Anatomy Commons^™

Evaluation Of Neuroplastic Changes In Psychological Intervention And Contemporary Treatments Of Depression, Taylor Severance

Dissertations

Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide. There is a vast range of treatment options for depression, with varying levels of effectiveness. Recent treatments for depression have expanded, increasing alternative treatments, and it is unknown which treatments have the largest impact on depression. This research was designed to examine the treatments of depression, with a focus on psychotherapy and contemporary treatments such as ketamine, psilocybin, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. A literature review was conducted to assess treatment outcomes and neuroplastic changes in these interventions, as well as combinations of the interventions. Data were evaluated …

Appearance Over Function - The Impact Of Long-Term Oral Contraceptive Use On Brain Development, Breast Tissue Composition, And Future Lactation Outcomes, Fiona M. Wang

Dissertations

This integrative review examines the long-term effects of combined oral contraceptive (COC) use beginning in puberty on brain development, breast tissue composition, and future breastfeeding outcomes. Puberty is a critical developmental stage during which hormonal changes significantly impact the neurological and reproductive systems. The introduction of synthetic estrogen and progestin through COC use during this time may disrupt natural hormonal pathways, potentially altering neuroendocrine signaling and breast tissue maturation. Such changes may have lasting consequences, including impaired milk production, a weakened milk ejection reflex, disrupted maternal-infant bonding, and reduced overall breastfeeding success. The review synthesizes findings from endocrinology, neuroscience, and …

Fabrication And Evaluation Of Multicomponent Biomimetic Scaffolds For Bone Tissue Engineering, Mozan Osman Hassan

Dissertations

Bones have an inherent ability to remodel, but critical-size defects can hinder regeneration, leading to delayed healing or non-union fractures. Traditional bone grafts have limitations, such as donor site morbidity and immune rejection, driving the need for synthetic bone substitutes. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) addresses this by developing biomimetic scaffolds that replicate bone properties. This research aimed to fabricate composite scaffolds from strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) doped nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp), collagen, and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). Different doping percentages of Sr/Zn (1%, 2.5%, 4%) were used to fabricate the scaffolds using supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) and electrospinning techniques. Scaffolds were then analyzed for …

Developmental Programming Of Normal Versus Metabolically Altered Pancreas In Rat: Effect Of Gestational Diabetes, Sanabil Ali Ahmed

Dissertations

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition characterised by pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and consistently elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia), either due to the inability of the body to produce any or adequate amounts of insulin or the inability of the body to effectively utilise the produced insulin (i.e., insulin resistance). DM can be classified into 3 main types: Type 1 DM (T1DM), Type 2 DM (T2DM), and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). GDM is defined as “hyperglycaemia that is first diagnosed during pregnancy with glucose levels below those considered diagnostic of overt diabetes outside of pregnancy”.

The mature pancreas is a …

Effects Of Adropin On Metabolic Parameters, Oxidative Stress, And Cell Proliferation In Animal Model Of Diabetes Mellitus, Ifrah Ismail Ali

Dissertations

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major health condition that has reached alarming levels, affecting around 537 million of the global adult population. DM is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia with disturbance in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. The proposed therapeutic options for DM are different according to their mechanism of action, and peptide therapy is one of these options. Adropin, a peptide hormone involved in energy homeostasis, has shown promising results in the treatment of diabetes by lowering fasting blood glucose, reducing insulin resistance, and minimizing fat storage. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that adropin is engaged …

The Host Mir-17-92 Cluster Negatively Regulates Mmtv Replication By Targeting Its Genomic Rna Via Mir-92a, Jasmin Baby

Dissertations

The mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a milk-borne infectious agent capable of inducing mammary tumors primarily and to some extent, T-cell leukemias/lymphomas in mice. While MMTV has typically been employed to investigate fundamental processes in breast cancer initiation and progression, very little is known about the virus-host interplay during this process. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are renowned master regulators of the transcriptome that influence key cellular activities, including anti-viral pathways that combat incoming viral infections. A recent study from our group revealed that unlike some retroviruses like bovine leukemia virus (BLV), MMTV does not encode virally-encoded miRNAs (v-miRs); rather, it perturbs …

Investigations Of The Potential Use Of Macrophages In Gastric Stem Cell Activation/Differentiation And Ulcer Healing, Subi Sugathan

Dissertations

Stomach erosions and ulcerations are common health problems, and their therapy requires tissue regeneration. While current therapy for these disorders focuses on targeting parietal cells to inhibit acid secretion, the role of stem cells in the regeneration process is neglected. In this study, the aim is to investigate the potential use of macrophages to activate gastric stem cells in co-culture experiments and in a mouse model of gastric ulcer. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were prepared and cultured in the presence of lipopolysaccharides and interleukin-4 to, respectively, induce their differentiation into pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) macrophages. Polarization of these phenotypes was …

Characterization Of The Long Non-Coding Rna Proins In Human Pancreatic Β-Cell, Shareena Saeed Lootah

Dissertations

It is well established that the genome is pervasively transcribed. Only 2% of those transcripts are translated into proteins, and the remaining 98% are non-translated, generating the non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) species. A close observation of these transcripts directed the scientific community to their increasing potential functional roles in the cells. Indeed, the literature exponentially unveils this notion, with many ncRNAs showing substantial and variable biological functions. The field is in its infancy; however, efforts are accelerating to discover and define this ocean of new species.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are sub-species of ncRNAs with an arbitrary size of more than …

Evaluation Of Neonatal Ankyloglossia, Ellen M. Ray

Dissertations

Problem Ankyloglossia occurs when the tongue cannot extend past the gums or lips due to frenulum restriction. In breast feeding, proper movement of the tongue around the nipple is hindered causing difficulty for the infant to obtain a proper latch. This may result in slow weight gain (SWG), failure to thrive (FTT), and dehydration due to poor milk production. Evaluating for ankyloglossia is difficult, however, the Hazelbaker Ankyloglossia Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function (HATLFF) may be of benefit.

Method Observational descriptive design utilizing a retrospective medical record review. The HATLFF was utilized in full term neonates suspected of ankyloglossia in …

The Influence Of Demographic, Social, And Economic Factors On Referral For Heart Failure Services, Catherine Elaine Kelty

Dissertations

Patients with end-stage advanced heart failure must go through an extensive evaluation process before being selected for either heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device (LVAD). This evaluation not only assesses a patient’s medical need for advanced heart failure treatments but also includes an assessment of psychosocial and economic factors that may affect a patient’s success post-treatment. While it is important to allocate scarce resources, such as donated organs, to the patients who will benefit the most, there is also a need for equity in the allocation of and access to healthcare services. This raises the question of whether patients …

From Young To Old: The Effects Of Sedentary-Aging And Exercise Interventions On Structural Plasticity Of Lumbar Motor Neurons, Nmj, And Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression, Alberto Felipe Cintron-Colon

Dissertations

Neuromuscular weakness has been associated with age progression. A possible reason is a disconnection between muscle and neuron, causing components from both the central and peripheral nervous systems to deteriorate. Exercise, however, has beneficial effects for both muscle and nervous tissue, inducing neuroprotection. Neurotrophic factors are powerful regulators of neuronal maintenance and synaptic strength. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a neurotrophic factor that has been shown to be a potent survival factor for somatic motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscle.

This study aims to evaluate changes in structural plasticity of motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord and …

Characterization Of The Lining Epithelium Of Normal And Precancerous Uterine Cervix In Mice, Reem Mamoun Shouk

Dissertations

Despite the fact that cervical cancer is a common health issue among women worldwide, little is known regarding the epithelial lining of the uterine cervix where cancer originates. Cancer development involves alterations in carbohydrate expression and changes in the dynamics of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to define carbohydrate moieties and cellular dynamics of the epithelial lining of the uterine cervix in normal mice and then in mice developing cervical precancerous lesions. Since the uterus undergoes cyclic changes, mice in each of the four stages of the estrus cycle were first identified using both …

Epigenetic Modifications In Metabolic Syndrome: Identification And Evaluation Of Early Indicators Using A Rodent Model System, Ashok Daniel Pragasam

Dissertations

It is increasingly realized that mechanisms of developmental plasticity rather than pathology independently facilitate the size of developing embryos during early development. Changes in the early developmental environment alter the metabolic traits resulting in diseases, including metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes and obesity in adulthood. Molecular and epidemiological studies have documented an association between Lower Birth Weight (LBW) and increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Henceforth, using birth weight as a marker, two groups of normal birth weight range rat pups, Lower Birth Weight (LBW, 5th to 25th percentile) and Average Birth Weight (ABW, 50th to 75th percentile) as …

Photoreception And Eye Regeneration Mechanisms In Planarians, Taylor R. Birkholz

Dissertations

Although humans lack the ability to regenerate complete organs and limbs following amputation or injury, there are many other species (both vertebrates and invertebrates) that can. Significant advances have been made in understanding the genetic mechanisms that regulate organ regeneration in these species, including regeneration of eye tissues such as the lens and retina. Planarians are an established historical model used to study regeneration due to their ability to regenerate any organ, including the eye. With recent advances in molecular genetic analyses, planarians are now an emerging model for the specific study of eye regeneration mechanisms. Furthermore, regeneration of the …

Biochemical And Biological Effects Of Irisin In A Model Of Diabetes Mellitus, Mohamed Omer Sirelkhatim Mahgoub

Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a highly prevalent health problem affecting more than 425 million people worldwide. It is associated with several detrimental complications such as neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy and cardiovascular diseases. Irisin is a novel hormone that plays a role in metabolism by stimulating the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) into beige adipose tissue which acquires properties that are similar to those of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Several studies have attempted to characterize the roles of irisin in DM and obesity, however, contradictory results have been reported and physiological roles of irisin have been questioned by several researchers. In …

Establishment Of A 3d Culture Model Of Gastric Stem Cells Supporting Their Differentiation Into Mucous Cells Using Microfibrous Polycaprolactone Scaffold, Sunitha Pulikkot

Dissertations

In the stomach, epithelial stem cells are responsible for glandular homeostasis and continuous production of four main cell lineages secreting mucus, acid, pepsinogen and hormones. While alteration in the proliferation and differentiation program of these stem cells is linked to the origin of gastric cancer, they represent an effective target for chemotherapy and a source for cell therapy or tissue engineering in cases of gastric mucosal damage or loss. The aims of this study were 1) to manufacture various forms of scaffolds using a biodegradable polymer (polycaprolactone), 2) to test the suitability of these scaffolds for growth of mouse gastric …

Effect Of Doping On Β-Tricalcium Phosphate Bioresorbable Bulk Material And Thin Film Coatings, Suhaila Abdalla

Dissertations

Magnesium has emerged as a revolutionary biodegradable metal for use as an orthopedic material, it has several advantages over the permanent metallic materials currently in use, including eliminating the effects of stress shielding, improving biocompatibility and degradation properties, thus removing the requirement of a second surgery for implant removal. Due to the rapid degradation of magnesium, it is necessary to control the corrosion rates of the materials to match the rates of bone healing. This dissertation reports on the effect of doping on the properties of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). It also reports on its application as a thin film coating …

Assessment Of Neck And Shoulder Muscle Coactivations And The Effect On The Musculoskeletal System, Regina Derria Pope-Ford

Dissertations

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) constitute one of the most important occupational health issues in healthcare workers who are susceptible to upper extremity disorders. Yet MSDs in the healthcare professions have not been studied extensively beyond the lower back. The focus population for this research is the field of dentistry where neck and shoulder disorders have been documented to have a high prevalence. Though quantitative data has been collected, many prior studies have focused on self-reported information. The goal of this research is to provide insight into the inter-relationship of muscles in the upper extremities. One way to accomplish this is to …

An Evaluation Of Cells Recruited To Ectopically Implanted Bone Matrix, Janel Dvonch Kelly

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Anatomical And Neurochemical Organization Of Medullary And Parabrachial Efferents To The Amygdala In The Rat, Andrea M. Zardetto-Smith

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No abstract provided.

Ultrastructural And Invasive Characteristics Of Murine B16a Melanoma Cells: An In Vitro And In Vivo Study, Terence William Mcgarvey

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No abstract provided.

A Study Of Corticospinal Tract Remodelling In Adult Rats That Sustained Unilateral Cortical Ablation At Birth, Blesilda Reinoso

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No abstract provided.

An Anatomical, Electrophysiological, And Behavioral Study Of The Effects Of Partial Mid-Thoracic Spinal Cord Lesions On Neonatal And Adult Rats, Michael F. Dauzvardis

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Parabrachial Nucleus In The Rat: An Immunhistochemical Study Of Its Forebrain Neural Input, Margaret M. Moga

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No abstract provided.

Cartilage Matrix Calcification As A Determinant Of Perivascular Cell Populations In Cartilage Canals Of Developing Epiphysis: Identification Of Cell Types Using Morphological And Cytochemical Criteria, Ada A. Cole

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No abstract provided.

A Functional, Morphological And Histochemical Characterization Of Cells Adjacent To Ectopic Bone Implants, Linda M. Walters

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No abstract provided.

An Anatomical And Physiological Investigation Of The Infralimbic Region Of The Rat Medial Frontal Cortex, Robert T. Terreberry

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No abstract provided.

The Neuroanatomical Connections And Somatotopic Organization Of The Posterior Nuclear Complex Of The Rat Thalamus, E. Luke Bold

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No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Forelimb Motor Cortical Projections After Neonatal Hemicerebellectomy In Rats, Daniel L. O'Donoghue

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No abstract provided.

An Investigation Into The Cellular And Humoral Organization Of The Thymic Microenvironment, Howard R. Higley

Dissertations

No abstract provided.