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Articles 4261 - 4290 of 5215

Full-Text Articles in Diseases

Drug Repurposing For Schistosomiasis: Combinations Of Drugs Or Biomolecules., Maria João Gouveia, Paul J Brindley, Fátima Gärtner, José M Correia Da Costa, Nuno Vale Feb 2018

Drug Repurposing For Schistosomiasis: Combinations Of Drugs Or Biomolecules., Maria João Gouveia, Paul J Brindley, Fátima Gärtner, José M Correia Da Costa, Nuno Vale

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Schistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease. Control of schistosomiasis currently relies on a single drug, praziquantel, and despite its efficacy against the all schistosome species that parasitize humans, it displays some problematic drawbacks and alone is ineffective in counteracting adverse pathologies associated with infection. Moreover, due to the development of the potential emergence of PZQ-resistant strains, the search for additional or alternative antischistosomal drugs have become a public health priority. The current drug discovery for schistosomiasis has been slow and uninspiring. By contrast, repurposing of existing approved drugs may offer a safe, rapid and cost-effective alternative. Combined treatment with …


Adropin: An Endocrine Link Between The Biological Clock And Cholesterol Homeostasis, Sarbani Ghoshal, Joseph R. Stevens, Cyrielle Billon, Clemence Girardet, Sadichha Sitaula, Arthur S. Leon, D.C. Rao, James S. Skinner, Tuomo Rankinen, Claude Bouchard, Marinelle V. Nuñez, Kimber L. Stanhope, Deborah A. Howatt, Alan Daugherty, Jinsong Zhang, Matthew Schuelke, Edward P. Weiss, Alisha R. Coffey, Brian J. Bennett, Praveen Sethupathy, Thomas P. Burris, Peter J. Havel, Andrew A. Butler Feb 2018

Adropin: An Endocrine Link Between The Biological Clock And Cholesterol Homeostasis, Sarbani Ghoshal, Joseph R. Stevens, Cyrielle Billon, Clemence Girardet, Sadichha Sitaula, Arthur S. Leon, D.C. Rao, James S. Skinner, Tuomo Rankinen, Claude Bouchard, Marinelle V. Nuñez, Kimber L. Stanhope, Deborah A. Howatt, Alan Daugherty, Jinsong Zhang, Matthew Schuelke, Edward P. Weiss, Alisha R. Coffey, Brian J. Bennett, Praveen Sethupathy, Thomas P. Burris, Peter J. Havel, Andrew A. Butler

Physiology Faculty Publications

Objective

Identify determinants of plasma adropin concentrations, a secreted peptide translated from the Energy Homeostasis Associated (ENHO) gene linked to metabolic control and vascular function.

Methods

Associations between plasma adropin concentrations, demographics (sex, age, BMI) and circulating biomarkers of lipid and glucose metabolism were assessed in plasma obtained after an overnight fast in humans. The regulation of adropin expression was then assessed in silico, in cultured human cells, and in animal models.

Results

In humans, plasma adropin concentrations are inversely related to atherogenic LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in men (n = 349), but not in women (n = …


Microrna 1207-3p In Prostate Cancer, Dibash Das Feb 2018

Microrna 1207-3p In Prostate Cancer, Dibash Das

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed male cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death for men in the United States. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in progression from the asymptomatic androgen-dependent PCa to the lethal castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a major challenge. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), are known to be dysregulated in PCa. MicroRNA-1207-3p (miR-1207-3p) is encoded by the non-protein coding gene locus PVT1 on the 8q24 human chromosomal region, an established PCa susceptibility locus. However, the role of miR-1207-3p in PCa is unclear. We have discovered that miR-1207-3p is significantly underexpressed in PCa cell lines …


An Aged Canid With Behavioral Deficits Exhibits Blood And Cerebrospinal Fluid Amyloid Beta Oligomers, Clare Rusbridge, Francisco J. Salguero, Monique Antoinette David, Kiterie M. E. Faller, Jose T. Bras, Rita J. Guerreiro, Angela C. Richard-Londt, Duncan Grainger, Elizabeth Head, Sebastian G. P. Brandner, Brian Summers, John Hardy, Mourad Tayebi Jan 2018

An Aged Canid With Behavioral Deficits Exhibits Blood And Cerebrospinal Fluid Amyloid Beta Oligomers, Clare Rusbridge, Francisco J. Salguero, Monique Antoinette David, Kiterie M. E. Faller, Jose T. Bras, Rita J. Guerreiro, Angela C. Richard-Londt, Duncan Grainger, Elizabeth Head, Sebastian G. P. Brandner, Brian Summers, John Hardy, Mourad Tayebi

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Many of the molecular and pathological features associated with human Alzheimer disease (AD) are mirrored in the naturally occurring age-associated neuropathology in the canine species. In aged dogs with declining learned behavior and memory the severity of cognitive dysfunction parallels the progressive build up and location of Aβ in the brain. The main aim of this work was to study the biological behavior of soluble oligomers isolated from an aged dog with cognitive dysfunction through investigating their interaction with a human cell line and synthetic Aβ peptides. We report that soluble oligomers were specifically detected in the dog's blood and …


Fk506-Binding Protein 12.6/1b, A Negative Regulator Of [Ca2+], Rescues Memory And Restores Genomic Regulation In The Hippocampus Of Aging Rats, John C. Gant, Eric M. Blalock, Kuey-Chu Chen, Inga Kadish, Olivier Thibault, Nada M. Porter, Philip W. Landfield Jan 2018

Fk506-Binding Protein 12.6/1b, A Negative Regulator Of [Ca2+], Rescues Memory And Restores Genomic Regulation In The Hippocampus Of Aging Rats, John C. Gant, Eric M. Blalock, Kuey-Chu Chen, Inga Kadish, Olivier Thibault, Nada M. Porter, Philip W. Landfield

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Hippocampal overexpression of FK506-binding protein 12.6/1b (FKBP1b), a negative regulator of ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release, reverses aging-induced memory impairment and neuronal Ca2+ dysregulation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that FKBP1b also can protect downstream transcriptional networks from aging-induced dysregulation. We gave hippocampal microinjections of FKBP1b-expressing viral vector to male rats at either 13 months of age (long-term, LT) or 19 months of age (short-term, ST) and tested memory performance in the Morris water maze at 21 months of age. Aged rats treated ST or LT with FKBP1b substantially outperformed age-matched vector controls and performed similarly …


Sertraline, Paroxetine, And Chlorpromazine Are Rapidly Acting Anthelmintic Drugs Capable Of Clinical Repurposing., Janis C Weeks, William M Roberts, Caitlyn Leasure, Brian M Suzuki, Kristin J Robinson, John M Hawdon, +Several Additional Authors Jan 2018

Sertraline, Paroxetine, And Chlorpromazine Are Rapidly Acting Anthelmintic Drugs Capable Of Clinical Repurposing., Janis C Weeks, William M Roberts, Caitlyn Leasure, Brian M Suzuki, Kristin J Robinson, John M Hawdon, +Several Additional Authors

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Parasitic helminths infect over 1 billion people worldwide, while current treatments rely on a limited arsenal of drugs. To expedite drug discovery, we screened a small-molecule library of compounds with histories of use in human clinical trials for anthelmintic activity against the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. From this screen, we found that the neuromodulatory drugs sertraline, paroxetine, and chlorpromazine kill C. elegans at multiple life stages including embryos, developing larvae and gravid adults. These drugs act rapidly to inhibit C. elegans feeding within minutes of exposure. Sertraline, paroxetine, and chlorpromazine also decrease motility of adult Trichuris muris whipworms, prevent hatching …


Role Of N-Acetyl-Seryl-Aspartyl-Lysyl-Proline (Ac-Sdkp) And Renal Hemodynamics On Obesity Related Renal Damage, Mani Maheshwari Jan 2018

Role Of N-Acetyl-Seryl-Aspartyl-Lysyl-Proline (Ac-Sdkp) And Renal Hemodynamics On Obesity Related Renal Damage, Mani Maheshwari

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Obesity is a public health problem and is associated with salt-sensitive hypertension, kidney inflammation and fibrosis. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a tetra-peptide with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties but its effect on kidney damage in obesity is unknown. We hypothesized that high salt fed Zucker obese (ZO) rats develop renal damage, inflammation and fibrosis and that Ac-SDKP prevents these changes. Zucker lean (ZL) rats served as controls. Animals were treated with Ac-SDKP while maintained on either a normal-salt or HS diet for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), albuminuria, renal inflammation and fibrosis were evaluated. HS diet increased macrophage infiltration in the …


Granulin Secreted By The Food-Borne Liver Fluke, Brandon Haugen, Shannon E Karinshak, Victoria H Mann, Anastas Popratiloff, Alex Loukas, Paul J Brindley, Michael J Smout Jan 2018

Granulin Secreted By The Food-Borne Liver Fluke, Brandon Haugen, Shannon E Karinshak, Victoria H Mann, Anastas Popratiloff, Alex Loukas, Paul J Brindley, Michael J Smout

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

The liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is a food-borne, zoonotic pathogen endemic to Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia. The adult developmental stage of the O. viverrini parasite excretes and secretes numerous proteins within the biliary tract including the gall bladder. Lesions caused by the feeding activities of the liver fluke represent wounds that undergo protracted cycles of healing and re-injury during chronic infection, which can last for decades. Components of the excretory/secretory (ES) complement released by the worms capably drive proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells and are implicated in establishing the oncogenic milieu that leads to bile duct …


Granulin Secreted By The Food-Borne Liver Fluke Opisthorchis Viverrini Promotes Angiogenesis In Human Endothelial Cells, Brandon Haugen, Shannon Karinshak, Victoria H. Mann, Anastas Popratiloff, Alex Loukas, Paul J. Brindley, Michael J. Smout Jan 2018

Granulin Secreted By The Food-Borne Liver Fluke Opisthorchis Viverrini Promotes Angiogenesis In Human Endothelial Cells, Brandon Haugen, Shannon Karinshak, Victoria H. Mann, Anastas Popratiloff, Alex Loukas, Paul J. Brindley, Michael J. Smout

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

The liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini is a food-borne, zoonotic pathogen endemic to Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia. The adult developmental stage of the O. viverrini parasite excretes and secretes numerous proteins within the biliary tract including the gall bladder. Lesions caused by the feeding activities of the liver fluke represent wounds that undergo protracted cycles of healing and re-injury during chronic infection, which can last for decades. Components of the excretory/secretory (ES) complement released by the worms capably drive proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells and are implicated in establishing the oncogenic milieu that leads to bile duct …


Controlled Human Hookworm Infection: Accelerating Human Hookworm Vaccine Development, David Diemert, Doreen Campbell, Jill Brelsford, Caitlyn Leasure, Guangzhao Li, Naji Younes, +Several Additional Authors Jan 2018

Controlled Human Hookworm Infection: Accelerating Human Hookworm Vaccine Development, David Diemert, Doreen Campbell, Jill Brelsford, Caitlyn Leasure, Guangzhao Li, Naji Younes, +Several Additional Authors

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Controlled human hookworm infection (CHHI) is a central component of a proposed hookworm vaccination-challenge model (HVCM) to test the efficacy of candidate vaccines. Critical to CHHI is the manufacture of Necator americanus infective larvae (NaL3) according to current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) and the determination of an inoculum of NaL3 that is safe and reliably induces patent infection. Methods

cGMP-grade NaL3 were produced for a phase 1 trial in 20 healthy, hookworm-naïve adults in the United States, who received either 25 or 50 NaL3. Participants were monitored for 12–18 weeks postinfection for safety, tolerability, …


Transplantation Of Schistosome Sporocysts Between Host Snails: A Video Guide., Gabriel Mouahid, Anne Rognon, Ronaldo De Carvalho Augusto, Patrick Driguez, Kathy Geyer, Shannon Karinshak, Nelia Luviano, Victoria Mann, Thomas Quack, Kate Rawlinson, George Wendt, Christoph Grunau, Hélène Moné Jan 2018

Transplantation Of Schistosome Sporocysts Between Host Snails: A Video Guide., Gabriel Mouahid, Anne Rognon, Ronaldo De Carvalho Augusto, Patrick Driguez, Kathy Geyer, Shannon Karinshak, Nelia Luviano, Victoria Mann, Thomas Quack, Kate Rawlinson, George Wendt, Christoph Grunau, Hélène Moné

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Schistosomiasis is an important parasitic disease, touching roughly 200 million people worldwide. The causative agents are different Schistosoma species. Schistosomes have a complex life cycle, with a freshwater snail as intermediate host. After infection, sporocysts develop inside the snail host and give rise to human dwelling larvae. We present here a detailed step-by-step video instruction in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese that shows how these sporocysts can be manipulated and transferred from one snail to another. This procedure provides a technical basis for different types of ex vivo modifications, such as those used in functional genomics studies.


Maternal Engineered Nanomaterial Inhalation During Gestation Alters The Fetal Transcriptome, P.A. Stapleton, Q.A. Hathaway, C.E. Nichols, A.B. Abukabda, M.V. Pinti, D.L. Shepherd, C.R. Mcbride, J. Yi, V.C. Castranova, J.M Hollander, Timothy Robert Nurkiewicz Jan 2018

Maternal Engineered Nanomaterial Inhalation During Gestation Alters The Fetal Transcriptome, P.A. Stapleton, Q.A. Hathaway, C.E. Nichols, A.B. Abukabda, M.V. Pinti, D.L. Shepherd, C.R. Mcbride, J. Yi, V.C. Castranova, J.M Hollander, Timothy Robert Nurkiewicz

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: The integration of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) is well-established and widespread in clinical, commercial, and domestic applications. Cardiovascular dysfunctions have been reported in adult populations after exposure to a variety of ENM. As the diversity of these exposures continues to increase, the fetal ramifications of maternal exposures have yet to be determined. We, and others, have explored the consequences of ENM inhalation during gestation and identified many cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in the F1 generation. The purpose of these studies was to identify genetic alterations in the F1 generation of Sprague-Dawley rats that result from maternal ENM inhalation during gestation. …


A Gut Feeling: A Hypothesis Of The Role Of The Microbiome In Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders., Xue Ming, Neil Chen, Carly Ray, Gretchen Brewer, Jeffrey Kornitzer, Robert A Steer Jan 2018

A Gut Feeling: A Hypothesis Of The Role Of The Microbiome In Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders., Xue Ming, Neil Chen, Carly Ray, Gretchen Brewer, Jeffrey Kornitzer, Robert A Steer

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurologic disorder characterized by hyperactivity/impulsivity and/or inattentiveness, with genetic and environmental factors contributing to the disorder. With the growing recognition of the microbiome's role in many neurological disorders, the authors propose that it may also be implicated in ADHD. Here, we describe several evolving areas of research to support this hypothesis. First, a unique composition of gut bacteria has been identified and linked to behaviors in ADHD. Second, our research found an increased incidence of 2 gastrointestinal symptoms (constipation and flatulence) in children with ADHD, as compared to controls. Finally, emerging data may be interpreted …


Baseline White Matter Hyperintensities And Hippocampal Volume Are Associated With Conversion From Normal Cognition To Mild Cognitive Impairment In The Framingham Offspring Study., Katherine J Bangen, Sarah R Preis, Lisa Delano-Wood, Philip A Wolf, David J Libon, Mark W Bondi, Rhoda Au, Charles Decarli, Adam M Brickman Jan 2018

Baseline White Matter Hyperintensities And Hippocampal Volume Are Associated With Conversion From Normal Cognition To Mild Cognitive Impairment In The Framingham Offspring Study., Katherine J Bangen, Sarah R Preis, Lisa Delano-Wood, Philip A Wolf, David J Libon, Mark W Bondi, Rhoda Au, Charles Decarli, Adam M Brickman

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: We examined associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of cerebrovascular disease and neurodegeneration with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis at baseline and conversion from normal cognition to MCI at follow-up.

METHODS: Framingham Offspring participants underwent brain MRI and neuropsychological assessment at baseline (n=1049) and follow-up (n=561). Participants were classified at baseline and at follow-up as cognitively normal or MCI using sensitive neuropsychological criteria. White matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, covert brain infarcts, hippocampal volume, and total cerebral brain volume were quantified.

RESULTS: Baseline measures of WMH and hippocampal volume were associated with MCI status cross-sectionally and also with conversion …


Assessing Working Memory In Mild Cognitive Impairment With Serial Order Recall., Sheina Emrani, David J Libon, Melissa Lamar, Catherine C Price, Angela L Jefferson, Katherine A Gifford, Timothy J Hohman, Daniel A Nation, Lisa Delano-Wood, Amy Jak, Katherine J Bangen, Mark W Bondi, Adam M Brickman, Jennifer Manly, Rodney Swenson, Rhoda Au, Consortium For Clinical And Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (Cenda) Jan 2018

Assessing Working Memory In Mild Cognitive Impairment With Serial Order Recall., Sheina Emrani, David J Libon, Melissa Lamar, Catherine C Price, Angela L Jefferson, Katherine A Gifford, Timothy J Hohman, Daniel A Nation, Lisa Delano-Wood, Amy Jak, Katherine J Bangen, Mark W Bondi, Adam M Brickman, Jennifer Manly, Rodney Swenson, Rhoda Au, Consortium For Clinical And Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (Cenda)

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Working memory (WM) is often assessed with serial order tests such as repeating digits backward. In prior dementia research using the Backward Digit Span Test (BDT), only aggregate test performance was examined.

OBJECTIVE: The current research tallied primacy/recency effects, out-of-sequence transposition errors, perseverations, and omissions to assess WM deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

METHODS: Memory clinic patients (n = 66) were classified into three groups: single domain amnestic MCI (aMCI), combined mixed domain/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI), and non-MCI where patients did not meet criteria for MCI. Serial order/WM ability was assessed by asking participants to repeat …


Rhythm: An Open Source Imaging Toolkit For Cardiac Panoramic Optical Mapping, Christopher Gloschat, Kedar Aras, Shubnam Gupta, N. Rokhana Faye, Hanyu Zhang, Matthew W. Kay, Igor R Efimov, +Several Additional Authors Jan 2018

Rhythm: An Open Source Imaging Toolkit For Cardiac Panoramic Optical Mapping, Christopher Gloschat, Kedar Aras, Shubnam Gupta, N. Rokhana Faye, Hanyu Zhang, Matthew W. Kay, Igor R Efimov, +Several Additional Authors

Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty Publications

Fluorescence optical imaging techniques have revolutionized the field of cardiac electrophysiology and advanced our understanding of complex electrical activities such as arrhythmias. However, traditional monocular optical mapping systems, despite having high spatial resolution, are restricted to a two-dimensional (2D) field of view. Consequently, tracking complex three-dimensional (3D) electrical waves such as during ventricular fibrillation is challenging as the waves rapidly move in and out of the field of view. This problem has been solved by panoramic imaging which uses multiple cameras to measure the electrical activity from the entire epicardial surface. However, the diverse engineering skill set and substantial resource …


Researching The History Of Hiv/Aids: An Interview With Christopher Ewing, Emily Furlich Jan 2018

Researching The History Of Hiv/Aids: An Interview With Christopher Ewing, Emily Furlich

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

No abstract provided.


Effect Of Empagliflozin On Insulin Sensitivity In The Lean And Obese Zucker Rat: A Model Of Metabolic Syndrome, Veda Gayatri Sushma Penta Jan 2018

Effect Of Empagliflozin On Insulin Sensitivity In The Lean And Obese Zucker Rat: A Model Of Metabolic Syndrome, Veda Gayatri Sushma Penta

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Metabolic syndrome is one of the fastest growing health problems in the world. The medical costs associated with treating this disorder are staggering. Allowed to proceed untreated, metabolic syndrome can lead to a markedly decreased quality of life and a variety of medical conditions including heart and kidney failure. Whether the sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor Empagliflozin can be used to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome is not well understood. This proposal is specifically designed to address this gap in our knowledge. The expected outcomes of this work will identify the time course and degree of interrelatedness between changes …


Usefulness Of The Captia Syphilis Igg Eia Test Method And Reverse Algorithm For Detection Of Syphilis Infection In A Public Health Setting, Patricia Armour Jan 2018

Usefulness Of The Captia Syphilis Igg Eia Test Method And Reverse Algorithm For Detection Of Syphilis Infection In A Public Health Setting, Patricia Armour

Theses and Dissertations

Syphilis, a systemic sexually transmitted disease, is on the rise in the US, with infection rates the highest recorded since 1994 according to the CDC. Useful laboratory testing is an important diagnostic tool for determining individual syphilis infection and preventing community-wide disease spread.

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of a specific automated treponemal test method, the CaptiaTM Syphilis IgG EIA, and the syphilis reverse algorithm interpretation for detecting syphilis infection among patients seeking care in a public health clinic. The study employed a retrospective, nonexperimental descriptive correlational design with data collected between 2012-2013 from …


Muscle Synergy During A Single Leg Standing Test In Ambulatory Children With Cerebral Palsy, Brennan L. Smith Jan 2018

Muscle Synergy During A Single Leg Standing Test In Ambulatory Children With Cerebral Palsy, Brennan L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a sensorimotor disorder characterized by dysfunctional motor coordination, balance problems, and loss of selective motor control. Motor coordination exhibited as co-contraction, has been subjectively quantified using gait analysis, but recent studies have begun to objectively analyze the amount of co-contraction by collecting electromyography (EMG) data. Center of pressure excursion (COPE) measurements collected during a single leg standing test (SLST) have shown to be more valid measurements of balance in populations with motor disabilities than a SLST alone. A recent study has correlated increased COPE velocity with a lower fall risk as determined by reported fall …


The Role Of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators Ifnβ And Prostaglandin E2 In Suppression Of Innate Immunity To Listeria Monocytogenes, Michelle G. Pitts Jan 2018

The Role Of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators Ifnβ And Prostaglandin E2 In Suppression Of Innate Immunity To Listeria Monocytogenes, Michelle G. Pitts

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

As a foodborne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) encounters many barriers to invasion and dissemination in the host that may change the nature of host response. Lm has been most commonly studied using intravenous (i.v.) inoculation, however, a method that delivers a bolus of bacteria directly to the bloodstream. Thus, little is known about what systemic and local mediators are triggered during the natural course of infection and how these may impact susceptibility. Our laboratory used foodborne transmission of Lm in mice to assess whether the method of transmission and the specific organ microenvironment could affect infection-induced secretion of …


Role Of Sex Chromosomes In Sexual Dimorphism Of Angii-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Yasir Alsiraj Jan 2018

Role Of Sex Chromosomes In Sexual Dimorphism Of Angii-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Yasir Alsiraj

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), a permanent dilation in the abdominal region of the aorta, is a highly sexually dimorphic disease. AAAs prevalence is ranging from 4-10 fold higher in males than females. Defining the mechanistic basis for reduced (in females) or increased (in males) AAA formation and progression may uncover potential therapeutic targets. The majority of studies examining sexual dimorphism focus on the role of sex hormones. However, genes residing on sex chromosomes, in addition to sex hormones, may contribute to sexual dimorphism of AAAs. For example, the X chromosome contains about 5% of the whole genome, but the role …


Gene Regulation In The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Of The Green Anole Lizard (Anolis Carolinensis)., Joshua N. Peters Jan 2018

Gene Regulation In The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Of The Green Anole Lizard (Anolis Carolinensis)., Joshua N. Peters

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Studies examining the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis (HPG) in Anolis carolinensis provide insight into the regulation of this axis under extremely different reproductive conditions. Molecular studies indicate that kisspeptin proteins, transcribed from kiss1 and kiss2 genes, are produced in the hypothalamus where they bind G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54), activating the HPG axis. Gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH) and its receptors, G protein-coupled receptor 147 and 74 (GPR147 and GPR74), down regulate HPG axis function. In this experiment we examined HPG axis gene expression in the green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis), a seasonally breeding species with higher steroid hormone levels in the breeding …


Cellular Senescence Is Induced By The Environmental Neurotoxin Paraquat And Contributes To Neuropathology Linked To Parkinson’S Disease, Shankar J. Chinta, Georgia Woods, Marco Demaria, Anand Rane, Ying Zou, Amanda Mcquade, David T. Madden Jan 2018

Cellular Senescence Is Induced By The Environmental Neurotoxin Paraquat And Contributes To Neuropathology Linked To Parkinson’S Disease, Shankar J. Chinta, Georgia Woods, Marco Demaria, Anand Rane, Ying Zou, Amanda Mcquade, David T. Madden

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Exposure to the herbicide paraquat (PQ) is associated with an increased risk of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD). Therapies based on PQ’s presumed mechanisms of action have not, however, yielded effective disease therapies. Cellular senescence is an anticancer mechanism that arrests proliferation of replication-competent cells and results in a pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) capable of damaging neighboring tissues. Here, we demonstrate that senescent cell markers are preferentially present within astrocytes in PD brain tissues. Additionally, PQ was found to induce astrocytic senescence and an SASP in vitro and in vivo, and senescent cell depletion in the latter protects against …


Workplace Standing Desks And Arterial Stiffness, Ian Greenlund Jan 2018

Workplace Standing Desks And Arterial Stiffness, Ian Greenlund

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Many jobs in today’s society require sitting at a desk with little physical activity. Individuals who engage in ten hours of sedentary behavior per day double their CVD risk. Standing desks are thought to decrease sedentary time and improve cardiovascular health. Acute use of standing desks is shown to lower PWV. However, chronic effects remain unknown. Forty eight participants qualified as seated (19 females, 5 males: age 41 ± 2 years, BMI 25 ± 1 kg/m2) or standing (21 females, 3 males: age 45 ± 2 years, BMI 25 ± 1 kg/m2) groups based on habitual …


ความชุกของเชื้อลิชมาเนีย และทริพพาโนโซมในริ้นฝอยทราย ที่เก็บได้จากแหล่งระบาดของโรคลิชมาเนียในประเทศไทย, พิมพ์พิลาส ศรีสุธน Jan 2018

ความชุกของเชื้อลิชมาเนีย และทริพพาโนโซมในริ้นฝอยทราย ที่เก็บได้จากแหล่งระบาดของโรคลิชมาเนียในประเทศไทย, พิมพ์พิลาส ศรีสุธน

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ริ้นฝอยทราย จัดเป็นแมลงดูดเลือดที่มีขนาดเล็ก อยู่ในวงศ์ Psychodidae อันดับ Diptera ซึ่งเป็นแมลงที่มีความสำคัญทางการแพทย์ เพราะเป็นพาหะนำโรคลิชมาเนีย ทั้งในมนุษย์และสัตว์ ในประเทศไทยมีรายงานการพบโรคลิชมาเนียและโรคทริพพาโนโซมในมนุษย์ แต่ข้อมูลของแมลงพาหะนำโรค ยังมีอยู่อย่างจำกัด งานวิจัยนี้ จึงได้ทำการศึกษาความชุกของเชื้อลิชมาเนียและเชื้อทริพพาโนโซม และความสัมพันธ์ของแมลงพาหะนำโรค ในพื้นที่ที่เป็นแหล่งระบาดของโรคลิชมาเนีย (จังหวัดสงขลา จังหวัดพัทลุง จังหวัดเชียงราย) และพื้นที่ที่ไม่ใช่แหล่งระบาดของโรคลิชมาเนีย (จังหวัดชุมพร) จำนวนทั้งหมด 500 ตัวอย่าง แบ่งออกเป็นตัวเมีย 276 ตัวอย่าง และตัวผู้ 224 ตัวอย่าง ทำการตรวจหาเชื้อลิชมาเนีย และเชื้อทริพพาโนโซม โดยใช้ตำแหน่งของยีน ITS1 และ SSU rRNA ตามลำดับ และระบุชนิดของริ้นฝอยทรายที่ตรวจพบเชื้อ ด้วยเทคนิคทางอณูชีววิทยาโดยใช้ตำแหน่งของยีน COI และ CytB ผลตรวจหาเชื้อลิชมาเนีย และทริพพาโนโซมในริ้นฝอยทราย พบว่า ริ้นฝอยทรายจากจังหวัดสงขลาจำนวน 180 ตัวอย่าง ตรวจพบเชื้อ L. martiniquensis 2 ตัวอย่าง (1.1%) และพบเชื้อ Trypanosoma sp. 4 ตัวอย่าง (2.8%) ในริ้นฝอยทราย Se. khawi ซึ่งในจำนวนนี้มีการตรวจพบ Co-infection ของเชื้อ L. martiniquensis และ Trypanosoma sp. ในริ้นฝอยทราย Se. khawi 1 ตัวอย่างด้วย ริ้นฝอยทรายจากจังหวัดพัทลุง จำนวน 136 ตัวอย่าง ตรวจพบ Trypanosoma sp. 2 ตัวอย่าง (1.5%) ในริ้นฝอยทราย Se. khawi และ Se. indica ริ้นฝอยทรายจากจังหวัดเชียงราย 61 ตัวอย่าง ตรวจพบเชื้อ Trypanosoma noyesi 1 …


Cortactin Phosphorylation By Casein Kinase 2 Regulates Actin Related Protein 2/3 Complex Activity And Invadopodia Function, Steven Michael Markwell Jan 2018

Cortactin Phosphorylation By Casein Kinase 2 Regulates Actin Related Protein 2/3 Complex Activity And Invadopodia Function, Steven Michael Markwell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Malregulation of the actin cytoskeleton enhances tumor cell motility and invasion. The actin-binding protein cortactin facilitates branched actin network formation through activation of the actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex. Arp2/3 complex activation is responsible for driving increased migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation by governing invadopodia formation and activity. While cortactin-mediated activation of Arp2/3 complex and invadopodia regulation has been well established, signaling pathways responsible for governing cortactin binding to Arp2/3 are unknown. In this dissertation we identify casein kinase (CK) 2α phosphorylation of cortactin as a negative regulator of Arp2/3 binding. CK2α directly phosphorylates cortactin at a conserved threonine …


Arl2bp, A Novel Ciliopathy Protein, Is Required For Cilia Microtubule Formation, Abigail Ruth Moye Jan 2018

Arl2bp, A Novel Ciliopathy Protein, Is Required For Cilia Microtubule Formation, Abigail Ruth Moye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cilia are specialized organelles essential for cellular function. Not surprisingly, mutations in cilia- related genes are linked to multi-syndromic diseases termed ciliopathies. These include blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). One such novel gene is ARL2BP (ARL2-binding protein) and is linked to RP and situs inversus (organ reversal) in humans, a phenotype produced by defects in the nodal cilia of developing embryos. Defects in photoreceptor cilia, as well as situs inversus in human patients, suggest that ARL2BP plays an invaluable role in the structure and function of cilia. However little is known about the role for this protein in …


Detection Of Flagellated Protozoa Belonging To The Trypanosomatidae Family In Sand Flies Collected From Songkhla Province, Southern Thailand, Komson Chinwirunsirisup Jan 2018

Detection Of Flagellated Protozoa Belonging To The Trypanosomatidae Family In Sand Flies Collected From Songkhla Province, Southern Thailand, Komson Chinwirunsirisup

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Autochthonous leishmaniasis cases in Thailand are increasing dramatically, the disease is caused by two major of Leishmania species; L. orientalis and L. martiniquensis. Leishmaniasis is transmitted to the vertebrate hosts through the bite of the infected female sand fly. Moreover, other trypanosomatid protozoa have also been reported in this insect vector. In 2016, Trypanosoma sp. has been detected in sand fly from Songkhla province, where the leishmaniasis case has been reported. The aims of this study are to investigate the potential vectors of trypanosomatids in this area using morphological and molecular identification based on the Cytb gene. The parasites were …


การตรวจหาเชื้อแบคทีเรียก่อโรคในเหาโคจาก 3 จังหวัดของประเทศไทย, จุฬาลักษณ์ พรมรังษ์ Jan 2018

การตรวจหาเชื้อแบคทีเรียก่อโรคในเหาโคจาก 3 จังหวัดของประเทศไทย, จุฬาลักษณ์ พรมรังษ์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

เหาโค (Cattle lice) เป็นแมลงดูดเลือดชนิดหนึ่งซึ่งเป็นสาเหตุหลักของปัญหาสุขภาพสัตว์ทั่วโลก หลายงานวิจัยได้เปิดเผยข้อมูลการตรวจพบเชื้อแบคทีเรียก่อโรคในเหาโคและเหาโคอาจมีศักยภาพที่สามารถทำหน้าที่เป็นพาหะนำโรคต่าง ๆ ที่สามารถติดต่อโดยเหา และการศึกษาชนิดของเหาโคโดยใช้เทคนิคทางอณูชีววิทยาและการตรวจหาเชื้อแบคทีเรียก่อโรคในประเทศไทยยังไม่มีการรายงาน งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อตรวจหาเชื้อแบคทีเรียก่อโรคในเหาโคและจำแนกชนิดของเหาโคที่เก็บจากพื้นที่ 3 จังหวัดของประเทศไทย โดยตัวอย่างเหาโคทั้งหมด 109 ตัวอย่าง จะนำมาสกัดดีเอ็นเอและใช้เทคนิค PCR ศึกษาบนตำแหน่งยีน 18S rRNA ที่ได้ทำการพัฒนาออกแบบขึ้นเพื่อระบุชนิดของเหาโค และตรวจหาเชื้อ Bartonella spp., Acinetobacter spp. และ Rickettsia spp. จากนั้นนำมาวิเคราะห์หาลำดับนิวคลีโอไทด์และสร้างแผนภูมิวิวัฒนาการ จากผลลำดับนิวคลีโอไทด์ของยีน 18S rRNA แสดงให้เห็นว่าชนิดของเหาโคในงานวิจัยนี้แบ่งออกเป็น 2 กลุ่ม คือ Haematopinus quadripertusus และ Haematopinus spp. ที่มีความสัมพันธ์ใกล้ชิดกับ H. tuberculatus และสามารถตรวจพบเชื้อ Bartonella spp. ทั้งยีน gltA และ rpoB ทั้งหมด 25 ตัวอย่างจาก 109 ตัวอย่าง (22.93%) พบทั้งในระยะไข่และตัวเต็มวัย เมื่อทำการวิเคราะห์ลำดับนิวคลีโอไทด์และศึกษาแผนภูมิวิวัฒนาการของยีน gltA และ rpoB พบว่าเชื้อ Bartonella spp. ในงานวิจัยนี้มีความใกล้ชิดกับสายพันธุ์ B. bovis งานวิจัยนี้เป็นการรายงานครั้งแรกของการตรวจพบเชื้อ Bartonella spp. ในเหาโคที่เก็บจากพื้นที่ 3 จังหวัดของประเทศไทย และทำให้ทราบถึงข้อมูลชนิดของเหาโคในประเทศไทยโดยใช้เทคนิคทางอณูชีววิทยา ซึ่งข้อมูลเหล่านี้อาจนำมาใช้เพื่อระบุศักยภาพของเหาโคที่จะทำหน้าที่เป็นพาหะนำโรคและอาจถ่ายทอดเชื้อแบคทีเรียก่อโรคเหล่านี้จากสัตว์มาสู่มนุษย์