Chemicals and Drugs Commons^™

Bard1: A Friend Or Foe In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma?, Lily Zekavat, Aditi Jain

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive solid malignancy with poor overall prognosis and limited response to standard treatments. Growing interest in the modulation of DNA repair mechanisms, including the homologous recombination (HR) repair pathway, has opened new avenues for therapeutic development. BARD1 (BRCA1-Associated RING Domain 1) plays a complex role in tumor biology, functioning either as a tumor suppressor or as an oncogenic driver, depending on isoform expression, cellular context, and regulatory environment. In this review, we examine the dual roles of BARD1, focusing on its regulation and paradoxical activities in PDAC. We summarize evidence that BARD1 and BARD1 …

Distinct Transcriptional Regulation Of The Wnt And Tgfβ Signaling Families Associated With Wound Healing And Fibrotic Outcomes To Lens Injury, Catherine Lalman, Kylie R. Stabler, Joshua Disatham, Lisa A. Brennan, Marc Kantorow, Janice L. Walker

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a fibrotic complication of cataract surgery caused by aberrant repair of residual lens cells. It remains unclear how the lens injury response shifts toward a pathological repair process. Here, we performed a transcriptional analysis of two major pro-fibrotic pathways, the TGF-β superfamily and Wnt signaling pathways to determine how they are differentially regulated during regenerative wound healing versus fibrosis in a lens injury model. For these studies, RNA sequencing was performed on an ex vivo lens explant system that models post-surgical healing within regenerative and fibrotic microenvironments, from 0 to 3 days post-injury. Fibrotic conditions …

Synthesis, Pharmacokinetic Studies, And Metabolite Analysis Of Meridianin C In Rats Using A Validated Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method, Liangyu Xu, Zhaogen Wu, Karna Ramachandraiah, Guihun Jiang, Guozhe Zhang

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Introduction: Meridianin C (MC) is a marine-derived indole alkaloid that has demonstrated kinase inhibitory and anti-tumor activities. Despite its diverse biological properties, no previous reports have systematically evaluated the in vivo quantitative analysis of MC and its metabolites. Methods: In this study, MC was synthesized following a previously reported procedure with slight modifications. A sensitive, accurate, and reliable ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously detect MC and its five major metabolites (MC-1-N-O-GluA, MC-1-N-O-SO3H, MC-2′-N-O-GluA, MC-2′-N-O-SO3H, and MC-O-GluA-didehydration) in rat plasma. Rats received a single oral dose of MC (100 mg/kg), and pharmacokinetic analysis was …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

Effectiveness Of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists In The Treatment Of Heart Failure, Lisa Kristen Schloemann

SIU Journal of Medical Science Scholarly Works

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to review the use of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) in heart failure (HF) treatment considering the HF phenotype and comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity.

Method: A PubMed and Google Scholar literature search was conducted with search terms, HF and GLP-1 RA. Seven pertinent articles were retrieved and served as the basis for this clinical review.

Results: The efficacy of GLP-1 RA therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fractions (HFrEF) is unclear, with one study showing increased adverse cardiac events including tachyarrhythmias, and …

Current Mechanobiological Pathways And Therapies Driving Spinal Health, Rahul Kumar, Kyle Sporn, Harlene Kaur, Akshay Khanna, Phani Paladugu, Nasif Zaman, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Spinal health depends on the dynamic interplay between mechanical forces, biochemical signaling, and cellular behavior. This review explores how key molecular pathways, including integrin, yeas-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), Piezo, and Wingless/Integrated (Wnt) with β-catenin, actively shape the structural and functional integrity of spinal tissues. These signaling mechanisms respond to physical cues and interact with inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), driving changes that lead to disc degeneration, vertebral fractures, spinal cord injury, and ligament failure. New research is emerging that shows scaffold designs that can …

Silvestrol Inhibits Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells And Synergizes With Cx‑5461: Insights From A Proteomics Study, Maelinda Daker, Munirah Ahmad, Alan Khoo, Lu Ping Tan, Siok-Fong Chin, Siaw San Hwang, Paul Neilsen

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a cancer arising from the epithelial cells of the nasopharynx, which is rare in Western countries but extremely prevalent in Borneo and the Southern China region. Present-day hurdles in NPC treatment that lead to poor quality of life and poor survival include distant metastasis and resistance to chemoradiotherapy. Silvestrol and its 5'''-epimer, episilvestrol, are compounds isolated from the plant Aglaia stellatopilosa, which is endemic to Borneo. Silvestrol, a protein synthesis inhibitor, preferentially inhibits the translation of cancer-associated mRNAs. CX-5461 is an inhibitor of RNA polymerase I that catalyzes rRNA synthesis. The present study sought to …

Dietary Protein’S Effect On The Gut Microbiome And Its Metabolites: Protocol Description And Virtual Recruitment Efforts For A Remote Randomized Controlled Trial, Karyn M. Gallivan, Kristin S. Ondrak, Denise M. Danos, Meng Luo, Christopher M. Taylor, Lauren E. Meyer, Ann M. Byerley, Alexander W. Nguyen, Sabyasachi Chatterjee, Jiri Adamec, Lauri O. Byerley

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Fiber’s effect on our gut microbes has been studied extensively, while knowledge of the effect of protein is sparse. Colonic putrefaction of dietary protein is known to produce several potentially detrimental compounds. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) uses a pre- and post-study design to investigate the effect of consuming higher levels of dietary protein on the gut microbiota and the metabolites it produces. Here, we describe our virtual recruitment efforts and RCT protocol. Potential participants lived throughout the contiguous US. Several recruitment methods were employed, of which email reached the largest group of people (approximately 9,100) and generated a 0.3% …

Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte, Monocyte-To-Lymphocyte, And Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio In Acute Hospitalized Patients With Schizophrenia, Apichan Dangrungroj, Mayteewat Chiddaycha

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: Schizophrenia has been increasingly linked to inflammation. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have emerged as potential indicators of systemic inflammation.

Objectives: The objectives are to compare NLR, MLR, and PLR between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls, and to investigate the factors associated with NLR. Methods: This retrospective study included 102 sex- and age-matched patients hospitalized with schizophrenia and control subjects. NLR, MLR, and PLR were calculated from the Complete Blood Count (CBC) results and compared between groups. Sociodemographic data and clinical characteristics were analyzed using multiple linear regression to identify …

Hydrogen Sulfide Deficiency And Therapeutic Targeting In Cardiometabolic Hfpef: Evidence For Synergistic Benefit With Glp-1/Glucagon Agonism, Jake E. Doiron, Mahmoud H. Elbatreek, Huijing Xia, Xiaoman Yu, Natalie D. Gehred, Tatiana Gromova, Jingshu Chen, Ian H. Driver, Naoto Muraoka, Martin Jensen, Smitha Shambhu, W. H.Wilson Tang, Kyle B. Lapenna, Thomas E. Sharp, Traci T. Goodchild, Ming Xian, Shi Xu, Heather Quiriarte, Timothy D. Allerton, Alexia Zagouras, Jennifer Wilcox, Sanjiv J. Shah, Josef Pfeilschifter, Karl Friedrich Beck, Thomas M. Vondriska, Zhen Li, David J. Lefer

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) presents significant treatment challenges. We assessed hydrogen sulfide (H2S) bioavailability in HFpEF patients and 2 animal models: the "2-hit" L-NAME + high-fat diet mouse model and ZSF1 obese rats. H2S levels were significantly reduced in patients and both models, linked to decreased cystathionine-γ-lyase expression and increased sulfide quinone oxidoreductase. Cystathionine-γ-lyase knockout worsened HFpEF, whereas pharmacological supplementation with an H2S donor improved diastolic function and reduced cardiac fibrosis. H2S supplement synergized with GLP-1/glucagon agonist and ameliorated HFpEF. These findings suggest that enhancing H2S bioavailability may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for HFpEF.

Upregulating Ankhd1 In Ps19 Mice Reduces Tau Phosphorylation And Mitigates Tau Toxicity-Induced Cognitive Deficits, Xiaolin Tian, Nathan Le, Yuhai Zhao, Dina Alawamleh, Andrew Schwartz, Lauren Meyer, Elizabeth Helm, Chunlai Wu

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Using the fly eye as a model system, we previously demonstrated that upregulation of the fly gene mask protects against FUS- and Tau-induced photoreceptor degeneration. Building upon this finding, we investigated whether the protective role of mask is conserved in mammals. To this end, we generated a transgenic mouse line carrying Cre-inducible ANKHD1, the human homolog of mask. Utilizing the TauP301S-PS19 mouse model for Tau-related dementia, we found that expressing ANKHD1 driven by CamK2a-Cre reduced hyperphosphorylated human Tau in 6-month-old mice. Additionally, ANKHD1 expression was associated with a trend toward reduced gliosis and preservation of the presynaptic marker Synaptophysin, suggesting …

Templating Of Monomeric Alpha-Synuclein Results In Inflammation And Snpc Dopamine Neuron Death In A Genetic Mouse Model Of Induced Synucleinopathy, Matthew D. Byrne, Peyman Petramfar, Jae-Kyung Lee, Richard J. Smeyne

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

While the etiology of most cases of Parkinson's disease (PD) are idiopathic, it has been estimated that 5-10% of PD arise from known genetic mutations. The first mutations described that leads to the development of an autosomal dominant form of PD are in the SNCA gene that codes for the protein alpha-synuclein (α-syn). α-syn is an abundant presynaptic protein that is natively disordered and whose function is still unclear. In PD, α-syn misfolds into multimeric b-pleated sheets that aggregate in neurons (Lewy Bodies/neurites) and spread throughout the neuraxis in a pattern that aligns with disease progression. Here, using IHC, HC, …

The Effect Of Tranexamic Acid On Blood Coagulation In Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Using Rotational Thromboelastometry: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Uzung Yoon, David Beausang, Elia Elia, Marc Torjman, Jeffrey Mojica, James J. Purtill, David Nazarian, P. Maxwell Courtney, Yoogoo Kang

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Tranexamic acid (TXA), is commonly administered prophylactically to reduce blood loss in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, its effect has never been studied. We hypothesized that no difference exists in the degree of fibrinolysis and blood loss between patients receiving prophylactic TXA and placebo.

METHODS: This double-blinded randomized-controlled trial included 50 patients undergoing primary THA in 2021-2023. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03897621). Rotational-thromboelastometry (ROTEM) were performed to test blood coagulability using non citrated whole blood (NATEM) and blood treated with TXA (T-APTEM). The intervention group received TXA intravenously. The placebo group received 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The primary outcome measure …

Novel Piperidone And Bispidine Derivatives: A New Approach In Cancer Therapy, Lereen Khaled Youssry

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. As a result, scientists have been trying to find novel therapeutic approaches that target specific metabolic pathways selective to tumor cells. In this study, two novel piperidone and bispidine derivatives, organic molecules that target polyamine metabolism, were synthesized, and their potential cytotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were investigated. Polyamines are naturally occurring metabolites that were reported to be in excess at cancer cells and were accounted for tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Accordingly, the novel piperidone and bispidine derivatives were expected to disrupt tumor growth and progression via up-regulation of key …

First-In-Human Phase I Open-Label Study Of The Anti-Tim-3 Monoclonal Antibody Incagn02390 In Patients With Select Advanced Or Metastatic Solid Tumors, Martin E. Gutierrez, Shou Ching Tang, John D. Powderly, Ani S. Balmanoukian, Paul E. Hoyle, Zhiwan Dong, Lulu Cheng, Xiaohua Gong, John E. Janik, Nawel Bourayou, Omid Hamid

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein-3 (TIM-3) is an immune checkpoint receptor upregulated during anti-programmed death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy for cancer. TIM-3 blockade may improve the antitumor activity of PD-1/PD-L1inhibition. This phase 1 study evaluated INCAGN02390, a novel, fully human Fc-engineered antibody against TIM-3. Methods INCAGN02390 was evaluated by dose escalation at 10-1600 mg infused in 14-day cycles (every 2 weeks [Q2W]) in pretreated patients with select advanced/metastatic immunogenic solid tumors. Objectives included evaluation of safety/tolerability and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) (primary), pharmacokinetics, preliminary antitumor activity, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity (secondary). Results Forty patients were enrolled and …

An Integrative Genomics Approach For The Discovery Of Potential Clinically Actionable Diagnostic And Prognostic Biomarkers In Colorectal Cancer, Mark Fertel, Duaa Mohammad Alawad, Chindo Hicks

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Despite remarkable progress in clinical management of patients and intensified screening, colorectal cancer remains the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States. The recent surge of next generation sequencing has enabled genomic analysis of colorectal cancer genomes. However, to date, there is little information about leveraging gene expression data and integrating it with somatic mutation information to discover potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Here, we integrated gene expression data with somatic mutation information to discover potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and molecular drivers of colorectal cancer. Methods: We used publicly available gene expression and somatic …

Ifi16 Mediates Deacetylation Of Kshv Chromatin Via Interaction With Nurd And Sin3a Co-Repressor Complexes, Anandita Ghosh, Bala Chandran, Arunava Roy

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

IFI16 is a well-characterized nuclear innate immune DNA sensor that detects foreign dsDNA, including herpesviral genomes, to activate the inflammasome and interferon pathways. Beyond immune signaling, IFI16 also functions as an antiviral restriction factor, promoting the silencing of invading viral genes through transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms. We recently demonstrated another role of IFI16, in which it interacts with and recruits the class I histone deacetylases, HDAC1 and 2, to the KSHV latency protein LANA, modulating its acetylation and function. In this study, we asked whether these IFI16-HDAC1/2 interactions contribute to broader epigenetic regulation of the KSHV chromatin. Our findings reveal …

Detecting Early Changes In Cartilage Collagen And Proteoglycans Distribution Gradients In Mice Harboring The R992c Collagen Ii Mutant Using 2d Correlation Infrared Spectroscopy, Jolanta Fertala, Andrzej Steplewski, Andrzej Fertala

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Collagen II is a vital structural component in developing bones and mature cartilage. Muta- tions in this protein cause spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a disease characterized primarily by altered skeletal growth and manifesting with a range of phenotypes, from lethal to mild. This study examined transgenic mice harboring the R992C (p.R1124C) substitution in colla- gen II. Previous research demonstrated significant growth abnormalities and disorganized growth plate structure in these mice, and histological signs of osteoarthritic changes in the knee joints of 9-month-old mice with the R992C mutation. Our study focuses on detecting early structural changes in the articular cartilage that occur before …

Advancing Novel Contrast Agents For Applications In Fluorescence-Guided Neurosurgery Using Fluorescence Cryotomography, Augustino Vittorio Scorzo

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Fluorescence guided surgery (FGS) is an emerging surgical technique that aims to help surgeons identify tissue types to assist in surgical decision making - ideally providing “cut-by-color” guidance. A primary application for this approach is the identification of tumor tissue to achieve more accurate and complete tumor removal while simultaneously minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissue. The cornerstone of tumor visualization for FGS is the administration of fluorescent contrast agents, or in some cases metabolic precursors, designed to accumulate specifically in tumor tissue, and a wide range of agents that use different targeting mechanisms are currently under investigation. Although these …

The Multifunctional Ascorbate Peroxidase Moapx1 Secreted By Magnaporthe Oryzae Mediates The Suppression Of Rice Immunity, Muxing Liu, Ziqian Guo, Jiexiong Hu, Yuke Chen, Fang Chen, Weizhong Chen, Wenya Wang, Boyang Ye, Zhixiang Yang, Gang Li, Xinyu Liu, Haifeng Zhang, Ping Wang, Zhengguang Zhang

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Fungi secrete effector proteins, including extracellular redox enzymes, to inhibit host immunity. Redox enzymes have been hypothesized to inhibit host reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, how they suppress host immunity remains unknown. We characterized an extracellular ascorbate peroxidase (MoApx1) that is secreted into rice chloroplasts by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. MoApx1 displays multifunctional capabilities that significantly contribute to fungal virulence. Firstly, MoApx1 neutralizes host-derived H2O2 within the chloroplast through its peroxidase activity, thereby inhibiting chloroplast ROS (cROS)-mediated defense responses. Secondly, MoApx1 targets the photosystem I subunit OsPsaD, disrupting photosynthetic electron transport to further suppress cROS production. Most importantly, …

Neovascular Pruning By Ido1 Inhibitors Can Potentiate Immunogenic Cytotoxicity Of Ischemia-Targeted Agents To Synergistically Enhance Anti-Pd-1 Responsiveness, Shih-Chun Shen, Souvik Dey, James B. Duhadaway, Erika Sutanto-Ward, Maurice T. Hampton, Serguei V. Kozlov, George C. Prendergast, Alexander J. Muller

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Strategies for deploying indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1)-targeted therapies for use against cancer have focused on IDO1's role in promoting peripheral immune tolerance that shields tumors from effector T cells. However, preclinical investigation of both primary and metastatic tumor development in the lungs has uncovered a previously unappreciated role for IDO1 in directing a counterregulatory response to interferon (IFN)-γ that realigns the local inflammatory environment to promote tumor neovascularization. Understanding how to therapeutically leverage the ability of IDO1 inhibitors to subvert inflammatory neovascularization within the tumor microenvironment has potential ramifications for future clinical development of these compounds.

METHODS: Pulmonary metastases …

Elv-N34, Rvd6-Isomer, Or Npd1 Halt Replication Of Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Ba.5 Virus In Human Lung And Nasal Cells, Jorgelina M. Calandria, Haydee E. Bazan, Surjyadipta Bhattacharjee, Marie-Audrey I. Kautzmann, Nicholas J. Maness, Nicolas G. Bazan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Current vaccines rely on the sequence of Spike (S) protein to induce immunity against the severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. Because of the high mutation rate of the viral S protein, new mutant strains are developed to generate new infectivity profiles. Bioactive lipid mediators (LMs) derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are synthesized on demand to sustain homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to determine the action of selected LMs in the viral replication of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 variant in human lung and nasal epithelial cells. Cells from healthy donors were infected with Omicron BA.5 for one hour and …

Characterization Of Immunogenicity Of Hiv Mrna Vaccine In Humanized Mice, Omoyeni Precious Adejare

Biotechnology Theses

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a leading global cause of mortality. Despite decades of research, a definitive cure or an effective vaccine for HIV infection has yet to be discovered. The major target for HIV vaccine development is the envelope (Env) trimeric protein that is responsible for host cell attachment and fusion. This comprises gp120 and the transmembrane gp41. Gp140, a truncated form of gp160(full envelope trimer) lacks the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of gp41, closely mimics the native HIV envelope has been shown to enhance the induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (BnAbs) when used as protein vaccine in previous …

Fear And Oxytocin: Effects Of Intraperitoneal Pretreatment In Rats, Daniel Yeromenko, Kelsie German, Eros Fuentes, Jenna Meade, Ben Bustos

2025 Symposium

INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide widely known for its role in social bonding and emotional regulation. Recent studies have suggested its involvement in modulating fear, stress, and anxiety responses, potentially offering therapeutic applications for trauma-related disorders such as PTSD. This study investigated whether pretreatment with oxytocin reduces behavioral and physiological fear responses in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats using a classical fear conditioning model. METHODS : Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats (12 males, 12 females) were assigned to one of four groups: control (no shock, no oxytocin), shock only, shock + low-dose oxytocin (0.5 mg/kg), and shock + high-dose oxytocin (1.0 mg/kg). …

Preparation And In-Vitro Evaluation Of Dompridone Oral Thin Film, Fatima Mohammed Hussein Wais

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

The aim of the current study was to formulate and evaluatedompridone nanoparticles and loaded in oral fast dissolve film, for enhance the solubility of poor water soluble dompridone by nanoparticles and fasten the action by prepared as oral thin film and also to improve patient compliance. Domperidone is the recommended medication for nausea and vomiting brought on by viral infections, chemotherapy, migraines, and food poisoning.Domperidonenanoparticles were made using two type of polymers (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC-K15 and methylcellulose MC-A4C) in a range of ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) drug:polymer ratio by solvent antisolvent technique. In nanoparticle formulation, HPMC-K15 and MC-A4C were …

Ovarian Cancer G Protein-Coupled Receptor-1 Signaling Bias Dictates Anti-Contractile Effect Of Benzodiazepines On Airway Smooth Muscle, Dominic R. Villalba, Arun K. Jannu, Elham Javed, Isha Dandekar, Ruping Wang, Deepak A. Deshpande, Steven S. An, Reynold A. Panettieri, Dale D. Tang, Raymond B. Penn, Ajay P. Nayak

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: We recently reported that the ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor-1 (OGR1) can be pharmacologically biased with specific benzodiazepines to couple with distinct heterotrimeric G proteins in human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. Lorazepam stimulated both G

METHODS: Models of histamine (His) -stimulated contraction included imaging of ex vivo human precision cut lung slices (hPCLS) and Magnetic Twisting Cytometry (MTC) analysis of human ASM cell stiffness. To explore mechanisms of regulation, we examined effects on myosin light chain (pMLC) phosphorylation and PKA activity in primary human ASM cultures, as well as actin cytoskeleton integrity as defined by changes in the …

Exploring Cisd1 As A Multifaceted Biomarker In Cancer: Implications For Diagnosis, Prognosis, And Immunotherapeutic Response, Caiyue Li, Zhipin Liang, Gabrielle Vontz, Connor Kent, Wenbo Ma, Lei Liu, Riya Dahal, Jovanny Zabaleta, Guoshuai Cai, Jia Zhou, Huangen Ding, Qiang Shen

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

CISD1, an outer mitochondrial membrane iron-sulfur cluster protein, regulates intracellular iron levels, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dynamics, playing critical roles in cellular bioenergetics and redox homeostasis. Although CISD1 has been identified as a prognostic biomarker in specific cancers, its broader implications in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and immunotherapy remain unclear. Given the heterogeneity of cancer and the need for robust biomarkers across cancers, this study conducts the first comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of CISD1 by evaluating its roles in cancer and treatment. We obtained and analyzed data from databases including TCGA, GTEx, THPA, GEPIA2.0, SangerBox, cBioPortal, TIMER2.0, CAMOIP, DAVID, SRPLOT, and TISIDB. …

Dabigatran Reduced Acute Microgliosis In A Mouse Model With Tbi, Nicholas R. Eltman, Rashmeena Abbasi, Mary C. Kosciuk, Syed Ahmed, Jose L. Pascual, Randel L. Swanson, Nimish K. Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Objective:

The study objective was to investigate the acute anti-inflammatory effects of dabigatran in a preclinical mouse controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design

Mice were separated into three groups: controlled cortical impact (CCI) with dabigatran (drug treatment, n=5), CCI with saline (positive control, n=5), and sham CCI without saline or dabigatran (negative control, n=3). Dabigatran (80mg/kg) or saline was administered orally at 2, 10, 18, 26, 34, and 42 hours following experimental CCI in the drug treatment or positive control groups, respectively. Animals in the negative control group received sham CCI only. 48h following …

Examining The Relationship Between Sleep Habits And Caffeine Consumption, Daniel Calaff, Rachel Pruchno

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Sleep is essential for cognitive function, mood regulation, immune defense, and metabolic health. Despite widespread caffeine use, its impact on sleep remains debated. It was initially hypothesized that higher caffeine consumption would correlate with greater sleep disturbances. This study explored the relationship between caffeine consumption and sleep habits in a general adult population using a Qualtrics-based self-report survey. Participants (n=93) reported average hours slept per night, time to fall asleep, and number of nighttime awakenings. Caffeine consumption was calculated based on reported intake and categorized into four dosage groups. Sleep outcomes were statistically compared using ANOVA, t-tests, and Pearson correlation. …

The Correlation Between A Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Deficiency In Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients And The Presence Of Mental Health Disorders, Hinal Joshi, Andrea Iannuzzelli

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

• Currently little literature exists on connection between Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency and mental health disorders

• Reduced enzyme activity associated with certain MTHFR variants contributes to altered folate metabolism, elevated homocysteine levels, and disrupted DNA methylation, all of which are implicated in mental health disorders

• Identifying genetic risk factors could facilitate earlier diagnosis and intervention, leading to improved outcomes

• Relevant results could help reduce stigma and promote greater understanding of challenges faced by patients on the spectrum