Anatomy Commons^™

Therapeutic Modalities Targeting Neuroinflammation After Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia, Nancy Fathali

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) occurs in 1-6/1000 live full-term births (Shankaran, 2009). Of those affected, 15-20% will die in the postnatal period, and 25% of survivors will be left with long-term neurological disabilities (Gunn, 2000; Vannucci, 1997; Fatemi, 2009). It has become increasingly clear that peripheral immune cells infiltrate the brain parenchyma as part of the physiological response to tissue damage after HI injury. The interplay between infiltrating immune cells and brain resident cells during the inflammatory response is however dynamic and complex; in that neuro-immune crosstalk, by way of specific molecular mediators, is responsible for both neurodestructive as well as neuroprotective …

Fetal Programming By Nicotine Increases Cardiac Susceptibility To Ischemic Injury, Jennifer Charlotte Alexie Lawrence

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Fetal programming is the area of study that focuses on the prenatal origins of adult onset disorders. Previous studies have associated an adverse prenatal environment with the onset of physiologic and metabolic diseases during adulthood. Fetal malnutrition, hypoxia, and exposure to drugs - such as cocaine and nicotine - have been associated with adult disease states. Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the developed world. Among the many dangerous chemicals found in tobacco products is nicotine, the compound responsible for the addictive nature of tobacco use. Nicotine use during pregnancy is a known cause of …

Initial Experience With A Miniaturized Multiplane Transesophageal Probe In Small Infants Undergoing Cardiac Operations., Sinai C. Zyblewski, Girish S. Shirali, Geoffrey A. Forbus, Tain-Yen Hsia, Scott M. Bradley, Andrew M. Atz, Meryl S. Cohen, Eric M. Graham

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

PURPOSE: There has been reluctance to use intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in small infants. We assessed the utility and safety of a new miniaturized multiplane micro-TEE probe in small infants undergoing cardiac operations.

DESCRIPTION: Hemodynamic and ventilation variables were prospectively recorded before and after micro-TEE insertion and removal in infants weighing 5 kg or less undergoing cardiac operations.

EVALUATION: The study included 42 patients with a mean weight of 3.6 +/- 0.9 kg (range, 1.7 to 5 kg). All probe insertions were successful. There were no complications or clinically significant changes in hemodynamic or ventilation variables. Information provided by TEE …

Prostaglandin E(2) Is Crucial In The Response Of Podocytes To Fluid Flow Shear Stress., Tarak Srivastava, Ellen T. Mccarthy, Ram Sharma, Patricia A. Cudmore, Mukut Sharma, Mark L. Johnson, Lynda F. Bonewald

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Podocytes play a key role in maintaining and modulating the filtration barrier of the glomerulus. Because of their location, podocytes are exposed to mechanical strain in the form of fluid flow shear stress (FFSS). Several human diseases are characterized by glomerular hyperfiltration, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The response of podocytes to FFSS at physiological or pathological levels is not known. We exposed cultured podocytes to FFSS, and studied changes in actin cytoskeleton, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production and expression of cyclooxygenase-1 and-2 (COX-1, COX-2). FFSS caused a reduction in transversal F-actin stress filaments and the appearance of cortical actin …

Estimated Birth Weight And Adult Cardiovascular Risk Factors In A Developing Southern Chinese Population: A Cross Sectional Study, C. Mary Schooling, C. Q. Jiang, T. H. Lam, B. J. Cowling, S. L. Yeung, W. S. Zhang, K. K. Cheng, G. M. Leung

Publications and Research

Background: Birth weight is negatively associated with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, but the associations are less well-established in developing populations where birth weight is often unavailable. We studied the association of birth weight and cardiovascular risk, using birth rank as an instrumental variable, in Southern China.

Methods: We used published data on birth weight by birth rank from an appropriate population and baseline data from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study phases 2 & 3 (2005-8) to examine the adjusted associations, using instrumental variable analysis, of birth weight with clinically measured cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome in older …

Spinal Cord Injury: Exploring The Histology Of Electrospun Implants In Vivo, Charles Lin

Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injury results in loss of motor function and sensory perception. A myriad of obstacles prevent axonal regeneration and ultimately functional recovery in those afflicted with spinal cord injury. Combinatorial strategies addressing many of these obstacles simultaneously have shown promising results. Laboratories investigating contusional spinal cord injuries must overcome the formation of a fluid filled cyst, a physical gap that axons must traverse, at the injury epicenter. To fill the cyst, our lab has generated a 3-D electrospun matrix that is capable of directing neurite outgrowth, delivering neurotrophic support, and reducing the activity of neuroinhibitory compounds. These electrospun matrices …

Characterizing Purkinje Cell Responses And Cerebellar Influence On Fluid Licking In The Mouse, Jeri Lonece Bryant

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Rodents consume water by performing stereotypical, rhythmic licking movements which are believed to be driven by central pattern generating circuits located in the brainstem. Temporal aspects of rhythmic licking behavior have been shown to be represented in the olivo-cerebellar system in the form of population complex spike activity. These findings suggest that the olivo-cerebellar system is involved in the generating circuitry responsible for licking rhythm in rodents. However, the representation of licking in the simple spike activity of Purkinje cells and the consequences of loss of cerebellar function on licking behavior has not been quantified. I investigated the influence of …

Focal Adhesion Kinase, A Major Regulator Of Oligodendrocyte Morphological Maturation And Myelination, Audrey Lafrenaye

Theses and Dissertations

The formation of the myelin sheath is a crucial step during development because it enables fast and efficient propagation of signals within the limited space of the mammalian central nervous system. During the process of myelination, oligodendrocytes actively interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM). These interactions are considered crucial for proper and timely completion of the myelin sheath. However, the exact regulatory circuits involved in the signaling events that occur between the ECM and oligodendrocytes are currently not fully understood. Therefore, in this dissertation we investigated the role of a known integrator of cell-ECM signaling, namely, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), …

Optimal Bone Strength And Mineralization Requires The Type 2 Iodothyronine Deiodinase In Osteoblasts, J. H. D. Bassett, Alan Boyde, Peter G. T. Howell, Richard H. Bassett, Thomas M. Galliford, Marta Archanco, Holly Evans, Michelle A. Lawson, Peter Croucher, Donald L. St. Germain, Valerie A. Galton, Graham R. Williams

Dartmouth Scholarship

Hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis are each associated with an increased risk of fracture. Although thyroxine (T4) is the predominant circulating thyroid hormone, target cell responses are determined by local intracellular availability of the active hormone 3,5,3'-L-triiodothyronine (T3), which is generated from T4 by the type 2 deiodinase enzyme (D2). To investigate the role of locally produced T3 in bone, we characterized mice deficient in D2 (D2KO) in which the serum T3 level is normal. Bones from adult D2KO mice have reduced toughness and are brittle, displaying an increased susceptibility to fracture. This phenotype is characterized by a 50% reduction in bone …

Your Attention Please: Increasing Ambient Noise Levels Elicits A Change In Communication Behaviour In Humpback Whales (Megaptera Novaeangliae), Rebecca A. Dunlop, Douglas H. Cato, Michael J. Noad

Bioacoustics Collection

High background noise is an important obstacle in successful signal detection and perception of an intended acoustic signal. To overcome this problem, many animals modify their acoustic signal by increasing the repetition rate, duration, amplitude or frequency range of the signal. An alternative method to ensure successful signal reception, yet to be tested in animals, involves the use of two different types of signal, where one signal type may enhance the other in periods of high background noise. Humpback whale communication signals comprise two different types: vocal signals, and surface-generated signals such as ‘breaching’ or ‘pectoral slapping’. We found that …

Perifosine, A Novel Akt Inhibitor Induces Apoptosis, Cell Cycle Arrest And Has A Chemo-Sensitizing Effect In Medulloblastoma Cell Lines, Anil Kumar

Theses and Dissertations

Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid tumors found in children. While surgery and radiotherapy still remain the standard treatment modalities in pediatric brain tumors, chemotherapy also has an important part in the management of these tumors. However, most of the available chemotherapeutic drugs have suboptimal effectiveness. Deregulation of various pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic pathways has been cited as a major mechanism underlying this drug resistance. The role of various serine threonine kinases, including Akt kinases, in promoting drug resistance is being extensively studied in various cancers. A complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie drug …

Dysautonomia Due To Reduced Cholinergic Neurotransmission Causes Cardiac Remodeling And Heart Failure, Aline Lara, Denis D. Damasceno, Rita Pires, Robert Gros, Eneas R. Gomes, Mariana Gavioli, Ricardo F. Lima, Diogo Guimaraes, Patricia Lima, Carlos Roberto Bueno Jr., Anilton Vasconcelos, Danilo Roman-Campos, Cristiane A. S. Menezes, Raquel A. Sirvente, Vera M. Salemi, Charles Mady, Marc G. Caron, Anderson J. Ferreira, Patricia C. Brum, Rodrigo R. Resende, Jader S. Cruz, Marcus Vinicius Gomez, Vania F. Prado, Alvair P. De Almeida, Marco A. M. Prado, Silvia Guatimosim

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Overwhelming evidence supports the importance of the sympathetic nervous system in heart failure. In contrast, much less is known about the role of failing cholinergic neurotransmission in cardiac disease. By using a unique genetically modified mouse line with reduced expression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and consequently decreased release of acetylcholine, we investigated the consequences of altered cholinergic tone for cardiac function. M-mode echocardiography, hemodynamic experiments, analysis of isolated perfused hearts, and measurements of cardiomyocyte contraction indicated that VAChT mutant mice have decreased left ventricle function associated with altered calcium handling. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase …

Patient Centered Care Approach To Adherence With Cardiovascular Medications: Self-Determination Theory Integration, David S. Li

Health Services Research Dissertations

Problem statement. Behavioral intervention is used to improve adherence with medication in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the effect was not sustainable. Patient-centered care (PCC) as a consumer movement has gained acceptance, but it lacks a theoretical framework. Self-determination theory (SDT) may provide an alternative to improve patients' adherence to chronic cardiovascular medication, as well as a theoretical framework for PCC. Both approaches to CVD management have not been evaluated.

Methods. The study was a quasi-experimental pretest posttest comparison design with consecutive sampling of a hospitalized cardiac patient population. Sixty patients each for the usual care (UC) …

Stuck Together: Searching For A Model Of Peritoneal Adhesions Using The August Rat, James W. Bathe

Honors Theses

Fibrous adhesions, a by-product of the healing process, often appear post-surgically as a result of peritonitis related to the surgery. These adhesions can be either primarily "scar tissue" or excess "healthy tissue," and are the leading cause of intestinal obstruction in modern medicine. Shockingly, adhesions occur in up to 96% of patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery. Adhesions can lead to multiple complications other than obstructions such as inadvertent enterotomy at the time of adhesiolysis, chronic pain, and female infertility. Additional complications arise from the adhesions preventing the free movement of organs and causing strangulations. The causes of the peritonitis, and therefore …

The Influences Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Expression On Glioblastoma Pathology, Nicholas Pullen

Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive central nervous system (CNS) cancer characterized by enhanced tumor cell motility, pernicious invasion into the normal brain, extensive tumor-induced angiogenesis, and adaptive resistance to current therapeutic paradigms. One of the difficulties associated with GBM is the ability of the tumor cells to infiltrate normal CNS tissue. Neurosurgeons can remove the primary tumor mass, but peripheral cells that are inaccessible will ultimately result in a secondary lesion that can lead to death. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are well known for their abilities to facilitate processes of cellular motility and invasion through their clearance of extracellular …

Neuropilin 1 Directly Interacts With Fer Kinase To Mediate Semaphorin3a-Induced Death Of Cortical Neurons, Susan X. Jiang, Shawn N. Whitehead, Amy Aylsworth, Bogdan Zurakowski, Kenneth Chan, Jianjun Li, Sheng T. Hou

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Neuropilins (NRPs) are receptors for the major chemorepulsive axonal guidance cue semaphorins (Sema). The interaction of Sema3A/NRP1 during development leads to the collapse of growth cones. Here we show that Sema3A also induces death of cultured cortical neurons through NRP1. A specific NRP1 inhibitory peptide ameliorated Sema3A-evoked cortical axonal retraction and neuronal death. Moreover, Sema3A was also involved in cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal death. Expression levels of Sema3A and NRP1, but not NRP2, were significantly increased early during brain reperfusion following transient focal cerebral ischemia. NRP1 inhibitory peptide delivered to the ischemic brain was potently neuroprotective and prevented the loss of …

Dopamine Neuron Stimulating Actions Of A Gdnf Propeptide, Luke H. Bradley, Josh Fuqua, April Richardson, Jadwiga Turchan-Cholewo, Yi Ai, Kristen A. Kelps, John D. Glass, Xiuquan He, Zhiming Zhang, Richard Grondin, O. Meagan Littrell, Peter Huettl, Francois Pomerleau, Don M. Gash, Greg A. Gerhardt

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Neurotrophic factors, such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), have shown great promise for protection and restoration of damaged or dying dopamine neurons in animal models and in some Parkinson's disease (PD) clinical trials. However, the delivery of neurotrophic factors to the brain is difficult due to their large size and poor bio-distribution. In addition, developing more efficacious trophic factors is hampered by the difficulty of synthesis and structural modification. Small molecules with neurotrophic actions that are easy to synthesize and modify to improve bioavailability are needed.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: Here we present the neurobiological actions of dopamine …

Hair Whorls In The Dog (Canis Familiaris), Part Ii: Asymmetries, Lisa M. Tomkins, Paul Mcgreevy

Anatomy Collection

In horses and cattle, hair whorls have been shown to act as a structural marker of reactivity and behavioral lateralization. Few studies on canine whorls have been reported and none have assessed whorl position or direction of flow. This study describes the distribution and characteristics of whorl in each of 10 regions in which whorls are typically located in dogs. Hair whorls were assessed in dogs (n = 120) and were recorded as clockwise or counterclockwise in the cephalic, cervical (dorsal, lateral, ventral), thoracic and brachial axillary, chest, shoulders, elbows, abdominal, and ischiatic regions. Bilateral whorls, including brachial axillary, elbow, …

Pressure Distribution Over The Palm During Falls On The Outstretched Hands, Woochol J. Choi, Stephen N. Robinovitch

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

"Over 90% of wrist fractures are caused by falls on the outstretched hands (Palvanen et al., Osteoporos Int, 2000). Along with bone strength, fracture risk depends on the magnitude and distribution of force to soft and hard tissues during impact. In the current study, we examined how pressure distribution over the palm during a fall is affected by impact configuration, body mass index (BMI), palmer soft tissue thickness, and a 5 mm thick foam pad (simulating a protective glove)."

Hair Whorls In The Dog (Canisfamiliaris). I. Distribution, Lisa M. Tomkins, Paul Mcgreevy

Anatomy Collection

Hair whorl characteristics were assessed in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) in the regions of cephalic, cervical (dorsal, ventral, and lateral), thoracic and brachial axillary regions, the chest, shoulders, elbows, ventral abdominal region, and on the caudal thighs (ischiatic). They were classified as simple or tufted, and their position was recorded as the distance between their centers and bony landmarks within each region. The distribution of whorls was explored in a cohort of domestic dogs (N = 120) comprising a variety of breeds and cross‐breeds, sourced from shelters (N = 60) and the general public (N = 60). …

Partial And Transitional Atrioventricular Septal Defect Outcomes., L Luann Minich, Andrew M. Atz, Steven D. Colan, Lynn A. Sleeper, Seema Mital, James Jaggers, Renee Margossian, Ashwin Prakash, Jennifer S. Li, Meryl S. Cohen, Ronald V. Lacro, Gloria L. Klein, John A. Hawkins, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators, Girish S. Shirali

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Surgical and perioperative improvements permit earlier repair of partial and transitional atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD). We sought to describe contemporary outcomes in a multicenter cohort.

METHODS: We studied 87 patients undergoing primary biventricular repair of partial or transitional AVSD between June 2004 and February 2006 across seven North American centers. One-month and 6-month postoperative data included weight-for-age z-scores, left atrioventricular valve regurgitation (LAVVR) grade, residual shunts, and left ventricular ejection fraction. Paired methods were used to assess 6-month change.

RESULTS: Median age at surgery was 1.8 years; median weight z-score was -0.88. Median days for ventilation were 1, intensive …

Crystal Structure Of The Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Inhibitory Factor Cif Reveals Novel Active-Site Features Of An Epoxide Hydrolase Virulence Factor, Christopher D. Bahl, Christophe Morisseau, Jennifer M. Bomberger, Bruce A. Stanton, Bruce D. Hammock, George A. O'Toole, Dean R. Madden

Dartmouth Scholarship

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) inhibitory factor (Cif) is a virulence factor secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa that reduces the quantity of CFTR in the apical membrane of human airway epithelial cells. Initial sequence analysis suggested that Cif is an epoxide hydrolase (EH), but its sequence violates two strictly conserved EH motifs and also is compatible with other alpha/beta hydrolase family members with diverse substrate specificities. To investigate the mechanistic basis of Cif activity, we have determined its structure at 1.8-A resolution by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic triad consists of residues Asp129, His297, and Glu153, which are conserved across the …

Progressive Changes In Microglia And Macrophages In Spinal Cord And Peripheral Nerve In The Transgenic Rat Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, David J. Graber, William F. Hickey, Brent T. Harris

Dartmouth Scholarship

The role of neuroinflammation in motor neuron death of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unclear. The human mutant superoxide dismutase-1 (hmSOD1)-expressing murine transgenic model of ALS has provided some insight into changes in microglia activity during disease progression. The purpose of this study was to gain further knowledge by characterizing the immunological changes during disease progression in the spinal cord and peripheral nerve using the more recently developed hmSOD1 rat transgenic model of ALS. Using immunohistochemistry, the extent and intensity of tissue CD11b expression in spinal cord, lumbar nerve roots, and sciatic nerve were evaluated in hmSOD1 rats that were …

The Nerve Cells Of The Retina, Penina Winkler

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The visual pathway in the retina consists of a chain of different nerve cells. Light first travels through all the layers until it reaches the photoreceptor layer, the rod and cone layer. Rods and cones use photopigments, which contain opsin and a chromophore, to help them convert light into energy. This energy is then passed on to the horizontal and bipolar cells. Horizontal cells prevent the hyperpolarization of peripheral rods and cones if needed, and they receive color-coded signals from cones that they then continue along the optic pathway. Bipolar cells can be divided into rod bipolar cells and cone …

The Power Of Empowerment: An Icf-Based Model To Improve Self-Efficacy And Upper Extremity Function Of Survivors Of Breast Cancer, Mary Insana Fisher, Dana Howell

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among women. Breast cancer treatments often negatively impact the function of the arm, and quality of life and upper extremity function does not always return to a prediagnosis level. Survivors of breast cancer may also experience feelings of diminished self-efficacy related to functional deficits resulting from their physical limitations. The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) provides a framework for rehabilitation practitioners to address physical and psychological impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Patient outcomes may be improved by fostering self-efficacy through empowerment. This paper explores how the ICF model and …

Sputum Neutrophils As A Biomarker In Copd: Findings From The Eclipse Study, Dave Singh, Lisa Edwards, Ruth Tal-Singer, Stephen I. Rennard

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

INTRODUCTION: The percentage of neutrophils in sputum are increased in COPD patients, and may therefore be a biomarker of airway inflammation. We studied the relationships between sputum neutrophils and FEV1, health status, exacerbation rates, systemic inflammation and emphysema, and long term variability at 1 year.

METHODS: Sputum samples were obtained from 488 COPD patients within the ECLIPSE cohort. 359 samples were obtained at baseline, and 297 after 1 year. 168 subjects provided samples at both visits. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, surfactant protein D and C-reactive protein levels were measured by immunoassays. Low-dose CT scans evaluated emphysema.

RESULTS: Sputum neutrophil % …

Cardiac Tissue Regeneration - The Use Of Stem Cells, Chavy Friedlander

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is the introduction to the article: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of illness and fatality. Diseases such as coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and subsequent congestive heart failure pose a serious problem to much of the population in the Unites States and all over the world. The heart’s compromised function that results from the above conditions is so influential as the heart has little capacity to repair its lost tissue; once the cardiac myocytes are destroyed its effects are amplified by a drastic decrease in cardiac function. Until recently with the advent of stem cell technology, researchers …

Reduced Expression Of Mir15a In The Blood Of Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Is Associated With Tumor Staging, Joao Artur Ricieri Brito, Carolina Cavalieri Gomes, Flavio Juliano Garcia Santos Pimenta, Alvimar Afonso Barbosa, Marco A. M. Prado, Vania F. Prado, Marcus Vinicius Gomez, Ricardo Santiago Gomez

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) mirl 5a and let7a are iMportant regulators of bcl-2, ras and c-myc proteins Considering that these miRNAs are commonly altered in many human cancers and that these proteins are reported to be altered in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we investigated them in a set of OSCC cases 'I he miRNAs as well as the proteins were evaluated in the tumor and blood of 20 patients by real-time quantitative PCR and iMmunohistochemistry, respectively The expression of nfirl5a and bcl-2 proteins in the tumors was not associated with each other or with tumor staging On the other hand, we …

Variables Predictive Of Outcome In Patients With Acute Hypercapneic Respiratory Failure Treated With Noninvasive Ventilatio, Nawal Salahuddin, Muhammad Irfan, Shereen Khan, Muhammad Naeem, Ahmad Suleman Haque, Shahid Javed Husain, Nisar Ahmed Rao, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi, Javaid Khan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

OBJECTIVE: To assess results with NIV in acute hypercapneic respiratory failure and to identify outcome predictors.

METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study on consecutive patients presenting with acute type II respiratory failure and meeting criteria for NIV use over a 5 year period. Patients presenting with haemodynamic instability, inability to protect their airway, malignant arrhythmias and recent oesophageal surgery were excluded. Univariate and Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the impact on survival. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Software used was SPSS 14.

RESULTS: Total numbers of patients included were 119; 52.9% were males. Mean age was 63.4 +/- 11.9 years. Overall Survival to …

Chemosensitization Of Cancer Cells By Sirna Using Targeted Nanogel Delivery, Erin B. Dickerson, William H. Blackburn, Michael H. Smith, Laura B. Kapa, L. Andrew Lyon, John F. Mcdonald

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Chemoresistance is a major obstacle in cancer treatment. Targeted therapies that enhance cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents have the potential to increase drug efficacy while reducing toxic effects on untargeted cells. Targeted cancer therapy by RNA interference (RNAi) is a relatively new approach that can be used to reversibly silence genes in vivo by selectively targeting genes such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which has been shown to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to taxane chemotherapy. However, delivery represents the main hurdle for the broad development of RNAi therapeutics.

Methods: We report here …