. Huda, Shangjing Xin, Stacy L. Porvasnik, Christine E. Schmidt

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Background Context: Disc degeneration is the leading cause of low back pain and is often characterized by a loss of disc height, resulting from cleavage of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) present in the nucleus pulposus. Intact CSPGs are critical to water retention and maintenance of the nucleus osmotic pressure. Decellularization of healthy nucleus pulposus tissue has the potential to serve as an ideal matrix for tissue engineering of the disc because of the presence of native disc proteins and CSPGs. Injectable in situ gelling matrices are the most viable therapeutic option to prevent damage to the anulus fibrosus and future …

Prebiotics And Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Heather Rasmussen, Bruce R. Hamaker

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Inflammatory bowel disease risk factors include poor diet, and corresponding low intake of dietary fiber, specifically prebiotics, which is fermented by the gut microbiota. Dietary fibers, many of which are potential prebiotics, have hundreds to thousands of unique chemical structures that may promote bacteria or bacterial groups to provide beneficial health effects. In vitro and in vivo animal models provide some support for the use of prebiotics for inflammatory bowel disease through inflammation reduction. Studies using prebiotics in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are limited and focus on only a select few prebiotic substances.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis, …

Bleeding Meckel's Diverticulum In Children: The Diagnostic Value Of Double-Balloon Enteroscopy., Lan-Lan Geng, Pei-Yu Chen, Qiang Wu, Hui-Wen Li, Ding-You Li, Min Yang, Si-Tang Gong

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background. Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) for bleeding MD in children. Methods. We included consecutive children who were highly suspected of MD between 2012 and 2013. All patients underwent Meckel's scan. DBE was performed for patient with negative Meckel's scan. An exploratory laparoscopy was performed in children with positive Meckel's scan or DBE. Results. 42 patients met the inclusion criteria. 40 patients were confirmed to have MD by exploratory laparoscopy. Meckel's scan …

Taurine's Effect On Cocaine Reward And Neurogenesis In The Adolescent Male Rat Brain., Avery E. Villa-Gonzalez

Dissertations and Theses

Adolescence is a developmentally critical transition from childhood to adulthood including both maturation of the body and the brain. Neuroplastic changes result in dynamic organization of the brain during adolescence, leaving them vulnerable to development of mental illness and drug-seeking behavior. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the psychostimulant cocaine is the second most popular illicit drug in the world. Cocaine, amongst having many detrimental effects, has shown to also decrease hippocampal neurogenesis, resulting in decreased neuroplasticity and cognitive dysfunction. Previous students in our laboratory have shown that treatment of adult male rats with the essential …

The Immediate Effects Of A Seated Versus Supine Upper Thoracic Spine Thrust Manipulation Compared To Sham Manipulation In Individuals With Subacromial Pain Syndrome – A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jason K. Grimes

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Individuals with Subacromial Pain Syndrome (SPS) often present with a variety of contributing factors. It is possible that a subgroup exists within SPS that has primary impairments of scapular mobility and/or muscle strength. In an attempt to better identify scapular contributions in SPS, the Scapular Assistance Test (SAT) and Scapula Reposition Test (SRT) have been described. Additionally, thoracic spine thrust manipulation has been shown to be effective for shoulder pain. Problem Statement: It is currently unknown whether or not there are impairments in scapulothoracic muscle force generation or scapular mobility in individuals with SPS who have positive results on …

Determining Risk Of Falls In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Using Posttest Probability, Michelle M. Lusardi, Stacy Fritz, Addie Middletown, Leslie Allison, Mariana Wingood, Emma Phillips, Michelle Criss, Sangita Verma, Jackie Osborne, Kevin Chui

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND:

Falls and their consequences are significant concerns for older adults, caregivers, and health care providers. Identification of fall risk is crucial for appropriate referral to preventive interventions. Falls are multifactorial; no single measure is an accurate diagnostic tool. There is limited information on which history question, self-report measure, or performance-based measure, or combination of measures, best predicts future falls.

PURPOSE:

First, to evaluate the predictive ability of history questions, self-report measures, and performance-based measures for assessing fall risk of community-dwelling older adults by calculating and comparing posttest probability (PoTP) values for individual test/measures. Second, to evaluate usefulness of cumulative …

Effect Of Local Magnetic Field Disturbances On Inertial Measurement Units Accuracy, Xavier Robert-Lachaine, Hakim Mecheri, Christian Larue, André Plamondon

Études primaires

Inertial measurement units (IMUs), a practical motion analysis technology for field acquisition, have magnetometers to improve segment orientation estimation. However, sensitivity to magnetic disturbances can affect their accuracy. The objective of this study was to determine the joint angles accuracy of IMUs under different timing of magnetic disturbances of various durations and to evaluate a few correction methods. Kinematics from 12 individuals were obtained simultaneously with an Xsens system where an Optotrak cluster acting as the reference system was affixed to each IMU. A handling task was executed under normal laboratory conditions and imposed magnetic disturbances. Joint angle RMSE was …

Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Gymnastatin Analogues, Felicia Mutuma

Doctoral

A library of eight novel gymnastatin analogues has been prepared. The compounds consist of an unsaturated side chain linked to a tyrosine unit using an amide bond. The compounds have various chain lengths and degrees of conjugation. Additional functionality was added to the tyrosine unit by methylation of the acid side group to prepare methyl ester derivatives. While gymnastatins have shown promising cytotoxic activity, their mode of action is not fully understood. The prepared compounds were evaluated against the A549 cancer cell line. A selection of the compounds were further evaluated for inhibition against POLO like kinase (Plk1). The methyl …

Use Of The Novel Derivatizing Agent 1,8-Diaminonapthalene With The Cip10 Sampler To Measure 4,4'-Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate Atmospheres, Silvia Puscasu, Simon Aubin, Philippe Sarazin, Lucile Richard, Mark Spence, Sébastien Gagné

Études primaires

DAN is a novel derivatizing agent for isocyanate sampling which targets total reactive isocyanate group (TRIG). Field evaluations have been conducted for 4,4’-Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) sampling using DAN as the derivatizing agent in a CIP10. The perimidone formed, selective of TRIG, was analyzed in laboratory by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Workplaces using MDI-based polyurethane spray foam and MDI wood product binder were studied. Each study compared the data obtained between the CIP10/DAN, the CIP10/MP, and a reference method. As a first evaluation, the CIP10/DAN sampled simulated MDI spray foam atmosphere in parallel with impingers (reference method) …

Biochemical And Biophysical Methods For Analysis Of Poly(Adp-Ribose) Polymerase 1 And Its Interactions With Chromatin., Maggie H. Chassé, Uma M. Muthurajan, Nicholas J. Clark, Michael A. Kramer, Srinivas Chakravarthy, Thomas Irving, Karolin Luger

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase I (PARP-1) is a first responder to DNA damage and participates in the regulation of gene expression. The interaction of PARP-1 with chromatin and DNA is complex and involves at least two different modes of interaction. In its enzymatically inactive state, PARP-1 binds native chromatin with similar affinity as it binds free DNA ends. Automodification of PARP-1 affects interaction with chromatin and DNA to different extents. Here we describe a series of biochemical and biophysical techniques to quantify and dissect the different binding modes of PARP-1 with its various substrates. The techniques listed here allow for high …